David Zelinsky <[email protected]> writes: > I think of a Lisp symbol as kind of like a C struct with fields named > "variable" and "function" and a couple others. Except rather than > accessing the fields by naming them, they are accessed implicitly by > the way the symbol is used. So, calling "set" on a symbol sets its > variable value, and using it (without the single quote) as the > argument to a function access that value. And using it with "defun" > sets its function value; and using it as a function accesses that > value. > > There may be a more precise computer-science description of a symbol, > but in my experience, the description I gave seems to fit well with > usage.
A Lisp symbol has a value, a function value, a property list, and a print name. A Scheme symbol has a value, period. It is quite more essential. -- David Kastrup
