The WebScript Language

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Assigning Values to Variables

You assign values to variables using the following syntax:

myVar = aValue;

A value can be assigned to a variable at the time it is declared or after it is declared. For example:

NSNumber *myVar1;

id myVar2 = 77;



myVar1 = 76;

The value you assign to a variable can be either a constant or another variable. For example:

// assign another variable to a variable

myVar = anotherVar;

// assign a string constant to a variable

myString = @"This is my string.";

Note: The // syntax denotes a comment.

You can assign constant values to objects of four of the most commonly used classes in WebScript: NSNumber, NSString, NSArray, and NSDictionary. These classes are defined in the Foundation framework. To learn how to initialize objects of all other classes, see "Creating Instances of Classes" in this chapter.

NSNumber is the easiest class to initialize. You just assign a number to the variable, like this:

NSNumber *myNumber = 77;

For the remaining three classes, WebScript provides a convenient syntax for initializing constant objects. In such an assignment statement, the value you're assigning to the constant object is preceded by an at sign (@). You use parentheses to enclose the elements of an NSArray and curly braces to enclose the key-value pairs of an NSDictionary. The following are examples of how you use this syntax to assign values to constant NSString, NSArray, and NSDictionary objects in WebScript:

myString = @"hello world";

myArray = @("hello", "goodbye");

myDictionary = @{"key" = 16};

anotherArray = @(1, 2, 3, "hello");

aDict = @{ "a" = 1; "b" = "hello world"; "c" = (1,2,3); 

		"d" = { "x" = 1; "r" = 2 }};

The following rules apply when you use this syntax to create constant objects:

The value you assign must be a constant (that is, it can't include variables). For example, the following is not allowed:
```
	// This is not allowed!!

	myArray = @("hello", aVariable);
```

You shouldn't use @ to identify an NSString, NSArray, or NSDictionary inside the value being assigned. For example:

	// This is not allowed!!

	myDictionary = @(@"value" = 3);

	

	// Do this instead

	myDictionary = @("value" = 3);

For more information on NSNumber, NSString, NSDictionary, and NSArray, see the chapter "WebScript Programmer's Quick Reference to Foundation Classes".

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