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]} **Dependency tracking** Even this yields an error DynamicModule[{gg = 0, x}, gg := x[[1]]; ] -> Null (error) But this does not DynamicModule[{gg = 0, x}, gg := x[[1]]; x := {2} ] -> 2 `DynamicModule` seems to track dependencies between symbols, even despite `HoldComplete` DynamicModule[{gg, x}, x := (Print["x"]; {2}); gg := (Print["gg"]; First@HoldComplete[x]; Print["ggDone"]); ] -prints-> gg -prints-> x -prints-> ggDone -prints-> x -> Null I am lost :). I don't think I like this much.