Ron Green wrote:

> What is the purpose of string hash? What would you use it for?
> EXAMPLE: "This is a test.".hash RETURNS -649841898. WHAT EXACTLY DOES
> THIS REPRESENT? WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR? COMPARISONS?

Run "another test".hash - you get a different number.

It's good for hashes; look them up in any "data structures" textbook. It's a 
unique number useful for rapidly accessing that string.

And please DON'T SCREAM!

-- 
  Phlip
  http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/9780596510657/
  "Test Driven Ajax (on Rails)"
  assert_xpath, assert_javascript, & assert_ajax