# Using strings as names: make_symbol

### 12.4.5 Using strings as names: make_symbol

Variable and function names are symbols, namely sequences of characters, which are different from strings. For example, you can have a variable named abc, but not "abc". The make_symbol command turns a string into a symbol; for example make_symbol("abc") is the symbol abc.

#### Examples.

- Input:

  a:= "abc";
  make_symbol(a):= 3

  or:
  make_symbol("abc"):= 3
  then:
  abc
  Output:

  3

  The variable abc will have the value 3.
- Similarly for functions.
  Input:

  b:= "sin";
  make_symbol(b)(pi/4)

  or:
  make_symbol("sin")(pi/4)
  Output:

  √

  2

  2

  which is sin(pi/4).