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x := e -- assign the value e to the new local variable x
f X := (x) -> ( ... ) -- install a method for the method function f acting on an argument of class X.
X * Y := (x,y) -> ( ... ) -- install a method for the operator * applied to arguments of classes X and Y. Many other operators are allowed: see operators.

(a,b,c) := x -- assigns the members of the sequence x as values of the local variables a, b, c. If x has too few elements, then the trailing symbols on the left side are given the value null. If x has too many elements, then the last symbol on the left hand side is given as value a sequence containing the trailing elements of the right hand side. If the right hand side is not a sequence, then a gets the value, and b and c get null.

This operator is slightly schizophrenic in its function, as the installation of a method has global effect if the classes involved are globally known, as is typically the case, whereas the assignment of a value to a local variable is never globally known.

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