From: Hugh Sasse Staff Elec Eng <hgs@...>
Date: 2002-09-25T00:48:35+09:00
Subject: Re: select and selectZ

On Wed, 25 Sep 2002 dblack@candle.superlink.net wrote:

> > > > Hashes and arrays map keys to values.  The method we are looking for
> > > > returns several values based on several keys.
        [...]
> > Reason: given an index into a data structure, you don't "find"
> > something, you get it directly.  That's what indices are all about.
> > That's why I like "grab": it connotes directness.
        [...]
> My problem with grab is that it feels like its arguments are, in
> grammatical terms, its direct objects ("grab these") whereas in fact
> what you're grabbing is what's stored at "these".  So to me its
> "direct" quality is a little too direct.
>

What about
    l,m,n = thing.lookup(x,y,z)
then?  One is basically using these hashes/arrays like a directory,
a table, or even like a database of sorts....

        Hugh