dictionary/hash and '1' versus 1

[Reedick, Andrew]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: python-list-bounces+jr9445=att.com at python.org [mailto:python-
> list-bounces+jr9445=att.com at python.org] On Behalf Of Steven D'Aprano
> Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2008 7:01 PM
> To: python-list at python.org
> Subject: Re: dictionary/hash and '1' versus 1
> 
> The problem with automatic conversions between strings and integers is
> that it isn't clear what the user wants when they do something like
> this:
> 
> >>> x = '1' + 1
> 
> Should x be the string '11' or the int 2? Please justify your answer.
> 
> 
> On the other hand, if the language includes separate operators for
> addition and concatenation (say, + and &) then that sort of auto-
> conversion is no longer ambiguous:
> 
> >>> '2' + 3
> 5
> >>> '2' & 3
> '23'


Bingo.  Perl has specific operators to establish intent:
	> Perl -e "'1' + 1"
	> 2
	> Perl -e "'1' . 1"
	> 11
'+' is the operator for addition
'.' is the operator for string concatenation

int and string comparisons also have specific operators:
	$a == $b  # compare as integers:  ==,  >,  <, <=, >=
	$a eq $b  # compare as strings:   eq, gt, lt, le, ge


Which now morphs the conversation into the issue of how too much
operator overloading creates confusion and/or ambiguity.



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