summaryrefslogtreecommitdiffstats
path: root/Doc/glossary.rst
diff options
context:
space:
mode:
authorGeorg Brandl <georg@python.org>2007-08-17 16:54:59 (GMT)
committerGeorg Brandl <georg@python.org>2007-08-17 16:54:59 (GMT)
commit6c82b6c5caef9ec064f507df1335adbbdadc6c49 (patch)
tree7be10c02c7ac155f7de6fd79cbccfe4c6df52c5d /Doc/glossary.rst
parent20b40d3bce51b099763b196e60d574ccd4530e23 (diff)
downloadcpython-6c82b6c5caef9ec064f507df1335adbbdadc6c49.zip
cpython-6c82b6c5caef9ec064f507df1335adbbdadc6c49.tar.gz
cpython-6c82b6c5caef9ec064f507df1335adbbdadc6c49.tar.bz2
Use glossary x-refs, document new ``!`` feature.
Diffstat (limited to 'Doc/glossary.rst')
-rw-r--r--Doc/glossary.rst26
1 files changed, 13 insertions, 13 deletions
diff --git a/Doc/glossary.rst b/Doc/glossary.rst
index 9ec5811..2be05cc 100644
--- a/Doc/glossary.rst
+++ b/Doc/glossary.rst
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ Glossary
classic class
Any class which does not inherit from :class:`object`. See
- :dfn:`new-style class`.
+ :term:`new-style class`.
coercion
The implicit conversion of an instance of one type to another during an
@@ -82,14 +82,14 @@ Glossary
well-designed code improves its flexibility by allowing polymorphic
substitution. Duck-typing avoids tests using :func:`type` or
:func:`isinstance`. Instead, it typically employs :func:`hasattr` tests or
- :dfn:`EAFP` programming.
+ :term:`EAFP` programming.
EAFP
Easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. This common Python coding
style assumes the existence of valid keys or attributes and catches
exceptions if the assumption proves false. This clean and fast style is
characterized by the presence of many :keyword:`try` and :keyword:`except`
- statements. The technique contrasts with the :dfn:`LBYL` style that is
+ statements. The technique contrasts with the :term:`LBYL` style that is
common in many other languages such as C.
extension module
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ Glossary
285
GIL
- See :dfn:`global interpreter lock`.
+ See :term:`global interpreter lock`.
global interpreter lock
The lock used by Python threads to assure that only one thread can be run
@@ -173,10 +173,10 @@ Glossary
When dividing two integers the outcome will always be another integer
(having the floor function applied to it). However, if one of the operands
is another numeric type (such as a :class:`float`), the result will be
- coerced (see :dfn:`coercion`) to a common type. For example, an integer
+ coerced (see :term:`coercion`) to a common type. For example, an integer
divided by a float will result in a float value, possibly with a decimal
fraction. Integer division can be forced by using the ``//`` operator
- instead of the ``/`` operator. See also :dfn:`__future__`.
+ instead of the ``/`` operator. See also :term:`__future__`.
interactive
Python has an interactive interpreter which means that you can try out
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ Glossary
means that the source files can be run directly without first creating an
executable which is then run. Interpreted languages typically have a
shorter development/debug cycle than compiled ones, though their programs
- generally also run more slowly. See also :dfn:`interactive`.
+ generally also run more slowly. See also :term:`interactive`.
iterable
A container object capable of returning its members one at a
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ Glossary
to call :func:`iter` or deal with iterator objects yourself. The ``for``
statement does that automatically for you, creating a temporary unnamed
variable to hold the iterator for the duration of the loop. See also
- :dfn:`iterator`, :dfn:`sequence`, and :dfn:`generator`.
+ :term:`iterator`, :term:`sequence`, and :term:`generator`.
iterator
An object representing a stream of data. Repeated calls to the iterator's
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ Glossary
LBYL
Look before you leap. This coding style explicitly tests for
pre-conditions before making calls or lookups. This style contrasts with
- the :dfn:`EAFP` approach and is characterized by the presence of many
+ the :term:`EAFP` approach and is characterized by the presence of many
:keyword:`if` statements.
list comprehension
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ Glossary
mutable
Mutable objects can change their value but keep their :func:`id`. See
- also :dfn:`immutable`.
+ also :term:`immutable`.
namespace
The place where a variable is stored. Namespaces are implemented as
@@ -294,20 +294,20 @@ Glossary
implementation level to keep track of allocated memory.
__slots__
- A declaration inside a :dfn:`new-style class` that saves memory by
+ A declaration inside a :term:`new-style class` that saves memory by
pre-declaring space for instance attributes and eliminating instance
dictionaries. Though popular, the technique is somewhat tricky to get
right and is best reserved for rare cases where there are large numbers of
instances in a memory-critical application.
sequence
- An :dfn:`iterable` which supports efficient element access using integer
+ An :term:`iterable` which supports efficient element access using integer
indices via the :meth:`__getitem__` and :meth:`__len__` special methods.
Some built-in sequence types are :class:`list`, :class:`str`,
:class:`tuple`, and :class:`unicode`. Note that :class:`dict` also
supports :meth:`__getitem__` and :meth:`__len__`, but is considered a
mapping rather than a sequence because the lookups use arbitrary
- :dfn:`immutable` keys rather than integers.
+ :term:`immutable` keys rather than integers.
type
The type of a Python object determines what kind of object it is; every