# Re: str1 = str2 is not a copy?!? **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [November 7, 2006, 10:56am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-str1-str2-is-not-a-copy/74791 "2006-11-07T10:56:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![phrogz](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@phrogz](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/phrogz)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 10:56am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-str1-str2-is-not-a-copy/74791/1 "2006-11-07T10:56:32Z")
From: Louis J Scoras [[mailto:removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)] > On 11/2/06, Gavin K. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > > > The thing to wrap your head around here is that ‘slots’ in > > an Array, and > > the values in Hash objects, are very much like variables. > > They point to > > values, they do not contain them. > > Of course. I’m just pointing out how this could be confusing to > someone who is new to ruby. Same sort of thing with the other thread > floating around about mutator methods. Yup. To be clear, my response was not an attempt to ‘correct’ you, but rather to help form a good mental model for anyone who might not be clear what was going on in your example. ---
**Author:** ![phrogz](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@phrogz](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/phrogz)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 10:56am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-str1-str2-is-not-a-copy/74791/2 "2006-11-07T10:56:34Z")
On 11/2/06, Gavin K. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > Yup. To be clear, my response was not an attempt to ‘correct’ you, but > rather to help form a good mental model for anyone who might not be > clear what was going on in your example. Absolutely. Your explanation was excellent, as always. What I meant was, although it may seem quirky at first, eventually the realization comes that it’s better this way. One only has to try out writing some C code for a while to see what they’re missing =)