On Sep 9, 2007, at 1:34 PM, "Phlip" <phlip2005 / gmail.com> wrote:

> 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

It should be noted though that String#hash isn't garaunteed to be  
unique.