Specifications

Chapter 4. Basic Program Elements
57
4.2.2 Special Symbols and Control Codes
Symbols and control codes used outside of a character string have the following special mean-
ing:
Symbols and
control codes
Typical use
$
(Dollar sign)
String suffix for variables or user-defined functions
%
(Percent sign)
Integer suffix for variables, constants (in decimal notation), or user-
defined functions
*
(Asterisk)
Multiplication operator
+
(Plus sign)
• Addition operator or unary positive sign
• Concatenation operator in string operation
• Format control character in PRINT USING statement
–
(Minus sign)
Subtraction operator or unary negative sign
.
(Period)
• Decimal point
• Format control character in
PRINT USING statement
/
(Slant)
• Division operator
• Separator for date information in
DATE$ function
<
(Less-than sign)
Relational operator
=
(Equal sign)
• Relational operator
• Assignment operator in arithmetic or string operation
• User-defined function definition expressions in single-line form
DEF FN
• Register variable definition expressions
>
(Greater-than sign)
Relational operator
"
(Double quote)
A pair of double quotes delimits a string constant or a device file
name.
&
(Ampersand)
• Integer prefix for constants (in hexadecimal notation), which
should be followed by an H.
• Format control character in
PRINT USING statement
'
(single quotation mark
or apostrophes)
• Initiates a comment.
• A pair of apostrophes (single quotations) delimits an included file
name.
( )
(Left and right paren-
theses)
• Delimit an array subscript or a function parameter.
• Force the order of evaluation in mathematical, relational, string,
and logical expressions.