How to use the $delta argument? How do I use the $delta argument in hook_block?

I have tried to used one, but there wasn't any effect.

What is the correct way to do this?
As noted elsewhere, $delta allows one module to return many blocks. It may also be easier to understand if you keep in mind that the $delta need not be numeric. It's simply an identifier.

You use the $delta first when responding to the 'list' $op. Each key in the $block array you return will be a $delta that can be used to configure or render that specific block.

switch ($op) {
    case 'list':
      $block['sidebar-links']['info'] = t('Sidebar Links');
      $block['footer-links']['info'] = t('Footer Links');
      return $block;


What this is telling the Drupal system is that the module in question has two blocks, one of which is identified by "sidebar-links", the other by "footer-links". 

This will place two blocks on the admin/build/block config page. Should you enable both blocks, they will then be rendered by calls to the 'view' $op with the identifying key as the $delta:

    case 'view':
      switch ($delta) {
        case 'sidebar-links': 
          $block['subject'] = t('Sidebar Links');
          $block['content'] = "super weak";
          break;
        case 'footer-links':
          $block['subject'] = t('Footer Links');
          $block['content'] = "super weak";
          break;
      }
      return $block;
  }


As an added bonus, using semantic keys for your blocks will result in easier to read CSS id's. :)