# Re: "" vs ''

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-vs/69953>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [September 25, 2006, 8:17pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-vs/69953 "2006-09-25T20:17:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**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:** [September 25, 2006, 8:17pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-vs/69953/1 "2006-09-25T20:17:31Z")

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From: James Edward G. II [[mailto:removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)]

> > - It’s less work for the interpreter.  
> > What makes you say this?
> 
> # \>\> Rehearsal ---------------------------------------------
> 
> # \>\> double: 0.270000 0.000000 0.270000 ( 0.267826)
> 
> # \>\> single: 0.260000 0.000000 0.260000 ( 0.266784)
> 
> # \>\> ------------------------------------ total: 0.530000sec
> 
> # \>\>
> 
> # \>\> user system total real
> 
> # \>\> double: 0.270000 0.000000 0.270000 ( 0.268957)
> 
> # \>\> single: 0.290000 0.000000 0.290000 ( 0.286691)

And, FWIW, I did the same thing using a really long string with lots of  
\ and # characters in it. I came to the same conclusion: no perceptible  
difference in speed.