Identity operator

Identity operator is a programming language construct that checks whether two variables refer to the exact same object in memory. It's like asking "are these two things literally the same thing?" instead of just having the same value, which comes in handy when you're dealing with complex data structures or need to optimize for performance.

How to use it in a sentence

  • I was debugging this legacy Java codebase, and I kept getting null pointer exceptions until I realized I should've been using the identity operator instead of the equality operator.

  • In a heated argument about the merits of different JavaScript frameworks, Bob silenced everyone by simply declaring "React identity operator Angular evaluates to false" - a statement that, while technically correct, didn't really contribute much to the discussion.

If you actually want to learn more...

  • Accumulator Generator: This article dives into the concept of accumulator generators in Lisp, which can be used in conjunction with the identity operator to create more expressive and efficient code.

  • ANSI Common Lisp: For a comprehensive guide to Common Lisp, including its implementation of the identity operator, check out this article.

  • An OO Example: This piece demonstrates how object-oriented programming principles, such as the use of the identity operator, can be applied in practice.

Note: the Developer Dictionary is in Beta. Please direct feedback to skye@statsig.com.

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