Variables

We've seen variables used, in expressions such as (- (* z 2) 1), and now that we have established the idea of special forms, we can look at how variables are created.

The main way to create variables is a special form called let. The first sub-expression of let is a list of variables and their values, and the remaining sub-expressions are any expressions, which are evaluated in order, the result of the last one becoming the result of the whole let expression. (This is called an implicit progn, and is quite common.) While those sub-expressions are being evaluated, the variables given at the top of the let are bound to the values given there. When the let finished, the variables disappear. So, for example, you might read aloud

(let ((a 1)
      (b 2))
   (+ a b))

It's also possible to change the value of a variable once it has been established, but there is a style of programming, called functional programming, in which a variable keeps the same value for its whole existence. Many experts consider this a good way to program, for reasons concerned with the mathematical logic underlying programming languages. We'll leave use of variables the other style of programming (generally called imperative programming or procedural programming) for another article.

However, note that if you bind the same variable (by the way, binding is the technical term to establishing a variable and giving it a value) in a let that is inside another let, the inner binding takes precedence in the inner let, and the outer one reappears when you get back to the outer let. In fact, what is happening here is that the outer one is irrelevant to the inner one; the inner one just makes its binding as usual. The reason for this will appear much later in these notes.

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John C. G. Sturdy

Last modified: Sun Oct 28 22:44:22 GMT 2007