Double quotes vs single quotes

[stev379]

I've always used double quotes ("quote"), and doubling up on them when necessary.

Is there any functional reason why not use single quotes ('quote') instead?

I would thing that single quotes may process slightly faster in long scripts, but if there is a coding best practice or rule that argues for the use of double quotes, I would stick with them.

Thanks!

-Steve

[Nahuel]

Strings are enclosed in double-quotes like "this". If you want a string to actually contain a double-quote use it twice like:

"here is a ""double-quote"" - ok?"

You can also use single-quotes like 'this' and 'here is a ' 'single-quote' ' - ok?'

You can mix quote types to make for easier working and to avoid having to double-up your quotes to get what you want. For example if you want to use a lot of double-quotes in your strings then you should use single-quotes for declaring them:

'This "sentence" contains "lots" of "double-quotes" does it not?'

is much simpler than:

"This ""sentence"" contains ""lots"" of ""double-quotes"" does it not?"

According to the help file, there seems to be no difference. I prefer single quote, most of the times. And I highly doubt they affect the script's speed, despite their length.

[DW1]

Neither of them are faster than the other.

The reason for being able to use both is so you can put quotes in your strings

For instance, if I want a string to look like <double quote>some text<double quote>, then I could do this:

$string = '"some text"'

[weaponx]

Double quotes ARE in fact slower! I mean, I have to press the shift key just to insert one!

[John117]

@weaponx lol

Edited December 7, 2007 by Hatcheda

[stev379]

Double quotes ARE in fact slower! I mean, I have to press the shift key just to insert one!

LOL - yeah really, what a drag.

According to the help file, there seems to be no difference. I prefer single quote, most of the times. And I highly doubt they affect the script's speed, despite their length.

That does make sense, if I'm using a line of text that requires double quoting, it would be easier to read a few month later if I always stick with using one or the other.

Thanks for the info everybody.

'Thanks!'

[weaponx]

Sometimes you NEED to use both.

Anytime you are passing a command line paramater you must use double quotes inside single quotes.

i.e. Run('somefile.exe "C:\some folder with spaces\"')

Dos commands will flip out if you pass single quotes.

Also when I see people escaping double quotes instead of using single quotes it hurts my brain.

Straight from the help file:

EVIL!

"here is a ""double-quote"" - ok?"

NOT EVIL!

'here is a "double-quote" - ok?'

[stev379]

Sometimes you NEED to use both.

Anytime you are passing a command line paramater you must use double quotes inside single quotes.

i.e. Run('somefile.exe "C:\some folder with spaces\"')

Dos commands will flip out if you pass single quotes.

Also when I see people escaping double quotes instead of using single quotes it hurts my brain.

Straight from the help file:

EVIL!

"here is a ""double-quote"" - ok?"

NOT EVIL!

'here is a "double-quote" - ok?'

WOW! No kidding. I hadn't thought about the cmd line situation. That's easliy half of what I do with scripts. Just to be sure I understand,... single quotes inside single quotes wouldn't work when sending a command?

Run('somefile.exe 'C:\some folder with spaces\'')

[weaponx]

Just refer to the Help File > Language Reference > Datatypes

Dos commands don't like any form of single quotes. You can nest single quotes within single quotes if you escape the ones inside.

Edited December 7, 2007 by weaponx

[DW1]

use single quotes if you need to have double quotes in the string:

'some text "double quotes"'

use double quotes if you need to have single quotes in the string:

"some text 'single quotes'"

If you need to use both:

"some text 'single quotes' some more text " & '"double quotes" some more text'

this would equal:

some text 'single quotes' some more text "double quotes" some more text