Editing Sigil (computer programming) (section)

{{Other uses|Sigil (disambiguation)}}
{{short description|Symbol affixed to a variable name}}
In [[computer programming]], a '''sigil''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ɪ|dʒ|əl}}) is a symbol affixed to a [[variable (programming)|variable]] name, showing the variable's [[datatype]] or [[Scope (programming)|scope]], usually a prefix, as in <code>$foo</code>, where <code>$</code> is the sigil.

''[[wikt:sigil|Sigil]]'', from the [[Latin]] ''[[wikt:sigillum|sigillum]]'', meaning a "little sign", means ''a sign or image supposedly having magical power''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Definition of sigil|url=http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/sigil|work=[[Collins English Dictionary]]|access-date=22 May 2012}}</ref> Sigils can be used to separate and demarcate [[namespace]]s that possess different properties or behaviors.