Seven Obscure Languages in Seven Weeks

Using Indirect References

The indirect reference operator $ (dollar sign) turns a string str into a namesake variable or label. The str might be a direct string literal, an outcome of a string concatenation, or a string produced by a string function (refer to the section ​Understanding Functions and Predicates​). In the following program, the operator concatenates the label prefix “L” and the numerical user input, directing the program flow to the designated label.

snobol/menu.sno

* Display the menu
    OUTPUT = "Menu:"
    OUTPUT = "Press 1 for action, 2 for help, 3 for panic" :($("L" INPUT))
* Invoke a menu item
L1  OUTPUT = "Thank you for using Snobol!"  :(END)
L2  OUTPUT = "Help is on the way!"          :(END)
L3 OUTPUT ...