Re: [css3] Suggestion: Selector variables or “synonyms”

On Feb 12, 2008, at 8:20 AM, Brad Kemper wrote:

> In my proposal, there was a variable (or "constant", which is  
> basically a variable that retains the same value instead of  
> varying) on the left hand side.

It occurs to me that my use of the word "constant" has confused some  
people who are not familiar with the concept. I thought it was nearly  
as well known as "variable", but perhaps not. Perhaps "var" or  
"variable" would be a better choice then, and if you substitute that  
for all instances of "constant" in my previous posts, then perhaps my  
proposal will make more sense. My initial urge was to use the term  
"constant", because I did not think that most of the time people  
would change the contents of it once they assigned something to it.

Here is something from Wikipedia about variables[1] and constants[2]:

[1] In computer science and mathematics, a variable (pronounced / 
ˈveərɪəbl/) (sometimes called an object or identifier in computer  
science) is a symbolic representation used to denote a quantity or  
expression. In mathematics, a variable often represents an "unknown"  
quantity that has the potential to change; in computer science, it  
represents a place where a quantity can be stored. Variables are  
often contrasted with constants, which are known and unchanging.

[2]...Although a constant value is specified only once, the constant  
can be referenced multiple times in a program. Using a constant  
instead of specifying a value multiple times in the program can not  
only simplify code maintenance, but it can also supply a meaningful  
name for it and consolidate such constant assignments to a standard  
code location (for example, at the beginning).





[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable#Constants