From: Marnen Laibow-Koser <marnen@...>
Date: 2010-02-04T22:54:18+09:00
Subject: Re: hooking subscript operations in a hash

Ralph Shnelvar wrote:
> RN> Is env['X'] = 'Y' the same as env[]=('X','Y') ?
> RN> Since you defined a method with def []= so I think env[]=('X','Y') 
> is
> RN> easier for understanding.
> 
> First ... I think you meant
>   env[]={'X', 'Y'}
> (braces instead of parenthesis)

But you are wrong.  It's just like any other method call:
object.method(args)
so
env.[]=('X', 'Y')

But never do it this way.  env['X'] = 'Y' is far clearer.

> 
> The first form
>   env[]={'X', 'Y'}
> means
>   Create 

No.  It won't create env.

> and/or replace a hash table 

Hash, not hash table.

> called "env" and stuff it with an 
> index of 'X' and a value of 'Y'
> 
> The second form
>   env['X'] = 'Y'
> means
>   Take an existing hash table called "env" and add/replace the index 'X' 
> in that table with the value 'Y'

No.  The two forms are 100% equivalent.

Best,
-- 
Marnen Laibow-Koser
http://www.marnen.org
marnen@marnen.org
-- 
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