Magic Number (programming)
In computer programming, the term magic number has multiple meanings. It could refer to one or more of the following:
- A constant numerical or text value used to identify a file format or protocol; for files, see List of file signatures
- Distinctive unique values that are unlikely to be mistaken for other meanings (e.g., Globally Unique Identifiers)
- Unique values with unexplained meaning or multiple occurrences which could (preferably) be replaced with named constants
Read more about Magic Number (programming): Unnamed Numerical Constants, Magic GUIDs, Magic Debug Values
Famous quotes containing the words magic and/or number:
“The magic of photography is metaphysical. What you see in the photograph isn’t what you saw at the time. The real skill of photography is organised visual lying.”
—Terence Donovan (b. 1936)
“The more elevated a culture, the richer its language. The number of words and their combinations depends directly on a sum of conceptions and ideas; without the latter there can be no understandings, no definitions, and, as a result, no reason to enrich a language.”
—Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904)