Merge from emacs-24; up to 2012-12-20T16:09:05Z!dmantipov@yandex.ru
[bpt/emacs.git] / doc / misc / cl.texi
1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @setfilename ../../info/cl
3 @settitle Common Lisp Extensions
4 @include emacsver.texi
5
6 @copying
7 This file documents the GNU Emacs Common Lisp emulation package.
8
9 Copyright @copyright{} 1993, 2001--2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10
11 @quotation
12 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
13 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
14 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
15 Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU Manual'',
16 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the license
17 is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
18
19 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have the freedom to copy and
20 modify this GNU manual.''
21 @end quotation
22 @end copying
23
24 @dircategory Emacs lisp libraries
25 @direntry
26 * CL: (cl). Partial Common Lisp support for Emacs Lisp.
27 @end direntry
28
29 @finalout
30
31 @titlepage
32 @sp 6
33 @center @titlefont{Common Lisp Extensions}
34 @sp 4
35 @center For GNU Emacs Lisp
36 @sp 1
37 @center as distributed with Emacs @value{EMACSVER}
38 @sp 5
39 @center Dave Gillespie
40 @center daveg@@synaptics.com
41 @page
42 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
43 @insertcopying
44 @end titlepage
45
46 @contents
47
48 @ifnottex
49 @node Top
50 @top GNU Emacs Common Lisp Emulation
51
52 @insertcopying
53 @end ifnottex
54
55 @menu
56 * Overview:: Basics, usage, organization, naming conventions.
57 * Program Structure:: Arglists, @code{cl-eval-when}.
58 * Predicates:: Type predicates and equality predicates.
59 * Control Structure:: Assignment, conditionals, blocks, looping.
60 * Macros:: Destructuring, compiler macros.
61 * Declarations:: @code{cl-proclaim}, @code{cl-declare}, etc.
62 * Symbols:: Property lists, creating symbols.
63 * Numbers:: Predicates, functions, random numbers.
64 * Sequences:: Mapping, functions, searching, sorting.
65 * Lists:: Functions, substitution, sets, associations.
66 * Structures:: @code{cl-defstruct}.
67 * Assertions:: Assertions and type checking.
68
69 Appendices
70 * Efficiency Concerns:: Hints and techniques.
71 * Common Lisp Compatibility:: All known differences with Steele.
72 * Porting Common Lisp:: Hints for porting Common Lisp code.
73 * Obsolete Features:: Obsolete features.
74 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation.
75
76 Indexes
77 * Function Index:: An entry for each documented function.
78 * Variable Index:: An entry for each documented variable.
79 @end menu
80
81 @node Overview
82 @chapter Overview
83
84 @noindent
85 This document describes a set of Emacs Lisp facilities borrowed from
86 Common Lisp. All the facilities are described here in detail. While
87 this document does not assume any prior knowledge of Common Lisp, it
88 does assume a basic familiarity with Emacs Lisp.
89
90 Common Lisp is a huge language, and Common Lisp systems tend to be
91 massive and extremely complex. Emacs Lisp, by contrast, is rather
92 minimalist in the choice of Lisp features it offers the programmer.
93 As Emacs Lisp programmers have grown in number, and the applications
94 they write have grown more ambitious, it has become clear that Emacs
95 Lisp could benefit from many of the conveniences of Common Lisp.
96
97 The @dfn{CL} package adds a number of Common Lisp functions and
98 control structures to Emacs Lisp. While not a 100% complete
99 implementation of Common Lisp, it adds enough functionality
100 to make Emacs Lisp programming significantly more convenient.
101
102 Some Common Lisp features have been omitted from this package
103 for various reasons:
104
105 @itemize @bullet
106 @item
107 Some features are too complex or bulky relative to their benefit
108 to Emacs Lisp programmers. CLOS and Common Lisp streams are fine
109 examples of this group. (The separate package EIEIO implements
110 a subset of CLOS functionality. @xref{Top, , Introduction, eieio, EIEIO}.)
111
112 @item
113 Other features cannot be implemented without modification to the
114 Emacs Lisp interpreter itself, such as multiple return values,
115 case-insensitive symbols, and complex numbers.
116 This package generally makes no attempt to emulate these features.
117
118 @end itemize
119
120 This package was originally written by Dave Gillespie,
121 @file{daveg@@synaptics.com}, as a total rewrite of an earlier 1986
122 @file{cl.el} package by Cesar Quiroz. Care has been taken to ensure
123 that each function is defined efficiently, concisely, and with minimal
124 impact on the rest of the Emacs environment. Stefan Monnier added the
125 file @file{cl-lib.el} and rationalized the namespace for Emacs 24.3.
126
127 @menu
128 * Usage:: How to use this package.
129 * Organization:: The package's component files.
130 * Naming Conventions:: Notes on function names.
131 @end menu
132
133 @node Usage
134 @section Usage
135
136 @noindent
137 This package is distributed with Emacs, so there is no need
138 to install any additional files in order to start using it. Lisp code
139 that uses features from this package should simply include at
140 the beginning:
141
142 @example
143 (require 'cl-lib)
144 @end example
145
146 @noindent
147 You may wish to add such a statement to your init file, if you
148 make frequent use of features from this package.
149
150 @node Organization
151 @section Organization
152
153 @noindent
154 The Common Lisp package is organized into four main files:
155
156 @table @file
157 @item cl-lib.el
158 This is the main file, which contains basic functions
159 and information about the package. This file is relatively compact.
160
161 @item cl-extra.el
162 This file contains the larger, more complex or unusual functions.
163 It is kept separate so that packages which only want to use Common
164 Lisp fundamentals like the @code{cl-incf} function won't need to pay
165 the overhead of loading the more advanced functions.
166
167 @item cl-seq.el
168 This file contains most of the advanced functions for operating
169 on sequences or lists, such as @code{cl-delete-if} and @code{cl-assoc}.
170
171 @item cl-macs.el
172 This file contains the features that are macros instead of functions.
173 Macros expand when the caller is compiled, not when it is run, so the
174 macros generally only need to be present when the byte-compiler is
175 running (or when the macros are used in uncompiled code). Most of the
176 macros of this package are isolated in @file{cl-macs.el} so that they
177 won't take up memory unless you are compiling.
178 @end table
179
180 The file @file{cl-lib.el} includes all necessary @code{autoload}
181 commands for the functions and macros in the other three files.
182 All you have to do is @code{(require 'cl-lib)}, and @file{cl-lib.el}
183 will take care of pulling in the other files when they are
184 needed.
185
186 There is another file, @file{cl.el}, which was the main entry point to
187 this package prior to Emacs 24.3. Nowadays, it is replaced by
188 @file{cl-lib.el}. The two provide the same features (in most cases),
189 but use different function names (in fact, @file{cl.el} mainly just
190 defines aliases to the @file{cl-lib.el} definitions). Where
191 @file{cl-lib.el} defines a function called, for example,
192 @code{cl-incf}, @file{cl.el} uses the same name but without the
193 @samp{cl-} prefix, e.g., @code{incf} in this example. There are a few
194 exceptions to this. First, functions such as @code{cl-defun} where
195 the unprefixed version was already used for a standard Emacs Lisp
196 function. In such cases, the @file{cl.el} version adds a @samp{*}
197 suffix, e.g., @code{defun*}. Second, there are some obsolete features
198 that are only implemented in @file{cl.el}, not in @file{cl-lib.el},
199 because they are replaced by other standard Emacs Lisp features.
200 Finally, in a very few cases the old @file{cl.el} versions do not
201 behave in exactly the same way as the @file{cl-lib.el} versions.
202 @xref{Obsolete Features}.
203 @c There is also cl-mapc, which was called cl-mapc even before cl-lib.el.
204 @c But not autoloaded, so maybe not much used?
205
206 Since the old @file{cl.el} does not use a clean namespace, Emacs has a
207 policy that packages distributed with Emacs must not load @code{cl} at
208 run time. (It is ok for them to load @code{cl} at @emph{compile}
209 time, with @code{eval-when-compile}, and use the macros it provides.)
210 There is no such restriction on the use of @code{cl-lib}. New code
211 should use @code{cl-lib} rather than @code{cl}.
212
213 There is one more file, @file{cl-compat.el}, which defines some
214 routines from the older Quiroz @file{cl.el} package that are not otherwise
215 present in the new package. This file is obsolete and should not be
216 used in new code.
217
218 @node Naming Conventions
219 @section Naming Conventions
220
221 @noindent
222 Except where noted, all functions defined by this package have the
223 same calling conventions as their Common Lisp counterparts, and
224 names that are those of Common Lisp plus a @samp{cl-} prefix.
225
226 Internal function and variable names in the package are prefixed
227 by @code{cl--}. Here is a complete list of functions prefixed by
228 @code{cl-} that were @emph{not} taken from Common Lisp:
229
230 @example
231 cl-callf cl-callf2 cl-defsubst
232 cl-letf cl-letf*
233 @end example
234
235 @c This is not uninteresting I suppose, but is of zero practical relevance
236 @c to the user, and seems like a hostage to changing implementation details.
237 The following simple functions and macros are defined in @file{cl-lib.el};
238 they do not cause other components like @file{cl-extra} to be loaded.
239
240 @example
241 cl-evenp cl-oddp cl-minusp
242 cl-plusp cl-endp cl-subst
243 cl-copy-list cl-list* cl-ldiff
244 cl-rest cl-decf [1] cl-incf [1]
245 cl-acons cl-adjoin [2] cl-pairlis
246 cl-pushnew [1,2] cl-declaim cl-proclaim
247 cl-caaar@dots{}cl-cddddr cl-first@dots{}cl-tenth
248 cl-mapcar [3]
249 @end example
250
251 @noindent
252 [1] Only when @var{place} is a plain variable name.
253
254 @noindent
255 [2] Only if @code{:test} is @code{eq}, @code{equal}, or unspecified,
256 and @code{:key} is not used.
257
258 @noindent
259 [3] Only for one sequence argument or two list arguments.
260
261 @node Program Structure
262 @chapter Program Structure
263
264 @noindent
265 This section describes features of this package that have to
266 do with programs as a whole: advanced argument lists for functions,
267 and the @code{cl-eval-when} construct.
268
269 @menu
270 * Argument Lists:: @code{&key}, @code{&aux}, @code{cl-defun}, @code{cl-defmacro}.
271 * Time of Evaluation:: The @code{cl-eval-when} construct.
272 @end menu
273
274 @node Argument Lists
275 @section Argument Lists
276
277 @noindent
278 Emacs Lisp's notation for argument lists of functions is a subset of
279 the Common Lisp notation. As well as the familiar @code{&optional}
280 and @code{&rest} markers, Common Lisp allows you to specify default
281 values for optional arguments, and it provides the additional markers
282 @code{&key} and @code{&aux}.
283
284 Since argument parsing is built-in to Emacs, there is no way for
285 this package to implement Common Lisp argument lists seamlessly.
286 Instead, this package defines alternates for several Lisp forms
287 which you must use if you need Common Lisp argument lists.
288
289 @defmac cl-defun name arglist body@dots{}
290 This form is identical to the regular @code{defun} form, except
291 that @var{arglist} is allowed to be a full Common Lisp argument
292 list. Also, the function body is enclosed in an implicit block
293 called @var{name}; @pxref{Blocks and Exits}.
294 @end defmac
295
296 @defmac cl-defsubst name arglist body@dots{}
297 This is just like @code{cl-defun}, except that the function that
298 is defined is automatically proclaimed @code{inline}, i.e.,
299 calls to it may be expanded into in-line code by the byte compiler.
300 This is analogous to the @code{defsubst} form;
301 @code{cl-defsubst} uses a different method (compiler macros) which
302 works in all versions of Emacs, and also generates somewhat more
303 @c For some examples,
304 @c see http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-devel/2012-11/msg00009.html
305 efficient inline expansions. In particular, @code{cl-defsubst}
306 arranges for the processing of keyword arguments, default values,
307 etc., to be done at compile-time whenever possible.
308 @end defmac
309
310 @defmac cl-defmacro name arglist body@dots{}
311 This is identical to the regular @code{defmacro} form,
312 except that @var{arglist} is allowed to be a full Common Lisp
313 argument list. The @code{&environment} keyword is supported as
314 described in Steele's book @cite{Common Lisp, the Language}.
315 The @code{&whole} keyword is supported only
316 within destructured lists (see below); top-level @code{&whole}
317 cannot be implemented with the current Emacs Lisp interpreter.
318 The macro expander body is enclosed in an implicit block called
319 @var{name}.
320 @end defmac
321
322 @defmac cl-function symbol-or-lambda
323 This is identical to the regular @code{function} form,
324 except that if the argument is a @code{lambda} form then that
325 form may use a full Common Lisp argument list.
326 @end defmac
327
328 Also, all forms (such as @code{cl-flet} and @code{cl-labels}) defined
329 in this package that include @var{arglist}s in their syntax allow
330 full Common Lisp argument lists.
331
332 Note that it is @emph{not} necessary to use @code{cl-defun} in
333 order to have access to most CL features in your function.
334 These features are always present; @code{cl-defun}'s only
335 difference from @code{defun} is its more flexible argument
336 lists and its implicit block.
337
338 The full form of a Common Lisp argument list is
339
340 @example
341 (@var{var}@dots{}
342 &optional (@var{var} @var{initform} @var{svar})@dots{}
343 &rest @var{var}
344 &key ((@var{keyword} @var{var}) @var{initform} @var{svar})@dots{}
345 &aux (@var{var} @var{initform})@dots{})
346 @end example
347
348 Each of the five argument list sections is optional. The @var{svar},
349 @var{initform}, and @var{keyword} parts are optional; if they are
350 omitted, then @samp{(@var{var})} may be written simply @samp{@var{var}}.
351
352 The first section consists of zero or more @dfn{required} arguments.
353 These arguments must always be specified in a call to the function;
354 there is no difference between Emacs Lisp and Common Lisp as far as
355 required arguments are concerned.
356
357 The second section consists of @dfn{optional} arguments. These
358 arguments may be specified in the function call; if they are not,
359 @var{initform} specifies the default value used for the argument.
360 (No @var{initform} means to use @code{nil} as the default.) The
361 @var{initform} is evaluated with the bindings for the preceding
362 arguments already established; @code{(a &optional (b (1+ a)))}
363 matches one or two arguments, with the second argument defaulting
364 to one plus the first argument. If the @var{svar} is specified,
365 it is an auxiliary variable which is bound to @code{t} if the optional
366 argument was specified, or to @code{nil} if the argument was omitted.
367 If you don't use an @var{svar}, then there will be no way for your
368 function to tell whether it was called with no argument, or with
369 the default value passed explicitly as an argument.
370
371 The third section consists of a single @dfn{rest} argument. If
372 more arguments were passed to the function than are accounted for
373 by the required and optional arguments, those extra arguments are
374 collected into a list and bound to the ``rest'' argument variable.
375 Common Lisp's @code{&rest} is equivalent to that of Emacs Lisp.
376 Common Lisp accepts @code{&body} as a synonym for @code{&rest} in
377 macro contexts; this package accepts it all the time.
378
379 The fourth section consists of @dfn{keyword} arguments. These
380 are optional arguments which are specified by name rather than
381 positionally in the argument list. For example,
382
383 @example
384 (cl-defun foo (a &optional b &key c d (e 17)))
385 @end example
386
387 @noindent
388 defines a function which may be called with one, two, or more
389 arguments. The first two arguments are bound to @code{a} and
390 @code{b} in the usual way. The remaining arguments must be
391 pairs of the form @code{:c}, @code{:d}, or @code{:e} followed
392 by the value to be bound to the corresponding argument variable.
393 (Symbols whose names begin with a colon are called @dfn{keywords},
394 and they are self-quoting in the same way as @code{nil} and
395 @code{t}.)
396
397 For example, the call @code{(foo 1 2 :d 3 :c 4)} sets the five
398 arguments to 1, 2, 4, 3, and 17, respectively. If the same keyword
399 appears more than once in the function call, the first occurrence
400 takes precedence over the later ones. Note that it is not possible
401 to specify keyword arguments without specifying the optional
402 argument @code{b} as well, since @code{(foo 1 :c 2)} would bind
403 @code{b} to the keyword @code{:c}, then signal an error because
404 @code{2} is not a valid keyword.
405
406 You can also explicitly specify the keyword argument; it need not be
407 simply the variable name prefixed with a colon. For example,
408
409 @example
410 (cl-defun bar (&key (a 1) ((baz b) 4)))
411 @end example
412
413 @noindent
414
415 specifies a keyword @code{:a} that sets the variable @code{a} with
416 default value 1, as well as a keyword @code{baz} that sets the
417 variable @code{b} with default value 4. In this case, because
418 @code{baz} is not self-quoting, you must quote it explicitly in the
419 function call, like this:
420
421 @example
422 (bar :a 10 'baz 42)
423 @end example
424
425 Ordinarily, it is an error to pass an unrecognized keyword to
426 a function, e.g., @code{(foo 1 2 :c 3 :goober 4)}. You can ask
427 Lisp to ignore unrecognized keywords, either by adding the
428 marker @code{&allow-other-keys} after the keyword section
429 of the argument list, or by specifying an @code{:allow-other-keys}
430 argument in the call whose value is non-@code{nil}. If the
431 function uses both @code{&rest} and @code{&key} at the same time,
432 the ``rest'' argument is bound to the keyword list as it appears
433 in the call. For example:
434
435 @example
436 (cl-defun find-thing (thing &rest rest &key need &allow-other-keys)
437 (or (apply 'cl-member thing thing-list :allow-other-keys t rest)
438 (if need (error "Thing not found"))))
439 @end example
440
441 @noindent
442 This function takes a @code{:need} keyword argument, but also
443 accepts other keyword arguments which are passed on to the
444 @code{cl-member} function. @code{allow-other-keys} is used to
445 keep both @code{find-thing} and @code{cl-member} from complaining
446 about each others' keywords in the arguments.
447
448 The fifth section of the argument list consists of @dfn{auxiliary
449 variables}. These are not really arguments at all, but simply
450 variables which are bound to @code{nil} or to the specified
451 @var{initforms} during execution of the function. There is no
452 difference between the following two functions, except for a
453 matter of stylistic taste:
454
455 @example
456 (cl-defun foo (a b &aux (c (+ a b)) d)
457 @var{body})
458
459 (cl-defun foo (a b)
460 (let ((c (+ a b)) d)
461 @var{body}))
462 @end example
463
464 Argument lists support @dfn{destructuring}. In Common Lisp,
465 destructuring is only allowed with @code{defmacro}; this package
466 allows it with @code{cl-defun} and other argument lists as well.
467 In destructuring, any argument variable (@var{var} in the above
468 example) can be replaced by a list of variables, or more generally,
469 a recursive argument list. The corresponding argument value must
470 be a list whose elements match this recursive argument list.
471 For example:
472
473 @example
474 (cl-defmacro dolist ((var listform &optional resultform)
475 &rest body)
476 @dots{})
477 @end example
478
479 This says that the first argument of @code{dolist} must be a list
480 of two or three items; if there are other arguments as well as this
481 list, they are stored in @code{body}. All features allowed in
482 regular argument lists are allowed in these recursive argument lists.
483 In addition, the clause @samp{&whole @var{var}} is allowed at the
484 front of a recursive argument list. It binds @var{var} to the
485 whole list being matched; thus @code{(&whole all a b)} matches
486 a list of two things, with @code{a} bound to the first thing,
487 @code{b} bound to the second thing, and @code{all} bound to the
488 list itself. (Common Lisp allows @code{&whole} in top-level
489 @code{defmacro} argument lists as well, but Emacs Lisp does not
490 support this usage.)
491
492 One last feature of destructuring is that the argument list may be
493 dotted, so that the argument list @code{(a b . c)} is functionally
494 equivalent to @code{(a b &rest c)}.
495
496 If the optimization quality @code{safety} is set to 0
497 (@pxref{Declarations}), error checking for wrong number of
498 arguments and invalid keyword arguments is disabled. By default,
499 argument lists are rigorously checked.
500
501 @node Time of Evaluation
502 @section Time of Evaluation
503
504 @noindent
505 Normally, the byte-compiler does not actually execute the forms in
506 a file it compiles. For example, if a file contains @code{(setq foo t)},
507 the act of compiling it will not actually set @code{foo} to @code{t}.
508 This is true even if the @code{setq} was a top-level form (i.e., not
509 enclosed in a @code{defun} or other form). Sometimes, though, you
510 would like to have certain top-level forms evaluated at compile-time.
511 For example, the compiler effectively evaluates @code{defmacro} forms
512 at compile-time so that later parts of the file can refer to the
513 macros that are defined.
514
515 @defmac cl-eval-when (situations@dots{}) forms@dots{}
516 This form controls when the body @var{forms} are evaluated.
517 The @var{situations} list may contain any set of the symbols
518 @code{compile}, @code{load}, and @code{eval} (or their long-winded
519 ANSI equivalents, @code{:compile-toplevel}, @code{:load-toplevel},
520 and @code{:execute}).
521
522 The @code{cl-eval-when} form is handled differently depending on
523 whether or not it is being compiled as a top-level form.
524 Specifically, it gets special treatment if it is being compiled
525 by a command such as @code{byte-compile-file} which compiles files
526 or buffers of code, and it appears either literally at the
527 top level of the file or inside a top-level @code{progn}.
528
529 For compiled top-level @code{cl-eval-when}s, the body @var{forms} are
530 executed at compile-time if @code{compile} is in the @var{situations}
531 list, and the @var{forms} are written out to the file (to be executed
532 at load-time) if @code{load} is in the @var{situations} list.
533
534 For non-compiled-top-level forms, only the @code{eval} situation is
535 relevant. (This includes forms executed by the interpreter, forms
536 compiled with @code{byte-compile} rather than @code{byte-compile-file},
537 and non-top-level forms.) The @code{cl-eval-when} acts like a
538 @code{progn} if @code{eval} is specified, and like @code{nil}
539 (ignoring the body @var{forms}) if not.
540
541 The rules become more subtle when @code{cl-eval-when}s are nested;
542 consult Steele (second edition) for the gruesome details (and
543 some gruesome examples).
544
545 Some simple examples:
546
547 @example
548 ;; Top-level forms in foo.el:
549 (cl-eval-when (compile) (setq foo1 'bar))
550 (cl-eval-when (load) (setq foo2 'bar))
551 (cl-eval-when (compile load) (setq foo3 'bar))
552 (cl-eval-when (eval) (setq foo4 'bar))
553 (cl-eval-when (eval compile) (setq foo5 'bar))
554 (cl-eval-when (eval load) (setq foo6 'bar))
555 (cl-eval-when (eval compile load) (setq foo7 'bar))
556 @end example
557
558 When @file{foo.el} is compiled, these variables will be set during
559 the compilation itself:
560
561 @example
562 foo1 foo3 foo5 foo7 ; `compile'
563 @end example
564
565 When @file{foo.elc} is loaded, these variables will be set:
566
567 @example
568 foo2 foo3 foo6 foo7 ; `load'
569 @end example
570
571 And if @file{foo.el} is loaded uncompiled, these variables will
572 be set:
573
574 @example
575 foo4 foo5 foo6 foo7 ; `eval'
576 @end example
577
578 If these seven @code{cl-eval-when}s had been, say, inside a @code{defun},
579 then the first three would have been equivalent to @code{nil} and the
580 last four would have been equivalent to the corresponding @code{setq}s.
581
582 Note that @code{(cl-eval-when (load eval) @dots{})} is equivalent
583 to @code{(progn @dots{})} in all contexts. The compiler treats
584 certain top-level forms, like @code{defmacro} (sort-of) and
585 @code{require}, as if they were wrapped in @code{(cl-eval-when
586 (compile load eval) @dots{})}.
587 @end defmac
588
589 Emacs includes two special forms related to @code{cl-eval-when}.
590 @xref{Eval During Compile,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
591 One of these, @code{eval-when-compile}, is not quite equivalent to
592 any @code{cl-eval-when} construct and is described below.
593
594 The other form, @code{(eval-and-compile @dots{})}, is exactly
595 equivalent to @samp{(cl-eval-when (compile load eval) @dots{})}.
596
597 @defmac eval-when-compile forms@dots{}
598 The @var{forms} are evaluated at compile-time; at execution time,
599 this form acts like a quoted constant of the resulting value. Used
600 at top-level, @code{eval-when-compile} is just like @samp{eval-when
601 (compile eval)}. In other contexts, @code{eval-when-compile}
602 allows code to be evaluated once at compile-time for efficiency
603 or other reasons.
604
605 This form is similar to the @samp{#.} syntax of true Common Lisp.
606 @end defmac
607
608 @defmac cl-load-time-value form
609 The @var{form} is evaluated at load-time; at execution time,
610 this form acts like a quoted constant of the resulting value.
611
612 Early Common Lisp had a @samp{#,} syntax that was similar to
613 this, but ANSI Common Lisp replaced it with @code{load-time-value}
614 and gave it more well-defined semantics.
615
616 In a compiled file, @code{cl-load-time-value} arranges for @var{form}
617 to be evaluated when the @file{.elc} file is loaded and then used
618 as if it were a quoted constant. In code compiled by
619 @code{byte-compile} rather than @code{byte-compile-file}, the
620 effect is identical to @code{eval-when-compile}. In uncompiled
621 code, both @code{eval-when-compile} and @code{cl-load-time-value}
622 act exactly like @code{progn}.
623
624 @example
625 (defun report ()
626 (insert "This function was executed on: "
627 (current-time-string)
628 ", compiled on: "
629 (eval-when-compile (current-time-string))
630 ;; or '#.(current-time-string) in real Common Lisp
631 ", and loaded on: "
632 (cl-load-time-value (current-time-string))))
633 @end example
634
635 @noindent
636 Byte-compiled, the above defun will result in the following code
637 (or its compiled equivalent, of course) in the @file{.elc} file:
638
639 @example
640 (setq --temp-- (current-time-string))
641 (defun report ()
642 (insert "This function was executed on: "
643 (current-time-string)
644 ", compiled on: "
645 '"Wed Oct 31 16:32:28 2012"
646 ", and loaded on: "
647 --temp--))
648 @end example
649 @end defmac
650
651 @node Predicates
652 @chapter Predicates
653
654 @noindent
655 This section describes functions for testing whether various
656 facts are true or false.
657
658 @menu
659 * Type Predicates:: @code{cl-typep}, @code{cl-deftype}, and @code{cl-coerce}.
660 * Equality Predicates:: @code{cl-equalp}.
661 @end menu
662
663 @node Type Predicates
664 @section Type Predicates
665
666 @defun cl-typep object type
667 Check if @var{object} is of type @var{type}, where @var{type} is a
668 (quoted) type name of the sort used by Common Lisp. For example,
669 @code{(cl-typep foo 'integer)} is equivalent to @code{(integerp foo)}.
670 @end defun
671
672 The @var{type} argument to the above function is either a symbol
673 or a list beginning with a symbol.
674
675 @itemize @bullet
676 @item
677 If the type name is a symbol, Emacs appends @samp{-p} to the
678 symbol name to form the name of a predicate function for testing
679 the type. (Built-in predicates whose names end in @samp{p} rather
680 than @samp{-p} are used when appropriate.)
681
682 @item
683 The type symbol @code{t} stands for the union of all types.
684 @code{(cl-typep @var{object} t)} is always true. Likewise, the
685 type symbol @code{nil} stands for nothing at all, and
686 @code{(cl-typep @var{object} nil)} is always false.
687
688 @item
689 The type symbol @code{null} represents the symbol @code{nil}.
690 Thus @code{(cl-typep @var{object} 'null)} is equivalent to
691 @code{(null @var{object})}.
692
693 @item
694 The type symbol @code{atom} represents all objects that are not cons
695 cells. Thus @code{(cl-typep @var{object} 'atom)} is equivalent to
696 @code{(atom @var{object})}.
697
698 @item
699 The type symbol @code{real} is a synonym for @code{number}, and
700 @code{fixnum} is a synonym for @code{integer}.
701
702 @item
703 The type symbols @code{character} and @code{string-char} match
704 integers in the range from 0 to 255.
705
706 @c No longer relevant, so covered by first item above (float -> floatp).
707 @ignore
708 @item
709 The type symbol @code{float} uses the @code{cl-floatp-safe} predicate
710 defined by this package rather than @code{floatp}, so it will work
711 correctly even in Emacs versions without floating-point support.
712 @end ignore
713
714 @item
715 The type list @code{(integer @var{low} @var{high})} represents all
716 integers between @var{low} and @var{high}, inclusive. Either bound
717 may be a list of a single integer to specify an exclusive limit,
718 or a @code{*} to specify no limit. The type @code{(integer * *)}
719 is thus equivalent to @code{integer}.
720
721 @item
722 Likewise, lists beginning with @code{float}, @code{real}, or
723 @code{number} represent numbers of that type falling in a particular
724 range.
725
726 @item
727 Lists beginning with @code{and}, @code{or}, and @code{not} form
728 combinations of types. For example, @code{(or integer (float 0 *))}
729 represents all objects that are integers or non-negative floats.
730
731 @item
732 Lists beginning with @code{member} or @code{cl-member} represent
733 objects @code{eql} to any of the following values. For example,
734 @code{(member 1 2 3 4)} is equivalent to @code{(integer 1 4)},
735 and @code{(member nil)} is equivalent to @code{null}.
736
737 @item
738 Lists of the form @code{(satisfies @var{predicate})} represent
739 all objects for which @var{predicate} returns true when called
740 with that object as an argument.
741 @end itemize
742
743 The following function and macro (not technically predicates) are
744 related to @code{cl-typep}.
745
746 @defun cl-coerce object type
747 This function attempts to convert @var{object} to the specified
748 @var{type}. If @var{object} is already of that type as determined by
749 @code{cl-typep}, it is simply returned. Otherwise, certain types of
750 conversions will be made: If @var{type} is any sequence type
751 (@code{string}, @code{list}, etc.)@: then @var{object} will be
752 converted to that type if possible. If @var{type} is
753 @code{character}, then strings of length one and symbols with
754 one-character names can be coerced. If @var{type} is @code{float},
755 then integers can be coerced in versions of Emacs that support
756 floats. In all other circumstances, @code{cl-coerce} signals an
757 error.
758 @end defun
759
760 @defmac cl-deftype name arglist forms@dots{}
761 This macro defines a new type called @var{name}. It is similar
762 to @code{defmacro} in many ways; when @var{name} is encountered
763 as a type name, the body @var{forms} are evaluated and should
764 return a type specifier that is equivalent to the type. The
765 @var{arglist} is a Common Lisp argument list of the sort accepted
766 by @code{cl-defmacro}. The type specifier @samp{(@var{name} @var{args}@dots{})}
767 is expanded by calling the expander with those arguments; the type
768 symbol @samp{@var{name}} is expanded by calling the expander with
769 no arguments. The @var{arglist} is processed the same as for
770 @code{cl-defmacro} except that optional arguments without explicit
771 defaults use @code{*} instead of @code{nil} as the ``default''
772 default. Some examples:
773
774 @example
775 (cl-deftype null () '(satisfies null)) ; predefined
776 (cl-deftype list () '(or null cons)) ; predefined
777 (cl-deftype unsigned-byte (&optional bits)
778 (list 'integer 0 (if (eq bits '*) bits (1- (lsh 1 bits)))))
779 (unsigned-byte 8) @equiv{} (integer 0 255)
780 (unsigned-byte) @equiv{} (integer 0 *)
781 unsigned-byte @equiv{} (integer 0 *)
782 @end example
783
784 @noindent
785 The last example shows how the Common Lisp @code{unsigned-byte}
786 type specifier could be implemented if desired; this package does
787 not implement @code{unsigned-byte} by default.
788 @end defmac
789
790 The @code{cl-typecase} (@pxref{Conditionals}) and @code{cl-check-type}
791 (@pxref{Assertions}) macros also use type names. The @code{cl-map},
792 @code{cl-concatenate}, and @code{cl-merge} functions take type-name
793 arguments to specify the type of sequence to return. @xref{Sequences}.
794
795 @node Equality Predicates
796 @section Equality Predicates
797
798 @noindent
799 This package defines the Common Lisp predicate @code{cl-equalp}.
800
801 @defun cl-equalp a b
802 This function is a more flexible version of @code{equal}. In
803 particular, it compares strings case-insensitively, and it compares
804 numbers without regard to type (so that @code{(cl-equalp 3 3.0)} is
805 true). Vectors and conses are compared recursively. All other
806 objects are compared as if by @code{equal}.
807
808 This function differs from Common Lisp @code{equalp} in several
809 respects. First, Common Lisp's @code{equalp} also compares
810 @emph{characters} case-insensitively, which would be impractical
811 in this package since Emacs does not distinguish between integers
812 and characters. In keeping with the idea that strings are less
813 vector-like in Emacs Lisp, this package's @code{cl-equalp} also will
814 not compare strings against vectors of integers.
815 @end defun
816
817 Also note that the Common Lisp functions @code{member} and @code{assoc}
818 use @code{eql} to compare elements, whereas Emacs Lisp follows the
819 MacLisp tradition and uses @code{equal} for these two functions.
820 The functions @code{cl-member} and @code{cl-assoc} use @code{eql},
821 as in Common Lisp. The standard Emacs Lisp functions @code{memq} and
822 @code{assq} use @code{eq}, and the standard @code{memql} uses @code{eql}.
823
824 @node Control Structure
825 @chapter Control Structure
826
827 @noindent
828 The features described in the following sections implement
829 various advanced control structures, including extensions to the
830 standard @code{setf} facility, and a number of looping and conditional
831 constructs.
832
833 @menu
834 * Assignment:: The @code{cl-psetq} form.
835 * Generalized Variables:: Extensions to generalized variables.
836 * Variable Bindings:: @code{cl-progv}, @code{cl-flet}, @code{cl-macrolet}.
837 * Conditionals:: @code{cl-case}, @code{cl-typecase}.
838 * Blocks and Exits:: @code{cl-block}, @code{cl-return}, @code{cl-return-from}.
839 * Iteration:: @code{cl-do}, @code{cl-dotimes}, @code{cl-dolist}, @code{cl-do-symbols}.
840 * Loop Facility:: The Common Lisp @code{loop} macro.
841 * Multiple Values:: @code{cl-values}, @code{cl-multiple-value-bind}, etc.
842 @end menu
843
844 @node Assignment
845 @section Assignment
846
847 @noindent
848 The @code{cl-psetq} form is just like @code{setq}, except that multiple
849 assignments are done in parallel rather than sequentially.
850
851 @defmac cl-psetq [symbol form]@dots{}
852 This special form (actually a macro) is used to assign to several
853 variables simultaneously. Given only one @var{symbol} and @var{form},
854 it has the same effect as @code{setq}. Given several @var{symbol}
855 and @var{form} pairs, it evaluates all the @var{form}s in advance
856 and then stores the corresponding variables afterwards.
857
858 @example
859 (setq x 2 y 3)
860 (setq x (+ x y) y (* x y))
861 x
862 @result{} 5
863 y ; @r{@code{y} was computed after @code{x} was set.}
864 @result{} 15
865 (setq x 2 y 3)
866 (cl-psetq x (+ x y) y (* x y))
867 x
868 @result{} 5
869 y ; @r{@code{y} was computed before @code{x} was set.}
870 @result{} 6
871 @end example
872
873 The simplest use of @code{cl-psetq} is @code{(cl-psetq x y y x)}, which
874 exchanges the values of two variables. (The @code{cl-rotatef} form
875 provides an even more convenient way to swap two variables;
876 @pxref{Modify Macros}.)
877
878 @code{cl-psetq} always returns @code{nil}.
879 @end defmac
880
881 @node Generalized Variables
882 @section Generalized Variables
883
884 A @dfn{generalized variable} or @dfn{place form} is one of the many
885 places in Lisp memory where values can be stored. The simplest place
886 form is a regular Lisp variable. But the @sc{car}s and @sc{cdr}s of lists,
887 elements of arrays, properties of symbols, and many other locations
888 are also places where Lisp values are stored. For basic information,
889 @pxref{Generalized Variables,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
890 This package provides several additional features related to
891 generalized variables.
892
893 @menu
894 * Setf Extensions:: Additional @code{setf} places.
895 * Modify Macros:: @code{cl-incf}, @code{cl-rotatef}, @code{cl-letf}, @code{cl-callf}, etc.
896 @end menu
897
898 @node Setf Extensions
899 @subsection Setf Extensions
900
901 Several standard (e.g., @code{car}) and Emacs-specific
902 (e.g., @code{window-point}) Lisp functions are @code{setf}-able by default.
903 This package defines @code{setf} handlers for several additional functions:
904
905 @itemize
906 @item
907 Functions from this package:
908 @example
909 cl-rest cl-subseq cl-get cl-getf
910 cl-caaar@dots{}cl-cddddr cl-first@dots{}cl-tenth
911 @end example
912
913 @noindent
914 Note that for @code{cl-getf} (as for @code{nthcdr}), the list argument
915 of the function must itself be a valid @var{place} form.
916
917 @item
918 General Emacs Lisp functions:
919 @example
920 buffer-file-name getenv
921 buffer-modified-p global-key-binding
922 buffer-name local-key-binding
923 buffer-string mark
924 buffer-substring mark-marker
925 current-buffer marker-position
926 current-case-table mouse-position
927 current-column point
928 current-global-map point-marker
929 current-input-mode point-max
930 current-local-map point-min
931 current-window-configuration read-mouse-position
932 default-file-modes screen-height
933 documentation-property screen-width
934 face-background selected-window
935 face-background-pixmap selected-screen
936 face-font selected-frame
937 face-foreground standard-case-table
938 face-underline-p syntax-table
939 file-modes visited-file-modtime
940 frame-height window-height
941 frame-parameters window-width
942 frame-visible-p x-get-secondary-selection
943 frame-width x-get-selection
944 get-register
945 @end example
946
947 Most of these have directly corresponding ``set'' functions, like
948 @code{use-local-map} for @code{current-local-map}, or @code{goto-char}
949 for @code{point}. A few, like @code{point-min}, expand to longer
950 sequences of code when they are used with @code{setf}
951 (@code{(narrow-to-region x (point-max))} in this case).
952
953 @item
954 A call of the form @code{(substring @var{subplace} @var{n} [@var{m}])},
955 where @var{subplace} is itself a valid generalized variable whose
956 current value is a string, and where the value stored is also a
957 string. The new string is spliced into the specified part of the
958 destination string. For example:
959
960 @example
961 (setq a (list "hello" "world"))
962 @result{} ("hello" "world")
963 (cadr a)
964 @result{} "world"
965 (substring (cadr a) 2 4)
966 @result{} "rl"
967 (setf (substring (cadr a) 2 4) "o")
968 @result{} "o"
969 (cadr a)
970 @result{} "wood"
971 a
972 @result{} ("hello" "wood")
973 @end example
974
975 The generalized variable @code{buffer-substring}, listed above,
976 also works in this way by replacing a portion of the current buffer.
977
978 @c FIXME? Also `eq'? (see cl-lib.el)
979
980 @c Currently commented out in cl.el.
981 @ignore
982 @item
983 A call of the form @code{(apply '@var{func} @dots{})} or
984 @code{(apply (function @var{func}) @dots{})}, where @var{func}
985 is a @code{setf}-able function whose store function is ``suitable''
986 in the sense described in Steele's book; since none of the standard
987 Emacs place functions are suitable in this sense, this feature is
988 only interesting when used with places you define yourself with
989 @code{define-setf-method} or the long form of @code{defsetf}.
990 @xref{Obsolete Setf Customization}.
991 @end ignore
992
993 @c FIXME? Is this still true?
994 @item
995 A macro call, in which case the macro is expanded and @code{setf}
996 is applied to the resulting form.
997 @end itemize
998
999 @c FIXME should this be in lispref? It seems self-evident.
1000 @c Contrast with the cl-incf example later on.
1001 @c Here it really only serves as a contrast to wrong-order.
1002 The @code{setf} macro takes care to evaluate all subforms in
1003 the proper left-to-right order; for example,
1004
1005 @example
1006 (setf (aref vec (cl-incf i)) i)
1007 @end example
1008
1009 @noindent
1010 looks like it will evaluate @code{(cl-incf i)} exactly once, before the
1011 following access to @code{i}; the @code{setf} expander will insert
1012 temporary variables as necessary to ensure that it does in fact work
1013 this way no matter what setf-method is defined for @code{aref}.
1014 (In this case, @code{aset} would be used and no such steps would
1015 be necessary since @code{aset} takes its arguments in a convenient
1016 order.)
1017
1018 However, if the @var{place} form is a macro which explicitly
1019 evaluates its arguments in an unusual order, this unusual order
1020 will be preserved. Adapting an example from Steele, given
1021
1022 @example
1023 (defmacro wrong-order (x y) (list 'aref y x))
1024 @end example
1025
1026 @noindent
1027 the form @code{(setf (wrong-order @var{a} @var{b}) 17)} will
1028 evaluate @var{b} first, then @var{a}, just as in an actual call
1029 to @code{wrong-order}.
1030
1031 @node Modify Macros
1032 @subsection Modify Macros
1033
1034 @noindent
1035 This package defines a number of macros that operate on generalized
1036 variables. Many are interesting and useful even when the @var{place}
1037 is just a variable name.
1038
1039 @defmac cl-psetf [place form]@dots{}
1040 This macro is to @code{setf} what @code{cl-psetq} is to @code{setq}:
1041 When several @var{place}s and @var{form}s are involved, the
1042 assignments take place in parallel rather than sequentially.
1043 Specifically, all subforms are evaluated from left to right, then
1044 all the assignments are done (in an undefined order).
1045 @end defmac
1046
1047 @defmac cl-incf place &optional x
1048 This macro increments the number stored in @var{place} by one, or
1049 by @var{x} if specified. The incremented value is returned. For
1050 example, @code{(cl-incf i)} is equivalent to @code{(setq i (1+ i))}, and
1051 @code{(cl-incf (car x) 2)} is equivalent to @code{(setcar x (+ (car x) 2))}.
1052
1053 As with @code{setf}, care is taken to preserve the ``apparent'' order
1054 of evaluation. For example,
1055
1056 @example
1057 (cl-incf (aref vec (cl-incf i)))
1058 @end example
1059
1060 @noindent
1061 appears to increment @code{i} once, then increment the element of
1062 @code{vec} addressed by @code{i}; this is indeed exactly what it
1063 does, which means the above form is @emph{not} equivalent to the
1064 ``obvious'' expansion,
1065
1066 @example
1067 (setf (aref vec (cl-incf i))
1068 (1+ (aref vec (cl-incf i)))) ; wrong!
1069 @end example
1070
1071 @noindent
1072 but rather to something more like
1073
1074 @example
1075 (let ((temp (cl-incf i)))
1076 (setf (aref vec temp) (1+ (aref vec temp))))
1077 @end example
1078
1079 @noindent
1080 Again, all of this is taken care of automatically by @code{cl-incf} and
1081 the other generalized-variable macros.
1082
1083 As a more Emacs-specific example of @code{cl-incf}, the expression
1084 @code{(cl-incf (point) @var{n})} is essentially equivalent to
1085 @code{(forward-char @var{n})}.
1086 @end defmac
1087
1088 @defmac cl-decf place &optional x
1089 This macro decrements the number stored in @var{place} by one, or
1090 by @var{x} if specified.
1091 @end defmac
1092
1093 @defmac cl-pushnew x place @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
1094 This macro inserts @var{x} at the front of the list stored in
1095 @var{place}, but only if @var{x} was not @code{eql} to any
1096 existing element of the list. The optional keyword arguments
1097 are interpreted in the same way as for @code{cl-adjoin}.
1098 @xref{Lists as Sets}.
1099 @end defmac
1100
1101 @defmac cl-shiftf place@dots{} newvalue
1102 This macro shifts the @var{place}s left by one, shifting in the
1103 value of @var{newvalue} (which may be any Lisp expression, not just
1104 a generalized variable), and returning the value shifted out of
1105 the first @var{place}. Thus, @code{(cl-shiftf @var{a} @var{b} @var{c}
1106 @var{d})} is equivalent to
1107
1108 @example
1109 (prog1
1110 @var{a}
1111 (cl-psetf @var{a} @var{b}
1112 @var{b} @var{c}
1113 @var{c} @var{d}))
1114 @end example
1115
1116 @noindent
1117 except that the subforms of @var{a}, @var{b}, and @var{c} are actually
1118 evaluated only once each and in the apparent order.
1119 @end defmac
1120
1121 @defmac cl-rotatef place@dots{}
1122 This macro rotates the @var{place}s left by one in circular fashion.
1123 Thus, @code{(cl-rotatef @var{a} @var{b} @var{c} @var{d})} is equivalent to
1124
1125 @example
1126 (cl-psetf @var{a} @var{b}
1127 @var{b} @var{c}
1128 @var{c} @var{d}
1129 @var{d} @var{a})
1130 @end example
1131
1132 @noindent
1133 except for the evaluation of subforms. @code{cl-rotatef} always
1134 returns @code{nil}. Note that @code{(cl-rotatef @var{a} @var{b})}
1135 conveniently exchanges @var{a} and @var{b}.
1136 @end defmac
1137
1138 The following macros were invented for this package; they have no
1139 analogues in Common Lisp.
1140
1141 @defmac cl-letf (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1142 This macro is analogous to @code{let}, but for generalized variables
1143 rather than just symbols. Each @var{binding} should be of the form
1144 @code{(@var{place} @var{value})}; the original contents of the
1145 @var{place}s are saved, the @var{value}s are stored in them, and
1146 then the body @var{form}s are executed. Afterwards, the @var{places}
1147 are set back to their original saved contents. This cleanup happens
1148 even if the @var{form}s exit irregularly due to a @code{throw} or an
1149 error.
1150
1151 For example,
1152
1153 @example
1154 (cl-letf (((point) (point-min))
1155 (a 17))
1156 @dots{})
1157 @end example
1158
1159 @noindent
1160 moves point in the current buffer to the beginning of the buffer,
1161 and also binds @code{a} to 17 (as if by a normal @code{let}, since
1162 @code{a} is just a regular variable). After the body exits, @code{a}
1163 is set back to its original value and point is moved back to its
1164 original position.
1165
1166 Note that @code{cl-letf} on @code{(point)} is not quite like a
1167 @code{save-excursion}, as the latter effectively saves a marker
1168 which tracks insertions and deletions in the buffer. Actually,
1169 a @code{cl-letf} of @code{(point-marker)} is much closer to this
1170 behavior. (@code{point} and @code{point-marker} are equivalent
1171 as @code{setf} places; each will accept either an integer or a
1172 marker as the stored value.)
1173
1174 Since generalized variables look like lists, @code{let}'s shorthand
1175 of using @samp{foo} for @samp{(foo nil)} as a @var{binding} would
1176 be ambiguous in @code{cl-letf} and is not allowed.
1177
1178 However, a @var{binding} specifier may be a one-element list
1179 @samp{(@var{place})}, which is similar to @samp{(@var{place}
1180 @var{place})}. In other words, the @var{place} is not disturbed
1181 on entry to the body, and the only effect of the @code{cl-letf} is
1182 to restore the original value of @var{place} afterwards.
1183 @c I suspect this may no longer be true; either way it's
1184 @c implementation detail and so not essential to document.
1185 @ignore
1186 (The redundant access-and-store suggested by the @code{(@var{place}
1187 @var{place})} example does not actually occur.)
1188 @end ignore
1189
1190 Note that in this case, and in fact almost every case, @var{place}
1191 must have a well-defined value outside the @code{cl-letf} body.
1192 There is essentially only one exception to this, which is @var{place}
1193 a plain variable with a specified @var{value} (such as @code{(a 17)}
1194 in the above example).
1195 @c See http://debbugs.gnu.org/12758
1196 @c Some or all of this was true for cl.el, but not for cl-lib.el.
1197 @ignore
1198 The only exceptions are plain variables and calls to
1199 @code{symbol-value} and @code{symbol-function}. If the symbol is not
1200 bound on entry, it is simply made unbound by @code{makunbound} or
1201 @code{fmakunbound} on exit.
1202 @end ignore
1203 @end defmac
1204
1205 @defmac cl-letf* (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1206 This macro is to @code{cl-letf} what @code{let*} is to @code{let}:
1207 It does the bindings in sequential rather than parallel order.
1208 @end defmac
1209
1210 @defmac cl-callf @var{function} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{}
1211 This is the ``generic'' modify macro. It calls @var{function},
1212 which should be an unquoted function name, macro name, or lambda.
1213 It passes @var{place} and @var{args} as arguments, and assigns the
1214 result back to @var{place}. For example, @code{(cl-incf @var{place}
1215 @var{n})} is the same as @code{(cl-callf + @var{place} @var{n})}.
1216 Some more examples:
1217
1218 @example
1219 (cl-callf abs my-number)
1220 (cl-callf concat (buffer-name) "<" (number-to-string n) ">")
1221 (cl-callf cl-union happy-people (list joe bob) :test 'same-person)
1222 @end example
1223
1224 Note again that @code{cl-callf} is an extension to standard Common Lisp.
1225 @end defmac
1226
1227 @defmac cl-callf2 @var{function} @var{arg1} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{}
1228 This macro is like @code{cl-callf}, except that @var{place} is
1229 the @emph{second} argument of @var{function} rather than the
1230 first. For example, @code{(push @var{x} @var{place})} is
1231 equivalent to @code{(cl-callf2 cons @var{x} @var{place})}.
1232 @end defmac
1233
1234 The @code{cl-callf} and @code{cl-callf2} macros serve as building
1235 blocks for other macros like @code{cl-incf}, and @code{cl-pushnew}.
1236 The @code{cl-letf} and @code{cl-letf*} macros are used in the processing
1237 of symbol macros; @pxref{Macro Bindings}.
1238
1239
1240 @node Variable Bindings
1241 @section Variable Bindings
1242
1243 @noindent
1244 These Lisp forms make bindings to variables and function names,
1245 analogous to Lisp's built-in @code{let} form.
1246
1247 @xref{Modify Macros}, for the @code{cl-letf} and @code{cl-letf*} forms which
1248 are also related to variable bindings.
1249
1250 @menu
1251 * Dynamic Bindings:: The @code{cl-progv} form.
1252 * Function Bindings:: @code{cl-flet} and @code{cl-labels}.
1253 * Macro Bindings:: @code{cl-macrolet} and @code{cl-symbol-macrolet}.
1254 @end menu
1255
1256 @node Dynamic Bindings
1257 @subsection Dynamic Bindings
1258
1259 @noindent
1260 The standard @code{let} form binds variables whose names are known
1261 at compile-time. The @code{cl-progv} form provides an easy way to
1262 bind variables whose names are computed at run-time.
1263
1264 @defmac cl-progv symbols values forms@dots{}
1265 This form establishes @code{let}-style variable bindings on a
1266 set of variables computed at run-time. The expressions
1267 @var{symbols} and @var{values} are evaluated, and must return lists
1268 of symbols and values, respectively. The symbols are bound to the
1269 corresponding values for the duration of the body @var{form}s.
1270 If @var{values} is shorter than @var{symbols}, the last few symbols
1271 are bound to @code{nil}.
1272 If @var{symbols} is shorter than @var{values}, the excess values
1273 are ignored.
1274 @end defmac
1275
1276 @node Function Bindings
1277 @subsection Function Bindings
1278
1279 @noindent
1280 These forms make @code{let}-like bindings to functions instead
1281 of variables.
1282
1283 @defmac cl-flet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1284 This form establishes @code{let}-style bindings on the function
1285 cells of symbols rather than on the value cells. Each @var{binding}
1286 must be a list of the form @samp{(@var{name} @var{arglist}
1287 @var{forms}@dots{})}, which defines a function exactly as if
1288 it were a @code{cl-defun} form. The function @var{name} is defined
1289 accordingly for the duration of the body of the @code{cl-flet}; then
1290 the old function definition, or lack thereof, is restored.
1291
1292 You can use @code{cl-flet} to disable or modify the behavior of
1293 functions (including Emacs primitives) in a temporary, localized fashion.
1294 (Compare this with the idea of advising functions.
1295 @xref{Advising Functions,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.)
1296
1297 The bindings are lexical in scope. This means that all references to
1298 the named functions must appear physically within the body of the
1299 @code{cl-flet} form.
1300
1301 Functions defined by @code{cl-flet} may use the full Common Lisp
1302 argument notation supported by @code{cl-defun}; also, the function
1303 body is enclosed in an implicit block as if by @code{cl-defun}.
1304 @xref{Program Structure}.
1305
1306 Note that the @file{cl.el} version of this macro behaves slightly
1307 differently. In particular, its binding is dynamic rather than
1308 lexical. @xref{Obsolete Macros}.
1309 @end defmac
1310
1311 @defmac cl-labels (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1312 The @code{cl-labels} form is like @code{cl-flet}, except that
1313 the function bindings can be recursive. The scoping is lexical,
1314 but you can only capture functions in closures if
1315 @code{lexical-binding} is @code{t}.
1316 @xref{Closures,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}, and
1317 @ref{Using Lexical Binding,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
1318
1319 Lexical scoping means that all references to the named
1320 functions must appear physically within the body of the
1321 @code{cl-labels} form. References may appear both in the body
1322 @var{forms} of @code{cl-labels} itself, and in the bodies of
1323 the functions themselves. Thus, @code{cl-labels} can define
1324 local recursive functions, or mutually-recursive sets of functions.
1325
1326 A ``reference'' to a function name is either a call to that
1327 function, or a use of its name quoted by @code{quote} or
1328 @code{function} to be passed on to, say, @code{mapcar}.
1329
1330 Note that the @file{cl.el} version of this macro behaves slightly
1331 differently. @xref{Obsolete Macros}.
1332 @end defmac
1333
1334 @node Macro Bindings
1335 @subsection Macro Bindings
1336
1337 @noindent
1338 These forms create local macros and ``symbol macros''.
1339
1340 @defmac cl-macrolet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1341 This form is analogous to @code{cl-flet}, but for macros instead of
1342 functions. Each @var{binding} is a list of the same form as the
1343 arguments to @code{cl-defmacro} (i.e., a macro name, argument list,
1344 and macro-expander forms). The macro is defined accordingly for
1345 use within the body of the @code{cl-macrolet}.
1346
1347 Because of the nature of macros, @code{cl-macrolet} is always lexically
1348 scoped. The @code{cl-macrolet} binding will
1349 affect only calls that appear physically within the body
1350 @var{forms}, possibly after expansion of other macros in the
1351 body.
1352 @end defmac
1353
1354 @defmac cl-symbol-macrolet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1355 This form creates @dfn{symbol macros}, which are macros that look
1356 like variable references rather than function calls. Each
1357 @var{binding} is a list @samp{(@var{var} @var{expansion})};
1358 any reference to @var{var} within the body @var{forms} is
1359 replaced by @var{expansion}.
1360
1361 @example
1362 (setq bar '(5 . 9))
1363 (cl-symbol-macrolet ((foo (car bar)))
1364 (cl-incf foo))
1365 bar
1366 @result{} (6 . 9)
1367 @end example
1368
1369 A @code{setq} of a symbol macro is treated the same as a @code{setf}.
1370 I.e., @code{(setq foo 4)} in the above would be equivalent to
1371 @code{(setf foo 4)}, which in turn expands to @code{(setf (car bar) 4)}.
1372
1373 Likewise, a @code{let} or @code{let*} binding a symbol macro is
1374 treated like a @code{cl-letf} or @code{cl-letf*}. This differs from true
1375 Common Lisp, where the rules of lexical scoping cause a @code{let}
1376 binding to shadow a @code{symbol-macrolet} binding. In this package,
1377 such shadowing does not occur, even when @code{lexical-binding} is
1378 @c See http://debbugs.gnu.org/12119
1379 @code{t}. (This behavior predates the addition of lexical binding to
1380 Emacs Lisp, and may change in future to respect @code{lexical-binding}.)
1381 At present in this package, only @code{lexical-let} and
1382 @code{lexical-let*} will shadow a symbol macro. @xref{Obsolete
1383 Lexical Binding}.
1384
1385 There is no analogue of @code{defmacro} for symbol macros; all symbol
1386 macros are local. A typical use of @code{cl-symbol-macrolet} is in the
1387 expansion of another macro:
1388
1389 @example
1390 (cl-defmacro my-dolist ((x list) &rest body)
1391 (let ((var (cl-gensym)))
1392 (list 'cl-loop 'for var 'on list 'do
1393 (cl-list* 'cl-symbol-macrolet
1394 (list (list x (list 'car var)))
1395 body))))
1396
1397 (setq mylist '(1 2 3 4))
1398 (my-dolist (x mylist) (cl-incf x))
1399 mylist
1400 @result{} (2 3 4 5)
1401 @end example
1402
1403 @noindent
1404 In this example, the @code{my-dolist} macro is similar to @code{dolist}
1405 (@pxref{Iteration}) except that the variable @code{x} becomes a true
1406 reference onto the elements of the list. The @code{my-dolist} call
1407 shown here expands to
1408
1409 @example
1410 (cl-loop for G1234 on mylist do
1411 (cl-symbol-macrolet ((x (car G1234)))
1412 (cl-incf x)))
1413 @end example
1414
1415 @noindent
1416 which in turn expands to
1417
1418 @example
1419 (cl-loop for G1234 on mylist do (cl-incf (car G1234)))
1420 @end example
1421
1422 @xref{Loop Facility}, for a description of the @code{cl-loop} macro.
1423 This package defines a nonstandard @code{in-ref} loop clause that
1424 works much like @code{my-dolist}.
1425 @end defmac
1426
1427 @node Conditionals
1428 @section Conditionals
1429
1430 @noindent
1431 These conditional forms augment Emacs Lisp's simple @code{if},
1432 @code{and}, @code{or}, and @code{cond} forms.
1433
1434 @defmac cl-case keyform clause@dots{}
1435 This macro evaluates @var{keyform}, then compares it with the key
1436 values listed in the various @var{clause}s. Whichever clause matches
1437 the key is executed; comparison is done by @code{eql}. If no clause
1438 matches, the @code{cl-case} form returns @code{nil}. The clauses are
1439 of the form
1440
1441 @example
1442 (@var{keylist} @var{body-forms}@dots{})
1443 @end example
1444
1445 @noindent
1446 where @var{keylist} is a list of key values. If there is exactly
1447 one value, and it is not a cons cell or the symbol @code{nil} or
1448 @code{t}, then it can be used by itself as a @var{keylist} without
1449 being enclosed in a list. All key values in the @code{cl-case} form
1450 must be distinct. The final clauses may use @code{t} in place of
1451 a @var{keylist} to indicate a default clause that should be taken
1452 if none of the other clauses match. (The symbol @code{otherwise}
1453 is also recognized in place of @code{t}. To make a clause that
1454 matches the actual symbol @code{t}, @code{nil}, or @code{otherwise},
1455 enclose the symbol in a list.)
1456
1457 For example, this expression reads a keystroke, then does one of
1458 four things depending on whether it is an @samp{a}, a @samp{b},
1459 a @key{RET} or @kbd{C-j}, or anything else.
1460
1461 @example
1462 (cl-case (read-char)
1463 (?a (do-a-thing))
1464 (?b (do-b-thing))
1465 ((?\r ?\n) (do-ret-thing))
1466 (t (do-other-thing)))
1467 @end example
1468 @end defmac
1469
1470 @defmac cl-ecase keyform clause@dots{}
1471 This macro is just like @code{cl-case}, except that if the key does
1472 not match any of the clauses, an error is signaled rather than
1473 simply returning @code{nil}.
1474 @end defmac
1475
1476 @defmac cl-typecase keyform clause@dots{}
1477 This macro is a version of @code{cl-case} that checks for types
1478 rather than values. Each @var{clause} is of the form
1479 @samp{(@var{type} @var{body}@dots{})}. @xref{Type Predicates},
1480 for a description of type specifiers. For example,
1481
1482 @example
1483 (cl-typecase x
1484 (integer (munch-integer x))
1485 (float (munch-float x))
1486 (string (munch-integer (string-to-int x)))
1487 (t (munch-anything x)))
1488 @end example
1489
1490 The type specifier @code{t} matches any type of object; the word
1491 @code{otherwise} is also allowed. To make one clause match any of
1492 several types, use an @code{(or @dots{})} type specifier.
1493 @end defmac
1494
1495 @defmac cl-etypecase keyform clause@dots{}
1496 This macro is just like @code{cl-typecase}, except that if the key does
1497 not match any of the clauses, an error is signaled rather than
1498 simply returning @code{nil}.
1499 @end defmac
1500
1501 @node Blocks and Exits
1502 @section Blocks and Exits
1503
1504 @noindent
1505 Common Lisp @dfn{blocks} provide a non-local exit mechanism very
1506 similar to @code{catch} and @code{throw}, with lexical scoping.
1507 This package actually implements @code{cl-block}
1508 in terms of @code{catch}; however, the lexical scoping allows the
1509 byte-compiler to omit the costly @code{catch} step if the
1510 body of the block does not actually @code{cl-return-from} the block.
1511
1512 @defmac cl-block name forms@dots{}
1513 The @var{forms} are evaluated as if by a @code{progn}. However,
1514 if any of the @var{forms} execute @code{(cl-return-from @var{name})},
1515 they will jump out and return directly from the @code{cl-block} form.
1516 The @code{cl-block} returns the result of the last @var{form} unless
1517 a @code{cl-return-from} occurs.
1518
1519 The @code{cl-block}/@code{cl-return-from} mechanism is quite similar to
1520 the @code{catch}/@code{throw} mechanism. The main differences are
1521 that block @var{name}s are unevaluated symbols, rather than forms
1522 (such as quoted symbols) that evaluate to a tag at run-time; and
1523 also that blocks are always lexically scoped.
1524 In a dynamically scoped @code{catch}, functions called from the
1525 @code{catch} body can also @code{throw} to the @code{catch}. This
1526 is not an option for @code{cl-block}, where
1527 the @code{cl-return-from} referring to a block name must appear
1528 physically within the @var{forms} that make up the body of the block.
1529 They may not appear within other called functions, although they may
1530 appear within macro expansions or @code{lambda}s in the body. Block
1531 names and @code{catch} names form independent name-spaces.
1532
1533 In true Common Lisp, @code{defun} and @code{defmacro} surround
1534 the function or expander bodies with implicit blocks with the
1535 same name as the function or macro. This does not occur in Emacs
1536 Lisp, but this package provides @code{cl-defun} and @code{cl-defmacro}
1537 forms, which do create the implicit block.
1538
1539 The Common Lisp looping constructs defined by this package,
1540 such as @code{cl-loop} and @code{cl-dolist}, also create implicit blocks
1541 just as in Common Lisp.
1542
1543 Because they are implemented in terms of Emacs Lisp's @code{catch}
1544 and @code{throw}, blocks have the same overhead as actual
1545 @code{catch} constructs (roughly two function calls). However,
1546 the byte compiler will optimize away the @code{catch}
1547 if the block does
1548 not in fact contain any @code{cl-return} or @code{cl-return-from} calls
1549 that jump to it. This means that @code{cl-do} loops and @code{cl-defun}
1550 functions that don't use @code{cl-return} don't pay the overhead to
1551 support it.
1552 @end defmac
1553
1554 @defmac cl-return-from name [result]
1555 This macro returns from the block named @var{name}, which must be
1556 an (unevaluated) symbol. If a @var{result} form is specified, it
1557 is evaluated to produce the result returned from the @code{block}.
1558 Otherwise, @code{nil} is returned.
1559 @end defmac
1560
1561 @defmac cl-return [result]
1562 This macro is exactly like @code{(cl-return-from nil @var{result})}.
1563 Common Lisp loops like @code{cl-do} and @code{cl-dolist} implicitly enclose
1564 themselves in @code{nil} blocks.
1565 @end defmac
1566
1567 @node Iteration
1568 @section Iteration
1569
1570 @noindent
1571 The macros described here provide more sophisticated, high-level
1572 looping constructs to complement Emacs Lisp's basic loop forms
1573 (@pxref{Iteration,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}).
1574
1575 @defmac cl-loop forms@dots{}
1576 This package supports both the simple, old-style meaning of
1577 @code{loop} and the extremely powerful and flexible feature known as
1578 the @dfn{Loop Facility} or @dfn{Loop Macro}. This more advanced
1579 facility is discussed in the following section; @pxref{Loop Facility}.
1580 The simple form of @code{loop} is described here.
1581
1582 If @code{cl-loop} is followed by zero or more Lisp expressions,
1583 then @code{(cl-loop @var{exprs}@dots{})} simply creates an infinite
1584 loop executing the expressions over and over. The loop is
1585 enclosed in an implicit @code{nil} block. Thus,
1586
1587 @example
1588 (cl-loop (foo) (if (no-more) (return 72)) (bar))
1589 @end example
1590
1591 @noindent
1592 is exactly equivalent to
1593
1594 @example
1595 (cl-block nil (while t (foo) (if (no-more) (return 72)) (bar)))
1596 @end example
1597
1598 If any of the expressions are plain symbols, the loop is instead
1599 interpreted as a Loop Macro specification as described later.
1600 (This is not a restriction in practice, since a plain symbol
1601 in the above notation would simply access and throw away the
1602 value of a variable.)
1603 @end defmac
1604
1605 @defmac cl-do (spec@dots{}) (end-test [result@dots{}]) forms@dots{}
1606 This macro creates a general iterative loop. Each @var{spec} is
1607 of the form
1608
1609 @example
1610 (@var{var} [@var{init} [@var{step}]])
1611 @end example
1612
1613 The loop works as follows: First, each @var{var} is bound to the
1614 associated @var{init} value as if by a @code{let} form. Then, in
1615 each iteration of the loop, the @var{end-test} is evaluated; if
1616 true, the loop is finished. Otherwise, the body @var{forms} are
1617 evaluated, then each @var{var} is set to the associated @var{step}
1618 expression (as if by a @code{cl-psetq} form) and the next iteration
1619 begins. Once the @var{end-test} becomes true, the @var{result}
1620 forms are evaluated (with the @var{var}s still bound to their
1621 values) to produce the result returned by @code{cl-do}.
1622
1623 The entire @code{cl-do} loop is enclosed in an implicit @code{nil}
1624 block, so that you can use @code{(cl-return)} to break out of the
1625 loop at any time.
1626
1627 If there are no @var{result} forms, the loop returns @code{nil}.
1628 If a given @var{var} has no @var{step} form, it is bound to its
1629 @var{init} value but not otherwise modified during the @code{cl-do}
1630 loop (unless the code explicitly modifies it); this case is just
1631 a shorthand for putting a @code{(let ((@var{var} @var{init})) @dots{})}
1632 around the loop. If @var{init} is also omitted it defaults to
1633 @code{nil}, and in this case a plain @samp{@var{var}} can be used
1634 in place of @samp{(@var{var})}, again following the analogy with
1635 @code{let}.
1636
1637 This example (from Steele) illustrates a loop that applies the
1638 function @code{f} to successive pairs of values from the lists
1639 @code{foo} and @code{bar}; it is equivalent to the call
1640 @code{(cl-mapcar 'f foo bar)}. Note that this loop has no body
1641 @var{forms} at all, performing all its work as side effects of
1642 the rest of the loop.
1643
1644 @example
1645 (cl-do ((x foo (cdr x))
1646 (y bar (cdr y))
1647 (z nil (cons (f (car x) (car y)) z)))
1648 ((or (null x) (null y))
1649 (nreverse z)))
1650 @end example
1651 @end defmac
1652
1653 @defmac cl-do* (spec@dots{}) (end-test [result@dots{}]) forms@dots{}
1654 This is to @code{cl-do} what @code{let*} is to @code{let}. In
1655 particular, the initial values are bound as if by @code{let*}
1656 rather than @code{let}, and the steps are assigned as if by
1657 @code{setq} rather than @code{cl-psetq}.
1658
1659 Here is another way to write the above loop:
1660
1661 @example
1662 (cl-do* ((xp foo (cdr xp))
1663 (yp bar (cdr yp))
1664 (x (car xp) (car xp))
1665 (y (car yp) (car yp))
1666 z)
1667 ((or (null xp) (null yp))
1668 (nreverse z))
1669 (push (f x y) z))
1670 @end example
1671 @end defmac
1672
1673 @defmac cl-dolist (var list [result]) forms@dots{}
1674 This is exactly like the standard Emacs Lisp macro @code{dolist},
1675 but surrounds the loop with an implicit @code{nil} block.
1676 @end defmac
1677
1678 @defmac cl-dotimes (var count [result]) forms@dots{}
1679 This is exactly like the standard Emacs Lisp macro @code{dotimes},
1680 but surrounds the loop with an implicit @code{nil} block.
1681 The body is executed with @var{var} bound to the integers
1682 from zero (inclusive) to @var{count} (exclusive), in turn. Then
1683 @c FIXME lispref does not state this part explicitly, could move this there.
1684 the @code{result} form is evaluated with @var{var} bound to the total
1685 number of iterations that were done (i.e., @code{(max 0 @var{count})})
1686 to get the return value for the loop form.
1687 @end defmac
1688
1689 @defmac cl-do-symbols (var [obarray [result]]) forms@dots{}
1690 This loop iterates over all interned symbols. If @var{obarray}
1691 is specified and is not @code{nil}, it loops over all symbols in
1692 that obarray. For each symbol, the body @var{forms} are evaluated
1693 with @var{var} bound to that symbol. The symbols are visited in
1694 an unspecified order. Afterward the @var{result} form, if any,
1695 is evaluated (with @var{var} bound to @code{nil}) to get the return
1696 value. The loop is surrounded by an implicit @code{nil} block.
1697 @end defmac
1698
1699 @defmac cl-do-all-symbols (var [result]) forms@dots{}
1700 This is identical to @code{cl-do-symbols} except that the @var{obarray}
1701 argument is omitted; it always iterates over the default obarray.
1702 @end defmac
1703
1704 @xref{Mapping over Sequences}, for some more functions for
1705 iterating over vectors or lists.
1706
1707 @node Loop Facility
1708 @section Loop Facility
1709
1710 @noindent
1711 A common complaint with Lisp's traditional looping constructs was
1712 that they were either too simple and limited, such as @code{dotimes}
1713 or @code{while}, or too unreadable and obscure, like Common Lisp's
1714 @code{do} loop.
1715
1716 To remedy this, Common Lisp added a construct called the ``Loop
1717 Facility'' or ``@code{loop} macro'', with an easy-to-use but very
1718 powerful and expressive syntax.
1719
1720 @menu
1721 * Loop Basics:: The @code{cl-loop} macro, basic clause structure.
1722 * Loop Examples:: Working examples of the @code{cl-loop} macro.
1723 * For Clauses:: Clauses introduced by @code{for} or @code{as}.
1724 * Iteration Clauses:: @code{repeat}, @code{while}, @code{thereis}, etc.
1725 * Accumulation Clauses:: @code{collect}, @code{sum}, @code{maximize}, etc.
1726 * Other Clauses:: @code{with}, @code{if}, @code{initially}, @code{finally}.
1727 @end menu
1728
1729 @node Loop Basics
1730 @subsection Loop Basics
1731
1732 @noindent
1733 The @code{cl-loop} macro essentially creates a mini-language within
1734 Lisp that is specially tailored for describing loops. While this
1735 language is a little strange-looking by the standards of regular Lisp,
1736 it turns out to be very easy to learn and well-suited to its purpose.
1737
1738 Since @code{cl-loop} is a macro, all parsing of the loop language
1739 takes place at byte-compile time; compiled @code{cl-loop}s are just
1740 as efficient as the equivalent @code{while} loops written longhand.
1741
1742 @defmac cl-loop clauses@dots{}
1743 A loop construct consists of a series of @var{clause}s, each
1744 introduced by a symbol like @code{for} or @code{do}. Clauses
1745 are simply strung together in the argument list of @code{cl-loop},
1746 with minimal extra parentheses. The various types of clauses
1747 specify initializations, such as the binding of temporary
1748 variables, actions to be taken in the loop, stepping actions,
1749 and final cleanup.
1750
1751 Common Lisp specifies a certain general order of clauses in a
1752 loop:
1753
1754 @example
1755 (loop @var{name-clause}
1756 @var{var-clauses}@dots{}
1757 @var{action-clauses}@dots{})
1758 @end example
1759
1760 The @var{name-clause} optionally gives a name to the implicit
1761 block that surrounds the loop. By default, the implicit block
1762 is named @code{nil}. The @var{var-clauses} specify what
1763 variables should be bound during the loop, and how they should
1764 be modified or iterated throughout the course of the loop. The
1765 @var{action-clauses} are things to be done during the loop, such
1766 as computing, collecting, and returning values.
1767
1768 The Emacs version of the @code{cl-loop} macro is less restrictive about
1769 the order of clauses, but things will behave most predictably if
1770 you put the variable-binding clauses @code{with}, @code{for}, and
1771 @code{repeat} before the action clauses. As in Common Lisp,
1772 @code{initially} and @code{finally} clauses can go anywhere.
1773
1774 Loops generally return @code{nil} by default, but you can cause
1775 them to return a value by using an accumulation clause like
1776 @code{collect}, an end-test clause like @code{always}, or an
1777 explicit @code{return} clause to jump out of the implicit block.
1778 (Because the loop body is enclosed in an implicit block, you can
1779 also use regular Lisp @code{cl-return} or @code{cl-return-from} to
1780 break out of the loop.)
1781 @end defmac
1782
1783 The following sections give some examples of the loop macro in
1784 action, and describe the particular loop clauses in great detail.
1785 Consult the second edition of Steele for additional discussion
1786 and examples.
1787
1788 @node Loop Examples
1789 @subsection Loop Examples
1790
1791 @noindent
1792 Before listing the full set of clauses that are allowed, let's
1793 look at a few example loops just to get a feel for the @code{cl-loop}
1794 language.
1795
1796 @example
1797 (cl-loop for buf in (buffer-list)
1798 collect (buffer-file-name buf))
1799 @end example
1800
1801 @noindent
1802 This loop iterates over all Emacs buffers, using the list
1803 returned by @code{buffer-list}. For each buffer @var{buf},
1804 it calls @code{buffer-file-name} and collects the results into
1805 a list, which is then returned from the @code{cl-loop} construct.
1806 The result is a list of the file names of all the buffers in
1807 Emacs's memory. The words @code{for}, @code{in}, and @code{collect}
1808 are reserved words in the @code{cl-loop} language.
1809
1810 @example
1811 (cl-loop repeat 20 do (insert "Yowsa\n"))
1812 @end example
1813
1814 @noindent
1815 This loop inserts the phrase ``Yowsa'' twenty times in the
1816 current buffer.
1817
1818 @example
1819 (cl-loop until (eobp) do (munch-line) (forward-line 1))
1820 @end example
1821
1822 @noindent
1823 This loop calls @code{munch-line} on every line until the end
1824 of the buffer. If point is already at the end of the buffer,
1825 the loop exits immediately.
1826
1827 @example
1828 (cl-loop do (munch-line) until (eobp) do (forward-line 1))
1829 @end example
1830
1831 @noindent
1832 This loop is similar to the above one, except that @code{munch-line}
1833 is always called at least once.
1834
1835 @example
1836 (cl-loop for x from 1 to 100
1837 for y = (* x x)
1838 until (>= y 729)
1839 finally return (list x (= y 729)))
1840 @end example
1841
1842 @noindent
1843 This more complicated loop searches for a number @code{x} whose
1844 square is 729. For safety's sake it only examines @code{x}
1845 values up to 100; dropping the phrase @samp{to 100} would
1846 cause the loop to count upwards with no limit. The second
1847 @code{for} clause defines @code{y} to be the square of @code{x}
1848 within the loop; the expression after the @code{=} sign is
1849 reevaluated each time through the loop. The @code{until}
1850 clause gives a condition for terminating the loop, and the
1851 @code{finally} clause says what to do when the loop finishes.
1852 (This particular example was written less concisely than it
1853 could have been, just for the sake of illustration.)
1854
1855 Note that even though this loop contains three clauses (two
1856 @code{for}s and an @code{until}) that would have been enough to
1857 define loops all by themselves, it still creates a single loop
1858 rather than some sort of triple-nested loop. You must explicitly
1859 nest your @code{cl-loop} constructs if you want nested loops.
1860
1861 @node For Clauses
1862 @subsection For Clauses
1863
1864 @noindent
1865 Most loops are governed by one or more @code{for} clauses.
1866 A @code{for} clause simultaneously describes variables to be
1867 bound, how those variables are to be stepped during the loop,
1868 and usually an end condition based on those variables.
1869
1870 The word @code{as} is a synonym for the word @code{for}. This
1871 word is followed by a variable name, then a word like @code{from}
1872 or @code{across} that describes the kind of iteration desired.
1873 In Common Lisp, the phrase @code{being the} sometimes precedes
1874 the type of iteration; in this package both @code{being} and
1875 @code{the} are optional. The word @code{each} is a synonym
1876 for @code{the}, and the word that follows it may be singular
1877 or plural: @samp{for x being the elements of y} or
1878 @samp{for x being each element of y}. Which form you use
1879 is purely a matter of style.
1880
1881 The variable is bound around the loop as if by @code{let}:
1882
1883 @example
1884 (setq i 'happy)
1885 (cl-loop for i from 1 to 10 do (do-something-with i))
1886 i
1887 @result{} happy
1888 @end example
1889
1890 @table @code
1891 @item for @var{var} from @var{expr1} to @var{expr2} by @var{expr3}
1892 This type of @code{for} clause creates a counting loop. Each of
1893 the three sub-terms is optional, though there must be at least one
1894 term so that the clause is marked as a counting clause.
1895
1896 The three expressions are the starting value, the ending value, and
1897 the step value, respectively, of the variable. The loop counts
1898 upwards by default (@var{expr3} must be positive), from @var{expr1}
1899 to @var{expr2} inclusively. If you omit the @code{from} term, the
1900 loop counts from zero; if you omit the @code{to} term, the loop
1901 counts forever without stopping (unless stopped by some other
1902 loop clause, of course); if you omit the @code{by} term, the loop
1903 counts in steps of one.
1904
1905 You can replace the word @code{from} with @code{upfrom} or
1906 @code{downfrom} to indicate the direction of the loop. Likewise,
1907 you can replace @code{to} with @code{upto} or @code{downto}.
1908 For example, @samp{for x from 5 downto 1} executes five times
1909 with @code{x} taking on the integers from 5 down to 1 in turn.
1910 Also, you can replace @code{to} with @code{below} or @code{above},
1911 which are like @code{upto} and @code{downto} respectively except
1912 that they are exclusive rather than inclusive limits:
1913
1914 @example
1915 (cl-loop for x to 10 collect x)
1916 @result{} (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10)
1917 (cl-loop for x below 10 collect x)
1918 @result{} (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9)
1919 @end example
1920
1921 The @code{by} value is always positive, even for downward-counting
1922 loops. Some sort of @code{from} value is required for downward
1923 loops; @samp{for x downto 5} is not a valid loop clause all by
1924 itself.
1925
1926 @item for @var{var} in @var{list} by @var{function}
1927 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the elements of @var{list},
1928 in turn. If you specify the @code{by} term, then @var{function}
1929 is used to traverse the list instead of @code{cdr}; it must be a
1930 function taking one argument. For example:
1931
1932 @example
1933 (cl-loop for x in '(1 2 3 4 5 6) collect (* x x))
1934 @result{} (1 4 9 16 25 36)
1935 (cl-loop for x in '(1 2 3 4 5 6) by 'cddr collect (* x x))
1936 @result{} (1 9 25)
1937 @end example
1938
1939 @item for @var{var} on @var{list} by @var{function}
1940 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the cons cells of @var{list}.
1941
1942 @example
1943 (cl-loop for x on '(1 2 3 4) collect x)
1944 @result{} ((1 2 3 4) (2 3 4) (3 4) (4))
1945 @end example
1946
1947 With @code{by}, there is no real reason that the @code{on} expression
1948 must be a list. For example:
1949
1950 @example
1951 (cl-loop for x on first-animal by 'next-animal collect x)
1952 @end example
1953
1954 @noindent
1955 where @code{(next-animal x)} takes an ``animal'' @var{x} and returns
1956 the next in the (assumed) sequence of animals, or @code{nil} if
1957 @var{x} was the last animal in the sequence.
1958
1959 @item for @var{var} in-ref @var{list} by @var{function}
1960 This is like a regular @code{in} clause, but @var{var} becomes
1961 a @code{setf}-able ``reference'' onto the elements of the list
1962 rather than just a temporary variable. For example,
1963
1964 @example
1965 (cl-loop for x in-ref my-list do (cl-incf x))
1966 @end example
1967
1968 @noindent
1969 increments every element of @code{my-list} in place. This clause
1970 is an extension to standard Common Lisp.
1971
1972 @item for @var{var} across @var{array}
1973 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the elements of @var{array},
1974 which may be a vector or a string.
1975
1976 @example
1977 (cl-loop for x across "aeiou"
1978 do (use-vowel (char-to-string x)))
1979 @end example
1980
1981 @item for @var{var} across-ref @var{array}
1982 This clause iterates over an array, with @var{var} a @code{setf}-able
1983 reference onto the elements; see @code{in-ref} above.
1984
1985 @item for @var{var} being the elements of @var{sequence}
1986 This clause iterates over the elements of @var{sequence}, which may
1987 be a list, vector, or string. Since the type must be determined
1988 at run-time, this is somewhat less efficient than @code{in} or
1989 @code{across}. The clause may be followed by the additional term
1990 @samp{using (index @var{var2})} to cause @var{var2} to be bound to
1991 the successive indices (starting at 0) of the elements.
1992
1993 This clause type is taken from older versions of the @code{loop} macro,
1994 and is not present in modern Common Lisp. The @samp{using (sequence @dots{})}
1995 term of the older macros is not supported.
1996
1997 @item for @var{var} being the elements of-ref @var{sequence}
1998 This clause iterates over a sequence, with @var{var} a @code{setf}-able
1999 reference onto the elements; see @code{in-ref} above.
2000
2001 @item for @var{var} being the symbols [of @var{obarray}]
2002 This clause iterates over symbols, either over all interned symbols
2003 or over all symbols in @var{obarray}. The loop is executed with
2004 @var{var} bound to each symbol in turn. The symbols are visited in
2005 an unspecified order.
2006
2007 As an example,
2008
2009 @example
2010 (cl-loop for sym being the symbols
2011 when (fboundp sym)
2012 when (string-match "^map" (symbol-name sym))
2013 collect sym)
2014 @end example
2015
2016 @noindent
2017 returns a list of all the functions whose names begin with @samp{map}.
2018
2019 The Common Lisp words @code{external-symbols} and @code{present-symbols}
2020 are also recognized but are equivalent to @code{symbols} in Emacs Lisp.
2021
2022 Due to a minor implementation restriction, it will not work to have
2023 more than one @code{for} clause iterating over symbols, hash tables,
2024 keymaps, overlays, or intervals in a given @code{cl-loop}. Fortunately,
2025 it would rarely if ever be useful to do so. It @emph{is} valid to mix
2026 one of these types of clauses with other clauses like @code{for @dots{} to}
2027 or @code{while}.
2028
2029 @item for @var{var} being the hash-keys of @var{hash-table}
2030 @itemx for @var{var} being the hash-values of @var{hash-table}
2031 This clause iterates over the entries in @var{hash-table} with
2032 @var{var} bound to each key, or value. A @samp{using} clause can bind
2033 a second variable to the opposite part.
2034
2035 @example
2036 (cl-loop for k being the hash-keys of h
2037 using (hash-values v)
2038 do
2039 (message "key %S -> value %S" k v))
2040 @end example
2041
2042 @item for @var{var} being the key-codes of @var{keymap}
2043 @itemx for @var{var} being the key-bindings of @var{keymap}
2044 This clause iterates over the entries in @var{keymap}.
2045 The iteration does not enter nested keymaps but does enter inherited
2046 (parent) keymaps.
2047 A @code{using} clause can access both the codes and the bindings
2048 together.
2049
2050 @example
2051 (cl-loop for c being the key-codes of (current-local-map)
2052 using (key-bindings b)
2053 do
2054 (message "key %S -> binding %S" c b))
2055 @end example
2056
2057
2058 @item for @var{var} being the key-seqs of @var{keymap}
2059 This clause iterates over all key sequences defined by @var{keymap}
2060 and its nested keymaps, where @var{var} takes on values which are
2061 vectors. The strings or vectors
2062 are reused for each iteration, so you must copy them if you wish to keep
2063 them permanently. You can add a @samp{using (key-bindings @dots{})}
2064 clause to get the command bindings as well.
2065
2066 @item for @var{var} being the overlays [of @var{buffer}] @dots{}
2067 This clause iterates over the ``overlays'' of a buffer
2068 (the clause @code{extents} is synonymous
2069 with @code{overlays}). If the @code{of} term is omitted, the current
2070 buffer is used.
2071 This clause also accepts optional @samp{from @var{pos}} and
2072 @samp{to @var{pos}} terms, limiting the clause to overlays which
2073 overlap the specified region.
2074
2075 @item for @var{var} being the intervals [of @var{buffer}] @dots{}
2076 This clause iterates over all intervals of a buffer with constant
2077 text properties. The variable @var{var} will be bound to conses
2078 of start and end positions, where one start position is always equal
2079 to the previous end position. The clause allows @code{of},
2080 @code{from}, @code{to}, and @code{property} terms, where the latter
2081 term restricts the search to just the specified property. The
2082 @code{of} term may specify either a buffer or a string.
2083
2084 @item for @var{var} being the frames
2085 This clause iterates over all Emacs frames. The clause @code{screens} is
2086 a synonym for @code{frames}. The frames are visited in
2087 @code{next-frame} order starting from @code{selected-frame}.
2088
2089 @item for @var{var} being the windows [of @var{frame}]
2090 This clause iterates over the windows (in the Emacs sense) of
2091 the current frame, or of the specified @var{frame}. It visits windows
2092 in @code{next-window} order starting from @code{selected-window}
2093 (or @code{frame-selected-window} if you specify @var{frame}).
2094 This clause treats the minibuffer window in the same way as
2095 @code{next-window} does. For greater flexibility, consider using
2096 @code{walk-windows} instead.
2097
2098 @item for @var{var} being the buffers
2099 This clause iterates over all buffers in Emacs. It is equivalent
2100 to @samp{for @var{var} in (buffer-list)}.
2101
2102 @item for @var{var} = @var{expr1} then @var{expr2}
2103 This clause does a general iteration. The first time through
2104 the loop, @var{var} will be bound to @var{expr1}. On the second
2105 and successive iterations it will be set by evaluating @var{expr2}
2106 (which may refer to the old value of @var{var}). For example,
2107 these two loops are effectively the same:
2108
2109 @example
2110 (cl-loop for x on my-list by 'cddr do @dots{})
2111 (cl-loop for x = my-list then (cddr x) while x do @dots{})
2112 @end example
2113
2114 Note that this type of @code{for} clause does not imply any sort
2115 of terminating condition; the above example combines it with a
2116 @code{while} clause to tell when to end the loop.
2117
2118 If you omit the @code{then} term, @var{expr1} is used both for
2119 the initial setting and for successive settings:
2120
2121 @example
2122 (cl-loop for x = (random) when (> x 0) return x)
2123 @end example
2124
2125 @noindent
2126 This loop keeps taking random numbers from the @code{(random)}
2127 function until it gets a positive one, which it then returns.
2128 @end table
2129
2130 If you include several @code{for} clauses in a row, they are
2131 treated sequentially (as if by @code{let*} and @code{setq}).
2132 You can instead use the word @code{and} to link the clauses,
2133 in which case they are processed in parallel (as if by @code{let}
2134 and @code{cl-psetq}).
2135
2136 @example
2137 (cl-loop for x below 5 for y = nil then x collect (list x y))
2138 @result{} ((0 nil) (1 1) (2 2) (3 3) (4 4))
2139 (cl-loop for x below 5 and y = nil then x collect (list x y))
2140 @result{} ((0 nil) (1 0) (2 1) (3 2) (4 3))
2141 @end example
2142
2143 @noindent
2144 In the first loop, @code{y} is set based on the value of @code{x}
2145 that was just set by the previous clause; in the second loop,
2146 @code{x} and @code{y} are set simultaneously so @code{y} is set
2147 based on the value of @code{x} left over from the previous time
2148 through the loop.
2149
2150 Another feature of the @code{cl-loop} macro is @emph{destructuring},
2151 similar in concept to the destructuring provided by @code{defmacro}
2152 (@pxref{Argument Lists}).
2153 The @var{var} part of any @code{for} clause can be given as a list
2154 of variables instead of a single variable. The values produced
2155 during loop execution must be lists; the values in the lists are
2156 stored in the corresponding variables.
2157
2158 @example
2159 (cl-loop for (x y) in '((2 3) (4 5) (6 7)) collect (+ x y))
2160 @result{} (5 9 13)
2161 @end example
2162
2163 In loop destructuring, if there are more values than variables
2164 the trailing values are ignored, and if there are more variables
2165 than values the trailing variables get the value @code{nil}.
2166 If @code{nil} is used as a variable name, the corresponding
2167 values are ignored. Destructuring may be nested, and dotted
2168 lists of variables like @code{(x . y)} are allowed, so for example
2169 to process an alist
2170
2171 @example
2172 (cl-loop for (key . value) in '((a . 1) (b . 2))
2173 collect value)
2174 @result{} (1 2)
2175 @end example
2176
2177 @node Iteration Clauses
2178 @subsection Iteration Clauses
2179
2180 @noindent
2181 Aside from @code{for} clauses, there are several other loop clauses
2182 that control the way the loop operates. They might be used by
2183 themselves, or in conjunction with one or more @code{for} clauses.
2184
2185 @table @code
2186 @item repeat @var{integer}
2187 This clause simply counts up to the specified number using an
2188 internal temporary variable. The loops
2189
2190 @example
2191 (cl-loop repeat (1+ n) do @dots{})
2192 (cl-loop for temp to n do @dots{})
2193 @end example
2194
2195 @noindent
2196 are identical except that the second one forces you to choose
2197 a name for a variable you aren't actually going to use.
2198
2199 @item while @var{condition}
2200 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition (any Lisp
2201 expression) becomes @code{nil}. For example, the following two
2202 loops are equivalent, except for the implicit @code{nil} block
2203 that surrounds the second one:
2204
2205 @example
2206 (while @var{cond} @var{forms}@dots{})
2207 (cl-loop while @var{cond} do @var{forms}@dots{})
2208 @end example
2209
2210 @item until @var{condition}
2211 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition is true,
2212 i.e., non-@code{nil}.
2213
2214 @item always @var{condition}
2215 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition is @code{nil}.
2216 Unlike @code{while}, it stops the loop using @code{return nil} so that
2217 the @code{finally} clauses are not executed. If all the conditions
2218 were non-@code{nil}, the loop returns @code{t}:
2219
2220 @example
2221 (if (cl-loop for size in size-list always (> size 10))
2222 (some-big-sizes)
2223 (no-big-sizes))
2224 @end example
2225
2226 @item never @var{condition}
2227 This clause is like @code{always}, except that the loop returns
2228 @code{t} if any conditions were false, or @code{nil} otherwise.
2229
2230 @item thereis @var{condition}
2231 This clause stops the loop when the specified form is non-@code{nil};
2232 in this case, it returns that non-@code{nil} value. If all the
2233 values were @code{nil}, the loop returns @code{nil}.
2234 @end table
2235
2236 @node Accumulation Clauses
2237 @subsection Accumulation Clauses
2238
2239 @noindent
2240 These clauses cause the loop to accumulate information about the
2241 specified Lisp @var{form}. The accumulated result is returned
2242 from the loop unless overridden, say, by a @code{return} clause.
2243
2244 @table @code
2245 @item collect @var{form}
2246 This clause collects the values of @var{form} into a list. Several
2247 examples of @code{collect} appear elsewhere in this manual.
2248
2249 The word @code{collecting} is a synonym for @code{collect}, and
2250 likewise for the other accumulation clauses.
2251
2252 @item append @var{form}
2253 This clause collects lists of values into a result list using
2254 @code{append}.
2255
2256 @item nconc @var{form}
2257 This clause collects lists of values into a result list by
2258 destructively modifying the lists rather than copying them.
2259
2260 @item concat @var{form}
2261 This clause concatenates the values of the specified @var{form}
2262 into a string. (It and the following clause are extensions to
2263 standard Common Lisp.)
2264
2265 @item vconcat @var{form}
2266 This clause concatenates the values of the specified @var{form}
2267 into a vector.
2268
2269 @item count @var{form}
2270 This clause counts the number of times the specified @var{form}
2271 evaluates to a non-@code{nil} value.
2272
2273 @item sum @var{form}
2274 This clause accumulates the sum of the values of the specified
2275 @var{form}, which must evaluate to a number.
2276
2277 @item maximize @var{form}
2278 This clause accumulates the maximum value of the specified @var{form},
2279 which must evaluate to a number. The return value is undefined if
2280 @code{maximize} is executed zero times.
2281
2282 @item minimize @var{form}
2283 This clause accumulates the minimum value of the specified @var{form}.
2284 @end table
2285
2286 Accumulation clauses can be followed by @samp{into @var{var}} to
2287 cause the data to be collected into variable @var{var} (which is
2288 automatically @code{let}-bound during the loop) rather than an
2289 unnamed temporary variable. Also, @code{into} accumulations do
2290 not automatically imply a return value. The loop must use some
2291 explicit mechanism, such as @code{finally return}, to return
2292 the accumulated result.
2293
2294 It is valid for several accumulation clauses of the same type to
2295 accumulate into the same place. From Steele:
2296
2297 @example
2298 (cl-loop for name in '(fred sue alice joe june)
2299 for kids in '((bob ken) () () (kris sunshine) ())
2300 collect name
2301 append kids)
2302 @result{} (fred bob ken sue alice joe kris sunshine june)
2303 @end example
2304
2305 @node Other Clauses
2306 @subsection Other Clauses
2307
2308 @noindent
2309 This section describes the remaining loop clauses.
2310
2311 @table @code
2312 @item with @var{var} = @var{value}
2313 This clause binds a variable to a value around the loop, but
2314 otherwise leaves the variable alone during the loop. The following
2315 loops are basically equivalent:
2316
2317 @example
2318 (cl-loop with x = 17 do @dots{})
2319 (let ((x 17)) (cl-loop do @dots{}))
2320 (cl-loop for x = 17 then x do @dots{})
2321 @end example
2322
2323 Naturally, the variable @var{var} might be used for some purpose
2324 in the rest of the loop. For example:
2325
2326 @example
2327 (cl-loop for x in my-list with res = nil do (push x res)
2328 finally return res)
2329 @end example
2330
2331 This loop inserts the elements of @code{my-list} at the front of
2332 a new list being accumulated in @code{res}, then returns the
2333 list @code{res} at the end of the loop. The effect is similar
2334 to that of a @code{collect} clause, but the list gets reversed
2335 by virtue of the fact that elements are being pushed onto the
2336 front of @code{res} rather than the end.
2337
2338 If you omit the @code{=} term, the variable is initialized to
2339 @code{nil}. (Thus the @samp{= nil} in the above example is
2340 unnecessary.)
2341
2342 Bindings made by @code{with} are sequential by default, as if
2343 by @code{let*}. Just like @code{for} clauses, @code{with} clauses
2344 can be linked with @code{and} to cause the bindings to be made by
2345 @code{let} instead.
2346
2347 @item if @var{condition} @var{clause}
2348 This clause executes the following loop clause only if the specified
2349 condition is true. The following @var{clause} should be an accumulation,
2350 @code{do}, @code{return}, @code{if}, or @code{unless} clause.
2351 Several clauses may be linked by separating them with @code{and}.
2352 These clauses may be followed by @code{else} and a clause or clauses
2353 to execute if the condition was false. The whole construct may
2354 optionally be followed by the word @code{end} (which may be used to
2355 disambiguate an @code{else} or @code{and} in a nested @code{if}).
2356
2357 The actual non-@code{nil} value of the condition form is available
2358 by the name @code{it} in the ``then'' part. For example:
2359
2360 @example
2361 (setq funny-numbers '(6 13 -1))
2362 @result{} (6 13 -1)
2363 (cl-loop for x below 10
2364 if (cl-oddp x)
2365 collect x into odds
2366 and if (memq x funny-numbers) return (cdr it) end
2367 else
2368 collect x into evens
2369 finally return (vector odds evens))
2370 @result{} [(1 3 5 7 9) (0 2 4 6 8)]
2371 (setq funny-numbers '(6 7 13 -1))
2372 @result{} (6 7 13 -1)
2373 (cl-loop <@r{same thing again}>)
2374 @result{} (13 -1)
2375 @end example
2376
2377 Note the use of @code{and} to put two clauses into the ``then''
2378 part, one of which is itself an @code{if} clause. Note also that
2379 @code{end}, while normally optional, was necessary here to make
2380 it clear that the @code{else} refers to the outermost @code{if}
2381 clause. In the first case, the loop returns a vector of lists
2382 of the odd and even values of @var{x}. In the second case, the
2383 odd number 7 is one of the @code{funny-numbers} so the loop
2384 returns early; the actual returned value is based on the result
2385 of the @code{memq} call.
2386
2387 @item when @var{condition} @var{clause}
2388 This clause is just a synonym for @code{if}.
2389
2390 @item unless @var{condition} @var{clause}
2391 The @code{unless} clause is just like @code{if} except that the
2392 sense of the condition is reversed.
2393
2394 @item named @var{name}
2395 This clause gives a name other than @code{nil} to the implicit
2396 block surrounding the loop. The @var{name} is the symbol to be
2397 used as the block name.
2398
2399 @item initially [do] @var{forms}@dots{}
2400 This keyword introduces one or more Lisp forms which will be
2401 executed before the loop itself begins (but after any variables
2402 requested by @code{for} or @code{with} have been bound to their
2403 initial values). @code{initially} clauses can appear anywhere;
2404 if there are several, they are executed in the order they appear
2405 in the loop. The keyword @code{do} is optional.
2406
2407 @item finally [do] @var{forms}@dots{}
2408 This introduces Lisp forms which will be executed after the loop
2409 finishes (say, on request of a @code{for} or @code{while}).
2410 @code{initially} and @code{finally} clauses may appear anywhere
2411 in the loop construct, but they are executed (in the specified
2412 order) at the beginning or end, respectively, of the loop.
2413
2414 @item finally return @var{form}
2415 This says that @var{form} should be executed after the loop
2416 is done to obtain a return value. (Without this, or some other
2417 clause like @code{collect} or @code{return}, the loop will simply
2418 return @code{nil}.) Variables bound by @code{for}, @code{with},
2419 or @code{into} will still contain their final values when @var{form}
2420 is executed.
2421
2422 @item do @var{forms}@dots{}
2423 The word @code{do} may be followed by any number of Lisp expressions
2424 which are executed as an implicit @code{progn} in the body of the
2425 loop. Many of the examples in this section illustrate the use of
2426 @code{do}.
2427
2428 @item return @var{form}
2429 This clause causes the loop to return immediately. The following
2430 Lisp form is evaluated to give the return value of the loop
2431 form. The @code{finally} clauses, if any, are not executed.
2432 Of course, @code{return} is generally used inside an @code{if} or
2433 @code{unless}, as its use in a top-level loop clause would mean
2434 the loop would never get to ``loop'' more than once.
2435
2436 The clause @samp{return @var{form}} is equivalent to
2437 @samp{do (cl-return @var{form})} (or @code{cl-return-from} if the loop
2438 was named). The @code{return} clause is implemented a bit more
2439 efficiently, though.
2440 @end table
2441
2442 While there is no high-level way to add user extensions to @code{cl-loop},
2443 this package does offer two properties called @code{cl-loop-handler}
2444 and @code{cl-loop-for-handler} which are functions to be called when a
2445 given symbol is encountered as a top-level loop clause or @code{for}
2446 clause, respectively. Consult the source code in file
2447 @file{cl-macs.el} for details.
2448
2449 This package's @code{cl-loop} macro is compatible with that of Common
2450 Lisp, except that a few features are not implemented: @code{loop-finish}
2451 and data-type specifiers. Naturally, the @code{for} clauses that
2452 iterate over keymaps, overlays, intervals, frames, windows, and
2453 buffers are Emacs-specific extensions.
2454
2455 @node Multiple Values
2456 @section Multiple Values
2457
2458 @noindent
2459 Common Lisp functions can return zero or more results. Emacs Lisp
2460 functions, by contrast, always return exactly one result. This
2461 package makes no attempt to emulate Common Lisp multiple return
2462 values; Emacs versions of Common Lisp functions that return more
2463 than one value either return just the first value (as in
2464 @code{cl-compiler-macroexpand}) or return a list of values.
2465 This package @emph{does} define placeholders
2466 for the Common Lisp functions that work with multiple values, but
2467 in Emacs Lisp these functions simply operate on lists instead.
2468 The @code{cl-values} form, for example, is a synonym for @code{list}
2469 in Emacs.
2470
2471 @defmac cl-multiple-value-bind (var@dots{}) values-form forms@dots{}
2472 This form evaluates @var{values-form}, which must return a list of
2473 values. It then binds the @var{var}s to these respective values,
2474 as if by @code{let}, and then executes the body @var{forms}.
2475 If there are more @var{var}s than values, the extra @var{var}s
2476 are bound to @code{nil}. If there are fewer @var{var}s than
2477 values, the excess values are ignored.
2478 @end defmac
2479
2480 @defmac cl-multiple-value-setq (var@dots{}) form
2481 This form evaluates @var{form}, which must return a list of values.
2482 It then sets the @var{var}s to these respective values, as if by
2483 @code{setq}. Extra @var{var}s or values are treated the same as
2484 in @code{cl-multiple-value-bind}.
2485 @end defmac
2486
2487 Since a perfect emulation is not feasible in Emacs Lisp, this
2488 package opts to keep it as simple and predictable as possible.
2489
2490 @node Macros
2491 @chapter Macros
2492
2493 @noindent
2494 This package implements the various Common Lisp features of
2495 @code{defmacro}, such as destructuring, @code{&environment},
2496 and @code{&body}. Top-level @code{&whole} is not implemented
2497 for @code{defmacro} due to technical difficulties.
2498 @xref{Argument Lists}.
2499
2500 Destructuring is made available to the user by way of the
2501 following macro:
2502
2503 @defmac cl-destructuring-bind arglist expr forms@dots{}
2504 This macro expands to code that executes @var{forms}, with
2505 the variables in @var{arglist} bound to the list of values
2506 returned by @var{expr}. The @var{arglist} can include all
2507 the features allowed for @code{cl-defmacro} argument lists,
2508 including destructuring. (The @code{&environment} keyword
2509 is not allowed.) The macro expansion will signal an error
2510 if @var{expr} returns a list of the wrong number of arguments
2511 or with incorrect keyword arguments.
2512 @end defmac
2513
2514 This package also includes the Common Lisp @code{define-compiler-macro}
2515 facility, which allows you to define compile-time expansions and
2516 optimizations for your functions.
2517
2518 @defmac cl-define-compiler-macro name arglist forms@dots{}
2519 This form is similar to @code{defmacro}, except that it only expands
2520 calls to @var{name} at compile-time; calls processed by the Lisp
2521 interpreter are not expanded, nor are they expanded by the
2522 @code{macroexpand} function.
2523
2524 The argument list may begin with a @code{&whole} keyword and a
2525 variable. This variable is bound to the macro-call form itself,
2526 i.e., to a list of the form @samp{(@var{name} @var{args}@dots{})}.
2527 If the macro expander returns this form unchanged, then the
2528 compiler treats it as a normal function call. This allows
2529 compiler macros to work as optimizers for special cases of a
2530 function, leaving complicated cases alone.
2531
2532 For example, here is a simplified version of a definition that
2533 appears as a standard part of this package:
2534
2535 @example
2536 (cl-define-compiler-macro cl-member (&whole form a list &rest keys)
2537 (if (and (null keys)
2538 (eq (car-safe a) 'quote)
2539 (not (floatp (cadr a))))
2540 (list 'memq a list)
2541 form))
2542 @end example
2543
2544 @noindent
2545 This definition causes @code{(cl-member @var{a} @var{list})} to change
2546 to a call to the faster @code{memq} in the common case where @var{a}
2547 is a non-floating-point constant; if @var{a} is anything else, or
2548 if there are any keyword arguments in the call, then the original
2549 @code{cl-member} call is left intact. (The actual compiler macro
2550 for @code{cl-member} optimizes a number of other cases, including
2551 common @code{:test} predicates.)
2552 @end defmac
2553
2554 @defun cl-compiler-macroexpand form
2555 This function is analogous to @code{macroexpand}, except that it
2556 expands compiler macros rather than regular macros. It returns
2557 @var{form} unchanged if it is not a call to a function for which
2558 a compiler macro has been defined, or if that compiler macro
2559 decided to punt by returning its @code{&whole} argument. Like
2560 @code{macroexpand}, it expands repeatedly until it reaches a form
2561 for which no further expansion is possible.
2562 @end defun
2563
2564 @xref{Macro Bindings}, for descriptions of the @code{cl-macrolet}
2565 and @code{cl-symbol-macrolet} forms for making ``local'' macro
2566 definitions.
2567
2568 @node Declarations
2569 @chapter Declarations
2570
2571 @noindent
2572 Common Lisp includes a complex and powerful ``declaration''
2573 mechanism that allows you to give the compiler special hints
2574 about the types of data that will be stored in particular variables,
2575 and about the ways those variables and functions will be used. This
2576 package defines versions of all the Common Lisp declaration forms:
2577 @code{declare}, @code{locally}, @code{proclaim}, @code{declaim},
2578 and @code{the}.
2579
2580 Most of the Common Lisp declarations are not currently useful in Emacs
2581 Lisp. For example, the byte-code system provides little
2582 opportunity to benefit from type information.
2583 @ignore
2584 and @code{special} declarations are redundant in a fully
2585 dynamically-scoped Lisp.
2586 @end ignore
2587 A few declarations are meaningful when byte compiler optimizations
2588 are enabled, as they are by the default. Otherwise these
2589 declarations will effectively be ignored.
2590
2591 @defun cl-proclaim decl-spec
2592 This function records a ``global'' declaration specified by
2593 @var{decl-spec}. Since @code{cl-proclaim} is a function, @var{decl-spec}
2594 is evaluated and thus should normally be quoted.
2595 @end defun
2596
2597 @defmac cl-declaim decl-specs@dots{}
2598 This macro is like @code{cl-proclaim}, except that it takes any number
2599 of @var{decl-spec} arguments, and the arguments are unevaluated and
2600 unquoted. The @code{cl-declaim} macro also puts @code{(cl-eval-when
2601 (compile load eval) @dots{})} around the declarations so that they will
2602 be registered at compile-time as well as at run-time. (This is vital,
2603 since normally the declarations are meant to influence the way the
2604 compiler treats the rest of the file that contains the @code{cl-declaim}
2605 form.)
2606 @end defmac
2607
2608 @defmac cl-declare decl-specs@dots{}
2609 This macro is used to make declarations within functions and other
2610 code. Common Lisp allows declarations in various locations, generally
2611 at the beginning of any of the many ``implicit @code{progn}s''
2612 throughout Lisp syntax, such as function bodies, @code{let} bodies,
2613 etc. Currently the only declaration understood by @code{cl-declare}
2614 is @code{special}.
2615 @end defmac
2616
2617 @defmac cl-locally declarations@dots{} forms@dots{}
2618 In this package, @code{cl-locally} is no different from @code{progn}.
2619 @end defmac
2620
2621 @defmac cl-the type form
2622 Type information provided by @code{cl-the} is ignored in this package;
2623 in other words, @code{(cl-the @var{type} @var{form})} is equivalent to
2624 @var{form}. Future byte-compiler optimizations may make use of this
2625 information.
2626
2627 For example, @code{mapcar} can map over both lists and arrays. It is
2628 hard for the compiler to expand @code{mapcar} into an in-line loop
2629 unless it knows whether the sequence will be a list or an array ahead
2630 of time. With @code{(mapcar 'car (cl-the vector foo))}, a future
2631 compiler would have enough information to expand the loop in-line.
2632 For now, Emacs Lisp will treat the above code as exactly equivalent
2633 to @code{(mapcar 'car foo)}.
2634 @end defmac
2635
2636 Each @var{decl-spec} in a @code{cl-proclaim}, @code{cl-declaim}, or
2637 @code{cl-declare} should be a list beginning with a symbol that says
2638 what kind of declaration it is. This package currently understands
2639 @code{special}, @code{inline}, @code{notinline}, @code{optimize},
2640 and @code{warn} declarations. (The @code{warn} declaration is an
2641 extension of standard Common Lisp.) Other Common Lisp declarations,
2642 such as @code{type} and @code{ftype}, are silently ignored.
2643
2644 @table @code
2645 @item special
2646 @c FIXME ?
2647 Since all variables in Emacs Lisp are ``special'' (in the Common
2648 Lisp sense), @code{special} declarations are only advisory. They
2649 simply tell the byte compiler that the specified
2650 variables are intentionally being referred to without being
2651 bound in the body of the function. The compiler normally emits
2652 warnings for such references, since they could be typographical
2653 errors for references to local variables.
2654
2655 The declaration @code{(cl-declare (special @var{var1} @var{var2}))} is
2656 equivalent to @code{(defvar @var{var1}) (defvar @var{var2})}.
2657
2658 In top-level contexts, it is generally better to write
2659 @code{(defvar @var{var})} than @code{(cl-declaim (special @var{var}))},
2660 since @code{defvar} makes your intentions clearer.
2661
2662 @item inline
2663 The @code{inline} @var{decl-spec} lists one or more functions
2664 whose bodies should be expanded ``in-line'' into calling functions
2665 whenever the compiler is able to arrange for it. For example,
2666 the function @code{cl-acons} is declared @code{inline}
2667 by this package so that the form @code{(cl-acons @var{key} @var{value}
2668 @var{alist})} will
2669 expand directly into @code{(cons (cons @var{key} @var{value}) @var{alist})}
2670 when it is called in user functions, so as to save function calls.
2671
2672 The following declarations are all equivalent. Note that the
2673 @code{defsubst} form is a convenient way to define a function
2674 and declare it inline all at once.
2675
2676 @example
2677 (cl-declaim (inline foo bar))
2678 (cl-eval-when (compile load eval)
2679 (cl-proclaim '(inline foo bar)))
2680 (defsubst foo (@dots{}) @dots{}) ; instead of defun
2681 @end example
2682
2683 @strong{Please note:} this declaration remains in effect after the
2684 containing source file is done. It is correct to use it to
2685 request that a function you have defined should be inlined,
2686 but it is impolite to use it to request inlining of an external
2687 function.
2688
2689 In Common Lisp, it is possible to use @code{(declare (inline @dots{}))}
2690 before a particular call to a function to cause just that call to
2691 be inlined; the current byte compilers provide no way to implement
2692 this, so @code{(cl-declare (inline @dots{}))} is currently ignored by
2693 this package.
2694
2695 @item notinline
2696 The @code{notinline} declaration lists functions which should
2697 not be inlined after all; it cancels a previous @code{inline}
2698 declaration.
2699
2700 @item optimize
2701 This declaration controls how much optimization is performed by
2702 the compiler.
2703
2704 The word @code{optimize} is followed by any number of lists like
2705 @code{(speed 3)} or @code{(safety 2)}. Common Lisp defines several
2706 optimization ``qualities''; this package ignores all but @code{speed}
2707 and @code{safety}. The value of a quality should be an integer from
2708 0 to 3, with 0 meaning ``unimportant'' and 3 meaning ``very important''.
2709 The default level for both qualities is 1.
2710
2711 In this package, the @code{speed} quality is tied to the @code{byte-optimize}
2712 flag, which is set to @code{nil} for @code{(speed 0)} and to
2713 @code{t} for higher settings; and the @code{safety} quality is
2714 tied to the @code{byte-compile-delete-errors} flag, which is
2715 set to @code{nil} for @code{(safety 3)} and to @code{t} for all
2716 lower settings. (The latter flag controls whether the compiler
2717 is allowed to optimize out code whose only side-effect could
2718 be to signal an error, e.g., rewriting @code{(progn foo bar)} to
2719 @code{bar} when it is not known whether @code{foo} will be bound
2720 at run-time.)
2721
2722 Note that even compiling with @code{(safety 0)}, the Emacs
2723 byte-code system provides sufficient checking to prevent real
2724 harm from being done. For example, barring serious bugs in
2725 Emacs itself, Emacs will not crash with a segmentation fault
2726 just because of an error in a fully-optimized Lisp program.
2727
2728 The @code{optimize} declaration is normally used in a top-level
2729 @code{cl-proclaim} or @code{cl-declaim} in a file; Common Lisp allows
2730 it to be used with @code{declare} to set the level of optimization
2731 locally for a given form, but this will not work correctly with the
2732 current byte-compiler. (The @code{cl-declare}
2733 will set the new optimization level, but that level will not
2734 automatically be unset after the enclosing form is done.)
2735
2736 @item warn
2737 This declaration controls what sorts of warnings are generated
2738 by the byte compiler. The word @code{warn} is followed by any
2739 number of ``warning qualities'', similar in form to optimization
2740 qualities. The currently supported warning types are
2741 @code{redefine}, @code{callargs}, @code{unresolved}, and
2742 @code{free-vars}; in the current system, a value of 0 will
2743 disable these warnings and any higher value will enable them.
2744 See the documentation of the variable @code{byte-compile-warnings}
2745 for more details.
2746 @end table
2747
2748 @node Symbols
2749 @chapter Symbols
2750
2751 @noindent
2752 This package defines several symbol-related features that were
2753 missing from Emacs Lisp.
2754
2755 @menu
2756 * Property Lists:: @code{cl-get}, @code{cl-remprop}, @code{cl-getf}, @code{cl-remf}.
2757 * Creating Symbols:: @code{cl-gensym}, @code{cl-gentemp}.
2758 @end menu
2759
2760 @node Property Lists
2761 @section Property Lists
2762
2763 @noindent
2764 These functions augment the standard Emacs Lisp functions @code{get}
2765 and @code{put} for operating on properties attached to symbols.
2766 There are also functions for working with property lists as
2767 first-class data structures not attached to particular symbols.
2768
2769 @defun cl-get symbol property &optional default
2770 This function is like @code{get}, except that if the property is
2771 not found, the @var{default} argument provides the return value.
2772 (The Emacs Lisp @code{get} function always uses @code{nil} as
2773 the default; this package's @code{cl-get} is equivalent to Common
2774 Lisp's @code{get}.)
2775
2776 The @code{cl-get} function is @code{setf}-able; when used in this
2777 fashion, the @var{default} argument is allowed but ignored.
2778 @end defun
2779
2780 @defun cl-remprop symbol property
2781 This function removes the entry for @var{property} from the property
2782 list of @var{symbol}. It returns a true value if the property was
2783 indeed found and removed, or @code{nil} if there was no such property.
2784 (This function was probably omitted from Emacs originally because,
2785 since @code{get} did not allow a @var{default}, it was very difficult
2786 to distinguish between a missing property and a property whose value
2787 was @code{nil}; thus, setting a property to @code{nil} was close
2788 enough to @code{cl-remprop} for most purposes.)
2789 @end defun
2790
2791 @defun cl-getf place property &optional default
2792 This function scans the list @var{place} as if it were a property
2793 list, i.e., a list of alternating property names and values. If
2794 an even-numbered element of @var{place} is found which is @code{eq}
2795 to @var{property}, the following odd-numbered element is returned.
2796 Otherwise, @var{default} is returned (or @code{nil} if no default
2797 is given).
2798
2799 In particular,
2800
2801 @example
2802 (get sym prop) @equiv{} (cl-getf (symbol-plist sym) prop)
2803 @end example
2804
2805 It is valid to use @code{cl-getf} as a @code{setf} place, in which case
2806 its @var{place} argument must itself be a valid @code{setf} place.
2807 The @var{default} argument, if any, is ignored in this context.
2808 The effect is to change (via @code{setcar}) the value cell in the
2809 list that corresponds to @var{property}, or to cons a new property-value
2810 pair onto the list if the property is not yet present.
2811
2812 @example
2813 (put sym prop val) @equiv{} (setf (cl-getf (symbol-plist sym) prop) val)
2814 @end example
2815
2816 The @code{get} and @code{cl-get} functions are also @code{setf}-able.
2817 The fact that @code{default} is ignored can sometimes be useful:
2818
2819 @example
2820 (cl-incf (cl-get 'foo 'usage-count 0))
2821 @end example
2822
2823 Here, symbol @code{foo}'s @code{usage-count} property is incremented
2824 if it exists, or set to 1 (an incremented 0) otherwise.
2825
2826 When not used as a @code{setf} form, @code{cl-getf} is just a regular
2827 function and its @var{place} argument can actually be any Lisp
2828 expression.
2829 @end defun
2830
2831 @defmac cl-remf place property
2832 This macro removes the property-value pair for @var{property} from
2833 the property list stored at @var{place}, which is any @code{setf}-able
2834 place expression. It returns true if the property was found. Note
2835 that if @var{property} happens to be first on the list, this will
2836 effectively do a @code{(setf @var{place} (cddr @var{place}))},
2837 whereas if it occurs later, this simply uses @code{setcdr} to splice
2838 out the property and value cells.
2839 @end defmac
2840
2841 @node Creating Symbols
2842 @section Creating Symbols
2843
2844 @noindent
2845 These functions create unique symbols, typically for use as
2846 temporary variables.
2847
2848 @defun cl-gensym &optional x
2849 This function creates a new, uninterned symbol (using @code{make-symbol})
2850 with a unique name. (The name of an uninterned symbol is relevant
2851 only if the symbol is printed.) By default, the name is generated
2852 from an increasing sequence of numbers, @samp{G1000}, @samp{G1001},
2853 @samp{G1002}, etc. If the optional argument @var{x} is a string, that
2854 string is used as a prefix instead of @samp{G}. Uninterned symbols
2855 are used in macro expansions for temporary variables, to ensure that
2856 their names will not conflict with ``real'' variables in the user's
2857 code.
2858
2859 (Internally, the variable @code{cl--gensym-counter} holds the counter
2860 used to generate names. It is incremented after each use. In Common
2861 Lisp this is initialized with 0, but this package initializes it with
2862 a random time-dependent value to avoid trouble when two files that
2863 each used @code{cl-gensym} in their compilation are loaded together.
2864 Uninterned symbols become interned when the compiler writes them out
2865 to a file and the Emacs loader loads them, so their names have to be
2866 treated a bit more carefully than in Common Lisp where uninterned
2867 symbols remain uninterned after loading.)
2868 @end defun
2869
2870 @defun cl-gentemp &optional x
2871 This function is like @code{cl-gensym}, except that it produces a new
2872 @emph{interned} symbol. If the symbol that is generated already
2873 exists, the function keeps incrementing the counter and trying
2874 again until a new symbol is generated.
2875 @end defun
2876
2877 This package automatically creates all keywords that are called for by
2878 @code{&key} argument specifiers, and discourages the use of keywords
2879 as data unrelated to keyword arguments, so the related function
2880 @code{defkeyword} (to create self-quoting keyword symbols) is not
2881 provided.
2882
2883 @node Numbers
2884 @chapter Numbers
2885
2886 @noindent
2887 This section defines a few simple Common Lisp operations on numbers
2888 that were left out of Emacs Lisp.
2889
2890 @menu
2891 * Predicates on Numbers:: @code{cl-plusp}, @code{cl-oddp}, etc.
2892 * Numerical Functions:: @code{cl-floor}, @code{cl-ceiling}, etc.
2893 * Random Numbers:: @code{cl-random}, @code{cl-make-random-state}.
2894 * Implementation Parameters:: @code{cl-most-positive-float}, etc.
2895 @end menu
2896
2897 @node Predicates on Numbers
2898 @section Predicates on Numbers
2899
2900 @noindent
2901 These functions return @code{t} if the specified condition is
2902 true of the numerical argument, or @code{nil} otherwise.
2903
2904 @defun cl-plusp number
2905 This predicate tests whether @var{number} is positive. It is an
2906 error if the argument is not a number.
2907 @end defun
2908
2909 @defun cl-minusp number
2910 This predicate tests whether @var{number} is negative. It is an
2911 error if the argument is not a number.
2912 @end defun
2913
2914 @defun cl-oddp integer
2915 This predicate tests whether @var{integer} is odd. It is an
2916 error if the argument is not an integer.
2917 @end defun
2918
2919 @defun cl-evenp integer
2920 This predicate tests whether @var{integer} is even. It is an
2921 error if the argument is not an integer.
2922 @end defun
2923
2924 @ignore
2925 @defun cl-floatp-safe object
2926 This predicate tests whether @var{object} is a floating-point
2927 number. On systems that support floating-point, this is equivalent
2928 to @code{floatp}. On other systems, this always returns @code{nil}.
2929 @end defun
2930 @end ignore
2931
2932 @node Numerical Functions
2933 @section Numerical Functions
2934
2935 @noindent
2936 These functions perform various arithmetic operations on numbers.
2937
2938 @defun cl-gcd &rest integers
2939 This function returns the Greatest Common Divisor of the arguments.
2940 For one argument, it returns the absolute value of that argument.
2941 For zero arguments, it returns zero.
2942 @end defun
2943
2944 @defun cl-lcm &rest integers
2945 This function returns the Least Common Multiple of the arguments.
2946 For one argument, it returns the absolute value of that argument.
2947 For zero arguments, it returns one.
2948 @end defun
2949
2950 @defun cl-isqrt integer
2951 This function computes the ``integer square root'' of its integer
2952 argument, i.e., the greatest integer less than or equal to the true
2953 square root of the argument.
2954 @end defun
2955
2956 @defun cl-floor number &optional divisor
2957 With one argument, @code{cl-floor} returns a list of two numbers:
2958 The argument rounded down (toward minus infinity) to an integer,
2959 and the ``remainder'' which would have to be added back to the
2960 first return value to yield the argument again. If the argument
2961 is an integer @var{x}, the result is always the list @code{(@var{x} 0)}.
2962 If the argument is a floating-point number, the first
2963 result is a Lisp integer and the second is a Lisp float between
2964 0 (inclusive) and 1 (exclusive).
2965
2966 With two arguments, @code{cl-floor} divides @var{number} by
2967 @var{divisor}, and returns the floor of the quotient and the
2968 corresponding remainder as a list of two numbers. If
2969 @code{(cl-floor @var{x} @var{y})} returns @code{(@var{q} @var{r})},
2970 then @code{@var{q}*@var{y} + @var{r} = @var{x}}, with @var{r}
2971 between 0 (inclusive) and @var{r} (exclusive). Also, note
2972 that @code{(cl-floor @var{x})} is exactly equivalent to
2973 @code{(cl-floor @var{x} 1)}.
2974
2975 This function is entirely compatible with Common Lisp's @code{floor}
2976 function, except that it returns the two results in a list since
2977 Emacs Lisp does not support multiple-valued functions.
2978 @end defun
2979
2980 @defun cl-ceiling number &optional divisor
2981 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{ceiling} function,
2982 which is analogous to @code{floor} except that it rounds the
2983 argument or quotient of the arguments up toward plus infinity.
2984 The remainder will be between 0 and minus @var{r}.
2985 @end defun
2986
2987 @defun cl-truncate number &optional divisor
2988 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{truncate} function,
2989 which is analogous to @code{floor} except that it rounds the
2990 argument or quotient of the arguments toward zero. Thus it is
2991 equivalent to @code{cl-floor} if the argument or quotient is
2992 positive, or to @code{cl-ceiling} otherwise. The remainder has
2993 the same sign as @var{number}.
2994 @end defun
2995
2996 @defun cl-round number &optional divisor
2997 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{round} function,
2998 which is analogous to @code{floor} except that it rounds the
2999 argument or quotient of the arguments to the nearest integer.
3000 In the case of a tie (the argument or quotient is exactly
3001 halfway between two integers), it rounds to the even integer.
3002 @end defun
3003
3004 @defun cl-mod number divisor
3005 This function returns the same value as the second return value
3006 of @code{cl-floor}.
3007 @end defun
3008
3009 @defun cl-rem number divisor
3010 This function returns the same value as the second return value
3011 of @code{cl-truncate}.
3012 @end defun
3013
3014 @node Random Numbers
3015 @section Random Numbers
3016
3017 @noindent
3018 This package also provides an implementation of the Common Lisp
3019 random number generator. It uses its own additive-congruential
3020 algorithm, which is much more likely to give statistically clean
3021 @c FIXME? Still true?
3022 random numbers than the simple generators supplied by many
3023 operating systems.
3024
3025 @defun cl-random number &optional state
3026 This function returns a random nonnegative number less than
3027 @var{number}, and of the same type (either integer or floating-point).
3028 The @var{state} argument should be a @code{random-state} object
3029 that holds the state of the random number generator. The
3030 function modifies this state object as a side effect. If
3031 @var{state} is omitted, it defaults to the internal variable
3032 @code{cl--random-state}, which contains a pre-initialized
3033 default @code{random-state} object. (Since any number of programs in
3034 the Emacs process may be accessing @code{cl--random-state} in
3035 interleaved fashion, the sequence generated from this will be
3036 irreproducible for all intents and purposes.)
3037 @end defun
3038
3039 @defun cl-make-random-state &optional state
3040 This function creates or copies a @code{random-state} object.
3041 If @var{state} is omitted or @code{nil}, it returns a new copy of
3042 @code{cl--random-state}. This is a copy in the sense that future
3043 sequences of calls to @code{(cl-random @var{n})} and
3044 @code{(cl-random @var{n} @var{s})} (where @var{s} is the new
3045 random-state object) will return identical sequences of random
3046 numbers.
3047
3048 If @var{state} is a @code{random-state} object, this function
3049 returns a copy of that object. If @var{state} is @code{t}, this
3050 function returns a new @code{random-state} object seeded from the
3051 date and time. As an extension to Common Lisp, @var{state} may also
3052 be an integer in which case the new object is seeded from that
3053 integer; each different integer seed will result in a completely
3054 different sequence of random numbers.
3055
3056 It is valid to print a @code{random-state} object to a buffer or
3057 file and later read it back with @code{read}. If a program wishes
3058 to use a sequence of pseudo-random numbers which can be reproduced
3059 later for debugging, it can call @code{(cl-make-random-state t)} to
3060 get a new sequence, then print this sequence to a file. When the
3061 program is later rerun, it can read the original run's random-state
3062 from the file.
3063 @end defun
3064
3065 @defun cl-random-state-p object
3066 This predicate returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a
3067 @code{random-state} object, or @code{nil} otherwise.
3068 @end defun
3069
3070 @node Implementation Parameters
3071 @section Implementation Parameters
3072
3073 @noindent
3074 This package defines several useful constants having to do with
3075 floating-point numbers.
3076
3077 It determines their values by exercising the computer's
3078 floating-point arithmetic in various ways. Because this operation
3079 might be slow, the code for initializing them is kept in a separate
3080 function that must be called before the parameters can be used.
3081
3082 @defun cl-float-limits
3083 This function makes sure that the Common Lisp floating-point parameters
3084 like @code{cl-most-positive-float} have been initialized. Until it is
3085 called, these parameters will be @code{nil}.
3086 @c If this version of Emacs does not support floats, the parameters will
3087 @c remain @code{nil}.
3088 If the parameters have already been initialized, the function returns
3089 immediately.
3090
3091 The algorithm makes assumptions that will be valid for almost all
3092 machines, but will fail if the machine's arithmetic is extremely
3093 unusual, e.g., decimal.
3094 @end defun
3095
3096 Since true Common Lisp supports up to four different floating-point
3097 precisions, it has families of constants like
3098 @code{most-positive-single-float}, @code{most-positive-double-float},
3099 @code{most-positive-long-float}, and so on. Emacs has only one
3100 floating-point precision, so this package omits the precision word
3101 from the constants' names.
3102
3103 @defvar cl-most-positive-float
3104 This constant equals the largest value a Lisp float can hold.
3105 For those systems whose arithmetic supports infinities, this is
3106 the largest @emph{finite} value. For IEEE machines, the value
3107 is approximately @code{1.79e+308}.
3108 @end defvar
3109
3110 @defvar cl-most-negative-float
3111 This constant equals the most negative value a Lisp float can hold.
3112 (It is assumed to be equal to @code{(- cl-most-positive-float)}.)
3113 @end defvar
3114
3115 @defvar cl-least-positive-float
3116 This constant equals the smallest Lisp float value greater than zero.
3117 For IEEE machines, it is about @code{4.94e-324} if denormals are
3118 supported or @code{2.22e-308} if not.
3119 @end defvar
3120
3121 @defvar cl-least-positive-normalized-float
3122 This constant equals the smallest @emph{normalized} Lisp float greater
3123 than zero, i.e., the smallest value for which IEEE denormalization
3124 will not result in a loss of precision. For IEEE machines, this
3125 value is about @code{2.22e-308}. For machines that do not support
3126 the concept of denormalization and gradual underflow, this constant
3127 will always equal @code{cl-least-positive-float}.
3128 @end defvar
3129
3130 @defvar cl-least-negative-float
3131 This constant is the negative counterpart of @code{cl-least-positive-float}.
3132 @end defvar
3133
3134 @defvar cl-least-negative-normalized-float
3135 This constant is the negative counterpart of
3136 @code{cl-least-positive-normalized-float}.
3137 @end defvar
3138
3139 @defvar cl-float-epsilon
3140 This constant is the smallest positive Lisp float that can be added
3141 to 1.0 to produce a distinct value. Adding a smaller number to 1.0
3142 will yield 1.0 again due to roundoff. For IEEE machines, epsilon
3143 is about @code{2.22e-16}.
3144 @end defvar
3145
3146 @defvar cl-float-negative-epsilon
3147 This is the smallest positive value that can be subtracted from
3148 1.0 to produce a distinct value. For IEEE machines, it is about
3149 @code{1.11e-16}.
3150 @end defvar
3151
3152 @node Sequences
3153 @chapter Sequences
3154
3155 @noindent
3156 Common Lisp defines a number of functions that operate on
3157 @dfn{sequences}, which are either lists, strings, or vectors.
3158 Emacs Lisp includes a few of these, notably @code{elt} and
3159 @code{length}; this package defines most of the rest.
3160
3161 @menu
3162 * Sequence Basics:: Arguments shared by all sequence functions.
3163 * Mapping over Sequences:: @code{cl-mapcar}, @code{cl-map}, @code{cl-maplist}, etc.
3164 * Sequence Functions:: @code{cl-subseq}, @code{cl-remove}, @code{cl-substitute}, etc.
3165 * Searching Sequences:: @code{cl-find}, @code{cl-count}, @code{cl-search}, etc.
3166 * Sorting Sequences:: @code{cl-sort}, @code{cl-stable-sort}, @code{cl-merge}.
3167 @end menu
3168
3169 @node Sequence Basics
3170 @section Sequence Basics
3171
3172 @noindent
3173 Many of the sequence functions take keyword arguments; @pxref{Argument
3174 Lists}. All keyword arguments are optional and, if specified,
3175 may appear in any order.
3176
3177 The @code{:key} argument should be passed either @code{nil}, or a
3178 function of one argument. This key function is used as a filter
3179 through which the elements of the sequence are seen; for example,
3180 @code{(cl-find x y :key 'car)} is similar to @code{(cl-assoc x y)}.
3181 It searches for an element of the list whose @sc{car} equals
3182 @code{x}, rather than for an element which equals @code{x} itself.
3183 If @code{:key} is omitted or @code{nil}, the filter is effectively
3184 the identity function.
3185
3186 The @code{:test} and @code{:test-not} arguments should be either
3187 @code{nil}, or functions of two arguments. The test function is
3188 used to compare two sequence elements, or to compare a search value
3189 with sequence elements. (The two values are passed to the test
3190 function in the same order as the original sequence function
3191 arguments from which they are derived, or, if they both come from
3192 the same sequence, in the same order as they appear in that sequence.)
3193 The @code{:test} argument specifies a function which must return
3194 true (non-@code{nil}) to indicate a match; instead, you may use
3195 @code{:test-not} to give a function which returns @emph{false} to
3196 indicate a match. The default test function is @code{eql}.
3197
3198 Many functions that take @var{item} and @code{:test} or @code{:test-not}
3199 arguments also come in @code{-if} and @code{-if-not} varieties,
3200 where a @var{predicate} function is passed instead of @var{item},
3201 and sequence elements match if the predicate returns true on them
3202 (or false in the case of @code{-if-not}). For example:
3203
3204 @example
3205 (cl-remove 0 seq :test '=) @equiv{} (cl-remove-if 'zerop seq)
3206 @end example
3207
3208 @noindent
3209 to remove all zeros from sequence @code{seq}.
3210
3211 Some operations can work on a subsequence of the argument sequence;
3212 these function take @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments, which
3213 default to zero and the length of the sequence, respectively.
3214 Only elements between @var{start} (inclusive) and @var{end}
3215 (exclusive) are affected by the operation. The @var{end} argument
3216 may be passed @code{nil} to signify the length of the sequence;
3217 otherwise, both @var{start} and @var{end} must be integers, with
3218 @code{0 <= @var{start} <= @var{end} <= (length @var{seq})}.
3219 If the function takes two sequence arguments, the limits are
3220 defined by keywords @code{:start1} and @code{:end1} for the first,
3221 and @code{:start2} and @code{:end2} for the second.
3222
3223 A few functions accept a @code{:from-end} argument, which, if
3224 non-@code{nil}, causes the operation to go from right-to-left
3225 through the sequence instead of left-to-right, and a @code{:count}
3226 argument, which specifies an integer maximum number of elements
3227 to be removed or otherwise processed.
3228
3229 The sequence functions make no guarantees about the order in
3230 which the @code{:test}, @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key} functions
3231 are called on various elements. Therefore, it is a bad idea to depend
3232 on side effects of these functions. For example, @code{:from-end}
3233 may cause the sequence to be scanned actually in reverse, or it may
3234 be scanned forwards but computing a result ``as if'' it were scanned
3235 backwards. (Some functions, like @code{cl-mapcar} and @code{cl-every},
3236 @emph{do} specify exactly the order in which the function is called
3237 so side effects are perfectly acceptable in those cases.)
3238
3239 Strings may contain ``text properties'' as well
3240 as character data. Except as noted, it is undefined whether or
3241 not text properties are preserved by sequence functions. For
3242 example, @code{(cl-remove ?A @var{str})} may or may not preserve
3243 the properties of the characters copied from @var{str} into the
3244 result.
3245
3246 @node Mapping over Sequences
3247 @section Mapping over Sequences
3248
3249 @noindent
3250 These functions ``map'' the function you specify over the elements
3251 of lists or arrays. They are all variations on the theme of the
3252 built-in function @code{mapcar}.
3253
3254 @defun cl-mapcar function seq &rest more-seqs
3255 This function calls @var{function} on successive parallel sets of
3256 elements from its argument sequences. Given a single @var{seq}
3257 argument it is equivalent to @code{mapcar}; given @var{n} sequences,
3258 it calls the function with the first elements of each of the sequences
3259 as the @var{n} arguments to yield the first element of the result
3260 list, then with the second elements, and so on. The mapping stops as
3261 soon as the shortest sequence runs out. The argument sequences may
3262 be any mixture of lists, strings, and vectors; the return sequence
3263 is always a list.
3264
3265 Common Lisp's @code{mapcar} accepts multiple arguments but works
3266 only on lists; Emacs Lisp's @code{mapcar} accepts a single sequence
3267 argument. This package's @code{cl-mapcar} works as a compatible
3268 superset of both.
3269 @end defun
3270
3271 @defun cl-map result-type function seq &rest more-seqs
3272 This function maps @var{function} over the argument sequences,
3273 just like @code{cl-mapcar}, but it returns a sequence of type
3274 @var{result-type} rather than a list. @var{result-type} must
3275 be one of the following symbols: @code{vector}, @code{string},
3276 @code{list} (in which case the effect is the same as for
3277 @code{cl-mapcar}), or @code{nil} (in which case the results are
3278 thrown away and @code{cl-map} returns @code{nil}).
3279 @end defun
3280
3281 @defun cl-maplist function list &rest more-lists
3282 This function calls @var{function} on each of its argument lists,
3283 then on the @sc{cdr}s of those lists, and so on, until the
3284 shortest list runs out. The results are returned in the form
3285 of a list. Thus, @code{cl-maplist} is like @code{cl-mapcar} except
3286 that it passes in the list pointers themselves rather than the
3287 @sc{car}s of the advancing pointers.
3288 @end defun
3289
3290 @defun cl-mapc function seq &rest more-seqs
3291 This function is like @code{cl-mapcar}, except that the values returned
3292 by @var{function} are ignored and thrown away rather than being
3293 collected into a list. The return value of @code{cl-mapc} is @var{seq},
3294 the first sequence. This function is more general than the Emacs
3295 primitive @code{mapc}. (Note that this function is called
3296 @code{cl-mapc} even in @file{cl.el}, rather than @code{mapc*} as you
3297 might expect.)
3298 @c http://debbugs.gnu.org/6575
3299 @end defun
3300
3301 @defun cl-mapl function list &rest more-lists
3302 This function is like @code{cl-maplist}, except that it throws away
3303 the values returned by @var{function}.
3304 @end defun
3305
3306 @defun cl-mapcan function seq &rest more-seqs
3307 This function is like @code{cl-mapcar}, except that it concatenates
3308 the return values (which must be lists) using @code{nconc},
3309 rather than simply collecting them into a list.
3310 @end defun
3311
3312 @defun cl-mapcon function list &rest more-lists
3313 This function is like @code{cl-maplist}, except that it concatenates
3314 the return values using @code{nconc}.
3315 @end defun
3316
3317 @defun cl-some predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3318 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of @var{seq}
3319 in turn; if @var{predicate} returns a non-@code{nil} value,
3320 @code{cl-some} returns that value, otherwise it returns @code{nil}.
3321 Given several sequence arguments, it steps through the sequences
3322 in parallel until the shortest one runs out, just as in
3323 @code{cl-mapcar}. You can rely on the left-to-right order in which
3324 the elements are visited, and on the fact that mapping stops
3325 immediately as soon as @var{predicate} returns non-@code{nil}.
3326 @end defun
3327
3328 @defun cl-every predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3329 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3330 in turn; it returns @code{nil} as soon as @var{predicate} returns
3331 @code{nil} for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate was true
3332 for all elements.
3333 @end defun
3334
3335 @defun cl-notany predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3336 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3337 in turn; it returns @code{nil} as soon as @var{predicate} returns
3338 a non-@code{nil} value for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate
3339 was @code{nil} for all elements.
3340 @end defun
3341
3342 @defun cl-notevery predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3343 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3344 in turn; it returns a non-@code{nil} value as soon as @var{predicate}
3345 returns @code{nil} for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate was
3346 true for all elements.
3347 @end defun
3348
3349 @defun cl-reduce function seq @t{&key :from-end :start :end :initial-value :key}
3350 This function combines the elements of @var{seq} using an associative
3351 binary operation. Suppose @var{function} is @code{*} and @var{seq} is
3352 the list @code{(2 3 4 5)}. The first two elements of the list are
3353 combined with @code{(* 2 3) = 6}; this is combined with the next
3354 element, @code{(* 6 4) = 24}, and that is combined with the final
3355 element: @code{(* 24 5) = 120}. Note that the @code{*} function happens
3356 to be self-reducing, so that @code{(* 2 3 4 5)} has the same effect as
3357 an explicit call to @code{cl-reduce}.
3358
3359 If @code{:from-end} is true, the reduction is right-associative instead
3360 of left-associative:
3361
3362 @example
3363 (cl-reduce '- '(1 2 3 4))
3364 @equiv{} (- (- (- 1 2) 3) 4) @result{} -8
3365 (cl-reduce '- '(1 2 3 4) :from-end t)
3366 @equiv{} (- 1 (- 2 (- 3 4))) @result{} -2
3367 @end example
3368
3369 If @code{:key} is specified, it is a function of one argument, which
3370 is called on each of the sequence elements in turn.
3371
3372 If @code{:initial-value} is specified, it is effectively added to the
3373 front (or rear in the case of @code{:from-end}) of the sequence.
3374 The @code{:key} function is @emph{not} applied to the initial value.
3375
3376 If the sequence, including the initial value, has exactly one element
3377 then that element is returned without ever calling @var{function}.
3378 If the sequence is empty (and there is no initial value), then
3379 @var{function} is called with no arguments to obtain the return value.
3380 @end defun
3381
3382 All of these mapping operations can be expressed conveniently in
3383 terms of the @code{cl-loop} macro. In compiled code, @code{cl-loop} will
3384 be faster since it generates the loop as in-line code with no
3385 function calls.
3386
3387 @node Sequence Functions
3388 @section Sequence Functions
3389
3390 @noindent
3391 This section describes a number of Common Lisp functions for
3392 operating on sequences.
3393
3394 @defun cl-subseq sequence start &optional end
3395 This function returns a given subsequence of the argument
3396 @var{sequence}, which may be a list, string, or vector.
3397 The indices @var{start} and @var{end} must be in range, and
3398 @var{start} must be no greater than @var{end}. If @var{end}
3399 is omitted, it defaults to the length of the sequence. The
3400 return value is always a copy; it does not share structure
3401 with @var{sequence}.
3402
3403 As an extension to Common Lisp, @var{start} and/or @var{end}
3404 may be negative, in which case they represent a distance back
3405 from the end of the sequence. This is for compatibility with
3406 Emacs's @code{substring} function. Note that @code{cl-subseq} is
3407 the @emph{only} sequence function that allows negative
3408 @var{start} and @var{end}.
3409
3410 You can use @code{setf} on a @code{cl-subseq} form to replace a
3411 specified range of elements with elements from another sequence.
3412 The replacement is done as if by @code{cl-replace}, described below.
3413 @end defun
3414
3415 @defun cl-concatenate result-type &rest seqs
3416 This function concatenates the argument sequences together to
3417 form a result sequence of type @var{result-type}, one of the
3418 symbols @code{vector}, @code{string}, or @code{list}. The
3419 arguments are always copied, even in cases such as
3420 @code{(cl-concatenate 'list '(1 2 3))} where the result is
3421 identical to an argument.
3422 @end defun
3423
3424 @defun cl-fill seq item @t{&key :start :end}
3425 This function fills the elements of the sequence (or the specified
3426 part of the sequence) with the value @var{item}.
3427 @end defun
3428
3429 @defun cl-replace seq1 seq2 @t{&key :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2}
3430 This function copies part of @var{seq2} into part of @var{seq1}.
3431 The sequence @var{seq1} is not stretched or resized; the amount
3432 of data copied is simply the shorter of the source and destination
3433 (sub)sequences. The function returns @var{seq1}.
3434
3435 If @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} are @code{eq}, then the replacement
3436 will work correctly even if the regions indicated by the start
3437 and end arguments overlap. However, if @var{seq1} and @var{seq2}
3438 are lists that share storage but are not @code{eq}, and the
3439 start and end arguments specify overlapping regions, the effect
3440 is undefined.
3441 @end defun
3442
3443 @defun cl-remove item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3444 This returns a copy of @var{seq} with all elements matching
3445 @var{item} removed. The result may share storage with or be
3446 @code{eq} to @var{seq} in some circumstances, but the original
3447 @var{seq} will not be modified. The @code{:test}, @code{:test-not},
3448 and @code{:key} arguments define the matching test that is used;
3449 by default, elements @code{eql} to @var{item} are removed. The
3450 @code{:count} argument specifies the maximum number of matching
3451 elements that can be removed (only the leftmost @var{count} matches
3452 are removed). The @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments specify
3453 a region in @var{seq} in which elements will be removed; elements
3454 outside that region are not matched or removed. The @code{:from-end}
3455 argument, if true, says that elements should be deleted from the
3456 end of the sequence rather than the beginning (this matters only
3457 if @var{count} was also specified).
3458 @end defun
3459
3460 @defun cl-delete item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3461 This deletes all elements of @var{seq} that match @var{item}.
3462 It is a destructive operation. Since Emacs Lisp does not support
3463 stretchable strings or vectors, this is the same as @code{cl-remove}
3464 for those sequence types. On lists, @code{cl-remove} will copy the
3465 list if necessary to preserve the original list, whereas
3466 @code{cl-delete} will splice out parts of the argument list.
3467 Compare @code{append} and @code{nconc}, which are analogous
3468 non-destructive and destructive list operations in Emacs Lisp.
3469 @end defun
3470
3471 @findex cl-remove-if
3472 @findex cl-remove-if-not
3473 @findex cl-delete-if
3474 @findex cl-delete-if-not
3475 The predicate-oriented functions @code{cl-remove-if}, @code{cl-remove-if-not},
3476 @code{cl-delete-if}, and @code{cl-delete-if-not} are defined similarly.
3477
3478 @defun cl-remove-duplicates seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3479 This function returns a copy of @var{seq} with duplicate elements
3480 removed. Specifically, if two elements from the sequence match
3481 according to the @code{:test}, @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key}
3482 arguments, only the rightmost one is retained. If @code{:from-end}
3483 is true, the leftmost one is retained instead. If @code{:start} or
3484 @code{:end} is specified, only elements within that subsequence are
3485 examined or removed.
3486 @end defun
3487
3488 @defun cl-delete-duplicates seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3489 This function deletes duplicate elements from @var{seq}. It is
3490 a destructive version of @code{cl-remove-duplicates}.
3491 @end defun
3492
3493 @defun cl-substitute new old seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3494 This function returns a copy of @var{seq}, with all elements
3495 matching @var{old} replaced with @var{new}. The @code{:count},
3496 @code{:start}, @code{:end}, and @code{:from-end} arguments may be
3497 used to limit the number of substitutions made.
3498 @end defun
3499
3500 @defun cl-nsubstitute new old seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3501 This is a destructive version of @code{cl-substitute}; it performs
3502 the substitution using @code{setcar} or @code{aset} rather than
3503 by returning a changed copy of the sequence.
3504 @end defun
3505
3506 @findex cl-substitute-if
3507 @findex cl-substitute-if-not
3508 @findex cl-nsubstitute-if
3509 @findex cl-nsubstitute-if-not
3510 The functions @code{cl-substitute-if}, @code{cl-substitute-if-not},
3511 @code{cl-nsubstitute-if}, and @code{cl-nsubstitute-if-not} are defined
3512 similarly. For these, a @var{predicate} is given in place of the
3513 @var{old} argument.
3514
3515 @node Searching Sequences
3516 @section Searching Sequences
3517
3518 @noindent
3519 These functions search for elements or subsequences in a sequence.
3520 (See also @code{cl-member} and @code{cl-assoc}; @pxref{Lists}.)
3521
3522 @defun cl-find item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3523 This function searches @var{seq} for an element matching @var{item}.
3524 If it finds a match, it returns the matching element. Otherwise,
3525 it returns @code{nil}. It returns the leftmost match, unless
3526 @code{:from-end} is true, in which case it returns the rightmost
3527 match. The @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments may be used to
3528 limit the range of elements that are searched.
3529 @end defun
3530
3531 @defun cl-position item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3532 This function is like @code{cl-find}, except that it returns the
3533 integer position in the sequence of the matching item rather than
3534 the item itself. The position is relative to the start of the
3535 sequence as a whole, even if @code{:start} is non-zero. The function
3536 returns @code{nil} if no matching element was found.
3537 @end defun
3538
3539 @defun cl-count item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end}
3540 This function returns the number of elements of @var{seq} which
3541 match @var{item}. The result is always a nonnegative integer.
3542 @end defun
3543
3544 @findex cl-find-if
3545 @findex cl-find-if-not
3546 @findex cl-position-if
3547 @findex cl-position-if-not
3548 @findex cl-count-if
3549 @findex cl-count-if-not
3550 The @code{cl-find-if}, @code{cl-find-if-not}, @code{cl-position-if},
3551 @code{cl-position-if-not}, @code{cl-count-if}, and @code{cl-count-if-not}
3552 functions are defined similarly.
3553
3554 @defun cl-mismatch seq1 seq2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2 :from-end}
3555 This function compares the specified parts of @var{seq1} and
3556 @var{seq2}. If they are the same length and the corresponding
3557 elements match (according to @code{:test}, @code{:test-not},
3558 and @code{:key}), the function returns @code{nil}. If there is
3559 a mismatch, the function returns the index (relative to @var{seq1})
3560 of the first mismatching element. This will be the leftmost pair of
3561 elements that do not match, or the position at which the shorter of
3562 the two otherwise-matching sequences runs out.
3563
3564 If @code{:from-end} is true, then the elements are compared from right
3565 to left starting at @code{(1- @var{end1})} and @code{(1- @var{end2})}.
3566 If the sequences differ, then one plus the index of the rightmost
3567 difference (relative to @var{seq1}) is returned.
3568
3569 An interesting example is @code{(cl-mismatch str1 str2 :key 'upcase)},
3570 which compares two strings case-insensitively.
3571 @end defun
3572
3573 @defun cl-search seq1 seq2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key :from-end :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2}
3574 This function searches @var{seq2} for a subsequence that matches
3575 @var{seq1} (or part of it specified by @code{:start1} and
3576 @code{:end1}). Only matches that fall entirely within the region
3577 defined by @code{:start2} and @code{:end2} will be considered.
3578 The return value is the index of the leftmost element of the
3579 leftmost match, relative to the start of @var{seq2}, or @code{nil}
3580 if no matches were found. If @code{:from-end} is true, the
3581 function finds the @emph{rightmost} matching subsequence.
3582 @end defun
3583
3584 @node Sorting Sequences
3585 @section Sorting Sequences
3586
3587 @defun cl-sort seq predicate @t{&key :key}
3588 This function sorts @var{seq} into increasing order as determined
3589 by using @var{predicate} to compare pairs of elements. @var{predicate}
3590 should return true (non-@code{nil}) if and only if its first argument
3591 is less than (not equal to) its second argument. For example,
3592 @code{<} and @code{string-lessp} are suitable predicate functions
3593 for sorting numbers and strings, respectively; @code{>} would sort
3594 numbers into decreasing rather than increasing order.
3595
3596 This function differs from Emacs's built-in @code{sort} in that it
3597 can operate on any type of sequence, not just lists. Also, it
3598 accepts a @code{:key} argument, which is used to preprocess data
3599 fed to the @var{predicate} function. For example,
3600
3601 @example
3602 (setq data (cl-sort data 'string-lessp :key 'downcase))
3603 @end example
3604
3605 @noindent
3606 sorts @var{data}, a sequence of strings, into increasing alphabetical
3607 order without regard to case. A @code{:key} function of @code{car}
3608 would be useful for sorting association lists. It should only be a
3609 simple accessor though, since it's used heavily in the current
3610 implementation.
3611
3612 The @code{cl-sort} function is destructive; it sorts lists by actually
3613 rearranging the @sc{cdr} pointers in suitable fashion.
3614 @end defun
3615
3616 @defun cl-stable-sort seq predicate @t{&key :key}
3617 This function sorts @var{seq} @dfn{stably}, meaning two elements
3618 which are equal in terms of @var{predicate} are guaranteed not to
3619 be rearranged out of their original order by the sort.
3620
3621 In practice, @code{cl-sort} and @code{cl-stable-sort} are equivalent
3622 in Emacs Lisp because the underlying @code{sort} function is
3623 stable by default. However, this package reserves the right to
3624 use non-stable methods for @code{cl-sort} in the future.
3625 @end defun
3626
3627 @defun cl-merge type seq1 seq2 predicate @t{&key :key}
3628 This function merges two sequences @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} by
3629 interleaving their elements. The result sequence, of type @var{type}
3630 (in the sense of @code{cl-concatenate}), has length equal to the sum
3631 of the lengths of the two input sequences. The sequences may be
3632 modified destructively. Order of elements within @var{seq1} and
3633 @var{seq2} is preserved in the interleaving; elements of the two
3634 sequences are compared by @var{predicate} (in the sense of
3635 @code{sort}) and the lesser element goes first in the result.
3636 When elements are equal, those from @var{seq1} precede those from
3637 @var{seq2} in the result. Thus, if @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} are
3638 both sorted according to @var{predicate}, then the result will be
3639 a merged sequence which is (stably) sorted according to
3640 @var{predicate}.
3641 @end defun
3642
3643 @node Lists
3644 @chapter Lists
3645
3646 @noindent
3647 The functions described here operate on lists.
3648
3649 @menu
3650 * List Functions:: @code{cl-caddr}, @code{cl-first}, @code{cl-list*}, etc.
3651 * Substitution of Expressions:: @code{cl-subst}, @code{cl-sublis}, etc.
3652 * Lists as Sets:: @code{cl-member}, @code{cl-adjoin}, @code{cl-union}, etc.
3653 * Association Lists:: @code{cl-assoc}, @code{cl-acons}, @code{cl-pairlis}, etc.
3654 @end menu
3655
3656 @node List Functions
3657 @section List Functions
3658
3659 @noindent
3660 This section describes a number of simple operations on lists,
3661 i.e., chains of cons cells.
3662
3663 @defun cl-caddr x
3664 This function is equivalent to @code{(car (cdr (cdr @var{x})))}.
3665 Likewise, this package defines all 24 @code{c@var{xxx}r} functions
3666 where @var{xxx} is up to four @samp{a}s and/or @samp{d}s.
3667 All of these functions are @code{setf}-able, and calls to them
3668 are expanded inline by the byte-compiler for maximum efficiency.
3669 @end defun
3670
3671 @defun cl-first x
3672 This function is a synonym for @code{(car @var{x})}. Likewise,
3673 the functions @code{cl-second}, @code{cl-third}, @dots{}, through
3674 @code{cl-tenth} return the given element of the list @var{x}.
3675 @end defun
3676
3677 @defun cl-rest x
3678 This function is a synonym for @code{(cdr @var{x})}.
3679 @end defun
3680
3681 @defun cl-endp x
3682 Common Lisp defines this function to act like @code{null}, but
3683 signaling an error if @code{x} is neither a @code{nil} nor a
3684 cons cell. This package simply defines @code{cl-endp} as a synonym
3685 for @code{null}.
3686 @end defun
3687
3688 @defun cl-list-length x
3689 This function returns the length of list @var{x}, exactly like
3690 @code{(length @var{x})}, except that if @var{x} is a circular
3691 list (where the @sc{cdr}-chain forms a loop rather than terminating
3692 with @code{nil}), this function returns @code{nil}. (The regular
3693 @code{length} function would get stuck if given a circular list.
3694 See also the @code{safe-length} function.)
3695 @end defun
3696
3697 @defun cl-list* arg &rest others
3698 This function constructs a list of its arguments. The final
3699 argument becomes the @sc{cdr} of the last cell constructed.
3700 Thus, @code{(cl-list* @var{a} @var{b} @var{c})} is equivalent to
3701 @code{(cons @var{a} (cons @var{b} @var{c}))}, and
3702 @code{(cl-list* @var{a} @var{b} nil)} is equivalent to
3703 @code{(list @var{a} @var{b})}.
3704 @end defun
3705
3706 @defun cl-ldiff list sublist
3707 If @var{sublist} is a sublist of @var{list}, i.e., is @code{eq} to
3708 one of the cons cells of @var{list}, then this function returns
3709 a copy of the part of @var{list} up to but not including
3710 @var{sublist}. For example, @code{(cl-ldiff x (cddr x))} returns
3711 the first two elements of the list @code{x}. The result is a
3712 copy; the original @var{list} is not modified. If @var{sublist}
3713 is not a sublist of @var{list}, a copy of the entire @var{list}
3714 is returned.
3715 @end defun
3716
3717 @defun cl-copy-list list
3718 This function returns a copy of the list @var{list}. It copies
3719 dotted lists like @code{(1 2 . 3)} correctly.
3720 @end defun
3721
3722 @defun cl-tree-equal x y @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3723 This function compares two trees of cons cells. If @var{x} and
3724 @var{y} are both cons cells, their @sc{car}s and @sc{cdr}s are
3725 compared recursively. If neither @var{x} nor @var{y} is a cons
3726 cell, they are compared by @code{eql}, or according to the
3727 specified test. The @code{:key} function, if specified, is
3728 applied to the elements of both trees. @xref{Sequences}.
3729 @end defun
3730
3731 @node Substitution of Expressions
3732 @section Substitution of Expressions
3733
3734 @noindent
3735 These functions substitute elements throughout a tree of cons
3736 cells. (@xref{Sequence Functions}, for the @code{cl-substitute}
3737 function, which works on just the top-level elements of a list.)
3738
3739 @defun cl-subst new old tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3740 This function substitutes occurrences of @var{old} with @var{new}
3741 in @var{tree}, a tree of cons cells. It returns a substituted
3742 tree, which will be a copy except that it may share storage with
3743 the argument @var{tree} in parts where no substitutions occurred.
3744 The original @var{tree} is not modified. This function recurses
3745 on, and compares against @var{old}, both @sc{car}s and @sc{cdr}s
3746 of the component cons cells. If @var{old} is itself a cons cell,
3747 then matching cells in the tree are substituted as usual without
3748 recursively substituting in that cell. Comparisons with @var{old}
3749 are done according to the specified test (@code{eql} by default).
3750 The @code{:key} function is applied to the elements of the tree
3751 but not to @var{old}.
3752 @end defun
3753
3754 @defun cl-nsubst new old tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3755 This function is like @code{cl-subst}, except that it works by
3756 destructive modification (by @code{setcar} or @code{setcdr})
3757 rather than copying.
3758 @end defun
3759
3760 @findex cl-subst-if
3761 @findex cl-subst-if-not
3762 @findex cl-nsubst-if
3763 @findex cl-nsubst-if-not
3764 The @code{cl-subst-if}, @code{cl-subst-if-not}, @code{cl-nsubst-if}, and
3765 @code{cl-nsubst-if-not} functions are defined similarly.
3766
3767 @defun cl-sublis alist tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3768 This function is like @code{cl-subst}, except that it takes an
3769 association list @var{alist} of @var{old}-@var{new} pairs.
3770 Each element of the tree (after applying the @code{:key}
3771 function, if any), is compared with the @sc{car}s of
3772 @var{alist}; if it matches, it is replaced by the corresponding
3773 @sc{cdr}.
3774 @end defun
3775
3776 @defun cl-nsublis alist tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3777 This is a destructive version of @code{cl-sublis}.
3778 @end defun
3779
3780 @node Lists as Sets
3781 @section Lists as Sets
3782
3783 @noindent
3784 These functions perform operations on lists that represent sets
3785 of elements.
3786
3787 @defun cl-member item list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3788 This function searches @var{list} for an element matching @var{item}.
3789 If a match is found, it returns the cons cell whose @sc{car} was
3790 the matching element. Otherwise, it returns @code{nil}. Elements
3791 are compared by @code{eql} by default; you can use the @code{:test},
3792 @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key} arguments to modify this behavior.
3793 @xref{Sequences}.
3794
3795 The standard Emacs lisp function @code{member} uses @code{equal} for
3796 comparisons; it is equivalent to @code{(cl-member @var{item} @var{list}
3797 :test 'equal)}. With no keyword arguments, @code{cl-member} is
3798 equivalent to @code{memq}.
3799 @end defun
3800
3801 @findex cl-member-if
3802 @findex cl-member-if-not
3803 The @code{cl-member-if} and @code{cl-member-if-not} functions
3804 analogously search for elements that satisfy a given predicate.
3805
3806 @defun cl-tailp sublist list
3807 This function returns @code{t} if @var{sublist} is a sublist of
3808 @var{list}, i.e., if @var{sublist} is @code{eql} to @var{list} or to
3809 any of its @sc{cdr}s.
3810 @end defun
3811
3812 @defun cl-adjoin item list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3813 This function conses @var{item} onto the front of @var{list},
3814 like @code{(cons @var{item} @var{list})}, but only if @var{item}
3815 is not already present on the list (as determined by @code{cl-member}).
3816 If a @code{:key} argument is specified, it is applied to
3817 @var{item} as well as to the elements of @var{list} during
3818 the search, on the reasoning that @var{item} is ``about'' to
3819 become part of the list.
3820 @end defun
3821
3822 @defun cl-union list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3823 This function combines two lists that represent sets of items,
3824 returning a list that represents the union of those two sets.
3825 The resulting list contains all items that appear in @var{list1}
3826 or @var{list2}, and no others. If an item appears in both
3827 @var{list1} and @var{list2} it is copied only once. If
3828 an item is duplicated in @var{list1} or @var{list2}, it is
3829 undefined whether or not that duplication will survive in the
3830 result list. The order of elements in the result list is also
3831 undefined.
3832 @end defun
3833
3834 @defun cl-nunion list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3835 This is a destructive version of @code{cl-union}; rather than copying,
3836 it tries to reuse the storage of the argument lists if possible.
3837 @end defun
3838
3839 @defun cl-intersection list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3840 This function computes the intersection of the sets represented
3841 by @var{list1} and @var{list2}. It returns the list of items
3842 that appear in both @var{list1} and @var{list2}.
3843 @end defun
3844
3845 @defun cl-nintersection list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3846 This is a destructive version of @code{cl-intersection}. It
3847 tries to reuse storage of @var{list1} rather than copying.
3848 It does @emph{not} reuse the storage of @var{list2}.
3849 @end defun
3850
3851 @defun cl-set-difference list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3852 This function computes the ``set difference'' of @var{list1}
3853 and @var{list2}, i.e., the set of elements that appear in
3854 @var{list1} but @emph{not} in @var{list2}.
3855 @end defun
3856
3857 @defun cl-nset-difference list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3858 This is a destructive @code{cl-set-difference}, which will try
3859 to reuse @var{list1} if possible.
3860 @end defun
3861
3862 @defun cl-set-exclusive-or list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3863 This function computes the ``set exclusive or'' of @var{list1}
3864 and @var{list2}, i.e., the set of elements that appear in
3865 exactly one of @var{list1} and @var{list2}.
3866 @end defun
3867
3868 @defun cl-nset-exclusive-or list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3869 This is a destructive @code{cl-set-exclusive-or}, which will try
3870 to reuse @var{list1} and @var{list2} if possible.
3871 @end defun
3872
3873 @defun cl-subsetp list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3874 This function checks whether @var{list1} represents a subset
3875 of @var{list2}, i.e., whether every element of @var{list1}
3876 also appears in @var{list2}.
3877 @end defun
3878
3879 @node Association Lists
3880 @section Association Lists
3881
3882 @noindent
3883 An @dfn{association list} is a list representing a mapping from
3884 one set of values to another; any list whose elements are cons
3885 cells is an association list.
3886
3887 @defun cl-assoc item a-list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3888 This function searches the association list @var{a-list} for an
3889 element whose @sc{car} matches (in the sense of @code{:test},
3890 @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key}, or by comparison with @code{eql})
3891 a given @var{item}. It returns the matching element, if any,
3892 otherwise @code{nil}. It ignores elements of @var{a-list} that
3893 are not cons cells. (This corresponds to the behavior of
3894 @code{assq} and @code{assoc} in Emacs Lisp; Common Lisp's
3895 @code{assoc} ignores @code{nil}s but considers any other non-cons
3896 elements of @var{a-list} to be an error.)
3897 @end defun
3898
3899 @defun cl-rassoc item a-list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3900 This function searches for an element whose @sc{cdr} matches
3901 @var{item}. If @var{a-list} represents a mapping, this applies
3902 the inverse of the mapping to @var{item}.
3903 @end defun
3904
3905 @findex cl-assoc-if
3906 @findex cl-assoc-if-not
3907 @findex cl-rassoc-if
3908 @findex cl-rassoc-if-not
3909 The @code{cl-assoc-if}, @code{cl-assoc-if-not}, @code{cl-rassoc-if},
3910 and @code{cl-rassoc-if-not} functions are defined similarly.
3911
3912 Two simple functions for constructing association lists are:
3913
3914 @defun cl-acons key value alist
3915 This is equivalent to @code{(cons (cons @var{key} @var{value}) @var{alist})}.
3916 @end defun
3917
3918 @defun cl-pairlis keys values &optional alist
3919 This is equivalent to @code{(nconc (cl-mapcar 'cons @var{keys} @var{values})
3920 @var{alist})}.
3921 @end defun
3922
3923 @node Structures
3924 @chapter Structures
3925
3926 @noindent
3927 The Common Lisp @dfn{structure} mechanism provides a general way
3928 to define data types similar to C's @code{struct} types. A
3929 structure is a Lisp object containing some number of @dfn{slots},
3930 each of which can hold any Lisp data object. Functions are
3931 provided for accessing and setting the slots, creating or copying
3932 structure objects, and recognizing objects of a particular structure
3933 type.
3934
3935 In true Common Lisp, each structure type is a new type distinct
3936 from all existing Lisp types. Since the underlying Emacs Lisp
3937 system provides no way to create new distinct types, this package
3938 implements structures as vectors (or lists upon request) with a
3939 special ``tag'' symbol to identify them.
3940
3941 @defmac cl-defstruct name slots@dots{}
3942 The @code{cl-defstruct} form defines a new structure type called
3943 @var{name}, with the specified @var{slots}. (The @var{slots}
3944 may begin with a string which documents the structure type.)
3945 In the simplest case, @var{name} and each of the @var{slots}
3946 are symbols. For example,
3947
3948 @example
3949 (cl-defstruct person name age sex)
3950 @end example
3951
3952 @noindent
3953 defines a struct type called @code{person} that contains three
3954 slots. Given a @code{person} object @var{p}, you can access those
3955 slots by calling @code{(person-name @var{p})}, @code{(person-age @var{p})},
3956 and @code{(person-sex @var{p})}. You can also change these slots by
3957 using @code{setf} on any of these place forms, for example:
3958
3959 @example
3960 (cl-incf (person-age birthday-boy))
3961 @end example
3962
3963 You can create a new @code{person} by calling @code{make-person},
3964 which takes keyword arguments @code{:name}, @code{:age}, and
3965 @code{:sex} to specify the initial values of these slots in the
3966 new object. (Omitting any of these arguments leaves the corresponding
3967 slot ``undefined'', according to the Common Lisp standard; in Emacs
3968 Lisp, such uninitialized slots are filled with @code{nil}.)
3969
3970 Given a @code{person}, @code{(copy-person @var{p})} makes a new
3971 object of the same type whose slots are @code{eq} to those of @var{p}.
3972
3973 Given any Lisp object @var{x}, @code{(person-p @var{x})} returns
3974 true if @var{x} looks like a @code{person}, and false otherwise. (Again,
3975 in Common Lisp this predicate would be exact; in Emacs Lisp the
3976 best it can do is verify that @var{x} is a vector of the correct
3977 length that starts with the correct tag symbol.)
3978
3979 Accessors like @code{person-name} normally check their arguments
3980 (effectively using @code{person-p}) and signal an error if the
3981 argument is the wrong type. This check is affected by
3982 @code{(optimize (safety @dots{}))} declarations. Safety level 1,
3983 the default, uses a somewhat optimized check that will detect all
3984 incorrect arguments, but may use an uninformative error message
3985 (e.g., ``expected a vector'' instead of ``expected a @code{person}'').
3986 Safety level 0 omits all checks except as provided by the underlying
3987 @code{aref} call; safety levels 2 and 3 do rigorous checking that will
3988 always print a descriptive error message for incorrect inputs.
3989 @xref{Declarations}.
3990
3991 @example
3992 (setq dave (make-person :name "Dave" :sex 'male))
3993 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Dave" nil male]
3994 (setq other (copy-person dave))
3995 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Dave" nil male]
3996 (eq dave other)
3997 @result{} nil
3998 (eq (person-name dave) (person-name other))
3999 @result{} t
4000 (person-p dave)
4001 @result{} t
4002 (person-p [1 2 3 4])
4003 @result{} nil
4004 (person-p "Bogus")
4005 @result{} nil
4006 (person-p '[cl-struct-person counterfeit person object])
4007 @result{} t
4008 @end example
4009
4010 In general, @var{name} is either a name symbol or a list of a name
4011 symbol followed by any number of @dfn{struct options}; each @var{slot}
4012 is either a slot symbol or a list of the form @samp{(@var{slot-name}
4013 @var{default-value} @var{slot-options}@dots{})}. The @var{default-value}
4014 is a Lisp form that is evaluated any time an instance of the
4015 structure type is created without specifying that slot's value.
4016
4017 Common Lisp defines several slot options, but the only one
4018 implemented in this package is @code{:read-only}. A non-@code{nil}
4019 value for this option means the slot should not be @code{setf}-able;
4020 the slot's value is determined when the object is created and does
4021 not change afterward.
4022
4023 @example
4024 (cl-defstruct person
4025 (name nil :read-only t)
4026 age
4027 (sex 'unknown))
4028 @end example
4029
4030 Any slot options other than @code{:read-only} are ignored.
4031
4032 For obscure historical reasons, structure options take a different
4033 form than slot options. A structure option is either a keyword
4034 symbol, or a list beginning with a keyword symbol possibly followed
4035 by arguments. (By contrast, slot options are key-value pairs not
4036 enclosed in lists.)
4037
4038 @example
4039 (cl-defstruct (person (:constructor create-person)
4040 (:type list)
4041 :named)
4042 name age sex)
4043 @end example
4044
4045 The following structure options are recognized.
4046
4047 @table @code
4048 @item :conc-name
4049 The argument is a symbol whose print name is used as the prefix for
4050 the names of slot accessor functions. The default is the name of
4051 the struct type followed by a hyphen. The option @code{(:conc-name p-)}
4052 would change this prefix to @code{p-}. Specifying @code{nil} as an
4053 argument means no prefix, so that the slot names themselves are used
4054 to name the accessor functions.
4055
4056 @item :constructor
4057 In the simple case, this option takes one argument which is an
4058 alternate name to use for the constructor function. The default
4059 is @code{make-@var{name}}, e.g., @code{make-person}. The above
4060 example changes this to @code{create-person}. Specifying @code{nil}
4061 as an argument means that no standard constructor should be
4062 generated at all.
4063
4064 In the full form of this option, the constructor name is followed
4065 by an arbitrary argument list. @xref{Program Structure}, for a
4066 description of the format of Common Lisp argument lists. All
4067 options, such as @code{&rest} and @code{&key}, are supported.
4068 The argument names should match the slot names; each slot is
4069 initialized from the corresponding argument. Slots whose names
4070 do not appear in the argument list are initialized based on the
4071 @var{default-value} in their slot descriptor. Also, @code{&optional}
4072 and @code{&key} arguments that don't specify defaults take their
4073 defaults from the slot descriptor. It is valid to include arguments
4074 that don't correspond to slot names; these are useful if they are
4075 referred to in the defaults for optional, keyword, or @code{&aux}
4076 arguments that @emph{do} correspond to slots.
4077
4078 You can specify any number of full-format @code{:constructor}
4079 options on a structure. The default constructor is still generated
4080 as well unless you disable it with a simple-format @code{:constructor}
4081 option.
4082
4083 @example
4084 (cl-defstruct
4085 (person
4086 (:constructor nil) ; no default constructor
4087 (:constructor new-person
4088 (name sex &optional (age 0)))
4089 (:constructor new-hound (&key (name "Rover")
4090 (dog-years 0)
4091 &aux (age (* 7 dog-years))
4092 (sex 'canine))))
4093 name age sex)
4094 @end example
4095
4096 The first constructor here takes its arguments positionally rather
4097 than by keyword. (In official Common Lisp terminology, constructors
4098 that work By Order of Arguments instead of by keyword are called
4099 ``BOA constructors''. No, I'm not making this up.) For example,
4100 @code{(new-person "Jane" 'female)} generates a person whose slots
4101 are @code{"Jane"}, 0, and @code{female}, respectively.
4102
4103 The second constructor takes two keyword arguments, @code{:name},
4104 which initializes the @code{name} slot and defaults to @code{"Rover"},
4105 and @code{:dog-years}, which does not itself correspond to a slot
4106 but which is used to initialize the @code{age} slot. The @code{sex}
4107 slot is forced to the symbol @code{canine} with no syntax for
4108 overriding it.
4109
4110 @item :copier
4111 The argument is an alternate name for the copier function for
4112 this type. The default is @code{copy-@var{name}}. @code{nil}
4113 means not to generate a copier function. (In this implementation,
4114 all copier functions are simply synonyms for @code{copy-sequence}.)
4115
4116 @item :predicate
4117 The argument is an alternate name for the predicate that recognizes
4118 objects of this type. The default is @code{@var{name}-p}. @code{nil}
4119 means not to generate a predicate function. (If the @code{:type}
4120 option is used without the @code{:named} option, no predicate is
4121 ever generated.)
4122
4123 In true Common Lisp, @code{typep} is always able to recognize a
4124 structure object even if @code{:predicate} was used. In this
4125 package, @code{cl-typep} simply looks for a function called
4126 @code{@var{typename}-p}, so it will work for structure types
4127 only if they used the default predicate name.
4128
4129 @item :include
4130 This option implements a very limited form of C++-style inheritance.
4131 The argument is the name of another structure type previously
4132 created with @code{cl-defstruct}. The effect is to cause the new
4133 structure type to inherit all of the included structure's slots
4134 (plus, of course, any new slots described by this struct's slot
4135 descriptors). The new structure is considered a ``specialization''
4136 of the included one. In fact, the predicate and slot accessors
4137 for the included type will also accept objects of the new type.
4138
4139 If there are extra arguments to the @code{:include} option after
4140 the included-structure name, these options are treated as replacement
4141 slot descriptors for slots in the included structure, possibly with
4142 modified default values. Borrowing an example from Steele:
4143
4144 @example
4145 (cl-defstruct person name (age 0) sex)
4146 @result{} person
4147 (cl-defstruct (astronaut (:include person (age 45)))
4148 helmet-size
4149 (favorite-beverage 'tang))
4150 @result{} astronaut
4151
4152 (setq joe (make-person :name "Joe"))
4153 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Joe" 0 nil]
4154 (setq buzz (make-astronaut :name "Buzz"))
4155 @result{} [cl-struct-astronaut "Buzz" 45 nil nil tang]
4156
4157 (list (person-p joe) (person-p buzz))
4158 @result{} (t t)
4159 (list (astronaut-p joe) (astronaut-p buzz))
4160 @result{} (nil t)
4161
4162 (person-name buzz)
4163 @result{} "Buzz"
4164 (astronaut-name joe)
4165 @result{} error: "astronaut-name accessing a non-astronaut"
4166 @end example
4167
4168 Thus, if @code{astronaut} is a specialization of @code{person},
4169 then every @code{astronaut} is also a @code{person} (but not the
4170 other way around). Every @code{astronaut} includes all the slots
4171 of a @code{person}, plus extra slots that are specific to
4172 astronauts. Operations that work on people (like @code{person-name})
4173 work on astronauts just like other people.
4174
4175 @item :print-function
4176 In full Common Lisp, this option allows you to specify a function
4177 that is called to print an instance of the structure type. The
4178 Emacs Lisp system offers no hooks into the Lisp printer which would
4179 allow for such a feature, so this package simply ignores
4180 @code{:print-function}.
4181
4182 @item :type
4183 The argument should be one of the symbols @code{vector} or @code{list}.
4184 This tells which underlying Lisp data type should be used to implement
4185 the new structure type. Vectors are used by default, but
4186 @code{(:type list)} will cause structure objects to be stored as
4187 lists instead.
4188
4189 The vector representation for structure objects has the advantage
4190 that all structure slots can be accessed quickly, although creating
4191 vectors is a bit slower in Emacs Lisp. Lists are easier to create,
4192 but take a relatively long time accessing the later slots.
4193
4194 @item :named
4195 This option, which takes no arguments, causes a characteristic ``tag''
4196 symbol to be stored at the front of the structure object. Using
4197 @code{:type} without also using @code{:named} will result in a
4198 structure type stored as plain vectors or lists with no identifying
4199 features.
4200
4201 The default, if you don't specify @code{:type} explicitly, is to
4202 use named vectors. Therefore, @code{:named} is only useful in
4203 conjunction with @code{:type}.
4204
4205 @example
4206 (cl-defstruct (person1) name age sex)
4207 (cl-defstruct (person2 (:type list) :named) name age sex)
4208 (cl-defstruct (person3 (:type list)) name age sex)
4209
4210 (setq p1 (make-person1))
4211 @result{} [cl-struct-person1 nil nil nil]
4212 (setq p2 (make-person2))
4213 @result{} (person2 nil nil nil)
4214 (setq p3 (make-person3))
4215 @result{} (nil nil nil)
4216
4217 (person1-p p1)
4218 @result{} t
4219 (person2-p p2)
4220 @result{} t
4221 (person3-p p3)
4222 @result{} error: function person3-p undefined
4223 @end example
4224
4225 Since unnamed structures don't have tags, @code{cl-defstruct} is not
4226 able to make a useful predicate for recognizing them. Also,
4227 accessors like @code{person3-name} will be generated but they
4228 will not be able to do any type checking. The @code{person3-name}
4229 function, for example, will simply be a synonym for @code{car} in
4230 this case. By contrast, @code{person2-name} is able to verify
4231 that its argument is indeed a @code{person2} object before
4232 proceeding.
4233
4234 @item :initial-offset
4235 The argument must be a nonnegative integer. It specifies a
4236 number of slots to be left ``empty'' at the front of the
4237 structure. If the structure is named, the tag appears at the
4238 specified position in the list or vector; otherwise, the first
4239 slot appears at that position. Earlier positions are filled
4240 with @code{nil} by the constructors and ignored otherwise. If
4241 the type @code{:include}s another type, then @code{:initial-offset}
4242 specifies a number of slots to be skipped between the last slot
4243 of the included type and the first new slot.
4244 @end table
4245 @end defmac
4246
4247 Except as noted, the @code{cl-defstruct} facility of this package is
4248 entirely compatible with that of Common Lisp.
4249
4250 @node Assertions
4251 @chapter Assertions and Errors
4252
4253 @noindent
4254 This section describes two macros that test @dfn{assertions}, i.e.,
4255 conditions which must be true if the program is operating correctly.
4256 Assertions never add to the behavior of a Lisp program; they simply
4257 make ``sanity checks'' to make sure everything is as it should be.
4258
4259 If the optimization property @code{speed} has been set to 3, and
4260 @code{safety} is less than 3, then the byte-compiler will optimize
4261 away the following assertions. Because assertions might be optimized
4262 away, it is a bad idea for them to include side-effects.
4263
4264 @defmac cl-assert test-form [show-args string args@dots{}]
4265 This form verifies that @var{test-form} is true (i.e., evaluates to
4266 a non-@code{nil} value). If so, it returns @code{nil}. If the test
4267 is not satisfied, @code{cl-assert} signals an error.
4268
4269 A default error message will be supplied which includes @var{test-form}.
4270 You can specify a different error message by including a @var{string}
4271 argument plus optional extra arguments. Those arguments are simply
4272 passed to @code{error} to signal the error.
4273
4274 If the optional second argument @var{show-args} is @code{t} instead
4275 of @code{nil}, then the error message (with or without @var{string})
4276 will also include all non-constant arguments of the top-level
4277 @var{form}. For example:
4278
4279 @example
4280 (cl-assert (> x 10) t "x is too small: %d")
4281 @end example
4282
4283 This usage of @var{show-args} is an extension to Common Lisp. In
4284 true Common Lisp, the second argument gives a list of @var{places}
4285 which can be @code{setf}'d by the user before continuing from the
4286 error. Since Emacs Lisp does not support continuable errors, it
4287 makes no sense to specify @var{places}.
4288 @end defmac
4289
4290 @defmac cl-check-type form type [string]
4291 This form verifies that @var{form} evaluates to a value of type
4292 @var{type}. If so, it returns @code{nil}. If not, @code{cl-check-type}
4293 signals a @code{wrong-type-argument} error. The default error message
4294 lists the erroneous value along with @var{type} and @var{form}
4295 themselves. If @var{string} is specified, it is included in the
4296 error message in place of @var{type}. For example:
4297
4298 @example
4299 (cl-check-type x (integer 1 *) "a positive integer")
4300 @end example
4301
4302 @xref{Type Predicates}, for a description of the type specifiers
4303 that may be used for @var{type}.
4304
4305 Note that in Common Lisp, the first argument to @code{check-type}
4306 must be a @var{place} suitable for use by @code{setf}, because
4307 @code{check-type} signals a continuable error that allows the
4308 user to modify @var{place}.
4309 @end defmac
4310
4311 @node Efficiency Concerns
4312 @appendix Efficiency Concerns
4313
4314 @appendixsec Macros
4315
4316 @noindent
4317 Many of the advanced features of this package, such as @code{cl-defun},
4318 @code{cl-loop}, etc., are implemented as Lisp macros. In
4319 byte-compiled code, these complex notations will be expanded into
4320 equivalent Lisp code which is simple and efficient. For example,
4321 the form
4322
4323 @example
4324 (cl-incf i n)
4325 @end example
4326
4327 @noindent
4328 is expanded at compile-time to the Lisp form
4329
4330 @example
4331 (setq i (+ i n))
4332 @end example
4333
4334 @noindent
4335 which is the most efficient ways of doing this operation
4336 in Lisp. Thus, there is no performance penalty for using the more
4337 readable @code{cl-incf} form in your compiled code.
4338
4339 @emph{Interpreted} code, on the other hand, must expand these macros
4340 every time they are executed. For this reason it is strongly
4341 recommended that code making heavy use of macros be compiled.
4342 A loop using @code{cl-incf} a hundred times will execute considerably
4343 faster if compiled, and will also garbage-collect less because the
4344 macro expansion will not have to be generated, used, and thrown away a
4345 hundred times.
4346
4347 You can find out how a macro expands by using the
4348 @code{cl-prettyexpand} function.
4349
4350 @defun cl-prettyexpand form &optional full
4351 This function takes a single Lisp form as an argument and inserts
4352 a nicely formatted copy of it in the current buffer (which must be
4353 in Lisp mode so that indentation works properly). It also expands
4354 all Lisp macros that appear in the form. The easiest way to use
4355 this function is to go to the @file{*scratch*} buffer and type, say,
4356
4357 @example
4358 (cl-prettyexpand '(cl-loop for x below 10 collect x))
4359 @end example
4360
4361 @noindent
4362 and type @kbd{C-x C-e} immediately after the closing parenthesis;
4363 an expansion similar to:
4364
4365 @example
4366 (cl-block nil
4367 (let* ((x 0)
4368 (G1004 nil))
4369 (while (< x 10)
4370 (setq G1004 (cons x G1004))
4371 (setq x (+ x 1)))
4372 (nreverse G1004)))
4373 @end example
4374
4375 @noindent
4376 will be inserted into the buffer. (The @code{cl-block} macro is
4377 expanded differently in the interpreter and compiler, so
4378 @code{cl-prettyexpand} just leaves it alone. The temporary
4379 variable @code{G1004} was created by @code{cl-gensym}.)
4380
4381 If the optional argument @var{full} is true, then @emph{all}
4382 macros are expanded, including @code{cl-block}, @code{cl-eval-when},
4383 and compiler macros. Expansion is done as if @var{form} were
4384 a top-level form in a file being compiled.
4385
4386 @c FIXME none of these examples are still applicable.
4387 @ignore
4388 For example,
4389
4390 @example
4391 (cl-prettyexpand '(cl-pushnew 'x list))
4392 @print{} (setq list (cl-adjoin 'x list))
4393 (cl-prettyexpand '(cl-pushnew 'x list) t)
4394 @print{} (setq list (if (memq 'x list) list (cons 'x list)))
4395 (cl-prettyexpand '(caddr (cl-member 'a list)) t)
4396 @print{} (car (cdr (cdr (memq 'a list))))
4397 @end example
4398 @end ignore
4399
4400 Note that @code{cl-adjoin}, @code{cl-caddr}, and @code{cl-member} all
4401 have built-in compiler macros to optimize them in common cases.
4402 @end defun
4403
4404 @appendixsec Error Checking
4405
4406 @noindent
4407 Common Lisp compliance has in general not been sacrificed for the
4408 sake of efficiency. A few exceptions have been made for cases
4409 where substantial gains were possible at the expense of marginal
4410 incompatibility.
4411
4412 The Common Lisp standard (as embodied in Steele's book) uses the
4413 phrase ``it is an error if'' to indicate a situation that is not
4414 supposed to arise in complying programs; implementations are strongly
4415 encouraged but not required to signal an error in these situations.
4416 This package sometimes omits such error checking in the interest of
4417 compactness and efficiency. For example, @code{cl-do} variable
4418 specifiers are supposed to be lists of one, two, or three forms;
4419 extra forms are ignored by this package rather than signaling a
4420 syntax error. The @code{cl-endp} function is simply a synonym for
4421 @code{null} in this package. Functions taking keyword arguments
4422 will accept an odd number of arguments, treating the trailing
4423 keyword as if it were followed by the value @code{nil}.
4424
4425 Argument lists (as processed by @code{cl-defun} and friends)
4426 @emph{are} checked rigorously except for the minor point just
4427 mentioned; in particular, keyword arguments are checked for
4428 validity, and @code{&allow-other-keys} and @code{:allow-other-keys}
4429 are fully implemented. Keyword validity checking is slightly
4430 time consuming (though not too bad in byte-compiled code);
4431 you can use @code{&allow-other-keys} to omit this check. Functions
4432 defined in this package such as @code{cl-find} and @code{cl-member}
4433 do check their keyword arguments for validity.
4434
4435 @appendixsec Compiler Optimizations
4436
4437 @noindent
4438 Changing the value of @code{byte-optimize} from the default @code{t}
4439 is highly discouraged; many of the Common
4440 Lisp macros emit
4441 code that can be improved by optimization. In particular,
4442 @code{cl-block}s (whether explicit or implicit in constructs like
4443 @code{cl-defun} and @code{cl-loop}) carry a fair run-time penalty; the
4444 byte-compiler removes @code{cl-block}s that are not actually
4445 referenced by @code{cl-return} or @code{cl-return-from} inside the block.
4446
4447 @node Common Lisp Compatibility
4448 @appendix Common Lisp Compatibility
4449
4450 @noindent
4451 The following is a list of all known incompatibilities between this
4452 package and Common Lisp as documented in Steele (2nd edition).
4453
4454 The word @code{cl-defun} is required instead of @code{defun} in order
4455 to use extended Common Lisp argument lists in a function. Likewise,
4456 @code{cl-defmacro} and @code{cl-function} are versions of those forms
4457 which understand full-featured argument lists. The @code{&whole}
4458 keyword does not work in @code{cl-defmacro} argument lists (except
4459 inside recursive argument lists).
4460
4461 The @code{equal} predicate does not distinguish
4462 between IEEE floating-point plus and minus zero. The @code{cl-equalp}
4463 predicate has several differences with Common Lisp; @pxref{Predicates}.
4464
4465 The @code{cl-do-all-symbols} form is the same as @code{cl-do-symbols}
4466 with no @var{obarray} argument. In Common Lisp, this form would
4467 iterate over all symbols in all packages. Since Emacs obarrays
4468 are not a first-class package mechanism, there is no way for
4469 @code{cl-do-all-symbols} to locate any but the default obarray.
4470
4471 The @code{cl-loop} macro is complete except that @code{loop-finish}
4472 and type specifiers are unimplemented.
4473
4474 The multiple-value return facility treats lists as multiple
4475 values, since Emacs Lisp cannot support multiple return values
4476 directly. The macros will be compatible with Common Lisp if
4477 @code{cl-values} or @code{cl-values-list} is always used to return to
4478 a @code{cl-multiple-value-bind} or other multiple-value receiver;
4479 if @code{cl-values} is used without @code{cl-multiple-value-@dots{}}
4480 or vice-versa the effect will be different from Common Lisp.
4481
4482 Many Common Lisp declarations are ignored, and others match
4483 the Common Lisp standard in concept but not in detail. For
4484 example, local @code{special} declarations, which are purely
4485 advisory in Emacs Lisp, do not rigorously obey the scoping rules
4486 set down in Steele's book.
4487
4488 The variable @code{cl--gensym-counter} starts out with a pseudo-random
4489 value rather than with zero. This is to cope with the fact that
4490 generated symbols become interned when they are written to and
4491 loaded back from a file.
4492
4493 The @code{cl-defstruct} facility is compatible, except that structures
4494 are of type @code{:type vector :named} by default rather than some
4495 special, distinct type. Also, the @code{:type} slot option is ignored.
4496
4497 The second argument of @code{cl-check-type} is treated differently.
4498
4499 @node Porting Common Lisp
4500 @appendix Porting Common Lisp
4501
4502 @noindent
4503 This package is meant to be used as an extension to Emacs Lisp,
4504 not as an Emacs implementation of true Common Lisp. Some of the
4505 remaining differences between Emacs Lisp and Common Lisp make it
4506 difficult to port large Common Lisp applications to Emacs. For
4507 one, some of the features in this package are not fully compliant
4508 with ANSI or Steele; @pxref{Common Lisp Compatibility}. But there
4509 are also quite a few features that this package does not provide
4510 at all. Here are some major omissions that you will want to watch out
4511 for when bringing Common Lisp code into Emacs.
4512
4513 @itemize @bullet
4514 @item
4515 Case-insensitivity. Symbols in Common Lisp are case-insensitive
4516 by default. Some programs refer to a function or variable as
4517 @code{foo} in one place and @code{Foo} or @code{FOO} in another.
4518 Emacs Lisp will treat these as three distinct symbols.
4519
4520 Some Common Lisp code is written entirely in upper case. While Emacs
4521 is happy to let the program's own functions and variables use
4522 this convention, calls to Lisp builtins like @code{if} and
4523 @code{defun} will have to be changed to lower case.
4524
4525 @item
4526 Lexical scoping. In Common Lisp, function arguments and @code{let}
4527 bindings apply only to references physically within their bodies (or
4528 within macro expansions in their bodies). Traditionally, Emacs Lisp
4529 uses @dfn{dynamic scoping} wherein a binding to a variable is visible
4530 even inside functions called from the body.
4531 @xref{Dynamic Binding,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
4532 Lexical binding is available since Emacs 24.1, so be sure to set
4533 @code{lexical-binding} to @code{t} if you need to emulate this aspect
4534 of Common Lisp. @xref{Lexical Binding,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
4535
4536 Here is an example of a Common Lisp code fragment that would fail in
4537 Emacs Lisp if @code{lexical-binding} were set to @code{nil}:
4538
4539 @example
4540 (defun map-odd-elements (func list)
4541 (loop for x in list
4542 for flag = t then (not flag)
4543 collect (if flag x (funcall func x))))
4544
4545 (defun add-odd-elements (list x)
4546 (map-odd-elements (lambda (a) (+ a x)) list))
4547 @end example
4548
4549 @noindent
4550 With lexical binding, the two functions' usages of @code{x} are
4551 completely independent. With dynamic binding, the binding to @code{x}
4552 made by @code{add-odd-elements} will have been hidden by the binding
4553 in @code{map-odd-elements} by the time the @code{(+ a x)} function is
4554 called.
4555
4556 Internally, this package uses lexical binding so that such problems do
4557 not occur. @xref{Obsolete Lexical Binding}, for a description of the obsolete
4558 @code{lexical-let} form that emulates a Common Lisp-style lexical
4559 binding when dynamic binding is in use.
4560
4561 @item
4562 Reader macros. Common Lisp includes a second type of macro that
4563 works at the level of individual characters. For example, Common
4564 Lisp implements the quote notation by a reader macro called @code{'},
4565 whereas Emacs Lisp's parser just treats quote as a special case.
4566 Some Lisp packages use reader macros to create special syntaxes
4567 for themselves, which the Emacs parser is incapable of reading.
4568
4569 @item
4570 Other syntactic features. Common Lisp provides a number of
4571 notations beginning with @code{#} that the Emacs Lisp parser
4572 won't understand. For example, @samp{#| @dots{} |#} is an
4573 alternate comment notation, and @samp{#+lucid (foo)} tells
4574 the parser to ignore the @code{(foo)} except in Lucid Common
4575 Lisp.
4576
4577 @item
4578 Packages. In Common Lisp, symbols are divided into @dfn{packages}.
4579 Symbols that are Lisp built-ins are typically stored in one package;
4580 symbols that are vendor extensions are put in another, and each
4581 application program would have a package for its own symbols.
4582 Certain symbols are ``exported'' by a package and others are
4583 internal; certain packages ``use'' or import the exported symbols
4584 of other packages. To access symbols that would not normally be
4585 visible due to this importing and exporting, Common Lisp provides
4586 a syntax like @code{package:symbol} or @code{package::symbol}.
4587
4588 Emacs Lisp has a single namespace for all interned symbols, and
4589 then uses a naming convention of putting a prefix like @code{cl-}
4590 in front of the name. Some Emacs packages adopt the Common Lisp-like
4591 convention of using @code{cl:} or @code{cl::} as the prefix.
4592 However, the Emacs parser does not understand colons and just
4593 treats them as part of the symbol name. Thus, while @code{mapcar}
4594 and @code{lisp:mapcar} may refer to the same symbol in Common
4595 Lisp, they are totally distinct in Emacs Lisp. Common Lisp
4596 programs that refer to a symbol by the full name sometimes
4597 and the short name other times will not port cleanly to Emacs.
4598
4599 Emacs Lisp does have a concept of ``obarrays'', which are
4600 package-like collections of symbols, but this feature is not
4601 strong enough to be used as a true package mechanism.
4602
4603 @item
4604 The @code{format} function is quite different between Common
4605 Lisp and Emacs Lisp. It takes an additional ``destination''
4606 argument before the format string. A destination of @code{nil}
4607 means to format to a string as in Emacs Lisp; a destination
4608 of @code{t} means to write to the terminal (similar to
4609 @code{message} in Emacs). Also, format control strings are
4610 utterly different; @code{~} is used instead of @code{%} to
4611 introduce format codes, and the set of available codes is
4612 much richer. There are no notations like @code{\n} for
4613 string literals; instead, @code{format} is used with the
4614 ``newline'' format code, @code{~%}. More advanced formatting
4615 codes provide such features as paragraph filling, case
4616 conversion, and even loops and conditionals.
4617
4618 While it would have been possible to implement most of Common
4619 Lisp @code{format} in this package (under the name @code{cl-format},
4620 of course), it was not deemed worthwhile. It would have required
4621 a huge amount of code to implement even a decent subset of
4622 @code{format}, yet the functionality it would provide over
4623 Emacs Lisp's @code{format} would rarely be useful.
4624
4625 @item
4626 Vector constants use square brackets in Emacs Lisp, but
4627 @code{#(a b c)} notation in Common Lisp. To further complicate
4628 matters, Emacs has its own @code{#(} notation for
4629 something entirely different---strings with properties.
4630
4631 @item
4632 Characters are distinct from integers in Common Lisp. The notation
4633 for character constants is also different: @code{#\A} in Common Lisp
4634 where Emacs Lisp uses @code{?A}. Also, @code{string=} and
4635 @code{string-equal} are synonyms in Emacs Lisp, whereas the latter is
4636 case-insensitive in Common Lisp.
4637
4638 @item
4639 Data types. Some Common Lisp data types do not exist in Emacs
4640 Lisp. Rational numbers and complex numbers are not present,
4641 nor are large integers (all integers are ``fixnums''). All
4642 arrays are one-dimensional. There are no readtables or pathnames;
4643 streams are a set of existing data types rather than a new data
4644 type of their own. Hash tables, random-states, structures, and
4645 packages (obarrays) are built from Lisp vectors or lists rather
4646 than being distinct types.
4647
4648 @item
4649 The Common Lisp Object System (CLOS) is not implemented,
4650 nor is the Common Lisp Condition System. However, the EIEIO package
4651 (@pxref{Top, , Introduction, eieio, EIEIO}) does implement some
4652 CLOS functionality.
4653
4654 @item
4655 Common Lisp features that are completely redundant with Emacs
4656 Lisp features of a different name generally have not been
4657 implemented. For example, Common Lisp writes @code{defconstant}
4658 where Emacs Lisp uses @code{defconst}. Similarly, @code{make-list}
4659 takes its arguments in different ways in the two Lisps but does
4660 exactly the same thing, so this package has not bothered to
4661 implement a Common Lisp-style @code{make-list}.
4662
4663 @item
4664 A few more notable Common Lisp features not included in this
4665 package: @code{compiler-let}, @code{tagbody}, @code{prog},
4666 @code{ldb/dpb}, @code{parse-integer}, @code{cerror}.
4667
4668 @item
4669 Recursion. While recursion works in Emacs Lisp just like it
4670 does in Common Lisp, various details of the Emacs Lisp system
4671 and compiler make recursion much less efficient than it is in
4672 most Lisps. Some schools of thought prefer to use recursion
4673 in Lisp over other techniques; they would sum a list of
4674 numbers using something like
4675
4676 @example
4677 (defun sum-list (list)
4678 (if list
4679 (+ (car list) (sum-list (cdr list)))
4680 0))
4681 @end example
4682
4683 @noindent
4684 where a more iteratively-minded programmer might write one of
4685 these forms:
4686
4687 @example
4688 (let ((total 0)) (dolist (x my-list) (incf total x)) total)
4689 (loop for x in my-list sum x)
4690 @end example
4691
4692 While this would be mainly a stylistic choice in most Common Lisps,
4693 in Emacs Lisp you should be aware that the iterative forms are
4694 much faster than recursion. Also, Lisp programmers will want to
4695 note that the current Emacs Lisp compiler does not optimize tail
4696 recursion.
4697 @end itemize
4698
4699 @node Obsolete Features
4700 @appendix Obsolete Features
4701
4702 This section describes some features of the package that are obsolete
4703 and should not be used in new code. They are either only provided by
4704 the old @file{cl.el} entry point, not by the newer @file{cl-lib.el};
4705 or where versions with a @samp{cl-} prefix do exist they do not behave
4706 in exactly the same way.
4707
4708 @menu
4709 * Obsolete Lexical Binding:: An approximation of lexical binding.
4710 * Obsolete Macros:: Obsolete macros.
4711 * Obsolete Setf Customization:: Obsolete ways to customize setf.
4712 @end menu
4713
4714 @node Obsolete Lexical Binding
4715 @appendixsec Obsolete Lexical Binding
4716
4717 The following macros are extensions to Common Lisp, where all bindings
4718 are lexical unless declared otherwise. These features are likewise
4719 obsolete since the introduction of true lexical binding in Emacs 24.1.
4720
4721 @defmac lexical-let (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
4722 This form is exactly like @code{let} except that the bindings it
4723 establishes are purely lexical.
4724 @end defmac
4725
4726 @c FIXME remove this and refer to elisp manual.
4727 @c Maybe merge some stuff from here to there?
4728 @noindent
4729 Lexical bindings are similar to local variables in a language like C:
4730 Only the code physically within the body of the @code{lexical-let}
4731 (after macro expansion) may refer to the bound variables.
4732
4733 @example
4734 (setq a 5)
4735 (defun foo (b) (+ a b))
4736 (let ((a 2)) (foo a))
4737 @result{} 4
4738 (lexical-let ((a 2)) (foo a))
4739 @result{} 7
4740 @end example
4741
4742 @noindent
4743 In this example, a regular @code{let} binding of @code{a} actually
4744 makes a temporary change to the global variable @code{a}, so @code{foo}
4745 is able to see the binding of @code{a} to 2. But @code{lexical-let}
4746 actually creates a distinct local variable @code{a} for use within its
4747 body, without any effect on the global variable of the same name.
4748
4749 The most important use of lexical bindings is to create @dfn{closures}.
4750 A closure is a function object that refers to an outside lexical
4751 variable (@pxref{Closures,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}).
4752 For example:
4753
4754 @example
4755 (defun make-adder (n)
4756 (lexical-let ((n n))
4757 (function (lambda (m) (+ n m)))))
4758 (setq add17 (make-adder 17))
4759 (funcall add17 4)
4760 @result{} 21
4761 @end example
4762
4763 @noindent
4764 The call @code{(make-adder 17)} returns a function object which adds
4765 17 to its argument. If @code{let} had been used instead of
4766 @code{lexical-let}, the function object would have referred to the
4767 global @code{n}, which would have been bound to 17 only during the
4768 call to @code{make-adder} itself.
4769
4770 @example
4771 (defun make-counter ()
4772 (lexical-let ((n 0))
4773 (cl-function (lambda (&optional (m 1)) (cl-incf n m)))))
4774 (setq count-1 (make-counter))
4775 (funcall count-1 3)
4776 @result{} 3
4777 (funcall count-1 14)
4778 @result{} 17
4779 (setq count-2 (make-counter))
4780 (funcall count-2 5)
4781 @result{} 5
4782 (funcall count-1 2)
4783 @result{} 19
4784 (funcall count-2)
4785 @result{} 6
4786 @end example
4787
4788 @noindent
4789 Here we see that each call to @code{make-counter} creates a distinct
4790 local variable @code{n}, which serves as a private counter for the
4791 function object that is returned.
4792
4793 Closed-over lexical variables persist until the last reference to
4794 them goes away, just like all other Lisp objects. For example,
4795 @code{count-2} refers to a function object which refers to an
4796 instance of the variable @code{n}; this is the only reference
4797 to that variable, so after @code{(setq count-2 nil)} the garbage
4798 collector would be able to delete this instance of @code{n}.
4799 Of course, if a @code{lexical-let} does not actually create any
4800 closures, then the lexical variables are free as soon as the
4801 @code{lexical-let} returns.
4802
4803 Many closures are used only during the extent of the bindings they
4804 refer to; these are known as ``downward funargs'' in Lisp parlance.
4805 When a closure is used in this way, regular Emacs Lisp dynamic
4806 bindings suffice and will be more efficient than @code{lexical-let}
4807 closures:
4808
4809 @example
4810 (defun add-to-list (x list)
4811 (mapcar (lambda (y) (+ x y))) list)
4812 (add-to-list 7 '(1 2 5))
4813 @result{} (8 9 12)
4814 @end example
4815
4816 @noindent
4817 Since this lambda is only used while @code{x} is still bound,
4818 it is not necessary to make a true closure out of it.
4819
4820 You can use @code{defun} or @code{flet} inside a @code{lexical-let}
4821 to create a named closure. If several closures are created in the
4822 body of a single @code{lexical-let}, they all close over the same
4823 instance of the lexical variable.
4824
4825 @defmac lexical-let* (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
4826 This form is just like @code{lexical-let}, except that the bindings
4827 are made sequentially in the manner of @code{let*}.
4828 @end defmac
4829
4830 @node Obsolete Macros
4831 @appendixsec Obsolete Macros
4832
4833 The following macros are obsolete, and are replaced by versions with
4834 a @samp{cl-} prefix that do not behave in exactly the same way.
4835 Consequently, the @file{cl.el} versions are not simply aliases to the
4836 @file{cl-lib.el} versions.
4837
4838 @defmac flet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
4839 This macro is replaced by @code{cl-flet} (@pxref{Function Bindings}),
4840 which behaves the same way as Common Lisp's @code{flet}.
4841 This @code{flet} takes the same arguments as @code{cl-flet}, but does
4842 not behave in precisely the same way.
4843
4844 While @code{flet} in Common Lisp establishes a lexical function
4845 binding, this @code{flet} makes a dynamic binding (it dates from a
4846 time before Emacs had lexical binding). The result is
4847 that @code{flet} affects indirect calls to a function as well as calls
4848 directly inside the @code{flet} form itself.
4849
4850 This will even work on Emacs primitives, although note that some calls
4851 to primitive functions internal to Emacs are made without going
4852 through the symbol's function cell, and so will not be affected by
4853 @code{flet}. For example,
4854
4855 @example
4856 (flet ((message (&rest args) (push args saved-msgs)))
4857 (do-something))
4858 @end example
4859
4860 This code attempts to replace the built-in function @code{message}
4861 with a function that simply saves the messages in a list rather
4862 than displaying them. The original definition of @code{message}
4863 will be restored after @code{do-something} exits. This code will
4864 work fine on messages generated by other Lisp code, but messages
4865 generated directly inside Emacs will not be caught since they make
4866 direct C-language calls to the message routines rather than going
4867 through the Lisp @code{message} function.
4868
4869 @c Bug#411.
4870 Note that many primitives (e.g., @code{+}) have special byte-compile
4871 handling. Attempts to redefine such functions using @code{flet} will
4872 fail if byte-compiled.
4873 @c Or cl-flet.
4874 @c In such cases, use @code{labels} instead.
4875 @end defmac
4876
4877 @defmac labels (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
4878 This macro is replaced by @code{cl-labels} (@pxref{Function Bindings}),
4879 which behaves the same way as Common Lisp's @code{labels}.
4880 This @code{labels} takes the same arguments as @code{cl-labels}, but
4881 does not behave in precisely the same way.
4882
4883 This version of @code{labels} uses the obsolete @code{lexical-let}
4884 form (@pxref{Obsolete Lexical Binding}), rather than the true
4885 lexical binding that @code{cl-labels} uses.
4886 @end defmac
4887
4888 @node Obsolete Setf Customization
4889 @appendixsec Obsolete Ways to Customize Setf
4890
4891 Common Lisp defines three macros, @code{define-modify-macro},
4892 @code{defsetf}, and @code{define-setf-method}, that allow the
4893 user to extend generalized variables in various ways.
4894 In Emacs, these are obsolete, replaced by various features of
4895 @file{gv.el} in Emacs 24.3.
4896 @xref{Adding Generalized Variables,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
4897
4898
4899 @defmac define-modify-macro name arglist function [doc-string]
4900 This macro defines a ``read-modify-write'' macro similar to
4901 @code{cl-incf} and @code{cl-decf}. You can replace this macro
4902 with @code{gv-letplace}.
4903
4904 The macro @var{name} is defined to take a @var{place} argument
4905 followed by additional arguments described by @var{arglist}. The call
4906
4907 @example
4908 (@var{name} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{})
4909 @end example
4910
4911 @noindent
4912 will be expanded to
4913
4914 @example
4915 (cl-callf @var{func} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{})
4916 @end example
4917
4918 @noindent
4919 which in turn is roughly equivalent to
4920
4921 @example
4922 (setf @var{place} (@var{func} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{}))
4923 @end example
4924
4925 For example:
4926
4927 @example
4928 (define-modify-macro incf (&optional (n 1)) +)
4929 (define-modify-macro concatf (&rest args) concat)
4930 @end example
4931
4932 Note that @code{&key} is not allowed in @var{arglist}, but
4933 @code{&rest} is sufficient to pass keywords on to the function.
4934
4935 Most of the modify macros defined by Common Lisp do not exactly
4936 follow the pattern of @code{define-modify-macro}. For example,
4937 @code{push} takes its arguments in the wrong order, and @code{pop}
4938 is completely irregular.
4939
4940 The above @code{incf} example could be written using
4941 @code{gv-letplace} as:
4942 @example
4943 (defmacro incf (place &optional n)
4944 (gv-letplace (getter setter) place
4945 (macroexp-let2 nil v (or n 1)
4946 (funcall setter `(+ ,v ,getter)))))
4947 @end example
4948 @ignore
4949 (defmacro concatf (place &rest args)
4950 (gv-letplace (getter setter) place
4951 (macroexp-let2 nil v (mapconcat 'identity args "")
4952 (funcall setter `(concat ,getter ,v)))))
4953 @end ignore
4954 @end defmac
4955
4956 @defmac defsetf access-fn update-fn
4957 This is the simpler of two @code{defsetf} forms, and is
4958 replaced by @code{gv-define-simple-setter}.
4959
4960 With @var{access-fn} the name of a function that accesses a place,
4961 this declares @var{update-fn} to be the corresponding store function.
4962 From now on,
4963
4964 @example
4965 (setf (@var{access-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3}) @var{value})
4966 @end example
4967
4968 @noindent
4969 will be expanded to
4970
4971 @example
4972 (@var{update-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3} @var{value})
4973 @end example
4974
4975 @noindent
4976 The @var{update-fn} is required to be either a true function, or
4977 a macro that evaluates its arguments in a function-like way. Also,
4978 the @var{update-fn} is expected to return @var{value} as its result.
4979 Otherwise, the above expansion would not obey the rules for the way
4980 @code{setf} is supposed to behave.
4981
4982 As a special (non-Common-Lisp) extension, a third argument of @code{t}
4983 to @code{defsetf} says that the return value of @code{update-fn} is
4984 not suitable, so that the above @code{setf} should be expanded to
4985 something more like
4986
4987 @example
4988 (let ((temp @var{value}))
4989 (@var{update-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3} temp)
4990 temp)
4991 @end example
4992
4993 Some examples are:
4994
4995 @example
4996 (defsetf car setcar)
4997 (defsetf buffer-name rename-buffer t)
4998 @end example
4999
5000 These translate directly to @code{gv-define-simple-setter}:
5001
5002 @example
5003 (gv-define-simple-setter car setcar)
5004 (gv-define-simple-setter buffer-name rename-buffer t)
5005 @end example
5006 @end defmac
5007
5008 @defmac defsetf access-fn arglist (store-var) forms@dots{}
5009 This is the second, more complex, form of @code{defsetf}.
5010 It can be replaced by @code{gv-define-setter}.
5011
5012 This form of @code{defsetf} is rather like @code{defmacro} except for
5013 the additional @var{store-var} argument. The @var{forms} should
5014 return a Lisp form that stores the value of @var{store-var} into the
5015 generalized variable formed by a call to @var{access-fn} with
5016 arguments described by @var{arglist}. The @var{forms} may begin with
5017 a string which documents the @code{setf} method (analogous to the doc
5018 string that appears at the front of a function).
5019
5020 For example, the simple form of @code{defsetf} is shorthand for
5021
5022 @example
5023 (defsetf @var{access-fn} (&rest args) (store)
5024 (append '(@var{update-fn}) args (list store)))
5025 @end example
5026
5027 The Lisp form that is returned can access the arguments from
5028 @var{arglist} and @var{store-var} in an unrestricted fashion;
5029 macros like @code{cl-incf} that invoke this
5030 setf-method will insert temporary variables as needed to make
5031 sure the apparent order of evaluation is preserved.
5032
5033 Another standard example:
5034
5035 @example
5036 (defsetf nth (n x) (store)
5037 `(setcar (nthcdr ,n ,x) ,store))
5038 @end example
5039
5040 You could write this using @code{gv-define-setter} as:
5041
5042 @example
5043 (gv-define-setter nth (store n x)
5044 `(setcar (nthcdr ,n ,x) ,store))
5045 @end example
5046 @end defmac
5047
5048 @defmac define-setf-method access-fn arglist forms@dots{}
5049 This is the most general way to create new place forms. You can
5050 replace this by @code{gv-define-setter} or @code{gv-define-expander}.
5051
5052 When a @code{setf} to @var{access-fn} with arguments described by
5053 @var{arglist} is expanded, the @var{forms} are evaluated and must
5054 return a list of five items:
5055
5056 @enumerate
5057 @item
5058 A list of @dfn{temporary variables}.
5059
5060 @item
5061 A list of @dfn{value forms} corresponding to the temporary variables
5062 above. The temporary variables will be bound to these value forms
5063 as the first step of any operation on the generalized variable.
5064
5065 @item
5066 A list of exactly one @dfn{store variable} (generally obtained
5067 from a call to @code{gensym}).
5068
5069 @item
5070 A Lisp form that stores the contents of the store variable into
5071 the generalized variable, assuming the temporaries have been
5072 bound as described above.
5073
5074 @item
5075 A Lisp form that accesses the contents of the generalized variable,
5076 assuming the temporaries have been bound.
5077 @end enumerate
5078
5079 This is exactly like the Common Lisp macro of the same name,
5080 except that the method returns a list of five values rather
5081 than the five values themselves, since Emacs Lisp does not
5082 support Common Lisp's notion of multiple return values.
5083 (Note that the @code{setf} implementation provided by @file{gv.el}
5084 does not use this five item format. Its use here is only for
5085 backwards compatibility.)
5086
5087 Once again, the @var{forms} may begin with a documentation string.
5088
5089 A setf-method should be maximally conservative with regard to
5090 temporary variables. In the setf-methods generated by
5091 @code{defsetf}, the second return value is simply the list of
5092 arguments in the place form, and the first return value is a
5093 list of a corresponding number of temporary variables generated
5094 @c FIXME I don't think this is true anymore.
5095 by @code{cl-gensym}. Macros like @code{cl-incf} that
5096 use this setf-method will optimize away most temporaries that
5097 turn out to be unnecessary, so there is little reason for the
5098 setf-method itself to optimize.
5099 @end defmac
5100
5101 @c Removed in Emacs 24.3, not possible to make a compatible replacement.
5102 @ignore
5103 @defun get-setf-method place &optional env
5104 This function returns the setf-method for @var{place}, by
5105 invoking the definition previously recorded by @code{defsetf}
5106 or @code{define-setf-method}. The result is a list of five
5107 values as described above. You can use this function to build
5108 your own @code{cl-incf}-like modify macros.
5109
5110 The argument @var{env} specifies the ``environment'' to be
5111 passed on to @code{macroexpand} if @code{get-setf-method} should
5112 need to expand a macro in @var{place}. It should come from
5113 an @code{&environment} argument to the macro or setf-method
5114 that called @code{get-setf-method}.
5115 @end defun
5116 @end ignore
5117
5118
5119 @node GNU Free Documentation License
5120 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
5121 @include doclicense.texi
5122
5123 @node Function Index
5124 @unnumbered Function Index
5125
5126 @printindex fn
5127
5128 @node Variable Index
5129 @unnumbered Variable Index
5130
5131 @printindex vr
5132
5133 @bye