Message210267
My objection to 'container' is that it is inaccurate and leads to inaccurate mental models. A set is like a non-exclusive club or association, defined either by rule or roster, not like a box or room, which contain exclusively. I am 'in' the set Python Developers, but am not contained by it.
Some decades ago I was hindered by the notion that a set is like a box (container). A web search indicates that the top hits all have variations on 'well-defined, unordered *collection* of objects, considered as an object in itself' -- wikipedia, mathisfun, wikia, brittanica, math.ku.edu. We do a disservice to call a set a container.
It is true that many Python collections are implemented by containing references to objects (a roster) but ranges are not (a parameterized rule). The *collections* module is properly named. |
|
Date |
User |
Action |
Args |
2014-02-04 21:26:05 | terry.reedy | set | recipients:
+ terry.reedy, rhettinger, pitrou, ezio.melotti, r.david.murray, docs@python, gdr@garethrees.org, Ramchandra Apte |
2014-02-04 21:26:05 | terry.reedy | set | messageid: <1391549165.03.0.908869038001.issue19362@psf.upfronthosting.co.za> |
2014-02-04 21:26:05 | terry.reedy | link | issue19362 messages |
2014-02-04 21:26:04 | terry.reedy | create | |
|