@c -*-texinfo-*-
@c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
-@c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+@c Copyright (C) 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999
+@c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions.
@setfilename ../info/lists
@node Lists, Sequences Arrays Vectors, Strings and Characters, Top
Lists in Lisp are not a primitive data type; they are built up from
@dfn{cons cells}. A cons cell is a data object that represents an
-ordered pair. It records two Lisp objects, one labeled as the @sc{car},
-and the other labeled as the @sc{cdr}. These names are traditional; see
-@ref{Cons Cell Type}. @sc{cdr} is pronounced ``could-er.''
-
- A list is a series of cons cells chained together, one cons cell per
-element of the list. By convention, the @sc{car}s of the cons cells are
-the elements of the list, and the @sc{cdr}s are used to chain the list:
-the @sc{cdr} of each cons cell is the following cons cell. The @sc{cdr}
-of the last cons cell is @code{nil}. This asymmetry between the
-@sc{car} and the @sc{cdr} is entirely a matter of convention; at the
+ordered pair. That is, it has two slots, and each slot @dfn{holds}, or
+@dfn{refers to}, some Lisp object. One slot is known as the @sc{car},
+and the other is known as the @sc{cdr}. (These names are traditional;
+see @ref{Cons Cell Type}.) @sc{cdr} is pronounced ``could-er.''
+
+ We say that ``the @sc{car} of this cons cell is'' whatever object
+its @sc{car} slot currently holds, and likewise for the @sc{cdr}.
+
+ A list is a series of cons cells ``chained together,'' so that each
+cell refers to the next one. There is one cons cell for each element of
+the list. By convention, the @sc{car}s of the cons cells hold the
+elements of the list, and the @sc{cdr}s are used to chain the list: the
+@sc{cdr} slot of each cons cell refers to the following cons cell. The
+@sc{cdr} of the last cons cell is @code{nil}. This asymmetry between
+the @sc{car} and the @sc{cdr} is entirely a matter of convention; at the
level of cons cells, the @sc{car} and @sc{cdr} slots have the same
characteristics.
@end example
Each pair of boxes represents a cons cell. Each box ``refers to'',
-``points to'' or ``contains'' a Lisp object. (These terms are
-synonymous.) The first box, which is the @sc{car} of the first cons
-cell, contains the symbol @code{tulip}. The arrow from the @sc{cdr} of
-the first cons cell to the second cons cell indicates that the @sc{cdr}
-of the first cons cell points to the second cons cell.
+``points to'' or ``holds'' a Lisp object. (These terms are
+synonymous.) The first box, which describes the @sc{car} of the first
+cons cell, contains the symbol @code{tulip}. The arrow from the
+@sc{cdr} box of the first cons cell to the second cons cell indicates
+that the @sc{cdr} of the first cons cell is the second cons cell.
The same list can be illustrated in a different sort of box notation
like this:
@cindex list elements
@defun car cons-cell
-This function returns the value pointed to by the first pointer of the
+This function returns the value referred to by the first slot of the
cons cell @var{cons-cell}. Expressed another way, this function
returns the @sc{car} of @var{cons-cell}.
@end defun
@defun cdr cons-cell
-This function returns the value pointed to by the second pointer of
+This function returns the value referred to by the second slot of
the cons cell @var{cons-cell}. Expressed another way, this function
returns the @sc{cdr} of @var{cons-cell}.
@end example
@end defun
+@tindex pop
+@defmac pop listname
+This macro is a way of examining the @sc{car} of a list,
+and taking it off the list, all at once. It is new in Emacs 21.
+
+It operates on the list which is stored in the symbol @var{listname}.
+It removes this element from the list by setting @var{listname}
+to the @sc{cdr} of its old value---but it also returns the @sc{car}
+of that list, which is the element being removed.
+
+@example
+x
+ @result{} (a b c)
+(pop x)
+ @result{} a
+x
+ @result{} (b c)
+@end example
+@end defmac
+
@defun nth n list
This function returns the @var{n}th element of @var{list}. Elements
are numbered starting with zero, so the @sc{car} of @var{list} is
@end defun
@defun safe-length list
-@tindex safe-length
This function returns the length of @var{list}, with no risk
of either an error or an infinite loop.
Functions}.
@defun caar cons-cell
-@tindex caar
This is the same as @code{(car (car @var{cons-cell}))}.
@end defun
@defun cadr cons-cell
-@tindex cadr
This is the same as @code{(car (cdr @var{cons-cell}))}
or @code{(nth 1 @var{cons-cell})}.
@end defun
@defun cdar cons-cell
-@tindex cdar
This is the same as @code{(cdr (car @var{cons-cell}))}.
@end defun
@defun cddr cons-cell
-@tindex cddr
This is the same as @code{(cdr (cdr @var{cons-cell}))}
or @code{(nthcdr 2 @var{cons-cell})}.
@end defun
any symbol can serve both purposes.
@end defun
+@tindex push
+@defmac push newelt listname
+This macro provides an alternative way to write
+@code{(setq @var{listname} (cons @var{newelt} @var{listname}))}.
+It is new in Emacs 21.
+@end defmac
+
@defun list &rest objects
This function creates a list with @var{objects} as its elements. The
resulting list is always @code{nil}-terminated. If no @var{objects}
``dotted list'' since its final @sc{cdr} is not @code{nil} as required
in a true list.
-Here is an example of using @code{append}:
+The @code{append} function also allows integers as arguments. It
+converts them to strings of digits, making up the decimal print
+representation of the integer, and then uses the strings instead of the
+original integers. @strong{Don't use this feature; we plan to eliminate
+it. If you already use this feature, change your programs now!} The
+proper way to convert an integer to a decimal number in this way is with
+@code{format} (@pxref{Formatting Strings}) or @code{number-to-string}
+(@pxref{String Conversion}).
+@end defun
+
+ Here is an example of using @code{append}:
@example
@group
@end group
@end example
-You can see how @code{append} works by looking at a box diagram. The
+ You can see how @code{append} works by looking at a box diagram. The
variable @code{trees} is set to the list @code{(pine oak)} and then the
variable @code{more-trees} is set to the list @code{(maple birch pine
oak)}. However, the variable @code{trees} continues to refer to the
@end group
@end smallexample
-An empty sequence contributes nothing to the value returned by
+ An empty sequence contributes nothing to the value returned by
@code{append}. As a consequence of this, a final @code{nil} argument
-forces a copy of the previous argument.
+forces a copy of the previous argument:
@example
@group
This once was the usual way to copy a list, before the function
@code{copy-sequence} was invented. @xref{Sequences Arrays Vectors}.
-Here we show the use of vectors and strings as arguments to @code{append}:
+ Here we show the use of vectors and strings as arguments to @code{append}:
@example
@group
@end group
@end example
-With the help of @code{apply} (@pxref{Calling Functions}), we can append
+ With the help of @code{apply} (@pxref{Calling Functions}), we can append
all the lists in a list of lists:
@example
@end group
@end example
-If no @var{sequences} are given, @code{nil} is returned:
+ If no @var{sequences} are given, @code{nil} is returned:
@example
@group
@end group
@end example
-Here are some examples where the final argument is not a list:
+ Here are some examples where the final argument is not a list:
@example
(append '(x y) 'z)
resulting list. Instead, the sequence becomes the final @sc{cdr}, like
any other non-list final argument.
-The @code{append} function also allows integers as arguments. It
-converts them to strings of digits, making up the decimal print
-representation of the integer, and then uses the strings instead of the
-original integers. @strong{Don't use this feature; we plan to eliminate
-it. If you already use this feature, change your programs now!} The
-proper way to convert an integer to a decimal number in this way is with
-@code{format} (@pxref{Formatting Strings}) or @code{number-to-string}
-(@pxref{String Conversion}).
-@end defun
-
@defun reverse list
This function creates a new list whose elements are the elements of
@var{list}, but in reverse order. The original argument @var{list} is
@node Modifying Lists
@section Modifying Existing List Structure
+@cindex destructive list operations
You can modify the @sc{car} and @sc{cdr} contents of a cons cell with the
-primitives @code{setcar} and @code{setcdr}.
+primitives @code{setcar} and @code{setcdr}. We call these ``destructive''
+operations because they change existing list structure.
@cindex CL note---@code{rplaca} vrs @code{setcar}
@quotation
@defun setcar cons object
This function stores @var{object} as the new @sc{car} of @var{cons},
-replacing its previous @sc{car}. It returns the value @var{object}.
-For example:
+replacing its previous @sc{car}. In other words, it changes the
+@sc{car} slot of @var{cons} to refer to @var{object}. It returns the
+value @var{object}. For example:
@example
@group
@defun setcdr cons object
This function stores @var{object} as the new @sc{cdr} of @var{cons},
-replacing its previous @sc{cdr}. It returns the value @var{object}.
+replacing its previous @sc{cdr}. In other words, it changes the
+@sc{cdr} slot of @var{cons} to refer to @var{object}. It returns the
+value @var{object}.
@end defun
Here is an example of replacing the @sc{cdr} of a list with a
You can delete elements from the middle of a list by altering the
@sc{cdr}s of the cons cells in the list. For example, here we delete
the second element, @code{b}, from the list @code{(a b c)}, by changing
-the @sc{cdr} of the first cell:
+the @sc{cdr} of the first cons cell:
@example
@group
Here are some functions that rearrange lists ``destructively'' by
modifying the @sc{cdr}s of their component cons cells. We call these
functions ``destructive'' because they chew up the original lists passed
-to them as arguments, to produce a new list that is the returned value.
+to them as arguments, relinking their cons cells to form a new list that
+is the returned value.
-@ifinfo
+@ifnottex
See @code{delq}, in @ref{Sets And Lists}, for another function
that modifies cons cells.
-@end ifinfo
+@end ifnottex
@iftex
The function @code{delq} in the following section is another example
of destructive list manipulation.
This function reverses the order of the elements of @var{list}.
Unlike @code{reverse}, @code{nreverse} alters its argument by reversing
the @sc{cdr}s in the cons cells forming the list. The cons cell that
-used to be the last one in @var{list} becomes the first cell of the
+used to be the last one in @var{list} becomes the first cons cell of the
value.
For example:
@result{} (4 3 2 1)
@end group
@group
-;; @r{The cell that was first is now last.}
+;; @r{The cons cell that was first is now last.}
x
@result{} (1)
@end group
An @dfn{association list}, or @dfn{alist} for short, records a mapping
from keys to values. It is a list of cons cells called
-@dfn{associations}: the @sc{car} of each cell is the @dfn{key}, and the
+@dfn{associations}: the @sc{car} of each cons cell is the @dfn{key}, and the
@sc{cdr} is the @dfn{associated value}.@footnote{This usage of ``key''
is not related to the term ``key sequence''; it means a value used to
look up an item in a table. In this case, the table is the alist, and
@end smallexample
@end defun
+@defun assoc-default key alist test default
+This function searches @var{alist} for a match for @var{key}. For each
+element of @var{alist}, it compares the element (if it is an atom) or
+the element's @sc{car} (if it is a cons) against @var{key}, by calling
+@var{test} with two arguments: the element or its @sc{car}, and
+@var{key}. The arguments are passed in that order so that you can get
+useful results using @code{string-match} with an alist that contains
+regular expressions (@pxref{Regexp Search}). If @var{test} is omitted
+or @code{nil}, @code{equal} is used for comparison.
+
+If an alist element matches @var{key} by this criterion,
+then @code{assoc-default} returns a value based on this element.
+If the element is a cons, then the value is the element's @sc{cdr}.
+Otherwise, the return value is @var{default}.
+
+If no alist element matches @var{key}, @code{assoc-default} returns
+@code{nil}.
+@end defun
+
@defun copy-alist alist
@cindex copying alists
This function returns a two-level deep copy of @var{alist}: it creates a
@end smallexample
@end defun
+@defun assoc-delete-all key alist
+@tindex assoc-delete-all
+This function deletes from @var{alist} all the elements whose @sc{car}
+is @var{key}. It returns the modified alist.
+@example
+(assoc-delete-all 'foo
+ '((foo 1) (bar 2) (foo 3) (lose 4)))
+ @result{} ((bar 2) (lose 4))
+@end example
+@end defun
HCoop / bpt / emacs.git / blobdiff