Symbols!!! [Ruby Programming Language Notes]

Symbols in Ruby

• Symbols are an additional data type, similar to strings, but different.
• str = ” “ strings are wrapped in quotes.
• Symbol = : symbols begin with a colon.

• Ex:
  • str = “hello # the string
  • sym = :hello # the symbol
  • p str.length # => 5
  • p sym.length # => 5
  • p str[1] # => “e”
  • p sym[1] # => “e”
  • p str == sym # => false
  • #Lesson…A string is DIFFERENT from a symbol!

Strings are mutable (can be changed, or mutated).

Symbols are immutable (can never be changed, or mutated).

Because strings are mutable, they are always stored in a new memory location (even if spelled the same).

Symbols are stored in exactly one memory location. Because of this, symbols can be more efficient with memory.