From: Shannon Fang <xrfang@...>
Date: 2002-12-01T02:56:12+09:00
Subject: Re: Ruby Document

Thanks again, but for give my dumbness, still some questions:

>S> What is a symbol? what is the difference between symbol and variable?
>
>  a symbol is an Object, like an Integer, Array, ...
>
According to the manual:
"A Ruby symbol is the internal representation of a name. You construct the 
symbol for a name by preceding the name with a colon. A particular name will 
always generate the same symbol, regardless of how that name is used within 
the program."

Does it mean: If I see a symbol in a program, like :PropFind, I can safely 
assume that in the same program, there are a name PropFind, which is related 
to this symbol?

Another question is, if the above understanding is right (or wrong), what is 
the use of a Symbol? Why need a symbol? what is the difference between 
:PropFind and PropFind?? I do need some documents, otherwise might keep 
harassing you people :-p

>  For example
>
>    class HTTP
>       def HTTP.get(a, b)
>       end
>
>       def gets(d)
>       end
>    end
>
>  HTTP::get is a class method
>  HTTP#gets is an instance method
In your above example, :: and # is only used in documents? But in real 
program, you only use "."? So in def clause within a class, if classname is 
used as above, it is class method?

Shannon
>
>
>Guy Decoux


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