[CST-2] Dist Sys

[Nathan Dimmock]

On Sat, May 19, 2001 , Phebe Mann wrote:
> 
> Hi
> 
> Can someone explain what the difference between pure & impure bit pattern
> please ?

Pure names yield no information other than an identifier. Impure names may
tell you additional information, e.g. location.

Example: the name 497829838
As a pure name, this is simply a numeric identifier to some object in a
system. It gives you no further information and commits the system to
nothing.

However, at the same time, this object might also have the name
astronomican.jesus.cam.ac.uk. This is an impure name as, interpretted as a
computer address on the Internet, it tells you the object is within Jesus
College, Cambridge, which is an academic institution in the UK.

HTH
-- 
Nathan                 Jesus College, Cambridge, CB5 8BL
                       http://www-jcsu.jesus.cam.ac.uk/~ned21/
"Unbelievable... [as Joyce] do you like my mask? Isn't it pretty? It raises
the dead! [himself] Americans!" [Giles - Buffy TVS]