variables and objects

[Ivers, Doug E]

Seems that all user-created variables are character strings.  Is target also a character string, or is it something more sophisticated (like a pointer in C)?  Same question for this card, recent card, this stack, etc.

Are these statements the same in the way they work "behind the scenes"?
     answer the id of this card
     get the long name of this card; answer the id of it


-- D