Symbol is a data type used to represent a unique, named, or interned identifier.
Symbols are often used when identity matters more than text content. They can be useful as keys, tags, or lightweight identifiers.
Examples include:
- Symbols in Ruby, such as
:name - Symbols in JavaScript, such as
Symbol("name") - Symbols in Lisp-like languages
Symbols are useful for:
- Object keys
- Message names
- Identifiers
- Avoiding accidental string collisions
A symbol is different from a string because it is usually treated as an identifier rather than arbitrary text.
Anki
id: symbol-definition deck: Computer Science::Data Types tags: data-types symbol
Q: What is a symbol? A: A symbol is a data type used to represent a unique, named, or interned identifier.
id: symbol-vs-string deck: Computer Science::Data Types tags: data-types symbol string
Q: How is a symbol different from a string? A: A symbol is usually treated as an identifier, while a string is arbitrary text.