xkcd.com/353 ( Flying with Python )

[Mats Wichmann]

On 3/30/24 10:31, MRAB via Python-list wrote:
> On 2024-03-30 11:25, Skip Montanaro via Python-list wrote:
>>>
>>> > https://xkcd.com/1306/
>>> >                           what does  SIGIL   mean?
>>>
>>> I think its' a Perl term, referring to the $/@/# symbols in front of
>>> identifiers.
>
> I wouldn't consider '@' to be a sigil any more than I would a unary minus.

Nonetheless, Perl folk do use that term, specifically.

"One thing that distinguishes Perl from other languages is its use of 
sigils; the funny looking symbols placed in front of variable names. "

$ 	Scalar 	$foo
@ 	Array 	@foo
% 	Hash 	%foo
& 	Subroutine 	&foo
* 	Typeglob 	*foo


 >    Sigils have many benefits, not least of which is that variables 
can be interpolated into strings with no additional syntax. Perl scripts 
are also easy to read (for people who have bothered to learn Perl!) 
because the nouns stand out from verbs. And new verbs can be added to 
the language without breaking old scripts.

 >    Programming Perl, Chapter 1, 4th Edition

etc.