> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:python-
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Steven D'Aprano
> Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2008 7:01 PM
> To: python-list@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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