Avoid DECLARE_INTERVALS.
[bpt/emacs.git] / man / cl.texi
1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @setfilename ../info/cl
3 @settitle Common Lisp Extensions
4
5 @dircategory Emacs
6 @direntry
7 * CL: (cl). Partial Common Lisp support for Emacs Lisp.
8 @end direntry
9
10 @iftex
11 @finalout
12 @end iftex
13
14 @ifinfo
15 This file documents the GNU Emacs Common Lisp emulation package.
16
17 Copyright (C) 1993 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
18
19 Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this
20 manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are
21 preserved on all copies.
22
23 @ignore
24 Permission is granted to process this file through TeX and print the
25 results, provided the printed document carries copying permission notice
26 identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph (this
27 paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
28
29 @end ignore
30 Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
31 manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that the
32 section entitled ``GNU General Public License'' is included exactly as
33 in the original, and provided that the entire resulting derived work is
34 distributed under the terms of a permission notice identical to this one.
35
36 Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
37 into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions,
38 except that the section entitled ``GNU General Public License'' may be
39 included in a translation approved by the author instead of in the
40 original English.
41 @end ifinfo
42
43 @titlepage
44 @sp 6
45 @center @titlefont{Common Lisp Extensions}
46 @sp 4
47 @center For GNU Emacs Lisp
48 @sp 1
49 @center Version 2.02
50 @sp 5
51 @center Dave Gillespie
52 @center daveg@@synaptics.com
53 @page
54
55 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
56 Copyright @copyright{} 1993 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
57
58 Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
59 this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
60 are preserved on all copies.
61
62 @ignore
63 Permission is granted to process this file through TeX and print the
64 results, provided the printed document carries copying permission notice
65 identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph (this
66 paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
67
68 @end ignore
69 Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
70 manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that the
71 section entitled ``GNU General Public License'' is included exactly as
72 in the original, and provided that the entire resulting derived work is
73 distributed under the terms of a permission notice identical to this one.
74
75 Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
76 into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions,
77 except that the section entitled ``GNU General Public License'' may be
78 included in a translation approved by the author instead of in the
79 original English.
80 @end titlepage
81
82 @node Top, Overview,, (dir)
83 @chapter Common Lisp Extensions
84
85 @noindent
86 This document describes a set of Emacs Lisp facilities borrowed from
87 Common Lisp. All the facilities are described here in detail. While
88 this document does not assume any prior knowledge of Common Lisp, it
89 does assume a basic familiarity with Emacs Lisp.
90
91 @menu
92 * Overview:: Installation, usage, etc.
93 * Program Structure:: Arglists, `eval-when', `defalias'
94 * Predicates:: `typep', `eql', and `equalp'
95 * Control Structure:: `setf', `do', `loop', etc.
96 * Macros:: Destructuring, `define-compiler-macro'
97 * Declarations:: `proclaim', `declare', etc.
98 * Symbols:: Property lists, `gensym'
99 * Numbers:: Predicates, functions, random numbers
100 * Sequences:: Mapping, functions, searching, sorting
101 * Lists:: `cadr', `sublis', `member*', `assoc*', etc.
102 * Hash Tables:: `make-hash-table', `gethash', etc.
103 * Structures:: `defstruct'
104 * Assertions:: `check-type', `assert', `ignore-errors'.
105
106 * Efficiency Concerns:: Hints and techniques
107 * Common Lisp Compatibility:: All known differences with Steele
108 * Old CL Compatibility:: All known differences with old cl.el
109 * Porting Common Lisp:: Hints for porting Common Lisp code
110
111 * Function Index::
112 * Variable Index::
113 @end menu
114
115 @node Overview, Program Structure, Top, Top
116 @ifinfo
117 @chapter Overview
118 @end ifinfo
119 @iftex
120 @section Overview
121 @end iftex
122
123 @noindent
124 Common Lisp is a huge language, and Common Lisp systems tend to be
125 massive and extremely complex. Emacs Lisp, by contrast, is rather
126 minimalist in the choice of Lisp features it offers the programmer.
127 As Emacs Lisp programmers have grown in number, and the applications
128 they write have grown more ambitious, it has become clear that Emacs
129 Lisp could benefit from many of the conveniences of Common Lisp.
130
131 The @dfn{CL} package adds a number of Common Lisp functions and
132 control structures to Emacs Lisp. While not a 100% complete
133 implementation of Common Lisp, @dfn{CL} adds enough functionality
134 to make Emacs Lisp programming significantly more convenient.
135
136 Some Common Lisp features have been omitted from this package
137 for various reasons:
138
139 @itemize @bullet
140 @item
141 Some features are too complex or bulky relative to their benefit
142 to Emacs Lisp programmers. CLOS and Common Lisp streams are fine
143 examples of this group.
144
145 @item
146 Other features cannot be implemented without modification to the
147 Emacs Lisp interpreter itself, such as multiple return values,
148 lexical scoping, case-insensitive symbols, and complex numbers.
149 The @dfn{CL} package generally makes no attempt to emulate these
150 features.
151
152 @item
153 Some features conflict with existing things in Emacs Lisp. For
154 example, Emacs' @code{assoc} function is incompatible with the
155 Common Lisp @code{assoc}. In such cases, this package usually
156 adds the suffix @samp{*} to the function name of the Common
157 Lisp version of the function (e.g., @code{assoc*}).
158 @end itemize
159
160 The package described here was written by Dave Gillespie,
161 @file{daveg@@synaptics.com}. It is a total rewrite of the original
162 1986 @file{cl.el} package by Cesar Quiroz. Most features of the
163 the Quiroz package have been retained; any incompatibilities are
164 noted in the descriptions below. Care has been taken in this
165 version to ensure that each function is defined efficiently,
166 concisely, and with minimal impact on the rest of the Emacs
167 environment.
168
169 @menu
170 * Usage:: How to use the CL package
171 * Organization:: The package's five component files
172 * Installation:: Compiling and installing CL
173 * Naming Conventions:: Notes on CL function names
174 @end menu
175
176 @node Usage, Organization, Overview, Overview
177 @section Usage
178
179 @noindent
180 Lisp code that uses features from the @dfn{CL} package should
181 include at the beginning:
182
183 @example
184 (require 'cl)
185 @end example
186
187 @noindent
188 If you want to ensure that the new (Gillespie) version of @dfn{CL}
189 is the one that is present, add an additional @code{(require 'cl-19)}
190 call:
191
192 @example
193 (require 'cl)
194 (require 'cl-19)
195 @end example
196
197 @noindent
198 The second call will fail (with ``@file{cl-19.el} not found'') if
199 the old @file{cl.el} package was in use.
200
201 It is safe to arrange to load @dfn{CL} at all times, e.g.,
202 in your @file{.emacs} file. But it's a good idea, for portability,
203 to @code{(require 'cl)} in your code even if you do this.
204
205 @node Organization, Installation, Usage, Overview
206 @section Organization
207
208 @noindent
209 The Common Lisp package is organized into four files:
210
211 @table @file
212 @item cl.el
213 This is the ``main'' file, which contains basic functions
214 and information about the package. This file is relatively
215 compact---about 700 lines.
216
217 @item cl-extra.el
218 This file contains the larger, more complex or unusual functions.
219 It is kept separate so that packages which only want to use Common
220 Lisp fundamentals like the @code{cadr} function won't need to pay
221 the overhead of loading the more advanced functions.
222
223 @item cl-seq.el
224 This file contains most of the advanced functions for operating
225 on sequences or lists, such as @code{delete-if} and @code{assoc*}.
226
227 @item cl-macs.el
228 This file contains the features of the packages which are macros
229 instead of functions. Macros expand when the caller is compiled,
230 not when it is run, so the macros generally only need to be
231 present when the byte-compiler is running (or when the macros are
232 used in uncompiled code such as a @file{.emacs} file). Most of
233 the macros of this package are isolated in @file{cl-macs.el} so
234 that they won't take up memory unless you are compiling.
235 @end table
236
237 The file @file{cl.el} includes all necessary @code{autoload}
238 commands for the functions and macros in the other three files.
239 All you have to do is @code{(require 'cl)}, and @file{cl.el}
240 will take care of pulling in the other files when they are
241 needed.
242
243 There is another file, @file{cl-compat.el}, which defines some
244 routines from the older @file{cl.el} package that are no longer
245 present in the new package. This includes internal routines
246 like @code{setelt} and @code{zip-lists}, deprecated features
247 like @code{defkeyword}, and an emulation of the old-style
248 multiple-values feature. @xref{Old CL Compatibility}.
249
250 @node Installation, Naming Conventions, Organization, Overview
251 @section Installation
252
253 @noindent
254 Installation of the @dfn{CL} package is simple: Just put the
255 byte-compiled files @file{cl.elc}, @file{cl-extra.elc},
256 @file{cl-seq.elc}, @file{cl-macs.elc}, and @file{cl-compat.elc}
257 into a directory on your @code{load-path}.
258
259 There are no special requirements to compile this package:
260 The files do not have to be loaded before they are compiled,
261 nor do they need to be compiled in any particular order.
262
263 You may choose to put the files into your main @file{lisp/}
264 directory, replacing the original @file{cl.el} file there. Or,
265 you could put them into a directory that comes before @file{lisp/}
266 on your @code{load-path} so that the old @file{cl.el} is
267 effectively hidden.
268
269 Also, format the @file{cl.texinfo} file and put the resulting
270 Info files in the @file{info/} directory or another suitable place.
271
272 You may instead wish to leave this package's components all in
273 their own directory, and then add this directory to your
274 @code{load-path} and (Emacs 19 only) @code{Info-directory-list}.
275 Add the directory to the front of the list so the old @dfn{CL}
276 package and its documentation are hidden.
277
278 @node Naming Conventions, , Installation, Overview
279 @section Naming Conventions
280
281 @noindent
282 Except where noted, all functions defined by this package have the
283 same names and calling conventions as their Common Lisp counterparts.
284
285 Following is a complete list of functions whose names were changed
286 from Common Lisp, usually to avoid conflicts with Emacs. In each
287 case, a @samp{*} has been appended to the Common Lisp name to obtain
288 the Emacs name:
289
290 @example
291 defun* defsubst* defmacro* function*
292 member* assoc* rassoc* get*
293 remove* delete* mapcar* sort*
294 floor* ceiling* truncate* round*
295 mod* rem* random* last*
296 @end example
297
298 Internal function and variable names in the package are prefixed
299 by @code{cl-}. Here is a complete list of functions @emph{not}
300 prefixed by @code{cl-} which were not taken from Common Lisp:
301
302 @example
303 member remove remq
304 floatp-safe lexical-let lexical-let*
305 callf callf2 letf letf*
306 defsubst* defalias add-hook eval-when-compile
307 @end example
308
309 @noindent
310 (Most of these are Emacs 19 features provided to Emacs 18 users,
311 or introduced, like @code{remq}, for reasons of symmetry
312 with similar features.)
313
314 The following simple functions and macros are defined in @file{cl.el};
315 they do not cause other components like @file{cl-extra} to be loaded.
316
317 @example
318 eql floatp-safe endp
319 evenp oddp plusp minusp
320 butlast nbutlast caaar .. cddddr
321 list* ldiff rest first .. tenth
322 copy-list subst mapcar* [2]
323 adjoin [3] acons pairlis pop [4]
324 push [4] pushnew [3,4] incf [4] decf [4]
325 proclaim declaim
326 @end example
327
328 @noindent
329 [2] Only for one sequence argument or two list arguments.
330
331 @noindent
332 [3] Only if @code{:test} is @code{eq}, @code{equal}, or unspecified,
333 and @code{:key} is not used.
334
335 @noindent
336 [4] Only when @var{place} is a plain variable name.
337
338 @iftex
339 @chapno=4
340 @end iftex
341
342 @node Program Structure, Predicates, Overview, Top
343 @chapter Program Structure
344
345 @noindent
346 This section describes features of the @dfn{CL} package which have to
347 do with programs as a whole: advanced argument lists for functions,
348 and the @code{eval-when} construct.
349
350 @menu
351 * Argument Lists:: `&key', `&aux', `defun*', `defmacro*'.
352 * Time of Evaluation:: The `eval-when' construct.
353 * Function Aliases:: The `defalias' function.
354 @end menu
355
356 @iftex
357 @secno=1
358 @end iftex
359
360 @node Argument Lists, Time of Evaluation, Program Structure, Program Structure
361 @section Argument Lists
362
363 @noindent
364 Emacs Lisp's notation for argument lists of functions is a subset of
365 the Common Lisp notation. As well as the familiar @code{&optional}
366 and @code{&rest} markers, Common Lisp allows you to specify default
367 values for optional arguments, and it provides the additional markers
368 @code{&key} and @code{&aux}.
369
370 Since argument parsing is built-in to Emacs, there is no way for
371 this package to implement Common Lisp argument lists seamlessly.
372 Instead, this package defines alternates for several Lisp forms
373 which you must use if you need Common Lisp argument lists.
374
375 @defspec defun* name arglist body...
376 This form is identical to the regular @code{defun} form, except
377 that @var{arglist} is allowed to be a full Common Lisp argument
378 list. Also, the function body is enclosed in an implicit block
379 called @var{name}; @pxref{Blocks and Exits}.
380 @end defspec
381
382 @defspec defsubst* name arglist body...
383 This is just like @code{defun*}, except that the function that
384 is defined is automatically proclaimed @code{inline}, i.e.,
385 calls to it may be expanded into in-line code by the byte compiler.
386 This is analogous to the @code{defsubst} form in Emacs 19;
387 @code{defsubst*} uses a different method (compiler macros) which
388 works in all version of Emacs, and also generates somewhat more
389 efficient inline expansions. In particular, @code{defsubst*}
390 arranges for the processing of keyword arguments, default values,
391 etc., to be done at compile-time whenever possible.
392 @end defspec
393
394 @defspec defmacro* name arglist body...
395 This is identical to the regular @code{defmacro} form,
396 except that @var{arglist} is allowed to be a full Common Lisp
397 argument list. The @code{&environment} keyword is supported as
398 described in Steele. The @code{&whole} keyword is supported only
399 within destructured lists (see below); top-level @code{&whole}
400 cannot be implemented with the current Emacs Lisp interpreter.
401 The macro expander body is enclosed in an implicit block called
402 @var{name}.
403 @end defspec
404
405 @defspec function* symbol-or-lambda
406 This is identical to the regular @code{function} form,
407 except that if the argument is a @code{lambda} form then that
408 form may use a full Common Lisp argument list.
409 @end defspec
410
411 Also, all forms (such as @code{defsetf} and @code{flet}) defined
412 in this package that include @var{arglist}s in their syntax allow
413 full Common Lisp argument lists.
414
415 Note that it is @emph{not} necessary to use @code{defun*} in
416 order to have access to most @dfn{CL} features in your function.
417 These features are always present; @code{defun*}'s only
418 difference from @code{defun} is its more flexible argument
419 lists and its implicit block.
420
421 The full form of a Common Lisp argument list is
422
423 @example
424 (@var{var}...
425 &optional (@var{var} @var{initform} @var{svar})...
426 &rest @var{var}
427 &key ((@var{keyword} @var{var}) @var{initform} @var{svar})...
428 &aux (@var{var} @var{initform})...)
429 @end example
430
431 Each of the five argument list sections is optional. The @var{svar},
432 @var{initform}, and @var{keyword} parts are optional; if they are
433 omitted, then @samp{(@var{var})} may be written simply @samp{@var{var}}.
434
435 The first section consists of zero or more @dfn{required} arguments.
436 These arguments must always be specified in a call to the function;
437 there is no difference between Emacs Lisp and Common Lisp as far as
438 required arguments are concerned.
439
440 The second section consists of @dfn{optional} arguments. These
441 arguments may be specified in the function call; if they are not,
442 @var{initform} specifies the default value used for the argument.
443 (No @var{initform} means to use @code{nil} as the default.) The
444 @var{initform} is evaluated with the bindings for the preceding
445 arguments already established; @code{(a &optional (b (1+ a)))}
446 matches one or two arguments, with the second argument defaulting
447 to one plus the first argument. If the @var{svar} is specified,
448 it is an auxiliary variable which is bound to @code{t} if the optional
449 argument was specified, or to @code{nil} if the argument was omitted.
450 If you don't use an @var{svar}, then there will be no way for your
451 function to tell whether it was called with no argument, or with
452 the default value passed explicitly as an argument.
453
454 The third section consists of a single @dfn{rest} argument. If
455 more arguments were passed to the function than are accounted for
456 by the required and optional arguments, those extra arguments are
457 collected into a list and bound to the ``rest'' argument variable.
458 Common Lisp's @code{&rest} is equivalent to that of Emacs Lisp.
459 Common Lisp accepts @code{&body} as a synonym for @code{&rest} in
460 macro contexts; this package accepts it all the time.
461
462 The fourth section consists of @dfn{keyword} arguments. These
463 are optional arguments which are specified by name rather than
464 positionally in the argument list. For example,
465
466 @example
467 (defun* foo (a &optional b &key c d (e 17)))
468 @end example
469
470 @noindent
471 defines a function which may be called with one, two, or more
472 arguments. The first two arguments are bound to @code{a} and
473 @code{b} in the usual way. The remaining arguments must be
474 pairs of the form @code{:c}, @code{:d}, or @code{:e} followed
475 by the value to be bound to the corresponding argument variable.
476 (Symbols whose names begin with a colon are called @dfn{keywords},
477 and they are self-quoting in the same way as @code{nil} and
478 @code{t}.)
479
480 For example, the call @code{(foo 1 2 :d 3 :c 4)} sets the five
481 arguments to 1, 2, 4, 3, and 17, respectively. If the same keyword
482 appears more than once in the function call, the first occurrence
483 takes precedence over the later ones. Note that it is not possible
484 to specify keyword arguments without specifying the optional
485 argument @code{b} as well, since @code{(foo 1 :c 2)} would bind
486 @code{b} to the keyword @code{:c}, then signal an error because
487 @code{2} is not a valid keyword.
488
489 If a @var{keyword} symbol is explicitly specified in the argument
490 list as shown in the above diagram, then that keyword will be
491 used instead of just the variable name prefixed with a colon.
492 You can specify a @var{keyword} symbol which does not begin with
493 a colon at all, but such symbols will not be self-quoting; you
494 will have to quote them explicitly with an apostrophe in the
495 function call.
496
497 Ordinarily it is an error to pass an unrecognized keyword to
498 a function, e.g., @code{(foo 1 2 :c 3 :goober 4)}. You can ask
499 Lisp to ignore unrecognized keywords, either by adding the
500 marker @code{&allow-other-keys} after the keyword section
501 of the argument list, or by specifying an @code{:allow-other-keys}
502 argument in the call whose value is non-@code{nil}. If the
503 function uses both @code{&rest} and @code{&key} at the same time,
504 the ``rest'' argument is bound to the keyword list as it appears
505 in the call. For example:
506
507 @smallexample
508 (defun* find-thing (thing &rest rest &key need &allow-other-keys)
509 (or (apply 'member* thing thing-list :allow-other-keys t rest)
510 (if need (error "Thing not found"))))
511 @end smallexample
512
513 @noindent
514 This function takes a @code{:need} keyword argument, but also
515 accepts other keyword arguments which are passed on to the
516 @code{member*} function. @code{allow-other-keys} is used to
517 keep both @code{find-thing} and @code{member*} from complaining
518 about each others' keywords in the arguments.
519
520 As a (significant) performance optimization, this package
521 implements the scan for keyword arguments by calling @code{memq}
522 to search for keywords in a ``rest'' argument. Technically
523 speaking, this is incorrect, since @code{memq} looks at the
524 odd-numbered values as well as the even-numbered keywords.
525 The net effect is that if you happen to pass a keyword symbol
526 as the @emph{value} of another keyword argument, where that
527 keyword symbol happens to equal the name of a valid keyword
528 argument of the same function, then the keyword parser will
529 become confused. This minor bug can only affect you if you
530 use keyword symbols as general-purpose data in your program;
531 this practice is strongly discouraged in Emacs Lisp.
532
533 The fifth section of the argument list consists of @dfn{auxiliary
534 variables}. These are not really arguments at all, but simply
535 variables which are bound to @code{nil} or to the specified
536 @var{initforms} during execution of the function. There is no
537 difference between the following two functions, except for a
538 matter of stylistic taste:
539
540 @example
541 (defun* foo (a b &aux (c (+ a b)) d)
542 @var{body})
543
544 (defun* foo (a b)
545 (let ((c (+ a b)) d)
546 @var{body}))
547 @end example
548
549 Argument lists support @dfn{destructuring}. In Common Lisp,
550 destructuring is only allowed with @code{defmacro}; this package
551 allows it with @code{defun*} and other argument lists as well.
552 In destructuring, any argument variable (@var{var} in the above
553 diagram) can be replaced by a list of variables, or more generally,
554 a recursive argument list. The corresponding argument value must
555 be a list whose elements match this recursive argument list.
556 For example:
557
558 @example
559 (defmacro* dolist ((var listform &optional resultform)
560 &rest body)
561 ...)
562 @end example
563
564 This says that the first argument of @code{dolist} must be a list
565 of two or three items; if there are other arguments as well as this
566 list, they are stored in @code{body}. All features allowed in
567 regular argument lists are allowed in these recursive argument lists.
568 In addition, the clause @samp{&whole @var{var}} is allowed at the
569 front of a recursive argument list. It binds @var{var} to the
570 whole list being matched; thus @code{(&whole all a b)} matches
571 a list of two things, with @code{a} bound to the first thing,
572 @code{b} bound to the second thing, and @code{all} bound to the
573 list itself. (Common Lisp allows @code{&whole} in top-level
574 @code{defmacro} argument lists as well, but Emacs Lisp does not
575 support this usage.)
576
577 One last feature of destructuring is that the argument list may be
578 dotted, so that the argument list @code{(a b . c)} is functionally
579 equivalent to @code{(a b &rest c)}.
580
581 If the optimization quality @code{safety} is set to 0
582 (@pxref{Declarations}), error checking for wrong number of
583 arguments and invalid keyword arguments is disabled. By default,
584 argument lists are rigorously checked.
585
586 @node Time of Evaluation, Function Aliases, Argument Lists, Program Structure
587 @section Time of Evaluation
588
589 @noindent
590 Normally, the byte-compiler does not actually execute the forms in
591 a file it compiles. For example, if a file contains @code{(setq foo t)},
592 the act of compiling it will not actually set @code{foo} to @code{t}.
593 This is true even if the @code{setq} was a top-level form (i.e., not
594 enclosed in a @code{defun} or other form). Sometimes, though, you
595 would like to have certain top-level forms evaluated at compile-time.
596 For example, the compiler effectively evaluates @code{defmacro} forms
597 at compile-time so that later parts of the file can refer to the
598 macros that are defined.
599
600 @defspec eval-when (situations...) forms...
601 This form controls when the body @var{forms} are evaluated.
602 The @var{situations} list may contain any set of the symbols
603 @code{compile}, @code{load}, and @code{eval} (or their long-winded
604 ANSI equivalents, @code{:compile-toplevel}, @code{:load-toplevel},
605 and @code{:execute}).
606
607 The @code{eval-when} form is handled differently depending on
608 whether or not it is being compiled as a top-level form.
609 Specifically, it gets special treatment if it is being compiled
610 by a command such as @code{byte-compile-file} which compiles files
611 or buffers of code, and it appears either literally at the
612 top level of the file or inside a top-level @code{progn}.
613
614 For compiled top-level @code{eval-when}s, the body @var{forms} are
615 executed at compile-time if @code{compile} is in the @var{situations}
616 list, and the @var{forms} are written out to the file (to be executed
617 at load-time) if @code{load} is in the @var{situations} list.
618
619 For non-compiled-top-level forms, only the @code{eval} situation is
620 relevant. (This includes forms executed by the interpreter, forms
621 compiled with @code{byte-compile} rather than @code{byte-compile-file},
622 and non-top-level forms.) The @code{eval-when} acts like a
623 @code{progn} if @code{eval} is specified, and like @code{nil}
624 (ignoring the body @var{forms}) if not.
625
626 The rules become more subtle when @code{eval-when}s are nested;
627 consult Steele (second edition) for the gruesome details (and
628 some gruesome examples).
629
630 Some simple examples:
631
632 @example
633 ;; Top-level forms in foo.el:
634 (eval-when (compile) (setq foo1 'bar))
635 (eval-when (load) (setq foo2 'bar))
636 (eval-when (compile load) (setq foo3 'bar))
637 (eval-when (eval) (setq foo4 'bar))
638 (eval-when (eval compile) (setq foo5 'bar))
639 (eval-when (eval load) (setq foo6 'bar))
640 (eval-when (eval compile load) (setq foo7 'bar))
641 @end example
642
643 When @file{foo.el} is compiled, these variables will be set during
644 the compilation itself:
645
646 @example
647 foo1 foo3 foo5 foo7 ; `compile'
648 @end example
649
650 When @file{foo.elc} is loaded, these variables will be set:
651
652 @example
653 foo2 foo3 foo6 foo7 ; `load'
654 @end example
655
656 And if @file{foo.el} is loaded uncompiled, these variables will
657 be set:
658
659 @example
660 foo4 foo5 foo6 foo7 ; `eval'
661 @end example
662
663 If these seven @code{eval-when}s had been, say, inside a @code{defun},
664 then the first three would have been equivalent to @code{nil} and the
665 last four would have been equivalent to the corresponding @code{setq}s.
666
667 Note that @code{(eval-when (load eval) @dots{})} is equivalent
668 to @code{(progn @dots{})} in all contexts. The compiler treats
669 certain top-level forms, like @code{defmacro} (sort-of) and
670 @code{require}, as if they were wrapped in @code{(eval-when
671 (compile load eval) @dots{})}.
672 @end defspec
673
674 Emacs 19 includes two special forms related to @code{eval-when}.
675 One of these, @code{eval-when-compile}, is not quite equivalent to
676 any @code{eval-when} construct and is described below.
677
678 The other form, @code{(eval-and-compile @dots{})}, is exactly
679 equivalent to @samp{(eval-when (compile load eval) @dots{})} and
680 so is not itself defined by this package.
681
682 @defspec eval-when-compile forms...
683 The @var{forms} are evaluated at compile-time; at execution time,
684 this form acts like a quoted constant of the resulting value. Used
685 at top-level, @code{eval-when-compile} is just like @samp{eval-when
686 (compile eval)}. In other contexts, @code{eval-when-compile}
687 allows code to be evaluated once at compile-time for efficiency
688 or other reasons.
689
690 This form is similar to the @samp{#.} syntax of true Common Lisp.
691 @end defspec
692
693 @defspec load-time-value form
694 The @var{form} is evaluated at load-time; at execution time,
695 this form acts like a quoted constant of the resulting value.
696
697 Early Common Lisp had a @samp{#,} syntax that was similar to
698 this, but ANSI Common Lisp replaced it with @code{load-time-value}
699 and gave it more well-defined semantics.
700
701 In a compiled file, @code{load-time-value} arranges for @var{form}
702 to be evaluated when the @file{.elc} file is loaded and then used
703 as if it were a quoted constant. In code compiled by
704 @code{byte-compile} rather than @code{byte-compile-file}, the
705 effect is identical to @code{eval-when-compile}. In uncompiled
706 code, both @code{eval-when-compile} and @code{load-time-value}
707 act exactly like @code{progn}.
708
709 @example
710 (defun report ()
711 (insert "This function was executed on: "
712 (current-time-string)
713 ", compiled on: "
714 (eval-when-compile (current-time-string))
715 ;; or '#.(current-time-string) in real Common Lisp
716 ", and loaded on: "
717 (load-time-value (current-time-string))))
718 @end example
719
720 @noindent
721 Byte-compiled, the above defun will result in the following code
722 (or its compiled equivalent, of course) in the @file{.elc} file:
723
724 @example
725 (setq --temp-- (current-time-string))
726 (defun report ()
727 (insert "This function was executed on: "
728 (current-time-string)
729 ", compiled on: "
730 '"Wed Jun 23 18:33:43 1993"
731 ", and loaded on: "
732 --temp--))
733 @end example
734 @end defspec
735
736 @node Function Aliases, , Time of Evaluation, Program Structure
737 @section Function Aliases
738
739 @noindent
740 This section describes a feature from GNU Emacs 19 which this
741 package makes available in other versions of Emacs.
742
743 @defun defalias symbol function
744 This function sets @var{symbol}'s function cell to @var{function}.
745 It is equivalent to @code{fset}, except that in GNU Emacs 19 it also
746 records the setting in @code{load-history} so that it can be undone
747 by a later @code{unload-feature}.
748
749 In other versions of Emacs, @code{defalias} is a synonym for
750 @code{fset}.
751 @end defun
752
753 @node Predicates, Control Structure, Program Structure, Top
754 @chapter Predicates
755
756 @noindent
757 This section describes functions for testing whether various
758 facts are true or false.
759
760 @menu
761 * Type Predicates:: `typep', `deftype', and `coerce'
762 * Equality Predicates:: `eql' and `equalp'
763 @end menu
764
765 @node Type Predicates, Equality Predicates, Predicates, Predicates
766 @section Type Predicates
767
768 @noindent
769 The @dfn{CL} package defines a version of the Common Lisp @code{typep}
770 predicate.
771
772 @defun typep object type
773 Check if @var{object} is of type @var{type}, where @var{type} is a
774 (quoted) type name of the sort used by Common Lisp. For example,
775 @code{(typep foo 'integer)} is equivalent to @code{(integerp foo)}.
776 @end defun
777
778 The @var{type} argument to the above function is either a symbol
779 or a list beginning with a symbol.
780
781 @itemize @bullet
782 @item
783 If the type name is a symbol, Emacs appends @samp{-p} to the
784 symbol name to form the name of a predicate function for testing
785 the type. (Built-in predicates whose names end in @samp{p} rather
786 than @samp{-p} are used when appropriate.)
787
788 @item
789 The type symbol @code{t} stands for the union of all types.
790 @code{(typep @var{object} t)} is always true. Likewise, the
791 type symbol @code{nil} stands for nothing at all, and
792 @code{(typep @var{object} nil)} is always false.
793
794 @item
795 The type symbol @code{null} represents the symbol @code{nil}.
796 Thus @code{(typep @var{object} 'null)} is equivalent to
797 @code{(null @var{object})}.
798
799 @item
800 The type symbol @code{real} is a synonym for @code{number}, and
801 @code{fixnum} is a synonym for @code{integer}.
802
803 @item
804 The type symbols @code{character} and @code{string-char} match
805 integers in the range from 0 to 255.
806
807 @item
808 The type symbol @code{float} uses the @code{floatp-safe} predicate
809 defined by this package rather than @code{floatp}, so it will work
810 correctly even in Emacs versions without floating-point support.
811
812 @item
813 The type list @code{(integer @var{low} @var{high})} represents all
814 integers between @var{low} and @var{high}, inclusive. Either bound
815 may be a list of a single integer to specify an exclusive limit,
816 or a @code{*} to specify no limit. The type @code{(integer * *)}
817 is thus equivalent to @code{integer}.
818
819 @item
820 Likewise, lists beginning with @code{float}, @code{real}, or
821 @code{number} represent numbers of that type falling in a particular
822 range.
823
824 @item
825 Lists beginning with @code{and}, @code{or}, and @code{not} form
826 combinations of types. For example, @code{(or integer (float 0 *))}
827 represents all objects that are integers or non-negative floats.
828
829 @item
830 Lists beginning with @code{member} or @code{member*} represent
831 objects @code{eql} to any of the following values. For example,
832 @code{(member 1 2 3 4)} is equivalent to @code{(integer 1 4)},
833 and @code{(member nil)} is equivalent to @code{null}.
834
835 @item
836 Lists of the form @code{(satisfies @var{predicate})} represent
837 all objects for which @var{predicate} returns true when called
838 with that object as an argument.
839 @end itemize
840
841 The following function and macro (not technically predicates) are
842 related to @code{typep}.
843
844 @defun coerce object type
845 This function attempts to convert @var{object} to the specified
846 @var{type}. If @var{object} is already of that type as determined by
847 @code{typep}, it is simply returned. Otherwise, certain types of
848 conversions will be made: If @var{type} is any sequence type
849 (@code{string}, @code{list}, etc.) then @var{object} will be
850 converted to that type if possible. If @var{type} is
851 @code{character}, then strings of length one and symbols with
852 one-character names can be coerced. If @var{type} is @code{float},
853 then integers can be coerced in versions of Emacs that support
854 floats. In all other circumstances, @code{coerce} signals an
855 error.
856 @end defun
857
858 @defspec deftype name arglist forms...
859 This macro defines a new type called @var{name}. It is similar
860 to @code{defmacro} in many ways; when @var{name} is encountered
861 as a type name, the body @var{forms} are evaluated and should
862 return a type specifier that is equivalent to the type. The
863 @var{arglist} is a Common Lisp argument list of the sort accepted
864 by @code{defmacro*}. The type specifier @samp{(@var{name} @var{args}...)}
865 is expanded by calling the expander with those arguments; the type
866 symbol @samp{@var{name}} is expanded by calling the expander with
867 no arguments. The @var{arglist} is processed the same as for
868 @code{defmacro*} except that optional arguments without explicit
869 defaults use @code{*} instead of @code{nil} as the ``default''
870 default. Some examples:
871
872 @example
873 (deftype null () '(satisfies null)) ; predefined
874 (deftype list () '(or null cons)) ; predefined
875 (deftype unsigned-byte (&optional bits)
876 (list 'integer 0 (if (eq bits '*) bits (1- (lsh 1 bits)))))
877 (unsigned-byte 8) @equiv{} (integer 0 255)
878 (unsigned-byte) @equiv{} (integer 0 *)
879 unsigned-byte @equiv{} (integer 0 *)
880 @end example
881
882 @noindent
883 The last example shows how the Common Lisp @code{unsigned-byte}
884 type specifier could be implemented if desired; this package does
885 not implement @code{unsigned-byte} by default.
886 @end defspec
887
888 The @code{typecase} and @code{check-type} macros also use type
889 names. @xref{Conditionals}. @xref{Assertions}. The @code{map},
890 @code{concatenate}, and @code{merge} functions take type-name
891 arguments to specify the type of sequence to return. @xref{Sequences}.
892
893 @node Equality Predicates, , Type Predicates, Predicates
894 @section Equality Predicates
895
896 @noindent
897 This package defines two Common Lisp predicates, @code{eql} and
898 @code{equalp}.
899
900 @defun eql a b
901 This function is almost the same as @code{eq}, except that if @var{a}
902 and @var{b} are numbers of the same type, it compares them for numeric
903 equality (as if by @code{equal} instead of @code{eq}). This makes a
904 difference only for versions of Emacs that are compiled with
905 floating-point support, such as Emacs 19. Emacs floats are allocated
906 objects just like cons cells, which means that @code{(eq 3.0 3.0)}
907 will not necessarily be true---if the two @code{3.0}s were allocated
908 separately, the pointers will be different even though the numbers are
909 the same. But @code{(eql 3.0 3.0)} will always be true.
910
911 The types of the arguments must match, so @code{(eql 3 3.0)} is
912 still false.
913
914 Note that Emacs integers are ``direct'' rather than allocated, which
915 basically means @code{(eq 3 3)} will always be true. Thus @code{eq}
916 and @code{eql} behave differently only if floating-point numbers are
917 involved, and are indistinguishable on Emacs versions that don't
918 support floats.
919
920 There is a slight inconsistency with Common Lisp in the treatment of
921 positive and negative zeros. Some machines, notably those with IEEE
922 standard arithmetic, represent @code{+0} and @code{-0} as distinct
923 values. Normally this doesn't matter because the standard specifies
924 that @code{(= 0.0 -0.0)} should always be true, and this is indeed
925 what Emacs Lisp and Common Lisp do. But the Common Lisp standard
926 states that @code{(eql 0.0 -0.0)} and @code{(equal 0.0 -0.0)} should
927 be false on IEEE-like machines; Emacs Lisp does not do this, and in
928 fact the only known way to distinguish between the two zeros in Emacs
929 Lisp is to @code{format} them and check for a minus sign.
930 @end defun
931
932 @defun equalp a b
933 This function is a more flexible version of @code{equal}. In
934 particular, it compares strings case-insensitively, and it compares
935 numbers without regard to type (so that @code{(equalp 3 3.0)} is
936 true). Vectors and conses are compared recursively. All other
937 objects are compared as if by @code{equal}.
938
939 This function differs from Common Lisp @code{equalp} in several
940 respects. First, Common Lisp's @code{equalp} also compares
941 @emph{characters} case-insensitively, which would be impractical
942 in this package since Emacs does not distinguish between integers
943 and characters. In keeping with the idea that strings are less
944 vector-like in Emacs Lisp, this package's @code{equalp} also will
945 not compare strings against vectors of integers. Finally, Common
946 Lisp's @code{equalp} compares hash tables without regard to
947 ordering, whereas this package simply compares hash tables in
948 terms of their underlying structure (which means vectors for Lucid
949 Emacs 19 hash tables, or lists for other hash tables).
950 @end defun
951
952 Also note that the Common Lisp functions @code{member} and @code{assoc}
953 use @code{eql} to compare elements, whereas Emacs Lisp follows the
954 MacLisp tradition and uses @code{equal} for these two functions.
955 In Emacs, use @code{member*} and @code{assoc*} to get functions
956 which use @code{eql} for comparisons.
957
958 @node Control Structure, Macros, Predicates, Top
959 @chapter Control Structure
960
961 @noindent
962 The features described in the following sections implement
963 various advanced control structures, including the powerful
964 @code{setf} facility and a number of looping and conditional
965 constructs.
966
967 @menu
968 * Assignment:: The `psetq' form
969 * Generalized Variables:: `setf', `incf', `push', etc.
970 * Variable Bindings:: `progv', `lexical-let', `flet', `macrolet'
971 * Conditionals:: `case', `typecase'
972 * Blocks and Exits:: `block', `return', `return-from'
973 * Iteration:: `do', `dotimes', `dolist', `do-symbols'
974 * Loop Facility:: The Common Lisp `loop' macro
975 * Multiple Values:: `values', `multiple-value-bind', etc.
976 @end menu
977
978 @node Assignment, Generalized Variables, Control Structure, Control Structure
979 @section Assignment
980
981 @noindent
982 The @code{psetq} form is just like @code{setq}, except that multiple
983 assignments are done in parallel rather than sequentially.
984
985 @defspec psetq [symbol form]@dots{}
986 This special form (actually a macro) is used to assign to several
987 variables simultaneously. Given only one @var{symbol} and @var{form},
988 it has the same effect as @code{setq}. Given several @var{symbol}
989 and @var{form} pairs, it evaluates all the @var{form}s in advance
990 and then stores the corresponding variables afterwards.
991
992 @example
993 (setq x 2 y 3)
994 (setq x (+ x y) y (* x y))
995 x
996 @result{} 5
997 y ; @r{@code{y} was computed after @code{x} was set.}
998 @result{} 15
999 (setq x 2 y 3)
1000 (psetq x (+ x y) y (* x y))
1001 x
1002 @result{} 5
1003 y ; @r{@code{y} was computed before @code{x} was set.}
1004 @result{} 6
1005 @end example
1006
1007 The simplest use of @code{psetq} is @code{(psetq x y y x)}, which
1008 exchanges the values of two variables. (The @code{rotatef} form
1009 provides an even more convenient way to swap two variables;
1010 @pxref{Modify Macros}.)
1011
1012 @code{psetq} always returns @code{nil}.
1013 @end defspec
1014
1015 @node Generalized Variables, Variable Bindings, Assignment, Control Structure
1016 @section Generalized Variables
1017
1018 @noindent
1019 A ``generalized variable'' or ``place form'' is one of the many places
1020 in Lisp memory where values can be stored. The simplest place form is
1021 a regular Lisp variable. But the cars and cdrs of lists, elements
1022 of arrays, properties of symbols, and many other locations are also
1023 places where Lisp values are stored.
1024
1025 The @code{setf} form is like @code{setq}, except that it accepts
1026 arbitrary place forms on the left side rather than just
1027 symbols. For example, @code{(setf (car a) b)} sets the car of
1028 @code{a} to @code{b}, doing the same operation as @code{(setcar a b)}
1029 but without having to remember two separate functions for setting
1030 and accessing every type of place.
1031
1032 Generalized variables are analogous to ``lvalues'' in the C
1033 language, where @samp{x = a[i]} gets an element from an array
1034 and @samp{a[i] = x} stores an element using the same notation.
1035 Just as certain forms like @code{a[i]} can be lvalues in C, there
1036 is a set of forms that can be generalized variables in Lisp.
1037
1038 @menu
1039 * Basic Setf:: `setf' and place forms
1040 * Modify Macros:: `incf', `push', `rotatef', `letf', `callf', etc.
1041 * Customizing Setf:: `define-modify-macro', `defsetf', `define-setf-method'
1042 @end menu
1043
1044 @node Basic Setf, Modify Macros, Generalized Variables, Generalized Variables
1045 @subsection Basic Setf
1046
1047 @noindent
1048 The @code{setf} macro is the most basic way to operate on generalized
1049 variables.
1050
1051 @defspec setf [place form]@dots{}
1052 This macro evaluates @var{form} and stores it in @var{place}, which
1053 must be a valid generalized variable form. If there are several
1054 @var{place} and @var{form} pairs, the assignments are done sequentially
1055 just as with @code{setq}. @code{setf} returns the value of the last
1056 @var{form}.
1057
1058 The following Lisp forms will work as generalized variables, and
1059 so may legally appear in the @var{place} argument of @code{setf}:
1060
1061 @itemize @bullet
1062 @item
1063 A symbol naming a variable. In other words, @code{(setf x y)} is
1064 exactly equivalent to @code{(setq x y)}, and @code{setq} itself is
1065 strictly speaking redundant now that @code{setf} exists. Many
1066 programmers continue to prefer @code{setq} for setting simple
1067 variables, though, purely for stylistic or historical reasons.
1068 The macro @code{(setf x y)} actually expands to @code{(setq x y)},
1069 so there is no performance penalty for using it in compiled code.
1070
1071 @item
1072 A call to any of the following Lisp functions:
1073
1074 @smallexample
1075 car cdr caar .. cddddr
1076 nth rest first .. tenth
1077 aref elt nthcdr
1078 symbol-function symbol-value symbol-plist
1079 get get* getf
1080 gethash subseq
1081 @end smallexample
1082
1083 @noindent
1084 Note that for @code{nthcdr} and @code{getf}, the list argument
1085 of the function must itself be a valid @var{place} form. For
1086 example, @code{(setf (nthcdr 0 foo) 7)} will set @code{foo} itself
1087 to 7. Note that @code{push} and @code{pop} on an @code{nthcdr}
1088 place can be used to insert or delete at any position in a list.
1089 The use of @code{nthcdr} as a @var{place} form is an extension
1090 to standard Common Lisp.
1091
1092 @item
1093 The following Emacs-specific functions are also @code{setf}-able.
1094 (Some of these are defined only in Emacs 19 or only in Lucid Emacs.)
1095
1096 @smallexample
1097 buffer-file-name marker-position
1098 buffer-modified-p match-data
1099 buffer-name mouse-position
1100 buffer-string overlay-end
1101 buffer-substring overlay-get
1102 current-buffer overlay-start
1103 current-case-table point
1104 current-column point-marker
1105 current-global-map point-max
1106 current-input-mode point-min
1107 current-local-map process-buffer
1108 current-window-configuration process-filter
1109 default-file-modes process-sentinel
1110 default-value read-mouse-position
1111 documentation-property screen-height
1112 extent-data screen-menubar
1113 extent-end-position screen-width
1114 extent-start-position selected-window
1115 face-background selected-screen
1116 face-background-pixmap selected-frame
1117 face-font standard-case-table
1118 face-foreground syntax-table
1119 face-underline-p window-buffer
1120 file-modes window-dedicated-p
1121 frame-height window-display-table
1122 frame-parameters window-height
1123 frame-visible-p window-hscroll
1124 frame-width window-point
1125 get-register window-start
1126 getenv window-width
1127 global-key-binding x-get-cut-buffer
1128 keymap-parent x-get-cutbuffer
1129 local-key-binding x-get-secondary-selection
1130 mark x-get-selection
1131 mark-marker
1132 @end smallexample
1133
1134 Most of these have directly corresponding ``set'' functions, like
1135 @code{use-local-map} for @code{current-local-map}, or @code{goto-char}
1136 for @code{point}. A few, like @code{point-min}, expand to longer
1137 sequences of code when they are @code{setf}'d (@code{(narrow-to-region
1138 x (point-max))} in this case).
1139
1140 @item
1141 A call of the form @code{(substring @var{subplace} @var{n} [@var{m}])},
1142 where @var{subplace} is itself a legal generalized variable whose
1143 current value is a string, and where the value stored is also a
1144 string. The new string is spliced into the specified part of the
1145 destination string. For example:
1146
1147 @example
1148 (setq a (list "hello" "world"))
1149 @result{} ("hello" "world")
1150 (cadr a)
1151 @result{} "world"
1152 (substring (cadr a) 2 4)
1153 @result{} "rl"
1154 (setf (substring (cadr a) 2 4) "o")
1155 @result{} "o"
1156 (cadr a)
1157 @result{} "wood"
1158 a
1159 @result{} ("hello" "wood")
1160 @end example
1161
1162 The generalized variable @code{buffer-substring}, listed above,
1163 also works in this way by replacing a portion of the current buffer.
1164
1165 @item
1166 A call of the form @code{(apply '@var{func} @dots{})} or
1167 @code{(apply (function @var{func}) @dots{})}, where @var{func}
1168 is a @code{setf}-able function whose store function is ``suitable''
1169 in the sense described in Steele's book; since none of the standard
1170 Emacs place functions are suitable in this sense, this feature is
1171 only interesting when used with places you define yourself with
1172 @code{define-setf-method} or the long form of @code{defsetf}.
1173
1174 @item
1175 A macro call, in which case the macro is expanded and @code{setf}
1176 is applied to the resulting form.
1177
1178 @item
1179 Any form for which a @code{defsetf} or @code{define-setf-method}
1180 has been made.
1181 @end itemize
1182
1183 Using any forms other than these in the @var{place} argument to
1184 @code{setf} will signal an error.
1185
1186 The @code{setf} macro takes care to evaluate all subforms in
1187 the proper left-to-right order; for example,
1188
1189 @example
1190 (setf (aref vec (incf i)) i)
1191 @end example
1192
1193 @noindent
1194 looks like it will evaluate @code{(incf i)} exactly once, before the
1195 following access to @code{i}; the @code{setf} expander will insert
1196 temporary variables as necessary to ensure that it does in fact work
1197 this way no matter what setf-method is defined for @code{aref}.
1198 (In this case, @code{aset} would be used and no such steps would
1199 be necessary since @code{aset} takes its arguments in a convenient
1200 order.)
1201
1202 However, if the @var{place} form is a macro which explicitly
1203 evaluates its arguments in an unusual order, this unusual order
1204 will be preserved. Adapting an example from Steele, given
1205
1206 @example
1207 (defmacro wrong-order (x y) (list 'aref y x))
1208 @end example
1209
1210 @noindent
1211 the form @code{(setf (wrong-order @var{a} @var{b}) 17)} will
1212 evaluate @var{b} first, then @var{a}, just as in an actual call
1213 to @code{wrong-order}.
1214 @end defspec
1215
1216 @node Modify Macros, Customizing Setf, Basic Setf, Generalized Variables
1217 @subsection Modify Macros
1218
1219 @noindent
1220 This package defines a number of other macros besides @code{setf}
1221 that operate on generalized variables. Many are interesting and
1222 useful even when the @var{place} is just a variable name.
1223
1224 @defspec psetf [place form]@dots{}
1225 This macro is to @code{setf} what @code{psetq} is to @code{setq}:
1226 When several @var{place}s and @var{form}s are involved, the
1227 assignments take place in parallel rather than sequentially.
1228 Specifically, all subforms are evaluated from left to right, then
1229 all the assignments are done (in an undefined order).
1230 @end defspec
1231
1232 @defspec incf place &optional x
1233 This macro increments the number stored in @var{place} by one, or
1234 by @var{x} if specified. The incremented value is returned. For
1235 example, @code{(incf i)} is equivalent to @code{(setq i (1+ i))}, and
1236 @code{(incf (car x) 2)} is equivalent to @code{(setcar x (+ (car x) 2))}.
1237
1238 Once again, care is taken to preserve the ``apparent'' order of
1239 evaluation. For example,
1240
1241 @example
1242 (incf (aref vec (incf i)))
1243 @end example
1244
1245 @noindent
1246 appears to increment @code{i} once, then increment the element of
1247 @code{vec} addressed by @code{i}; this is indeed exactly what it
1248 does, which means the above form is @emph{not} equivalent to the
1249 ``obvious'' expansion,
1250
1251 @example
1252 (setf (aref vec (incf i)) (1+ (aref vec (incf i)))) ; Wrong!
1253 @end example
1254
1255 @noindent
1256 but rather to something more like
1257
1258 @example
1259 (let ((temp (incf i)))
1260 (setf (aref vec temp) (1+ (aref vec temp))))
1261 @end example
1262
1263 @noindent
1264 Again, all of this is taken care of automatically by @code{incf} and
1265 the other generalized-variable macros.
1266
1267 As a more Emacs-specific example of @code{incf}, the expression
1268 @code{(incf (point) @var{n})} is essentially equivalent to
1269 @code{(forward-char @var{n})}.
1270 @end defspec
1271
1272 @defspec decf place &optional x
1273 This macro decrements the number stored in @var{place} by one, or
1274 by @var{x} if specified.
1275 @end defspec
1276
1277 @defspec pop place
1278 This macro removes and returns the first element of the list stored
1279 in @var{place}. It is analogous to @code{(prog1 (car @var{place})
1280 (setf @var{place} (cdr @var{place})))}, except that it takes care
1281 to evaluate all subforms only once.
1282 @end defspec
1283
1284 @defspec push x place
1285 This macro inserts @var{x} at the front of the list stored in
1286 @var{place}. It is analogous to @code{(setf @var{place} (cons
1287 @var{x} @var{place}))}, except for evaluation of the subforms.
1288 @end defspec
1289
1290 @defspec pushnew x place @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
1291 This macro inserts @var{x} at the front of the list stored in
1292 @var{place}, but only if @var{x} was not @code{eql} to any
1293 existing element of the list. The optional keyword arguments
1294 are interpreted in the same way as for @code{adjoin}.
1295 @xref{Lists as Sets}.
1296 @end defspec
1297
1298 @defspec shiftf place@dots{} newvalue
1299 This macro shifts the @var{place}s left by one, shifting in the
1300 value of @var{newvalue} (which may be any Lisp expression, not just
1301 a generalized variable), and returning the value shifted out of
1302 the first @var{place}. Thus, @code{(shiftf @var{a} @var{b} @var{c}
1303 @var{d})} is equivalent to
1304
1305 @example
1306 (prog1
1307 @var{a}
1308 (psetf @var{a} @var{b}
1309 @var{b} @var{c}
1310 @var{c} @var{d}))
1311 @end example
1312
1313 @noindent
1314 except that the subforms of @var{a}, @var{b}, and @var{c} are actually
1315 evaluated only once each and in the apparent order.
1316 @end defspec
1317
1318 @defspec rotatef place@dots{}
1319 This macro rotates the @var{place}s left by one in circular fashion.
1320 Thus, @code{(rotatef @var{a} @var{b} @var{c} @var{d})} is equivalent to
1321
1322 @example
1323 (psetf @var{a} @var{b}
1324 @var{b} @var{c}
1325 @var{c} @var{d}
1326 @var{d} @var{a})
1327 @end example
1328
1329 @noindent
1330 except for the evaluation of subforms. @code{rotatef} always
1331 returns @code{nil}. Note that @code{(rotatef @var{a} @var{b})}
1332 conveniently exchanges @var{a} and @var{b}.
1333 @end defspec
1334
1335 The following macros were invented for this package; they have no
1336 analogues in Common Lisp.
1337
1338 @defspec letf (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1339 This macro is analogous to @code{let}, but for generalized variables
1340 rather than just symbols. Each @var{binding} should be of the form
1341 @code{(@var{place} @var{value})}; the original contents of the
1342 @var{place}s are saved, the @var{value}s are stored in them, and
1343 then the body @var{form}s are executed. Afterwards, the @var{places}
1344 are set back to their original saved contents. This cleanup happens
1345 even if the @var{form}s exit irregularly due to a @code{throw} or an
1346 error.
1347
1348 For example,
1349
1350 @example
1351 (letf (((point) (point-min))
1352 (a 17))
1353 ...)
1354 @end example
1355
1356 @noindent
1357 moves ``point'' in the current buffer to the beginning of the buffer,
1358 and also binds @code{a} to 17 (as if by a normal @code{let}, since
1359 @code{a} is just a regular variable). After the body exits, @code{a}
1360 is set back to its original value and point is moved back to its
1361 original position.
1362
1363 Note that @code{letf} on @code{(point)} is not quite like a
1364 @code{save-excursion}, as the latter effectively saves a marker
1365 which tracks insertions and deletions in the buffer. Actually,
1366 a @code{letf} of @code{(point-marker)} is much closer to this
1367 behavior. (@code{point} and @code{point-marker} are equivalent
1368 as @code{setf} places; each will accept either an integer or a
1369 marker as the stored value.)
1370
1371 Since generalized variables look like lists, @code{let}'s shorthand
1372 of using @samp{foo} for @samp{(foo nil)} as a @var{binding} would
1373 be ambiguous in @code{letf} and is not allowed.
1374
1375 However, a @var{binding} specifier may be a one-element list
1376 @samp{(@var{place})}, which is similar to @samp{(@var{place}
1377 @var{place})}. In other words, the @var{place} is not disturbed
1378 on entry to the body, and the only effect of the @code{letf} is
1379 to restore the original value of @var{place} afterwards. (The
1380 redundant access-and-store suggested by the @code{(@var{place}
1381 @var{place})} example does not actually occur.)
1382
1383 In most cases, the @var{place} must have a well-defined value on
1384 entry to the @code{letf} form. The only exceptions are plain
1385 variables and calls to @code{symbol-value} and @code{symbol-function}.
1386 If the symbol is not bound on entry, it is simply made unbound by
1387 @code{makunbound} or @code{fmakunbound} on exit.
1388 @end defspec
1389
1390 @defspec letf* (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1391 This macro is to @code{letf} what @code{let*} is to @code{let}:
1392 It does the bindings in sequential rather than parallel order.
1393 @end defspec
1394
1395 @defspec callf @var{function} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{}
1396 This is the ``generic'' modify macro. It calls @var{function},
1397 which should be an unquoted function name, macro name, or lambda.
1398 It passes @var{place} and @var{args} as arguments, and assigns the
1399 result back to @var{place}. For example, @code{(incf @var{place}
1400 @var{n})} is the same as @code{(callf + @var{place} @var{n})}.
1401 Some more examples:
1402
1403 @example
1404 (callf abs my-number)
1405 (callf concat (buffer-name) "<" (int-to-string n) ">")
1406 (callf union happy-people (list joe bob) :test 'same-person)
1407 @end example
1408
1409 @xref{Customizing Setf}, for @code{define-modify-macro}, a way
1410 to create even more concise notations for modify macros. Note
1411 again that @code{callf} is an extension to standard Common Lisp.
1412 @end defspec
1413
1414 @defspec callf2 @var{function} @var{arg1} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{}
1415 This macro is like @code{callf}, except that @var{place} is
1416 the @emph{second} argument of @var{function} rather than the
1417 first. For example, @code{(push @var{x} @var{place})} is
1418 equivalent to @code{(callf2 cons @var{x} @var{place})}.
1419 @end defspec
1420
1421 The @code{callf} and @code{callf2} macros serve as building
1422 blocks for other macros like @code{incf}, @code{pushnew}, and
1423 @code{define-modify-macro}. The @code{letf} and @code{letf*}
1424 macros are used in the processing of symbol macros;
1425 @pxref{Macro Bindings}.
1426
1427 @node Customizing Setf, , Modify Macros, Generalized Variables
1428 @subsection Customizing Setf
1429
1430 @noindent
1431 Common Lisp defines three macros, @code{define-modify-macro},
1432 @code{defsetf}, and @code{define-setf-method}, that allow the
1433 user to extend generalized variables in various ways.
1434
1435 @defspec define-modify-macro name arglist function [doc-string]
1436 This macro defines a ``read-modify-write'' macro similar to
1437 @code{incf} and @code{decf}. The macro @var{name} is defined
1438 to take a @var{place} argument followed by additional arguments
1439 described by @var{arglist}. The call
1440
1441 @example
1442 (@var{name} @var{place} @var{args}...)
1443 @end example
1444
1445 @noindent
1446 will be expanded to
1447
1448 @example
1449 (callf @var{func} @var{place} @var{args}...)
1450 @end example
1451
1452 @noindent
1453 which in turn is roughly equivalent to
1454
1455 @example
1456 (setf @var{place} (@var{func} @var{place} @var{args}...))
1457 @end example
1458
1459 For example:
1460
1461 @example
1462 (define-modify-macro incf (&optional (n 1)) +)
1463 (define-modify-macro concatf (&rest args) concat)
1464 @end example
1465
1466 Note that @code{&key} is not allowed in @var{arglist}, but
1467 @code{&rest} is sufficient to pass keywords on to the function.
1468
1469 Most of the modify macros defined by Common Lisp do not exactly
1470 follow the pattern of @code{define-modify-macro}. For example,
1471 @code{push} takes its arguments in the wrong order, and @code{pop}
1472 is completely irregular. You can define these macros ``by hand''
1473 using @code{get-setf-method}, or consult the source file
1474 @file{cl-macs.el} to see how to use the internal @code{setf}
1475 building blocks.
1476 @end defspec
1477
1478 @defspec defsetf access-fn update-fn
1479 This is the simpler of two @code{defsetf} forms. Where
1480 @var{access-fn} is the name of a function which accesses a place,
1481 this declares @var{update-fn} to be the corresponding store
1482 function. From now on,
1483
1484 @example
1485 (setf (@var{access-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3}) @var{value})
1486 @end example
1487
1488 @noindent
1489 will be expanded to
1490
1491 @example
1492 (@var{update-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3} @var{value})
1493 @end example
1494
1495 @noindent
1496 The @var{update-fn} is required to be either a true function, or
1497 a macro which evaluates its arguments in a function-like way. Also,
1498 the @var{update-fn} is expected to return @var{value} as its result.
1499 Otherwise, the above expansion would not obey the rules for the way
1500 @code{setf} is supposed to behave.
1501
1502 As a special (non-Common-Lisp) extension, a third argument of @code{t}
1503 to @code{defsetf} says that the @code{update-fn}'s return value is
1504 not suitable, so that the above @code{setf} should be expanded to
1505 something more like
1506
1507 @example
1508 (let ((temp @var{value}))
1509 (@var{update-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3} temp)
1510 temp)
1511 @end example
1512
1513 Some examples of the use of @code{defsetf}, drawn from the standard
1514 suite of setf methods, are:
1515
1516 @example
1517 (defsetf car setcar)
1518 (defsetf symbol-value set)
1519 (defsetf buffer-name rename-buffer t)
1520 @end example
1521 @end defspec
1522
1523 @defspec defsetf access-fn arglist (store-var) forms@dots{}
1524 This is the second, more complex, form of @code{defsetf}. It is
1525 rather like @code{defmacro} except for the additional @var{store-var}
1526 argument. The @var{forms} should return a Lisp form which stores
1527 the value of @var{store-var} into the generalized variable formed
1528 by a call to @var{access-fn} with arguments described by @var{arglist}.
1529 The @var{forms} may begin with a string which documents the @code{setf}
1530 method (analogous to the doc string that appears at the front of a
1531 function).
1532
1533 For example, the simple form of @code{defsetf} is shorthand for
1534
1535 @example
1536 (defsetf @var{access-fn} (&rest args) (store)
1537 (append '(@var{update-fn}) args (list store)))
1538 @end example
1539
1540 The Lisp form that is returned can access the arguments from
1541 @var{arglist} and @var{store-var} in an unrestricted fashion;
1542 macros like @code{setf} and @code{incf} which invoke this
1543 setf-method will insert temporary variables as needed to make
1544 sure the apparent order of evaluation is preserved.
1545
1546 Another example drawn from the standard package:
1547
1548 @example
1549 (defsetf nth (n x) (store)
1550 (list 'setcar (list 'nthcdr n x) store))
1551 @end example
1552 @end defspec
1553
1554 @defspec define-setf-method access-fn arglist forms@dots{}
1555 This is the most general way to create new place forms. When
1556 a @code{setf} to @var{access-fn} with arguments described by
1557 @var{arglist} is expanded, the @var{forms} are evaluated and
1558 must return a list of five items:
1559
1560 @enumerate
1561 @item
1562 A list of @dfn{temporary variables}.
1563
1564 @item
1565 A list of @dfn{value forms} corresponding to the temporary variables
1566 above. The temporary variables will be bound to these value forms
1567 as the first step of any operation on the generalized variable.
1568
1569 @item
1570 A list of exactly one @dfn{store variable} (generally obtained
1571 from a call to @code{gensym}).
1572
1573 @item
1574 A Lisp form which stores the contents of the store variable into
1575 the generalized variable, assuming the temporaries have been
1576 bound as described above.
1577
1578 @item
1579 A Lisp form which accesses the contents of the generalized variable,
1580 assuming the temporaries have been bound.
1581 @end enumerate
1582
1583 This is exactly like the Common Lisp macro of the same name,
1584 except that the method returns a list of five values rather
1585 than the five values themselves, since Emacs Lisp does not
1586 support Common Lisp's notion of multiple return values.
1587
1588 Once again, the @var{forms} may begin with a documentation string.
1589
1590 A setf-method should be maximally conservative with regard to
1591 temporary variables. In the setf-methods generated by
1592 @code{defsetf}, the second return value is simply the list of
1593 arguments in the place form, and the first return value is a
1594 list of a corresponding number of temporary variables generated
1595 by @code{gensym}. Macros like @code{setf} and @code{incf} which
1596 use this setf-method will optimize away most temporaries that
1597 turn out to be unnecessary, so there is little reason for the
1598 setf-method itself to optimize.
1599 @end defspec
1600
1601 @defun get-setf-method place &optional env
1602 This function returns the setf-method for @var{place}, by
1603 invoking the definition previously recorded by @code{defsetf}
1604 or @code{define-setf-method}. The result is a list of five
1605 values as described above. You can use this function to build
1606 your own @code{incf}-like modify macros. (Actually, it is
1607 better to use the internal functions @code{cl-setf-do-modify}
1608 and @code{cl-setf-do-store}, which are a bit easier to use and
1609 which also do a number of optimizations; consult the source
1610 code for the @code{incf} function for a simple example.)
1611
1612 The argument @var{env} specifies the ``environment'' to be
1613 passed on to @code{macroexpand} if @code{get-setf-method} should
1614 need to expand a macro in @var{place}. It should come from
1615 an @code{&environment} argument to the macro or setf-method
1616 that called @code{get-setf-method}.
1617
1618 See also the source code for the setf-methods for @code{apply}
1619 and @code{substring}, each of which works by calling
1620 @code{get-setf-method} on a simpler case, then massaging
1621 the result in various ways.
1622 @end defun
1623
1624 Modern Common Lisp defines a second, independent way to specify
1625 the @code{setf} behavior of a function, namely ``@code{setf}
1626 functions'' whose names are lists @code{(setf @var{name})}
1627 rather than symbols. For example, @code{(defun (setf foo) @dots{})}
1628 defines the function that is used when @code{setf} is applied to
1629 @code{foo}. This package does not currently support @code{setf}
1630 functions. In particular, it is a compile-time error to use
1631 @code{setf} on a form which has not already been @code{defsetf}'d
1632 or otherwise declared; in newer Common Lisps, this would not be
1633 an error since the function @code{(setf @var{func})} might be
1634 defined later.
1635
1636 @iftex
1637 @secno=4
1638 @end iftex
1639
1640 @node Variable Bindings, Conditionals, Generalized Variables, Control Structure
1641 @section Variable Bindings
1642
1643 @noindent
1644 These Lisp forms make bindings to variables and function names,
1645 analogous to Lisp's built-in @code{let} form.
1646
1647 @xref{Modify Macros}, for the @code{letf} and @code{letf*} forms which
1648 are also related to variable bindings.
1649
1650 @menu
1651 * Dynamic Bindings:: The `progv' form
1652 * Lexical Bindings:: `lexical-let' and lexical closures
1653 * Function Bindings:: `flet' and `labels'
1654 * Macro Bindings:: `macrolet' and `symbol-macrolet'
1655 @end menu
1656
1657 @node Dynamic Bindings, Lexical Bindings, Variable Bindings, Variable Bindings
1658 @subsection Dynamic Bindings
1659
1660 @noindent
1661 The standard @code{let} form binds variables whose names are known
1662 at compile-time. The @code{progv} form provides an easy way to
1663 bind variables whose names are computed at run-time.
1664
1665 @defspec progv symbols values forms@dots{}
1666 This form establishes @code{let}-style variable bindings on a
1667 set of variables computed at run-time. The expressions
1668 @var{symbols} and @var{values} are evaluated, and must return lists
1669 of symbols and values, respectively. The symbols are bound to the
1670 corresponding values for the duration of the body @var{form}s.
1671 If @var{values} is shorter than @var{symbols}, the last few symbols
1672 are made unbound (as if by @code{makunbound}) inside the body.
1673 If @var{symbols} is shorter than @var{values}, the excess values
1674 are ignored.
1675 @end defspec
1676
1677 @node Lexical Bindings, Function Bindings, Dynamic Bindings, Variable Bindings
1678 @subsection Lexical Bindings
1679
1680 @noindent
1681 The @dfn{CL} package defines the following macro which
1682 more closely follows the Common Lisp @code{let} form:
1683
1684 @defspec lexical-let (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1685 This form is exactly like @code{let} except that the bindings it
1686 establishes are purely lexical. Lexical bindings are similar to
1687 local variables in a language like C: Only the code physically
1688 within the body of the @code{lexical-let} (after macro expansion)
1689 may refer to the bound variables.
1690
1691 @example
1692 (setq a 5)
1693 (defun foo (b) (+ a b))
1694 (let ((a 2)) (foo a))
1695 @result{} 4
1696 (lexical-let ((a 2)) (foo a))
1697 @result{} 7
1698 @end example
1699
1700 @noindent
1701 In this example, a regular @code{let} binding of @code{a} actually
1702 makes a temporary change to the global variable @code{a}, so @code{foo}
1703 is able to see the binding of @code{a} to 2. But @code{lexical-let}
1704 actually creates a distinct local variable @code{a} for use within its
1705 body, without any effect on the global variable of the same name.
1706
1707 The most important use of lexical bindings is to create @dfn{closures}.
1708 A closure is a function object that refers to an outside lexical
1709 variable. For example:
1710
1711 @example
1712 (defun make-adder (n)
1713 (lexical-let ((n n))
1714 (function (lambda (m) (+ n m)))))
1715 (setq add17 (make-adder 17))
1716 (funcall add17 4)
1717 @result{} 21
1718 @end example
1719
1720 @noindent
1721 The call @code{(make-adder 17)} returns a function object which adds
1722 17 to its argument. If @code{let} had been used instead of
1723 @code{lexical-let}, the function object would have referred to the
1724 global @code{n}, which would have been bound to 17 only during the
1725 call to @code{make-adder} itself.
1726
1727 @example
1728 (defun make-counter ()
1729 (lexical-let ((n 0))
1730 (function* (lambda (&optional (m 1)) (incf n m)))))
1731 (setq count-1 (make-counter))
1732 (funcall count-1 3)
1733 @result{} 3
1734 (funcall count-1 14)
1735 @result{} 17
1736 (setq count-2 (make-counter))
1737 (funcall count-2 5)
1738 @result{} 5
1739 (funcall count-1 2)
1740 @result{} 19
1741 (funcall count-2)
1742 @result{} 6
1743 @end example
1744
1745 @noindent
1746 Here we see that each call to @code{make-counter} creates a distinct
1747 local variable @code{n}, which serves as a private counter for the
1748 function object that is returned.
1749
1750 Closed-over lexical variables persist until the last reference to
1751 them goes away, just like all other Lisp objects. For example,
1752 @code{count-2} refers to a function object which refers to an
1753 instance of the variable @code{n}; this is the only reference
1754 to that variable, so after @code{(setq count-2 nil)} the garbage
1755 collector would be able to delete this instance of @code{n}.
1756 Of course, if a @code{lexical-let} does not actually create any
1757 closures, then the lexical variables are free as soon as the
1758 @code{lexical-let} returns.
1759
1760 Many closures are used only during the extent of the bindings they
1761 refer to; these are known as ``downward funargs'' in Lisp parlance.
1762 When a closure is used in this way, regular Emacs Lisp dynamic
1763 bindings suffice and will be more efficient than @code{lexical-let}
1764 closures:
1765
1766 @example
1767 (defun add-to-list (x list)
1768 (mapcar (lambda (y) (+ x y))) list)
1769 (add-to-list 7 '(1 2 5))
1770 @result{} (8 9 12)
1771 @end example
1772
1773 @noindent
1774 Since this lambda is only used while @code{x} is still bound,
1775 it is not necessary to make a true closure out of it.
1776
1777 You can use @code{defun} or @code{flet} inside a @code{lexical-let}
1778 to create a named closure. If several closures are created in the
1779 body of a single @code{lexical-let}, they all close over the same
1780 instance of the lexical variable.
1781
1782 The @code{lexical-let} form is an extension to Common Lisp. In
1783 true Common Lisp, all bindings are lexical unless declared otherwise.
1784 @end defspec
1785
1786 @defspec lexical-let* (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1787 This form is just like @code{lexical-let}, except that the bindings
1788 are made sequentially in the manner of @code{let*}.
1789 @end defspec
1790
1791 @node Function Bindings, Macro Bindings, Lexical Bindings, Variable Bindings
1792 @subsection Function Bindings
1793
1794 @noindent
1795 These forms make @code{let}-like bindings to functions instead
1796 of variables.
1797
1798 @defspec flet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1799 This form establishes @code{let}-style bindings on the function
1800 cells of symbols rather than on the value cells. Each @var{binding}
1801 must be a list of the form @samp{(@var{name} @var{arglist}
1802 @var{forms}@dots{})}, which defines a function exactly as if
1803 it were a @code{defun*} form. The function @var{name} is defined
1804 accordingly for the duration of the body of the @code{flet}; then
1805 the old function definition, or lack thereof, is restored.
1806
1807 While @code{flet} in Common Lisp establishes a lexical binding of
1808 @var{name}, Emacs Lisp @code{flet} makes a dynamic binding. The
1809 result is that @code{flet} affects indirect calls to a function as
1810 well as calls directly inside the @code{flet} form itself.
1811
1812 You can use @code{flet} to disable or modify the behavior of a
1813 function in a temporary fashion. This will even work on Emacs
1814 primitives, although note that some calls to primitive functions
1815 internal to Emacs are made without going through the symbol's
1816 function cell, and so will not be affected by @code{flet}. For
1817 example,
1818
1819 @example
1820 (flet ((message (&rest args) (push args saved-msgs)))
1821 (do-something))
1822 @end example
1823
1824 This code attempts to replace the built-in function @code{message}
1825 with a function that simply saves the messages in a list rather
1826 than displaying them. The original definition of @code{message}
1827 will be restored after @code{do-something} exits. This code will
1828 work fine on messages generated by other Lisp code, but messages
1829 generated directly inside Emacs will not be caught since they make
1830 direct C-language calls to the message routines rather than going
1831 through the Lisp @code{message} function.
1832
1833 Functions defined by @code{flet} may use the full Common Lisp
1834 argument notation supported by @code{defun*}; also, the function
1835 body is enclosed in an implicit block as if by @code{defun*}.
1836 @xref{Program Structure}.
1837 @end defspec
1838
1839 @defspec labels (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1840 The @code{labels} form is like @code{flet}, except that it
1841 makes lexical bindings of the function names rather than
1842 dynamic bindings. (In true Common Lisp, both @code{flet} and
1843 @code{labels} make lexical bindings of slightly different sorts;
1844 since Emacs Lisp is dynamically bound by default, it seemed
1845 more appropriate for @code{flet} also to use dynamic binding.
1846 The @code{labels} form, with its lexical binding, is fully
1847 compatible with Common Lisp.)
1848
1849 Lexical scoping means that all references to the named
1850 functions must appear physically within the body of the
1851 @code{labels} form. References may appear both in the body
1852 @var{forms} of @code{labels} itself, and in the bodies of
1853 the functions themselves. Thus, @code{labels} can define
1854 local recursive functions, or mutually-recursive sets of
1855 functions.
1856
1857 A ``reference'' to a function name is either a call to that
1858 function, or a use of its name quoted by @code{quote} or
1859 @code{function} to be passed on to, say, @code{mapcar}.
1860 @end defspec
1861
1862 @node Macro Bindings, , Function Bindings, Variable Bindings
1863 @subsection Macro Bindings
1864
1865 @noindent
1866 These forms create local macros and ``symbol macros.''
1867
1868 @defspec macrolet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1869 This form is analogous to @code{flet}, but for macros instead of
1870 functions. Each @var{binding} is a list of the same form as the
1871 arguments to @code{defmacro*} (i.e., a macro name, argument list,
1872 and macro-expander forms). The macro is defined accordingly for
1873 use within the body of the @code{macrolet}.
1874
1875 Because of the nature of macros, @code{macrolet} is lexically
1876 scoped even in Emacs Lisp: The @code{macrolet} binding will
1877 affect only calls that appear physically within the body
1878 @var{forms}, possibly after expansion of other macros in the
1879 body.
1880 @end defspec
1881
1882 @defspec symbol-macrolet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1883 This form creates @dfn{symbol macros}, which are macros that look
1884 like variable references rather than function calls. Each
1885 @var{binding} is a list @samp{(@var{var} @var{expansion})};
1886 any reference to @var{var} within the body @var{forms} is
1887 replaced by @var{expansion}.
1888
1889 @example
1890 (setq bar '(5 . 9))
1891 (symbol-macrolet ((foo (car bar)))
1892 (incf foo))
1893 bar
1894 @result{} (6 . 9)
1895 @end example
1896
1897 A @code{setq} of a symbol macro is treated the same as a @code{setf}.
1898 I.e., @code{(setq foo 4)} in the above would be equivalent to
1899 @code{(setf foo 4)}, which in turn expands to @code{(setf (car bar) 4)}.
1900
1901 Likewise, a @code{let} or @code{let*} binding a symbol macro is
1902 treated like a @code{letf} or @code{letf*}. This differs from true
1903 Common Lisp, where the rules of lexical scoping cause a @code{let}
1904 binding to shadow a @code{symbol-macrolet} binding. In this package,
1905 only @code{lexical-let} and @code{lexical-let*} will shadow a symbol
1906 macro.
1907
1908 There is no analogue of @code{defmacro} for symbol macros; all symbol
1909 macros are local. A typical use of @code{symbol-macrolet} is in the
1910 expansion of another macro:
1911
1912 @example
1913 (defmacro* my-dolist ((x list) &rest body)
1914 (let ((var (gensym)))
1915 (list 'loop 'for var 'on list 'do
1916 (list* 'symbol-macrolet (list (list x (list 'car var)))
1917 body))))
1918
1919 (setq mylist '(1 2 3 4))
1920 (my-dolist (x mylist) (incf x))
1921 mylist
1922 @result{} (2 3 4 5)
1923 @end example
1924
1925 @noindent
1926 In this example, the @code{my-dolist} macro is similar to @code{dolist}
1927 (@pxref{Iteration}) except that the variable @code{x} becomes a true
1928 reference onto the elements of the list. The @code{my-dolist} call
1929 shown here expands to
1930
1931 @example
1932 (loop for G1234 on mylist do
1933 (symbol-macrolet ((x (car G1234)))
1934 (incf x)))
1935 @end example
1936
1937 @noindent
1938 which in turn expands to
1939
1940 @example
1941 (loop for G1234 on mylist do (incf (car G1234)))
1942 @end example
1943
1944 @xref{Loop Facility}, for a description of the @code{loop} macro.
1945 This package defines a nonstandard @code{in-ref} loop clause that
1946 works much like @code{my-dolist}.
1947 @end defspec
1948
1949 @node Conditionals, Blocks and Exits, Variable Bindings, Control Structure
1950 @section Conditionals
1951
1952 @noindent
1953 These conditional forms augment Emacs Lisp's simple @code{if},
1954 @code{and}, @code{or}, and @code{cond} forms.
1955
1956 @defspec case keyform clause@dots{}
1957 This macro evaluates @var{keyform}, then compares it with the key
1958 values listed in the various @var{clause}s. Whichever clause matches
1959 the key is executed; comparison is done by @code{eql}. If no clause
1960 matches, the @code{case} form returns @code{nil}. The clauses are
1961 of the form
1962
1963 @example
1964 (@var{keylist} @var{body-forms}@dots{})
1965 @end example
1966
1967 @noindent
1968 where @var{keylist} is a list of key values. If there is exactly
1969 one value, and it is not a cons cell or the symbol @code{nil} or
1970 @code{t}, then it can be used by itself as a @var{keylist} without
1971 being enclosed in a list. All key values in the @code{case} form
1972 must be distinct. The final clauses may use @code{t} in place of
1973 a @var{keylist} to indicate a default clause that should be taken
1974 if none of the other clauses match. (The symbol @code{otherwise}
1975 is also recognized in place of @code{t}. To make a clause that
1976 matches the actual symbol @code{t}, @code{nil}, or @code{otherwise},
1977 enclose the symbol in a list.)
1978
1979 For example, this expression reads a keystroke, then does one of
1980 four things depending on whether it is an @samp{a}, a @samp{b},
1981 a @key{RET} or @kbd{C-j}, or anything else.
1982
1983 @example
1984 (case (read-char)
1985 (?a (do-a-thing))
1986 (?b (do-b-thing))
1987 ((?\r ?\n) (do-ret-thing))
1988 (t (do-other-thing)))
1989 @end example
1990 @end defspec
1991
1992 @defspec ecase keyform clause@dots{}
1993 This macro is just like @code{case}, except that if the key does
1994 not match any of the clauses, an error is signaled rather than
1995 simply returning @code{nil}.
1996 @end defspec
1997
1998 @defspec typecase keyform clause@dots{}
1999 This macro is a version of @code{case} that checks for types
2000 rather than values. Each @var{clause} is of the form
2001 @samp{(@var{type} @var{body}...)}. @xref{Type Predicates},
2002 for a description of type specifiers. For example,
2003
2004 @example
2005 (typecase x
2006 (integer (munch-integer x))
2007 (float (munch-float x))
2008 (string (munch-integer (string-to-int x)))
2009 (t (munch-anything x)))
2010 @end example
2011
2012 The type specifier @code{t} matches any type of object; the word
2013 @code{otherwise} is also allowed. To make one clause match any of
2014 several types, use an @code{(or ...)} type specifier.
2015 @end defspec
2016
2017 @defspec etypecase keyform clause@dots{}
2018 This macro is just like @code{typecase}, except that if the key does
2019 not match any of the clauses, an error is signaled rather than
2020 simply returning @code{nil}.
2021 @end defspec
2022
2023 @node Blocks and Exits, Iteration, Conditionals, Control Structure
2024 @section Blocks and Exits
2025
2026 @noindent
2027 Common Lisp @dfn{blocks} provide a non-local exit mechanism very
2028 similar to @code{catch} and @code{throw}, but lexically rather than
2029 dynamically scoped. This package actually implements @code{block}
2030 in terms of @code{catch}; however, the lexical scoping allows the
2031 optimizing byte-compiler to omit the costly @code{catch} step if the
2032 body of the block does not actually @code{return-from} the block.
2033
2034 @defspec block name forms@dots{}
2035 The @var{forms} are evaluated as if by a @code{progn}. However,
2036 if any of the @var{forms} execute @code{(return-from @var{name})},
2037 they will jump out and return directly from the @code{block} form.
2038 The @code{block} returns the result of the last @var{form} unless
2039 a @code{return-from} occurs.
2040
2041 The @code{block}/@code{return-from} mechanism is quite similar to
2042 the @code{catch}/@code{throw} mechanism. The main differences are
2043 that block @var{name}s are unevaluated symbols, rather than forms
2044 (such as quoted symbols) which evaluate to a tag at run-time; and
2045 also that blocks are lexically scoped whereas @code{catch}/@code{throw}
2046 are dynamically scoped. This means that functions called from the
2047 body of a @code{catch} can also @code{throw} to the @code{catch},
2048 but the @code{return-from} referring to a block name must appear
2049 physically within the @var{forms} that make up the body of the block.
2050 They may not appear within other called functions, although they may
2051 appear within macro expansions or @code{lambda}s in the body. Block
2052 names and @code{catch} names form independent name-spaces.
2053
2054 In true Common Lisp, @code{defun} and @code{defmacro} surround
2055 the function or expander bodies with implicit blocks with the
2056 same name as the function or macro. This does not occur in Emacs
2057 Lisp, but this package provides @code{defun*} and @code{defmacro*}
2058 forms which do create the implicit block.
2059
2060 The Common Lisp looping constructs defined by this package,
2061 such as @code{loop} and @code{dolist}, also create implicit blocks
2062 just as in Common Lisp.
2063
2064 Because they are implemented in terms of Emacs Lisp @code{catch}
2065 and @code{throw}, blocks have the same overhead as actual
2066 @code{catch} constructs (roughly two function calls). However,
2067 Zawinski and Furuseth's optimizing byte compiler (standard in
2068 Emacs 19) will optimize away the @code{catch} if the block does
2069 not in fact contain any @code{return} or @code{return-from} calls
2070 that jump to it. This means that @code{do} loops and @code{defun*}
2071 functions which don't use @code{return} don't pay the overhead to
2072 support it.
2073 @end defspec
2074
2075 @defspec return-from name [result]
2076 This macro returns from the block named @var{name}, which must be
2077 an (unevaluated) symbol. If a @var{result} form is specified, it
2078 is evaluated to produce the result returned from the @code{block}.
2079 Otherwise, @code{nil} is returned.
2080 @end defspec
2081
2082 @defspec return [result]
2083 This macro is exactly like @code{(return-from nil @var{result})}.
2084 Common Lisp loops like @code{do} and @code{dolist} implicitly enclose
2085 themselves in @code{nil} blocks.
2086 @end defspec
2087
2088 @node Iteration, Loop Facility, Blocks and Exits, Control Structure
2089 @section Iteration
2090
2091 @noindent
2092 The macros described here provide more sophisticated, high-level
2093 looping constructs to complement Emacs Lisp's basic @code{while}
2094 loop.
2095
2096 @defspec loop forms@dots{}
2097 The @dfn{CL} package supports both the simple, old-style meaning of
2098 @code{loop} and the extremely powerful and flexible feature known as
2099 the @dfn{Loop Facility} or @dfn{Loop Macro}. This more advanced
2100 facility is discussed in the following section; @pxref{Loop Facility}.
2101 The simple form of @code{loop} is described here.
2102
2103 If @code{loop} is followed by zero or more Lisp expressions,
2104 then @code{(loop @var{exprs}@dots{})} simply creates an infinite
2105 loop executing the expressions over and over. The loop is
2106 enclosed in an implicit @code{nil} block. Thus,
2107
2108 @example
2109 (loop (foo) (if (no-more) (return 72)) (bar))
2110 @end example
2111
2112 @noindent
2113 is exactly equivalent to
2114
2115 @example
2116 (block nil (while t (foo) (if (no-more) (return 72)) (bar)))
2117 @end example
2118
2119 If any of the expressions are plain symbols, the loop is instead
2120 interpreted as a Loop Macro specification as described later.
2121 (This is not a restriction in practice, since a plain symbol
2122 in the above notation would simply access and throw away the
2123 value of a variable.)
2124 @end defspec
2125
2126 @defspec do (spec@dots{}) (end-test [result@dots{}]) forms@dots{}
2127 This macro creates a general iterative loop. Each @var{spec} is
2128 of the form
2129
2130 @example
2131 (@var{var} [@var{init} [@var{step}]])
2132 @end example
2133
2134 The loop works as follows: First, each @var{var} is bound to the
2135 associated @var{init} value as if by a @code{let} form. Then, in
2136 each iteration of the loop, the @var{end-test} is evaluated; if
2137 true, the loop is finished. Otherwise, the body @var{forms} are
2138 evaluated, then each @var{var} is set to the associated @var{step}
2139 expression (as if by a @code{psetq} form) and the next iteration
2140 begins. Once the @var{end-test} becomes true, the @var{result}
2141 forms are evaluated (with the @var{var}s still bound to their
2142 values) to produce the result returned by @code{do}.
2143
2144 The entire @code{do} loop is enclosed in an implicit @code{nil}
2145 block, so that you can use @code{(return)} to break out of the
2146 loop at any time.
2147
2148 If there are no @var{result} forms, the loop returns @code{nil}.
2149 If a given @var{var} has no @var{step} form, it is bound to its
2150 @var{init} value but not otherwise modified during the @code{do}
2151 loop (unless the code explicitly modifies it); this case is just
2152 a shorthand for putting a @code{(let ((@var{var} @var{init})) @dots{})}
2153 around the loop. If @var{init} is also omitted it defaults to
2154 @code{nil}, and in this case a plain @samp{@var{var}} can be used
2155 in place of @samp{(@var{var})}, again following the analogy with
2156 @code{let}.
2157
2158 This example (from Steele) illustrates a loop which applies the
2159 function @code{f} to successive pairs of values from the lists
2160 @code{foo} and @code{bar}; it is equivalent to the call
2161 @code{(mapcar* 'f foo bar)}. Note that this loop has no body
2162 @var{forms} at all, performing all its work as side effects of
2163 the rest of the loop.
2164
2165 @example
2166 (do ((x foo (cdr x))
2167 (y bar (cdr y))
2168 (z nil (cons (f (car x) (car y)) z)))
2169 ((or (null x) (null y))
2170 (nreverse z)))
2171 @end example
2172 @end defspec
2173
2174 @defspec do* (spec@dots{}) (end-test [result@dots{}]) forms@dots{}
2175 This is to @code{do} what @code{let*} is to @code{let}. In
2176 particular, the initial values are bound as if by @code{let*}
2177 rather than @code{let}, and the steps are assigned as if by
2178 @code{setq} rather than @code{psetq}.
2179
2180 Here is another way to write the above loop:
2181
2182 @example
2183 (do* ((xp foo (cdr xp))
2184 (yp bar (cdr yp))
2185 (x (car xp) (car xp))
2186 (y (car yp) (car yp))
2187 z)
2188 ((or (null xp) (null yp))
2189 (nreverse z))
2190 (push (f x y) z))
2191 @end example
2192 @end defspec
2193
2194 @defspec dolist (var list [result]) forms@dots{}
2195 This is a more specialized loop which iterates across the elements
2196 of a list. @var{list} should evaluate to a list; the body @var{forms}
2197 are executed with @var{var} bound to each element of the list in
2198 turn. Finally, the @var{result} form (or @code{nil}) is evaluated
2199 with @var{var} bound to @code{nil} to produce the result returned by
2200 the loop. Unlike with Emacs's built in @code{dolist}, the loop is
2201 surrounded by an implicit @code{nil} block.
2202 @end defspec
2203
2204 @defspec dotimes (var count [result]) forms@dots{}
2205 This is a more specialized loop which iterates a specified number
2206 of times. The body is executed with @var{var} bound to the integers
2207 from zero (inclusive) to @var{count} (exclusive), in turn. Then
2208 the @code{result} form is evaluated with @var{var} bound to the total
2209 number of iterations that were done (i.e., @code{(max 0 @var{count})})
2210 to get the return value for the loop form. Unlike with Emacs's built in
2211 @code{dolist}, the loop is surrounded by an implicit @code{nil} block.
2212 @end defspec
2213
2214 @defspec do-symbols (var [obarray [result]]) forms@dots{}
2215 This loop iterates over all interned symbols. If @var{obarray}
2216 is specified and is not @code{nil}, it loops over all symbols in
2217 that obarray. For each symbol, the body @var{forms} are evaluated
2218 with @var{var} bound to that symbol. The symbols are visited in
2219 an unspecified order. Afterward the @var{result} form, if any,
2220 is evaluated (with @var{var} bound to @code{nil}) to get the return
2221 value. The loop is surrounded by an implicit @code{nil} block.
2222 @end defspec
2223
2224 @defspec do-all-symbols (var [result]) forms@dots{}
2225 This is identical to @code{do-symbols} except that the @var{obarray}
2226 argument is omitted; it always iterates over the default obarray.
2227 @end defspec
2228
2229 @xref{Mapping over Sequences}, for some more functions for
2230 iterating over vectors or lists.
2231
2232 @node Loop Facility, Multiple Values, Iteration, Control Structure
2233 @section Loop Facility
2234
2235 @noindent
2236 A common complaint with Lisp's traditional looping constructs is
2237 that they are either too simple and limited, such as Common Lisp's
2238 @code{dotimes} or Emacs Lisp's @code{while}, or too unreadable and
2239 obscure, like Common Lisp's @code{do} loop.
2240
2241 To remedy this, recent versions of Common Lisp have added a new
2242 construct called the ``Loop Facility'' or ``@code{loop} macro,''
2243 with an easy-to-use but very powerful and expressive syntax.
2244
2245 @menu
2246 * Loop Basics:: `loop' macro, basic clause structure
2247 * Loop Examples:: Working examples of `loop' macro
2248 * For Clauses:: Clauses introduced by `for' or `as'
2249 * Iteration Clauses:: `repeat', `while', `thereis', etc.
2250 * Accumulation Clauses:: `collect', `sum', `maximize', etc.
2251 * Other Clauses:: `with', `if', `initially', `finally'
2252 @end menu
2253
2254 @node Loop Basics, Loop Examples, Loop Facility, Loop Facility
2255 @subsection Loop Basics
2256
2257 @noindent
2258 The @code{loop} macro essentially creates a mini-language within
2259 Lisp that is specially tailored for describing loops. While this
2260 language is a little strange-looking by the standards of regular Lisp,
2261 it turns out to be very easy to learn and well-suited to its purpose.
2262
2263 Since @code{loop} is a macro, all parsing of the loop language
2264 takes place at byte-compile time; compiled @code{loop}s are just
2265 as efficient as the equivalent @code{while} loops written longhand.
2266
2267 @defspec loop clauses@dots{}
2268 A loop construct consists of a series of @var{clause}s, each
2269 introduced by a symbol like @code{for} or @code{do}. Clauses
2270 are simply strung together in the argument list of @code{loop},
2271 with minimal extra parentheses. The various types of clauses
2272 specify initializations, such as the binding of temporary
2273 variables, actions to be taken in the loop, stepping actions,
2274 and final cleanup.
2275
2276 Common Lisp specifies a certain general order of clauses in a
2277 loop:
2278
2279 @example
2280 (loop @var{name-clause}
2281 @var{var-clauses}@dots{}
2282 @var{action-clauses}@dots{})
2283 @end example
2284
2285 The @var{name-clause} optionally gives a name to the implicit
2286 block that surrounds the loop. By default, the implicit block
2287 is named @code{nil}. The @var{var-clauses} specify what
2288 variables should be bound during the loop, and how they should
2289 be modified or iterated throughout the course of the loop. The
2290 @var{action-clauses} are things to be done during the loop, such
2291 as computing, collecting, and returning values.
2292
2293 The Emacs version of the @code{loop} macro is less restrictive about
2294 the order of clauses, but things will behave most predictably if
2295 you put the variable-binding clauses @code{with}, @code{for}, and
2296 @code{repeat} before the action clauses. As in Common Lisp,
2297 @code{initially} and @code{finally} clauses can go anywhere.
2298
2299 Loops generally return @code{nil} by default, but you can cause
2300 them to return a value by using an accumulation clause like
2301 @code{collect}, an end-test clause like @code{always}, or an
2302 explicit @code{return} clause to jump out of the implicit block.
2303 (Because the loop body is enclosed in an implicit block, you can
2304 also use regular Lisp @code{return} or @code{return-from} to
2305 break out of the loop.)
2306 @end defspec
2307
2308 The following sections give some examples of the Loop Macro in
2309 action, and describe the particular loop clauses in great detail.
2310 Consult the second edition of Steele's @dfn{Common Lisp, the Language},
2311 for additional discussion and examples of the @code{loop} macro.
2312
2313 @node Loop Examples, For Clauses, Loop Basics, Loop Facility
2314 @subsection Loop Examples
2315
2316 @noindent
2317 Before listing the full set of clauses that are allowed, let's
2318 look at a few example loops just to get a feel for the @code{loop}
2319 language.
2320
2321 @example
2322 (loop for buf in (buffer-list)
2323 collect (buffer-file-name buf))
2324 @end example
2325
2326 @noindent
2327 This loop iterates over all Emacs buffers, using the list
2328 returned by @code{buffer-list}. For each buffer @code{buf},
2329 it calls @code{buffer-file-name} and collects the results into
2330 a list, which is then returned from the @code{loop} construct.
2331 The result is a list of the file names of all the buffers in
2332 Emacs' memory. The words @code{for}, @code{in}, and @code{collect}
2333 are reserved words in the @code{loop} language.
2334
2335 @example
2336 (loop repeat 20 do (insert "Yowsa\n"))
2337 @end example
2338
2339 @noindent
2340 This loop inserts the phrase ``Yowsa'' twenty times in the
2341 current buffer.
2342
2343 @example
2344 (loop until (eobp) do (munch-line) (forward-line 1))
2345 @end example
2346
2347 @noindent
2348 This loop calls @code{munch-line} on every line until the end
2349 of the buffer. If point is already at the end of the buffer,
2350 the loop exits immediately.
2351
2352 @example
2353 (loop do (munch-line) until (eobp) do (forward-line 1))
2354 @end example
2355
2356 @noindent
2357 This loop is similar to the above one, except that @code{munch-line}
2358 is always called at least once.
2359
2360 @example
2361 (loop for x from 1 to 100
2362 for y = (* x x)
2363 until (>= y 729)
2364 finally return (list x (= y 729)))
2365 @end example
2366
2367 @noindent
2368 This more complicated loop searches for a number @code{x} whose
2369 square is 729. For safety's sake it only examines @code{x}
2370 values up to 100; dropping the phrase @samp{to 100} would
2371 cause the loop to count upwards with no limit. The second
2372 @code{for} clause defines @code{y} to be the square of @code{x}
2373 within the loop; the expression after the @code{=} sign is
2374 reevaluated each time through the loop. The @code{until}
2375 clause gives a condition for terminating the loop, and the
2376 @code{finally} clause says what to do when the loop finishes.
2377 (This particular example was written less concisely than it
2378 could have been, just for the sake of illustration.)
2379
2380 Note that even though this loop contains three clauses (two
2381 @code{for}s and an @code{until}) that would have been enough to
2382 define loops all by themselves, it still creates a single loop
2383 rather than some sort of triple-nested loop. You must explicitly
2384 nest your @code{loop} constructs if you want nested loops.
2385
2386 @node For Clauses, Iteration Clauses, Loop Examples, Loop Facility
2387 @subsection For Clauses
2388
2389 @noindent
2390 Most loops are governed by one or more @code{for} clauses.
2391 A @code{for} clause simultaneously describes variables to be
2392 bound, how those variables are to be stepped during the loop,
2393 and usually an end condition based on those variables.
2394
2395 The word @code{as} is a synonym for the word @code{for}. This
2396 word is followed by a variable name, then a word like @code{from}
2397 or @code{across} that describes the kind of iteration desired.
2398 In Common Lisp, the phrase @code{being the} sometimes precedes
2399 the type of iteration; in this package both @code{being} and
2400 @code{the} are optional. The word @code{each} is a synonym
2401 for @code{the}, and the word that follows it may be singular
2402 or plural: @samp{for x being the elements of y} or
2403 @samp{for x being each element of y}. Which form you use
2404 is purely a matter of style.
2405
2406 The variable is bound around the loop as if by @code{let}:
2407
2408 @example
2409 (setq i 'happy)
2410 (loop for i from 1 to 10 do (do-something-with i))
2411 i
2412 @result{} happy
2413 @end example
2414
2415 @table @code
2416 @item for @var{var} from @var{expr1} to @var{expr2} by @var{expr3}
2417 This type of @code{for} clause creates a counting loop. Each of
2418 the three sub-terms is optional, though there must be at least one
2419 term so that the clause is marked as a counting clause.
2420
2421 The three expressions are the starting value, the ending value, and
2422 the step value, respectively, of the variable. The loop counts
2423 upwards by default (@var{expr3} must be positive), from @var{expr1}
2424 to @var{expr2} inclusively. If you omit the @code{from} term, the
2425 loop counts from zero; if you omit the @code{to} term, the loop
2426 counts forever without stopping (unless stopped by some other
2427 loop clause, of course); if you omit the @code{by} term, the loop
2428 counts in steps of one.
2429
2430 You can replace the word @code{from} with @code{upfrom} or
2431 @code{downfrom} to indicate the direction of the loop. Likewise,
2432 you can replace @code{to} with @code{upto} or @code{downto}.
2433 For example, @samp{for x from 5 downto 1} executes five times
2434 with @code{x} taking on the integers from 5 down to 1 in turn.
2435 Also, you can replace @code{to} with @code{below} or @code{above},
2436 which are like @code{upto} and @code{downto} respectively except
2437 that they are exclusive rather than inclusive limits:
2438
2439 @example
2440 (loop for x to 10 collect x)
2441 @result{} (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10)
2442 (loop for x below 10 collect x)
2443 @result{} (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9)
2444 @end example
2445
2446 The @code{by} value is always positive, even for downward-counting
2447 loops. Some sort of @code{from} value is required for downward
2448 loops; @samp{for x downto 5} is not a legal loop clause all by
2449 itself.
2450
2451 @item for @var{var} in @var{list} by @var{function}
2452 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the elements of @var{list},
2453 in turn. If you specify the @code{by} term, then @var{function}
2454 is used to traverse the list instead of @code{cdr}; it must be a
2455 function taking one argument. For example:
2456
2457 @example
2458 (loop for x in '(1 2 3 4 5 6) collect (* x x))
2459 @result{} (1 4 9 16 25 36)
2460 (loop for x in '(1 2 3 4 5 6) by 'cddr collect (* x x))
2461 @result{} (1 9 25)
2462 @end example
2463
2464 @item for @var{var} on @var{list} by @var{function}
2465 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the cons cells of @var{list}.
2466
2467 @example
2468 (loop for x on '(1 2 3 4) collect x)
2469 @result{} ((1 2 3 4) (2 3 4) (3 4) (4))
2470 @end example
2471
2472 With @code{by}, there is no real reason that the @code{on} expression
2473 must be a list. For example:
2474
2475 @example
2476 (loop for x on first-animal by 'next-animal collect x)
2477 @end example
2478
2479 @noindent
2480 where @code{(next-animal x)} takes an ``animal'' @var{x} and returns
2481 the next in the (assumed) sequence of animals, or @code{nil} if
2482 @var{x} was the last animal in the sequence.
2483
2484 @item for @var{var} in-ref @var{list} by @var{function}
2485 This is like a regular @code{in} clause, but @var{var} becomes
2486 a @code{setf}-able ``reference'' onto the elements of the list
2487 rather than just a temporary variable. For example,
2488
2489 @example
2490 (loop for x in-ref my-list do (incf x))
2491 @end example
2492
2493 @noindent
2494 increments every element of @code{my-list} in place. This clause
2495 is an extension to standard Common Lisp.
2496
2497 @item for @var{var} across @var{array}
2498 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the elements of @var{array},
2499 which may be a vector or a string.
2500
2501 @example
2502 (loop for x across "aeiou"
2503 do (use-vowel (char-to-string x)))
2504 @end example
2505
2506 @item for @var{var} across-ref @var{array}
2507 This clause iterates over an array, with @var{var} a @code{setf}-able
2508 reference onto the elements; see @code{in-ref} above.
2509
2510 @item for @var{var} being the elements of @var{sequence}
2511 This clause iterates over the elements of @var{sequence}, which may
2512 be a list, vector, or string. Since the type must be determined
2513 at run-time, this is somewhat less efficient than @code{in} or
2514 @code{across}. The clause may be followed by the additional term
2515 @samp{using (index @var{var2})} to cause @var{var2} to be bound to
2516 the successive indices (starting at 0) of the elements.
2517
2518 This clause type is taken from older versions of the @code{loop} macro,
2519 and is not present in modern Common Lisp. The @samp{using (sequence ...)}
2520 term of the older macros is not supported.
2521
2522 @item for @var{var} being the elements of-ref @var{sequence}
2523 This clause iterates over a sequence, with @var{var} a @code{setf}-able
2524 reference onto the elements; see @code{in-ref} above.
2525
2526 @item for @var{var} being the symbols [of @var{obarray}]
2527 This clause iterates over symbols, either over all interned symbols
2528 or over all symbols in @var{obarray}. The loop is executed with
2529 @var{var} bound to each symbol in turn. The symbols are visited in
2530 an unspecified order.
2531
2532 As an example,
2533
2534 @example
2535 (loop for sym being the symbols
2536 when (fboundp sym)
2537 when (string-match "^map" (symbol-name sym))
2538 collect sym)
2539 @end example
2540
2541 @noindent
2542 returns a list of all the functions whose names begin with @samp{map}.
2543
2544 The Common Lisp words @code{external-symbols} and @code{present-symbols}
2545 are also recognized but are equivalent to @code{symbols} in Emacs Lisp.
2546
2547 Due to a minor implementation restriction, it will not work to have
2548 more than one @code{for} clause iterating over symbols, hash tables,
2549 keymaps, overlays, or intervals in a given @code{loop}. Fortunately,
2550 it would rarely if ever be useful to do so. It @emph{is} legal to mix
2551 one of these types of clauses with other clauses like @code{for ... to}
2552 or @code{while}.
2553
2554 @item for @var{var} being the hash-keys of @var{hash-table}
2555 This clause iterates over the entries in @var{hash-table}. For each
2556 hash table entry, @var{var} is bound to the entry's key. If you write
2557 @samp{the hash-values} instead, @var{var} is bound to the values
2558 of the entries. The clause may be followed by the additional
2559 term @samp{using (hash-values @var{var2})} (where @code{hash-values}
2560 is the opposite word of the word following @code{the}) to cause
2561 @var{var} and @var{var2} to be bound to the two parts of each
2562 hash table entry.
2563
2564 @item for @var{var} being the key-codes of @var{keymap}
2565 This clause iterates over the entries in @var{keymap}. In GNU Emacs
2566 18 and 19, keymaps are either alists or vectors, and key-codes are
2567 integers or symbols. In Lucid Emacs 19, keymaps are a special new
2568 data type, and key-codes are symbols or lists of symbols. The
2569 iteration does not enter nested keymaps or inherited (parent) keymaps.
2570 You can use @samp{the key-bindings} to access the commands bound to
2571 the keys rather than the key codes, and you can add a @code{using}
2572 clause to access both the codes and the bindings together.
2573
2574 @item for @var{var} being the key-seqs of @var{keymap}
2575 This clause iterates over all key sequences defined by @var{keymap}
2576 and its nested keymaps, where @var{var} takes on values which are
2577 vectors. The strings or vectors
2578 are reused for each iteration, so you must copy them if you wish to keep
2579 them permanently. You can add a @samp{using (key-bindings ...)}
2580 clause to get the command bindings as well.
2581
2582 @item for @var{var} being the overlays [of @var{buffer}] @dots{}
2583 This clause iterates over the Emacs 19 ``overlays'' or Lucid
2584 Emacs ``extents'' of a buffer (the clause @code{extents} is synonymous
2585 with @code{overlays}). If the @code{of} term is omitted, the current
2586 buffer is used.
2587 This clause also accepts optional @samp{from @var{pos}} and
2588 @samp{to @var{pos}} terms, limiting the clause to overlays which
2589 overlap the specified region.
2590
2591 @item for @var{var} being the intervals [of @var{buffer}] @dots{}
2592 This clause iterates over all intervals of a buffer with constant
2593 text properties. The variable @var{var} will be bound to conses
2594 of start and end positions, where one start position is always equal
2595 to the previous end position. The clause allows @code{of},
2596 @code{from}, @code{to}, and @code{property} terms, where the latter
2597 term restricts the search to just the specified property. The
2598 @code{of} term may specify either a buffer or a string. This
2599 clause is useful only in GNU Emacs 19; in other versions, all
2600 buffers and strings consist of a single interval.
2601
2602 @item for @var{var} being the frames
2603 This clause iterates over all frames, i.e., X window system windows
2604 open on Emacs files. This clause works only under Emacs 19. The
2605 clause @code{screens} is a synonym for @code{frames}. The frames
2606 are visited in @code{next-frame} order starting from
2607 @code{selected-frame}.
2608
2609 @item for @var{var} being the windows [of @var{frame}]
2610 This clause iterates over the windows (in the Emacs sense) of
2611 the current frame, or of the specified @var{frame}.
2612
2613 @item for @var{var} being the buffers
2614 This clause iterates over all buffers in Emacs. It is equivalent
2615 to @samp{for @var{var} in (buffer-list)}.
2616
2617 @item for @var{var} = @var{expr1} then @var{expr2}
2618 This clause does a general iteration. The first time through
2619 the loop, @var{var} will be bound to @var{expr1}. On the second
2620 and successive iterations it will be set by evaluating @var{expr2}
2621 (which may refer to the old value of @var{var}). For example,
2622 these two loops are effectively the same:
2623
2624 @example
2625 (loop for x on my-list by 'cddr do ...)
2626 (loop for x = my-list then (cddr x) while x do ...)
2627 @end example
2628
2629 Note that this type of @code{for} clause does not imply any sort
2630 of terminating condition; the above example combines it with a
2631 @code{while} clause to tell when to end the loop.
2632
2633 If you omit the @code{then} term, @var{expr1} is used both for
2634 the initial setting and for successive settings:
2635
2636 @example
2637 (loop for x = (random) when (> x 0) return x)
2638 @end example
2639
2640 @noindent
2641 This loop keeps taking random numbers from the @code{(random)}
2642 function until it gets a positive one, which it then returns.
2643 @end table
2644
2645 If you include several @code{for} clauses in a row, they are
2646 treated sequentially (as if by @code{let*} and @code{setq}).
2647 You can instead use the word @code{and} to link the clauses,
2648 in which case they are processed in parallel (as if by @code{let}
2649 and @code{psetq}).
2650
2651 @example
2652 (loop for x below 5 for y = nil then x collect (list x y))
2653 @result{} ((0 nil) (1 1) (2 2) (3 3) (4 4))
2654 (loop for x below 5 and y = nil then x collect (list x y))
2655 @result{} ((0 nil) (1 0) (2 1) (3 2) (4 3))
2656 @end example
2657
2658 @noindent
2659 In the first loop, @code{y} is set based on the value of @code{x}
2660 that was just set by the previous clause; in the second loop,
2661 @code{x} and @code{y} are set simultaneously so @code{y} is set
2662 based on the value of @code{x} left over from the previous time
2663 through the loop.
2664
2665 Another feature of the @code{loop} macro is @dfn{destructuring},
2666 similar in concept to the destructuring provided by @code{defmacro}.
2667 The @var{var} part of any @code{for} clause can be given as a list
2668 of variables instead of a single variable. The values produced
2669 during loop execution must be lists; the values in the lists are
2670 stored in the corresponding variables.
2671
2672 @example
2673 (loop for (x y) in '((2 3) (4 5) (6 7)) collect (+ x y))
2674 @result{} (5 9 13)
2675 @end example
2676
2677 In loop destructuring, if there are more values than variables
2678 the trailing values are ignored, and if there are more variables
2679 than values the trailing variables get the value @code{nil}.
2680 If @code{nil} is used as a variable name, the corresponding
2681 values are ignored. Destructuring may be nested, and dotted
2682 lists of variables like @code{(x . y)} are allowed.
2683
2684 @node Iteration Clauses, Accumulation Clauses, For Clauses, Loop Facility
2685 @subsection Iteration Clauses
2686
2687 @noindent
2688 Aside from @code{for} clauses, there are several other loop clauses
2689 that control the way the loop operates. They might be used by
2690 themselves, or in conjunction with one or more @code{for} clauses.
2691
2692 @table @code
2693 @item repeat @var{integer}
2694 This clause simply counts up to the specified number using an
2695 internal temporary variable. The loops
2696
2697 @example
2698 (loop repeat n do ...)
2699 (loop for temp to n do ...)
2700 @end example
2701
2702 @noindent
2703 are identical except that the second one forces you to choose
2704 a name for a variable you aren't actually going to use.
2705
2706 @item while @var{condition}
2707 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition (any Lisp
2708 expression) becomes @code{nil}. For example, the following two
2709 loops are equivalent, except for the implicit @code{nil} block
2710 that surrounds the second one:
2711
2712 @example
2713 (while @var{cond} @var{forms}@dots{})
2714 (loop while @var{cond} do @var{forms}@dots{})
2715 @end example
2716
2717 @item until @var{condition}
2718 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition is true,
2719 i.e., non-@code{nil}.
2720
2721 @item always @var{condition}
2722 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition is @code{nil}.
2723 Unlike @code{while}, it stops the loop using @code{return nil} so that
2724 the @code{finally} clauses are not executed. If all the conditions
2725 were non-@code{nil}, the loop returns @code{t}:
2726
2727 @example
2728 (if (loop for size in size-list always (> size 10))
2729 (some-big-sizes)
2730 (no-big-sizes))
2731 @end example
2732
2733 @item never @var{condition}
2734 This clause is like @code{always}, except that the loop returns
2735 @code{t} if any conditions were false, or @code{nil} otherwise.
2736
2737 @item thereis @var{condition}
2738 This clause stops the loop when the specified form is non-@code{nil};
2739 in this case, it returns that non-@code{nil} value. If all the
2740 values were @code{nil}, the loop returns @code{nil}.
2741 @end table
2742
2743 @node Accumulation Clauses, Other Clauses, Iteration Clauses, Loop Facility
2744 @subsection Accumulation Clauses
2745
2746 @noindent
2747 These clauses cause the loop to accumulate information about the
2748 specified Lisp @var{form}. The accumulated result is returned
2749 from the loop unless overridden, say, by a @code{return} clause.
2750
2751 @table @code
2752 @item collect @var{form}
2753 This clause collects the values of @var{form} into a list. Several
2754 examples of @code{collect} appear elsewhere in this manual.
2755
2756 The word @code{collecting} is a synonym for @code{collect}, and
2757 likewise for the other accumulation clauses.
2758
2759 @item append @var{form}
2760 This clause collects lists of values into a result list using
2761 @code{append}.
2762
2763 @item nconc @var{form}
2764 This clause collects lists of values into a result list by
2765 destructively modifying the lists rather than copying them.
2766
2767 @item concat @var{form}
2768 This clause concatenates the values of the specified @var{form}
2769 into a string. (It and the following clause are extensions to
2770 standard Common Lisp.)
2771
2772 @item vconcat @var{form}
2773 This clause concatenates the values of the specified @var{form}
2774 into a vector.
2775
2776 @item count @var{form}
2777 This clause counts the number of times the specified @var{form}
2778 evaluates to a non-@code{nil} value.
2779
2780 @item sum @var{form}
2781 This clause accumulates the sum of the values of the specified
2782 @var{form}, which must evaluate to a number.
2783
2784 @item maximize @var{form}
2785 This clause accumulates the maximum value of the specified @var{form},
2786 which must evaluate to a number. The return value is undefined if
2787 @code{maximize} is executed zero times.
2788
2789 @item minimize @var{form}
2790 This clause accumulates the minimum value of the specified @var{form}.
2791 @end table
2792
2793 Accumulation clauses can be followed by @samp{into @var{var}} to
2794 cause the data to be collected into variable @var{var} (which is
2795 automatically @code{let}-bound during the loop) rather than an
2796 unnamed temporary variable. Also, @code{into} accumulations do
2797 not automatically imply a return value. The loop must use some
2798 explicit mechanism, such as @code{finally return}, to return
2799 the accumulated result.
2800
2801 It is legal for several accumulation clauses of the same type to
2802 accumulate into the same place. From Steele:
2803
2804 @example
2805 (loop for name in '(fred sue alice joe june)
2806 for kids in '((bob ken) () () (kris sunshine) ())
2807 collect name
2808 append kids)
2809 @result{} (fred bob ken sue alice joe kris sunshine june)
2810 @end example
2811
2812 @node Other Clauses, , Accumulation Clauses, Loop Facility
2813 @subsection Other Clauses
2814
2815 @noindent
2816 This section describes the remaining loop clauses.
2817
2818 @table @code
2819 @item with @var{var} = @var{value}
2820 This clause binds a variable to a value around the loop, but
2821 otherwise leaves the variable alone during the loop. The following
2822 loops are basically equivalent:
2823
2824 @example
2825 (loop with x = 17 do ...)
2826 (let ((x 17)) (loop do ...))
2827 (loop for x = 17 then x do ...)
2828 @end example
2829
2830 Naturally, the variable @var{var} might be used for some purpose
2831 in the rest of the loop. For example:
2832
2833 @example
2834 (loop for x in my-list with res = nil do (push x res)
2835 finally return res)
2836 @end example
2837
2838 This loop inserts the elements of @code{my-list} at the front of
2839 a new list being accumulated in @code{res}, then returns the
2840 list @code{res} at the end of the loop. The effect is similar
2841 to that of a @code{collect} clause, but the list gets reversed
2842 by virtue of the fact that elements are being pushed onto the
2843 front of @code{res} rather than the end.
2844
2845 If you omit the @code{=} term, the variable is initialized to
2846 @code{nil}. (Thus the @samp{= nil} in the above example is
2847 unnecessary.)
2848
2849 Bindings made by @code{with} are sequential by default, as if
2850 by @code{let*}. Just like @code{for} clauses, @code{with} clauses
2851 can be linked with @code{and} to cause the bindings to be made by
2852 @code{let} instead.
2853
2854 @item if @var{condition} @var{clause}
2855 This clause executes the following loop clause only if the specified
2856 condition is true. The following @var{clause} should be an accumulation,
2857 @code{do}, @code{return}, @code{if}, or @code{unless} clause.
2858 Several clauses may be linked by separating them with @code{and}.
2859 These clauses may be followed by @code{else} and a clause or clauses
2860 to execute if the condition was false. The whole construct may
2861 optionally be followed by the word @code{end} (which may be used to
2862 disambiguate an @code{else} or @code{and} in a nested @code{if}).
2863
2864 The actual non-@code{nil} value of the condition form is available
2865 by the name @code{it} in the ``then'' part. For example:
2866
2867 @example
2868 (setq funny-numbers '(6 13 -1))
2869 @result{} (6 13 -1)
2870 (loop for x below 10
2871 if (oddp x)
2872 collect x into odds
2873 and if (memq x funny-numbers) return (cdr it) end
2874 else
2875 collect x into evens
2876 finally return (vector odds evens))
2877 @result{} [(1 3 5 7 9) (0 2 4 6 8)]
2878 (setq funny-numbers '(6 7 13 -1))
2879 @result{} (6 7 13 -1)
2880 (loop <@r{same thing again}>)
2881 @result{} (13 -1)
2882 @end example
2883
2884 Note the use of @code{and} to put two clauses into the ``then''
2885 part, one of which is itself an @code{if} clause. Note also that
2886 @code{end}, while normally optional, was necessary here to make
2887 it clear that the @code{else} refers to the outermost @code{if}
2888 clause. In the first case, the loop returns a vector of lists
2889 of the odd and even values of @var{x}. In the second case, the
2890 odd number 7 is one of the @code{funny-numbers} so the loop
2891 returns early; the actual returned value is based on the result
2892 of the @code{memq} call.
2893
2894 @item when @var{condition} @var{clause}
2895 This clause is just a synonym for @code{if}.
2896
2897 @item unless @var{condition} @var{clause}
2898 The @code{unless} clause is just like @code{if} except that the
2899 sense of the condition is reversed.
2900
2901 @item named @var{name}
2902 This clause gives a name other than @code{nil} to the implicit
2903 block surrounding the loop. The @var{name} is the symbol to be
2904 used as the block name.
2905
2906 @item initially [do] @var{forms}...
2907 This keyword introduces one or more Lisp forms which will be
2908 executed before the loop itself begins (but after any variables
2909 requested by @code{for} or @code{with} have been bound to their
2910 initial values). @code{initially} clauses can appear anywhere;
2911 if there are several, they are executed in the order they appear
2912 in the loop. The keyword @code{do} is optional.
2913
2914 @item finally [do] @var{forms}...
2915 This introduces Lisp forms which will be executed after the loop
2916 finishes (say, on request of a @code{for} or @code{while}).
2917 @code{initially} and @code{finally} clauses may appear anywhere
2918 in the loop construct, but they are executed (in the specified
2919 order) at the beginning or end, respectively, of the loop.
2920
2921 @item finally return @var{form}
2922 This says that @var{form} should be executed after the loop
2923 is done to obtain a return value. (Without this, or some other
2924 clause like @code{collect} or @code{return}, the loop will simply
2925 return @code{nil}.) Variables bound by @code{for}, @code{with},
2926 or @code{into} will still contain their final values when @var{form}
2927 is executed.
2928
2929 @item do @var{forms}...
2930 The word @code{do} may be followed by any number of Lisp expressions
2931 which are executed as an implicit @code{progn} in the body of the
2932 loop. Many of the examples in this section illustrate the use of
2933 @code{do}.
2934
2935 @item return @var{form}
2936 This clause causes the loop to return immediately. The following
2937 Lisp form is evaluated to give the return value of the @code{loop}
2938 form. The @code{finally} clauses, if any, are not executed.
2939 Of course, @code{return} is generally used inside an @code{if} or
2940 @code{unless}, as its use in a top-level loop clause would mean
2941 the loop would never get to ``loop'' more than once.
2942
2943 The clause @samp{return @var{form}} is equivalent to
2944 @samp{do (return @var{form})} (or @code{return-from} if the loop
2945 was named). The @code{return} clause is implemented a bit more
2946 efficiently, though.
2947 @end table
2948
2949 While there is no high-level way to add user extensions to @code{loop}
2950 (comparable to @code{defsetf} for @code{setf}, say), this package
2951 does offer two properties called @code{cl-loop-handler} and
2952 @code{cl-loop-for-handler} which are functions to be called when
2953 a given symbol is encountered as a top-level loop clause or
2954 @code{for} clause, respectively. Consult the source code in
2955 file @file{cl-macs.el} for details.
2956
2957 This package's @code{loop} macro is compatible with that of Common
2958 Lisp, except that a few features are not implemented: @code{loop-finish}
2959 and data-type specifiers. Naturally, the @code{for} clauses which
2960 iterate over keymaps, overlays, intervals, frames, windows, and
2961 buffers are Emacs-specific extensions.
2962
2963 @node Multiple Values, , Loop Facility, Control Structure
2964 @section Multiple Values
2965
2966 @noindent
2967 Common Lisp functions can return zero or more results. Emacs Lisp
2968 functions, by contrast, always return exactly one result. This
2969 package makes no attempt to emulate Common Lisp multiple return
2970 values; Emacs versions of Common Lisp functions that return more
2971 than one value either return just the first value (as in
2972 @code{compiler-macroexpand}) or return a list of values (as in
2973 @code{get-setf-method}). This package @emph{does} define placeholders
2974 for the Common Lisp functions that work with multiple values, but
2975 in Emacs Lisp these functions simply operate on lists instead.
2976 The @code{values} form, for example, is a synonym for @code{list}
2977 in Emacs.
2978
2979 @defspec multiple-value-bind (var@dots{}) values-form forms@dots{}
2980 This form evaluates @var{values-form}, which must return a list of
2981 values. It then binds the @var{var}s to these respective values,
2982 as if by @code{let}, and then executes the body @var{forms}.
2983 If there are more @var{var}s than values, the extra @var{var}s
2984 are bound to @code{nil}. If there are fewer @var{var}s than
2985 values, the excess values are ignored.
2986 @end defspec
2987
2988 @defspec multiple-value-setq (var@dots{}) form
2989 This form evaluates @var{form}, which must return a list of values.
2990 It then sets the @var{var}s to these respective values, as if by
2991 @code{setq}. Extra @var{var}s or values are treated the same as
2992 in @code{multiple-value-bind}.
2993 @end defspec
2994
2995 The older Quiroz package attempted a more faithful (but still
2996 imperfect) emulation of Common Lisp multiple values. The old
2997 method ``usually'' simulated true multiple values quite well,
2998 but under certain circumstances would leave spurious return
2999 values in memory where a later, unrelated @code{multiple-value-bind}
3000 form would see them.
3001
3002 Since a perfect emulation is not feasible in Emacs Lisp, this
3003 package opts to keep it as simple and predictable as possible.
3004
3005 @node Macros, Declarations, Control Structure, Top
3006 @chapter Macros
3007
3008 @noindent
3009 This package implements the various Common Lisp features of
3010 @code{defmacro}, such as destructuring, @code{&environment},
3011 and @code{&body}. Top-level @code{&whole} is not implemented
3012 for @code{defmacro} due to technical difficulties.
3013 @xref{Argument Lists}.
3014
3015 Destructuring is made available to the user by way of the
3016 following macro:
3017
3018 @defspec destructuring-bind arglist expr forms@dots{}
3019 This macro expands to code which executes @var{forms}, with
3020 the variables in @var{arglist} bound to the list of values
3021 returned by @var{expr}. The @var{arglist} can include all
3022 the features allowed for @code{defmacro} argument lists,
3023 including destructuring. (The @code{&environment} keyword
3024 is not allowed.) The macro expansion will signal an error
3025 if @var{expr} returns a list of the wrong number of arguments
3026 or with incorrect keyword arguments.
3027 @end defspec
3028
3029 This package also includes the Common Lisp @code{define-compiler-macro}
3030 facility, which allows you to define compile-time expansions and
3031 optimizations for your functions.
3032
3033 @defspec define-compiler-macro name arglist forms@dots{}
3034 This form is similar to @code{defmacro}, except that it only expands
3035 calls to @var{name} at compile-time; calls processed by the Lisp
3036 interpreter are not expanded, nor are they expanded by the
3037 @code{macroexpand} function.
3038
3039 The argument list may begin with a @code{&whole} keyword and a
3040 variable. This variable is bound to the macro-call form itself,
3041 i.e., to a list of the form @samp{(@var{name} @var{args}@dots{})}.
3042 If the macro expander returns this form unchanged, then the
3043 compiler treats it as a normal function call. This allows
3044 compiler macros to work as optimizers for special cases of a
3045 function, leaving complicated cases alone.
3046
3047 For example, here is a simplified version of a definition that
3048 appears as a standard part of this package:
3049
3050 @example
3051 (define-compiler-macro member* (&whole form a list &rest keys)
3052 (if (and (null keys)
3053 (eq (car-safe a) 'quote)
3054 (not (floatp-safe (cadr a))))
3055 (list 'memq a list)
3056 form))
3057 @end example
3058
3059 @noindent
3060 This definition causes @code{(member* @var{a} @var{list})} to change
3061 to a call to the faster @code{memq} in the common case where @var{a}
3062 is a non-floating-point constant; if @var{a} is anything else, or
3063 if there are any keyword arguments in the call, then the original
3064 @code{member*} call is left intact. (The actual compiler macro
3065 for @code{member*} optimizes a number of other cases, including
3066 common @code{:test} predicates.)
3067 @end defspec
3068
3069 @defun compiler-macroexpand form
3070 This function is analogous to @code{macroexpand}, except that it
3071 expands compiler macros rather than regular macros. It returns
3072 @var{form} unchanged if it is not a call to a function for which
3073 a compiler macro has been defined, or if that compiler macro
3074 decided to punt by returning its @code{&whole} argument. Like
3075 @code{macroexpand}, it expands repeatedly until it reaches a form
3076 for which no further expansion is possible.
3077 @end defun
3078
3079 @xref{Macro Bindings}, for descriptions of the @code{macrolet}
3080 and @code{symbol-macrolet} forms for making ``local'' macro
3081 definitions.
3082
3083 @node Declarations, Symbols, Macros, Top
3084 @chapter Declarations
3085
3086 @noindent
3087 Common Lisp includes a complex and powerful ``declaration''
3088 mechanism that allows you to give the compiler special hints
3089 about the types of data that will be stored in particular variables,
3090 and about the ways those variables and functions will be used. This
3091 package defines versions of all the Common Lisp declaration forms:
3092 @code{declare}, @code{locally}, @code{proclaim}, @code{declaim},
3093 and @code{the}.
3094
3095 Most of the Common Lisp declarations are not currently useful in
3096 Emacs Lisp, as the byte-code system provides little opportunity
3097 to benefit from type information, and @code{special} declarations
3098 are redundant in a fully dynamically-scoped Lisp. A few
3099 declarations are meaningful when the optimizing Emacs 19 byte
3100 compiler is being used, however. Under the earlier non-optimizing
3101 compiler, these declarations will effectively be ignored.
3102
3103 @defun proclaim decl-spec
3104 This function records a ``global'' declaration specified by
3105 @var{decl-spec}. Since @code{proclaim} is a function, @var{decl-spec}
3106 is evaluated and thus should normally be quoted.
3107 @end defun
3108
3109 @defspec declaim decl-specs@dots{}
3110 This macro is like @code{proclaim}, except that it takes any number
3111 of @var{decl-spec} arguments, and the arguments are unevaluated and
3112 unquoted. The @code{declaim} macro also puts an @code{(eval-when
3113 (compile load eval) ...)} around the declarations so that they will
3114 be registered at compile-time as well as at run-time. (This is vital,
3115 since normally the declarations are meant to influence the way the
3116 compiler treats the rest of the file that contains the @code{declaim}
3117 form.)
3118 @end defspec
3119
3120 @defspec declare decl-specs@dots{}
3121 This macro is used to make declarations within functions and other
3122 code. Common Lisp allows declarations in various locations, generally
3123 at the beginning of any of the many ``implicit @code{progn}s''
3124 throughout Lisp syntax, such as function bodies, @code{let} bodies,
3125 etc. Currently the only declaration understood by @code{declare}
3126 is @code{special}.
3127 @end defspec
3128
3129 @defspec locally declarations@dots{} forms@dots{}
3130 In this package, @code{locally} is no different from @code{progn}.
3131 @end defspec
3132
3133 @defspec the type form
3134 Type information provided by @code{the} is ignored in this package;
3135 in other words, @code{(the @var{type} @var{form})} is equivalent
3136 to @var{form}. Future versions of the optimizing byte-compiler may
3137 make use of this information.
3138
3139 For example, @code{mapcar} can map over both lists and arrays. It is
3140 hard for the compiler to expand @code{mapcar} into an in-line loop
3141 unless it knows whether the sequence will be a list or an array ahead
3142 of time. With @code{(mapcar 'car (the vector foo))}, a future
3143 compiler would have enough information to expand the loop in-line.
3144 For now, Emacs Lisp will treat the above code as exactly equivalent
3145 to @code{(mapcar 'car foo)}.
3146 @end defspec
3147
3148 Each @var{decl-spec} in a @code{proclaim}, @code{declaim}, or
3149 @code{declare} should be a list beginning with a symbol that says
3150 what kind of declaration it is. This package currently understands
3151 @code{special}, @code{inline}, @code{notinline}, @code{optimize},
3152 and @code{warn} declarations. (The @code{warn} declaration is an
3153 extension of standard Common Lisp.) Other Common Lisp declarations,
3154 such as @code{type} and @code{ftype}, are silently ignored.
3155
3156 @table @code
3157 @item special
3158 Since all variables in Emacs Lisp are ``special'' (in the Common
3159 Lisp sense), @code{special} declarations are only advisory. They
3160 simply tell the optimizing byte compiler that the specified
3161 variables are intentionally being referred to without being
3162 bound in the body of the function. The compiler normally emits
3163 warnings for such references, since they could be typographical
3164 errors for references to local variables.
3165
3166 The declaration @code{(declare (special @var{var1} @var{var2}))} is
3167 equivalent to @code{(defvar @var{var1}) (defvar @var{var2})} in the
3168 optimizing compiler, or to nothing at all in older compilers (which
3169 do not warn for non-local references).
3170
3171 In top-level contexts, it is generally better to write
3172 @code{(defvar @var{var})} than @code{(declaim (special @var{var}))},
3173 since @code{defvar} makes your intentions clearer. But the older
3174 byte compilers can not handle @code{defvar}s appearing inside of
3175 functions, while @code{(declare (special @var{var}))} takes care
3176 to work correctly with all compilers.
3177
3178 @item inline
3179 The @code{inline} @var{decl-spec} lists one or more functions
3180 whose bodies should be expanded ``in-line'' into calling functions
3181 whenever the compiler is able to arrange for it. For example,
3182 the Common Lisp function @code{cadr} is declared @code{inline}
3183 by this package so that the form @code{(cadr @var{x})} will
3184 expand directly into @code{(car (cdr @var{x}))} when it is called
3185 in user functions, for a savings of one (relatively expensive)
3186 function call.
3187
3188 The following declarations are all equivalent. Note that the
3189 @code{defsubst} form is a convenient way to define a function
3190 and declare it inline all at once, but it is available only in
3191 Emacs 19.
3192
3193 @example
3194 (declaim (inline foo bar))
3195 (eval-when (compile load eval) (proclaim '(inline foo bar)))
3196 (proclaim-inline foo bar) ; Lucid Emacs only
3197 (defsubst foo (...) ...) ; instead of defun; Emacs 19 only
3198 @end example
3199
3200 @strong{Note:} This declaration remains in effect after the
3201 containing source file is done. It is correct to use it to
3202 request that a function you have defined should be inlined,
3203 but it is impolite to use it to request inlining of an external
3204 function.
3205
3206 In Common Lisp, it is possible to use @code{(declare (inline @dots{}))}
3207 before a particular call to a function to cause just that call to
3208 be inlined; the current byte compilers provide no way to implement
3209 this, so @code{(declare (inline @dots{}))} is currently ignored by
3210 this package.
3211
3212 @item notinline
3213 The @code{notinline} declaration lists functions which should
3214 not be inlined after all; it cancels a previous @code{inline}
3215 declaration.
3216
3217 @item optimize
3218 This declaration controls how much optimization is performed by
3219 the compiler. Naturally, it is ignored by the earlier non-optimizing
3220 compilers.
3221
3222 The word @code{optimize} is followed by any number of lists like
3223 @code{(speed 3)} or @code{(safety 2)}. Common Lisp defines several
3224 optimization ``qualities''; this package ignores all but @code{speed}
3225 and @code{safety}. The value of a quality should be an integer from
3226 0 to 3, with 0 meaning ``unimportant'' and 3 meaning ``very important.''
3227 The default level for both qualities is 1.
3228
3229 In this package, with the Emacs 19 optimizing compiler, the
3230 @code{speed} quality is tied to the @code{byte-compile-optimize}
3231 flag, which is set to @code{nil} for @code{(speed 0)} and to
3232 @code{t} for higher settings; and the @code{safety} quality is
3233 tied to the @code{byte-compile-delete-errors} flag, which is
3234 set to @code{t} for @code{(safety 3)} and to @code{nil} for all
3235 lower settings. (The latter flag controls whether the compiler
3236 is allowed to optimize out code whose only side-effect could
3237 be to signal an error, e.g., rewriting @code{(progn foo bar)} to
3238 @code{bar} when it is not known whether @code{foo} will be bound
3239 at run-time.)
3240
3241 Note that even compiling with @code{(safety 0)}, the Emacs
3242 byte-code system provides sufficient checking to prevent real
3243 harm from being done. For example, barring serious bugs in
3244 Emacs itself, Emacs will not crash with a segmentation fault
3245 just because of an error in a fully-optimized Lisp program.
3246
3247 The @code{optimize} declaration is normally used in a top-level
3248 @code{proclaim} or @code{declaim} in a file; Common Lisp allows
3249 it to be used with @code{declare} to set the level of optimization
3250 locally for a given form, but this will not work correctly with the
3251 current version of the optimizing compiler. (The @code{declare}
3252 will set the new optimization level, but that level will not
3253 automatically be unset after the enclosing form is done.)
3254
3255 @item warn
3256 This declaration controls what sorts of warnings are generated
3257 by the byte compiler. Again, only the optimizing compiler
3258 generates warnings. The word @code{warn} is followed by any
3259 number of ``warning qualities,'' similar in form to optimization
3260 qualities. The currently supported warning types are
3261 @code{redefine}, @code{callargs}, @code{unresolved}, and
3262 @code{free-vars}; in the current system, a value of 0 will
3263 disable these warnings and any higher value will enable them.
3264 See the documentation for the optimizing byte compiler for details.
3265 @end table
3266
3267 @node Symbols, Numbers, Declarations, Top
3268 @chapter Symbols
3269
3270 @noindent
3271 This package defines several symbol-related features that were
3272 missing from Emacs Lisp.
3273
3274 @menu
3275 * Property Lists:: `get*', `remprop', `getf', `remf'
3276 * Creating Symbols:: `gensym', `gentemp'
3277 @end menu
3278
3279 @node Property Lists, Creating Symbols, Symbols, Symbols
3280 @section Property Lists
3281
3282 @noindent
3283 These functions augment the standard Emacs Lisp functions @code{get}
3284 and @code{put} for operating on properties attached to symbols.
3285 There are also functions for working with property lists as
3286 first-class data structures not attached to particular symbols.
3287
3288 @defun get* symbol property &optional default
3289 This function is like @code{get}, except that if the property is
3290 not found, the @var{default} argument provides the return value.
3291 (The Emacs Lisp @code{get} function always uses @code{nil} as
3292 the default; this package's @code{get*} is equivalent to Common
3293 Lisp's @code{get}.)
3294
3295 The @code{get*} function is @code{setf}-able; when used in this
3296 fashion, the @var{default} argument is allowed but ignored.
3297 @end defun
3298
3299 @defun remprop symbol property
3300 This function removes the entry for @var{property} from the property
3301 list of @var{symbol}. It returns a true value if the property was
3302 indeed found and removed, or @code{nil} if there was no such property.
3303 (This function was probably omitted from Emacs originally because,
3304 since @code{get} did not allow a @var{default}, it was very difficult
3305 to distinguish between a missing property and a property whose value
3306 was @code{nil}; thus, setting a property to @code{nil} was close
3307 enough to @code{remprop} for most purposes.)
3308 @end defun
3309
3310 @defun getf place property &optional default
3311 This function scans the list @var{place} as if it were a property
3312 list, i.e., a list of alternating property names and values. If
3313 an even-numbered element of @var{place} is found which is @code{eq}
3314 to @var{property}, the following odd-numbered element is returned.
3315 Otherwise, @var{default} is returned (or @code{nil} if no default
3316 is given).
3317
3318 In particular,
3319
3320 @example
3321 (get sym prop) @equiv{} (getf (symbol-plist sym) prop)
3322 @end example
3323
3324 It is legal to use @code{getf} as a @code{setf} place, in which case
3325 its @var{place} argument must itself be a legal @code{setf} place.
3326 The @var{default} argument, if any, is ignored in this context.
3327 The effect is to change (via @code{setcar}) the value cell in the
3328 list that corresponds to @var{property}, or to cons a new property-value
3329 pair onto the list if the property is not yet present.
3330
3331 @example
3332 (put sym prop val) @equiv{} (setf (getf (symbol-plist sym) prop) val)
3333 @end example
3334
3335 The @code{get} and @code{get*} functions are also @code{setf}-able.
3336 The fact that @code{default} is ignored can sometimes be useful:
3337
3338 @example
3339 (incf (get* 'foo 'usage-count 0))
3340 @end example
3341
3342 Here, symbol @code{foo}'s @code{usage-count} property is incremented
3343 if it exists, or set to 1 (an incremented 0) otherwise.
3344
3345 When not used as a @code{setf} form, @code{getf} is just a regular
3346 function and its @var{place} argument can actually be any Lisp
3347 expression.
3348 @end defun
3349
3350 @defspec remf place property
3351 This macro removes the property-value pair for @var{property} from
3352 the property list stored at @var{place}, which is any @code{setf}-able
3353 place expression. It returns true if the property was found. Note
3354 that if @var{property} happens to be first on the list, this will
3355 effectively do a @code{(setf @var{place} (cddr @var{place}))},
3356 whereas if it occurs later, this simply uses @code{setcdr} to splice
3357 out the property and value cells.
3358 @end defspec
3359
3360 @iftex
3361 @secno=2
3362 @end iftex
3363
3364 @node Creating Symbols, , Property Lists, Symbols
3365 @section Creating Symbols
3366
3367 @noindent
3368 These functions create unique symbols, typically for use as
3369 temporary variables.
3370
3371 @defun gensym &optional x
3372 This function creates a new, uninterned symbol (using @code{make-symbol})
3373 with a unique name. (The name of an uninterned symbol is relevant
3374 only if the symbol is printed.) By default, the name is generated
3375 from an increasing sequence of numbers, @samp{G1000}, @samp{G1001},
3376 @samp{G1002}, etc. If the optional argument @var{x} is a string, that
3377 string is used as a prefix instead of @samp{G}. Uninterned symbols
3378 are used in macro expansions for temporary variables, to ensure that
3379 their names will not conflict with ``real'' variables in the user's
3380 code.
3381 @end defun
3382
3383 @defvar *gensym-counter*
3384 This variable holds the counter used to generate @code{gensym} names.
3385 It is incremented after each use by @code{gensym}. In Common Lisp
3386 this is initialized with 0, but this package initializes it with a
3387 random (time-dependent) value to avoid trouble when two files that
3388 each used @code{gensym} in their compilation are loaded together.
3389 (Uninterned symbols become interned when the compiler writes them
3390 out to a file and the Emacs loader loads them, so their names have to
3391 be treated a bit more carefully than in Common Lisp where uninterned
3392 symbols remain uninterned after loading.)
3393 @end defvar
3394
3395 @defun gentemp &optional x
3396 This function is like @code{gensym}, except that it produces a new
3397 @emph{interned} symbol. If the symbol that is generated already
3398 exists, the function keeps incrementing the counter and trying
3399 again until a new symbol is generated.
3400 @end defun
3401
3402 The Quiroz @file{cl.el} package also defined a @code{defkeyword}
3403 form for creating self-quoting keyword symbols. This package
3404 automatically creates all keywords that are called for by
3405 @code{&key} argument specifiers, and discourages the use of
3406 keywords as data unrelated to keyword arguments, so the
3407 @code{defkeyword} form has been discontinued.
3408
3409 @iftex
3410 @chapno=11
3411 @end iftex
3412
3413 @node Numbers, Sequences, Symbols, Top
3414 @chapter Numbers
3415
3416 @noindent
3417 This section defines a few simple Common Lisp operations on numbers
3418 which were left out of Emacs Lisp.
3419
3420 @menu
3421 * Predicates on Numbers:: `plusp', `oddp', `floatp-safe', etc.
3422 * Numerical Functions:: `abs', `floor*', etc.
3423 * Random Numbers:: `random*', `make-random-state'
3424 * Implementation Parameters:: `most-positive-fixnum', `most-positive-float'
3425 @end menu
3426
3427 @iftex
3428 @secno=1
3429 @end iftex
3430
3431 @node Predicates on Numbers, Numerical Functions, Numbers, Numbers
3432 @section Predicates on Numbers
3433
3434 @noindent
3435 These functions return @code{t} if the specified condition is
3436 true of the numerical argument, or @code{nil} otherwise.
3437
3438 @defun plusp number
3439 This predicate tests whether @var{number} is positive. It is an
3440 error if the argument is not a number.
3441 @end defun
3442
3443 @defun minusp number
3444 This predicate tests whether @var{number} is negative. It is an
3445 error if the argument is not a number.
3446 @end defun
3447
3448 @defun oddp integer
3449 This predicate tests whether @var{integer} is odd. It is an
3450 error if the argument is not an integer.
3451 @end defun
3452
3453 @defun evenp integer
3454 This predicate tests whether @var{integer} is even. It is an
3455 error if the argument is not an integer.
3456 @end defun
3457
3458 @defun floatp-safe object
3459 This predicate tests whether @var{object} is a floating-point
3460 number. On systems that support floating-point, this is equivalent
3461 to @code{floatp}. On other systems, this always returns @code{nil}.
3462 @end defun
3463
3464 @iftex
3465 @secno=3
3466 @end iftex
3467
3468 @node Numerical Functions, Random Numbers, Predicates on Numbers, Numbers
3469 @section Numerical Functions
3470
3471 @noindent
3472 These functions perform various arithmetic operations on numbers.
3473
3474 @defun gcd &rest integers
3475 This function returns the Greatest Common Divisor of the arguments.
3476 For one argument, it returns the absolute value of that argument.
3477 For zero arguments, it returns zero.
3478 @end defun
3479
3480 @defun lcm &rest integers
3481 This function returns the Least Common Multiple of the arguments.
3482 For one argument, it returns the absolute value of that argument.
3483 For zero arguments, it returns one.
3484 @end defun
3485
3486 @defun isqrt integer
3487 This function computes the ``integer square root'' of its integer
3488 argument, i.e., the greatest integer less than or equal to the true
3489 square root of the argument.
3490 @end defun
3491
3492 @defun floor* number &optional divisor
3493 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{floor} function.
3494 It is called @code{floor*} to avoid name conflicts with the
3495 simpler @code{floor} function built-in to Emacs 19.
3496
3497 With one argument, @code{floor*} returns a list of two numbers:
3498 The argument rounded down (toward minus infinity) to an integer,
3499 and the ``remainder'' which would have to be added back to the
3500 first return value to yield the argument again. If the argument
3501 is an integer @var{x}, the result is always the list @code{(@var{x} 0)}.
3502 If the argument is an Emacs 19 floating-point number, the first
3503 result is a Lisp integer and the second is a Lisp float between
3504 0 (inclusive) and 1 (exclusive).
3505
3506 With two arguments, @code{floor*} divides @var{number} by
3507 @var{divisor}, and returns the floor of the quotient and the
3508 corresponding remainder as a list of two numbers. If
3509 @code{(floor* @var{x} @var{y})} returns @code{(@var{q} @var{r})},
3510 then @code{@var{q}*@var{y} + @var{r} = @var{x}}, with @var{r}
3511 between 0 (inclusive) and @var{r} (exclusive). Also, note
3512 that @code{(floor* @var{x})} is exactly equivalent to
3513 @code{(floor* @var{x} 1)}.
3514
3515 This function is entirely compatible with Common Lisp's @code{floor}
3516 function, except that it returns the two results in a list since
3517 Emacs Lisp does not support multiple-valued functions.
3518 @end defun
3519
3520 @defun ceiling* number &optional divisor
3521 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{ceiling} function,
3522 which is analogous to @code{floor} except that it rounds the
3523 argument or quotient of the arguments up toward plus infinity.
3524 The remainder will be between 0 and minus @var{r}.
3525 @end defun
3526
3527 @defun truncate* number &optional divisor
3528 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{truncate} function,
3529 which is analogous to @code{floor} except that it rounds the
3530 argument or quotient of the arguments toward zero. Thus it is
3531 equivalent to @code{floor*} if the argument or quotient is
3532 positive, or to @code{ceiling*} otherwise. The remainder has
3533 the same sign as @var{number}.
3534 @end defun
3535
3536 @defun round* number &optional divisor
3537 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{round} function,
3538 which is analogous to @code{floor} except that it rounds the
3539 argument or quotient of the arguments to the nearest integer.
3540 In the case of a tie (the argument or quotient is exactly
3541 halfway between two integers), it rounds to the even integer.
3542 @end defun
3543
3544 @defun mod* number divisor
3545 This function returns the same value as the second return value
3546 of @code{floor}.
3547 @end defun
3548
3549 @defun rem* number divisor
3550 This function returns the same value as the second return value
3551 of @code{truncate}.
3552 @end defun
3553
3554 These definitions are compatible with those in the Quiroz
3555 @file{cl.el} package, except that this package appends @samp{*}
3556 to certain function names to avoid conflicts with existing
3557 Emacs 19 functions, and that the mechanism for returning
3558 multiple values is different.
3559
3560 @iftex
3561 @secno=8
3562 @end iftex
3563
3564 @node Random Numbers, Implementation Parameters, Numerical Functions, Numbers
3565 @section Random Numbers
3566
3567 @noindent
3568 This package also provides an implementation of the Common Lisp
3569 random number generator. It uses its own additive-congruential
3570 algorithm, which is much more likely to give statistically clean
3571 random numbers than the simple generators supplied by many
3572 operating systems.
3573
3574 @defun random* number &optional state
3575 This function returns a random nonnegative number less than
3576 @var{number}, and of the same type (either integer or floating-point).
3577 The @var{state} argument should be a @code{random-state} object
3578 which holds the state of the random number generator. The
3579 function modifies this state object as a side effect. If
3580 @var{state} is omitted, it defaults to the variable
3581 @code{*random-state*}, which contains a pre-initialized
3582 @code{random-state} object.
3583 @end defun
3584
3585 @defvar *random-state*
3586 This variable contains the system ``default'' @code{random-state}
3587 object, used for calls to @code{random*} that do not specify an
3588 alternative state object. Since any number of programs in the
3589 Emacs process may be accessing @code{*random-state*} in interleaved
3590 fashion, the sequence generated from this variable will be
3591 irreproducible for all intents and purposes.
3592 @end defvar
3593
3594 @defun make-random-state &optional state
3595 This function creates or copies a @code{random-state} object.
3596 If @var{state} is omitted or @code{nil}, it returns a new copy of
3597 @code{*random-state*}. This is a copy in the sense that future
3598 sequences of calls to @code{(random* @var{n})} and
3599 @code{(random* @var{n} @var{s})} (where @var{s} is the new
3600 random-state object) will return identical sequences of random
3601 numbers.
3602
3603 If @var{state} is a @code{random-state} object, this function
3604 returns a copy of that object. If @var{state} is @code{t}, this
3605 function returns a new @code{random-state} object seeded from the
3606 date and time. As an extension to Common Lisp, @var{state} may also
3607 be an integer in which case the new object is seeded from that
3608 integer; each different integer seed will result in a completely
3609 different sequence of random numbers.
3610
3611 It is legal to print a @code{random-state} object to a buffer or
3612 file and later read it back with @code{read}. If a program wishes
3613 to use a sequence of pseudo-random numbers which can be reproduced
3614 later for debugging, it can call @code{(make-random-state t)} to
3615 get a new sequence, then print this sequence to a file. When the
3616 program is later rerun, it can read the original run's random-state
3617 from the file.
3618 @end defun
3619
3620 @defun random-state-p object
3621 This predicate returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a
3622 @code{random-state} object, or @code{nil} otherwise.
3623 @end defun
3624
3625 @node Implementation Parameters, , Random Numbers, Numbers
3626 @section Implementation Parameters
3627
3628 @noindent
3629 This package defines several useful constants having to with numbers.
3630
3631 @defvar most-positive-fixnum
3632 This constant equals the largest value a Lisp integer can hold.
3633 It is typically @code{2^23-1} or @code{2^25-1}.
3634 @end defvar
3635
3636 @defvar most-negative-fixnum
3637 This constant equals the smallest (most negative) value a Lisp
3638 integer can hold.
3639 @end defvar
3640
3641 The following parameters have to do with floating-point numbers.
3642 This package determines their values by exercising the computer's
3643 floating-point arithmetic in various ways. Because this operation
3644 might be slow, the code for initializing them is kept in a separate
3645 function that must be called before the parameters can be used.
3646
3647 @defun cl-float-limits
3648 This function makes sure that the Common Lisp floating-point
3649 parameters like @code{most-positive-float} have been initialized.
3650 Until it is called, these parameters will be @code{nil}. If this
3651 version of Emacs does not support floats (e.g., most versions of
3652 Emacs 18), the parameters will remain @code{nil}. If the parameters
3653 have already been initialized, the function returns immediately.
3654
3655 The algorithm makes assumptions that will be valid for most modern
3656 machines, but will fail if the machine's arithmetic is extremely
3657 unusual, e.g., decimal.
3658 @end defun
3659
3660 Since true Common Lisp supports up to four different floating-point
3661 precisions, it has families of constants like
3662 @code{most-positive-single-float}, @code{most-positive-double-float},
3663 @code{most-positive-long-float}, and so on. Emacs has only one
3664 floating-point precision, so this package omits the precision word
3665 from the constants' names.
3666
3667 @defvar most-positive-float
3668 This constant equals the largest value a Lisp float can hold.
3669 For those systems whose arithmetic supports infinities, this is
3670 the largest @emph{finite} value. For IEEE machines, the value
3671 is approximately @code{1.79e+308}.
3672 @end defvar
3673
3674 @defvar most-negative-float
3675 This constant equals the most-negative value a Lisp float can hold.
3676 (It is assumed to be equal to @code{(- most-positive-float)}.)
3677 @end defvar
3678
3679 @defvar least-positive-float
3680 This constant equals the smallest Lisp float value greater than zero.
3681 For IEEE machines, it is about @code{4.94e-324} if denormals are
3682 supported or @code{2.22e-308} if not.
3683 @end defvar
3684
3685 @defvar least-positive-normalized-float
3686 This constant equals the smallest @emph{normalized} Lisp float greater
3687 than zero, i.e., the smallest value for which IEEE denormalization
3688 will not result in a loss of precision. For IEEE machines, this
3689 value is about @code{2.22e-308}. For machines that do not support
3690 the concept of denormalization and gradual underflow, this constant
3691 will always equal @code{least-positive-float}.
3692 @end defvar
3693
3694 @defvar least-negative-float
3695 This constant is the negative counterpart of @code{least-positive-float}.
3696 @end defvar
3697
3698 @defvar least-negative-normalized-float
3699 This constant is the negative counterpart of
3700 @code{least-positive-normalized-float}.
3701 @end defvar
3702
3703 @defvar float-epsilon
3704 This constant is the smallest positive Lisp float that can be added
3705 to 1.0 to produce a distinct value. Adding a smaller number to 1.0
3706 will yield 1.0 again due to roundoff. For IEEE machines, epsilon
3707 is about @code{2.22e-16}.
3708 @end defvar
3709
3710 @defvar float-negative-epsilon
3711 This is the smallest positive value that can be subtracted from
3712 1.0 to produce a distinct value. For IEEE machines, it is about
3713 @code{1.11e-16}.
3714 @end defvar
3715
3716 @iftex
3717 @chapno=13
3718 @end iftex
3719
3720 @node Sequences, Lists, Numbers, Top
3721 @chapter Sequences
3722
3723 @noindent
3724 Common Lisp defines a number of functions that operate on
3725 @dfn{sequences}, which are either lists, strings, or vectors.
3726 Emacs Lisp includes a few of these, notably @code{elt} and
3727 @code{length}; this package defines most of the rest.
3728
3729 @menu
3730 * Sequence Basics:: Arguments shared by all sequence functions
3731 * Mapping over Sequences:: `mapcar*', `mapcan', `map', `every', etc.
3732 * Sequence Functions:: `subseq', `remove*', `substitute', etc.
3733 * Searching Sequences:: `find', `position', `count', `search', etc.
3734 * Sorting Sequences:: `sort*', `stable-sort', `merge'
3735 @end menu
3736
3737 @node Sequence Basics, Mapping over Sequences, Sequences, Sequences
3738 @section Sequence Basics
3739
3740 @noindent
3741 Many of the sequence functions take keyword arguments; @pxref{Argument
3742 Lists}. All keyword arguments are optional and, if specified,
3743 may appear in any order.
3744
3745 The @code{:key} argument should be passed either @code{nil}, or a
3746 function of one argument. This key function is used as a filter
3747 through which the elements of the sequence are seen; for example,
3748 @code{(find x y :key 'car)} is similar to @code{(assoc* x y)}:
3749 It searches for an element of the list whose @code{car} equals
3750 @code{x}, rather than for an element which equals @code{x} itself.
3751 If @code{:key} is omitted or @code{nil}, the filter is effectively
3752 the identity function.
3753
3754 The @code{:test} and @code{:test-not} arguments should be either
3755 @code{nil}, or functions of two arguments. The test function is
3756 used to compare two sequence elements, or to compare a search value
3757 with sequence elements. (The two values are passed to the test
3758 function in the same order as the original sequence function
3759 arguments from which they are derived, or, if they both come from
3760 the same sequence, in the same order as they appear in that sequence.)
3761 The @code{:test} argument specifies a function which must return
3762 true (non-@code{nil}) to indicate a match; instead, you may use
3763 @code{:test-not} to give a function which returns @emph{false} to
3764 indicate a match. The default test function is @code{:test 'eql}.
3765
3766 Many functions which take @var{item} and @code{:test} or @code{:test-not}
3767 arguments also come in @code{-if} and @code{-if-not} varieties,
3768 where a @var{predicate} function is passed instead of @var{item},
3769 and sequence elements match if the predicate returns true on them
3770 (or false in the case of @code{-if-not}). For example:
3771
3772 @example
3773 (remove* 0 seq :test '=) @equiv{} (remove-if 'zerop seq)
3774 @end example
3775
3776 @noindent
3777 to remove all zeros from sequence @code{seq}.
3778
3779 Some operations can work on a subsequence of the argument sequence;
3780 these function take @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments which
3781 default to zero and the length of the sequence, respectively.
3782 Only elements between @var{start} (inclusive) and @var{end}
3783 (exclusive) are affected by the operation. The @var{end} argument
3784 may be passed @code{nil} to signify the length of the sequence;
3785 otherwise, both @var{start} and @var{end} must be integers, with
3786 @code{0 <= @var{start} <= @var{end} <= (length @var{seq})}.
3787 If the function takes two sequence arguments, the limits are
3788 defined by keywords @code{:start1} and @code{:end1} for the first,
3789 and @code{:start2} and @code{:end2} for the second.
3790
3791 A few functions accept a @code{:from-end} argument, which, if
3792 non-@code{nil}, causes the operation to go from right-to-left
3793 through the sequence instead of left-to-right, and a @code{:count}
3794 argument, which specifies an integer maximum number of elements
3795 to be removed or otherwise processed.
3796
3797 The sequence functions make no guarantees about the order in
3798 which the @code{:test}, @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key} functions
3799 are called on various elements. Therefore, it is a bad idea to depend
3800 on side effects of these functions. For example, @code{:from-end}
3801 may cause the sequence to be scanned actually in reverse, or it may
3802 be scanned forwards but computing a result ``as if'' it were scanned
3803 backwards. (Some functions, like @code{mapcar*} and @code{every},
3804 @emph{do} specify exactly the order in which the function is called
3805 so side effects are perfectly acceptable in those cases.)
3806
3807 Strings in GNU Emacs 19 may contain ``text properties'' as well
3808 as character data. Except as noted, it is undefined whether or
3809 not text properties are preserved by sequence functions. For
3810 example, @code{(remove* ?A @var{str})} may or may not preserve
3811 the properties of the characters copied from @var{str} into the
3812 result.
3813
3814 @node Mapping over Sequences, Sequence Functions, Sequence Basics, Sequences
3815 @section Mapping over Sequences
3816
3817 @noindent
3818 These functions ``map'' the function you specify over the elements
3819 of lists or arrays. They are all variations on the theme of the
3820 built-in function @code{mapcar}.
3821
3822 @defun mapcar* function seq &rest more-seqs
3823 This function calls @var{function} on successive parallel sets of
3824 elements from its argument sequences. Given a single @var{seq}
3825 argument it is equivalent to @code{mapcar}; given @var{n} sequences,
3826 it calls the function with the first elements of each of the sequences
3827 as the @var{n} arguments to yield the first element of the result
3828 list, then with the second elements, and so on. The mapping stops as
3829 soon as the shortest sequence runs out. The argument sequences may
3830 be any mixture of lists, strings, and vectors; the return sequence
3831 is always a list.
3832
3833 Common Lisp's @code{mapcar} accepts multiple arguments but works
3834 only on lists; Emacs Lisp's @code{mapcar} accepts a single sequence
3835 argument. This package's @code{mapcar*} works as a compatible
3836 superset of both.
3837 @end defun
3838
3839 @defun map result-type function seq &rest more-seqs
3840 This function maps @var{function} over the argument sequences,
3841 just like @code{mapcar*}, but it returns a sequence of type
3842 @var{result-type} rather than a list. @var{result-type} must
3843 be one of the following symbols: @code{vector}, @code{string},
3844 @code{list} (in which case the effect is the same as for
3845 @code{mapcar*}), or @code{nil} (in which case the results are
3846 thrown away and @code{map} returns @code{nil}).
3847 @end defun
3848
3849 @defun maplist function list &rest more-lists
3850 This function calls @var{function} on each of its argument lists,
3851 then on the @code{cdr}s of those lists, and so on, until the
3852 shortest list runs out. The results are returned in the form
3853 of a list. Thus, @code{maplist} is like @code{mapcar*} except
3854 that it passes in the list pointers themselves rather than the
3855 @code{car}s of the advancing pointers.
3856 @end defun
3857
3858 @defun mapc function seq &rest more-seqs
3859 This function is like @code{mapcar*}, except that the values
3860 returned by @var{function} are ignored and thrown away rather
3861 than being collected into a list. The return value of @code{mapc}
3862 is @var{seq}, the first sequence.
3863 @end defun
3864
3865 @defun mapl function list &rest more-lists
3866 This function is like @code{maplist}, except that it throws away
3867 the values returned by @var{function}.
3868 @end defun
3869
3870 @defun mapcan function seq &rest more-seqs
3871 This function is like @code{mapcar*}, except that it concatenates
3872 the return values (which must be lists) using @code{nconc},
3873 rather than simply collecting them into a list.
3874 @end defun
3875
3876 @defun mapcon function list &rest more-lists
3877 This function is like @code{maplist}, except that it concatenates
3878 the return values using @code{nconc}.
3879 @end defun
3880
3881 @defun some predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3882 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of @var{seq}
3883 in turn; if @var{predicate} returns a non-@code{nil} value,
3884 @code{some} returns that value, otherwise it returns @code{nil}.
3885 Given several sequence arguments, it steps through the sequences
3886 in parallel until the shortest one runs out, just as in
3887 @code{mapcar*}. You can rely on the left-to-right order in which
3888 the elements are visited, and on the fact that mapping stops
3889 immediately as soon as @var{predicate} returns non-@code{nil}.
3890 @end defun
3891
3892 @defun every predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3893 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3894 in turn; it returns @code{nil} as soon as @var{predicate} returns
3895 @code{nil} for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate was true
3896 for all elements.
3897 @end defun
3898
3899 @defun notany predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3900 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3901 in turn; it returns @code{nil} as soon as @var{predicate} returns
3902 a non-@code{nil} value for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate
3903 was @code{nil} for all elements.
3904 @end defun
3905
3906 @defun notevery predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3907 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3908 in turn; it returns a non-@code{nil} value as soon as @var{predicate}
3909 returns @code{nil} for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate was
3910 true for all elements.
3911 @end defun
3912
3913 @defun reduce function seq @t{&key :from-end :start :end :initial-value :key}
3914 This function combines the elements of @var{seq} using an associative
3915 binary operation. Suppose @var{function} is @code{*} and @var{seq} is
3916 the list @code{(2 3 4 5)}. The first two elements of the list are
3917 combined with @code{(* 2 3) = 6}; this is combined with the next
3918 element, @code{(* 6 4) = 24}, and that is combined with the final
3919 element: @code{(* 24 5) = 120}. Note that the @code{*} function happens
3920 to be self-reducing, so that @code{(* 2 3 4 5)} has the same effect as
3921 an explicit call to @code{reduce}.
3922
3923 If @code{:from-end} is true, the reduction is right-associative instead
3924 of left-associative:
3925
3926 @example
3927 (reduce '- '(1 2 3 4))
3928 @equiv{} (- (- (- 1 2) 3) 4) @result{} -8
3929 (reduce '- '(1 2 3 4) :from-end t)
3930 @equiv{} (- 1 (- 2 (- 3 4))) @result{} -2
3931 @end example
3932
3933 If @code{:key} is specified, it is a function of one argument which
3934 is called on each of the sequence elements in turn.
3935
3936 If @code{:initial-value} is specified, it is effectively added to the
3937 front (or rear in the case of @code{:from-end}) of the sequence.
3938 The @code{:key} function is @emph{not} applied to the initial value.
3939
3940 If the sequence, including the initial value, has exactly one element
3941 then that element is returned without ever calling @var{function}.
3942 If the sequence is empty (and there is no initial value), then
3943 @var{function} is called with no arguments to obtain the return value.
3944 @end defun
3945
3946 All of these mapping operations can be expressed conveniently in
3947 terms of the @code{loop} macro. In compiled code, @code{loop} will
3948 be faster since it generates the loop as in-line code with no
3949 function calls.
3950
3951 @node Sequence Functions, Searching Sequences, Mapping over Sequences, Sequences
3952 @section Sequence Functions
3953
3954 @noindent
3955 This section describes a number of Common Lisp functions for
3956 operating on sequences.
3957
3958 @defun subseq sequence start &optional end
3959 This function returns a given subsequence of the argument
3960 @var{sequence}, which may be a list, string, or vector.
3961 The indices @var{start} and @var{end} must be in range, and
3962 @var{start} must be no greater than @var{end}. If @var{end}
3963 is omitted, it defaults to the length of the sequence. The
3964 return value is always a copy; it does not share structure
3965 with @var{sequence}.
3966
3967 As an extension to Common Lisp, @var{start} and/or @var{end}
3968 may be negative, in which case they represent a distance back
3969 from the end of the sequence. This is for compatibility with
3970 Emacs' @code{substring} function. Note that @code{subseq} is
3971 the @emph{only} sequence function that allows negative
3972 @var{start} and @var{end}.
3973
3974 You can use @code{setf} on a @code{subseq} form to replace a
3975 specified range of elements with elements from another sequence.
3976 The replacement is done as if by @code{replace}, described below.
3977 @end defun
3978
3979 @defun concatenate result-type &rest seqs
3980 This function concatenates the argument sequences together to
3981 form a result sequence of type @var{result-type}, one of the
3982 symbols @code{vector}, @code{string}, or @code{list}. The
3983 arguments are always copied, even in cases such as
3984 @code{(concatenate 'list '(1 2 3))} where the result is
3985 identical to an argument.
3986 @end defun
3987
3988 @defun fill seq item @t{&key :start :end}
3989 This function fills the elements of the sequence (or the specified
3990 part of the sequence) with the value @var{item}.
3991 @end defun
3992
3993 @defun replace seq1 seq2 @t{&key :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2}
3994 This function copies part of @var{seq2} into part of @var{seq1}.
3995 The sequence @var{seq1} is not stretched or resized; the amount
3996 of data copied is simply the shorter of the source and destination
3997 (sub)sequences. The function returns @var{seq1}.
3998
3999 If @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} are @code{eq}, then the replacement
4000 will work correctly even if the regions indicated by the start
4001 and end arguments overlap. However, if @var{seq1} and @var{seq2}
4002 are lists which share storage but are not @code{eq}, and the
4003 start and end arguments specify overlapping regions, the effect
4004 is undefined.
4005 @end defun
4006
4007 @defun remove* item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
4008 This returns a copy of @var{seq} with all elements matching
4009 @var{item} removed. The result may share storage with or be
4010 @code{eq} to @var{seq} in some circumstances, but the original
4011 @var{seq} will not be modified. The @code{:test}, @code{:test-not},
4012 and @code{:key} arguments define the matching test that is used;
4013 by default, elements @code{eql} to @var{item} are removed. The
4014 @code{:count} argument specifies the maximum number of matching
4015 elements that can be removed (only the leftmost @var{count} matches
4016 are removed). The @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments specify
4017 a region in @var{seq} in which elements will be removed; elements
4018 outside that region are not matched or removed. The @code{:from-end}
4019 argument, if true, says that elements should be deleted from the
4020 end of the sequence rather than the beginning (this matters only
4021 if @var{count} was also specified).
4022 @end defun
4023
4024 @defun delete* item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
4025 This deletes all elements of @var{seq} which match @var{item}.
4026 It is a destructive operation. Since Emacs Lisp does not support
4027 stretchable strings or vectors, this is the same as @code{remove*}
4028 for those sequence types. On lists, @code{remove*} will copy the
4029 list if necessary to preserve the original list, whereas
4030 @code{delete*} will splice out parts of the argument list.
4031 Compare @code{append} and @code{nconc}, which are analogous
4032 non-destructive and destructive list operations in Emacs Lisp.
4033 @end defun
4034
4035 @findex remove-if
4036 @findex remove-if-not
4037 @findex delete-if
4038 @findex delete-if-not
4039 The predicate-oriented functions @code{remove-if}, @code{remove-if-not},
4040 @code{delete-if}, and @code{delete-if-not} are defined similarly.
4041
4042 @defun remove item list
4043 This function removes from @var{list} all elements which are
4044 @code{equal} to @var{item}. This package defines it for symmetry
4045 with @code{delete}, even though @code{remove} is not built-in to
4046 Emacs 19.
4047 @end defun
4048
4049 @defun remq item list
4050 This function removes from @var{list} all elements which are
4051 @code{eq} to @var{item}. This package defines it for symmetry
4052 with @code{delq}, even though @code{remq} is not built-in to
4053 Emacs 19.
4054 @end defun
4055
4056 @defun remove-duplicates seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
4057 This function returns a copy of @var{seq} with duplicate elements
4058 removed. Specifically, if two elements from the sequence match
4059 according to the @code{:test}, @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key}
4060 arguments, only the rightmost one is retained. If @code{:from-end}
4061 is true, the leftmost one is retained instead. If @code{:start} or
4062 @code{:end} is specified, only elements within that subsequence are
4063 examined or removed.
4064 @end defun
4065
4066 @defun delete-duplicates seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
4067 This function deletes duplicate elements from @var{seq}. It is
4068 a destructive version of @code{remove-duplicates}.
4069 @end defun
4070
4071 @defun substitute new old seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
4072 This function returns a copy of @var{seq}, with all elements
4073 matching @var{old} replaced with @var{new}. The @code{:count},
4074 @code{:start}, @code{:end}, and @code{:from-end} arguments may be
4075 used to limit the number of substitutions made.
4076 @end defun
4077
4078 @defun nsubstitute new old seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
4079 This is a destructive version of @code{substitute}; it performs
4080 the substitution using @code{setcar} or @code{aset} rather than
4081 by returning a changed copy of the sequence.
4082 @end defun
4083
4084 @findex substitute-if
4085 @findex substitute-if-not
4086 @findex nsubstitute-if
4087 @findex nsubstitute-if-not
4088 The @code{substitute-if}, @code{substitute-if-not}, @code{nsubstitute-if},
4089 and @code{nsubstitute-if-not} functions are defined similarly. For
4090 these, a @var{predicate} is given in place of the @var{old} argument.
4091
4092 @node Searching Sequences, Sorting Sequences, Sequence Functions, Sequences
4093 @section Searching Sequences
4094
4095 @noindent
4096 These functions search for elements or subsequences in a sequence.
4097 (See also @code{member*} and @code{assoc*}; @pxref{Lists}.)
4098
4099 @defun find item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
4100 This function searches @var{seq} for an element matching @var{item}.
4101 If it finds a match, it returns the matching element. Otherwise,
4102 it returns @code{nil}. It returns the leftmost match, unless
4103 @code{:from-end} is true, in which case it returns the rightmost
4104 match. The @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments may be used to
4105 limit the range of elements that are searched.
4106 @end defun
4107
4108 @defun position item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
4109 This function is like @code{find}, except that it returns the
4110 integer position in the sequence of the matching item rather than
4111 the item itself. The position is relative to the start of the
4112 sequence as a whole, even if @code{:start} is non-zero. The function
4113 returns @code{nil} if no matching element was found.
4114 @end defun
4115
4116 @defun count item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end}
4117 This function returns the number of elements of @var{seq} which
4118 match @var{item}. The result is always a nonnegative integer.
4119 @end defun
4120
4121 @findex find-if
4122 @findex find-if-not
4123 @findex position-if
4124 @findex position-if-not
4125 @findex count-if
4126 @findex count-if-not
4127 The @code{find-if}, @code{find-if-not}, @code{position-if},
4128 @code{position-if-not}, @code{count-if}, and @code{count-if-not}
4129 functions are defined similarly.
4130
4131 @defun mismatch seq1 seq2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2 :from-end}
4132 This function compares the specified parts of @var{seq1} and
4133 @var{seq2}. If they are the same length and the corresponding
4134 elements match (according to @code{:test}, @code{:test-not},
4135 and @code{:key}), the function returns @code{nil}. If there is
4136 a mismatch, the function returns the index (relative to @var{seq1})
4137 of the first mismatching element. This will be the leftmost pair of
4138 elements which do not match, or the position at which the shorter of
4139 the two otherwise-matching sequences runs out.
4140
4141 If @code{:from-end} is true, then the elements are compared from right
4142 to left starting at @code{(1- @var{end1})} and @code{(1- @var{end2})}.
4143 If the sequences differ, then one plus the index of the rightmost
4144 difference (relative to @var{seq1}) is returned.
4145
4146 An interesting example is @code{(mismatch str1 str2 :key 'upcase)},
4147 which compares two strings case-insensitively.
4148 @end defun
4149
4150 @defun search seq1 seq2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key :from-end :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2}
4151 This function searches @var{seq2} for a subsequence that matches
4152 @var{seq1} (or part of it specified by @code{:start1} and
4153 @code{:end1}.) Only matches which fall entirely within the region
4154 defined by @code{:start2} and @code{:end2} will be considered.
4155 The return value is the index of the leftmost element of the
4156 leftmost match, relative to the start of @var{seq2}, or @code{nil}
4157 if no matches were found. If @code{:from-end} is true, the
4158 function finds the @emph{rightmost} matching subsequence.
4159 @end defun
4160
4161 @node Sorting Sequences, , Searching Sequences, Sequences
4162 @section Sorting Sequences
4163
4164 @defun sort* seq predicate @t{&key :key}
4165 This function sorts @var{seq} into increasing order as determined
4166 by using @var{predicate} to compare pairs of elements. @var{predicate}
4167 should return true (non-@code{nil}) if and only if its first argument
4168 is less than (not equal to) its second argument. For example,
4169 @code{<} and @code{string-lessp} are suitable predicate functions
4170 for sorting numbers and strings, respectively; @code{>} would sort
4171 numbers into decreasing rather than increasing order.
4172
4173 This function differs from Emacs' built-in @code{sort} in that it
4174 can operate on any type of sequence, not just lists. Also, it
4175 accepts a @code{:key} argument which is used to preprocess data
4176 fed to the @var{predicate} function. For example,
4177
4178 @example
4179 (setq data (sort data 'string-lessp :key 'downcase))
4180 @end example
4181
4182 @noindent
4183 sorts @var{data}, a sequence of strings, into increasing alphabetical
4184 order without regard to case. A @code{:key} function of @code{car}
4185 would be useful for sorting association lists.
4186
4187 The @code{sort*} function is destructive; it sorts lists by actually
4188 rearranging the @code{cdr} pointers in suitable fashion.
4189 @end defun
4190
4191 @defun stable-sort seq predicate @t{&key :key}
4192 This function sorts @var{seq} @dfn{stably}, meaning two elements
4193 which are equal in terms of @var{predicate} are guaranteed not to
4194 be rearranged out of their original order by the sort.
4195
4196 In practice, @code{sort*} and @code{stable-sort} are equivalent
4197 in Emacs Lisp because the underlying @code{sort} function is
4198 stable by default. However, this package reserves the right to
4199 use non-stable methods for @code{sort*} in the future.
4200 @end defun
4201
4202 @defun merge type seq1 seq2 predicate @t{&key :key}
4203 This function merges two sequences @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} by
4204 interleaving their elements. The result sequence, of type @var{type}
4205 (in the sense of @code{concatenate}), has length equal to the sum
4206 of the lengths of the two input sequences. The sequences may be
4207 modified destructively. Order of elements within @var{seq1} and
4208 @var{seq2} is preserved in the interleaving; elements of the two
4209 sequences are compared by @var{predicate} (in the sense of
4210 @code{sort}) and the lesser element goes first in the result.
4211 When elements are equal, those from @var{seq1} precede those from
4212 @var{seq2} in the result. Thus, if @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} are
4213 both sorted according to @var{predicate}, then the result will be
4214 a merged sequence which is (stably) sorted according to
4215 @var{predicate}.
4216 @end defun
4217
4218 @node Lists, Hash Tables, Sequences, Top
4219 @chapter Lists
4220
4221 @noindent
4222 The functions described here operate on lists.
4223
4224 @menu
4225 * List Functions:: `caddr', `first', `last*', `list*', etc.
4226 * Substitution of Expressions:: `subst', `sublis', etc.
4227 * Lists as Sets:: `member*', `adjoin', `union', etc.
4228 * Association Lists:: `assoc*', `rassoc*', `acons', `pairlis'
4229 @end menu
4230
4231 @node List Functions, Substitution of Expressions, Lists, Lists
4232 @section List Functions
4233
4234 @noindent
4235 This section describes a number of simple operations on lists,
4236 i.e., chains of cons cells.
4237
4238 @defun caddr x
4239 This function is equivalent to @code{(car (cdr (cdr @var{x})))}.
4240 Likewise, this package defines all 28 @code{c@var{xxx}r} functions
4241 where @var{xxx} is up to four @samp{a}s and/or @samp{d}s.
4242 All of these functions are @code{setf}-able, and calls to them
4243 are expanded inline by the byte-compiler for maximum efficiency.
4244 @end defun
4245
4246 @defun first x
4247 This function is a synonym for @code{(car @var{x})}. Likewise,
4248 the functions @code{second}, @code{third}, @dots{}, through
4249 @code{tenth} return the given element of the list @var{x}.
4250 @end defun
4251
4252 @defun rest x
4253 This function is a synonym for @code{(cdr @var{x})}.
4254 @end defun
4255
4256 @defun endp x
4257 Common Lisp defines this function to act like @code{null}, but
4258 signaling an error if @code{x} is neither a @code{nil} nor a
4259 cons cell. This package simply defines @code{endp} as a synonym
4260 for @code{null}.
4261 @end defun
4262
4263 @defun list-length x
4264 This function returns the length of list @var{x}, exactly like
4265 @code{(length @var{x})}, except that if @var{x} is a circular
4266 list (where the cdr-chain forms a loop rather than terminating
4267 with @code{nil}), this function returns @code{nil}. (The regular
4268 @code{length} function would get stuck if given a circular list.)
4269 @end defun
4270
4271 @defun last* x &optional n
4272 This function returns the last cons, or the @var{n}th-to-last cons,
4273 of the list @var{x}. If @var{n} is omitted it defaults to 1.
4274 The ``last cons'' means the first cons cell of the list whose
4275 @code{cdr} is not another cons cell. (For normal lists, the
4276 @code{cdr} of the last cons will be @code{nil}.) This function
4277 returns @code{nil} if @var{x} is @code{nil} or shorter than
4278 @var{n}. Note that the last @emph{element} of the list is
4279 @code{(car (last @var{x}))}.
4280
4281 The Emacs function @code{last} does the same thing
4282 except that it does not handle the optional argument @var{n}.
4283 @end defun
4284
4285 @defun butlast x &optional n
4286 This function returns the list @var{x} with the last element,
4287 or the last @var{n} elements, removed. If @var{n} is greater
4288 than zero it makes a copy of the list so as not to damage the
4289 original list. In general, @code{(append (butlast @var{x} @var{n})
4290 (last @var{x} @var{n}))} will return a list equal to @var{x}.
4291 @end defun
4292
4293 @defun nbutlast x &optional n
4294 This is a version of @code{butlast} that works by destructively
4295 modifying the @code{cdr} of the appropriate element, rather than
4296 making a copy of the list.
4297 @end defun
4298
4299 @defun list* arg &rest others
4300 This function constructs a list of its arguments. The final
4301 argument becomes the @code{cdr} of the last cell constructed.
4302 Thus, @code{(list* @var{a} @var{b} @var{c})} is equivalent to
4303 @code{(cons @var{a} (cons @var{b} @var{c}))}, and
4304 @code{(list* @var{a} @var{b} nil)} is equivalent to
4305 @code{(list @var{a} @var{b})}.
4306
4307 (Note that this function really is called @code{list*} in Common
4308 Lisp; it is not a name invented for this package like @code{member*}
4309 or @code{defun*}.)
4310 @end defun
4311
4312 @defun ldiff list sublist
4313 If @var{sublist} is a sublist of @var{list}, i.e., is @code{eq} to
4314 one of the cons cells of @var{list}, then this function returns
4315 a copy of the part of @var{list} up to but not including
4316 @var{sublist}. For example, @code{(ldiff x (cddr x))} returns
4317 the first two elements of the list @code{x}. The result is a
4318 copy; the original @var{list} is not modified. If @var{sublist}
4319 is not a sublist of @var{list}, a copy of the entire @var{list}
4320 is returned.
4321 @end defun
4322
4323 @defun copy-list list
4324 This function returns a copy of the list @var{list}. It copies
4325 dotted lists like @code{(1 2 . 3)} correctly.
4326 @end defun
4327
4328 @defun copy-tree x &optional vecp
4329 This function returns a copy of the tree of cons cells @var{x}.
4330 Unlike @code{copy-sequence} (and its alias @code{copy-list}),
4331 which copies only along the @code{cdr} direction, this function
4332 copies (recursively) along both the @code{car} and the @code{cdr}
4333 directions. If @var{x} is not a cons cell, the function simply
4334 returns @var{x} unchanged. If the optional @var{vecp} argument
4335 is true, this function copies vectors (recursively) as well as
4336 cons cells.
4337 @end defun
4338
4339 @defun tree-equal x y @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4340 This function compares two trees of cons cells. If @var{x} and
4341 @var{y} are both cons cells, their @code{car}s and @code{cdr}s are
4342 compared recursively. If neither @var{x} nor @var{y} is a cons
4343 cell, they are compared by @code{eql}, or according to the
4344 specified test. The @code{:key} function, if specified, is
4345 applied to the elements of both trees. @xref{Sequences}.
4346 @end defun
4347
4348 @iftex
4349 @secno=3
4350 @end iftex
4351
4352 @node Substitution of Expressions, Lists as Sets, List Functions, Lists
4353 @section Substitution of Expressions
4354
4355 @noindent
4356 These functions substitute elements throughout a tree of cons
4357 cells. (@xref{Sequence Functions}, for the @code{substitute}
4358 function, which works on just the top-level elements of a list.)
4359
4360 @defun subst new old tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4361 This function substitutes occurrences of @var{old} with @var{new}
4362 in @var{tree}, a tree of cons cells. It returns a substituted
4363 tree, which will be a copy except that it may share storage with
4364 the argument @var{tree} in parts where no substitutions occurred.
4365 The original @var{tree} is not modified. This function recurses
4366 on, and compares against @var{old}, both @code{car}s and @code{cdr}s
4367 of the component cons cells. If @var{old} is itself a cons cell,
4368 then matching cells in the tree are substituted as usual without
4369 recursively substituting in that cell. Comparisons with @var{old}
4370 are done according to the specified test (@code{eql} by default).
4371 The @code{:key} function is applied to the elements of the tree
4372 but not to @var{old}.
4373 @end defun
4374
4375 @defun nsubst new old tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4376 This function is like @code{subst}, except that it works by
4377 destructive modification (by @code{setcar} or @code{setcdr})
4378 rather than copying.
4379 @end defun
4380
4381 @findex subst-if
4382 @findex subst-if-not
4383 @findex nsubst-if
4384 @findex nsubst-if-not
4385 The @code{subst-if}, @code{subst-if-not}, @code{nsubst-if}, and
4386 @code{nsubst-if-not} functions are defined similarly.
4387
4388 @defun sublis alist tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4389 This function is like @code{subst}, except that it takes an
4390 association list @var{alist} of @var{old}-@var{new} pairs.
4391 Each element of the tree (after applying the @code{:key}
4392 function, if any), is compared with the @code{car}s of
4393 @var{alist}; if it matches, it is replaced by the corresponding
4394 @code{cdr}.
4395 @end defun
4396
4397 @defun nsublis alist tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4398 This is a destructive version of @code{sublis}.
4399 @end defun
4400
4401 @node Lists as Sets, Association Lists, Substitution of Expressions, Lists
4402 @section Lists as Sets
4403
4404 @noindent
4405 These functions perform operations on lists which represent sets
4406 of elements.
4407
4408 @defun member* item list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4409 This function searches @var{list} for an element matching @var{item}.
4410 If a match is found, it returns the cons cell whose @code{car} was
4411 the matching element. Otherwise, it returns @code{nil}. Elements
4412 are compared by @code{eql} by default; you can use the @code{:test},
4413 @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key} arguments to modify this behavior.
4414 @xref{Sequences}.
4415
4416 Note that this function's name is suffixed by @samp{*} to avoid
4417 the incompatible @code{member} function defined in Emacs 19.
4418 (That function uses @code{equal} for comparisons; it is equivalent
4419 to @code{(member* @var{item} @var{list} :test 'equal)}.)
4420 @end defun
4421
4422 @findex member-if
4423 @findex member-if-not
4424 The @code{member-if} and @code{member-if-not} functions
4425 analogously search for elements which satisfy a given predicate.
4426
4427 @defun tailp sublist list
4428 This function returns @code{t} if @var{sublist} is a sublist of
4429 @var{list}, i.e., if @var{sublist} is @code{eql} to @var{list} or to
4430 any of its @code{cdr}s.
4431 @end defun
4432
4433 @defun adjoin item list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4434 This function conses @var{item} onto the front of @var{list},
4435 like @code{(cons @var{item} @var{list})}, but only if @var{item}
4436 is not already present on the list (as determined by @code{member*}).
4437 If a @code{:key} argument is specified, it is applied to
4438 @var{item} as well as to the elements of @var{list} during
4439 the search, on the reasoning that @var{item} is ``about'' to
4440 become part of the list.
4441 @end defun
4442
4443 @defun union list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4444 This function combines two lists which represent sets of items,
4445 returning a list that represents the union of those two sets.
4446 The result list will contain all items which appear in @var{list1}
4447 or @var{list2}, and no others. If an item appears in both
4448 @var{list1} and @var{list2} it will be copied only once. If
4449 an item is duplicated in @var{list1} or @var{list2}, it is
4450 undefined whether or not that duplication will survive in the
4451 result list. The order of elements in the result list is also
4452 undefined.
4453 @end defun
4454
4455 @defun nunion list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4456 This is a destructive version of @code{union}; rather than copying,
4457 it tries to reuse the storage of the argument lists if possible.
4458 @end defun
4459
4460 @defun intersection list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4461 This function computes the intersection of the sets represented
4462 by @var{list1} and @var{list2}. It returns the list of items
4463 which appear in both @var{list1} and @var{list2}.
4464 @end defun
4465
4466 @defun nintersection list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4467 This is a destructive version of @code{intersection}. It
4468 tries to reuse storage of @var{list1} rather than copying.
4469 It does @emph{not} reuse the storage of @var{list2}.
4470 @end defun
4471
4472 @defun set-difference list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4473 This function computes the ``set difference'' of @var{list1}
4474 and @var{list2}, i.e., the set of elements that appear in
4475 @var{list1} but @emph{not} in @var{list2}.
4476 @end defun
4477
4478 @defun nset-difference list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4479 This is a destructive @code{set-difference}, which will try
4480 to reuse @var{list1} if possible.
4481 @end defun
4482
4483 @defun set-exclusive-or list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4484 This function computes the ``set exclusive or'' of @var{list1}
4485 and @var{list2}, i.e., the set of elements that appear in
4486 exactly one of @var{list1} and @var{list2}.
4487 @end defun
4488
4489 @defun nset-exclusive-or list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4490 This is a destructive @code{set-exclusive-or}, which will try
4491 to reuse @var{list1} and @var{list2} if possible.
4492 @end defun
4493
4494 @defun subsetp list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4495 This function checks whether @var{list1} represents a subset
4496 of @var{list2}, i.e., whether every element of @var{list1}
4497 also appears in @var{list2}.
4498 @end defun
4499
4500 @node Association Lists, , Lists as Sets, Lists
4501 @section Association Lists
4502
4503 @noindent
4504 An @dfn{association list} is a list representing a mapping from
4505 one set of values to another; any list whose elements are cons
4506 cells is an association list.
4507
4508 @defun assoc* item a-list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4509 This function searches the association list @var{a-list} for an
4510 element whose @code{car} matches (in the sense of @code{:test},
4511 @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key}, or by comparison with @code{eql})
4512 a given @var{item}. It returns the matching element, if any,
4513 otherwise @code{nil}. It ignores elements of @var{a-list} which
4514 are not cons cells. (This corresponds to the behavior of
4515 @code{assq} and @code{assoc} in Emacs Lisp; Common Lisp's
4516 @code{assoc} ignores @code{nil}s but considers any other non-cons
4517 elements of @var{a-list} to be an error.)
4518 @end defun
4519
4520 @defun rassoc* item a-list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4521 This function searches for an element whose @code{cdr} matches
4522 @var{item}. If @var{a-list} represents a mapping, this applies
4523 the inverse of the mapping to @var{item}.
4524 @end defun
4525
4526 @findex assoc-if
4527 @findex assoc-if-not
4528 @findex rassoc-if
4529 @findex rassoc-if-not
4530 The @code{assoc-if}, @code{assoc-if-not}, @code{rassoc-if},
4531 and @code{rassoc-if-not} functions are defined similarly.
4532
4533 Two simple functions for constructing association lists are:
4534
4535 @defun acons key value alist
4536 This is equivalent to @code{(cons (cons @var{key} @var{value}) @var{alist})}.
4537 @end defun
4538
4539 @defun pairlis keys values &optional alist
4540 This is equivalent to @code{(nconc (mapcar* 'cons @var{keys} @var{values})
4541 @var{alist})}.
4542 @end defun
4543
4544 @node Hash Tables, Structures, Lists, Top
4545 @chapter Hash Tables
4546
4547 @noindent
4548 A @dfn{hash table} is a data structure that maps ``keys'' onto
4549 ``values.'' Keys and values can be arbitrary Lisp data objects.
4550 Hash tables have the property that the time to search for a given
4551 key is roughly constant; simpler data structures like association
4552 lists take time proportional to the number of entries in the list.
4553
4554 @defun make-hash-table @t{&key :test :size}
4555 This function creates and returns a hash-table object whose
4556 function for comparing elements is @code{:test} (@code{eql}
4557 by default), and which is allocated to fit about @code{:size}
4558 elements. The @code{:size} argument is purely advisory; the
4559 table will stretch automatically if you store more elements in
4560 it. If @code{:size} is omitted, a reasonable default is used.
4561
4562 Common Lisp allows only @code{eq}, @code{eql}, @code{equal},
4563 and @code{equalp} as legal values for the @code{:test} argument.
4564 In this package, any reasonable predicate function will work,
4565 though if you use something else you should check the details of
4566 the hashing function described below to make sure it is suitable
4567 for your predicate.
4568
4569 Some versions of Emacs (like Lucid Emacs 19) include a built-in
4570 hash table type; in these versions, @code{make-hash-table} with
4571 a test of @code{eq} will use these built-in hash tables. In all
4572 other cases, it will return a hash-table object which takes the
4573 form of a list with an identifying ``tag'' symbol at the front.
4574 All of the hash table functions in this package can operate on
4575 both types of hash table; normally you will never know which
4576 type is being used.
4577
4578 This function accepts the additional Common Lisp keywords
4579 @code{:rehash-size} and @code{:rehash-threshold}, but it ignores
4580 their values.
4581 @end defun
4582
4583 @defun gethash key table &optional default
4584 This function looks up @var{key} in @var{table}. If @var{key}
4585 exists in the table, in the sense that it matches any of the existing
4586 keys according to the table's test function, then the associated value
4587 is returned. Otherwise, @var{default} (or @code{nil}) is returned.
4588
4589 To store new data in the hash table, use @code{setf} on a call to
4590 @code{gethash}. If @var{key} already exists in the table, the
4591 corresponding value is changed to the stored value. If @var{key}
4592 does not already exist, a new entry is added to the table and the
4593 table is reallocated to a larger size if necessary. The @var{default}
4594 argument is allowed but ignored in this case. The situation is
4595 exactly analogous to that of @code{get*}; @pxref{Property Lists}.
4596 @end defun
4597
4598 @defun remhash key table
4599 This function removes the entry for @var{key} from @var{table}.
4600 If an entry was removed, it returns @code{t}. If @var{key} does
4601 not appear in the table, it does nothing and returns @code{nil}.
4602 @end defun
4603
4604 @defun clrhash table
4605 This function removes all the entries from @var{table}, leaving
4606 an empty hash table.
4607 @end defun
4608
4609 @defun maphash function table
4610 This function calls @var{function} for each entry in @var{table}.
4611 It passes two arguments to @var{function}, the key and the value
4612 of the given entry. The return value of @var{function} is ignored;
4613 @var{maphash} itself returns @code{nil}. @xref{Loop Facility}, for
4614 an alternate way of iterating over hash tables.
4615 @end defun
4616
4617 @defun hash-table-count table
4618 This function returns the number of entries in @var{table}.
4619 @strong{Warning:} The current implementation of Lucid Emacs 19
4620 hash-tables does not decrement the stored @code{count} when
4621 @code{remhash} removes an entry. Therefore, the return value of
4622 this function is not dependable if you have used @code{remhash}
4623 on the table and the table's test is @code{eq}. A slower, but
4624 reliable, way to count the entries is @code{(loop for x being the
4625 hash-keys of @var{table} count t)}.
4626 @end defun
4627
4628 @defun hash-table-p object
4629 This function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a hash table,
4630 @code{nil} otherwise. It recognizes both types of hash tables
4631 (both Lucid Emacs built-in tables and tables implemented with
4632 special lists.)
4633 @end defun
4634
4635 Sometimes when dealing with hash tables it is useful to know the
4636 exact ``hash function'' that is used. This package implements
4637 hash tables using Emacs Lisp ``obarrays,'' which are the same
4638 data structure that Emacs Lisp uses to keep track of symbols.
4639 Each hash table includes an embedded obarray. Key values given
4640 to @code{gethash} are converted by various means into strings,
4641 which are then looked up in the obarray using @code{intern} and
4642 @code{intern-soft}. The symbol, or ``bucket,'' corresponding to
4643 a given key string includes as its @code{symbol-value} an association
4644 list of all key-value pairs which hash to that string. Depending
4645 on the test function, it is possible for many entries to hash to
4646 the same bucket. For example, if the test is @code{eql}, then the
4647 symbol @code{foo} and two separately built strings @code{"foo"} will
4648 create three entries in the same bucket. Search time is linear
4649 within buckets, so hash tables will be most effective if you arrange
4650 not to store too many things that hash the same.
4651
4652 The following algorithm is used to convert Lisp objects to hash
4653 strings:
4654
4655 @itemize @bullet
4656 @item
4657 Strings are used directly as hash strings. (However, if the test
4658 function is @code{equalp}, strings are @code{downcase}d first.)
4659
4660 @item
4661 Symbols are hashed according to their @code{symbol-name}.
4662
4663 @item
4664 Integers are hashed into one of 16 buckets depending on their value
4665 modulo 16. Floating-point numbers are truncated to integers and
4666 hashed modulo 16.
4667
4668 @item
4669 Cons cells are hashed according to their @code{car}s; nonempty vectors
4670 are hashed according to their first element.
4671
4672 @item
4673 All other types of objects hash into a single bucket named @code{"*"}.
4674 @end itemize
4675
4676 @noindent
4677 Thus, for example, searching among many buffer objects in a hash table
4678 will devolve to a (still fairly fast) linear-time search through a
4679 single bucket, whereas searching for different symbols will be very
4680 fast since each symbol will, in general, hash into its own bucket.
4681
4682 The size of the obarray in a hash table is automatically adjusted
4683 as the number of elements increases.
4684
4685 As a special case, @code{make-hash-table} with a @code{:size} argument
4686 of 0 or 1 will create a hash-table object that uses a single association
4687 list rather than an obarray of many lists. For very small tables this
4688 structure will be more efficient since lookup does not require
4689 converting the key to a string or looking it up in an obarray.
4690 However, such tables are guaranteed to take time proportional to
4691 their size to do a search.
4692
4693 @iftex
4694 @chapno=18
4695 @end iftex
4696
4697 @node Structures, Assertions, Hash Tables, Top
4698 @chapter Structures
4699
4700 @noindent
4701 The Common Lisp @dfn{structure} mechanism provides a general way
4702 to define data types similar to C's @code{struct} types. A
4703 structure is a Lisp object containing some number of @dfn{slots},
4704 each of which can hold any Lisp data object. Functions are
4705 provided for accessing and setting the slots, creating or copying
4706 structure objects, and recognizing objects of a particular structure
4707 type.
4708
4709 In true Common Lisp, each structure type is a new type distinct
4710 from all existing Lisp types. Since the underlying Emacs Lisp
4711 system provides no way to create new distinct types, this package
4712 implements structures as vectors (or lists upon request) with a
4713 special ``tag'' symbol to identify them.
4714
4715 @defspec defstruct name slots@dots{}
4716 The @code{defstruct} form defines a new structure type called
4717 @var{name}, with the specified @var{slots}. (The @var{slots}
4718 may begin with a string which documents the structure type.)
4719 In the simplest case, @var{name} and each of the @var{slots}
4720 are symbols. For example,
4721
4722 @example
4723 (defstruct person name age sex)
4724 @end example
4725
4726 @noindent
4727 defines a struct type called @code{person} which contains three
4728 slots. Given a @code{person} object @var{p}, you can access those
4729 slots by calling @code{(person-name @var{p})}, @code{(person-age @var{p})},
4730 and @code{(person-sex @var{p})}. You can also change these slots by
4731 using @code{setf} on any of these place forms:
4732
4733 @example
4734 (incf (person-age birthday-boy))
4735 @end example
4736
4737 You can create a new @code{person} by calling @code{make-person},
4738 which takes keyword arguments @code{:name}, @code{:age}, and
4739 @code{:sex} to specify the initial values of these slots in the
4740 new object. (Omitting any of these arguments leaves the corresponding
4741 slot ``undefined,'' according to the Common Lisp standard; in Emacs
4742 Lisp, such uninitialized slots are filled with @code{nil}.)
4743
4744 Given a @code{person}, @code{(copy-person @var{p})} makes a new
4745 object of the same type whose slots are @code{eq} to those of @var{p}.
4746
4747 Given any Lisp object @var{x}, @code{(person-p @var{x})} returns
4748 true if @var{x} looks like a @code{person}, false otherwise. (Again,
4749 in Common Lisp this predicate would be exact; in Emacs Lisp the
4750 best it can do is verify that @var{x} is a vector of the correct
4751 length which starts with the correct tag symbol.)
4752
4753 Accessors like @code{person-name} normally check their arguments
4754 (effectively using @code{person-p}) and signal an error if the
4755 argument is the wrong type. This check is affected by
4756 @code{(optimize (safety @dots{}))} declarations. Safety level 1,
4757 the default, uses a somewhat optimized check that will detect all
4758 incorrect arguments, but may use an uninformative error message
4759 (e.g., ``expected a vector'' instead of ``expected a @code{person}'').
4760 Safety level 0 omits all checks except as provided by the underlying
4761 @code{aref} call; safety levels 2 and 3 do rigorous checking that will
4762 always print a descriptive error message for incorrect inputs.
4763 @xref{Declarations}.
4764
4765 @example
4766 (setq dave (make-person :name "Dave" :sex 'male))
4767 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Dave" nil male]
4768 (setq other (copy-person dave))
4769 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Dave" nil male]
4770 (eq dave other)
4771 @result{} nil
4772 (eq (person-name dave) (person-name other))
4773 @result{} t
4774 (person-p dave)
4775 @result{} t
4776 (person-p [1 2 3 4])
4777 @result{} nil
4778 (person-p "Bogus")
4779 @result{} nil
4780 (person-p '[cl-struct-person counterfeit person object])
4781 @result{} t
4782 @end example
4783
4784 In general, @var{name} is either a name symbol or a list of a name
4785 symbol followed by any number of @dfn{struct options}; each @var{slot}
4786 is either a slot symbol or a list of the form @samp{(@var{slot-name}
4787 @var{default-value} @var{slot-options}@dots{})}. The @var{default-value}
4788 is a Lisp form which is evaluated any time an instance of the
4789 structure type is created without specifying that slot's value.
4790
4791 Common Lisp defines several slot options, but the only one
4792 implemented in this package is @code{:read-only}. A non-@code{nil}
4793 value for this option means the slot should not be @code{setf}-able;
4794 the slot's value is determined when the object is created and does
4795 not change afterward.
4796
4797 @example
4798 (defstruct person
4799 (name nil :read-only t)
4800 age
4801 (sex 'unknown))
4802 @end example
4803
4804 Any slot options other than @code{:read-only} are ignored.
4805
4806 For obscure historical reasons, structure options take a different
4807 form than slot options. A structure option is either a keyword
4808 symbol, or a list beginning with a keyword symbol possibly followed
4809 by arguments. (By contrast, slot options are key-value pairs not
4810 enclosed in lists.)
4811
4812 @example
4813 (defstruct (person (:constructor create-person)
4814 (:type list)
4815 :named)
4816 name age sex)
4817 @end example
4818
4819 The following structure options are recognized.
4820
4821 @table @code
4822 @iftex
4823 @itemmax=0 in
4824 @advance@leftskip-.5@tableindent
4825 @end iftex
4826 @item :conc-name
4827 The argument is a symbol whose print name is used as the prefix for
4828 the names of slot accessor functions. The default is the name of
4829 the struct type followed by a hyphen. The option @code{(:conc-name p-)}
4830 would change this prefix to @code{p-}. Specifying @code{nil} as an
4831 argument means no prefix, so that the slot names themselves are used
4832 to name the accessor functions.
4833
4834 @item :constructor
4835 In the simple case, this option takes one argument which is an
4836 alternate name to use for the constructor function. The default
4837 is @code{make-@var{name}}, e.g., @code{make-person}. The above
4838 example changes this to @code{create-person}. Specifying @code{nil}
4839 as an argument means that no standard constructor should be
4840 generated at all.
4841
4842 In the full form of this option, the constructor name is followed
4843 by an arbitrary argument list. @xref{Program Structure}, for a
4844 description of the format of Common Lisp argument lists. All
4845 options, such as @code{&rest} and @code{&key}, are supported.
4846 The argument names should match the slot names; each slot is
4847 initialized from the corresponding argument. Slots whose names
4848 do not appear in the argument list are initialized based on the
4849 @var{default-value} in their slot descriptor. Also, @code{&optional}
4850 and @code{&key} arguments which don't specify defaults take their
4851 defaults from the slot descriptor. It is legal to include arguments
4852 which don't correspond to slot names; these are useful if they are
4853 referred to in the defaults for optional, keyword, or @code{&aux}
4854 arguments which @emph{do} correspond to slots.
4855
4856 You can specify any number of full-format @code{:constructor}
4857 options on a structure. The default constructor is still generated
4858 as well unless you disable it with a simple-format @code{:constructor}
4859 option.
4860
4861 @example
4862 (defstruct
4863 (person
4864 (:constructor nil) ; no default constructor
4865 (:constructor new-person (name sex &optional (age 0)))
4866 (:constructor new-hound (&key (name "Rover")
4867 (dog-years 0)
4868 &aux (age (* 7 dog-years))
4869 (sex 'canine))))
4870 name age sex)
4871 @end example
4872
4873 The first constructor here takes its arguments positionally rather
4874 than by keyword. (In official Common Lisp terminology, constructors
4875 that work By Order of Arguments instead of by keyword are called
4876 ``BOA constructors.'' No, I'm not making this up.) For example,
4877 @code{(new-person "Jane" 'female)} generates a person whose slots
4878 are @code{"Jane"}, 0, and @code{female}, respectively.
4879
4880 The second constructor takes two keyword arguments, @code{:name},
4881 which initializes the @code{name} slot and defaults to @code{"Rover"},
4882 and @code{:dog-years}, which does not itself correspond to a slot
4883 but which is used to initialize the @code{age} slot. The @code{sex}
4884 slot is forced to the symbol @code{canine} with no syntax for
4885 overriding it.
4886
4887 @item :copier
4888 The argument is an alternate name for the copier function for
4889 this type. The default is @code{copy-@var{name}}. @code{nil}
4890 means not to generate a copier function. (In this implementation,
4891 all copier functions are simply synonyms for @code{copy-sequence}.)
4892
4893 @item :predicate
4894 The argument is an alternate name for the predicate which recognizes
4895 objects of this type. The default is @code{@var{name}-p}. @code{nil}
4896 means not to generate a predicate function. (If the @code{:type}
4897 option is used without the @code{:named} option, no predicate is
4898 ever generated.)
4899
4900 In true Common Lisp, @code{typep} is always able to recognize a
4901 structure object even if @code{:predicate} was used. In this
4902 package, @code{typep} simply looks for a function called
4903 @code{@var{typename}-p}, so it will work for structure types
4904 only if they used the default predicate name.
4905
4906 @item :include
4907 This option implements a very limited form of C++-style inheritance.
4908 The argument is the name of another structure type previously
4909 created with @code{defstruct}. The effect is to cause the new
4910 structure type to inherit all of the included structure's slots
4911 (plus, of course, any new slots described by this struct's slot
4912 descriptors). The new structure is considered a ``specialization''
4913 of the included one. In fact, the predicate and slot accessors
4914 for the included type will also accept objects of the new type.
4915
4916 If there are extra arguments to the @code{:include} option after
4917 the included-structure name, these options are treated as replacement
4918 slot descriptors for slots in the included structure, possibly with
4919 modified default values. Borrowing an example from Steele:
4920
4921 @example
4922 (defstruct person name (age 0) sex)
4923 @result{} person
4924 (defstruct (astronaut (:include person (age 45)))
4925 helmet-size
4926 (favorite-beverage 'tang))
4927 @result{} astronaut
4928
4929 (setq joe (make-person :name "Joe"))
4930 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Joe" 0 nil]
4931 (setq buzz (make-astronaut :name "Buzz"))
4932 @result{} [cl-struct-astronaut "Buzz" 45 nil nil tang]
4933
4934 (list (person-p joe) (person-p buzz))
4935 @result{} (t t)
4936 (list (astronaut-p joe) (astronaut-p buzz))
4937 @result{} (nil t)
4938
4939 (person-name buzz)
4940 @result{} "Buzz"
4941 (astronaut-name joe)
4942 @result{} error: "astronaut-name accessing a non-astronaut"
4943 @end example
4944
4945 Thus, if @code{astronaut} is a specialization of @code{person},
4946 then every @code{astronaut} is also a @code{person} (but not the
4947 other way around). Every @code{astronaut} includes all the slots
4948 of a @code{person}, plus extra slots that are specific to
4949 astronauts. Operations that work on people (like @code{person-name})
4950 work on astronauts just like other people.
4951
4952 @item :print-function
4953 In full Common Lisp, this option allows you to specify a function
4954 which is called to print an instance of the structure type. The
4955 Emacs Lisp system offers no hooks into the Lisp printer which would
4956 allow for such a feature, so this package simply ignores
4957 @code{:print-function}.
4958
4959 @item :type
4960 The argument should be one of the symbols @code{vector} or @code{list}.
4961 This tells which underlying Lisp data type should be used to implement
4962 the new structure type. Vectors are used by default, but
4963 @code{(:type list)} will cause structure objects to be stored as
4964 lists instead.
4965
4966 The vector representation for structure objects has the advantage
4967 that all structure slots can be accessed quickly, although creating
4968 vectors is a bit slower in Emacs Lisp. Lists are easier to create,
4969 but take a relatively long time accessing the later slots.
4970
4971 @item :named
4972 This option, which takes no arguments, causes a characteristic ``tag''
4973 symbol to be stored at the front of the structure object. Using
4974 @code{:type} without also using @code{:named} will result in a
4975 structure type stored as plain vectors or lists with no identifying
4976 features.
4977
4978 The default, if you don't specify @code{:type} explicitly, is to
4979 use named vectors. Therefore, @code{:named} is only useful in
4980 conjunction with @code{:type}.
4981
4982 @example
4983 (defstruct (person1) name age sex)
4984 (defstruct (person2 (:type list) :named) name age sex)
4985 (defstruct (person3 (:type list)) name age sex)
4986
4987 (setq p1 (make-person1))
4988 @result{} [cl-struct-person1 nil nil nil]
4989 (setq p2 (make-person2))
4990 @result{} (person2 nil nil nil)
4991 (setq p3 (make-person3))
4992 @result{} (nil nil nil)
4993
4994 (person1-p p1)
4995 @result{} t
4996 (person2-p p2)
4997 @result{} t
4998 (person3-p p3)
4999 @result{} error: function person3-p undefined
5000 @end example
5001
5002 Since unnamed structures don't have tags, @code{defstruct} is not
5003 able to make a useful predicate for recognizing them. Also,
5004 accessors like @code{person3-name} will be generated but they
5005 will not be able to do any type checking. The @code{person3-name}
5006 function, for example, will simply be a synonym for @code{car} in
5007 this case. By contrast, @code{person2-name} is able to verify
5008 that its argument is indeed a @code{person2} object before
5009 proceeding.
5010
5011 @item :initial-offset
5012 The argument must be a nonnegative integer. It specifies a
5013 number of slots to be left ``empty'' at the front of the
5014 structure. If the structure is named, the tag appears at the
5015 specified position in the list or vector; otherwise, the first
5016 slot appears at that position. Earlier positions are filled
5017 with @code{nil} by the constructors and ignored otherwise. If
5018 the type @code{:include}s another type, then @code{:initial-offset}
5019 specifies a number of slots to be skipped between the last slot
5020 of the included type and the first new slot.
5021 @end table
5022 @end defspec
5023
5024 Except as noted, the @code{defstruct} facility of this package is
5025 entirely compatible with that of Common Lisp.
5026
5027 @iftex
5028 @chapno=23
5029 @end iftex
5030
5031 @node Assertions, Efficiency Concerns, Structures, Top
5032 @chapter Assertions and Errors
5033
5034 @noindent
5035 This section describes two macros that test @dfn{assertions}, i.e.,
5036 conditions which must be true if the program is operating correctly.
5037 Assertions never add to the behavior of a Lisp program; they simply
5038 make ``sanity checks'' to make sure everything is as it should be.
5039
5040 If the optimization property @code{speed} has been set to 3, and
5041 @code{safety} is less than 3, then the byte-compiler will optimize
5042 away the following assertions. Because assertions might be optimized
5043 away, it is a bad idea for them to include side-effects.
5044
5045 @defspec assert test-form [show-args string args@dots{}]
5046 This form verifies that @var{test-form} is true (i.e., evaluates to
5047 a non-@code{nil} value). If so, it returns @code{nil}. If the test
5048 is not satisfied, @code{assert} signals an error.
5049
5050 A default error message will be supplied which includes @var{test-form}.
5051 You can specify a different error message by including a @var{string}
5052 argument plus optional extra arguments. Those arguments are simply
5053 passed to @code{error} to signal the error.
5054
5055 If the optional second argument @var{show-args} is @code{t} instead
5056 of @code{nil}, then the error message (with or without @var{string})
5057 will also include all non-constant arguments of the top-level
5058 @var{form}. For example:
5059
5060 @example
5061 (assert (> x 10) t "x is too small: %d")
5062 @end example
5063
5064 This usage of @var{show-args} is an extension to Common Lisp. In
5065 true Common Lisp, the second argument gives a list of @var{places}
5066 which can be @code{setf}'d by the user before continuing from the
5067 error. Since Emacs Lisp does not support continuable errors, it
5068 makes no sense to specify @var{places}.
5069 @end defspec
5070
5071 @defspec check-type form type [string]
5072 This form verifies that @var{form} evaluates to a value of type
5073 @var{type}. If so, it returns @code{nil}. If not, @code{check-type}
5074 signals a @code{wrong-type-argument} error. The default error message
5075 lists the erroneous value along with @var{type} and @var{form}
5076 themselves. If @var{string} is specified, it is included in the
5077 error message in place of @var{type}. For example:
5078
5079 @example
5080 (check-type x (integer 1 *) "a positive integer")
5081 @end example
5082
5083 @xref{Type Predicates}, for a description of the type specifiers
5084 that may be used for @var{type}.
5085
5086 Note that in Common Lisp, the first argument to @code{check-type}
5087 must be a @var{place} suitable for use by @code{setf}, because
5088 @code{check-type} signals a continuable error that allows the
5089 user to modify @var{place}.
5090 @end defspec
5091
5092 The following error-related macro is also defined:
5093
5094 @defspec ignore-errors forms@dots{}
5095 This executes @var{forms} exactly like a @code{progn}, except that
5096 errors are ignored during the @var{forms}. More precisely, if
5097 an error is signaled then @code{ignore-errors} immediately
5098 aborts execution of the @var{forms} and returns @code{nil}.
5099 If the @var{forms} complete successfully, @code{ignore-errors}
5100 returns the result of the last @var{form}.
5101 @end defspec
5102
5103 @node Efficiency Concerns, Common Lisp Compatibility, Assertions, Top
5104 @appendix Efficiency Concerns
5105
5106 @appendixsec Macros
5107
5108 @noindent
5109 Many of the advanced features of this package, such as @code{defun*},
5110 @code{loop}, and @code{setf}, are implemented as Lisp macros. In
5111 byte-compiled code, these complex notations will be expanded into
5112 equivalent Lisp code which is simple and efficient. For example,
5113 the forms
5114
5115 @example
5116 (incf i n)
5117 (push x (car p))
5118 @end example
5119
5120 @noindent
5121 are expanded at compile-time to the Lisp forms
5122
5123 @example
5124 (setq i (+ i n))
5125 (setcar p (cons x (car p)))
5126 @end example
5127
5128 @noindent
5129 which are the most efficient ways of doing these respective operations
5130 in Lisp. Thus, there is no performance penalty for using the more
5131 readable @code{incf} and @code{push} forms in your compiled code.
5132
5133 @emph{Interpreted} code, on the other hand, must expand these macros
5134 every time they are executed. For this reason it is strongly
5135 recommended that code making heavy use of macros be compiled.
5136 (The features labeled ``Special Form'' instead of ``Function'' in
5137 this manual are macros.) A loop using @code{incf} a hundred times
5138 will execute considerably faster if compiled, and will also
5139 garbage-collect less because the macro expansion will not have
5140 to be generated, used, and thrown away a hundred times.
5141
5142 You can find out how a macro expands by using the
5143 @code{cl-prettyexpand} function.
5144
5145 @defun cl-prettyexpand form &optional full
5146 This function takes a single Lisp form as an argument and inserts
5147 a nicely formatted copy of it in the current buffer (which must be
5148 in Lisp mode so that indentation works properly). It also expands
5149 all Lisp macros which appear in the form. The easiest way to use
5150 this function is to go to the @code{*scratch*} buffer and type, say,
5151
5152 @example
5153 (cl-prettyexpand '(loop for x below 10 collect x))
5154 @end example
5155
5156 @noindent
5157 and type @kbd{C-x C-e} immediately after the closing parenthesis;
5158 the expansion
5159
5160 @example
5161 (block nil
5162 (let* ((x 0)
5163 (G1004 nil))
5164 (while (< x 10)
5165 (setq G1004 (cons x G1004))
5166 (setq x (+ x 1)))
5167 (nreverse G1004)))
5168 @end example
5169
5170 @noindent
5171 will be inserted into the buffer. (The @code{block} macro is
5172 expanded differently in the interpreter and compiler, so
5173 @code{cl-prettyexpand} just leaves it alone. The temporary
5174 variable @code{G1004} was created by @code{gensym}.)
5175
5176 If the optional argument @var{full} is true, then @emph{all}
5177 macros are expanded, including @code{block}, @code{eval-when},
5178 and compiler macros. Expansion is done as if @var{form} were
5179 a top-level form in a file being compiled. For example,
5180
5181 @example
5182 (cl-prettyexpand '(pushnew 'x list))
5183 @print{} (setq list (adjoin 'x list))
5184 (cl-prettyexpand '(pushnew 'x list) t)
5185 @print{} (setq list (if (memq 'x list) list (cons 'x list)))
5186 (cl-prettyexpand '(caddr (member* 'a list)) t)
5187 @print{} (car (cdr (cdr (memq 'a list))))
5188 @end example
5189
5190 Note that @code{adjoin}, @code{caddr}, and @code{member*} all
5191 have built-in compiler macros to optimize them in common cases.
5192 @end defun
5193
5194 @ifinfo
5195 @example
5196
5197 @end example
5198 @end ifinfo
5199 @appendixsec Error Checking
5200
5201 @noindent
5202 Common Lisp compliance has in general not been sacrificed for the
5203 sake of efficiency. A few exceptions have been made for cases
5204 where substantial gains were possible at the expense of marginal
5205 incompatibility. One example is the use of @code{memq} (which is
5206 treated very efficiently by the byte-compiler) to scan for keyword
5207 arguments; this can become confused in rare cases when keyword
5208 symbols are used as both keywords and data values at once. This
5209 is extremely unlikely to occur in practical code, and the use of
5210 @code{memq} allows functions with keyword arguments to be nearly
5211 as fast as functions that use @code{&optional} arguments.
5212
5213 The Common Lisp standard (as embodied in Steele's book) uses the
5214 phrase ``it is an error if'' to indicate a situation which is not
5215 supposed to arise in complying programs; implementations are strongly
5216 encouraged but not required to signal an error in these situations.
5217 This package sometimes omits such error checking in the interest of
5218 compactness and efficiency. For example, @code{do} variable
5219 specifiers are supposed to be lists of one, two, or three forms;
5220 extra forms are ignored by this package rather than signaling a
5221 syntax error. The @code{endp} function is simply a synonym for
5222 @code{null} in this package. Functions taking keyword arguments
5223 will accept an odd number of arguments, treating the trailing
5224 keyword as if it were followed by the value @code{nil}.
5225
5226 Argument lists (as processed by @code{defun*} and friends)
5227 @emph{are} checked rigorously except for the minor point just
5228 mentioned; in particular, keyword arguments are checked for
5229 validity, and @code{&allow-other-keys} and @code{:allow-other-keys}
5230 are fully implemented. Keyword validity checking is slightly
5231 time consuming (though not too bad in byte-compiled code);
5232 you can use @code{&allow-other-keys} to omit this check. Functions
5233 defined in this package such as @code{find} and @code{member*}
5234 do check their keyword arguments for validity.
5235
5236 @ifinfo
5237 @example
5238
5239 @end example
5240 @end ifinfo
5241 @appendixsec Optimizing Compiler
5242
5243 @noindent
5244 The byte-compiler that comes with Emacs 18 normally fails to expand
5245 macros that appear in top-level positions in the file (i.e., outside
5246 of @code{defun}s or other enclosing forms). This would have
5247 disastrous consequences to programs that used such top-level macros
5248 as @code{defun*}, @code{eval-when}, and @code{defstruct}. To
5249 work around this problem, the @dfn{CL} package patches the Emacs
5250 18 compiler to expand top-level macros. This patch will apply to
5251 your own macros, too, if they are used in a top-level context.
5252 The patch will not harm versions of the Emacs 18 compiler which
5253 have already had a similar patch applied, nor will it affect the
5254 optimizing Emacs 19 byte-compiler written by Jamie Zawinski and
5255 Hallvard Furuseth. The patch is applied to the byte compiler's
5256 code in Emacs' memory, @emph{not} to the @file{bytecomp.elc} file
5257 stored on disk.
5258
5259 Use of the Emacs 19 compiler is highly recommended; many of the Common
5260 Lisp macros emit
5261 code which can be improved by optimization. In particular,
5262 @code{block}s (whether explicit or implicit in constructs like
5263 @code{defun*} and @code{loop}) carry a fair run-time penalty; the
5264 optimizing compiler removes @code{block}s which are not actually
5265 referenced by @code{return} or @code{return-from} inside the block.
5266
5267 @node Common Lisp Compatibility, Old CL Compatibility, Efficiency Concerns, Top
5268 @appendix Common Lisp Compatibility
5269
5270 @noindent
5271 Following is a list of all known incompatibilities between this
5272 package and Common Lisp as documented in Steele (2nd edition).
5273
5274 Certain function names, such as @code{member}, @code{assoc}, and
5275 @code{floor}, were already taken by (incompatible) Emacs Lisp
5276 functions; this package appends @samp{*} to the names of its
5277 Common Lisp versions of these functions.
5278
5279 The word @code{defun*} is required instead of @code{defun} in order
5280 to use extended Common Lisp argument lists in a function. Likewise,
5281 @code{defmacro*} and @code{function*} are versions of those forms
5282 which understand full-featured argument lists. The @code{&whole}
5283 keyword does not work in @code{defmacro} argument lists (except
5284 inside recursive argument lists).
5285
5286 In order to allow an efficient implementation, keyword arguments use
5287 a slightly cheesy parser which may be confused if a keyword symbol
5288 is passed as the @emph{value} of another keyword argument.
5289 (Specifically, @code{(memq :@var{keyword} @var{rest-of-arguments})}
5290 is used to scan for @code{:@var{keyword}} among the supplied
5291 keyword arguments.)
5292
5293 The @code{eql} and @code{equal} predicates do not distinguish
5294 between IEEE floating-point plus and minus zero. The @code{equalp}
5295 predicate has several differences with Common Lisp; @pxref{Predicates}.
5296
5297 The @code{setf} mechanism is entirely compatible, except that
5298 setf-methods return a list of five values rather than five
5299 values directly. Also, the new ``@code{setf} function'' concept
5300 (typified by @code{(defun (setf foo) @dots{})}) is not implemented.
5301
5302 The @code{do-all-symbols} form is the same as @code{do-symbols}
5303 with no @var{obarray} argument. In Common Lisp, this form would
5304 iterate over all symbols in all packages. Since Emacs obarrays
5305 are not a first-class package mechanism, there is no way for
5306 @code{do-all-symbols} to locate any but the default obarray.
5307
5308 The @code{loop} macro is complete except that @code{loop-finish}
5309 and type specifiers are unimplemented.
5310
5311 The multiple-value return facility treats lists as multiple
5312 values, since Emacs Lisp cannot support multiple return values
5313 directly. The macros will be compatible with Common Lisp if
5314 @code{values} or @code{values-list} is always used to return to
5315 a @code{multiple-value-bind} or other multiple-value receiver;
5316 if @code{values} is used without @code{multiple-value-@dots{}}
5317 or vice-versa the effect will be different from Common Lisp.
5318
5319 Many Common Lisp declarations are ignored, and others match
5320 the Common Lisp standard in concept but not in detail. For
5321 example, local @code{special} declarations, which are purely
5322 advisory in Emacs Lisp, do not rigorously obey the scoping rules
5323 set down in Steele's book.
5324
5325 The variable @code{*gensym-counter*} starts out with a pseudo-random
5326 value rather than with zero. This is to cope with the fact that
5327 generated symbols become interned when they are written to and
5328 loaded back from a file.
5329
5330 The @code{defstruct} facility is compatible, except that structures
5331 are of type @code{:type vector :named} by default rather than some
5332 special, distinct type. Also, the @code{:type} slot option is ignored.
5333
5334 The second argument of @code{check-type} is treated differently.
5335
5336 @node Old CL Compatibility, Porting Common Lisp, Common Lisp Compatibility, Top
5337 @appendix Old CL Compatibility
5338
5339 @noindent
5340 Following is a list of all known incompatibilities between this package
5341 and the older Quiroz @file{cl.el} package.
5342
5343 This package's emulation of multiple return values in functions is
5344 incompatible with that of the older package. That package attempted
5345 to come as close as possible to true Common Lisp multiple return
5346 values; unfortunately, it could not be 100% reliable and so was prone
5347 to occasional surprises if used freely. This package uses a simpler
5348 method, namely replacing multiple values with lists of values, which
5349 is more predictable though more noticeably different from Common Lisp.
5350
5351 The @code{defkeyword} form and @code{keywordp} function are not
5352 implemented in this package.
5353
5354 The @code{member}, @code{floor}, @code{ceiling}, @code{truncate},
5355 @code{round}, @code{mod}, and @code{rem} functions are suffixed
5356 by @samp{*} in this package to avoid collision with existing
5357 functions in Emacs. The older package simply
5358 redefined these functions, overwriting the built-in meanings and
5359 causing serious portability problems with Emacs 19. (Some more
5360 recent versions of the Quiroz package changed the names to
5361 @code{cl-member}, etc.; this package defines the latter names as
5362 aliases for @code{member*}, etc.)
5363
5364 Certain functions in the old package which were buggy or inconsistent
5365 with the Common Lisp standard are incompatible with the conforming
5366 versions in this package. For example, @code{eql} and @code{member}
5367 were synonyms for @code{eq} and @code{memq} in that package, @code{setf}
5368 failed to preserve correct order of evaluation of its arguments, etc.
5369
5370 Finally, unlike the older package, this package is careful to
5371 prefix all of its internal names with @code{cl-}. Except for a
5372 few functions which are explicitly defined as additional features
5373 (such as @code{floatp-safe} and @code{letf}), this package does not
5374 export any non-@samp{cl-} symbols which are not also part of Common
5375 Lisp.
5376
5377 @ifinfo
5378 @example
5379
5380 @end example
5381 @end ifinfo
5382 @appendixsec The @code{cl-compat} package
5383
5384 @noindent
5385 The @dfn{CL} package includes emulations of some features of the
5386 old @file{cl.el}, in the form of a compatibility package
5387 @code{cl-compat}. To use it, put @code{(require 'cl-compat)} in
5388 your program.
5389
5390 The old package defined a number of internal routines without
5391 @code{cl-} prefixes or other annotations. Call to these routines
5392 may have crept into existing Lisp code. @code{cl-compat}
5393 provides emulations of the following internal routines:
5394 @code{pair-with-newsyms}, @code{zip-lists}, @code{unzip-lists},
5395 @code{reassemble-arglists}, @code{duplicate-symbols-p},
5396 @code{safe-idiv}.
5397
5398 Some @code{setf} forms translated into calls to internal
5399 functions that user code might call directly. The functions
5400 @code{setnth}, @code{setnthcdr}, and @code{setelt} fall in
5401 this category; they are defined by @code{cl-compat}, but the
5402 best fix is to change to use @code{setf} properly.
5403
5404 The @code{cl-compat} file defines the keyword functions
5405 @code{keywordp}, @code{keyword-of}, and @code{defkeyword},
5406 which are not defined by the new @dfn{CL} package because the
5407 use of keywords as data is discouraged.
5408
5409 The @code{build-klist} mechanism for parsing keyword arguments
5410 is emulated by @code{cl-compat}; the @code{with-keyword-args}
5411 macro is not, however, and in any case it's best to change to
5412 use the more natural keyword argument processing offered by
5413 @code{defun*}.
5414
5415 Multiple return values are treated differently by the two
5416 Common Lisp packages. The old package's method was more
5417 compatible with true Common Lisp, though it used heuristics
5418 that caused it to report spurious multiple return values in
5419 certain cases. The @code{cl-compat} package defines a set
5420 of multiple-value macros that are compatible with the old
5421 CL package; again, they are heuristic in nature, but they
5422 are guaranteed to work in any case where the old package's
5423 macros worked. To avoid name collision with the ``official''
5424 multiple-value facilities, the ones in @code{cl-compat} have
5425 capitalized names: @code{Values}, @code{Values-list},
5426 @code{Multiple-value-bind}, etc.
5427
5428 The functions @code{cl-floor}, @code{cl-ceiling}, @code{cl-truncate},
5429 and @code{cl-round} are defined by @code{cl-compat} to use the
5430 old-style multiple-value mechanism, just as they did in the old
5431 package. The newer @code{floor*} and friends return their two
5432 results in a list rather than as multiple values. Note that
5433 older versions of the old package used the unadorned names
5434 @code{floor}, @code{ceiling}, etc.; @code{cl-compat} cannot use
5435 these names because they conflict with Emacs 19 built-ins.
5436
5437 @node Porting Common Lisp, Function Index, Old CL Compatibility, Top
5438 @appendix Porting Common Lisp
5439
5440 @noindent
5441 This package is meant to be used as an extension to Emacs Lisp,
5442 not as an Emacs implementation of true Common Lisp. Some of the
5443 remaining differences between Emacs Lisp and Common Lisp make it
5444 difficult to port large Common Lisp applications to Emacs. For
5445 one, some of the features in this package are not fully compliant
5446 with ANSI or Steele; @pxref{Common Lisp Compatibility}. But there
5447 are also quite a few features that this package does not provide
5448 at all. Here are some major omissions that you will want watch out
5449 for when bringing Common Lisp code into Emacs.
5450
5451 @itemize @bullet
5452 @item
5453 Case-insensitivity. Symbols in Common Lisp are case-insensitive
5454 by default. Some programs refer to a function or variable as
5455 @code{foo} in one place and @code{Foo} or @code{FOO} in another.
5456 Emacs Lisp will treat these as three distinct symbols.
5457
5458 Some Common Lisp code is written entirely in upper case. While Emacs
5459 is happy to let the program's own functions and variables use
5460 this convention, calls to Lisp builtins like @code{if} and
5461 @code{defun} will have to be changed to lower case.
5462
5463 @item
5464 Lexical scoping. In Common Lisp, function arguments and @code{let}
5465 bindings apply only to references physically within their bodies
5466 (or within macro expansions in their bodies). Emacs Lisp, by
5467 contrast, uses @dfn{dynamic scoping} wherein a binding to a
5468 variable is visible even inside functions called from the body.
5469
5470 Variables in Common Lisp can be made dynamically scoped by
5471 declaring them @code{special} or using @code{defvar}. In Emacs
5472 Lisp it is as if all variables were declared @code{special}.
5473
5474 Often you can use code that was written for lexical scoping
5475 even in a dynamically scoped Lisp, but not always. Here is
5476 an example of a Common Lisp code fragment that would fail in
5477 Emacs Lisp:
5478
5479 @example
5480 (defun map-odd-elements (func list)
5481 (loop for x in list
5482 for flag = t then (not flag)
5483 collect (if flag x (funcall func x))))
5484
5485 (defun add-odd-elements (list x)
5486 (map-odd-elements (lambda (a) (+ a x))) list)
5487 @end example
5488
5489 @noindent
5490 In Common Lisp, the two functions' usages of @code{x} are completely
5491 independent. In Emacs Lisp, the binding to @code{x} made by
5492 @code{add-odd-elements} will have been hidden by the binding
5493 in @code{map-odd-elements} by the time the @code{(+ a x)} function
5494 is called.
5495
5496 (This package avoids such problems in its own mapping functions
5497 by using names like @code{cl-x} instead of @code{x} internally;
5498 as long as you don't use the @code{cl-} prefix for your own
5499 variables no collision can occur.)
5500
5501 @xref{Lexical Bindings}, for a description of the @code{lexical-let}
5502 form which establishes a Common Lisp-style lexical binding, and some
5503 examples of how it differs from Emacs' regular @code{let}.
5504
5505 @item
5506 Reader macros. Common Lisp includes a second type of macro that
5507 works at the level of individual characters. For example, Common
5508 Lisp implements the quote notation by a reader macro called @code{'},
5509 whereas Emacs Lisp's parser just treats quote as a special case.
5510 Some Lisp packages use reader macros to create special syntaxes
5511 for themselves, which the Emacs parser is incapable of reading.
5512
5513 The lack of reader macros, incidentally, is the reason behind
5514 Emacs Lisp's unusual backquote syntax. Since backquotes are
5515 implemented as a Lisp package and not built-in to the Emacs
5516 parser, they are forced to use a regular macro named @code{`}
5517 which is used with the standard function/macro call notation.
5518
5519 @item
5520 Other syntactic features. Common Lisp provides a number of
5521 notations beginning with @code{#} that the Emacs Lisp parser
5522 won't understand. For example, @samp{#| ... |#} is an
5523 alternate comment notation, and @samp{#+lucid (foo)} tells
5524 the parser to ignore the @code{(foo)} except in Lucid Common
5525 Lisp.
5526
5527 @item
5528 Packages. In Common Lisp, symbols are divided into @dfn{packages}.
5529 Symbols that are Lisp built-ins are typically stored in one package;
5530 symbols that are vendor extensions are put in another, and each
5531 application program would have a package for its own symbols.
5532 Certain symbols are ``exported'' by a package and others are
5533 internal; certain packages ``use'' or import the exported symbols
5534 of other packages. To access symbols that would not normally be
5535 visible due to this importing and exporting, Common Lisp provides
5536 a syntax like @code{package:symbol} or @code{package::symbol}.
5537
5538 Emacs Lisp has a single namespace for all interned symbols, and
5539 then uses a naming convention of putting a prefix like @code{cl-}
5540 in front of the name. Some Emacs packages adopt the Common Lisp-like
5541 convention of using @code{cl:} or @code{cl::} as the prefix.
5542 However, the Emacs parser does not understand colons and just
5543 treats them as part of the symbol name. Thus, while @code{mapcar}
5544 and @code{lisp:mapcar} may refer to the same symbol in Common
5545 Lisp, they are totally distinct in Emacs Lisp. Common Lisp
5546 programs which refer to a symbol by the full name sometimes
5547 and the short name other times will not port cleanly to Emacs.
5548
5549 Emacs Lisp does have a concept of ``obarrays,'' which are
5550 package-like collections of symbols, but this feature is not
5551 strong enough to be used as a true package mechanism.
5552
5553 @item
5554 The @code{format} function is quite different between Common
5555 Lisp and Emacs Lisp. It takes an additional ``destination''
5556 argument before the format string. A destination of @code{nil}
5557 means to format to a string as in Emacs Lisp; a destination
5558 of @code{t} means to write to the terminal (similar to
5559 @code{message} in Emacs). Also, format control strings are
5560 utterly different; @code{~} is used instead of @code{%} to
5561 introduce format codes, and the set of available codes is
5562 much richer. There are no notations like @code{\n} for
5563 string literals; instead, @code{format} is used with the
5564 ``newline'' format code, @code{~%}. More advanced formatting
5565 codes provide such features as paragraph filling, case
5566 conversion, and even loops and conditionals.
5567
5568 While it would have been possible to implement most of Common
5569 Lisp @code{format} in this package (under the name @code{format*},
5570 of course), it was not deemed worthwhile. It would have required
5571 a huge amount of code to implement even a decent subset of
5572 @code{format*}, yet the functionality it would provide over
5573 Emacs Lisp's @code{format} would rarely be useful.
5574
5575 @item
5576 Vector constants use square brackets in Emacs Lisp, but
5577 @code{#(a b c)} notation in Common Lisp. To further complicate
5578 matters, Emacs 19 introduces its own @code{#(} notation for
5579 something entirely different---strings with properties.
5580
5581 @item
5582 Characters are distinct from integers in Common Lisp. The
5583 notation for character constants is also different: @code{#\A}
5584 instead of @code{?A}. Also, @code{string=} and @code{string-equal}
5585 are synonyms in Emacs Lisp whereas the latter is case-insensitive
5586 in Common Lisp.
5587
5588 @item
5589 Data types. Some Common Lisp data types do not exist in Emacs
5590 Lisp. Rational numbers and complex numbers are not present,
5591 nor are large integers (all integers are ``fixnums''). All
5592 arrays are one-dimensional. There are no readtables or pathnames;
5593 streams are a set of existing data types rather than a new data
5594 type of their own. Hash tables, random-states, structures, and
5595 packages (obarrays) are built from Lisp vectors or lists rather
5596 than being distinct types.
5597
5598 @item
5599 The Common Lisp Object System (CLOS) is not implemented,
5600 nor is the Common Lisp Condition System. However, the EIEIO package
5601 from @uref{ftp://ftp.ultranet.com/pub/zappo} does implement some
5602 CLOS functionality.
5603
5604 @item
5605 Common Lisp features that are completely redundant with Emacs
5606 Lisp features of a different name generally have not been
5607 implemented. For example, Common Lisp writes @code{defconstant}
5608 where Emacs Lisp uses @code{defconst}. Similarly, @code{make-list}
5609 takes its arguments in different ways in the two Lisps but does
5610 exactly the same thing, so this package has not bothered to
5611 implement a Common Lisp-style @code{make-list}.
5612
5613 @item
5614 A few more notable Common Lisp features not included in this
5615 package: @code{compiler-let}, @code{tagbody}, @code{prog},
5616 @code{ldb/dpb}, @code{parse-integer}, @code{cerror}.
5617
5618 @item
5619 Recursion. While recursion works in Emacs Lisp just like it
5620 does in Common Lisp, various details of the Emacs Lisp system
5621 and compiler make recursion much less efficient than it is in
5622 most Lisps. Some schools of thought prefer to use recursion
5623 in Lisp over other techniques; they would sum a list of
5624 numbers using something like
5625
5626 @example
5627 (defun sum-list (list)
5628 (if list
5629 (+ (car list) (sum-list (cdr list)))
5630 0))
5631 @end example
5632
5633 @noindent
5634 where a more iteratively-minded programmer might write one of
5635 these forms:
5636
5637 @example
5638 (let ((total 0)) (dolist (x my-list) (incf total x)) total)
5639 (loop for x in my-list sum x)
5640 @end example
5641
5642 While this would be mainly a stylistic choice in most Common Lisps,
5643 in Emacs Lisp you should be aware that the iterative forms are
5644 much faster than recursion. Also, Lisp programmers will want to
5645 note that the current Emacs Lisp compiler does not optimize tail
5646 recursion.
5647 @end itemize
5648
5649 @node Function Index, Variable Index, Porting Common Lisp, Top
5650 @unnumbered Function Index
5651
5652 @printindex fn
5653
5654 @node Variable Index, , Function Index, Top
5655 @unnumbered Variable Index
5656
5657 @printindex vr
5658
5659 @setchapternewpage odd
5660 @contents
5661 @bye