Language Guide

CHAPTER 3
Values
Value Class Definitions 59
The difference between a value of class Reference and the object it refers to is
analogous to the difference between an address and the building it refers to.
The address is a series of words and numbers, such as “1414 Maple Street,” that
identifies the building. It is distinct from the building itself.
Values of class Reference are similar to pointers in other programming
languages, but unlike pointers, references can refer only to objects. For more
information about creating values of class Reference, see “The ‘A Reference To’
Operator” on page 153.
LITERAL EXPRESSIONS
word 1 of document "Report"
window "Graph"
PROPERTIES
Class The class identifier for the object. This property is read-only, and
its value is always reference.
Contents The value of the object to which the reference refers. The class
of the value depends on the reference. For information about
how to use the Contents property, see “The ‘A Reference To’
Operator” on page 153.
ELEMENTS
None
OPERATORS
The A Reference To operator returns a reference as its result.