Unique

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`Unique`

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Unique[]

generates a new symbol, whose name is of the form $nnn.

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Unique[x]

generates a new symbol, with a name of the form x$nnn.

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Unique[{x,y,…}]

generates a list of new symbols.

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Unique["xxx"]

generates a new symbol, with a name of the form xxxnnn.

Details

Unique[x] numbers the symbols it creates using $ModuleNumber, and increments $ModuleNumber every time it is called.
Unique["xxx"] numbers the symbols it creates sequentially, starting at 1 for each string xxx.
Unique[name,{attr₁,attr₂,…}] generates a symbol that has the attributes attr_i.

Examples

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Basic Examples (1)Summary of the most common use cases

In[1]:=1

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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8s8a-vi3wr

Out[1]=1

In[2]:=2

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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8s8a-hlfb0m

Out[2]=2

Scope (3)Survey of the scope of standard use cases

Create a unique symbol with no particular name:

In[1]:=1

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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8s8a-bigfgt

Out[1]=1

Create a unique symbol whose name begins with x:

In[1]:=1

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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8s8a-h1y9c

Out[1]=1

Create a unique symbol in the way Module does:

In[1]:=1

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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8s8a-hjvrbv

Out[1]=1

Properties & Relations (3)Properties of the function, and connections to other functions

Each use of Unique[symbol] increments $ModuleNumber:

In[1]:=1

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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8s8a-jjks0b

Out[1]=1

Unique[symbol] creates symbols in the same way Module does:

In[1]:=1

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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8s8a-0ibhh

Out[1]=1

Unique["x"] uses the first unused symbol of the form xnnn:

In[1]:=1

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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8s8a-hdmzeg

Out[1]=1

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