Typographical Conventions

Typographical conventions are used in our code examples. Learn what Courier font, italics, and brackets mean.

In descriptions of syntax, a monospace font indicates items that you should type as shown, except for brackets. For example:

In descriptions of syntax, italics represent variables. You supply the actual value. In the following example, three values must be supplied: datatype__variable_name [ = value];

If the syntax is bold and italic, the text represents a code element that needs a value supplied by you, such as a class name or variable value:

In code samples and syntax descriptions, a bold courier font emphasizes a portion of the code or syntax.

In descriptions of syntax, less-than and greater-than symbols (< >) are typed exactly as shown.

In descriptions of syntax, braces ({ }) are typed exactly as shown.

In descriptions of syntax, anything included in brackets is optional. In the following example, specifying {value} is optional:

In descriptions of syntax, the pipe sign means “or”. You can do one of the following (not all). In the following example, you can create a new unpopulated set in one of two ways, or you can populate the set: