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Unlike the function Clear, the function Unset does not work for string patterns. Given the name of a variable as a string, how can you unset the corresponding variable? Example:

Given:

x = 10;

trying to unset later:

Unset[Symbol["x"]]

results in 

Unset::write: Tag Symbol in Symbol[x] is Protected. >>

Using With:

With[{var = Symbol["x"]}, Unset[var]]

results in

Unset::usraw: Cannot unset raw object 10. >>

Note that Clear["x"] is not an option, because it also removes all DownValues associated with x.

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    $\begingroup$ Dumb solution: ToExpression["Unset[" <> "x" <> "]"]. $\endgroup$ – J. M.'s ennui♦ May 7 '13 at 12:27
  • $\begingroup$ ToExpression@MakeBoxes[RawBoxes["x"] =.] $\endgroup$ – Kuba♦ May 13 '15 at 12:37
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You can use the third argument of ToExpression to do this in a structured way:

ToExpression["x", InputForm, Unset]
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  • $\begingroup$ That's a tricky solution! Thanks. $\endgroup$ – sakra May 7 '13 at 13:00
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    $\begingroup$ +1. I remember that you have a long history of using this construct, which I also use often. @sakra An alternative: Unset @@ ToHeldExpression["x"] $\endgroup$ – Leonid Shifrin May 7 '13 at 16:47
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    $\begingroup$ Yes, it's useful when trying to do something with some symbols I get from Names["...*"]. The usual form one ends up with is ToExpression["x", InputForm, Function[expr, ..., {HoldAll}]], which is rather cumbersome. I did not know about ToHeldExpression. It might make some things simpler. $\endgroup$ – Szabolcs May 7 '13 at 16:56
  • $\begingroup$ @Szabolcs ToHeldExpression is deprecated and undocumented, but I am sure it will stay. $\endgroup$ – Leonid Shifrin May 7 '13 at 17:40
  • $\begingroup$ As noted here, ToHeldExpression[] was deprecated in version three. Still, it remains in the kernel, much like that other function Release[]... $\endgroup$ – J. M.'s ennui♦ May 7 '13 at 20:51

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