[Python-Dev] What if we didn't have repr?

Mark Janssen dreamingforward at gmail.com
Mon May 20 20:14:49 CEST 2013


> I have pondered it many times, although usually in the form "Why do we
> need both str and repr?"

Here's an idea:  considering python objects are "stateful".   Make a
general, state-query operator: "?".  Then the distinction is clear.

>>> ?"This is a string"  #Returns the contents of the string
This is a string

Then repr() is clearly the object "as it is" -- unstripped; i.e., not
just it's state (or contents, or whatever).
-- 
MarkJ
Tacoma, Washington


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