On Tue, 17 Jul 2007, Brian Hurt wrote:

> Sam Steingold wrote:
>
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>> Why is :: a syntax, not an infix version of List.cons
>> (which for some reason is missing)?
>> thanks.
>> 
>> 
>
> So it can be used in pattern matching.  Things used in pattern matching the 
> compiler has to know about, and thus the user can't override.  Things not 
> used in pattern matching can be overridden.  So you can redefine + if you 
> wanted to.  I wouldn't recommend it, but you could. 
> : :  and , you can't override.

:: and () are just constructors with a special syntax.
You can override them:

         Objective Caml version 3.09.3

# type zarbi = :: of int * int | ();;
type zarbi = :: of int * int | ()
# ();;
- : zarbi = ()
# 1 :: 2;;
- : zarbi = :: (1, 2)


It's just that constructors are not automatically associated with a 
function, in OCaml.


Martin

--
http://martin.jambon.free.fr