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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, 2001-2012 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. Buying copies from the FSF supports it in
21 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
22 @end quotation
23 @end copying
24
25 @dircategory Emacs lisp libraries
26 @direntry
27 * CL: (cl). Partial Common Lisp support for Emacs Lisp.
28 @end direntry
29
30 @finalout
31
32 @titlepage
33 @sp 6
34 @center @titlefont{Common Lisp Extensions}
35 @sp 4
36 @center For GNU Emacs Lisp
37 @sp 1
38 @center as distributed with Emacs @value{EMACSVER}
39 @sp 5
40 @center Dave Gillespie
41 @center daveg@@synaptics.com
42 @page
43 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
44 @insertcopying
45 @end titlepage
46
47 @contents
48
49 @ifnottex
50 @node Top
51 @top GNU Emacs Common Lisp Emulation
52
53 @insertcopying
54 @end ifnottex
55
56 @menu
57 * Overview:: Basics, usage, organization, naming conventions.
58 * Program Structure:: Arglists, @code{cl-eval-when}.
59 * Predicates:: Type predicates and equality predicates.
60 * Control Structure:: Assignment, conditionals, blocks, looping.
61 * Macros:: Destructuring, compiler macros.
62 * Declarations:: @code{cl-proclaim}, @code{cl-declare}, etc.
63 * Symbols:: Property lists, creating symbols.
64 * Numbers:: Predicates, functions, random numbers.
65 * Sequences:: Mapping, functions, searching, sorting.
66 * Lists:: Functions, substitution, sets, associations.
67 * Structures:: @code{cl-defstruct}.
68 * Assertions:: Assertions and type checking.
69
70 Appendices
71 * Efficiency Concerns:: Hints and techniques.
72 * Common Lisp Compatibility:: All known differences with Steele.
73 * Porting Common Lisp:: Hints for porting Common Lisp code.
74 * Obsolete Features:: Obsolete features.
75 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation.
76
77 Indexes
78 * Function Index:: An entry for each documented function.
79 * Variable Index:: An entry for each documented variable.
80 @end menu
81
82 @node Overview
83 @chapter Overview
84
85 @noindent
86 This document describes a set of Emacs Lisp facilities borrowed from
87 Common Lisp. All the facilities are described here in detail. While
88 this document does not assume any prior knowledge of Common Lisp, it
89 does assume a basic familiarity with Emacs Lisp.
90
91 Common Lisp is a huge language, and Common Lisp systems tend to be
92 massive and extremely complex. Emacs Lisp, by contrast, is rather
93 minimalist in the choice of Lisp features it offers the programmer.
94 As Emacs Lisp programmers have grown in number, and the applications
95 they write have grown more ambitious, it has become clear that Emacs
96 Lisp could benefit from many of the conveniences of Common Lisp.
97
98 The @dfn{CL} package adds a number of Common Lisp functions and
99 control structures to Emacs Lisp. While not a 100% complete
100 implementation of Common Lisp, it adds enough functionality
101 to make Emacs Lisp programming significantly more convenient.
102
103 Some Common Lisp features have been omitted from this package
104 for various reasons:
105
106 @itemize @bullet
107 @item
108 Some features are too complex or bulky relative to their benefit
109 to Emacs Lisp programmers. CLOS and Common Lisp streams are fine
110 examples of this group. (The separate package EIEIO implements
111 a subset of CLOS functionality. @xref{Top, , Introduction, eieio, EIEIO}.)
112
113 @item
114 Other features cannot be implemented without modification to the
115 Emacs Lisp interpreter itself, such as multiple return values,
116 case-insensitive symbols, and complex numbers.
117 This package generally makes no attempt to emulate these features.
118
119 @end itemize
120
121 This package was originally written by Dave Gillespie,
122 @file{daveg@@synaptics.com}, as a total rewrite of an earlier 1986
123 @file{cl.el} package by Cesar Quiroz. Care has been taken to ensure
124 that each function is defined efficiently, concisely, and with minimal
125 impact on the rest of the Emacs environment. Stefan Monnier added the
126 file @file{cl-lib.el} and rationalized the namespace for Emacs 24.3.
127
128 @menu
129 * Usage:: How to use this package.
130 * Organization:: The package's component files.
131 * Naming Conventions:: Notes on function names.
132 @end menu
133
134 @node Usage
135 @section Usage
136
137 @noindent
138 This package is distributed with Emacs, so there is no need
139 to install any additional files in order to start using it. Lisp code
140 that uses features from this package should simply include at
141 the beginning:
142
143 @example
144 (require 'cl-lib)
145 @end example
146
147 @noindent
148 You may wish to add such a statement to your init file, if you
149 make frequent use of features from this package.
150
151 @node Organization
152 @section Organization
153
154 @noindent
155 The Common Lisp package is organized into four main files:
156
157 @table @file
158 @item cl-lib.el
159 This is the main file, which contains basic functions
160 and information about the package. This file is relatively compact.
161
162 @item cl-extra.el
163 This file contains the larger, more complex or unusual functions.
164 It is kept separate so that packages which only want to use Common
165 Lisp fundamentals like the @code{cl-incf} function won't need to pay
166 the overhead of loading the more advanced functions.
167
168 @item cl-seq.el
169 This file contains most of the advanced functions for operating
170 on sequences or lists, such as @code{cl-delete-if} and @code{cl-assoc}.
171
172 @item cl-macs.el
173 This file contains the features that are macros instead of functions.
174 Macros expand when the caller is compiled, not when it is run, so the
175 macros generally only need to be present when the byte-compiler is
176 running (or when the macros are used in uncompiled code). Most of the
177 macros of this package are isolated in @file{cl-macs.el} so that they
178 won't take up memory unless you are compiling.
179 @end table
180
181 The file @file{cl-lib.el} includes all necessary @code{autoload}
182 commands for the functions and macros in the other three files.
183 All you have to do is @code{(require 'cl-lib)}, and @file{cl-lib.el}
184 will take care of pulling in the other files when they are
185 needed.
186
187 There is another file, @file{cl.el}, which was the main entry point to
188 this package prior to Emacs 24.3. Nowadays, it is replaced by
189 @file{cl-lib.el}. The two provide the same features (in most cases),
190 but use different function names (in fact, @file{cl.el} mainly just
191 defines aliases to the @file{cl-lib.el} definitions). Where
192 @file{cl-lib.el} defines a function called, for example,
193 @code{cl-incf}, @file{cl.el} uses the same name but without the
194 @samp{cl-} prefix, e.g.@: @code{incf} in this example. There are a few
195 exceptions to this. First, functions such as @code{cl-defun} where
196 the unprefixed version was already used for a standard Emacs Lisp
197 function. In such cases, the @file{cl.el} version adds a @samp{*}
198 suffix, e.g.@: @code{defun*}. Second, there are some obsolete features
199 that are only implemented in @file{cl.el}, not in @file{cl-lib.el},
200 because they are replaced by other standard Emacs Lisp features.
201 Finally, in a very few cases the old @file{cl.el} versions do not
202 behave in exactly the same way as the @file{cl-lib.el} versions.
203 @xref{Obsolete Features}.
204 @c There is also cl-mapc, which was called cl-mapc even before cl-lib.el.
205 @c But not autoloaded, so maybe not much used?
206
207 Since the old @file{cl.el} does not use a clean namespace, Emacs has a
208 policy that packages distributed with Emacs must not load @code{cl} at
209 run time. (It is ok for them to load @code{cl} at @emph{compile}
210 time, with @code{eval-when-compile}, and use the macros it provides.)
211 There is no such restriction on the use of @code{cl-lib}. New code
212 should use @code{cl-lib} rather than @code{cl}.
213
214 There is one more file, @file{cl-compat.el}, which defines some
215 routines from the older Quiroz @file{cl.el} package that are not otherwise
216 present in the new package. This file is obsolete and should not be
217 used in new code.
218
219 @node Naming Conventions
220 @section Naming Conventions
221
222 @noindent
223 Except where noted, all functions defined by this package have the
224 same calling conventions as their Common Lisp counterparts, and
225 names that are those of Common Lisp plus a @samp{cl-} prefix.
226
227 Internal function and variable names in the package are prefixed
228 by @code{cl--}. Here is a complete list of functions prefixed by
229 @code{cl-} that were @emph{not} taken from Common Lisp:
230
231 @example
232 cl-callf cl-callf2 cl-defsubst
233 cl-letf cl-letf*
234 @end example
235
236 @c This is not uninteresting I suppose, but is of zero practical relevance
237 @c to the user, and seems like a hostage to changing implementation details.
238 The following simple functions and macros are defined in @file{cl-lib.el};
239 they do not cause other components like @file{cl-extra} to be loaded.
240
241 @example
242 cl-evenp cl-oddp cl-minusp
243 cl-plusp cl-endp cl-subst
244 cl-copy-list cl-list* cl-ldiff
245 cl-rest cl-decf [1] cl-incf [1]
246 cl-acons cl-adjoin [2] cl-pairlis
247 cl-pushnew [1,2] cl-declaim cl-proclaim
248 cl-caaar@dots{}cl-cddddr cl-first@dots{}cl-tenth
249 cl-mapcar [3]
250 @end example
251
252 @noindent
253 [1] Only when @var{place} is a plain variable name.
254
255 @noindent
256 [2] Only if @code{:test} is @code{eq}, @code{equal}, or unspecified,
257 and @code{:key} is not used.
258
259 @noindent
260 [3] Only for one sequence argument or two list arguments.
261
262 @node Program Structure
263 @chapter Program Structure
264
265 @noindent
266 This section describes features of this package that have to
267 do with programs as a whole: advanced argument lists for functions,
268 and the @code{cl-eval-when} construct.
269
270 @menu
271 * Argument Lists:: @code{&key}, @code{&aux}, @code{cl-defun}, @code{cl-defmacro}.
272 * Time of Evaluation:: The @code{cl-eval-when} construct.
273 @end menu
274
275 @node Argument Lists
276 @section Argument Lists
277
278 @noindent
279 Emacs Lisp's notation for argument lists of functions is a subset of
280 the Common Lisp notation. As well as the familiar @code{&optional}
281 and @code{&rest} markers, Common Lisp allows you to specify default
282 values for optional arguments, and it provides the additional markers
283 @code{&key} and @code{&aux}.
284
285 Since argument parsing is built-in to Emacs, there is no way for
286 this package to implement Common Lisp argument lists seamlessly.
287 Instead, this package defines alternates for several Lisp forms
288 which you must use if you need Common Lisp argument lists.
289
290 @defmac cl-defun name arglist body@dots{}
291 This form is identical to the regular @code{defun} form, except
292 that @var{arglist} is allowed to be a full Common Lisp argument
293 list. Also, the function body is enclosed in an implicit block
294 called @var{name}; @pxref{Blocks and Exits}.
295 @end defmac
296
297 @defmac cl-defsubst name arglist body@dots{}
298 This is just like @code{cl-defun}, except that the function that
299 is defined is automatically proclaimed @code{inline}, i.e.,
300 calls to it may be expanded into in-line code by the byte compiler.
301 This is analogous to the @code{defsubst} form;
302 @code{cl-defsubst} uses a different method (compiler macros) which
303 works in all versions of Emacs, and also generates somewhat more
304 @c For some examples,
305 @c see http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-devel/2012-11/msg00009.html
306 efficient inline expansions. In particular, @code{cl-defsubst}
307 arranges for the processing of keyword arguments, default values,
308 etc., to be done at compile-time whenever possible.
309 @end defmac
310
311 @defmac cl-defmacro name arglist body@dots{}
312 This is identical to the regular @code{defmacro} form,
313 except that @var{arglist} is allowed to be a full Common Lisp
314 argument list. The @code{&environment} keyword is supported as
315 described in Steele's book @cite{Common Lisp, the Language}.
316 The @code{&whole} keyword is supported only
317 within destructured lists (see below); top-level @code{&whole}
318 cannot be implemented with the current Emacs Lisp interpreter.
319 The macro expander body is enclosed in an implicit block called
320 @var{name}.
321 @end defmac
322
323 @defmac cl-function symbol-or-lambda
324 This is identical to the regular @code{function} form,
325 except that if the argument is a @code{lambda} form then that
326 form may use a full Common Lisp argument list.
327 @end defmac
328
329 Also, all forms (such as @code{cl-flet} and @code{cl-labels}) defined
330 in this package that include @var{arglist}s in their syntax allow
331 full Common Lisp argument lists.
332
333 Note that it is @emph{not} necessary to use @code{cl-defun} in
334 order to have access to most CL features in your function.
335 These features are always present; @code{cl-defun}'s only
336 difference from @code{defun} is its more flexible argument
337 lists and its implicit block.
338
339 The full form of a Common Lisp argument list is
340
341 @example
342 (@var{var}@dots{}
343 &optional (@var{var} @var{initform} @var{svar})@dots{}
344 &rest @var{var}
345 &key ((@var{keyword} @var{var}) @var{initform} @var{svar})@dots{}
346 &aux (@var{var} @var{initform})@dots{})
347 @end example
348
349 Each of the five argument list sections is optional. The @var{svar},
350 @var{initform}, and @var{keyword} parts are optional; if they are
351 omitted, then @samp{(@var{var})} may be written simply @samp{@var{var}}.
352
353 The first section consists of zero or more @dfn{required} arguments.
354 These arguments must always be specified in a call to the function;
355 there is no difference between Emacs Lisp and Common Lisp as far as
356 required arguments are concerned.
357
358 The second section consists of @dfn{optional} arguments. These
359 arguments may be specified in the function call; if they are not,
360 @var{initform} specifies the default value used for the argument.
361 (No @var{initform} means to use @code{nil} as the default.) The
362 @var{initform} is evaluated with the bindings for the preceding
363 arguments already established; @code{(a &optional (b (1+ a)))}
364 matches one or two arguments, with the second argument defaulting
365 to one plus the first argument. If the @var{svar} is specified,
366 it is an auxiliary variable which is bound to @code{t} if the optional
367 argument was specified, or to @code{nil} if the argument was omitted.
368 If you don't use an @var{svar}, then there will be no way for your
369 function to tell whether it was called with no argument, or with
370 the default value passed explicitly as an argument.
371
372 The third section consists of a single @dfn{rest} argument. If
373 more arguments were passed to the function than are accounted for
374 by the required and optional arguments, those extra arguments are
375 collected into a list and bound to the ``rest'' argument variable.
376 Common Lisp's @code{&rest} is equivalent to that of Emacs Lisp.
377 Common Lisp accepts @code{&body} as a synonym for @code{&rest} in
378 macro contexts; this package accepts it all the time.
379
380 The fourth section consists of @dfn{keyword} arguments. These
381 are optional arguments which are specified by name rather than
382 positionally in the argument list. For example,
383
384 @example
385 (cl-defun foo (a &optional b &key c d (e 17)))
386 @end example
387
388 @noindent
389 defines a function which may be called with one, two, or more
390 arguments. The first two arguments are bound to @code{a} and
391 @code{b} in the usual way. The remaining arguments must be
392 pairs of the form @code{:c}, @code{:d}, or @code{:e} followed
393 by the value to be bound to the corresponding argument variable.
394 (Symbols whose names begin with a colon are called @dfn{keywords},
395 and they are self-quoting in the same way as @code{nil} and
396 @code{t}.)
397
398 For example, the call @code{(foo 1 2 :d 3 :c 4)} sets the five
399 arguments to 1, 2, 4, 3, and 17, respectively. If the same keyword
400 appears more than once in the function call, the first occurrence
401 takes precedence over the later ones. Note that it is not possible
402 to specify keyword arguments without specifying the optional
403 argument @code{b} as well, since @code{(foo 1 :c 2)} would bind
404 @code{b} to the keyword @code{:c}, then signal an error because
405 @code{2} is not a valid keyword.
406
407 You can also explicitly specify the keyword argument; it need not be
408 simply the variable name prefixed with a colon. For example,
409
410 @example
411 (cl-defun bar (&key (a 1) ((baz b) 4)))
412 @end example
413
414 @noindent
415
416 specifies a keyword @code{:a} that sets the variable @code{a} with
417 default value 1, as well as a keyword @code{baz} that sets the
418 variable @code{b} with default value 4. In this case, because
419 @code{baz} is not self-quoting, you must quote it explicitly in the
420 function call, like this:
421
422 @example
423 (bar :a 10 'baz 42)
424 @end example
425
426 Ordinarily, it is an error to pass an unrecognized keyword to
427 a function, e.g., @code{(foo 1 2 :c 3 :goober 4)}. You can ask
428 Lisp to ignore unrecognized keywords, either by adding the
429 marker @code{&allow-other-keys} after the keyword section
430 of the argument list, or by specifying an @code{:allow-other-keys}
431 argument in the call whose value is non-@code{nil}. If the
432 function uses both @code{&rest} and @code{&key} at the same time,
433 the ``rest'' argument is bound to the keyword list as it appears
434 in the call. For example:
435
436 @example
437 (cl-defun find-thing (thing &rest rest &key need &allow-other-keys)
438 (or (apply 'cl-member thing thing-list :allow-other-keys t rest)
439 (if need (error "Thing not found"))))
440 @end example
441
442 @noindent
443 This function takes a @code{:need} keyword argument, but also
444 accepts other keyword arguments which are passed on to the
445 @code{cl-member} function. @code{allow-other-keys} is used to
446 keep both @code{find-thing} and @code{cl-member} from complaining
447 about each others' keywords in the arguments.
448
449 The fifth section of the argument list consists of @dfn{auxiliary
450 variables}. These are not really arguments at all, but simply
451 variables which are bound to @code{nil} or to the specified
452 @var{initforms} during execution of the function. There is no
453 difference between the following two functions, except for a
454 matter of stylistic taste:
455
456 @example
457 (cl-defun foo (a b &aux (c (+ a b)) d)
458 @var{body})
459
460 (cl-defun foo (a b)
461 (let ((c (+ a b)) d)
462 @var{body}))
463 @end example
464
465 Argument lists support @dfn{destructuring}. In Common Lisp,
466 destructuring is only allowed with @code{defmacro}; this package
467 allows it with @code{cl-defun} and other argument lists as well.
468 In destructuring, any argument variable (@var{var} in the above
469 example) can be replaced by a list of variables, or more generally,
470 a recursive argument list. The corresponding argument value must
471 be a list whose elements match this recursive argument list.
472 For example:
473
474 @example
475 (cl-defmacro dolist ((var listform &optional resultform)
476 &rest body)
477 @dots{})
478 @end example
479
480 This says that the first argument of @code{dolist} must be a list
481 of two or three items; if there are other arguments as well as this
482 list, they are stored in @code{body}. All features allowed in
483 regular argument lists are allowed in these recursive argument lists.
484 In addition, the clause @samp{&whole @var{var}} is allowed at the
485 front of a recursive argument list. It binds @var{var} to the
486 whole list being matched; thus @code{(&whole all a b)} matches
487 a list of two things, with @code{a} bound to the first thing,
488 @code{b} bound to the second thing, and @code{all} bound to the
489 list itself. (Common Lisp allows @code{&whole} in top-level
490 @code{defmacro} argument lists as well, but Emacs Lisp does not
491 support this usage.)
492
493 One last feature of destructuring is that the argument list may be
494 dotted, so that the argument list @code{(a b . c)} is functionally
495 equivalent to @code{(a b &rest c)}.
496
497 If the optimization quality @code{safety} is set to 0
498 (@pxref{Declarations}), error checking for wrong number of
499 arguments and invalid keyword arguments is disabled. By default,
500 argument lists are rigorously checked.
501
502 @node Time of Evaluation
503 @section Time of Evaluation
504
505 @noindent
506 Normally, the byte-compiler does not actually execute the forms in
507 a file it compiles. For example, if a file contains @code{(setq foo t)},
508 the act of compiling it will not actually set @code{foo} to @code{t}.
509 This is true even if the @code{setq} was a top-level form (i.e., not
510 enclosed in a @code{defun} or other form). Sometimes, though, you
511 would like to have certain top-level forms evaluated at compile-time.
512 For example, the compiler effectively evaluates @code{defmacro} forms
513 at compile-time so that later parts of the file can refer to the
514 macros that are defined.
515
516 @defmac cl-eval-when (situations@dots{}) forms@dots{}
517 This form controls when the body @var{forms} are evaluated.
518 The @var{situations} list may contain any set of the symbols
519 @code{compile}, @code{load}, and @code{eval} (or their long-winded
520 ANSI equivalents, @code{:compile-toplevel}, @code{:load-toplevel},
521 and @code{:execute}).
522
523 The @code{cl-eval-when} form is handled differently depending on
524 whether or not it is being compiled as a top-level form.
525 Specifically, it gets special treatment if it is being compiled
526 by a command such as @code{byte-compile-file} which compiles files
527 or buffers of code, and it appears either literally at the
528 top level of the file or inside a top-level @code{progn}.
529
530 For compiled top-level @code{cl-eval-when}s, the body @var{forms} are
531 executed at compile-time if @code{compile} is in the @var{situations}
532 list, and the @var{forms} are written out to the file (to be executed
533 at load-time) if @code{load} is in the @var{situations} list.
534
535 For non-compiled-top-level forms, only the @code{eval} situation is
536 relevant. (This includes forms executed by the interpreter, forms
537 compiled with @code{byte-compile} rather than @code{byte-compile-file},
538 and non-top-level forms.) The @code{cl-eval-when} acts like a
539 @code{progn} if @code{eval} is specified, and like @code{nil}
540 (ignoring the body @var{forms}) if not.
541
542 The rules become more subtle when @code{cl-eval-when}s are nested;
543 consult Steele (second edition) for the gruesome details (and
544 some gruesome examples).
545
546 Some simple examples:
547
548 @example
549 ;; Top-level forms in foo.el:
550 (cl-eval-when (compile) (setq foo1 'bar))
551 (cl-eval-when (load) (setq foo2 'bar))
552 (cl-eval-when (compile load) (setq foo3 'bar))
553 (cl-eval-when (eval) (setq foo4 'bar))
554 (cl-eval-when (eval compile) (setq foo5 'bar))
555 (cl-eval-when (eval load) (setq foo6 'bar))
556 (cl-eval-when (eval compile load) (setq foo7 'bar))
557 @end example
558
559 When @file{foo.el} is compiled, these variables will be set during
560 the compilation itself:
561
562 @example
563 foo1 foo3 foo5 foo7 ; `compile'
564 @end example
565
566 When @file{foo.elc} is loaded, these variables will be set:
567
568 @example
569 foo2 foo3 foo6 foo7 ; `load'
570 @end example
571
572 And if @file{foo.el} is loaded uncompiled, these variables will
573 be set:
574
575 @example
576 foo4 foo5 foo6 foo7 ; `eval'
577 @end example
578
579 If these seven @code{cl-eval-when}s had been, say, inside a @code{defun},
580 then the first three would have been equivalent to @code{nil} and the
581 last four would have been equivalent to the corresponding @code{setq}s.
582
583 Note that @code{(cl-eval-when (load eval) @dots{})} is equivalent
584 to @code{(progn @dots{})} in all contexts. The compiler treats
585 certain top-level forms, like @code{defmacro} (sort-of) and
586 @code{require}, as if they were wrapped in @code{(cl-eval-when
587 (compile load eval) @dots{})}.
588 @end defmac
589
590 Emacs includes two special forms related to @code{cl-eval-when}.
591 @xref{Eval During Compile,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
592 One of these, @code{eval-when-compile}, is not quite equivalent to
593 any @code{cl-eval-when} construct and is described below.
594
595 The other form, @code{(eval-and-compile @dots{})}, is exactly
596 equivalent to @samp{(cl-eval-when (compile load eval) @dots{})}.
597
598 @defmac eval-when-compile forms@dots{}
599 The @var{forms} are evaluated at compile-time; at execution time,
600 this form acts like a quoted constant of the resulting value. Used
601 at top-level, @code{eval-when-compile} is just like @samp{eval-when
602 (compile eval)}. In other contexts, @code{eval-when-compile}
603 allows code to be evaluated once at compile-time for efficiency
604 or other reasons.
605
606 This form is similar to the @samp{#.} syntax of true Common Lisp.
607 @end defmac
608
609 @defmac cl-load-time-value form
610 The @var{form} is evaluated at load-time; at execution time,
611 this form acts like a quoted constant of the resulting value.
612
613 Early Common Lisp had a @samp{#,} syntax that was similar to
614 this, but ANSI Common Lisp replaced it with @code{load-time-value}
615 and gave it more well-defined semantics.
616
617 In a compiled file, @code{cl-load-time-value} arranges for @var{form}
618 to be evaluated when the @file{.elc} file is loaded and then used
619 as if it were a quoted constant. In code compiled by
620 @code{byte-compile} rather than @code{byte-compile-file}, the
621 effect is identical to @code{eval-when-compile}. In uncompiled
622 code, both @code{eval-when-compile} and @code{cl-load-time-value}
623 act exactly like @code{progn}.
624
625 @example
626 (defun report ()
627 (insert "This function was executed on: "
628 (current-time-string)
629 ", compiled on: "
630 (eval-when-compile (current-time-string))
631 ;; or '#.(current-time-string) in real Common Lisp
632 ", and loaded on: "
633 (cl-load-time-value (current-time-string))))
634 @end example
635
636 @noindent
637 Byte-compiled, the above defun will result in the following code
638 (or its compiled equivalent, of course) in the @file{.elc} file:
639
640 @example
641 (setq --temp-- (current-time-string))
642 (defun report ()
643 (insert "This function was executed on: "
644 (current-time-string)
645 ", compiled on: "
646 '"Wed Oct 31 16:32:28 2012"
647 ", and loaded on: "
648 --temp--))
649 @end example
650 @end defmac
651
652 @node Predicates
653 @chapter Predicates
654
655 @noindent
656 This section describes functions for testing whether various
657 facts are true or false.
658
659 @menu
660 * Type Predicates:: @code{cl-typep}, @code{cl-deftype}, and @code{cl-coerce}.
661 * Equality Predicates:: @code{cl-equalp}.
662 @end menu
663
664 @node Type Predicates
665 @section Type Predicates
666
667 @defun cl-typep object type
668 Check if @var{object} is of type @var{type}, where @var{type} is a
669 (quoted) type name of the sort used by Common Lisp. For example,
670 @code{(cl-typep foo 'integer)} is equivalent to @code{(integerp foo)}.
671 @end defun
672
673 The @var{type} argument to the above function is either a symbol
674 or a list beginning with a symbol.
675
676 @itemize @bullet
677 @item
678 If the type name is a symbol, Emacs appends @samp{-p} to the
679 symbol name to form the name of a predicate function for testing
680 the type. (Built-in predicates whose names end in @samp{p} rather
681 than @samp{-p} are used when appropriate.)
682
683 @item
684 The type symbol @code{t} stands for the union of all types.
685 @code{(cl-typep @var{object} t)} is always true. Likewise, the
686 type symbol @code{nil} stands for nothing at all, and
687 @code{(cl-typep @var{object} nil)} is always false.
688
689 @item
690 The type symbol @code{null} represents the symbol @code{nil}.
691 Thus @code{(cl-typep @var{object} 'null)} is equivalent to
692 @code{(null @var{object})}.
693
694 @item
695 The type symbol @code{atom} represents all objects that are not cons
696 cells. Thus @code{(cl-typep @var{object} 'atom)} is equivalent to
697 @code{(atom @var{object})}.
698
699 @item
700 The type symbol @code{real} is a synonym for @code{number}, and
701 @code{fixnum} is a synonym for @code{integer}.
702
703 @item
704 The type symbols @code{character} and @code{string-char} match
705 integers in the range from 0 to 255.
706
707 @c No longer relevant, so covered by first item above (float -> floatp).
708 @ignore
709 @item
710 The type symbol @code{float} uses the @code{cl-floatp-safe} predicate
711 defined by this package rather than @code{floatp}, so it will work
712 correctly even in Emacs versions without floating-point support.
713 @end ignore
714
715 @item
716 The type list @code{(integer @var{low} @var{high})} represents all
717 integers between @var{low} and @var{high}, inclusive. Either bound
718 may be a list of a single integer to specify an exclusive limit,
719 or a @code{*} to specify no limit. The type @code{(integer * *)}
720 is thus equivalent to @code{integer}.
721
722 @item
723 Likewise, lists beginning with @code{float}, @code{real}, or
724 @code{number} represent numbers of that type falling in a particular
725 range.
726
727 @item
728 Lists beginning with @code{and}, @code{or}, and @code{not} form
729 combinations of types. For example, @code{(or integer (float 0 *))}
730 represents all objects that are integers or non-negative floats.
731
732 @item
733 Lists beginning with @code{member} or @code{cl-member} represent
734 objects @code{eql} to any of the following values. For example,
735 @code{(member 1 2 3 4)} is equivalent to @code{(integer 1 4)},
736 and @code{(member nil)} is equivalent to @code{null}.
737
738 @item
739 Lists of the form @code{(satisfies @var{predicate})} represent
740 all objects for which @var{predicate} returns true when called
741 with that object as an argument.
742 @end itemize
743
744 The following function and macro (not technically predicates) are
745 related to @code{cl-typep}.
746
747 @defun cl-coerce object type
748 This function attempts to convert @var{object} to the specified
749 @var{type}. If @var{object} is already of that type as determined by
750 @code{cl-typep}, it is simply returned. Otherwise, certain types of
751 conversions will be made: If @var{type} is any sequence type
752 (@code{string}, @code{list}, etc.) then @var{object} will be
753 converted to that type if possible. If @var{type} is
754 @code{character}, then strings of length one and symbols with
755 one-character names can be coerced. If @var{type} is @code{float},
756 then integers can be coerced in versions of Emacs that support
757 floats. In all other circumstances, @code{cl-coerce} signals an
758 error.
759 @end defun
760
761 @defmac cl-deftype name arglist forms@dots{}
762 This macro defines a new type called @var{name}. It is similar
763 to @code{defmacro} in many ways; when @var{name} is encountered
764 as a type name, the body @var{forms} are evaluated and should
765 return a type specifier that is equivalent to the type. The
766 @var{arglist} is a Common Lisp argument list of the sort accepted
767 by @code{cl-defmacro}. The type specifier @samp{(@var{name} @var{args}@dots{})}
768 is expanded by calling the expander with those arguments; the type
769 symbol @samp{@var{name}} is expanded by calling the expander with
770 no arguments. The @var{arglist} is processed the same as for
771 @code{cl-defmacro} except that optional arguments without explicit
772 defaults use @code{*} instead of @code{nil} as the ``default''
773 default. Some examples:
774
775 @example
776 (cl-deftype null () '(satisfies null)) ; predefined
777 (cl-deftype list () '(or null cons)) ; predefined
778 (cl-deftype unsigned-byte (&optional bits)
779 (list 'integer 0 (if (eq bits '*) bits (1- (lsh 1 bits)))))
780 (unsigned-byte 8) @equiv{} (integer 0 255)
781 (unsigned-byte) @equiv{} (integer 0 *)
782 unsigned-byte @equiv{} (integer 0 *)
783 @end example
784
785 @noindent
786 The last example shows how the Common Lisp @code{unsigned-byte}
787 type specifier could be implemented if desired; this package does
788 not implement @code{unsigned-byte} by default.
789 @end defmac
790
791 The @code{cl-typecase} (@pxref{Conditionals}) and @code{cl-check-type}
792 (@pxref{Assertions}) macros also use type names. The @code{cl-map},
793 @code{cl-concatenate}, and @code{cl-merge} functions take type-name
794 arguments to specify the type of sequence to return. @xref{Sequences}.
795
796 @node Equality Predicates
797 @section Equality Predicates
798
799 @noindent
800 This package defines the Common Lisp predicate @code{cl-equalp}.
801
802 @defun cl-equalp a b
803 This function is a more flexible version of @code{equal}. In
804 particular, it compares strings case-insensitively, and it compares
805 numbers without regard to type (so that @code{(cl-equalp 3 3.0)} is
806 true). Vectors and conses are compared recursively. All other
807 objects are compared as if by @code{equal}.
808
809 This function differs from Common Lisp @code{equalp} in several
810 respects. First, Common Lisp's @code{equalp} also compares
811 @emph{characters} case-insensitively, which would be impractical
812 in this package since Emacs does not distinguish between integers
813 and characters. In keeping with the idea that strings are less
814 vector-like in Emacs Lisp, this package's @code{cl-equalp} also will
815 not compare strings against vectors of integers.
816 @end defun
817
818 Also note that the Common Lisp functions @code{member} and @code{assoc}
819 use @code{eql} to compare elements, whereas Emacs Lisp follows the
820 MacLisp tradition and uses @code{equal} for these two functions.
821 In Emacs, use @code{memq} (or @code{cl-member}) and @code{assq} (or
822 @code{cl-assoc}) to get functions which use @code{eql} for comparisons.
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
1204 Note that the @file{cl.el} version of this macro behaves slightly
1205 differently. @xref{Obsolete Macros}.
1206 @end defmac
1207
1208 @defmac cl-letf* (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1209 This macro is to @code{cl-letf} what @code{let*} is to @code{let}:
1210 It does the bindings in sequential rather than parallel order.
1211 @end defmac
1212
1213 @defmac cl-callf @var{function} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{}
1214 This is the ``generic'' modify macro. It calls @var{function},
1215 which should be an unquoted function name, macro name, or lambda.
1216 It passes @var{place} and @var{args} as arguments, and assigns the
1217 result back to @var{place}. For example, @code{(cl-incf @var{place}
1218 @var{n})} is the same as @code{(cl-callf + @var{place} @var{n})}.
1219 Some more examples:
1220
1221 @example
1222 (cl-callf abs my-number)
1223 (cl-callf concat (buffer-name) "<" (number-to-string n) ">")
1224 (cl-callf cl-union happy-people (list joe bob) :test 'same-person)
1225 @end example
1226
1227 Note again that @code{cl-callf} is an extension to standard Common Lisp.
1228 @end defmac
1229
1230 @defmac cl-callf2 @var{function} @var{arg1} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{}
1231 This macro is like @code{cl-callf}, except that @var{place} is
1232 the @emph{second} argument of @var{function} rather than the
1233 first. For example, @code{(push @var{x} @var{place})} is
1234 equivalent to @code{(cl-callf2 cons @var{x} @var{place})}.
1235 @end defmac
1236
1237 The @code{cl-callf} and @code{cl-callf2} macros serve as building
1238 blocks for other macros like @code{cl-incf}, and @code{cl-pushnew}.
1239 The @code{cl-letf} and @code{cl-letf*} macros are used in the processing
1240 of symbol macros; @pxref{Macro Bindings}.
1241
1242
1243 @node Variable Bindings
1244 @section Variable Bindings
1245
1246 @noindent
1247 These Lisp forms make bindings to variables and function names,
1248 analogous to Lisp's built-in @code{let} form.
1249
1250 @xref{Modify Macros}, for the @code{cl-letf} and @code{cl-letf*} forms which
1251 are also related to variable bindings.
1252
1253 @menu
1254 * Dynamic Bindings:: The @code{cl-progv} form.
1255 * Function Bindings:: @code{cl-flet} and @code{cl-labels}.
1256 * Macro Bindings:: @code{cl-macrolet} and @code{cl-symbol-macrolet}.
1257 @end menu
1258
1259 @node Dynamic Bindings
1260 @subsection Dynamic Bindings
1261
1262 @noindent
1263 The standard @code{let} form binds variables whose names are known
1264 at compile-time. The @code{cl-progv} form provides an easy way to
1265 bind variables whose names are computed at run-time.
1266
1267 @defmac cl-progv symbols values forms@dots{}
1268 This form establishes @code{let}-style variable bindings on a
1269 set of variables computed at run-time. The expressions
1270 @var{symbols} and @var{values} are evaluated, and must return lists
1271 of symbols and values, respectively. The symbols are bound to the
1272 corresponding values for the duration of the body @var{form}s.
1273 If @var{values} is shorter than @var{symbols}, the last few symbols
1274 are bound to @code{nil}.
1275 If @var{symbols} is shorter than @var{values}, the excess values
1276 are ignored.
1277 @end defmac
1278
1279 @node Function Bindings
1280 @subsection Function Bindings
1281
1282 @noindent
1283 These forms make @code{let}-like bindings to functions instead
1284 of variables.
1285
1286 @defmac cl-flet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1287 This form establishes @code{let}-style bindings on the function
1288 cells of symbols rather than on the value cells. Each @var{binding}
1289 must be a list of the form @samp{(@var{name} @var{arglist}
1290 @var{forms}@dots{})}, which defines a function exactly as if
1291 it were a @code{cl-defun} form. The function @var{name} is defined
1292 accordingly for the duration of the body of the @code{cl-flet}; then
1293 the old function definition, or lack thereof, is restored.
1294
1295 You can use @code{cl-flet} to disable or modify the behavior of a
1296 function in a temporary fashion. (Compare this with the idea
1297 of advising functions.
1298 @xref{Advising Functions,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.)
1299 This will even work on Emacs primitives, although note that some calls
1300 to primitive functions internal to Emacs are made without going
1301 through the symbol's function cell, and so will not be affected by
1302 @code{cl-flet}. For example,
1303
1304 @example
1305 (cl-flet ((message (&rest args) (push args saved-msgs)))
1306 (do-something))
1307 @end example
1308
1309 This code attempts to replace the built-in function @code{message}
1310 with a function that simply saves the messages in a list rather
1311 than displaying them. The original definition of @code{message}
1312 will be restored after @code{do-something} exits. This code will
1313 work fine on messages generated by other Lisp code, but messages
1314 generated directly inside Emacs will not be caught since they make
1315 direct C-language calls to the message routines rather than going
1316 through the Lisp @code{message} function.
1317
1318 Functions defined by @code{cl-flet} may use the full Common Lisp
1319 argument notation supported by @code{cl-defun}; also, the function
1320 body is enclosed in an implicit block as if by @code{cl-defun}.
1321 @xref{Program Structure}.
1322
1323 Note that the @file{cl.el} version of this macro behaves slightly
1324 differently. @xref{Obsolete Macros}.
1325 @end defmac
1326
1327 @defmac cl-labels (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1328 The @code{cl-labels} form is like @code{cl-flet}, except that
1329 the function bindings can be recursive. The scoping is lexical,
1330 but you can only capture functions in closures if
1331 @code{lexical-binding} is @code{t}.
1332 @xref{Closures,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}, and
1333 @ref{Using Lexical Binding,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
1334
1335 Lexical scoping means that all references to the named
1336 functions must appear physically within the body of the
1337 @code{cl-labels} form. References may appear both in the body
1338 @var{forms} of @code{cl-labels} itself, and in the bodies of
1339 the functions themselves. Thus, @code{cl-labels} can define
1340 local recursive functions, or mutually-recursive sets of functions.
1341
1342 A ``reference'' to a function name is either a call to that
1343 function, or a use of its name quoted by @code{quote} or
1344 @code{function} to be passed on to, say, @code{mapcar}.
1345
1346 Note that the @file{cl.el} version of this macro behaves slightly
1347 differently. @xref{Obsolete Macros}.
1348 @end defmac
1349
1350 @node Macro Bindings
1351 @subsection Macro Bindings
1352
1353 @noindent
1354 These forms create local macros and ``symbol macros''.
1355
1356 @defmac cl-macrolet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1357 This form is analogous to @code{cl-flet}, but for macros instead of
1358 functions. Each @var{binding} is a list of the same form as the
1359 arguments to @code{cl-defmacro} (i.e., a macro name, argument list,
1360 and macro-expander forms). The macro is defined accordingly for
1361 use within the body of the @code{cl-macrolet}.
1362
1363 Because of the nature of macros, @code{cl-macrolet} is always lexically
1364 scoped. The @code{cl-macrolet} binding will
1365 affect only calls that appear physically within the body
1366 @var{forms}, possibly after expansion of other macros in the
1367 body.
1368 @end defmac
1369
1370 @defmac cl-symbol-macrolet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1371 This form creates @dfn{symbol macros}, which are macros that look
1372 like variable references rather than function calls. Each
1373 @var{binding} is a list @samp{(@var{var} @var{expansion})};
1374 any reference to @var{var} within the body @var{forms} is
1375 replaced by @var{expansion}.
1376
1377 @example
1378 (setq bar '(5 . 9))
1379 (cl-symbol-macrolet ((foo (car bar)))
1380 (cl-incf foo))
1381 bar
1382 @result{} (6 . 9)
1383 @end example
1384
1385 A @code{setq} of a symbol macro is treated the same as a @code{setf}.
1386 I.e., @code{(setq foo 4)} in the above would be equivalent to
1387 @code{(setf foo 4)}, which in turn expands to @code{(setf (car bar) 4)}.
1388
1389 Likewise, a @code{let} or @code{let*} binding a symbol macro is
1390 treated like a @code{cl-letf} or @code{cl-letf*}. This differs from true
1391 Common Lisp, where the rules of lexical scoping cause a @code{let}
1392 binding to shadow a @code{symbol-macrolet} binding. In this package,
1393 such shadowing does not occur, even when @code{lexical-binding} is
1394 @c See http://debbugs.gnu.org/12119
1395 @code{t}. (This behavior predates the addition of lexical binding to
1396 Emacs Lisp, and may change in future to respect @code{lexical-binding}.)
1397 At present in this package, only @code{lexical-let} and
1398 @code{lexical-let*} will shadow a symbol macro. @xref{Obsolete
1399 Lexical Binding}.
1400
1401 There is no analogue of @code{defmacro} for symbol macros; all symbol
1402 macros are local. A typical use of @code{cl-symbol-macrolet} is in the
1403 expansion of another macro:
1404
1405 @example
1406 (cl-defmacro my-dolist ((x list) &rest body)
1407 (let ((var (cl-gensym)))
1408 (list 'cl-loop 'for var 'on list 'do
1409 (cl-list* 'cl-symbol-macrolet
1410 (list (list x (list 'car var)))
1411 body))))
1412
1413 (setq mylist '(1 2 3 4))
1414 (my-dolist (x mylist) (cl-incf x))
1415 mylist
1416 @result{} (2 3 4 5)
1417 @end example
1418
1419 @noindent
1420 In this example, the @code{my-dolist} macro is similar to @code{dolist}
1421 (@pxref{Iteration}) except that the variable @code{x} becomes a true
1422 reference onto the elements of the list. The @code{my-dolist} call
1423 shown here expands to
1424
1425 @example
1426 (cl-loop for G1234 on mylist do
1427 (cl-symbol-macrolet ((x (car G1234)))
1428 (cl-incf x)))
1429 @end example
1430
1431 @noindent
1432 which in turn expands to
1433
1434 @example
1435 (cl-loop for G1234 on mylist do (cl-incf (car G1234)))
1436 @end example
1437
1438 @xref{Loop Facility}, for a description of the @code{cl-loop} macro.
1439 This package defines a nonstandard @code{in-ref} loop clause that
1440 works much like @code{my-dolist}.
1441 @end defmac
1442
1443 @node Conditionals
1444 @section Conditionals
1445
1446 @noindent
1447 These conditional forms augment Emacs Lisp's simple @code{if},
1448 @code{and}, @code{or}, and @code{cond} forms.
1449
1450 @defmac cl-case keyform clause@dots{}
1451 This macro evaluates @var{keyform}, then compares it with the key
1452 values listed in the various @var{clause}s. Whichever clause matches
1453 the key is executed; comparison is done by @code{eql}. If no clause
1454 matches, the @code{cl-case} form returns @code{nil}. The clauses are
1455 of the form
1456
1457 @example
1458 (@var{keylist} @var{body-forms}@dots{})
1459 @end example
1460
1461 @noindent
1462 where @var{keylist} is a list of key values. If there is exactly
1463 one value, and it is not a cons cell or the symbol @code{nil} or
1464 @code{t}, then it can be used by itself as a @var{keylist} without
1465 being enclosed in a list. All key values in the @code{cl-case} form
1466 must be distinct. The final clauses may use @code{t} in place of
1467 a @var{keylist} to indicate a default clause that should be taken
1468 if none of the other clauses match. (The symbol @code{otherwise}
1469 is also recognized in place of @code{t}. To make a clause that
1470 matches the actual symbol @code{t}, @code{nil}, or @code{otherwise},
1471 enclose the symbol in a list.)
1472
1473 For example, this expression reads a keystroke, then does one of
1474 four things depending on whether it is an @samp{a}, a @samp{b},
1475 a @key{RET} or @kbd{C-j}, or anything else.
1476
1477 @example
1478 (cl-case (read-char)
1479 (?a (do-a-thing))
1480 (?b (do-b-thing))
1481 ((?\r ?\n) (do-ret-thing))
1482 (t (do-other-thing)))
1483 @end example
1484 @end defmac
1485
1486 @defmac cl-ecase keyform clause@dots{}
1487 This macro is just like @code{cl-case}, except that if the key does
1488 not match any of the clauses, an error is signaled rather than
1489 simply returning @code{nil}.
1490 @end defmac
1491
1492 @defmac cl-typecase keyform clause@dots{}
1493 This macro is a version of @code{cl-case} that checks for types
1494 rather than values. Each @var{clause} is of the form
1495 @samp{(@var{type} @var{body}@dots{})}. @xref{Type Predicates},
1496 for a description of type specifiers. For example,
1497
1498 @example
1499 (cl-typecase x
1500 (integer (munch-integer x))
1501 (float (munch-float x))
1502 (string (munch-integer (string-to-int x)))
1503 (t (munch-anything x)))
1504 @end example
1505
1506 The type specifier @code{t} matches any type of object; the word
1507 @code{otherwise} is also allowed. To make one clause match any of
1508 several types, use an @code{(or @dots{})} type specifier.
1509 @end defmac
1510
1511 @defmac cl-etypecase keyform clause@dots{}
1512 This macro is just like @code{cl-typecase}, except that if the key does
1513 not match any of the clauses, an error is signaled rather than
1514 simply returning @code{nil}.
1515 @end defmac
1516
1517 @node Blocks and Exits
1518 @section Blocks and Exits
1519
1520 @noindent
1521 Common Lisp @dfn{blocks} provide a non-local exit mechanism very
1522 similar to @code{catch} and @code{throw}, with lexical scoping.
1523 This package actually implements @code{cl-block}
1524 in terms of @code{catch}; however, the lexical scoping allows the
1525 byte-compiler to omit the costly @code{catch} step if the
1526 body of the block does not actually @code{cl-return-from} the block.
1527
1528 @defmac cl-block name forms@dots{}
1529 The @var{forms} are evaluated as if by a @code{progn}. However,
1530 if any of the @var{forms} execute @code{(cl-return-from @var{name})},
1531 they will jump out and return directly from the @code{cl-block} form.
1532 The @code{cl-block} returns the result of the last @var{form} unless
1533 a @code{cl-return-from} occurs.
1534
1535 The @code{cl-block}/@code{cl-return-from} mechanism is quite similar to
1536 the @code{catch}/@code{throw} mechanism. The main differences are
1537 that block @var{name}s are unevaluated symbols, rather than forms
1538 (such as quoted symbols) that evaluate to a tag at run-time; and
1539 also that blocks are always lexically scoped.
1540 In a dynamically scoped @code{catch}, functions called from the
1541 @code{catch} body can also @code{throw} to the @code{catch}. This
1542 is not an option for @code{cl-block}, where
1543 the @code{cl-return-from} referring to a block name must appear
1544 physically within the @var{forms} that make up the body of the block.
1545 They may not appear within other called functions, although they may
1546 appear within macro expansions or @code{lambda}s in the body. Block
1547 names and @code{catch} names form independent name-spaces.
1548
1549 In true Common Lisp, @code{defun} and @code{defmacro} surround
1550 the function or expander bodies with implicit blocks with the
1551 same name as the function or macro. This does not occur in Emacs
1552 Lisp, but this package provides @code{cl-defun} and @code{cl-defmacro}
1553 forms, which do create the implicit block.
1554
1555 The Common Lisp looping constructs defined by this package,
1556 such as @code{cl-loop} and @code{cl-dolist}, also create implicit blocks
1557 just as in Common Lisp.
1558
1559 Because they are implemented in terms of Emacs Lisp's @code{catch}
1560 and @code{throw}, blocks have the same overhead as actual
1561 @code{catch} constructs (roughly two function calls). However,
1562 the byte compiler will optimize away the @code{catch}
1563 if the block does
1564 not in fact contain any @code{cl-return} or @code{cl-return-from} calls
1565 that jump to it. This means that @code{cl-do} loops and @code{cl-defun}
1566 functions that don't use @code{cl-return} don't pay the overhead to
1567 support it.
1568 @end defmac
1569
1570 @defmac cl-return-from name [result]
1571 This macro returns from the block named @var{name}, which must be
1572 an (unevaluated) symbol. If a @var{result} form is specified, it
1573 is evaluated to produce the result returned from the @code{block}.
1574 Otherwise, @code{nil} is returned.
1575 @end defmac
1576
1577 @defmac cl-return [result]
1578 This macro is exactly like @code{(cl-return-from nil @var{result})}.
1579 Common Lisp loops like @code{cl-do} and @code{cl-dolist} implicitly enclose
1580 themselves in @code{nil} blocks.
1581 @end defmac
1582
1583 @node Iteration
1584 @section Iteration
1585
1586 @noindent
1587 The macros described here provide more sophisticated, high-level
1588 looping constructs to complement Emacs Lisp's basic loop forms
1589 (@pxref{Iteration,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}).
1590
1591 @defmac cl-loop forms@dots{}
1592 This package supports both the simple, old-style meaning of
1593 @code{loop} and the extremely powerful and flexible feature known as
1594 the @dfn{Loop Facility} or @dfn{Loop Macro}. This more advanced
1595 facility is discussed in the following section; @pxref{Loop Facility}.
1596 The simple form of @code{loop} is described here.
1597
1598 If @code{cl-loop} is followed by zero or more Lisp expressions,
1599 then @code{(cl-loop @var{exprs}@dots{})} simply creates an infinite
1600 loop executing the expressions over and over. The loop is
1601 enclosed in an implicit @code{nil} block. Thus,
1602
1603 @example
1604 (cl-loop (foo) (if (no-more) (return 72)) (bar))
1605 @end example
1606
1607 @noindent
1608 is exactly equivalent to
1609
1610 @example
1611 (cl-block nil (while t (foo) (if (no-more) (return 72)) (bar)))
1612 @end example
1613
1614 If any of the expressions are plain symbols, the loop is instead
1615 interpreted as a Loop Macro specification as described later.
1616 (This is not a restriction in practice, since a plain symbol
1617 in the above notation would simply access and throw away the
1618 value of a variable.)
1619 @end defmac
1620
1621 @defmac cl-do (spec@dots{}) (end-test [result@dots{}]) forms@dots{}
1622 This macro creates a general iterative loop. Each @var{spec} is
1623 of the form
1624
1625 @example
1626 (@var{var} [@var{init} [@var{step}]])
1627 @end example
1628
1629 The loop works as follows: First, each @var{var} is bound to the
1630 associated @var{init} value as if by a @code{let} form. Then, in
1631 each iteration of the loop, the @var{end-test} is evaluated; if
1632 true, the loop is finished. Otherwise, the body @var{forms} are
1633 evaluated, then each @var{var} is set to the associated @var{step}
1634 expression (as if by a @code{cl-psetq} form) and the next iteration
1635 begins. Once the @var{end-test} becomes true, the @var{result}
1636 forms are evaluated (with the @var{var}s still bound to their
1637 values) to produce the result returned by @code{cl-do}.
1638
1639 The entire @code{cl-do} loop is enclosed in an implicit @code{nil}
1640 block, so that you can use @code{(cl-return)} to break out of the
1641 loop at any time.
1642
1643 If there are no @var{result} forms, the loop returns @code{nil}.
1644 If a given @var{var} has no @var{step} form, it is bound to its
1645 @var{init} value but not otherwise modified during the @code{cl-do}
1646 loop (unless the code explicitly modifies it); this case is just
1647 a shorthand for putting a @code{(let ((@var{var} @var{init})) @dots{})}
1648 around the loop. If @var{init} is also omitted it defaults to
1649 @code{nil}, and in this case a plain @samp{@var{var}} can be used
1650 in place of @samp{(@var{var})}, again following the analogy with
1651 @code{let}.
1652
1653 This example (from Steele) illustrates a loop that applies the
1654 function @code{f} to successive pairs of values from the lists
1655 @code{foo} and @code{bar}; it is equivalent to the call
1656 @code{(cl-mapcar 'f foo bar)}. Note that this loop has no body
1657 @var{forms} at all, performing all its work as side effects of
1658 the rest of the loop.
1659
1660 @example
1661 (cl-do ((x foo (cdr x))
1662 (y bar (cdr y))
1663 (z nil (cons (f (car x) (car y)) z)))
1664 ((or (null x) (null y))
1665 (nreverse z)))
1666 @end example
1667 @end defmac
1668
1669 @defmac cl-do* (spec@dots{}) (end-test [result@dots{}]) forms@dots{}
1670 This is to @code{cl-do} what @code{let*} is to @code{let}. In
1671 particular, the initial values are bound as if by @code{let*}
1672 rather than @code{let}, and the steps are assigned as if by
1673 @code{setq} rather than @code{cl-psetq}.
1674
1675 Here is another way to write the above loop:
1676
1677 @example
1678 (cl-do* ((xp foo (cdr xp))
1679 (yp bar (cdr yp))
1680 (x (car xp) (car xp))
1681 (y (car yp) (car yp))
1682 z)
1683 ((or (null xp) (null yp))
1684 (nreverse z))
1685 (push (f x y) z))
1686 @end example
1687 @end defmac
1688
1689 @defmac cl-dolist (var list [result]) forms@dots{}
1690 This is exactly like the standard Emacs Lisp macro @code{dolist},
1691 but surrounds the loop with an implicit @code{nil} block.
1692 @end defmac
1693
1694 @defmac cl-dotimes (var count [result]) forms@dots{}
1695 This is exactly like the standard Emacs Lisp macro @code{dotimes},
1696 but surrounds the loop with an implicit @code{nil} block.
1697 The body is executed with @var{var} bound to the integers
1698 from zero (inclusive) to @var{count} (exclusive), in turn. Then
1699 @c FIXME lispref does not state this part explicitly, could move this there.
1700 the @code{result} form is evaluated with @var{var} bound to the total
1701 number of iterations that were done (i.e., @code{(max 0 @var{count})})
1702 to get the return value for the loop form.
1703 @end defmac
1704
1705 @defmac cl-do-symbols (var [obarray [result]]) forms@dots{}
1706 This loop iterates over all interned symbols. If @var{obarray}
1707 is specified and is not @code{nil}, it loops over all symbols in
1708 that obarray. For each symbol, the body @var{forms} are evaluated
1709 with @var{var} bound to that symbol. The symbols are visited in
1710 an unspecified order. Afterward the @var{result} form, if any,
1711 is evaluated (with @var{var} bound to @code{nil}) to get the return
1712 value. The loop is surrounded by an implicit @code{nil} block.
1713 @end defmac
1714
1715 @defmac cl-do-all-symbols (var [result]) forms@dots{}
1716 This is identical to @code{cl-do-symbols} except that the @var{obarray}
1717 argument is omitted; it always iterates over the default obarray.
1718 @end defmac
1719
1720 @xref{Mapping over Sequences}, for some more functions for
1721 iterating over vectors or lists.
1722
1723 @node Loop Facility
1724 @section Loop Facility
1725
1726 @noindent
1727 A common complaint with Lisp's traditional looping constructs was
1728 that they were either too simple and limited, such as @code{dotimes}
1729 or @code{while}, or too unreadable and obscure, like Common Lisp's
1730 @code{do} loop.
1731
1732 To remedy this, Common Lisp added a construct called the ``Loop
1733 Facility'' or ``@code{loop} macro'', with an easy-to-use but very
1734 powerful and expressive syntax.
1735
1736 @menu
1737 * Loop Basics:: The @code{cl-loop} macro, basic clause structure.
1738 * Loop Examples:: Working examples of the @code{cl-loop} macro.
1739 * For Clauses:: Clauses introduced by @code{for} or @code{as}.
1740 * Iteration Clauses:: @code{repeat}, @code{while}, @code{thereis}, etc.
1741 * Accumulation Clauses:: @code{collect}, @code{sum}, @code{maximize}, etc.
1742 * Other Clauses:: @code{with}, @code{if}, @code{initially}, @code{finally}.
1743 @end menu
1744
1745 @node Loop Basics
1746 @subsection Loop Basics
1747
1748 @noindent
1749 The @code{cl-loop} macro essentially creates a mini-language within
1750 Lisp that is specially tailored for describing loops. While this
1751 language is a little strange-looking by the standards of regular Lisp,
1752 it turns out to be very easy to learn and well-suited to its purpose.
1753
1754 Since @code{cl-loop} is a macro, all parsing of the loop language
1755 takes place at byte-compile time; compiled @code{cl-loop}s are just
1756 as efficient as the equivalent @code{while} loops written longhand.
1757
1758 @defmac cl-loop clauses@dots{}
1759 A loop construct consists of a series of @var{clause}s, each
1760 introduced by a symbol like @code{for} or @code{do}. Clauses
1761 are simply strung together in the argument list of @code{cl-loop},
1762 with minimal extra parentheses. The various types of clauses
1763 specify initializations, such as the binding of temporary
1764 variables, actions to be taken in the loop, stepping actions,
1765 and final cleanup.
1766
1767 Common Lisp specifies a certain general order of clauses in a
1768 loop:
1769
1770 @example
1771 (loop @var{name-clause}
1772 @var{var-clauses}@dots{}
1773 @var{action-clauses}@dots{})
1774 @end example
1775
1776 The @var{name-clause} optionally gives a name to the implicit
1777 block that surrounds the loop. By default, the implicit block
1778 is named @code{nil}. The @var{var-clauses} specify what
1779 variables should be bound during the loop, and how they should
1780 be modified or iterated throughout the course of the loop. The
1781 @var{action-clauses} are things to be done during the loop, such
1782 as computing, collecting, and returning values.
1783
1784 The Emacs version of the @code{cl-loop} macro is less restrictive about
1785 the order of clauses, but things will behave most predictably if
1786 you put the variable-binding clauses @code{with}, @code{for}, and
1787 @code{repeat} before the action clauses. As in Common Lisp,
1788 @code{initially} and @code{finally} clauses can go anywhere.
1789
1790 Loops generally return @code{nil} by default, but you can cause
1791 them to return a value by using an accumulation clause like
1792 @code{collect}, an end-test clause like @code{always}, or an
1793 explicit @code{return} clause to jump out of the implicit block.
1794 (Because the loop body is enclosed in an implicit block, you can
1795 also use regular Lisp @code{cl-return} or @code{cl-return-from} to
1796 break out of the loop.)
1797 @end defmac
1798
1799 The following sections give some examples of the loop macro in
1800 action, and describe the particular loop clauses in great detail.
1801 Consult the second edition of Steele for additional discussion
1802 and examples.
1803
1804 @node Loop Examples
1805 @subsection Loop Examples
1806
1807 @noindent
1808 Before listing the full set of clauses that are allowed, let's
1809 look at a few example loops just to get a feel for the @code{cl-loop}
1810 language.
1811
1812 @example
1813 (cl-loop for buf in (buffer-list)
1814 collect (buffer-file-name buf))
1815 @end example
1816
1817 @noindent
1818 This loop iterates over all Emacs buffers, using the list
1819 returned by @code{buffer-list}. For each buffer @var{buf},
1820 it calls @code{buffer-file-name} and collects the results into
1821 a list, which is then returned from the @code{cl-loop} construct.
1822 The result is a list of the file names of all the buffers in
1823 Emacs's memory. The words @code{for}, @code{in}, and @code{collect}
1824 are reserved words in the @code{cl-loop} language.
1825
1826 @example
1827 (cl-loop repeat 20 do (insert "Yowsa\n"))
1828 @end example
1829
1830 @noindent
1831 This loop inserts the phrase ``Yowsa'' twenty times in the
1832 current buffer.
1833
1834 @example
1835 (cl-loop until (eobp) do (munch-line) (forward-line 1))
1836 @end example
1837
1838 @noindent
1839 This loop calls @code{munch-line} on every line until the end
1840 of the buffer. If point is already at the end of the buffer,
1841 the loop exits immediately.
1842
1843 @example
1844 (cl-loop do (munch-line) until (eobp) do (forward-line 1))
1845 @end example
1846
1847 @noindent
1848 This loop is similar to the above one, except that @code{munch-line}
1849 is always called at least once.
1850
1851 @example
1852 (cl-loop for x from 1 to 100
1853 for y = (* x x)
1854 until (>= y 729)
1855 finally return (list x (= y 729)))
1856 @end example
1857
1858 @noindent
1859 This more complicated loop searches for a number @code{x} whose
1860 square is 729. For safety's sake it only examines @code{x}
1861 values up to 100; dropping the phrase @samp{to 100} would
1862 cause the loop to count upwards with no limit. The second
1863 @code{for} clause defines @code{y} to be the square of @code{x}
1864 within the loop; the expression after the @code{=} sign is
1865 reevaluated each time through the loop. The @code{until}
1866 clause gives a condition for terminating the loop, and the
1867 @code{finally} clause says what to do when the loop finishes.
1868 (This particular example was written less concisely than it
1869 could have been, just for the sake of illustration.)
1870
1871 Note that even though this loop contains three clauses (two
1872 @code{for}s and an @code{until}) that would have been enough to
1873 define loops all by themselves, it still creates a single loop
1874 rather than some sort of triple-nested loop. You must explicitly
1875 nest your @code{cl-loop} constructs if you want nested loops.
1876
1877 @node For Clauses
1878 @subsection For Clauses
1879
1880 @noindent
1881 Most loops are governed by one or more @code{for} clauses.
1882 A @code{for} clause simultaneously describes variables to be
1883 bound, how those variables are to be stepped during the loop,
1884 and usually an end condition based on those variables.
1885
1886 The word @code{as} is a synonym for the word @code{for}. This
1887 word is followed by a variable name, then a word like @code{from}
1888 or @code{across} that describes the kind of iteration desired.
1889 In Common Lisp, the phrase @code{being the} sometimes precedes
1890 the type of iteration; in this package both @code{being} and
1891 @code{the} are optional. The word @code{each} is a synonym
1892 for @code{the}, and the word that follows it may be singular
1893 or plural: @samp{for x being the elements of y} or
1894 @samp{for x being each element of y}. Which form you use
1895 is purely a matter of style.
1896
1897 The variable is bound around the loop as if by @code{let}:
1898
1899 @example
1900 (setq i 'happy)
1901 (cl-loop for i from 1 to 10 do (do-something-with i))
1902 i
1903 @result{} happy
1904 @end example
1905
1906 @table @code
1907 @item for @var{var} from @var{expr1} to @var{expr2} by @var{expr3}
1908 This type of @code{for} clause creates a counting loop. Each of
1909 the three sub-terms is optional, though there must be at least one
1910 term so that the clause is marked as a counting clause.
1911
1912 The three expressions are the starting value, the ending value, and
1913 the step value, respectively, of the variable. The loop counts
1914 upwards by default (@var{expr3} must be positive), from @var{expr1}
1915 to @var{expr2} inclusively. If you omit the @code{from} term, the
1916 loop counts from zero; if you omit the @code{to} term, the loop
1917 counts forever without stopping (unless stopped by some other
1918 loop clause, of course); if you omit the @code{by} term, the loop
1919 counts in steps of one.
1920
1921 You can replace the word @code{from} with @code{upfrom} or
1922 @code{downfrom} to indicate the direction of the loop. Likewise,
1923 you can replace @code{to} with @code{upto} or @code{downto}.
1924 For example, @samp{for x from 5 downto 1} executes five times
1925 with @code{x} taking on the integers from 5 down to 1 in turn.
1926 Also, you can replace @code{to} with @code{below} or @code{above},
1927 which are like @code{upto} and @code{downto} respectively except
1928 that they are exclusive rather than inclusive limits:
1929
1930 @example
1931 (cl-loop for x to 10 collect x)
1932 @result{} (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10)
1933 (cl-loop for x below 10 collect x)
1934 @result{} (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9)
1935 @end example
1936
1937 The @code{by} value is always positive, even for downward-counting
1938 loops. Some sort of @code{from} value is required for downward
1939 loops; @samp{for x downto 5} is not a valid loop clause all by
1940 itself.
1941
1942 @item for @var{var} in @var{list} by @var{function}
1943 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the elements of @var{list},
1944 in turn. If you specify the @code{by} term, then @var{function}
1945 is used to traverse the list instead of @code{cdr}; it must be a
1946 function taking one argument. For example:
1947
1948 @example
1949 (cl-loop for x in '(1 2 3 4 5 6) collect (* x x))
1950 @result{} (1 4 9 16 25 36)
1951 (cl-loop for x in '(1 2 3 4 5 6) by 'cddr collect (* x x))
1952 @result{} (1 9 25)
1953 @end example
1954
1955 @item for @var{var} on @var{list} by @var{function}
1956 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the cons cells of @var{list}.
1957
1958 @example
1959 (cl-loop for x on '(1 2 3 4) collect x)
1960 @result{} ((1 2 3 4) (2 3 4) (3 4) (4))
1961 @end example
1962
1963 With @code{by}, there is no real reason that the @code{on} expression
1964 must be a list. For example:
1965
1966 @example
1967 (cl-loop for x on first-animal by 'next-animal collect x)
1968 @end example
1969
1970 @noindent
1971 where @code{(next-animal x)} takes an ``animal'' @var{x} and returns
1972 the next in the (assumed) sequence of animals, or @code{nil} if
1973 @var{x} was the last animal in the sequence.
1974
1975 @item for @var{var} in-ref @var{list} by @var{function}
1976 This is like a regular @code{in} clause, but @var{var} becomes
1977 a @code{setf}-able ``reference'' onto the elements of the list
1978 rather than just a temporary variable. For example,
1979
1980 @example
1981 (cl-loop for x in-ref my-list do (cl-incf x))
1982 @end example
1983
1984 @noindent
1985 increments every element of @code{my-list} in place. This clause
1986 is an extension to standard Common Lisp.
1987
1988 @item for @var{var} across @var{array}
1989 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the elements of @var{array},
1990 which may be a vector or a string.
1991
1992 @example
1993 (cl-loop for x across "aeiou"
1994 do (use-vowel (char-to-string x)))
1995 @end example
1996
1997 @item for @var{var} across-ref @var{array}
1998 This clause iterates over an array, 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 elements of @var{sequence}
2002 This clause iterates over the elements of @var{sequence}, which may
2003 be a list, vector, or string. Since the type must be determined
2004 at run-time, this is somewhat less efficient than @code{in} or
2005 @code{across}. The clause may be followed by the additional term
2006 @samp{using (index @var{var2})} to cause @var{var2} to be bound to
2007 the successive indices (starting at 0) of the elements.
2008
2009 This clause type is taken from older versions of the @code{loop} macro,
2010 and is not present in modern Common Lisp. The @samp{using (sequence @dots{})}
2011 term of the older macros is not supported.
2012
2013 @item for @var{var} being the elements of-ref @var{sequence}
2014 This clause iterates over a sequence, with @var{var} a @code{setf}-able
2015 reference onto the elements; see @code{in-ref} above.
2016
2017 @item for @var{var} being the symbols [of @var{obarray}]
2018 This clause iterates over symbols, either over all interned symbols
2019 or over all symbols in @var{obarray}. The loop is executed with
2020 @var{var} bound to each symbol in turn. The symbols are visited in
2021 an unspecified order.
2022
2023 As an example,
2024
2025 @example
2026 (cl-loop for sym being the symbols
2027 when (fboundp sym)
2028 when (string-match "^map" (symbol-name sym))
2029 collect sym)
2030 @end example
2031
2032 @noindent
2033 returns a list of all the functions whose names begin with @samp{map}.
2034
2035 The Common Lisp words @code{external-symbols} and @code{present-symbols}
2036 are also recognized but are equivalent to @code{symbols} in Emacs Lisp.
2037
2038 Due to a minor implementation restriction, it will not work to have
2039 more than one @code{for} clause iterating over symbols, hash tables,
2040 keymaps, overlays, or intervals in a given @code{cl-loop}. Fortunately,
2041 it would rarely if ever be useful to do so. It @emph{is} valid to mix
2042 one of these types of clauses with other clauses like @code{for @dots{} to}
2043 or @code{while}.
2044
2045 @item for @var{var} being the hash-keys of @var{hash-table}
2046 @itemx for @var{var} being the hash-values of @var{hash-table}
2047 This clause iterates over the entries in @var{hash-table} with
2048 @var{var} bound to each key, or value. A @samp{using} clause can bind
2049 a second variable to the opposite part.
2050
2051 @example
2052 (cl-loop for k being the hash-keys of h
2053 using (hash-values v)
2054 do
2055 (message "key %S -> value %S" k v))
2056 @end example
2057
2058 @item for @var{var} being the key-codes of @var{keymap}
2059 @itemx for @var{var} being the key-bindings of @var{keymap}
2060 This clause iterates over the entries in @var{keymap}.
2061 The iteration does not enter nested keymaps but does enter inherited
2062 (parent) keymaps.
2063 A @code{using} clause can access both the codes and the bindings
2064 together.
2065
2066 @example
2067 (cl-loop for c being the key-codes of (current-local-map)
2068 using (key-bindings b)
2069 do
2070 (message "key %S -> binding %S" c b))
2071 @end example
2072
2073
2074 @item for @var{var} being the key-seqs of @var{keymap}
2075 This clause iterates over all key sequences defined by @var{keymap}
2076 and its nested keymaps, where @var{var} takes on values which are
2077 vectors. The strings or vectors
2078 are reused for each iteration, so you must copy them if you wish to keep
2079 them permanently. You can add a @samp{using (key-bindings @dots{})}
2080 clause to get the command bindings as well.
2081
2082 @item for @var{var} being the overlays [of @var{buffer}] @dots{}
2083 This clause iterates over the ``overlays'' of a buffer
2084 (the clause @code{extents} is synonymous
2085 with @code{overlays}). If the @code{of} term is omitted, the current
2086 buffer is used.
2087 This clause also accepts optional @samp{from @var{pos}} and
2088 @samp{to @var{pos}} terms, limiting the clause to overlays which
2089 overlap the specified region.
2090
2091 @item for @var{var} being the intervals [of @var{buffer}] @dots{}
2092 This clause iterates over all intervals of a buffer with constant
2093 text properties. The variable @var{var} will be bound to conses
2094 of start and end positions, where one start position is always equal
2095 to the previous end position. The clause allows @code{of},
2096 @code{from}, @code{to}, and @code{property} terms, where the latter
2097 term restricts the search to just the specified property. The
2098 @code{of} term may specify either a buffer or a string.
2099
2100 @item for @var{var} being the frames
2101 This clause iterates over all Emacs frames. The clause @code{screens} is
2102 a synonym for @code{frames}. The frames are visited in
2103 @code{next-frame} order starting from @code{selected-frame}.
2104
2105 @item for @var{var} being the windows [of @var{frame}]
2106 This clause iterates over the windows (in the Emacs sense) of
2107 the current frame, or of the specified @var{frame}. It visits windows
2108 in @code{next-window} order starting from @code{selected-window}
2109 (or @code{frame-selected-window} if you specify @var{frame}).
2110 This clause treats the minibuffer window in the same way as
2111 @code{next-window} does. For greater flexibility, consider using
2112 @code{walk-windows} instead.
2113
2114 @item for @var{var} being the buffers
2115 This clause iterates over all buffers in Emacs. It is equivalent
2116 to @samp{for @var{var} in (buffer-list)}.
2117
2118 @item for @var{var} = @var{expr1} then @var{expr2}
2119 This clause does a general iteration. The first time through
2120 the loop, @var{var} will be bound to @var{expr1}. On the second
2121 and successive iterations it will be set by evaluating @var{expr2}
2122 (which may refer to the old value of @var{var}). For example,
2123 these two loops are effectively the same:
2124
2125 @example
2126 (cl-loop for x on my-list by 'cddr do @dots{})
2127 (cl-loop for x = my-list then (cddr x) while x do @dots{})
2128 @end example
2129
2130 Note that this type of @code{for} clause does not imply any sort
2131 of terminating condition; the above example combines it with a
2132 @code{while} clause to tell when to end the loop.
2133
2134 If you omit the @code{then} term, @var{expr1} is used both for
2135 the initial setting and for successive settings:
2136
2137 @example
2138 (cl-loop for x = (random) when (> x 0) return x)
2139 @end example
2140
2141 @noindent
2142 This loop keeps taking random numbers from the @code{(random)}
2143 function until it gets a positive one, which it then returns.
2144 @end table
2145
2146 If you include several @code{for} clauses in a row, they are
2147 treated sequentially (as if by @code{let*} and @code{setq}).
2148 You can instead use the word @code{and} to link the clauses,
2149 in which case they are processed in parallel (as if by @code{let}
2150 and @code{cl-psetq}).
2151
2152 @example
2153 (cl-loop for x below 5 for y = nil then x collect (list x y))
2154 @result{} ((0 nil) (1 1) (2 2) (3 3) (4 4))
2155 (cl-loop for x below 5 and y = nil then x collect (list x y))
2156 @result{} ((0 nil) (1 0) (2 1) (3 2) (4 3))
2157 @end example
2158
2159 @noindent
2160 In the first loop, @code{y} is set based on the value of @code{x}
2161 that was just set by the previous clause; in the second loop,
2162 @code{x} and @code{y} are set simultaneously so @code{y} is set
2163 based on the value of @code{x} left over from the previous time
2164 through the loop.
2165
2166 Another feature of the @code{cl-loop} macro is @emph{destructuring},
2167 similar in concept to the destructuring provided by @code{defmacro}
2168 (@pxref{Argument Lists}).
2169 The @var{var} part of any @code{for} clause can be given as a list
2170 of variables instead of a single variable. The values produced
2171 during loop execution must be lists; the values in the lists are
2172 stored in the corresponding variables.
2173
2174 @example
2175 (cl-loop for (x y) in '((2 3) (4 5) (6 7)) collect (+ x y))
2176 @result{} (5 9 13)
2177 @end example
2178
2179 In loop destructuring, if there are more values than variables
2180 the trailing values are ignored, and if there are more variables
2181 than values the trailing variables get the value @code{nil}.
2182 If @code{nil} is used as a variable name, the corresponding
2183 values are ignored. Destructuring may be nested, and dotted
2184 lists of variables like @code{(x . y)} are allowed, so for example
2185 to process an alist
2186
2187 @example
2188 (cl-loop for (key . value) in '((a . 1) (b . 2))
2189 collect value)
2190 @result{} (1 2)
2191 @end example
2192
2193 @node Iteration Clauses
2194 @subsection Iteration Clauses
2195
2196 @noindent
2197 Aside from @code{for} clauses, there are several other loop clauses
2198 that control the way the loop operates. They might be used by
2199 themselves, or in conjunction with one or more @code{for} clauses.
2200
2201 @table @code
2202 @item repeat @var{integer}
2203 This clause simply counts up to the specified number using an
2204 internal temporary variable. The loops
2205
2206 @example
2207 (cl-loop repeat (1+ n) do @dots{})
2208 (cl-loop for temp to n do @dots{})
2209 @end example
2210
2211 @noindent
2212 are identical except that the second one forces you to choose
2213 a name for a variable you aren't actually going to use.
2214
2215 @item while @var{condition}
2216 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition (any Lisp
2217 expression) becomes @code{nil}. For example, the following two
2218 loops are equivalent, except for the implicit @code{nil} block
2219 that surrounds the second one:
2220
2221 @example
2222 (while @var{cond} @var{forms}@dots{})
2223 (cl-loop while @var{cond} do @var{forms}@dots{})
2224 @end example
2225
2226 @item until @var{condition}
2227 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition is true,
2228 i.e., non-@code{nil}.
2229
2230 @item always @var{condition}
2231 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition is @code{nil}.
2232 Unlike @code{while}, it stops the loop using @code{return nil} so that
2233 the @code{finally} clauses are not executed. If all the conditions
2234 were non-@code{nil}, the loop returns @code{t}:
2235
2236 @example
2237 (if (cl-loop for size in size-list always (> size 10))
2238 (some-big-sizes)
2239 (no-big-sizes))
2240 @end example
2241
2242 @item never @var{condition}
2243 This clause is like @code{always}, except that the loop returns
2244 @code{t} if any conditions were false, or @code{nil} otherwise.
2245
2246 @item thereis @var{condition}
2247 This clause stops the loop when the specified form is non-@code{nil};
2248 in this case, it returns that non-@code{nil} value. If all the
2249 values were @code{nil}, the loop returns @code{nil}.
2250 @end table
2251
2252 @node Accumulation Clauses
2253 @subsection Accumulation Clauses
2254
2255 @noindent
2256 These clauses cause the loop to accumulate information about the
2257 specified Lisp @var{form}. The accumulated result is returned
2258 from the loop unless overridden, say, by a @code{return} clause.
2259
2260 @table @code
2261 @item collect @var{form}
2262 This clause collects the values of @var{form} into a list. Several
2263 examples of @code{collect} appear elsewhere in this manual.
2264
2265 The word @code{collecting} is a synonym for @code{collect}, and
2266 likewise for the other accumulation clauses.
2267
2268 @item append @var{form}
2269 This clause collects lists of values into a result list using
2270 @code{append}.
2271
2272 @item nconc @var{form}
2273 This clause collects lists of values into a result list by
2274 destructively modifying the lists rather than copying them.
2275
2276 @item concat @var{form}
2277 This clause concatenates the values of the specified @var{form}
2278 into a string. (It and the following clause are extensions to
2279 standard Common Lisp.)
2280
2281 @item vconcat @var{form}
2282 This clause concatenates the values of the specified @var{form}
2283 into a vector.
2284
2285 @item count @var{form}
2286 This clause counts the number of times the specified @var{form}
2287 evaluates to a non-@code{nil} value.
2288
2289 @item sum @var{form}
2290 This clause accumulates the sum of the values of the specified
2291 @var{form}, which must evaluate to a number.
2292
2293 @item maximize @var{form}
2294 This clause accumulates the maximum value of the specified @var{form},
2295 which must evaluate to a number. The return value is undefined if
2296 @code{maximize} is executed zero times.
2297
2298 @item minimize @var{form}
2299 This clause accumulates the minimum value of the specified @var{form}.
2300 @end table
2301
2302 Accumulation clauses can be followed by @samp{into @var{var}} to
2303 cause the data to be collected into variable @var{var} (which is
2304 automatically @code{let}-bound during the loop) rather than an
2305 unnamed temporary variable. Also, @code{into} accumulations do
2306 not automatically imply a return value. The loop must use some
2307 explicit mechanism, such as @code{finally return}, to return
2308 the accumulated result.
2309
2310 It is valid for several accumulation clauses of the same type to
2311 accumulate into the same place. From Steele:
2312
2313 @example
2314 (cl-loop for name in '(fred sue alice joe june)
2315 for kids in '((bob ken) () () (kris sunshine) ())
2316 collect name
2317 append kids)
2318 @result{} (fred bob ken sue alice joe kris sunshine june)
2319 @end example
2320
2321 @node Other Clauses
2322 @subsection Other Clauses
2323
2324 @noindent
2325 This section describes the remaining loop clauses.
2326
2327 @table @code
2328 @item with @var{var} = @var{value}
2329 This clause binds a variable to a value around the loop, but
2330 otherwise leaves the variable alone during the loop. The following
2331 loops are basically equivalent:
2332
2333 @example
2334 (cl-loop with x = 17 do @dots{})
2335 (let ((x 17)) (cl-loop do @dots{}))
2336 (cl-loop for x = 17 then x do @dots{})
2337 @end example
2338
2339 Naturally, the variable @var{var} might be used for some purpose
2340 in the rest of the loop. For example:
2341
2342 @example
2343 (cl-loop for x in my-list with res = nil do (push x res)
2344 finally return res)
2345 @end example
2346
2347 This loop inserts the elements of @code{my-list} at the front of
2348 a new list being accumulated in @code{res}, then returns the
2349 list @code{res} at the end of the loop. The effect is similar
2350 to that of a @code{collect} clause, but the list gets reversed
2351 by virtue of the fact that elements are being pushed onto the
2352 front of @code{res} rather than the end.
2353
2354 If you omit the @code{=} term, the variable is initialized to
2355 @code{nil}. (Thus the @samp{= nil} in the above example is
2356 unnecessary.)
2357
2358 Bindings made by @code{with} are sequential by default, as if
2359 by @code{let*}. Just like @code{for} clauses, @code{with} clauses
2360 can be linked with @code{and} to cause the bindings to be made by
2361 @code{let} instead.
2362
2363 @item if @var{condition} @var{clause}
2364 This clause executes the following loop clause only if the specified
2365 condition is true. The following @var{clause} should be an accumulation,
2366 @code{do}, @code{return}, @code{if}, or @code{unless} clause.
2367 Several clauses may be linked by separating them with @code{and}.
2368 These clauses may be followed by @code{else} and a clause or clauses
2369 to execute if the condition was false. The whole construct may
2370 optionally be followed by the word @code{end} (which may be used to
2371 disambiguate an @code{else} or @code{and} in a nested @code{if}).
2372
2373 The actual non-@code{nil} value of the condition form is available
2374 by the name @code{it} in the ``then'' part. For example:
2375
2376 @example
2377 (setq funny-numbers '(6 13 -1))
2378 @result{} (6 13 -1)
2379 (cl-loop for x below 10
2380 if (cl-oddp x)
2381 collect x into odds
2382 and if (memq x funny-numbers) return (cdr it) end
2383 else
2384 collect x into evens
2385 finally return (vector odds evens))
2386 @result{} [(1 3 5 7 9) (0 2 4 6 8)]
2387 (setq funny-numbers '(6 7 13 -1))
2388 @result{} (6 7 13 -1)
2389 (cl-loop <@r{same thing again}>)
2390 @result{} (13 -1)
2391 @end example
2392
2393 Note the use of @code{and} to put two clauses into the ``then''
2394 part, one of which is itself an @code{if} clause. Note also that
2395 @code{end}, while normally optional, was necessary here to make
2396 it clear that the @code{else} refers to the outermost @code{if}
2397 clause. In the first case, the loop returns a vector of lists
2398 of the odd and even values of @var{x}. In the second case, the
2399 odd number 7 is one of the @code{funny-numbers} so the loop
2400 returns early; the actual returned value is based on the result
2401 of the @code{memq} call.
2402
2403 @item when @var{condition} @var{clause}
2404 This clause is just a synonym for @code{if}.
2405
2406 @item unless @var{condition} @var{clause}
2407 The @code{unless} clause is just like @code{if} except that the
2408 sense of the condition is reversed.
2409
2410 @item named @var{name}
2411 This clause gives a name other than @code{nil} to the implicit
2412 block surrounding the loop. The @var{name} is the symbol to be
2413 used as the block name.
2414
2415 @item initially [do] @var{forms}@dots{}
2416 This keyword introduces one or more Lisp forms which will be
2417 executed before the loop itself begins (but after any variables
2418 requested by @code{for} or @code{with} have been bound to their
2419 initial values). @code{initially} clauses can appear anywhere;
2420 if there are several, they are executed in the order they appear
2421 in the loop. The keyword @code{do} is optional.
2422
2423 @item finally [do] @var{forms}@dots{}
2424 This introduces Lisp forms which will be executed after the loop
2425 finishes (say, on request of a @code{for} or @code{while}).
2426 @code{initially} and @code{finally} clauses may appear anywhere
2427 in the loop construct, but they are executed (in the specified
2428 order) at the beginning or end, respectively, of the loop.
2429
2430 @item finally return @var{form}
2431 This says that @var{form} should be executed after the loop
2432 is done to obtain a return value. (Without this, or some other
2433 clause like @code{collect} or @code{return}, the loop will simply
2434 return @code{nil}.) Variables bound by @code{for}, @code{with},
2435 or @code{into} will still contain their final values when @var{form}
2436 is executed.
2437
2438 @item do @var{forms}@dots{}
2439 The word @code{do} may be followed by any number of Lisp expressions
2440 which are executed as an implicit @code{progn} in the body of the
2441 loop. Many of the examples in this section illustrate the use of
2442 @code{do}.
2443
2444 @item return @var{form}
2445 This clause causes the loop to return immediately. The following
2446 Lisp form is evaluated to give the return value of the loop
2447 form. The @code{finally} clauses, if any, are not executed.
2448 Of course, @code{return} is generally used inside an @code{if} or
2449 @code{unless}, as its use in a top-level loop clause would mean
2450 the loop would never get to ``loop'' more than once.
2451
2452 The clause @samp{return @var{form}} is equivalent to
2453 @samp{do (cl-return @var{form})} (or @code{cl-return-from} if the loop
2454 was named). The @code{return} clause is implemented a bit more
2455 efficiently, though.
2456 @end table
2457
2458 While there is no high-level way to add user extensions to @code{cl-loop},
2459 this package does offer two properties called @code{cl-loop-handler}
2460 and @code{cl-loop-for-handler} which are functions to be called when a
2461 given symbol is encountered as a top-level loop clause or @code{for}
2462 clause, respectively. Consult the source code in file
2463 @file{cl-macs.el} for details.
2464
2465 This package's @code{cl-loop} macro is compatible with that of Common
2466 Lisp, except that a few features are not implemented: @code{loop-finish}
2467 and data-type specifiers. Naturally, the @code{for} clauses that
2468 iterate over keymaps, overlays, intervals, frames, windows, and
2469 buffers are Emacs-specific extensions.
2470
2471 @node Multiple Values
2472 @section Multiple Values
2473
2474 @noindent
2475 Common Lisp functions can return zero or more results. Emacs Lisp
2476 functions, by contrast, always return exactly one result. This
2477 package makes no attempt to emulate Common Lisp multiple return
2478 values; Emacs versions of Common Lisp functions that return more
2479 than one value either return just the first value (as in
2480 @code{cl-compiler-macroexpand}) or return a list of values.
2481 This package @emph{does} define placeholders
2482 for the Common Lisp functions that work with multiple values, but
2483 in Emacs Lisp these functions simply operate on lists instead.
2484 The @code{cl-values} form, for example, is a synonym for @code{list}
2485 in Emacs.
2486
2487 @defmac cl-multiple-value-bind (var@dots{}) values-form forms@dots{}
2488 This form evaluates @var{values-form}, which must return a list of
2489 values. It then binds the @var{var}s to these respective values,
2490 as if by @code{let}, and then executes the body @var{forms}.
2491 If there are more @var{var}s than values, the extra @var{var}s
2492 are bound to @code{nil}. If there are fewer @var{var}s than
2493 values, the excess values are ignored.
2494 @end defmac
2495
2496 @defmac cl-multiple-value-setq (var@dots{}) form
2497 This form evaluates @var{form}, which must return a list of values.
2498 It then sets the @var{var}s to these respective values, as if by
2499 @code{setq}. Extra @var{var}s or values are treated the same as
2500 in @code{cl-multiple-value-bind}.
2501 @end defmac
2502
2503 Since a perfect emulation is not feasible in Emacs Lisp, this
2504 package opts to keep it as simple and predictable as possible.
2505
2506 @node Macros
2507 @chapter Macros
2508
2509 @noindent
2510 This package implements the various Common Lisp features of
2511 @code{defmacro}, such as destructuring, @code{&environment},
2512 and @code{&body}. Top-level @code{&whole} is not implemented
2513 for @code{defmacro} due to technical difficulties.
2514 @xref{Argument Lists}.
2515
2516 Destructuring is made available to the user by way of the
2517 following macro:
2518
2519 @defmac cl-destructuring-bind arglist expr forms@dots{}
2520 This macro expands to code that executes @var{forms}, with
2521 the variables in @var{arglist} bound to the list of values
2522 returned by @var{expr}. The @var{arglist} can include all
2523 the features allowed for @code{cl-defmacro} argument lists,
2524 including destructuring. (The @code{&environment} keyword
2525 is not allowed.) The macro expansion will signal an error
2526 if @var{expr} returns a list of the wrong number of arguments
2527 or with incorrect keyword arguments.
2528 @end defmac
2529
2530 This package also includes the Common Lisp @code{define-compiler-macro}
2531 facility, which allows you to define compile-time expansions and
2532 optimizations for your functions.
2533
2534 @defmac cl-define-compiler-macro name arglist forms@dots{}
2535 This form is similar to @code{defmacro}, except that it only expands
2536 calls to @var{name} at compile-time; calls processed by the Lisp
2537 interpreter are not expanded, nor are they expanded by the
2538 @code{macroexpand} function.
2539
2540 The argument list may begin with a @code{&whole} keyword and a
2541 variable. This variable is bound to the macro-call form itself,
2542 i.e., to a list of the form @samp{(@var{name} @var{args}@dots{})}.
2543 If the macro expander returns this form unchanged, then the
2544 compiler treats it as a normal function call. This allows
2545 compiler macros to work as optimizers for special cases of a
2546 function, leaving complicated cases alone.
2547
2548 For example, here is a simplified version of a definition that
2549 appears as a standard part of this package:
2550
2551 @example
2552 (cl-define-compiler-macro cl-member (&whole form a list &rest keys)
2553 (if (and (null keys)
2554 (eq (car-safe a) 'quote)
2555 (not (floatp (cadr a))))
2556 (list 'memq a list)
2557 form))
2558 @end example
2559
2560 @noindent
2561 This definition causes @code{(cl-member @var{a} @var{list})} to change
2562 to a call to the faster @code{memq} in the common case where @var{a}
2563 is a non-floating-point constant; if @var{a} is anything else, or
2564 if there are any keyword arguments in the call, then the original
2565 @code{cl-member} call is left intact. (The actual compiler macro
2566 for @code{cl-member} optimizes a number of other cases, including
2567 common @code{:test} predicates.)
2568 @end defmac
2569
2570 @defun cl-compiler-macroexpand form
2571 This function is analogous to @code{macroexpand}, except that it
2572 expands compiler macros rather than regular macros. It returns
2573 @var{form} unchanged if it is not a call to a function for which
2574 a compiler macro has been defined, or if that compiler macro
2575 decided to punt by returning its @code{&whole} argument. Like
2576 @code{macroexpand}, it expands repeatedly until it reaches a form
2577 for which no further expansion is possible.
2578 @end defun
2579
2580 @xref{Macro Bindings}, for descriptions of the @code{cl-macrolet}
2581 and @code{cl-symbol-macrolet} forms for making ``local'' macro
2582 definitions.
2583
2584 @node Declarations
2585 @chapter Declarations
2586
2587 @noindent
2588 Common Lisp includes a complex and powerful ``declaration''
2589 mechanism that allows you to give the compiler special hints
2590 about the types of data that will be stored in particular variables,
2591 and about the ways those variables and functions will be used. This
2592 package defines versions of all the Common Lisp declaration forms:
2593 @code{declare}, @code{locally}, @code{proclaim}, @code{declaim},
2594 and @code{the}.
2595
2596 Most of the Common Lisp declarations are not currently useful in Emacs
2597 Lisp. For example, the byte-code system provides little
2598 opportunity to benefit from type information.
2599 @ignore
2600 and @code{special} declarations are redundant in a fully
2601 dynamically-scoped Lisp.
2602 @end ignore
2603 A few declarations are meaningful when byte compiler optimizations
2604 are enabled, as they are by the default. Otherwise these
2605 declarations will effectively be ignored.
2606
2607 @defun cl-proclaim decl-spec
2608 This function records a ``global'' declaration specified by
2609 @var{decl-spec}. Since @code{cl-proclaim} is a function, @var{decl-spec}
2610 is evaluated and thus should normally be quoted.
2611 @end defun
2612
2613 @defmac cl-declaim decl-specs@dots{}
2614 This macro is like @code{cl-proclaim}, except that it takes any number
2615 of @var{decl-spec} arguments, and the arguments are unevaluated and
2616 unquoted. The @code{cl-declaim} macro also puts @code{(cl-eval-when
2617 (compile load eval) @dots{})} around the declarations so that they will
2618 be registered at compile-time as well as at run-time. (This is vital,
2619 since normally the declarations are meant to influence the way the
2620 compiler treats the rest of the file that contains the @code{cl-declaim}
2621 form.)
2622 @end defmac
2623
2624 @defmac cl-declare decl-specs@dots{}
2625 This macro is used to make declarations within functions and other
2626 code. Common Lisp allows declarations in various locations, generally
2627 at the beginning of any of the many ``implicit @code{progn}s''
2628 throughout Lisp syntax, such as function bodies, @code{let} bodies,
2629 etc. Currently the only declaration understood by @code{cl-declare}
2630 is @code{special}.
2631 @end defmac
2632
2633 @defmac cl-locally declarations@dots{} forms@dots{}
2634 In this package, @code{cl-locally} is no different from @code{progn}.
2635 @end defmac
2636
2637 @defmac cl-the type form
2638 Type information provided by @code{cl-the} is ignored in this package;
2639 in other words, @code{(cl-the @var{type} @var{form})} is equivalent to
2640 @var{form}. Future byte-compiler optimizations may make use of this
2641 information.
2642
2643 For example, @code{mapcar} can map over both lists and arrays. It is
2644 hard for the compiler to expand @code{mapcar} into an in-line loop
2645 unless it knows whether the sequence will be a list or an array ahead
2646 of time. With @code{(mapcar 'car (cl-the vector foo))}, a future
2647 compiler would have enough information to expand the loop in-line.
2648 For now, Emacs Lisp will treat the above code as exactly equivalent
2649 to @code{(mapcar 'car foo)}.
2650 @end defmac
2651
2652 Each @var{decl-spec} in a @code{cl-proclaim}, @code{cl-declaim}, or
2653 @code{cl-declare} should be a list beginning with a symbol that says
2654 what kind of declaration it is. This package currently understands
2655 @code{special}, @code{inline}, @code{notinline}, @code{optimize},
2656 and @code{warn} declarations. (The @code{warn} declaration is an
2657 extension of standard Common Lisp.) Other Common Lisp declarations,
2658 such as @code{type} and @code{ftype}, are silently ignored.
2659
2660 @table @code
2661 @item special
2662 @c FIXME ?
2663 Since all variables in Emacs Lisp are ``special'' (in the Common
2664 Lisp sense), @code{special} declarations are only advisory. They
2665 simply tell the byte compiler that the specified
2666 variables are intentionally being referred to without being
2667 bound in the body of the function. The compiler normally emits
2668 warnings for such references, since they could be typographical
2669 errors for references to local variables.
2670
2671 The declaration @code{(cl-declare (special @var{var1} @var{var2}))} is
2672 equivalent to @code{(defvar @var{var1}) (defvar @var{var2})}.
2673
2674 In top-level contexts, it is generally better to write
2675 @code{(defvar @var{var})} than @code{(cl-declaim (special @var{var}))},
2676 since @code{defvar} makes your intentions clearer.
2677
2678 @item inline
2679 The @code{inline} @var{decl-spec} lists one or more functions
2680 whose bodies should be expanded ``in-line'' into calling functions
2681 whenever the compiler is able to arrange for it. For example,
2682 the function @code{cl-acons} is declared @code{inline}
2683 by this package so that the form @code{(cl-acons @var{key} @var{value}
2684 @var{alist})} will
2685 expand directly into @code{(cons (cons @var{key} @var{value}) @var{alist})}
2686 when it is called in user functions, so as to save function calls.
2687
2688 The following declarations are all equivalent. Note that the
2689 @code{defsubst} form is a convenient way to define a function
2690 and declare it inline all at once.
2691
2692 @example
2693 (cl-declaim (inline foo bar))
2694 (cl-eval-when (compile load eval)
2695 (cl-proclaim '(inline foo bar)))
2696 (defsubst foo (@dots{}) @dots{}) ; instead of defun
2697 @end example
2698
2699 @strong{Please note:} this declaration remains in effect after the
2700 containing source file is done. It is correct to use it to
2701 request that a function you have defined should be inlined,
2702 but it is impolite to use it to request inlining of an external
2703 function.
2704
2705 In Common Lisp, it is possible to use @code{(declare (inline @dots{}))}
2706 before a particular call to a function to cause just that call to
2707 be inlined; the current byte compilers provide no way to implement
2708 this, so @code{(cl-declare (inline @dots{}))} is currently ignored by
2709 this package.
2710
2711 @item notinline
2712 The @code{notinline} declaration lists functions which should
2713 not be inlined after all; it cancels a previous @code{inline}
2714 declaration.
2715
2716 @item optimize
2717 This declaration controls how much optimization is performed by
2718 the compiler.
2719
2720 The word @code{optimize} is followed by any number of lists like
2721 @code{(speed 3)} or @code{(safety 2)}. Common Lisp defines several
2722 optimization ``qualities''; this package ignores all but @code{speed}
2723 and @code{safety}. The value of a quality should be an integer from
2724 0 to 3, with 0 meaning ``unimportant'' and 3 meaning ``very important''.
2725 The default level for both qualities is 1.
2726
2727 In this package, the @code{speed} quality is tied to the @code{byte-optimize}
2728 flag, which is set to @code{nil} for @code{(speed 0)} and to
2729 @code{t} for higher settings; and the @code{safety} quality is
2730 tied to the @code{byte-compile-delete-errors} flag, which is
2731 set to @code{nil} for @code{(safety 3)} and to @code{t} for all
2732 lower settings. (The latter flag controls whether the compiler
2733 is allowed to optimize out code whose only side-effect could
2734 be to signal an error, e.g., rewriting @code{(progn foo bar)} to
2735 @code{bar} when it is not known whether @code{foo} will be bound
2736 at run-time.)
2737
2738 Note that even compiling with @code{(safety 0)}, the Emacs
2739 byte-code system provides sufficient checking to prevent real
2740 harm from being done. For example, barring serious bugs in
2741 Emacs itself, Emacs will not crash with a segmentation fault
2742 just because of an error in a fully-optimized Lisp program.
2743
2744 The @code{optimize} declaration is normally used in a top-level
2745 @code{cl-proclaim} or @code{cl-declaim} in a file; Common Lisp allows
2746 it to be used with @code{declare} to set the level of optimization
2747 locally for a given form, but this will not work correctly with the
2748 current byte-compiler. (The @code{cl-declare}
2749 will set the new optimization level, but that level will not
2750 automatically be unset after the enclosing form is done.)
2751
2752 @item warn
2753 This declaration controls what sorts of warnings are generated
2754 by the byte compiler. The word @code{warn} is followed by any
2755 number of ``warning qualities'', similar in form to optimization
2756 qualities. The currently supported warning types are
2757 @code{redefine}, @code{callargs}, @code{unresolved}, and
2758 @code{free-vars}; in the current system, a value of 0 will
2759 disable these warnings and any higher value will enable them.
2760 See the documentation of the variable @code{byte-compile-warnings}
2761 for more details.
2762 @end table
2763
2764 @node Symbols
2765 @chapter Symbols
2766
2767 @noindent
2768 This package defines several symbol-related features that were
2769 missing from Emacs Lisp.
2770
2771 @menu
2772 * Property Lists:: @code{cl-get}, @code{cl-remprop}, @code{cl-getf}, @code{cl-remf}.
2773 * Creating Symbols:: @code{cl-gensym}, @code{cl-gentemp}.
2774 @end menu
2775
2776 @node Property Lists
2777 @section Property Lists
2778
2779 @noindent
2780 These functions augment the standard Emacs Lisp functions @code{get}
2781 and @code{put} for operating on properties attached to symbols.
2782 There are also functions for working with property lists as
2783 first-class data structures not attached to particular symbols.
2784
2785 @defun cl-get symbol property &optional default
2786 This function is like @code{get}, except that if the property is
2787 not found, the @var{default} argument provides the return value.
2788 (The Emacs Lisp @code{get} function always uses @code{nil} as
2789 the default; this package's @code{cl-get} is equivalent to Common
2790 Lisp's @code{get}.)
2791
2792 The @code{cl-get} function is @code{setf}-able; when used in this
2793 fashion, the @var{default} argument is allowed but ignored.
2794 @end defun
2795
2796 @defun cl-remprop symbol property
2797 This function removes the entry for @var{property} from the property
2798 list of @var{symbol}. It returns a true value if the property was
2799 indeed found and removed, or @code{nil} if there was no such property.
2800 (This function was probably omitted from Emacs originally because,
2801 since @code{get} did not allow a @var{default}, it was very difficult
2802 to distinguish between a missing property and a property whose value
2803 was @code{nil}; thus, setting a property to @code{nil} was close
2804 enough to @code{cl-remprop} for most purposes.)
2805 @end defun
2806
2807 @defun cl-getf place property &optional default
2808 This function scans the list @var{place} as if it were a property
2809 list, i.e., a list of alternating property names and values. If
2810 an even-numbered element of @var{place} is found which is @code{eq}
2811 to @var{property}, the following odd-numbered element is returned.
2812 Otherwise, @var{default} is returned (or @code{nil} if no default
2813 is given).
2814
2815 In particular,
2816
2817 @example
2818 (get sym prop) @equiv{} (cl-getf (symbol-plist sym) prop)
2819 @end example
2820
2821 It is valid to use @code{cl-getf} as a @code{setf} place, in which case
2822 its @var{place} argument must itself be a valid @code{setf} place.
2823 The @var{default} argument, if any, is ignored in this context.
2824 The effect is to change (via @code{setcar}) the value cell in the
2825 list that corresponds to @var{property}, or to cons a new property-value
2826 pair onto the list if the property is not yet present.
2827
2828 @example
2829 (put sym prop val) @equiv{} (setf (cl-getf (symbol-plist sym) prop) val)
2830 @end example
2831
2832 The @code{get} and @code{cl-get} functions are also @code{setf}-able.
2833 The fact that @code{default} is ignored can sometimes be useful:
2834
2835 @example
2836 (cl-incf (cl-get 'foo 'usage-count 0))
2837 @end example
2838
2839 Here, symbol @code{foo}'s @code{usage-count} property is incremented
2840 if it exists, or set to 1 (an incremented 0) otherwise.
2841
2842 When not used as a @code{setf} form, @code{cl-getf} is just a regular
2843 function and its @var{place} argument can actually be any Lisp
2844 expression.
2845 @end defun
2846
2847 @defmac cl-remf place property
2848 This macro removes the property-value pair for @var{property} from
2849 the property list stored at @var{place}, which is any @code{setf}-able
2850 place expression. It returns true if the property was found. Note
2851 that if @var{property} happens to be first on the list, this will
2852 effectively do a @code{(setf @var{place} (cddr @var{place}))},
2853 whereas if it occurs later, this simply uses @code{setcdr} to splice
2854 out the property and value cells.
2855 @end defmac
2856
2857 @node Creating Symbols
2858 @section Creating Symbols
2859
2860 @noindent
2861 These functions create unique symbols, typically for use as
2862 temporary variables.
2863
2864 @defun cl-gensym &optional x
2865 This function creates a new, uninterned symbol (using @code{make-symbol})
2866 with a unique name. (The name of an uninterned symbol is relevant
2867 only if the symbol is printed.) By default, the name is generated
2868 from an increasing sequence of numbers, @samp{G1000}, @samp{G1001},
2869 @samp{G1002}, etc. If the optional argument @var{x} is a string, that
2870 string is used as a prefix instead of @samp{G}. Uninterned symbols
2871 are used in macro expansions for temporary variables, to ensure that
2872 their names will not conflict with ``real'' variables in the user's
2873 code.
2874
2875 (Internally, the variable @code{cl--gensym-counter} holds the counter
2876 used to generate names. It is incremented after each use. In Common
2877 Lisp this is initialized with 0, but this package initializes it with
2878 a random time-dependent value to avoid trouble when two files that
2879 each used @code{cl-gensym} in their compilation are loaded together.
2880 Uninterned symbols become interned when the compiler writes them out
2881 to a file and the Emacs loader loads them, so their names have to be
2882 treated a bit more carefully than in Common Lisp where uninterned
2883 symbols remain uninterned after loading.)
2884 @end defun
2885
2886 @defun cl-gentemp &optional x
2887 This function is like @code{cl-gensym}, except that it produces a new
2888 @emph{interned} symbol. If the symbol that is generated already
2889 exists, the function keeps incrementing the counter and trying
2890 again until a new symbol is generated.
2891 @end defun
2892
2893 This package automatically creates all keywords that are called for by
2894 @code{&key} argument specifiers, and discourages the use of keywords
2895 as data unrelated to keyword arguments, so the related function
2896 @code{defkeyword} (to create self-quoting keyword symbols) is not
2897 provided.
2898
2899 @node Numbers
2900 @chapter Numbers
2901
2902 @noindent
2903 This section defines a few simple Common Lisp operations on numbers
2904 that were left out of Emacs Lisp.
2905
2906 @menu
2907 * Predicates on Numbers:: @code{cl-plusp}, @code{cl-oddp}, etc.
2908 * Numerical Functions:: @code{cl-floor}, @code{cl-ceiling}, etc.
2909 * Random Numbers:: @code{cl-random}, @code{cl-make-random-state}.
2910 * Implementation Parameters:: @code{cl-most-positive-float}, etc.
2911 @end menu
2912
2913 @node Predicates on Numbers
2914 @section Predicates on Numbers
2915
2916 @noindent
2917 These functions return @code{t} if the specified condition is
2918 true of the numerical argument, or @code{nil} otherwise.
2919
2920 @defun cl-plusp number
2921 This predicate tests whether @var{number} is positive. It is an
2922 error if the argument is not a number.
2923 @end defun
2924
2925 @defun cl-minusp number
2926 This predicate tests whether @var{number} is negative. It is an
2927 error if the argument is not a number.
2928 @end defun
2929
2930 @defun cl-oddp integer
2931 This predicate tests whether @var{integer} is odd. It is an
2932 error if the argument is not an integer.
2933 @end defun
2934
2935 @defun cl-evenp integer
2936 This predicate tests whether @var{integer} is even. It is an
2937 error if the argument is not an integer.
2938 @end defun
2939
2940 @ignore
2941 @defun cl-floatp-safe object
2942 This predicate tests whether @var{object} is a floating-point
2943 number. On systems that support floating-point, this is equivalent
2944 to @code{floatp}. On other systems, this always returns @code{nil}.
2945 @end defun
2946 @end ignore
2947
2948 @node Numerical Functions
2949 @section Numerical Functions
2950
2951 @noindent
2952 These functions perform various arithmetic operations on numbers.
2953
2954 @defun cl-gcd &rest integers
2955 This function returns the Greatest Common Divisor of the arguments.
2956 For one argument, it returns the absolute value of that argument.
2957 For zero arguments, it returns zero.
2958 @end defun
2959
2960 @defun cl-lcm &rest integers
2961 This function returns the Least Common Multiple of the arguments.
2962 For one argument, it returns the absolute value of that argument.
2963 For zero arguments, it returns one.
2964 @end defun
2965
2966 @defun cl-isqrt integer
2967 This function computes the ``integer square root'' of its integer
2968 argument, i.e., the greatest integer less than or equal to the true
2969 square root of the argument.
2970 @end defun
2971
2972 @defun cl-floor number &optional divisor
2973 With one argument, @code{cl-floor} returns a list of two numbers:
2974 The argument rounded down (toward minus infinity) to an integer,
2975 and the ``remainder'' which would have to be added back to the
2976 first return value to yield the argument again. If the argument
2977 is an integer @var{x}, the result is always the list @code{(@var{x} 0)}.
2978 If the argument is a floating-point number, the first
2979 result is a Lisp integer and the second is a Lisp float between
2980 0 (inclusive) and 1 (exclusive).
2981
2982 With two arguments, @code{cl-floor} divides @var{number} by
2983 @var{divisor}, and returns the floor of the quotient and the
2984 corresponding remainder as a list of two numbers. If
2985 @code{(cl-floor @var{x} @var{y})} returns @code{(@var{q} @var{r})},
2986 then @code{@var{q}*@var{y} + @var{r} = @var{x}}, with @var{r}
2987 between 0 (inclusive) and @var{r} (exclusive). Also, note
2988 that @code{(cl-floor @var{x})} is exactly equivalent to
2989 @code{(cl-floor @var{x} 1)}.
2990
2991 This function is entirely compatible with Common Lisp's @code{floor}
2992 function, except that it returns the two results in a list since
2993 Emacs Lisp does not support multiple-valued functions.
2994 @end defun
2995
2996 @defun cl-ceiling number &optional divisor
2997 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{ceiling} function,
2998 which is analogous to @code{floor} except that it rounds the
2999 argument or quotient of the arguments up toward plus infinity.
3000 The remainder will be between 0 and minus @var{r}.
3001 @end defun
3002
3003 @defun cl-truncate number &optional divisor
3004 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{truncate} function,
3005 which is analogous to @code{floor} except that it rounds the
3006 argument or quotient of the arguments toward zero. Thus it is
3007 equivalent to @code{cl-floor} if the argument or quotient is
3008 positive, or to @code{cl-ceiling} otherwise. The remainder has
3009 the same sign as @var{number}.
3010 @end defun
3011
3012 @defun cl-round number &optional divisor
3013 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{round} function,
3014 which is analogous to @code{floor} except that it rounds the
3015 argument or quotient of the arguments to the nearest integer.
3016 In the case of a tie (the argument or quotient is exactly
3017 halfway between two integers), it rounds to the even integer.
3018 @end defun
3019
3020 @defun cl-mod number divisor
3021 This function returns the same value as the second return value
3022 of @code{cl-floor}.
3023 @end defun
3024
3025 @defun cl-rem number divisor
3026 This function returns the same value as the second return value
3027 of @code{cl-truncate}.
3028 @end defun
3029
3030 @node Random Numbers
3031 @section Random Numbers
3032
3033 @noindent
3034 This package also provides an implementation of the Common Lisp
3035 random number generator. It uses its own additive-congruential
3036 algorithm, which is much more likely to give statistically clean
3037 @c FIXME? Still true?
3038 random numbers than the simple generators supplied by many
3039 operating systems.
3040
3041 @defun cl-random number &optional state
3042 This function returns a random nonnegative number less than
3043 @var{number}, and of the same type (either integer or floating-point).
3044 The @var{state} argument should be a @code{random-state} object
3045 that holds the state of the random number generator. The
3046 function modifies this state object as a side effect. If
3047 @var{state} is omitted, it defaults to the internal variable
3048 @code{cl--random-state}, which contains a pre-initialized
3049 default @code{random-state} object. (Since any number of programs in
3050 the Emacs process may be accessing @code{cl--random-state} in
3051 interleaved fashion, the sequence generated from this will be
3052 irreproducible for all intents and purposes.)
3053 @end defun
3054
3055 @defun cl-make-random-state &optional state
3056 This function creates or copies a @code{random-state} object.
3057 If @var{state} is omitted or @code{nil}, it returns a new copy of
3058 @code{cl--random-state}. This is a copy in the sense that future
3059 sequences of calls to @code{(cl-random @var{n})} and
3060 @code{(cl-random @var{n} @var{s})} (where @var{s} is the new
3061 random-state object) will return identical sequences of random
3062 numbers.
3063
3064 If @var{state} is a @code{random-state} object, this function
3065 returns a copy of that object. If @var{state} is @code{t}, this
3066 function returns a new @code{random-state} object seeded from the
3067 date and time. As an extension to Common Lisp, @var{state} may also
3068 be an integer in which case the new object is seeded from that
3069 integer; each different integer seed will result in a completely
3070 different sequence of random numbers.
3071
3072 It is valid to print a @code{random-state} object to a buffer or
3073 file and later read it back with @code{read}. If a program wishes
3074 to use a sequence of pseudo-random numbers which can be reproduced
3075 later for debugging, it can call @code{(cl-make-random-state t)} to
3076 get a new sequence, then print this sequence to a file. When the
3077 program is later rerun, it can read the original run's random-state
3078 from the file.
3079 @end defun
3080
3081 @defun cl-random-state-p object
3082 This predicate returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a
3083 @code{random-state} object, or @code{nil} otherwise.
3084 @end defun
3085
3086 @node Implementation Parameters
3087 @section Implementation Parameters
3088
3089 @noindent
3090 This package defines several useful constants having to do with
3091 floating-point numbers.
3092
3093 It determines their values by exercising the computer's
3094 floating-point arithmetic in various ways. Because this operation
3095 might be slow, the code for initializing them is kept in a separate
3096 function that must be called before the parameters can be used.
3097
3098 @defun cl-float-limits
3099 This function makes sure that the Common Lisp floating-point parameters
3100 like @code{cl-most-positive-float} have been initialized. Until it is
3101 called, these parameters will be @code{nil}.
3102 @c If this version of Emacs does not support floats, the parameters will
3103 @c remain @code{nil}.
3104 If the parameters have already been initialized, the function returns
3105 immediately.
3106
3107 The algorithm makes assumptions that will be valid for almost all
3108 machines, but will fail if the machine's arithmetic is extremely
3109 unusual, e.g., decimal.
3110 @end defun
3111
3112 Since true Common Lisp supports up to four different floating-point
3113 precisions, it has families of constants like
3114 @code{most-positive-single-float}, @code{most-positive-double-float},
3115 @code{most-positive-long-float}, and so on. Emacs has only one
3116 floating-point precision, so this package omits the precision word
3117 from the constants' names.
3118
3119 @defvar cl-most-positive-float
3120 This constant equals the largest value a Lisp float can hold.
3121 For those systems whose arithmetic supports infinities, this is
3122 the largest @emph{finite} value. For IEEE machines, the value
3123 is approximately @code{1.79e+308}.
3124 @end defvar
3125
3126 @defvar cl-most-negative-float
3127 This constant equals the most negative value a Lisp float can hold.
3128 (It is assumed to be equal to @code{(- cl-most-positive-float)}.)
3129 @end defvar
3130
3131 @defvar cl-least-positive-float
3132 This constant equals the smallest Lisp float value greater than zero.
3133 For IEEE machines, it is about @code{4.94e-324} if denormals are
3134 supported or @code{2.22e-308} if not.
3135 @end defvar
3136
3137 @defvar cl-least-positive-normalized-float
3138 This constant equals the smallest @emph{normalized} Lisp float greater
3139 than zero, i.e., the smallest value for which IEEE denormalization
3140 will not result in a loss of precision. For IEEE machines, this
3141 value is about @code{2.22e-308}. For machines that do not support
3142 the concept of denormalization and gradual underflow, this constant
3143 will always equal @code{cl-least-positive-float}.
3144 @end defvar
3145
3146 @defvar cl-least-negative-float
3147 This constant is the negative counterpart of @code{cl-least-positive-float}.
3148 @end defvar
3149
3150 @defvar cl-least-negative-normalized-float
3151 This constant is the negative counterpart of
3152 @code{cl-least-positive-normalized-float}.
3153 @end defvar
3154
3155 @defvar cl-float-epsilon
3156 This constant is the smallest positive Lisp float that can be added
3157 to 1.0 to produce a distinct value. Adding a smaller number to 1.0
3158 will yield 1.0 again due to roundoff. For IEEE machines, epsilon
3159 is about @code{2.22e-16}.
3160 @end defvar
3161
3162 @defvar cl-float-negative-epsilon
3163 This is the smallest positive value that can be subtracted from
3164 1.0 to produce a distinct value. For IEEE machines, it is about
3165 @code{1.11e-16}.
3166 @end defvar
3167
3168 @node Sequences
3169 @chapter Sequences
3170
3171 @noindent
3172 Common Lisp defines a number of functions that operate on
3173 @dfn{sequences}, which are either lists, strings, or vectors.
3174 Emacs Lisp includes a few of these, notably @code{elt} and
3175 @code{length}; this package defines most of the rest.
3176
3177 @menu
3178 * Sequence Basics:: Arguments shared by all sequence functions.
3179 * Mapping over Sequences:: @code{cl-mapcar}, @code{cl-map}, @code{cl-maplist}, etc.
3180 * Sequence Functions:: @code{cl-subseq}, @code{cl-remove}, @code{cl-substitute}, etc.
3181 * Searching Sequences:: @code{cl-find}, @code{cl-count}, @code{cl-search}, etc.
3182 * Sorting Sequences:: @code{cl-sort}, @code{cl-stable-sort}, @code{cl-merge}.
3183 @end menu
3184
3185 @node Sequence Basics
3186 @section Sequence Basics
3187
3188 @noindent
3189 Many of the sequence functions take keyword arguments; @pxref{Argument
3190 Lists}. All keyword arguments are optional and, if specified,
3191 may appear in any order.
3192
3193 The @code{:key} argument should be passed either @code{nil}, or a
3194 function of one argument. This key function is used as a filter
3195 through which the elements of the sequence are seen; for example,
3196 @code{(cl-find x y :key 'car)} is similar to @code{(cl-assoc x y)}.
3197 It searches for an element of the list whose @sc{car} equals
3198 @code{x}, rather than for an element which equals @code{x} itself.
3199 If @code{:key} is omitted or @code{nil}, the filter is effectively
3200 the identity function.
3201
3202 The @code{:test} and @code{:test-not} arguments should be either
3203 @code{nil}, or functions of two arguments. The test function is
3204 used to compare two sequence elements, or to compare a search value
3205 with sequence elements. (The two values are passed to the test
3206 function in the same order as the original sequence function
3207 arguments from which they are derived, or, if they both come from
3208 the same sequence, in the same order as they appear in that sequence.)
3209 The @code{:test} argument specifies a function which must return
3210 true (non-@code{nil}) to indicate a match; instead, you may use
3211 @code{:test-not} to give a function which returns @emph{false} to
3212 indicate a match. The default test function is @code{eql}.
3213
3214 Many functions that take @var{item} and @code{:test} or @code{:test-not}
3215 arguments also come in @code{-if} and @code{-if-not} varieties,
3216 where a @var{predicate} function is passed instead of @var{item},
3217 and sequence elements match if the predicate returns true on them
3218 (or false in the case of @code{-if-not}). For example:
3219
3220 @example
3221 (cl-remove 0 seq :test '=) @equiv{} (cl-remove-if 'zerop seq)
3222 @end example
3223
3224 @noindent
3225 to remove all zeros from sequence @code{seq}.
3226
3227 Some operations can work on a subsequence of the argument sequence;
3228 these function take @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments, which
3229 default to zero and the length of the sequence, respectively.
3230 Only elements between @var{start} (inclusive) and @var{end}
3231 (exclusive) are affected by the operation. The @var{end} argument
3232 may be passed @code{nil} to signify the length of the sequence;
3233 otherwise, both @var{start} and @var{end} must be integers, with
3234 @code{0 <= @var{start} <= @var{end} <= (length @var{seq})}.
3235 If the function takes two sequence arguments, the limits are
3236 defined by keywords @code{:start1} and @code{:end1} for the first,
3237 and @code{:start2} and @code{:end2} for the second.
3238
3239 A few functions accept a @code{:from-end} argument, which, if
3240 non-@code{nil}, causes the operation to go from right-to-left
3241 through the sequence instead of left-to-right, and a @code{:count}
3242 argument, which specifies an integer maximum number of elements
3243 to be removed or otherwise processed.
3244
3245 The sequence functions make no guarantees about the order in
3246 which the @code{:test}, @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key} functions
3247 are called on various elements. Therefore, it is a bad idea to depend
3248 on side effects of these functions. For example, @code{:from-end}
3249 may cause the sequence to be scanned actually in reverse, or it may
3250 be scanned forwards but computing a result ``as if'' it were scanned
3251 backwards. (Some functions, like @code{cl-mapcar} and @code{cl-every},
3252 @emph{do} specify exactly the order in which the function is called
3253 so side effects are perfectly acceptable in those cases.)
3254
3255 Strings may contain ``text properties'' as well
3256 as character data. Except as noted, it is undefined whether or
3257 not text properties are preserved by sequence functions. For
3258 example, @code{(cl-remove ?A @var{str})} may or may not preserve
3259 the properties of the characters copied from @var{str} into the
3260 result.
3261
3262 @node Mapping over Sequences
3263 @section Mapping over Sequences
3264
3265 @noindent
3266 These functions ``map'' the function you specify over the elements
3267 of lists or arrays. They are all variations on the theme of the
3268 built-in function @code{mapcar}.
3269
3270 @defun cl-mapcar function seq &rest more-seqs
3271 This function calls @var{function} on successive parallel sets of
3272 elements from its argument sequences. Given a single @var{seq}
3273 argument it is equivalent to @code{mapcar}; given @var{n} sequences,
3274 it calls the function with the first elements of each of the sequences
3275 as the @var{n} arguments to yield the first element of the result
3276 list, then with the second elements, and so on. The mapping stops as
3277 soon as the shortest sequence runs out. The argument sequences may
3278 be any mixture of lists, strings, and vectors; the return sequence
3279 is always a list.
3280
3281 Common Lisp's @code{mapcar} accepts multiple arguments but works
3282 only on lists; Emacs Lisp's @code{mapcar} accepts a single sequence
3283 argument. This package's @code{cl-mapcar} works as a compatible
3284 superset of both.
3285 @end defun
3286
3287 @defun cl-map result-type function seq &rest more-seqs
3288 This function maps @var{function} over the argument sequences,
3289 just like @code{cl-mapcar}, but it returns a sequence of type
3290 @var{result-type} rather than a list. @var{result-type} must
3291 be one of the following symbols: @code{vector}, @code{string},
3292 @code{list} (in which case the effect is the same as for
3293 @code{cl-mapcar}), or @code{nil} (in which case the results are
3294 thrown away and @code{cl-map} returns @code{nil}).
3295 @end defun
3296
3297 @defun cl-maplist function list &rest more-lists
3298 This function calls @var{function} on each of its argument lists,
3299 then on the @sc{cdr}s of those lists, and so on, until the
3300 shortest list runs out. The results are returned in the form
3301 of a list. Thus, @code{cl-maplist} is like @code{cl-mapcar} except
3302 that it passes in the list pointers themselves rather than the
3303 @sc{car}s of the advancing pointers.
3304 @end defun
3305
3306 @defun cl-mapc function seq &rest more-seqs
3307 This function is like @code{cl-mapcar}, except that the values returned
3308 by @var{function} are ignored and thrown away rather than being
3309 collected into a list. The return value of @code{cl-mapc} is @var{seq},
3310 the first sequence. This function is more general than the Emacs
3311 primitive @code{mapc}. (Note that this function is called
3312 @code{cl-mapc} even in @file{cl.el}, rather than @code{mapc*} as you
3313 might expect.)
3314 @c http://debbugs.gnu.org/6575
3315 @end defun
3316
3317 @defun cl-mapl function list &rest more-lists
3318 This function is like @code{cl-maplist}, except that it throws away
3319 the values returned by @var{function}.
3320 @end defun
3321
3322 @defun cl-mapcan function seq &rest more-seqs
3323 This function is like @code{cl-mapcar}, except that it concatenates
3324 the return values (which must be lists) using @code{nconc},
3325 rather than simply collecting them into a list.
3326 @end defun
3327
3328 @defun cl-mapcon function list &rest more-lists
3329 This function is like @code{cl-maplist}, except that it concatenates
3330 the return values using @code{nconc}.
3331 @end defun
3332
3333 @defun cl-some predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3334 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of @var{seq}
3335 in turn; if @var{predicate} returns a non-@code{nil} value,
3336 @code{cl-some} returns that value, otherwise it returns @code{nil}.
3337 Given several sequence arguments, it steps through the sequences
3338 in parallel until the shortest one runs out, just as in
3339 @code{cl-mapcar}. You can rely on the left-to-right order in which
3340 the elements are visited, and on the fact that mapping stops
3341 immediately as soon as @var{predicate} returns non-@code{nil}.
3342 @end defun
3343
3344 @defun cl-every predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3345 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3346 in turn; it returns @code{nil} as soon as @var{predicate} returns
3347 @code{nil} for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate was true
3348 for all elements.
3349 @end defun
3350
3351 @defun cl-notany predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3352 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3353 in turn; it returns @code{nil} as soon as @var{predicate} returns
3354 a non-@code{nil} value for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate
3355 was @code{nil} for all elements.
3356 @end defun
3357
3358 @defun cl-notevery predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3359 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3360 in turn; it returns a non-@code{nil} value as soon as @var{predicate}
3361 returns @code{nil} for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate was
3362 true for all elements.
3363 @end defun
3364
3365 @defun cl-reduce function seq @t{&key :from-end :start :end :initial-value :key}
3366 This function combines the elements of @var{seq} using an associative
3367 binary operation. Suppose @var{function} is @code{*} and @var{seq} is
3368 the list @code{(2 3 4 5)}. The first two elements of the list are
3369 combined with @code{(* 2 3) = 6}; this is combined with the next
3370 element, @code{(* 6 4) = 24}, and that is combined with the final
3371 element: @code{(* 24 5) = 120}. Note that the @code{*} function happens
3372 to be self-reducing, so that @code{(* 2 3 4 5)} has the same effect as
3373 an explicit call to @code{cl-reduce}.
3374
3375 If @code{:from-end} is true, the reduction is right-associative instead
3376 of left-associative:
3377
3378 @example
3379 (cl-reduce '- '(1 2 3 4))
3380 @equiv{} (- (- (- 1 2) 3) 4) @result{} -8
3381 (cl-reduce '- '(1 2 3 4) :from-end t)
3382 @equiv{} (- 1 (- 2 (- 3 4))) @result{} -2
3383 @end example
3384
3385 If @code{:key} is specified, it is a function of one argument, which
3386 is called on each of the sequence elements in turn.
3387
3388 If @code{:initial-value} is specified, it is effectively added to the
3389 front (or rear in the case of @code{:from-end}) of the sequence.
3390 The @code{:key} function is @emph{not} applied to the initial value.
3391
3392 If the sequence, including the initial value, has exactly one element
3393 then that element is returned without ever calling @var{function}.
3394 If the sequence is empty (and there is no initial value), then
3395 @var{function} is called with no arguments to obtain the return value.
3396 @end defun
3397
3398 All of these mapping operations can be expressed conveniently in
3399 terms of the @code{cl-loop} macro. In compiled code, @code{cl-loop} will
3400 be faster since it generates the loop as in-line code with no
3401 function calls.
3402
3403 @node Sequence Functions
3404 @section Sequence Functions
3405
3406 @noindent
3407 This section describes a number of Common Lisp functions for
3408 operating on sequences.
3409
3410 @defun cl-subseq sequence start &optional end
3411 This function returns a given subsequence of the argument
3412 @var{sequence}, which may be a list, string, or vector.
3413 The indices @var{start} and @var{end} must be in range, and
3414 @var{start} must be no greater than @var{end}. If @var{end}
3415 is omitted, it defaults to the length of the sequence. The
3416 return value is always a copy; it does not share structure
3417 with @var{sequence}.
3418
3419 As an extension to Common Lisp, @var{start} and/or @var{end}
3420 may be negative, in which case they represent a distance back
3421 from the end of the sequence. This is for compatibility with
3422 Emacs's @code{substring} function. Note that @code{cl-subseq} is
3423 the @emph{only} sequence function that allows negative
3424 @var{start} and @var{end}.
3425
3426 You can use @code{setf} on a @code{cl-subseq} form to replace a
3427 specified range of elements with elements from another sequence.
3428 The replacement is done as if by @code{cl-replace}, described below.
3429 @end defun
3430
3431 @defun cl-concatenate result-type &rest seqs
3432 This function concatenates the argument sequences together to
3433 form a result sequence of type @var{result-type}, one of the
3434 symbols @code{vector}, @code{string}, or @code{list}. The
3435 arguments are always copied, even in cases such as
3436 @code{(cl-concatenate 'list '(1 2 3))} where the result is
3437 identical to an argument.
3438 @end defun
3439
3440 @defun cl-fill seq item @t{&key :start :end}
3441 This function fills the elements of the sequence (or the specified
3442 part of the sequence) with the value @var{item}.
3443 @end defun
3444
3445 @defun cl-replace seq1 seq2 @t{&key :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2}
3446 This function copies part of @var{seq2} into part of @var{seq1}.
3447 The sequence @var{seq1} is not stretched or resized; the amount
3448 of data copied is simply the shorter of the source and destination
3449 (sub)sequences. The function returns @var{seq1}.
3450
3451 If @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} are @code{eq}, then the replacement
3452 will work correctly even if the regions indicated by the start
3453 and end arguments overlap. However, if @var{seq1} and @var{seq2}
3454 are lists that share storage but are not @code{eq}, and the
3455 start and end arguments specify overlapping regions, the effect
3456 is undefined.
3457 @end defun
3458
3459 @defun cl-remove item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3460 This returns a copy of @var{seq} with all elements matching
3461 @var{item} removed. The result may share storage with or be
3462 @code{eq} to @var{seq} in some circumstances, but the original
3463 @var{seq} will not be modified. The @code{:test}, @code{:test-not},
3464 and @code{:key} arguments define the matching test that is used;
3465 by default, elements @code{eql} to @var{item} are removed. The
3466 @code{:count} argument specifies the maximum number of matching
3467 elements that can be removed (only the leftmost @var{count} matches
3468 are removed). The @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments specify
3469 a region in @var{seq} in which elements will be removed; elements
3470 outside that region are not matched or removed. The @code{:from-end}
3471 argument, if true, says that elements should be deleted from the
3472 end of the sequence rather than the beginning (this matters only
3473 if @var{count} was also specified).
3474 @end defun
3475
3476 @defun cl-delete item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3477 This deletes all elements of @var{seq} that match @var{item}.
3478 It is a destructive operation. Since Emacs Lisp does not support
3479 stretchable strings or vectors, this is the same as @code{cl-remove}
3480 for those sequence types. On lists, @code{cl-remove} will copy the
3481 list if necessary to preserve the original list, whereas
3482 @code{cl-delete} will splice out parts of the argument list.
3483 Compare @code{append} and @code{nconc}, which are analogous
3484 non-destructive and destructive list operations in Emacs Lisp.
3485 @end defun
3486
3487 @findex cl-remove-if
3488 @findex cl-remove-if-not
3489 @findex cl-delete-if
3490 @findex cl-delete-if-not
3491 The predicate-oriented functions @code{cl-remove-if}, @code{cl-remove-if-not},
3492 @code{cl-delete-if}, and @code{cl-delete-if-not} are defined similarly.
3493
3494 @defun cl-remove-duplicates seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3495 This function returns a copy of @var{seq} with duplicate elements
3496 removed. Specifically, if two elements from the sequence match
3497 according to the @code{:test}, @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key}
3498 arguments, only the rightmost one is retained. If @code{:from-end}
3499 is true, the leftmost one is retained instead. If @code{:start} or
3500 @code{:end} is specified, only elements within that subsequence are
3501 examined or removed.
3502 @end defun
3503
3504 @defun cl-delete-duplicates seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3505 This function deletes duplicate elements from @var{seq}. It is
3506 a destructive version of @code{cl-remove-duplicates}.
3507 @end defun
3508
3509 @defun cl-substitute new old seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3510 This function returns a copy of @var{seq}, with all elements
3511 matching @var{old} replaced with @var{new}. The @code{:count},
3512 @code{:start}, @code{:end}, and @code{:from-end} arguments may be
3513 used to limit the number of substitutions made.
3514 @end defun
3515
3516 @defun cl-nsubstitute new old seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3517 This is a destructive version of @code{cl-substitute}; it performs
3518 the substitution using @code{setcar} or @code{aset} rather than
3519 by returning a changed copy of the sequence.
3520 @end defun
3521
3522 @findex cl-substitute-if
3523 @findex cl-substitute-if-not
3524 @findex cl-nsubstitute-if
3525 @findex cl-nsubstitute-if-not
3526 The functions @code{cl-substitute-if}, @code{cl-substitute-if-not},
3527 @code{cl-nsubstitute-if}, and @code{cl-nsubstitute-if-not} are defined
3528 similarly. For these, a @var{predicate} is given in place of the
3529 @var{old} argument.
3530
3531 @node Searching Sequences
3532 @section Searching Sequences
3533
3534 @noindent
3535 These functions search for elements or subsequences in a sequence.
3536 (See also @code{cl-member} and @code{cl-assoc}; @pxref{Lists}.)
3537
3538 @defun cl-find item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3539 This function searches @var{seq} for an element matching @var{item}.
3540 If it finds a match, it returns the matching element. Otherwise,
3541 it returns @code{nil}. It returns the leftmost match, unless
3542 @code{:from-end} is true, in which case it returns the rightmost
3543 match. The @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments may be used to
3544 limit the range of elements that are searched.
3545 @end defun
3546
3547 @defun cl-position item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3548 This function is like @code{cl-find}, except that it returns the
3549 integer position in the sequence of the matching item rather than
3550 the item itself. The position is relative to the start of the
3551 sequence as a whole, even if @code{:start} is non-zero. The function
3552 returns @code{nil} if no matching element was found.
3553 @end defun
3554
3555 @defun cl-count item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end}
3556 This function returns the number of elements of @var{seq} which
3557 match @var{item}. The result is always a nonnegative integer.
3558 @end defun
3559
3560 @findex cl-find-if
3561 @findex cl-find-if-not
3562 @findex cl-position-if
3563 @findex cl-position-if-not
3564 @findex cl-count-if
3565 @findex cl-count-if-not
3566 The @code{cl-find-if}, @code{cl-find-if-not}, @code{cl-position-if},
3567 @code{cl-position-if-not}, @code{cl-count-if}, and @code{cl-count-if-not}
3568 functions are defined similarly.
3569
3570 @defun cl-mismatch seq1 seq2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2 :from-end}
3571 This function compares the specified parts of @var{seq1} and
3572 @var{seq2}. If they are the same length and the corresponding
3573 elements match (according to @code{:test}, @code{:test-not},
3574 and @code{:key}), the function returns @code{nil}. If there is
3575 a mismatch, the function returns the index (relative to @var{seq1})
3576 of the first mismatching element. This will be the leftmost pair of
3577 elements that do not match, or the position at which the shorter of
3578 the two otherwise-matching sequences runs out.
3579
3580 If @code{:from-end} is true, then the elements are compared from right
3581 to left starting at @code{(1- @var{end1})} and @code{(1- @var{end2})}.
3582 If the sequences differ, then one plus the index of the rightmost
3583 difference (relative to @var{seq1}) is returned.
3584
3585 An interesting example is @code{(cl-mismatch str1 str2 :key 'upcase)},
3586 which compares two strings case-insensitively.
3587 @end defun
3588
3589 @defun cl-search seq1 seq2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key :from-end :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2}
3590 This function searches @var{seq2} for a subsequence that matches
3591 @var{seq1} (or part of it specified by @code{:start1} and
3592 @code{:end1}). Only matches that fall entirely within the region
3593 defined by @code{:start2} and @code{:end2} will be considered.
3594 The return value is the index of the leftmost element of the
3595 leftmost match, relative to the start of @var{seq2}, or @code{nil}
3596 if no matches were found. If @code{:from-end} is true, the
3597 function finds the @emph{rightmost} matching subsequence.
3598 @end defun
3599
3600 @node Sorting Sequences
3601 @section Sorting Sequences
3602
3603 @defun cl-sort seq predicate @t{&key :key}
3604 This function sorts @var{seq} into increasing order as determined
3605 by using @var{predicate} to compare pairs of elements. @var{predicate}
3606 should return true (non-@code{nil}) if and only if its first argument
3607 is less than (not equal to) its second argument. For example,
3608 @code{<} and @code{string-lessp} are suitable predicate functions
3609 for sorting numbers and strings, respectively; @code{>} would sort
3610 numbers into decreasing rather than increasing order.
3611
3612 This function differs from Emacs's built-in @code{sort} in that it
3613 can operate on any type of sequence, not just lists. Also, it
3614 accepts a @code{:key} argument, which is used to preprocess data
3615 fed to the @var{predicate} function. For example,
3616
3617 @example
3618 (setq data (cl-sort data 'string-lessp :key 'downcase))
3619 @end example
3620
3621 @noindent
3622 sorts @var{data}, a sequence of strings, into increasing alphabetical
3623 order without regard to case. A @code{:key} function of @code{car}
3624 would be useful for sorting association lists. It should only be a
3625 simple accessor though, since it's used heavily in the current
3626 implementation.
3627
3628 The @code{cl-sort} function is destructive; it sorts lists by actually
3629 rearranging the @sc{cdr} pointers in suitable fashion.
3630 @end defun
3631
3632 @defun cl-stable-sort seq predicate @t{&key :key}
3633 This function sorts @var{seq} @dfn{stably}, meaning two elements
3634 which are equal in terms of @var{predicate} are guaranteed not to
3635 be rearranged out of their original order by the sort.
3636
3637 In practice, @code{cl-sort} and @code{cl-stable-sort} are equivalent
3638 in Emacs Lisp because the underlying @code{sort} function is
3639 stable by default. However, this package reserves the right to
3640 use non-stable methods for @code{cl-sort} in the future.
3641 @end defun
3642
3643 @defun cl-merge type seq1 seq2 predicate @t{&key :key}
3644 This function merges two sequences @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} by
3645 interleaving their elements. The result sequence, of type @var{type}
3646 (in the sense of @code{cl-concatenate}), has length equal to the sum
3647 of the lengths of the two input sequences. The sequences may be
3648 modified destructively. Order of elements within @var{seq1} and
3649 @var{seq2} is preserved in the interleaving; elements of the two
3650 sequences are compared by @var{predicate} (in the sense of
3651 @code{sort}) and the lesser element goes first in the result.
3652 When elements are equal, those from @var{seq1} precede those from
3653 @var{seq2} in the result. Thus, if @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} are
3654 both sorted according to @var{predicate}, then the result will be
3655 a merged sequence which is (stably) sorted according to
3656 @var{predicate}.
3657 @end defun
3658
3659 @node Lists
3660 @chapter Lists
3661
3662 @noindent
3663 The functions described here operate on lists.
3664
3665 @menu
3666 * List Functions:: @code{cl-caddr}, @code{cl-first}, @code{cl-list*}, etc.
3667 * Substitution of Expressions:: @code{cl-subst}, @code{cl-sublis}, etc.
3668 * Lists as Sets:: @code{cl-member}, @code{cl-adjoin}, @code{cl-union}, etc.
3669 * Association Lists:: @code{cl-assoc}, @code{cl-acons}, @code{cl-pairlis}, etc.
3670 @end menu
3671
3672 @node List Functions
3673 @section List Functions
3674
3675 @noindent
3676 This section describes a number of simple operations on lists,
3677 i.e., chains of cons cells.
3678
3679 @defun cl-caddr x
3680 This function is equivalent to @code{(car (cdr (cdr @var{x})))}.
3681 Likewise, this package defines all 24 @code{c@var{xxx}r} functions
3682 where @var{xxx} is up to four @samp{a}s and/or @samp{d}s.
3683 All of these functions are @code{setf}-able, and calls to them
3684 are expanded inline by the byte-compiler for maximum efficiency.
3685 @end defun
3686
3687 @defun cl-first x
3688 This function is a synonym for @code{(car @var{x})}. Likewise,
3689 the functions @code{cl-second}, @code{cl-third}, @dots{}, through
3690 @code{cl-tenth} return the given element of the list @var{x}.
3691 @end defun
3692
3693 @defun cl-rest x
3694 This function is a synonym for @code{(cdr @var{x})}.
3695 @end defun
3696
3697 @defun cl-endp x
3698 Common Lisp defines this function to act like @code{null}, but
3699 signaling an error if @code{x} is neither a @code{nil} nor a
3700 cons cell. This package simply defines @code{cl-endp} as a synonym
3701 for @code{null}.
3702 @end defun
3703
3704 @defun cl-list-length x
3705 This function returns the length of list @var{x}, exactly like
3706 @code{(length @var{x})}, except that if @var{x} is a circular
3707 list (where the @sc{cdr}-chain forms a loop rather than terminating
3708 with @code{nil}), this function returns @code{nil}. (The regular
3709 @code{length} function would get stuck if given a circular list.
3710 See also the @code{safe-length} function.)
3711 @end defun
3712
3713 @defun cl-list* arg &rest others
3714 This function constructs a list of its arguments. The final
3715 argument becomes the @sc{cdr} of the last cell constructed.
3716 Thus, @code{(cl-list* @var{a} @var{b} @var{c})} is equivalent to
3717 @code{(cons @var{a} (cons @var{b} @var{c}))}, and
3718 @code{(cl-list* @var{a} @var{b} nil)} is equivalent to
3719 @code{(list @var{a} @var{b})}.
3720 @end defun
3721
3722 @defun cl-ldiff list sublist
3723 If @var{sublist} is a sublist of @var{list}, i.e., is @code{eq} to
3724 one of the cons cells of @var{list}, then this function returns
3725 a copy of the part of @var{list} up to but not including
3726 @var{sublist}. For example, @code{(cl-ldiff x (cddr x))} returns
3727 the first two elements of the list @code{x}. The result is a
3728 copy; the original @var{list} is not modified. If @var{sublist}
3729 is not a sublist of @var{list}, a copy of the entire @var{list}
3730 is returned.
3731 @end defun
3732
3733 @defun cl-copy-list list
3734 This function returns a copy of the list @var{list}. It copies
3735 dotted lists like @code{(1 2 . 3)} correctly.
3736 @end defun
3737
3738 @defun cl-tree-equal x y @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3739 This function compares two trees of cons cells. If @var{x} and
3740 @var{y} are both cons cells, their @sc{car}s and @sc{cdr}s are
3741 compared recursively. If neither @var{x} nor @var{y} is a cons
3742 cell, they are compared by @code{eql}, or according to the
3743 specified test. The @code{:key} function, if specified, is
3744 applied to the elements of both trees. @xref{Sequences}.
3745 @end defun
3746
3747 @node Substitution of Expressions
3748 @section Substitution of Expressions
3749
3750 @noindent
3751 These functions substitute elements throughout a tree of cons
3752 cells. (@xref{Sequence Functions}, for the @code{cl-substitute}
3753 function, which works on just the top-level elements of a list.)
3754
3755 @defun cl-subst new old tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3756 This function substitutes occurrences of @var{old} with @var{new}
3757 in @var{tree}, a tree of cons cells. It returns a substituted
3758 tree, which will be a copy except that it may share storage with
3759 the argument @var{tree} in parts where no substitutions occurred.
3760 The original @var{tree} is not modified. This function recurses
3761 on, and compares against @var{old}, both @sc{car}s and @sc{cdr}s
3762 of the component cons cells. If @var{old} is itself a cons cell,
3763 then matching cells in the tree are substituted as usual without
3764 recursively substituting in that cell. Comparisons with @var{old}
3765 are done according to the specified test (@code{eql} by default).
3766 The @code{:key} function is applied to the elements of the tree
3767 but not to @var{old}.
3768 @end defun
3769
3770 @defun cl-nsubst new old tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3771 This function is like @code{cl-subst}, except that it works by
3772 destructive modification (by @code{setcar} or @code{setcdr})
3773 rather than copying.
3774 @end defun
3775
3776 @findex cl-subst-if
3777 @findex cl-subst-if-not
3778 @findex cl-nsubst-if
3779 @findex cl-nsubst-if-not
3780 The @code{cl-subst-if}, @code{cl-subst-if-not}, @code{cl-nsubst-if}, and
3781 @code{cl-nsubst-if-not} functions are defined similarly.
3782
3783 @defun cl-sublis alist tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3784 This function is like @code{cl-subst}, except that it takes an
3785 association list @var{alist} of @var{old}-@var{new} pairs.
3786 Each element of the tree (after applying the @code{:key}
3787 function, if any), is compared with the @sc{car}s of
3788 @var{alist}; if it matches, it is replaced by the corresponding
3789 @sc{cdr}.
3790 @end defun
3791
3792 @defun cl-nsublis alist tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3793 This is a destructive version of @code{cl-sublis}.
3794 @end defun
3795
3796 @node Lists as Sets
3797 @section Lists as Sets
3798
3799 @noindent
3800 These functions perform operations on lists that represent sets
3801 of elements.
3802
3803 @defun cl-member item list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3804 This function searches @var{list} for an element matching @var{item}.
3805 If a match is found, it returns the cons cell whose @sc{car} was
3806 the matching element. Otherwise, it returns @code{nil}. Elements
3807 are compared by @code{eql} by default; you can use the @code{:test},
3808 @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key} arguments to modify this behavior.
3809 @xref{Sequences}.
3810
3811 The standard Emacs lisp function @code{member} uses @code{equal} for
3812 comparisons; it is equivalent to @code{(cl-member @var{item} @var{list}
3813 :test 'equal)}. With no keyword arguments, @code{cl-member} is
3814 equivalent to @code{memq}.
3815 @end defun
3816
3817 @findex cl-member-if
3818 @findex cl-member-if-not
3819 The @code{cl-member-if} and @code{cl-member-if-not} functions
3820 analogously search for elements that satisfy a given predicate.
3821
3822 @defun cl-tailp sublist list
3823 This function returns @code{t} if @var{sublist} is a sublist of
3824 @var{list}, i.e., if @var{sublist} is @code{eql} to @var{list} or to
3825 any of its @sc{cdr}s.
3826 @end defun
3827
3828 @defun cl-adjoin item list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3829 This function conses @var{item} onto the front of @var{list},
3830 like @code{(cons @var{item} @var{list})}, but only if @var{item}
3831 is not already present on the list (as determined by @code{cl-member}).
3832 If a @code{:key} argument is specified, it is applied to
3833 @var{item} as well as to the elements of @var{list} during
3834 the search, on the reasoning that @var{item} is ``about'' to
3835 become part of the list.
3836 @end defun
3837
3838 @defun cl-union list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3839 This function combines two lists that represent sets of items,
3840 returning a list that represents the union of those two sets.
3841 The resulting list contains all items that appear in @var{list1}
3842 or @var{list2}, and no others. If an item appears in both
3843 @var{list1} and @var{list2} it is copied only once. If
3844 an item is duplicated in @var{list1} or @var{list2}, it is
3845 undefined whether or not that duplication will survive in the
3846 result list. The order of elements in the result list is also
3847 undefined.
3848 @end defun
3849
3850 @defun cl-nunion list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3851 This is a destructive version of @code{cl-union}; rather than copying,
3852 it tries to reuse the storage of the argument lists if possible.
3853 @end defun
3854
3855 @defun cl-intersection list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3856 This function computes the intersection of the sets represented
3857 by @var{list1} and @var{list2}. It returns the list of items
3858 that appear in both @var{list1} and @var{list2}.
3859 @end defun
3860
3861 @defun cl-nintersection list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3862 This is a destructive version of @code{cl-intersection}. It
3863 tries to reuse storage of @var{list1} rather than copying.
3864 It does @emph{not} reuse the storage of @var{list2}.
3865 @end defun
3866
3867 @defun cl-set-difference list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3868 This function computes the ``set difference'' of @var{list1}
3869 and @var{list2}, i.e., the set of elements that appear in
3870 @var{list1} but @emph{not} in @var{list2}.
3871 @end defun
3872
3873 @defun cl-nset-difference list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3874 This is a destructive @code{cl-set-difference}, which will try
3875 to reuse @var{list1} if possible.
3876 @end defun
3877
3878 @defun cl-set-exclusive-or list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3879 This function computes the ``set exclusive or'' of @var{list1}
3880 and @var{list2}, i.e., the set of elements that appear in
3881 exactly one of @var{list1} and @var{list2}.
3882 @end defun
3883
3884 @defun cl-nset-exclusive-or list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3885 This is a destructive @code{cl-set-exclusive-or}, which will try
3886 to reuse @var{list1} and @var{list2} if possible.
3887 @end defun
3888
3889 @defun cl-subsetp list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3890 This function checks whether @var{list1} represents a subset
3891 of @var{list2}, i.e., whether every element of @var{list1}
3892 also appears in @var{list2}.
3893 @end defun
3894
3895 @node Association Lists
3896 @section Association Lists
3897
3898 @noindent
3899 An @dfn{association list} is a list representing a mapping from
3900 one set of values to another; any list whose elements are cons
3901 cells is an association list.
3902
3903 @defun cl-assoc item a-list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3904 This function searches the association list @var{a-list} for an
3905 element whose @sc{car} matches (in the sense of @code{:test},
3906 @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key}, or by comparison with @code{eql})
3907 a given @var{item}. It returns the matching element, if any,
3908 otherwise @code{nil}. It ignores elements of @var{a-list} that
3909 are not cons cells. (This corresponds to the behavior of
3910 @code{assq} and @code{assoc} in Emacs Lisp; Common Lisp's
3911 @code{assoc} ignores @code{nil}s but considers any other non-cons
3912 elements of @var{a-list} to be an error.)
3913 @end defun
3914
3915 @defun cl-rassoc item a-list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3916 This function searches for an element whose @sc{cdr} matches
3917 @var{item}. If @var{a-list} represents a mapping, this applies
3918 the inverse of the mapping to @var{item}.
3919 @end defun
3920
3921 @findex cl-assoc-if
3922 @findex cl-assoc-if-not
3923 @findex cl-rassoc-if
3924 @findex cl-rassoc-if-not
3925 The @code{cl-assoc-if}, @code{cl-assoc-if-not}, @code{cl-rassoc-if},
3926 and @code{cl-rassoc-if-not} functions are defined similarly.
3927
3928 Two simple functions for constructing association lists are:
3929
3930 @defun cl-acons key value alist
3931 This is equivalent to @code{(cons (cons @var{key} @var{value}) @var{alist})}.
3932 @end defun
3933
3934 @defun cl-pairlis keys values &optional alist
3935 This is equivalent to @code{(nconc (cl-mapcar 'cons @var{keys} @var{values})
3936 @var{alist})}.
3937 @end defun
3938
3939 @node Structures
3940 @chapter Structures
3941
3942 @noindent
3943 The Common Lisp @dfn{structure} mechanism provides a general way
3944 to define data types similar to C's @code{struct} types. A
3945 structure is a Lisp object containing some number of @dfn{slots},
3946 each of which can hold any Lisp data object. Functions are
3947 provided for accessing and setting the slots, creating or copying
3948 structure objects, and recognizing objects of a particular structure
3949 type.
3950
3951 In true Common Lisp, each structure type is a new type distinct
3952 from all existing Lisp types. Since the underlying Emacs Lisp
3953 system provides no way to create new distinct types, this package
3954 implements structures as vectors (or lists upon request) with a
3955 special ``tag'' symbol to identify them.
3956
3957 @defmac cl-defstruct name slots@dots{}
3958 The @code{cl-defstruct} form defines a new structure type called
3959 @var{name}, with the specified @var{slots}. (The @var{slots}
3960 may begin with a string which documents the structure type.)
3961 In the simplest case, @var{name} and each of the @var{slots}
3962 are symbols. For example,
3963
3964 @example
3965 (cl-defstruct person name age sex)
3966 @end example
3967
3968 @noindent
3969 defines a struct type called @code{person} that contains three
3970 slots. Given a @code{person} object @var{p}, you can access those
3971 slots by calling @code{(person-name @var{p})}, @code{(person-age @var{p})},
3972 and @code{(person-sex @var{p})}. You can also change these slots by
3973 using @code{setf} on any of these place forms, for example:
3974
3975 @example
3976 (cl-incf (person-age birthday-boy))
3977 @end example
3978
3979 You can create a new @code{person} by calling @code{make-person},
3980 which takes keyword arguments @code{:name}, @code{:age}, and
3981 @code{:sex} to specify the initial values of these slots in the
3982 new object. (Omitting any of these arguments leaves the corresponding
3983 slot ``undefined'', according to the Common Lisp standard; in Emacs
3984 Lisp, such uninitialized slots are filled with @code{nil}.)
3985
3986 Given a @code{person}, @code{(copy-person @var{p})} makes a new
3987 object of the same type whose slots are @code{eq} to those of @var{p}.
3988
3989 Given any Lisp object @var{x}, @code{(person-p @var{x})} returns
3990 true if @var{x} looks like a @code{person}, and false otherwise. (Again,
3991 in Common Lisp this predicate would be exact; in Emacs Lisp the
3992 best it can do is verify that @var{x} is a vector of the correct
3993 length that starts with the correct tag symbol.)
3994
3995 Accessors like @code{person-name} normally check their arguments
3996 (effectively using @code{person-p}) and signal an error if the
3997 argument is the wrong type. This check is affected by
3998 @code{(optimize (safety @dots{}))} declarations. Safety level 1,
3999 the default, uses a somewhat optimized check that will detect all
4000 incorrect arguments, but may use an uninformative error message
4001 (e.g., ``expected a vector'' instead of ``expected a @code{person}'').
4002 Safety level 0 omits all checks except as provided by the underlying
4003 @code{aref} call; safety levels 2 and 3 do rigorous checking that will
4004 always print a descriptive error message for incorrect inputs.
4005 @xref{Declarations}.
4006
4007 @example
4008 (setq dave (make-person :name "Dave" :sex 'male))
4009 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Dave" nil male]
4010 (setq other (copy-person dave))
4011 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Dave" nil male]
4012 (eq dave other)
4013 @result{} nil
4014 (eq (person-name dave) (person-name other))
4015 @result{} t
4016 (person-p dave)
4017 @result{} t
4018 (person-p [1 2 3 4])
4019 @result{} nil
4020 (person-p "Bogus")
4021 @result{} nil
4022 (person-p '[cl-struct-person counterfeit person object])
4023 @result{} t
4024 @end example
4025
4026 In general, @var{name} is either a name symbol or a list of a name
4027 symbol followed by any number of @dfn{struct options}; each @var{slot}
4028 is either a slot symbol or a list of the form @samp{(@var{slot-name}
4029 @var{default-value} @var{slot-options}@dots{})}. The @var{default-value}
4030 is a Lisp form that is evaluated any time an instance of the
4031 structure type is created without specifying that slot's value.
4032
4033 Common Lisp defines several slot options, but the only one
4034 implemented in this package is @code{:read-only}. A non-@code{nil}
4035 value for this option means the slot should not be @code{setf}-able;
4036 the slot's value is determined when the object is created and does
4037 not change afterward.
4038
4039 @example
4040 (cl-defstruct person
4041 (name nil :read-only t)
4042 age
4043 (sex 'unknown))
4044 @end example
4045
4046 Any slot options other than @code{:read-only} are ignored.
4047
4048 For obscure historical reasons, structure options take a different
4049 form than slot options. A structure option is either a keyword
4050 symbol, or a list beginning with a keyword symbol possibly followed
4051 by arguments. (By contrast, slot options are key-value pairs not
4052 enclosed in lists.)
4053
4054 @example
4055 (cl-defstruct (person (:constructor create-person)
4056 (:type list)
4057 :named)
4058 name age sex)
4059 @end example
4060
4061 The following structure options are recognized.
4062
4063 @table @code
4064 @item :conc-name
4065 The argument is a symbol whose print name is used as the prefix for
4066 the names of slot accessor functions. The default is the name of
4067 the struct type followed by a hyphen. The option @code{(:conc-name p-)}
4068 would change this prefix to @code{p-}. Specifying @code{nil} as an
4069 argument means no prefix, so that the slot names themselves are used
4070 to name the accessor functions.
4071
4072 @item :constructor
4073 In the simple case, this option takes one argument which is an
4074 alternate name to use for the constructor function. The default
4075 is @code{make-@var{name}}, e.g., @code{make-person}. The above
4076 example changes this to @code{create-person}. Specifying @code{nil}
4077 as an argument means that no standard constructor should be
4078 generated at all.
4079
4080 In the full form of this option, the constructor name is followed
4081 by an arbitrary argument list. @xref{Program Structure}, for a
4082 description of the format of Common Lisp argument lists. All
4083 options, such as @code{&rest} and @code{&key}, are supported.
4084 The argument names should match the slot names; each slot is
4085 initialized from the corresponding argument. Slots whose names
4086 do not appear in the argument list are initialized based on the
4087 @var{default-value} in their slot descriptor. Also, @code{&optional}
4088 and @code{&key} arguments that don't specify defaults take their
4089 defaults from the slot descriptor. It is valid to include arguments
4090 that don't correspond to slot names; these are useful if they are
4091 referred to in the defaults for optional, keyword, or @code{&aux}
4092 arguments that @emph{do} correspond to slots.
4093
4094 You can specify any number of full-format @code{:constructor}
4095 options on a structure. The default constructor is still generated
4096 as well unless you disable it with a simple-format @code{:constructor}
4097 option.
4098
4099 @example
4100 (cl-defstruct
4101 (person
4102 (:constructor nil) ; no default constructor
4103 (:constructor new-person
4104 (name sex &optional (age 0)))
4105 (:constructor new-hound (&key (name "Rover")
4106 (dog-years 0)
4107 &aux (age (* 7 dog-years))
4108 (sex 'canine))))
4109 name age sex)
4110 @end example
4111
4112 The first constructor here takes its arguments positionally rather
4113 than by keyword. (In official Common Lisp terminology, constructors
4114 that work By Order of Arguments instead of by keyword are called
4115 ``BOA constructors''. No, I'm not making this up.) For example,
4116 @code{(new-person "Jane" 'female)} generates a person whose slots
4117 are @code{"Jane"}, 0, and @code{female}, respectively.
4118
4119 The second constructor takes two keyword arguments, @code{:name},
4120 which initializes the @code{name} slot and defaults to @code{"Rover"},
4121 and @code{:dog-years}, which does not itself correspond to a slot
4122 but which is used to initialize the @code{age} slot. The @code{sex}
4123 slot is forced to the symbol @code{canine} with no syntax for
4124 overriding it.
4125
4126 @item :copier
4127 The argument is an alternate name for the copier function for
4128 this type. The default is @code{copy-@var{name}}. @code{nil}
4129 means not to generate a copier function. (In this implementation,
4130 all copier functions are simply synonyms for @code{copy-sequence}.)
4131
4132 @item :predicate
4133 The argument is an alternate name for the predicate that recognizes
4134 objects of this type. The default is @code{@var{name}-p}. @code{nil}
4135 means not to generate a predicate function. (If the @code{:type}
4136 option is used without the @code{:named} option, no predicate is
4137 ever generated.)
4138
4139 In true Common Lisp, @code{typep} is always able to recognize a
4140 structure object even if @code{:predicate} was used. In this
4141 package, @code{cl-typep} simply looks for a function called
4142 @code{@var{typename}-p}, so it will work for structure types
4143 only if they used the default predicate name.
4144
4145 @item :include
4146 This option implements a very limited form of C++-style inheritance.
4147 The argument is the name of another structure type previously
4148 created with @code{cl-defstruct}. The effect is to cause the new
4149 structure type to inherit all of the included structure's slots
4150 (plus, of course, any new slots described by this struct's slot
4151 descriptors). The new structure is considered a ``specialization''
4152 of the included one. In fact, the predicate and slot accessors
4153 for the included type will also accept objects of the new type.
4154
4155 If there are extra arguments to the @code{:include} option after
4156 the included-structure name, these options are treated as replacement
4157 slot descriptors for slots in the included structure, possibly with
4158 modified default values. Borrowing an example from Steele:
4159
4160 @example
4161 (cl-defstruct person name (age 0) sex)
4162 @result{} person
4163 (cl-defstruct (astronaut (:include person (age 45)))
4164 helmet-size
4165 (favorite-beverage 'tang))
4166 @result{} astronaut
4167
4168 (setq joe (make-person :name "Joe"))
4169 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Joe" 0 nil]
4170 (setq buzz (make-astronaut :name "Buzz"))
4171 @result{} [cl-struct-astronaut "Buzz" 45 nil nil tang]
4172
4173 (list (person-p joe) (person-p buzz))
4174 @result{} (t t)
4175 (list (astronaut-p joe) (astronaut-p buzz))
4176 @result{} (nil t)
4177
4178 (person-name buzz)
4179 @result{} "Buzz"
4180 (astronaut-name joe)
4181 @result{} error: "astronaut-name accessing a non-astronaut"
4182 @end example
4183
4184 Thus, if @code{astronaut} is a specialization of @code{person},
4185 then every @code{astronaut} is also a @code{person} (but not the
4186 other way around). Every @code{astronaut} includes all the slots
4187 of a @code{person}, plus extra slots that are specific to
4188 astronauts. Operations that work on people (like @code{person-name})
4189 work on astronauts just like other people.
4190
4191 @item :print-function
4192 In full Common Lisp, this option allows you to specify a function
4193 that is called to print an instance of the structure type. The
4194 Emacs Lisp system offers no hooks into the Lisp printer which would
4195 allow for such a feature, so this package simply ignores
4196 @code{:print-function}.
4197
4198 @item :type
4199 The argument should be one of the symbols @code{vector} or @code{list}.
4200 This tells which underlying Lisp data type should be used to implement
4201 the new structure type. Vectors are used by default, but
4202 @code{(:type list)} will cause structure objects to be stored as
4203 lists instead.
4204
4205 The vector representation for structure objects has the advantage
4206 that all structure slots can be accessed quickly, although creating
4207 vectors is a bit slower in Emacs Lisp. Lists are easier to create,
4208 but take a relatively long time accessing the later slots.
4209
4210 @item :named
4211 This option, which takes no arguments, causes a characteristic ``tag''
4212 symbol to be stored at the front of the structure object. Using
4213 @code{:type} without also using @code{:named} will result in a
4214 structure type stored as plain vectors or lists with no identifying
4215 features.
4216
4217 The default, if you don't specify @code{:type} explicitly, is to
4218 use named vectors. Therefore, @code{:named} is only useful in
4219 conjunction with @code{:type}.
4220
4221 @example
4222 (cl-defstruct (person1) name age sex)
4223 (cl-defstruct (person2 (:type list) :named) name age sex)
4224 (cl-defstruct (person3 (:type list)) name age sex)
4225
4226 (setq p1 (make-person1))
4227 @result{} [cl-struct-person1 nil nil nil]
4228 (setq p2 (make-person2))
4229 @result{} (person2 nil nil nil)
4230 (setq p3 (make-person3))
4231 @result{} (nil nil nil)
4232
4233 (person1-p p1)
4234 @result{} t
4235 (person2-p p2)
4236 @result{} t
4237 (person3-p p3)
4238 @result{} error: function person3-p undefined
4239 @end example
4240
4241 Since unnamed structures don't have tags, @code{cl-defstruct} is not
4242 able to make a useful predicate for recognizing them. Also,
4243 accessors like @code{person3-name} will be generated but they
4244 will not be able to do any type checking. The @code{person3-name}
4245 function, for example, will simply be a synonym for @code{car} in
4246 this case. By contrast, @code{person2-name} is able to verify
4247 that its argument is indeed a @code{person2} object before
4248 proceeding.
4249
4250 @item :initial-offset
4251 The argument must be a nonnegative integer. It specifies a
4252 number of slots to be left ``empty'' at the front of the
4253 structure. If the structure is named, the tag appears at the
4254 specified position in the list or vector; otherwise, the first
4255 slot appears at that position. Earlier positions are filled
4256 with @code{nil} by the constructors and ignored otherwise. If
4257 the type @code{:include}s another type, then @code{:initial-offset}
4258 specifies a number of slots to be skipped between the last slot
4259 of the included type and the first new slot.
4260 @end table
4261 @end defmac
4262
4263 Except as noted, the @code{cl-defstruct} facility of this package is
4264 entirely compatible with that of Common Lisp.
4265
4266 @node Assertions
4267 @chapter Assertions and Errors
4268
4269 @noindent
4270 This section describes two macros that test @dfn{assertions}, i.e.,
4271 conditions which must be true if the program is operating correctly.
4272 Assertions never add to the behavior of a Lisp program; they simply
4273 make ``sanity checks'' to make sure everything is as it should be.
4274
4275 If the optimization property @code{speed} has been set to 3, and
4276 @code{safety} is less than 3, then the byte-compiler will optimize
4277 away the following assertions. Because assertions might be optimized
4278 away, it is a bad idea for them to include side-effects.
4279
4280 @defmac cl-assert test-form [show-args string args@dots{}]
4281 This form verifies that @var{test-form} is true (i.e., evaluates to
4282 a non-@code{nil} value). If so, it returns @code{nil}. If the test
4283 is not satisfied, @code{cl-assert} signals an error.
4284
4285 A default error message will be supplied which includes @var{test-form}.
4286 You can specify a different error message by including a @var{string}
4287 argument plus optional extra arguments. Those arguments are simply
4288 passed to @code{error} to signal the error.
4289
4290 If the optional second argument @var{show-args} is @code{t} instead
4291 of @code{nil}, then the error message (with or without @var{string})
4292 will also include all non-constant arguments of the top-level
4293 @var{form}. For example:
4294
4295 @example
4296 (cl-assert (> x 10) t "x is too small: %d")
4297 @end example
4298
4299 This usage of @var{show-args} is an extension to Common Lisp. In
4300 true Common Lisp, the second argument gives a list of @var{places}
4301 which can be @code{setf}'d by the user before continuing from the
4302 error. Since Emacs Lisp does not support continuable errors, it
4303 makes no sense to specify @var{places}.
4304 @end defmac
4305
4306 @defmac cl-check-type form type [string]
4307 This form verifies that @var{form} evaluates to a value of type
4308 @var{type}. If so, it returns @code{nil}. If not, @code{cl-check-type}
4309 signals a @code{wrong-type-argument} error. The default error message
4310 lists the erroneous value along with @var{type} and @var{form}
4311 themselves. If @var{string} is specified, it is included in the
4312 error message in place of @var{type}. For example:
4313
4314 @example
4315 (cl-check-type x (integer 1 *) "a positive integer")
4316 @end example
4317
4318 @xref{Type Predicates}, for a description of the type specifiers
4319 that may be used for @var{type}.
4320
4321 Note that in Common Lisp, the first argument to @code{check-type}
4322 must be a @var{place} suitable for use by @code{setf}, because
4323 @code{check-type} signals a continuable error that allows the
4324 user to modify @var{place}.
4325 @end defmac
4326
4327 @node Efficiency Concerns
4328 @appendix Efficiency Concerns
4329
4330 @appendixsec Macros
4331
4332 @noindent
4333 Many of the advanced features of this package, such as @code{cl-defun},
4334 @code{cl-loop}, etc., are implemented as Lisp macros. In
4335 byte-compiled code, these complex notations will be expanded into
4336 equivalent Lisp code which is simple and efficient. For example,
4337 the form
4338
4339 @example
4340 (cl-incf i n)
4341 @end example
4342
4343 @noindent
4344 is expanded at compile-time to the Lisp form
4345
4346 @example
4347 (setq i (+ i n))
4348 @end example
4349
4350 @noindent
4351 which is the most efficient ways of doing this operation
4352 in Lisp. Thus, there is no performance penalty for using the more
4353 readable @code{cl-incf} form in your compiled code.
4354
4355 @emph{Interpreted} code, on the other hand, must expand these macros
4356 every time they are executed. For this reason it is strongly
4357 recommended that code making heavy use of macros be compiled.
4358 A loop using @code{cl-incf} a hundred times will execute considerably
4359 faster if compiled, and will also garbage-collect less because the
4360 macro expansion will not have to be generated, used, and thrown away a
4361 hundred times.
4362
4363 You can find out how a macro expands by using the
4364 @code{cl-prettyexpand} function.
4365
4366 @defun cl-prettyexpand form &optional full
4367 This function takes a single Lisp form as an argument and inserts
4368 a nicely formatted copy of it in the current buffer (which must be
4369 in Lisp mode so that indentation works properly). It also expands
4370 all Lisp macros that appear in the form. The easiest way to use
4371 this function is to go to the @file{*scratch*} buffer and type, say,
4372
4373 @example
4374 (cl-prettyexpand '(cl-loop for x below 10 collect x))
4375 @end example
4376
4377 @noindent
4378 and type @kbd{C-x C-e} immediately after the closing parenthesis;
4379 an expansion similar to:
4380
4381 @example
4382 (cl-block nil
4383 (let* ((x 0)
4384 (G1004 nil))
4385 (while (< x 10)
4386 (setq G1004 (cons x G1004))
4387 (setq x (+ x 1)))
4388 (nreverse G1004)))
4389 @end example
4390
4391 @noindent
4392 will be inserted into the buffer. (The @code{cl-block} macro is
4393 expanded differently in the interpreter and compiler, so
4394 @code{cl-prettyexpand} just leaves it alone. The temporary
4395 variable @code{G1004} was created by @code{cl-gensym}.)
4396
4397 If the optional argument @var{full} is true, then @emph{all}
4398 macros are expanded, including @code{cl-block}, @code{cl-eval-when},
4399 and compiler macros. Expansion is done as if @var{form} were
4400 a top-level form in a file being compiled.
4401
4402 @c FIXME none of these examples are still applicable.
4403 @ignore
4404 For example,
4405
4406 @example
4407 (cl-prettyexpand '(cl-pushnew 'x list))
4408 @print{} (setq list (cl-adjoin 'x list))
4409 (cl-prettyexpand '(cl-pushnew 'x list) t)
4410 @print{} (setq list (if (memq 'x list) list (cons 'x list)))
4411 (cl-prettyexpand '(caddr (cl-member 'a list)) t)
4412 @print{} (car (cdr (cdr (memq 'a list))))
4413 @end example
4414 @end ignore
4415
4416 Note that @code{cl-adjoin}, @code{cl-caddr}, and @code{cl-member} all
4417 have built-in compiler macros to optimize them in common cases.
4418 @end defun
4419
4420 @appendixsec Error Checking
4421
4422 @noindent
4423 Common Lisp compliance has in general not been sacrificed for the
4424 sake of efficiency. A few exceptions have been made for cases
4425 where substantial gains were possible at the expense of marginal
4426 incompatibility.
4427
4428 The Common Lisp standard (as embodied in Steele's book) uses the
4429 phrase ``it is an error if'' to indicate a situation that is not
4430 supposed to arise in complying programs; implementations are strongly
4431 encouraged but not required to signal an error in these situations.
4432 This package sometimes omits such error checking in the interest of
4433 compactness and efficiency. For example, @code{cl-do} variable
4434 specifiers are supposed to be lists of one, two, or three forms;
4435 extra forms are ignored by this package rather than signaling a
4436 syntax error. The @code{cl-endp} function is simply a synonym for
4437 @code{null} in this package. Functions taking keyword arguments
4438 will accept an odd number of arguments, treating the trailing
4439 keyword as if it were followed by the value @code{nil}.
4440
4441 Argument lists (as processed by @code{cl-defun} and friends)
4442 @emph{are} checked rigorously except for the minor point just
4443 mentioned; in particular, keyword arguments are checked for
4444 validity, and @code{&allow-other-keys} and @code{:allow-other-keys}
4445 are fully implemented. Keyword validity checking is slightly
4446 time consuming (though not too bad in byte-compiled code);
4447 you can use @code{&allow-other-keys} to omit this check. Functions
4448 defined in this package such as @code{cl-find} and @code{cl-member}
4449 do check their keyword arguments for validity.
4450
4451 @appendixsec Compiler Optimizations
4452
4453 @noindent
4454 Changing the value of @code{byte-optimize} from the default @code{t}
4455 is highly discouraged; many of the Common
4456 Lisp macros emit
4457 code that can be improved by optimization. In particular,
4458 @code{cl-block}s (whether explicit or implicit in constructs like
4459 @code{cl-defun} and @code{cl-loop}) carry a fair run-time penalty; the
4460 byte-compiler removes @code{cl-block}s that are not actually
4461 referenced by @code{cl-return} or @code{cl-return-from} inside the block.
4462
4463 @node Common Lisp Compatibility
4464 @appendix Common Lisp Compatibility
4465
4466 @noindent
4467 The following is a list of all known incompatibilities between this
4468 package and Common Lisp as documented in Steele (2nd edition).
4469
4470 The word @code{cl-defun} is required instead of @code{defun} in order
4471 to use extended Common Lisp argument lists in a function. Likewise,
4472 @code{cl-defmacro} and @code{cl-function} are versions of those forms
4473 which understand full-featured argument lists. The @code{&whole}
4474 keyword does not work in @code{cl-defmacro} argument lists (except
4475 inside recursive argument lists).
4476
4477 The @code{equal} predicate does not distinguish
4478 between IEEE floating-point plus and minus zero. The @code{cl-equalp}
4479 predicate has several differences with Common Lisp; @pxref{Predicates}.
4480
4481 The @code{cl-do-all-symbols} form is the same as @code{cl-do-symbols}
4482 with no @var{obarray} argument. In Common Lisp, this form would
4483 iterate over all symbols in all packages. Since Emacs obarrays
4484 are not a first-class package mechanism, there is no way for
4485 @code{cl-do-all-symbols} to locate any but the default obarray.
4486
4487 The @code{cl-loop} macro is complete except that @code{loop-finish}
4488 and type specifiers are unimplemented.
4489
4490 The multiple-value return facility treats lists as multiple
4491 values, since Emacs Lisp cannot support multiple return values
4492 directly. The macros will be compatible with Common Lisp if
4493 @code{cl-values} or @code{cl-values-list} is always used to return to
4494 a @code{cl-multiple-value-bind} or other multiple-value receiver;
4495 if @code{cl-values} is used without @code{cl-multiple-value-@dots{}}
4496 or vice-versa the effect will be different from Common Lisp.
4497
4498 Many Common Lisp declarations are ignored, and others match
4499 the Common Lisp standard in concept but not in detail. For
4500 example, local @code{special} declarations, which are purely
4501 advisory in Emacs Lisp, do not rigorously obey the scoping rules
4502 set down in Steele's book.
4503
4504 The variable @code{cl--gensym-counter} starts out with a pseudo-random
4505 value rather than with zero. This is to cope with the fact that
4506 generated symbols become interned when they are written to and
4507 loaded back from a file.
4508
4509 The @code{cl-defstruct} facility is compatible, except that structures
4510 are of type @code{:type vector :named} by default rather than some
4511 special, distinct type. Also, the @code{:type} slot option is ignored.
4512
4513 The second argument of @code{cl-check-type} is treated differently.
4514
4515 @node Porting Common Lisp
4516 @appendix Porting Common Lisp
4517
4518 @noindent
4519 This package is meant to be used as an extension to Emacs Lisp,
4520 not as an Emacs implementation of true Common Lisp. Some of the
4521 remaining differences between Emacs Lisp and Common Lisp make it
4522 difficult to port large Common Lisp applications to Emacs. For
4523 one, some of the features in this package are not fully compliant
4524 with ANSI or Steele; @pxref{Common Lisp Compatibility}. But there
4525 are also quite a few features that this package does not provide
4526 at all. Here are some major omissions that you will want to watch out
4527 for when bringing Common Lisp code into Emacs.
4528
4529 @itemize @bullet
4530 @item
4531 Case-insensitivity. Symbols in Common Lisp are case-insensitive
4532 by default. Some programs refer to a function or variable as
4533 @code{foo} in one place and @code{Foo} or @code{FOO} in another.
4534 Emacs Lisp will treat these as three distinct symbols.
4535
4536 Some Common Lisp code is written entirely in upper case. While Emacs
4537 is happy to let the program's own functions and variables use
4538 this convention, calls to Lisp builtins like @code{if} and
4539 @code{defun} will have to be changed to lower case.
4540
4541 @item
4542 Lexical scoping. In Common Lisp, function arguments and @code{let}
4543 bindings apply only to references physically within their bodies (or
4544 within macro expansions in their bodies). Traditionally, Emacs Lisp
4545 uses @dfn{dynamic scoping} wherein a binding to a variable is visible
4546 even inside functions called from the body.
4547 @xref{Dynamic Binding,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
4548 Lexical binding is available since Emacs 24.1, so be sure to set
4549 @code{lexical-binding} to @code{t} if you need to emulate this aspect
4550 of Common Lisp. @xref{Lexical Binding,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
4551
4552 Here is an example of a Common Lisp code fragment that would fail in
4553 Emacs Lisp if @code{lexical-binding} were set to @code{nil}:
4554
4555 @example
4556 (defun map-odd-elements (func list)
4557 (loop for x in list
4558 for flag = t then (not flag)
4559 collect (if flag x (funcall func x))))
4560
4561 (defun add-odd-elements (list x)
4562 (map-odd-elements (lambda (a) (+ a x)) list))
4563 @end example
4564
4565 @noindent
4566 With lexical binding, the two functions' usages of @code{x} are
4567 completely independent. With dynamic binding, the binding to @code{x}
4568 made by @code{add-odd-elements} will have been hidden by the binding
4569 in @code{map-odd-elements} by the time the @code{(+ a x)} function is
4570 called.
4571
4572 Internally, this package uses lexical binding so that such problems do
4573 not occur. @xref{Obsolete Lexical Binding}, for a description of the obsolete
4574 @code{lexical-let} form that emulates a Common Lisp-style lexical
4575 binding when dynamic binding is in use.
4576
4577 @item
4578 Reader macros. Common Lisp includes a second type of macro that
4579 works at the level of individual characters. For example, Common
4580 Lisp implements the quote notation by a reader macro called @code{'},
4581 whereas Emacs Lisp's parser just treats quote as a special case.
4582 Some Lisp packages use reader macros to create special syntaxes
4583 for themselves, which the Emacs parser is incapable of reading.
4584
4585 @item
4586 Other syntactic features. Common Lisp provides a number of
4587 notations beginning with @code{#} that the Emacs Lisp parser
4588 won't understand. For example, @samp{#| @dots{} |#} is an
4589 alternate comment notation, and @samp{#+lucid (foo)} tells
4590 the parser to ignore the @code{(foo)} except in Lucid Common
4591 Lisp.
4592
4593 @item
4594 Packages. In Common Lisp, symbols are divided into @dfn{packages}.
4595 Symbols that are Lisp built-ins are typically stored in one package;
4596 symbols that are vendor extensions are put in another, and each
4597 application program would have a package for its own symbols.
4598 Certain symbols are ``exported'' by a package and others are
4599 internal; certain packages ``use'' or import the exported symbols
4600 of other packages. To access symbols that would not normally be
4601 visible due to this importing and exporting, Common Lisp provides
4602 a syntax like @code{package:symbol} or @code{package::symbol}.
4603
4604 Emacs Lisp has a single namespace for all interned symbols, and
4605 then uses a naming convention of putting a prefix like @code{cl-}
4606 in front of the name. Some Emacs packages adopt the Common Lisp-like
4607 convention of using @code{cl:} or @code{cl::} as the prefix.
4608 However, the Emacs parser does not understand colons and just
4609 treats them as part of the symbol name. Thus, while @code{mapcar}
4610 and @code{lisp:mapcar} may refer to the same symbol in Common
4611 Lisp, they are totally distinct in Emacs Lisp. Common Lisp
4612 programs that refer to a symbol by the full name sometimes
4613 and the short name other times will not port cleanly to Emacs.
4614
4615 Emacs Lisp does have a concept of ``obarrays'', which are
4616 package-like collections of symbols, but this feature is not
4617 strong enough to be used as a true package mechanism.
4618
4619 @item
4620 The @code{format} function is quite different between Common
4621 Lisp and Emacs Lisp. It takes an additional ``destination''
4622 argument before the format string. A destination of @code{nil}
4623 means to format to a string as in Emacs Lisp; a destination
4624 of @code{t} means to write to the terminal (similar to
4625 @code{message} in Emacs). Also, format control strings are
4626 utterly different; @code{~} is used instead of @code{%} to
4627 introduce format codes, and the set of available codes is
4628 much richer. There are no notations like @code{\n} for
4629 string literals; instead, @code{format} is used with the
4630 ``newline'' format code, @code{~%}. More advanced formatting
4631 codes provide such features as paragraph filling, case
4632 conversion, and even loops and conditionals.
4633
4634 While it would have been possible to implement most of Common
4635 Lisp @code{format} in this package (under the name @code{cl-format},
4636 of course), it was not deemed worthwhile. It would have required
4637 a huge amount of code to implement even a decent subset of
4638 @code{format}, yet the functionality it would provide over
4639 Emacs Lisp's @code{format} would rarely be useful.
4640
4641 @item
4642 Vector constants use square brackets in Emacs Lisp, but
4643 @code{#(a b c)} notation in Common Lisp. To further complicate
4644 matters, Emacs has its own @code{#(} notation for
4645 something entirely different---strings with properties.
4646
4647 @item
4648 Characters are distinct from integers in Common Lisp. The notation
4649 for character constants is also different: @code{#\A} in Common Lisp
4650 where Emacs Lisp uses @code{?A}. Also, @code{string=} and
4651 @code{string-equal} are synonyms in Emacs Lisp, whereas the latter is
4652 case-insensitive in Common Lisp.
4653
4654 @item
4655 Data types. Some Common Lisp data types do not exist in Emacs
4656 Lisp. Rational numbers and complex numbers are not present,
4657 nor are large integers (all integers are ``fixnums''). All
4658 arrays are one-dimensional. There are no readtables or pathnames;
4659 streams are a set of existing data types rather than a new data
4660 type of their own. Hash tables, random-states, structures, and
4661 packages (obarrays) are built from Lisp vectors or lists rather
4662 than being distinct types.
4663
4664 @item
4665 The Common Lisp Object System (CLOS) is not implemented,
4666 nor is the Common Lisp Condition System. However, the EIEIO package
4667 (@pxref{Top, , Introduction, eieio, EIEIO}) does implement some
4668 CLOS functionality.
4669
4670 @item
4671 Common Lisp features that are completely redundant with Emacs
4672 Lisp features of a different name generally have not been
4673 implemented. For example, Common Lisp writes @code{defconstant}
4674 where Emacs Lisp uses @code{defconst}. Similarly, @code{make-list}
4675 takes its arguments in different ways in the two Lisps but does
4676 exactly the same thing, so this package has not bothered to
4677 implement a Common Lisp-style @code{make-list}.
4678
4679 @item
4680 A few more notable Common Lisp features not included in this
4681 package: @code{compiler-let}, @code{tagbody}, @code{prog},
4682 @code{ldb/dpb}, @code{parse-integer}, @code{cerror}.
4683
4684 @item
4685 Recursion. While recursion works in Emacs Lisp just like it
4686 does in Common Lisp, various details of the Emacs Lisp system
4687 and compiler make recursion much less efficient than it is in
4688 most Lisps. Some schools of thought prefer to use recursion
4689 in Lisp over other techniques; they would sum a list of
4690 numbers using something like
4691
4692 @example
4693 (defun sum-list (list)
4694 (if list
4695 (+ (car list) (sum-list (cdr list)))
4696 0))
4697 @end example
4698
4699 @noindent
4700 where a more iteratively-minded programmer might write one of
4701 these forms:
4702
4703 @example
4704 (let ((total 0)) (dolist (x my-list) (incf total x)) total)
4705 (loop for x in my-list sum x)
4706 @end example
4707
4708 While this would be mainly a stylistic choice in most Common Lisps,
4709 in Emacs Lisp you should be aware that the iterative forms are
4710 much faster than recursion. Also, Lisp programmers will want to
4711 note that the current Emacs Lisp compiler does not optimize tail
4712 recursion.
4713 @end itemize
4714
4715 @node Obsolete Features
4716 @appendix Obsolete Features
4717
4718 This section describes some features of the package that are obsolete
4719 and should not be used in new code. They are either only provided by
4720 the old @file{cl.el} entry point, not by the newer @file{cl-lib.el};
4721 or where versions with a @samp{cl-} prefix do exist they do not behave
4722 in exactly the same way.
4723
4724 @menu
4725 * Obsolete Lexical Binding:: An approximation of lexical binding.
4726 * Obsolete Macros:: Obsolete macros.
4727 * Obsolete Setf Customization:: Obsolete ways to customize setf.
4728 @end menu
4729
4730 @node Obsolete Lexical Binding
4731 @appendixsec Obsolete Lexical Binding
4732
4733 The following macros are extensions to Common Lisp, where all bindings
4734 are lexical unless declared otherwise. These features are likewise
4735 obsolete since the introduction of true lexical binding in Emacs 24.1.
4736
4737 @defmac lexical-let (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
4738 This form is exactly like @code{let} except that the bindings it
4739 establishes are purely lexical.
4740 @end defmac
4741
4742 @c FIXME remove this and refer to elisp manual.
4743 @c Maybe merge some stuff from here to there?
4744 @noindent
4745 Lexical bindings are similar to local variables in a language like C:
4746 Only the code physically within the body of the @code{lexical-let}
4747 (after macro expansion) may refer to the bound variables.
4748
4749 @example
4750 (setq a 5)
4751 (defun foo (b) (+ a b))
4752 (let ((a 2)) (foo a))
4753 @result{} 4
4754 (lexical-let ((a 2)) (foo a))
4755 @result{} 7
4756 @end example
4757
4758 @noindent
4759 In this example, a regular @code{let} binding of @code{a} actually
4760 makes a temporary change to the global variable @code{a}, so @code{foo}
4761 is able to see the binding of @code{a} to 2. But @code{lexical-let}
4762 actually creates a distinct local variable @code{a} for use within its
4763 body, without any effect on the global variable of the same name.
4764
4765 The most important use of lexical bindings is to create @dfn{closures}.
4766 A closure is a function object that refers to an outside lexical
4767 variable (@pxref{Closures,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}).
4768 For example:
4769
4770 @example
4771 (defun make-adder (n)
4772 (lexical-let ((n n))
4773 (function (lambda (m) (+ n m)))))
4774 (setq add17 (make-adder 17))
4775 (funcall add17 4)
4776 @result{} 21
4777 @end example
4778
4779 @noindent
4780 The call @code{(make-adder 17)} returns a function object which adds
4781 17 to its argument. If @code{let} had been used instead of
4782 @code{lexical-let}, the function object would have referred to the
4783 global @code{n}, which would have been bound to 17 only during the
4784 call to @code{make-adder} itself.
4785
4786 @example
4787 (defun make-counter ()
4788 (lexical-let ((n 0))
4789 (cl-function (lambda (&optional (m 1)) (cl-incf n m)))))
4790 (setq count-1 (make-counter))
4791 (funcall count-1 3)
4792 @result{} 3
4793 (funcall count-1 14)
4794 @result{} 17
4795 (setq count-2 (make-counter))
4796 (funcall count-2 5)
4797 @result{} 5
4798 (funcall count-1 2)
4799 @result{} 19
4800 (funcall count-2)
4801 @result{} 6
4802 @end example
4803
4804 @noindent
4805 Here we see that each call to @code{make-counter} creates a distinct
4806 local variable @code{n}, which serves as a private counter for the
4807 function object that is returned.
4808
4809 Closed-over lexical variables persist until the last reference to
4810 them goes away, just like all other Lisp objects. For example,
4811 @code{count-2} refers to a function object which refers to an
4812 instance of the variable @code{n}; this is the only reference
4813 to that variable, so after @code{(setq count-2 nil)} the garbage
4814 collector would be able to delete this instance of @code{n}.
4815 Of course, if a @code{lexical-let} does not actually create any
4816 closures, then the lexical variables are free as soon as the
4817 @code{lexical-let} returns.
4818
4819 Many closures are used only during the extent of the bindings they
4820 refer to; these are known as ``downward funargs'' in Lisp parlance.
4821 When a closure is used in this way, regular Emacs Lisp dynamic
4822 bindings suffice and will be more efficient than @code{lexical-let}
4823 closures:
4824
4825 @example
4826 (defun add-to-list (x list)
4827 (mapcar (lambda (y) (+ x y))) list)
4828 (add-to-list 7 '(1 2 5))
4829 @result{} (8 9 12)
4830 @end example
4831
4832 @noindent
4833 Since this lambda is only used while @code{x} is still bound,
4834 it is not necessary to make a true closure out of it.
4835
4836 You can use @code{defun} or @code{flet} inside a @code{lexical-let}
4837 to create a named closure. If several closures are created in the
4838 body of a single @code{lexical-let}, they all close over the same
4839 instance of the lexical variable.
4840
4841 @defmac lexical-let* (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
4842 This form is just like @code{lexical-let}, except that the bindings
4843 are made sequentially in the manner of @code{let*}.
4844 @end defmac
4845
4846 @node Obsolete Macros
4847 @appendixsec Obsolete Macros
4848
4849 The following macros are obsolete, and are replaced by versions with
4850 a @samp{cl-} prefix that do not behave in exactly the same way.
4851 Consequently, the @file{cl.el} versions are not simply aliases to the
4852 @file{cl-lib.el} versions.
4853
4854 @defmac flet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
4855 This macro is replaced by @code{cl-flet} (@pxref{Function Bindings}),
4856 which behaves the same way as Common Lisp's @code{flet}.
4857 This @code{flet} takes the same arguments as @code{cl-flet}, but does
4858 not behave in precisely the same way.
4859
4860 While @code{flet} in Common Lisp establishes a lexical function
4861 binding, this @code{flet} makes a dynamic binding (it dates from a
4862 time before Emacs had lexical binding). The result is
4863 that @code{flet} affects indirect calls to a function as well as calls
4864 directly inside the @code{flet} form itself.
4865
4866 @c Bug#411.
4867 Note that many primitives (e.g.@: @code{+}) have special byte-compile
4868 handling. Attempts to redefine such functions using @code{flet} will
4869 fail if byte-compiled.
4870 @c Or cl-flet.
4871 @c In such cases, use @code{labels} instead.
4872 @end defmac
4873
4874 @defmac labels (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
4875 This macro is replaced by @code{cl-labels} (@pxref{Function Bindings}),
4876 which behaves the same way as Common Lisp's @code{labels}.
4877 This @code{labels} takes the same arguments as @code{cl-labels}, but
4878 does not behave in precisely the same way.
4879
4880 This version of @code{labels} uses the obsolete @code{lexical-let}
4881 form (@pxref{Obsolete Lexical Binding}), rather than the true
4882 lexical binding that @code{cl-labels} uses.
4883 @end defmac
4884
4885 @defmac letf (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
4886 This macro is almost exactly the same as @code{cl-letf}, which
4887 replaces it (@pxref{Modify Macros}). The only difference is in
4888 details that relate to some deprecated usage of @code{symbol-function}
4889 in place forms.
4890 @end defmac
4891
4892 @node Obsolete Setf Customization
4893 @appendixsec Obsolete Ways to Customize Setf
4894
4895 Common Lisp defines three macros, @code{define-modify-macro},
4896 @code{defsetf}, and @code{define-setf-method}, that allow the
4897 user to extend generalized variables in various ways.
4898 In Emacs, these are obsolete, replaced by various features of
4899 @file{gv.el} in Emacs 24.3.
4900 @xref{Adding Generalized Variables,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
4901
4902
4903 @defmac define-modify-macro name arglist function [doc-string]
4904 This macro defines a ``read-modify-write'' macro similar to
4905 @code{cl-incf} and @code{cl-decf}. You can replace this macro
4906 with @code{gv-letplace}.
4907
4908 The macro @var{name} is defined to take a @var{place} argument
4909 followed by additional arguments described by @var{arglist}. The call
4910
4911 @example
4912 (@var{name} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{})
4913 @end example
4914
4915 @noindent
4916 will be expanded to
4917
4918 @example
4919 (cl-callf @var{func} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{})
4920 @end example
4921
4922 @noindent
4923 which in turn is roughly equivalent to
4924
4925 @example
4926 (setf @var{place} (@var{func} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{}))
4927 @end example
4928
4929 For example:
4930
4931 @example
4932 (define-modify-macro incf (&optional (n 1)) +)
4933 (define-modify-macro concatf (&rest args) concat)
4934 @end example
4935
4936 Note that @code{&key} is not allowed in @var{arglist}, but
4937 @code{&rest} is sufficient to pass keywords on to the function.
4938
4939 Most of the modify macros defined by Common Lisp do not exactly
4940 follow the pattern of @code{define-modify-macro}. For example,
4941 @code{push} takes its arguments in the wrong order, and @code{pop}
4942 is completely irregular.
4943
4944 The above @code{incf} example could be written using
4945 @code{gv-letplace} as:
4946 @example
4947 (defmacro incf (place &optional n)
4948 (gv-letplace (getter setter) place
4949 (macroexp-let2 nil v (or n 1)
4950 (funcall setter `(+ ,v ,getter)))))
4951 @end example
4952 @ignore
4953 (defmacro concatf (place &rest args)
4954 (gv-letplace (getter setter) place
4955 (macroexp-let2 nil v (mapconcat 'identity args "")
4956 (funcall setter `(concat ,getter ,v)))))
4957 @end ignore
4958 @end defmac
4959
4960 @defmac defsetf access-fn update-fn
4961 This is the simpler of two @code{defsetf} forms, and is
4962 replaced by @code{gv-define-simple-setter}.
4963
4964 With @var{access-fn} the name of a function that accesses a place,
4965 this declares @var{update-fn} to be the corresponding store function.
4966 From now on,
4967
4968 @example
4969 (setf (@var{access-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3}) @var{value})
4970 @end example
4971
4972 @noindent
4973 will be expanded to
4974
4975 @example
4976 (@var{update-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3} @var{value})
4977 @end example
4978
4979 @noindent
4980 The @var{update-fn} is required to be either a true function, or
4981 a macro that evaluates its arguments in a function-like way. Also,
4982 the @var{update-fn} is expected to return @var{value} as its result.
4983 Otherwise, the above expansion would not obey the rules for the way
4984 @code{setf} is supposed to behave.
4985
4986 As a special (non-Common-Lisp) extension, a third argument of @code{t}
4987 to @code{defsetf} says that the return value of @code{update-fn} is
4988 not suitable, so that the above @code{setf} should be expanded to
4989 something more like
4990
4991 @example
4992 (let ((temp @var{value}))
4993 (@var{update-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3} temp)
4994 temp)
4995 @end example
4996
4997 Some examples are:
4998
4999 @example
5000 (defsetf car setcar)
5001 (defsetf buffer-name rename-buffer t)
5002 @end example
5003
5004 These translate directly to @code{gv-define-simple-setter}:
5005
5006 @example
5007 (gv-define-simple-setter car setcar)
5008 (gv-define-simple-setter buffer-name rename-buffer t)
5009 @end example
5010 @end defmac
5011
5012 @defmac defsetf access-fn arglist (store-var) forms@dots{}
5013 This is the second, more complex, form of @code{defsetf}.
5014 It can be replaced by @code{gv-define-setter}.
5015
5016 This form of @code{defsetf} is rather like @code{defmacro} except for
5017 the additional @var{store-var} argument. The @var{forms} should
5018 return a Lisp form that stores the value of @var{store-var} into the
5019 generalized variable formed by a call to @var{access-fn} with
5020 arguments described by @var{arglist}. The @var{forms} may begin with
5021 a string which documents the @code{setf} method (analogous to the doc
5022 string that appears at the front of a function).
5023
5024 For example, the simple form of @code{defsetf} is shorthand for
5025
5026 @example
5027 (defsetf @var{access-fn} (&rest args) (store)
5028 (append '(@var{update-fn}) args (list store)))
5029 @end example
5030
5031 The Lisp form that is returned can access the arguments from
5032 @var{arglist} and @var{store-var} in an unrestricted fashion;
5033 macros like @code{cl-incf} that invoke this
5034 setf-method will insert temporary variables as needed to make
5035 sure the apparent order of evaluation is preserved.
5036
5037 Another standard example:
5038
5039 @example
5040 (defsetf nth (n x) (store)
5041 `(setcar (nthcdr ,n ,x) ,store))
5042 @end example
5043
5044 You could write this using @code{gv-define-setter} as:
5045
5046 @example
5047 (gv-define-setter nth (store n x)
5048 `(setcar (nthcdr ,n ,x) ,store))
5049 @end example
5050 @end defmac
5051
5052 @defmac define-setf-method access-fn arglist forms@dots{}
5053 This is the most general way to create new place forms. You can
5054 replace this by @code{gv-define-setter} or @code{gv-define-expander}.
5055
5056 When a @code{setf} to @var{access-fn} with arguments described by
5057 @var{arglist} is expanded, the @var{forms} are evaluated and must
5058 return a list of five items:
5059
5060 @enumerate
5061 @item
5062 A list of @dfn{temporary variables}.
5063
5064 @item
5065 A list of @dfn{value forms} corresponding to the temporary variables
5066 above. The temporary variables will be bound to these value forms
5067 as the first step of any operation on the generalized variable.
5068
5069 @item
5070 A list of exactly one @dfn{store variable} (generally obtained
5071 from a call to @code{gensym}).
5072
5073 @item
5074 A Lisp form that stores the contents of the store variable into
5075 the generalized variable, assuming the temporaries have been
5076 bound as described above.
5077
5078 @item
5079 A Lisp form that accesses the contents of the generalized variable,
5080 assuming the temporaries have been bound.
5081 @end enumerate
5082
5083 This is exactly like the Common Lisp macro of the same name,
5084 except that the method returns a list of five values rather
5085 than the five values themselves, since Emacs Lisp does not
5086 support Common Lisp's notion of multiple return values.
5087 (Note that the @code{setf} implementation provided by @file{gv.el}
5088 does not use this five item format. Its use here is only for
5089 backwards compatibility.)
5090
5091 Once again, the @var{forms} may begin with a documentation string.
5092
5093 A setf-method should be maximally conservative with regard to
5094 temporary variables. In the setf-methods generated by
5095 @code{defsetf}, the second return value is simply the list of
5096 arguments in the place form, and the first return value is a
5097 list of a corresponding number of temporary variables generated
5098 @c FIXME I don't think this is true anymore.
5099 by @code{cl-gensym}. Macros like @code{cl-incf} that
5100 use this setf-method will optimize away most temporaries that
5101 turn out to be unnecessary, so there is little reason for the
5102 setf-method itself to optimize.
5103 @end defmac
5104
5105 @c Removed in Emacs 24.3, not possible to make a compatible replacement.
5106 @ignore
5107 @defun get-setf-method place &optional env
5108 This function returns the setf-method for @var{place}, by
5109 invoking the definition previously recorded by @code{defsetf}
5110 or @code{define-setf-method}. The result is a list of five
5111 values as described above. You can use this function to build
5112 your own @code{cl-incf}-like modify macros.
5113
5114 The argument @var{env} specifies the ``environment'' to be
5115 passed on to @code{macroexpand} if @code{get-setf-method} should
5116 need to expand a macro in @var{place}. It should come from
5117 an @code{&environment} argument to the macro or setf-method
5118 that called @code{get-setf-method}.
5119 @end defun
5120 @end ignore
5121
5122
5123 @node GNU Free Documentation License
5124 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
5125 @include doclicense.texi
5126
5127 @node Function Index
5128 @unnumbered Function Index
5129
5130 @printindex fn
5131
5132 @node Variable Index
5133 @unnumbered Variable Index
5134
5135 @printindex vr
5136
5137 @bye