Re: Zero argument functions
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg61736] Re: Zero argument functions
- From: albert <awnl at arcor.de>
- Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 05:54:30 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <djn3hk$ilk$1@smc.vnet.net>
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
Hi, > For a "function" with no argument, what is the difference between: > > myFunc:=(whatever) > > and > > myFunc[]:=(whatever) > > I find the first syntax simpler, but there are many built-in > Mathematica functions that use the second one. myFunc:=whatever changes OwnValues[myfunc], myFunc[]:=whatever adds a rule to DownValues[myFunc]. In the letter case you can add definitions with arguments or options, if you later think that's usuful/necessary. Except for that I can't think of anything that matters in everyday programming. Basically it is a matter of taste. Many people, including me and obviously some at Wolfram, prefer to be able to distinguish by mere syntax whether something holds a fixed value or calculates a result, so I usually use empty brackets when something is calculated and no empty brackets if something just holds a value. albert