From: Marcin Raczkowski <mailing.mr@...>
Date: 2007-09-10T04:31:09+09:00
Subject: Re: Hash

Ron Green wrote:
> Marcel Molina Jr. wrote:
>   
>> On Sep 9, 2007, at 1:34 PM, "Phlip" <phlip2005@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>     
>>> Ron Green wrote:
>>>
>>>       
>>>> What is the purpose of string hash? What would you use it for?
>>>> EXAMPLE: "This is a test.".hash RETURNS -649841898. WHAT EXACTLY DOES
>>>> THIS REPRESENT? WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR? COMPARISONS?
>>>>         
>>> Run "another test".hash - you get a different number.
>>>
>>> It's good for hashes; look them up in any "data structures"  
>>> textbook. It's a unique number useful for rapidly accessing that
>>>       
>> It should be noted though that String#hash isn't garaunteed to be
>> unique.
>>     
>
> Then,again I ask, what is it good for?
>   
It's for internal use, it's used in Hash to make accessing and finding 
strings in hash faster