From: "David A. Black" <dblack@...>
Date: 2009-12-22T10:05:51+09:00
Subject: Re: Symbols vs. constants?

Hi --

On Tue, 22 Dec 2009, Sonja Elen Kisa wrote:

> How are symbols and constant (capitalized) strings similar or
> dissimilar? They both seem to be used to store text that is not intended
> to change. In what situations should I use one or the other? How should
> I separate them in my brain?

A constant is an identifier to which you can assign an object. It is
not, itself, an object.

    X = "hi"   # X is a constant, "hi" is an object (a string)

A symbol is an object. You can't assign to it; it's not an l-value.


David

-- 
David A. Black
Senior Developer, Cyrus Innovation Inc.
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