usefulness of the `nameof` pattern is not clear

[daveyostcom]

A compelling use for the nameof pattern is not presented. I can’t see the usefulness from the example given.

let f (str: string) =
    match str with
    | nameof str -> "It's 'str'!"
    | _ -> "It is not 'str'!"

seems to work identically to this:

let f2 (s: string) =
    match s with
    | "str" -> "It's 'str'!"
    | _ -> "It is not 'str'!"

The page linked does not help to clarify.

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• ID: 8a3ed054-03c9-375f-403b-68f0356d5870
• Version Independent ID: 3c167003-13e8-359b-e919-693258e7f48b
• Content: Pattern Matching - F#
• Content Source: docs/fsharp/language-reference/pattern-matching.md
• Product: dotnet-fsharp
• GitHub Login: @cartermp
• Microsoft Alias: dotnetcontent

[gfoidl]

The page linked does not help to clarify.

Are you refering to Nameof?

The benefit of nameof is that you can "reference" a symbol in the source, and if you rename that symbol, then nameof will use the new value. So no magic strings, no latent errors by forgotten updates of these magic strings, and so on.

In the docs for nameof there's

This is useful in various scenarios, such as logging, and protects your logging against changes in source code.

under Remarks, but this could be more prominent and w/o the example of logging given?

[BillWagner]

tagging @vzarytovskii for recommendation on the best fix.

[daveyostcom]

Are you refering to Nameof?

Yes

The benefit of nameof is that you can "reference" a symbol in the source, and if you rename that symbol, then nameof will use the new value. So no magic strings, no latent errors by forgotten updates of these magic strings, and so on.

That’s a nice way to put it.

In the docs for nameof there's

This is useful in various scenarios, such as logging, and protects your logging against changes in source code.

under Remarks, but this could be more prominent and w/o the example of logging given?

It would be compelling to explain as above and also give a logging example.