symbol at sign

• symbolic abbreviation for “reference to”

  • Synonyms: reference

  • Examples:

     swapValues @x, @y —> pass the variables x and y by reference

  • Related: reference

  • The symbol ‘@‘ may also be used before any of the formal parameters of a handler, as a suggestion to users that they might want to pass the value by reference. This usage has no actual effect, though.

    • Examples:

       to swapValues @firstVar, @secondVar

• double-quoted string literals preceded by @ treat \ as an escape sequence

  • new behavior in 1.61

  • Recognized escape sequences:

    • \a = audible bell
    • \b = backspace
    • \f = formfeed
    • \n = newline (the same as SenseTalk’s return constant)
    • \r = carriage return
    • \t = tab
    • \v = vertical tab
    • \x## = unicode value
    • \u#### = unicode value
    • \U######## = unicode value
    • \\ = backslash

  • Examples:

     put @"\n\t" is return & tab —> True

     put @"\x51" —> "Q"

  • Related: merge, !