[Numpy-discussion] dtype='|S8' -- what does vertical bar mean?

[Robert Kern]

On Tue, Mar 23, 2010 at 16:04, Reckoner <reckoner at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I've been looking through the documentation and occasionally there is
> a dtype='|S8' reference or something with a "|" in it. I don't know
> what the "|" this notation means. I can't find it in the
> documentation.
>
> This should be easy. Little help?

That character is used to specify the byte order. "|" means "native
byte order". For 'S' dtypes, it doesn't make a difference; it has no
byte order.

-- 
Robert Kern

"I have come to believe that the whole world is an enigma, a harmless
enigma that is made terrible by our own mad attempt to interpret it as
though it had an underlying truth."
  -- Umberto Eco