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Ruby Programming
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Variables and Constants

Ruby variables and constants hold references to objects. Variables themselves do not have an intrinsic type. Instead, the type of a variable is defined solely by the messages to which the object referenced by the variable responds.[When we say that a variable is not typed, we mean that any given variable can at different times hold references to objects of many different types.]

A Ruby constant is also a reference to an object. Constants are created when they are first assigned to (normally in a class or module definition). Ruby, unlike less flexible languages, lets you alter the value of a constant, although this will generate a warning message.

MY_CONST = 1
MY_CONST = 2   # generates a warning
produces:
prog.rb:2: warning: already initialized constant MY_CONST

Note that although constants should not be changed, you can alter the internal states of the objects they reference.

MY_CONST = "Tim"
MY_CONST[0] = "J"   # alter string referenced by constant
MY_CONST "Jim"

Assignment potentially aliases objects, giving the same object different names.
Ruby Programming
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