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Re: HoldFirst confusion

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg65537] Re: HoldFirst confusion
• From: Jon Harrop <usenet at jdh30.plus.com>
• Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2006 06:53:16 -0400 (EDT)
• References: <e1095n$lkf$1@smc.vnet.net>
• Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

Yaroslav Bulatov wrote:
> The following gives an error
> f = 5; f[a_] = a
> 
> Set is HoldFirst, so why does it evaluate it's first argument f[a_]?

Conversely, why do the attributes of Set and SetDelayed indicate that they
hold their first argument when the kernel evaluates it.

On a related note, how can you define and use a downvalue that matches
g[1+2] without evaluating the 1+2?

-- 
Dr Jon D Harrop, Flying Frog Consultancy Ltd.
http://www.ffconsultancy.com/products/ocaml_for_scientists/chapter1.html

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: Re: HoldFirst confusion
    • From: "Carl K. Woll" <carlw@wolfram.com>
  • Re: Re: HoldFirst confusion
    • From: Andrzej Kozlowski <akoz@mimuw.edu.pl>