In the enigmatic realm of programming, ‘.’ holds a multifaceted significance, serving as an indispensable operator with a wide range of applications. Dot Notation: * Accessing Object Members: ‘.’ enables the retrieval of attributes or methods from objects. For example, `object.property` retrieves the property value, while `object.method()` invokes the method. * Navigating Nested Data Structures: ‘.’ allows for seamless traversal of nested data structures, such as arrays and nested objects. Consider the expression `array[index].subarray[subindex]`, which retrieves an element from a subarray within an array. Concatenation Operator: * String Concatenation: ‘.’ can concatenate two strings, resulting in a new string that combines their characters. For instance, `’Hello’ . ‘World’` produces the string ‘HelloWorld’. * Operator Chaining: In some programming languages, ‘.’ can be used to chain operators together. This simplifies code by allowing multiple operations to be performed on a single operand sequentially. For example, `a.toUpperCase().trim()` calls the `toUpperCase()` and `trim()` methods on variable `a`. Current Directory Reference: * In filesystem operations, ‘..’ represents the parent directory of the current directory. Using it in pathnames allows for efficient navigation through the file system hierarchy. For example, the path ‘../folder1’ moves to the parent directory and then to the ‘folder1’ subdirectory. Other Uses: * Range Operator: In certain contexts, ‘.’ can act as a range operator, specifying an inclusive range of values. For example, in Rust, the expression `1..5` represents the range from 1 to 5 (inclusive). * Null Coalescing Operator: In some languages, such as JavaScript, ‘.’ can be used as a null coalescing operator. It returns the left-hand operand if it is not null, otherwise the right-hand operand. In summary, ‘.’ is a versatile operator that plays a crucial role in many programming tasks, including object member access, data structure navigation, string concatenation, filesystem navigation, and various other applications. Its concise and intuitive syntax makes it an essential tool for programmers of all skill levels.
Airline Passengers Stranded After Flight Delays, Cancelations Thousands of airline passengers were stranded across the country on Friday after a series of flight delays and cancelations due to severe weather and technical issues. At major airports including New York’s JFK and Chicago’s O’Hare, long lines of frustrated travelers waited for updates on their flights. One passenger told reporters that she had been waiting for over six hours with no information on when her flight would depart. “It’s a nightmare,” she said. “I’m supposed to be on a business trip, but now I’m stuck here indefinitely.” Airlines blamed the disruptions on a combination of factors, including a winter storm that affected the Northeast, high winds, and mechanical problems with planes. The weather caused visibility issues, making it difficult for planes to take off and land safely. High winds also posed a risk to aircraft, forcing airlines to ground flights in some areas. In addition to the weather, several airlines also reported technical issues with their planes. One carrier said that it had canceled flights after discovering a problem with the landing gear on one of its aircraft. The travel disruptions are expected to continue for the next few days, as the storm continues to move through the country. Airlines are urging passengers to check with their carriers before heading to the airport. “We apologize for the inconvenience and disruption to our customers’ travel plans,” said a spokesperson for one of the affected airlines. “We are working to resolve these issues as quickly as possible and get our passengers to their destinations.”
