Steven D'Aprano wrote:
On Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:55:45 +0200, Hrvoje Niksic wrote:
The term "variable" is used in the Python
language reference and elsewhere, and is quite compatible with how other
popular languages (Java, PHP, Lisp, ...) use it. Please stop
complaining about valid terminology; it is not helpful.
No, the use of the single term "variable" to describe two distinct
program models is not helpful. Whether other languages muddy the water
between memory-location based variables and name-binding is irrelevant to
whether we should do so. And quite a few of us are disappointed that the
Python language reference should confuse the issue by using misleading
terminology.
Unfortunately, the use of "variable" is so ingrained, and so simple
compared to name binding terminology, that I fear we'll never eradicate
it. I know sometimes I use it myself, but always with a little shiver of
shame that I'm misusing terminology.
Some years ago, I read a claim that 'variable' has about 15 shades of
meaning in math (some referring to non-variable constants), making it
probably the most overloaded term in math. I am trying to mostly avoid
it in the book I am writing.
tjr
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