*I don't know if I like my interpretation of the examples below anymore. I will just leave them here though* Here is more crazyness. I think Michael explains quite well what happens. The only thing new this first section shows is that new symbols get created sometimes, which makes it seem functions point to the wrong thing, but that actually does not matter. DynamicModule[{button, x = 0, ff, `}, ff := (++x); var = Hold[x]; var2= z; button = Button["setX", ff]; Dynamic[Column@{button, x, Hold[x], Hold[x], var, OwnValues[ff], z, var2}] ] > Hold[FE`x$$213] > Hold[FE`x$$213] > Hold[x$314] > {HoldPattern[FE`ff$$213] :> 1} > FE`z$$225 > z$1236 Conclusions: It is possible for a variable to point to the wrong thing, like with var, or var2. ff does point to right thing, but it's code gets evaluated. Probably: The pointing to the wrong thing is **not** caused by the `DynamicModule` changing it's x all the time. I suppose it really wants to evaluate the code attached to symbols and not have it refer to any of the used symbols. **DownValues** Also note DynamicModule[{gg = 0, x}, OwnValues[gg] = {HoldPattern[gg] :> x}; Dynamic[{OwnValues[gg], Hold[x]}] ] > {{HoldPattern[FE`gg$$270]:>FE'x$$270},Hold[FE`x$$270]} but DynamicModule[{gg = 0, x = 0}, OwnValues[gg] = {HoldPattern[gg] :> x}; Dynamic[{OwnValues[gg], Hold[x]}] ] > {{HoldPattern[FE`gg$$271]:>0},Hold[FE`x$$271]} It seems it does **not** matter if we set something using `OwnValues` or in the regular way, using `Set` or `SetDelayed`. It seems that a function definition can even be changed afterwards, like in DynamicModule[{gg = 0, x}, OwnValues[gg] = {HoldPattern[gg] :> x}; x = 0; Dynamic[{OwnValues[gg], Hold[x]}] ] > {{HoldPattern[FE`gg$$312]:>0},Hold[FE`x$$312]} **Order of evaluation** The order of evaluation seems only to depend on the order in which they appear in the list of local symbols in the first argument of `DynamicModule`. DynamicModule[{gg, x}, x := (Print["x"]; {2}); gg := (Print["gg"]; First@HoldComplete[x]; Print["ggDone"]); ] > gg (*print*) > x (*print*) > ggDone (*print*) > x (*print*) > Null and DynamicModule[{gg, x}, x := (Print["x"]; {2}); gg := (Print["gg"]; First@HoldComplete[x]; Print["ggDone"]); ] > x (*print*) > gg (*print*) > x (*print*) > ggDone (*print*) > Null (*print*) We also see that it uses the "old" definitions of symbols to generate the definitions of the new symbols. I suppose it never does use a new definition in the definition of another new symbol. I am lost :). I don't think I like this much.