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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, etc.
58 * Program Structure:: Arglists, @code{cl-eval-when}, @code{defalias}.
59 * Predicates:: @code{cl-typep} and @code{cl-equalp}.
60 * Control Structure:: @code{cl-do}, @code{cl-loop}, etc.
61 * Macros:: Destructuring, @code{cl-define-compiler-macro}.
62 * Declarations:: @code{cl-proclaim}, @code{cl-declare}, etc.
63 * Symbols:: Property lists, @code{cl-gensym}.
64 * Numbers:: Predicates, functions, random numbers.
65 * Sequences:: Mapping, functions, searching, sorting.
66 * Lists:: @code{cl-caddr}, @code{cl-sublis}, @code{cl-member}, @code{cl-assoc}, etc.
67 * Structures:: @code{cl-defstruct}.
68 * Assertions:: @code{cl-check-type}, @code{cl-assert}.
69
70 * Efficiency Concerns:: Hints and techniques.
71 * Common Lisp Compatibility:: All known differences with Steele.
72 * Porting Common Lisp:: Hints for porting Common Lisp code.
73 * Obsolete Features:: Obsolete features.
74
75 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation.
76 * Function Index::
77 * Variable Index::
78 @end menu
79
80 @node Overview
81 @chapter Overview
82
83 @noindent
84 This document describes a set of Emacs Lisp facilities borrowed from
85 Common Lisp. All the facilities are described here in detail. While
86 this document does not assume any prior knowledge of Common Lisp, it
87 does assume a basic familiarity with Emacs Lisp.
88
89 Common Lisp is a huge language, and Common Lisp systems tend to be
90 massive and extremely complex. Emacs Lisp, by contrast, is rather
91 minimalist in the choice of Lisp features it offers the programmer.
92 As Emacs Lisp programmers have grown in number, and the applications
93 they write have grown more ambitious, it has become clear that Emacs
94 Lisp could benefit from many of the conveniences of Common Lisp.
95
96 The @code{CL} package adds a number of Common Lisp functions and
97 control structures to Emacs Lisp. While not a 100% complete
98 implementation of Common Lisp, @code{CL} adds enough functionality
99 to make Emacs Lisp programming significantly more convenient.
100
101 Some Common Lisp features have been omitted from this package
102 for various reasons:
103
104 @itemize @bullet
105 @item
106 Some features are too complex or bulky relative to their benefit
107 to Emacs Lisp programmers. CLOS and Common Lisp streams are fine
108 examples of this group.
109
110 @item
111 Other features cannot be implemented without modification to the
112 Emacs Lisp interpreter itself, such as multiple return values,
113 case-insensitive symbols, and complex numbers.
114 The @code{CL} package generally makes no attempt to emulate these
115 features.
116
117 @end itemize
118
119 This package was originally written by Dave Gillespie,
120 @file{daveg@@synaptics.com}, as a total rewrite of an earlier 1986
121 @file{cl.el} package by Cesar Quiroz. Care has been taken to ensure
122 that each function is defined efficiently, concisely, and with minimal
123 impact on the rest of the Emacs environment. Stefan Monnier added the
124 file @file{cl-lib.el} and rationalized the namespace for Emacs 24.3.
125
126 @menu
127 * Usage:: How to use the CL package.
128 * Organization:: The package's component files.
129 * Naming Conventions:: Notes on CL function names.
130 @end menu
131
132 @node Usage
133 @section Usage
134
135 @noindent
136 The @code{CL} package is distributed with Emacs, so there is no need
137 to install any additional files in order to start using it. Lisp code
138 that uses features from the @code{CL} package should simply include at
139 the beginning:
140
141 @example
142 (require 'cl-lib)
143 @end example
144
145 @noindent
146 You may wish to add such a statement to your init file, if you
147 make frequent use of CL features.
148
149 @node Organization
150 @section Organization
151
152 @noindent
153 The Common Lisp package is organized into four main files:
154
155 @table @file
156 @item cl-lib.el
157 This is the main file, which contains basic functions
158 and information about the package. This file is relatively compact.
159
160 @item cl-extra.el
161 This file contains the larger, more complex or unusual functions.
162 It is kept separate so that packages which only want to use Common
163 Lisp fundamentals like the @code{cl-incf} function won't need to pay
164 the overhead of loading the more advanced functions.
165
166 @item cl-seq.el
167 This file contains most of the advanced functions for operating
168 on sequences or lists, such as @code{cl-delete-if} and @code{cl-assoc}.
169
170 @item cl-macs.el
171 This file contains the features that are macros instead of functions.
172 Macros expand when the caller is compiled, not when it is run, so the
173 macros generally only need to be present when the byte-compiler is
174 running (or when the macros are used in uncompiled code). Most of the
175 macros of this package are isolated in @file{cl-macs.el} so that they
176 won't take up memory unless you are compiling.
177 @end table
178
179 The file @file{cl-lib.el} includes all necessary @code{autoload}
180 commands for the functions and macros in the other three files.
181 All you have to do is @code{(require 'cl-lib)}, and @file{cl-lib.el}
182 will take care of pulling in the other files when they are
183 needed.
184
185 There is another file, @file{cl.el}, which was the main entry point to
186 the CL package prior to Emacs 24.3. Nowadays, it is replaced by
187 @file{cl-lib.el}. The two provide the same features (in most cases),
188 but use different function names (in fact, @file{cl.el} mainly just
189 defines aliases to the @file{cl-lib.el} definitions). Where
190 @file{cl-lib.el} defines a function called, for example,
191 @code{cl-incf}, @file{cl.el} uses the same name but without the
192 @samp{cl-} prefix, e.g. @code{incf} in this example. There are a few
193 exceptions to this. First, functions such as @code{cl-defun} where
194 the unprefixed version was already used for a standard Emacs Lisp
195 function. In such cases, the @file{cl.el} version adds a @samp{*}
196 suffix, e.g. @code{defun*}. Second, there are some obsolete features
197 that are only implemented in @file{cl.el}, not in @file{cl-lib.el},
198 because they are replaced by other standard Emacs Lisp features.
199 Finally, in a very few cases the old @file{cl.el} versions do not
200 behave in exactly the same way as the @file{cl-lib.el} versions.
201 @xref{Obsolete Features}.
202 @c There is also cl-mapc, which was called cl-mapc even before cl-lib.el.
203 @c But not autoloaded, so maybe not much used?
204
205 Since the old @file{cl.el} does not use a clean namespace, Emacs has a
206 policy that packages distributed with Emacs must not load @code{cl} at
207 run time. (It is ok for them to load @code{cl} at @emph{compile}
208 time, with @code{eval-when-compile}, and use the macros it provides.)
209 There is no such restriction on the use of @code{cl-lib}. New code
210 should use @code{cl-lib} rather than @code{cl}.
211
212 There is one more file, @file{cl-compat.el}, which defines some
213 routines from the older Quiroz CL package that are not otherwise
214 present in the new package. This file is obsolete and should not be
215 used in new code.
216
217 @node Naming Conventions
218 @section Naming Conventions
219
220 @noindent
221 Except where noted, all functions defined by this package have the
222 same calling conventions as their Common Lisp counterparts, and
223 names that are those of Common Lisp plus a @samp{cl-} prefix.
224
225 Internal function and variable names in the package are prefixed
226 by @code{cl--}. Here is a complete list of functions prefixed by
227 @code{cl-} that were not taken from Common Lisp:
228
229 @example
230 cl-callf cl-callf2 cl-defsubst
231 cl-floatp-safe cl-letf cl-letf*
232 @end example
233
234 The following simple functions and macros are defined in @file{cl-lib.el};
235 they do not cause other components like @file{cl-extra} to be loaded.
236
237 @example
238 cl-floatp-safe cl-endp
239 cl-evenp cl-oddp cl-plusp cl-minusp
240 cl-caaar .. cl-cddddr
241 cl-list* cl-ldiff cl-rest cl-first .. cl-tenth
242 cl-copy-list cl-subst cl-mapcar [2]
243 cl-adjoin [3] cl-acons cl-pairlis
244 cl-pushnew [3,4] cl-incf [4] cl-decf [4]
245 cl-proclaim cl-declaim
246 @end example
247
248 @noindent
249 [2] Only for one sequence argument or two list arguments.
250
251 @noindent
252 [3] Only if @code{:test} is @code{eq}, @code{equal}, or unspecified,
253 and @code{:key} is not used.
254
255 @noindent
256 [4] Only when @var{place} is a plain variable name.
257
258 @node Program Structure
259 @chapter Program Structure
260
261 @noindent
262 This section describes features of the @code{CL} package that have to
263 do with programs as a whole: advanced argument lists for functions,
264 and the @code{cl-eval-when} construct.
265
266 @menu
267 * Argument Lists:: @code{&key}, @code{&aux}, @code{cl-defun}, @code{cl-defmacro}.
268 * Time of Evaluation:: The @code{cl-eval-when} construct.
269 @end menu
270
271 @node Argument Lists
272 @section Argument Lists
273
274 @noindent
275 Emacs Lisp's notation for argument lists of functions is a subset of
276 the Common Lisp notation. As well as the familiar @code{&optional}
277 and @code{&rest} markers, Common Lisp allows you to specify default
278 values for optional arguments, and it provides the additional markers
279 @code{&key} and @code{&aux}.
280
281 Since argument parsing is built-in to Emacs, there is no way for
282 this package to implement Common Lisp argument lists seamlessly.
283 Instead, this package defines alternates for several Lisp forms
284 which you must use if you need Common Lisp argument lists.
285
286 @defmac cl-defun name arglist body...
287 This form is identical to the regular @code{defun} form, except
288 that @var{arglist} is allowed to be a full Common Lisp argument
289 list. Also, the function body is enclosed in an implicit block
290 called @var{name}; @pxref{Blocks and Exits}.
291 @end defmac
292
293 @defmac cl-defsubst name arglist body...
294 This is just like @code{cl-defun}, except that the function that
295 is defined is automatically proclaimed @code{inline}, i.e.,
296 calls to it may be expanded into in-line code by the byte compiler.
297 This is analogous to the @code{defsubst} form;
298 @code{cl-defsubst} uses a different method (compiler macros) which
299 works in all versions of Emacs, and also generates somewhat more
300 efficient inline expansions. In particular, @code{cl-defsubst}
301 arranges for the processing of keyword arguments, default values,
302 etc., to be done at compile-time whenever possible.
303 @end defmac
304
305 @defmac cl-defmacro name arglist body...
306 This is identical to the regular @code{defmacro} form,
307 except that @var{arglist} is allowed to be a full Common Lisp
308 argument list. The @code{&environment} keyword is supported as
309 described in Steele. The @code{&whole} keyword is supported only
310 within destructured lists (see below); top-level @code{&whole}
311 cannot be implemented with the current Emacs Lisp interpreter.
312 The macro expander body is enclosed in an implicit block called
313 @var{name}.
314 @end defmac
315
316 @defmac cl-function symbol-or-lambda
317 This is identical to the regular @code{function} form,
318 except that if the argument is a @code{lambda} form then that
319 form may use a full Common Lisp argument list.
320 @end defmac
321
322 Also, all forms (such as @code{cl-flet} and @code{cl-labels}) defined
323 in this package that include @var{arglist}s in their syntax allow
324 full Common Lisp argument lists.
325
326 Note that it is @emph{not} necessary to use @code{cl-defun} in
327 order to have access to most @code{CL} features in your function.
328 These features are always present; @code{cl-defun}'s only
329 difference from @code{defun} is its more flexible argument
330 lists and its implicit block.
331
332 The full form of a Common Lisp argument list is
333
334 @example
335 (@var{var}...
336 &optional (@var{var} @var{initform} @var{svar})...
337 &rest @var{var}
338 &key ((@var{keyword} @var{var}) @var{initform} @var{svar})...
339 &aux (@var{var} @var{initform})...)
340 @end example
341
342 Each of the five argument list sections is optional. The @var{svar},
343 @var{initform}, and @var{keyword} parts are optional; if they are
344 omitted, then @samp{(@var{var})} may be written simply @samp{@var{var}}.
345
346 The first section consists of zero or more @dfn{required} arguments.
347 These arguments must always be specified in a call to the function;
348 there is no difference between Emacs Lisp and Common Lisp as far as
349 required arguments are concerned.
350
351 The second section consists of @dfn{optional} arguments. These
352 arguments may be specified in the function call; if they are not,
353 @var{initform} specifies the default value used for the argument.
354 (No @var{initform} means to use @code{nil} as the default.) The
355 @var{initform} is evaluated with the bindings for the preceding
356 arguments already established; @code{(a &optional (b (1+ a)))}
357 matches one or two arguments, with the second argument defaulting
358 to one plus the first argument. If the @var{svar} is specified,
359 it is an auxiliary variable which is bound to @code{t} if the optional
360 argument was specified, or to @code{nil} if the argument was omitted.
361 If you don't use an @var{svar}, then there will be no way for your
362 function to tell whether it was called with no argument, or with
363 the default value passed explicitly as an argument.
364
365 The third section consists of a single @dfn{rest} argument. If
366 more arguments were passed to the function than are accounted for
367 by the required and optional arguments, those extra arguments are
368 collected into a list and bound to the ``rest'' argument variable.
369 Common Lisp's @code{&rest} is equivalent to that of Emacs Lisp.
370 Common Lisp accepts @code{&body} as a synonym for @code{&rest} in
371 macro contexts; this package accepts it all the time.
372
373 The fourth section consists of @dfn{keyword} arguments. These
374 are optional arguments which are specified by name rather than
375 positionally in the argument list. For example,
376
377 @example
378 (cl-defun foo (a &optional b &key c d (e 17)))
379 @end example
380
381 @noindent
382 defines a function which may be called with one, two, or more
383 arguments. The first two arguments are bound to @code{a} and
384 @code{b} in the usual way. The remaining arguments must be
385 pairs of the form @code{:c}, @code{:d}, or @code{:e} followed
386 by the value to be bound to the corresponding argument variable.
387 (Symbols whose names begin with a colon are called @dfn{keywords},
388 and they are self-quoting in the same way as @code{nil} and
389 @code{t}.)
390
391 For example, the call @code{(foo 1 2 :d 3 :c 4)} sets the five
392 arguments to 1, 2, 4, 3, and 17, respectively. If the same keyword
393 appears more than once in the function call, the first occurrence
394 takes precedence over the later ones. Note that it is not possible
395 to specify keyword arguments without specifying the optional
396 argument @code{b} as well, since @code{(foo 1 :c 2)} would bind
397 @code{b} to the keyword @code{:c}, then signal an error because
398 @code{2} is not a valid keyword.
399
400 You can also explicitly specify the keyword argument; it need not be
401 simply the variable name prefixed with a colon. For example,
402
403 @example
404 (cl-defun bar (&key (a 1) ((baz b) 4)))
405 @end example
406
407 @noindent
408
409 specifies a keyword @code{:a} that sets the variable @code{a} with
410 default value 1, as well as a keyword @code{baz} that sets the
411 variable @code{b} with default value 4. In this case, because
412 @code{baz} is not self-quoting, you must quote it explicitly in the
413 function call, like this:
414
415 @example
416 (bar :a 10 'baz 42)
417 @end example
418
419 Ordinarily, it is an error to pass an unrecognized keyword to
420 a function, e.g., @code{(foo 1 2 :c 3 :goober 4)}. You can ask
421 Lisp to ignore unrecognized keywords, either by adding the
422 marker @code{&allow-other-keys} after the keyword section
423 of the argument list, or by specifying an @code{:allow-other-keys}
424 argument in the call whose value is non-@code{nil}. If the
425 function uses both @code{&rest} and @code{&key} at the same time,
426 the ``rest'' argument is bound to the keyword list as it appears
427 in the call. For example:
428
429 @smallexample
430 (cl-defun find-thing (thing &rest rest &key need &allow-other-keys)
431 (or (apply 'cl-member thing thing-list :allow-other-keys t rest)
432 (if need (error "Thing not found"))))
433 @end smallexample
434
435 @noindent
436 This function takes a @code{:need} keyword argument, but also
437 accepts other keyword arguments which are passed on to the
438 @code{cl-member} function. @code{allow-other-keys} is used to
439 keep both @code{find-thing} and @code{cl-member} from complaining
440 about each others' keywords in the arguments.
441
442 The fifth section of the argument list consists of @dfn{auxiliary
443 variables}. These are not really arguments at all, but simply
444 variables which are bound to @code{nil} or to the specified
445 @var{initforms} during execution of the function. There is no
446 difference between the following two functions, except for a
447 matter of stylistic taste:
448
449 @example
450 (cl-defun foo (a b &aux (c (+ a b)) d)
451 @var{body})
452
453 (cl-defun foo (a b)
454 (let ((c (+ a b)) d)
455 @var{body}))
456 @end example
457
458 Argument lists support @dfn{destructuring}. In Common Lisp,
459 destructuring is only allowed with @code{defmacro}; this package
460 allows it with @code{cl-defun} and other argument lists as well.
461 In destructuring, any argument variable (@var{var} in the above
462 diagram) can be replaced by a list of variables, or more generally,
463 a recursive argument list. The corresponding argument value must
464 be a list whose elements match this recursive argument list.
465 For example:
466
467 @example
468 (cl-defmacro dolist ((var listform &optional resultform)
469 &rest body)
470 ...)
471 @end example
472
473 This says that the first argument of @code{dolist} must be a list
474 of two or three items; if there are other arguments as well as this
475 list, they are stored in @code{body}. All features allowed in
476 regular argument lists are allowed in these recursive argument lists.
477 In addition, the clause @samp{&whole @var{var}} is allowed at the
478 front of a recursive argument list. It binds @var{var} to the
479 whole list being matched; thus @code{(&whole all a b)} matches
480 a list of two things, with @code{a} bound to the first thing,
481 @code{b} bound to the second thing, and @code{all} bound to the
482 list itself. (Common Lisp allows @code{&whole} in top-level
483 @code{defmacro} argument lists as well, but Emacs Lisp does not
484 support this usage.)
485
486 One last feature of destructuring is that the argument list may be
487 dotted, so that the argument list @code{(a b . c)} is functionally
488 equivalent to @code{(a b &rest c)}.
489
490 If the optimization quality @code{safety} is set to 0
491 (@pxref{Declarations}), error checking for wrong number of
492 arguments and invalid keyword arguments is disabled. By default,
493 argument lists are rigorously checked.
494
495 @node Time of Evaluation
496 @section Time of Evaluation
497
498 @noindent
499 Normally, the byte-compiler does not actually execute the forms in
500 a file it compiles. For example, if a file contains @code{(setq foo t)},
501 the act of compiling it will not actually set @code{foo} to @code{t}.
502 This is true even if the @code{setq} was a top-level form (i.e., not
503 enclosed in a @code{defun} or other form). Sometimes, though, you
504 would like to have certain top-level forms evaluated at compile-time.
505 For example, the compiler effectively evaluates @code{defmacro} forms
506 at compile-time so that later parts of the file can refer to the
507 macros that are defined.
508
509 @defmac cl-eval-when (situations...) forms...
510 This form controls when the body @var{forms} are evaluated.
511 The @var{situations} list may contain any set of the symbols
512 @code{compile}, @code{load}, and @code{eval} (or their long-winded
513 ANSI equivalents, @code{:compile-toplevel}, @code{:load-toplevel},
514 and @code{:execute}).
515
516 The @code{cl-eval-when} form is handled differently depending on
517 whether or not it is being compiled as a top-level form.
518 Specifically, it gets special treatment if it is being compiled
519 by a command such as @code{byte-compile-file} which compiles files
520 or buffers of code, and it appears either literally at the
521 top level of the file or inside a top-level @code{progn}.
522
523 For compiled top-level @code{cl-eval-when}s, the body @var{forms} are
524 executed at compile-time if @code{compile} is in the @var{situations}
525 list, and the @var{forms} are written out to the file (to be executed
526 at load-time) if @code{load} is in the @var{situations} list.
527
528 For non-compiled-top-level forms, only the @code{eval} situation is
529 relevant. (This includes forms executed by the interpreter, forms
530 compiled with @code{byte-compile} rather than @code{byte-compile-file},
531 and non-top-level forms.) The @code{cl-eval-when} acts like a
532 @code{progn} if @code{eval} is specified, and like @code{nil}
533 (ignoring the body @var{forms}) if not.
534
535 The rules become more subtle when @code{cl-eval-when}s are nested;
536 consult Steele (second edition) for the gruesome details (and
537 some gruesome examples).
538
539 Some simple examples:
540
541 @example
542 ;; Top-level forms in foo.el:
543 (cl-eval-when (compile) (setq foo1 'bar))
544 (cl-eval-when (load) (setq foo2 'bar))
545 (cl-eval-when (compile load) (setq foo3 'bar))
546 (cl-eval-when (eval) (setq foo4 'bar))
547 (cl-eval-when (eval compile) (setq foo5 'bar))
548 (cl-eval-when (eval load) (setq foo6 'bar))
549 (cl-eval-when (eval compile load) (setq foo7 'bar))
550 @end example
551
552 When @file{foo.el} is compiled, these variables will be set during
553 the compilation itself:
554
555 @example
556 foo1 foo3 foo5 foo7 ; `compile'
557 @end example
558
559 When @file{foo.elc} is loaded, these variables will be set:
560
561 @example
562 foo2 foo3 foo6 foo7 ; `load'
563 @end example
564
565 And if @file{foo.el} is loaded uncompiled, these variables will
566 be set:
567
568 @example
569 foo4 foo5 foo6 foo7 ; `eval'
570 @end example
571
572 If these seven @code{cl-eval-when}s had been, say, inside a @code{defun},
573 then the first three would have been equivalent to @code{nil} and the
574 last four would have been equivalent to the corresponding @code{setq}s.
575
576 Note that @code{(cl-eval-when (load eval) @dots{})} is equivalent
577 to @code{(progn @dots{})} in all contexts. The compiler treats
578 certain top-level forms, like @code{defmacro} (sort-of) and
579 @code{require}, as if they were wrapped in @code{(cl-eval-when
580 (compile load eval) @dots{})}.
581 @end defmac
582
583 Emacs includes two special forms related to @code{cl-eval-when}.
584 One of these, @code{eval-when-compile}, is not quite equivalent to
585 any @code{cl-eval-when} construct and is described below.
586
587 The other form, @code{(eval-and-compile @dots{})}, is exactly
588 equivalent to @samp{(cl-eval-when (compile load eval) @dots{})} and
589 so is not itself defined by this package.
590
591 @defmac eval-when-compile forms...
592 The @var{forms} are evaluated at compile-time; at execution time,
593 this form acts like a quoted constant of the resulting value. Used
594 at top-level, @code{eval-when-compile} is just like @samp{eval-when
595 (compile eval)}. In other contexts, @code{eval-when-compile}
596 allows code to be evaluated once at compile-time for efficiency
597 or other reasons.
598
599 This form is similar to the @samp{#.} syntax of true Common Lisp.
600 @end defmac
601
602 @defmac cl-load-time-value form
603 The @var{form} is evaluated at load-time; at execution time,
604 this form acts like a quoted constant of the resulting value.
605
606 Early Common Lisp had a @samp{#,} syntax that was similar to
607 this, but ANSI Common Lisp replaced it with @code{load-time-value}
608 and gave it more well-defined semantics.
609
610 In a compiled file, @code{cl-load-time-value} arranges for @var{form}
611 to be evaluated when the @file{.elc} file is loaded and then used
612 as if it were a quoted constant. In code compiled by
613 @code{byte-compile} rather than @code{byte-compile-file}, the
614 effect is identical to @code{eval-when-compile}. In uncompiled
615 code, both @code{eval-when-compile} and @code{cl-load-time-value}
616 act exactly like @code{progn}.
617
618 @example
619 (defun report ()
620 (insert "This function was executed on: "
621 (current-time-string)
622 ", compiled on: "
623 (eval-when-compile (current-time-string))
624 ;; or '#.(current-time-string) in real Common Lisp
625 ", and loaded on: "
626 (cl-load-time-value (current-time-string))))
627 @end example
628
629 @noindent
630 Byte-compiled, the above defun will result in the following code
631 (or its compiled equivalent, of course) in the @file{.elc} file:
632
633 @example
634 (setq --temp-- (current-time-string))
635 (defun report ()
636 (insert "This function was executed on: "
637 (current-time-string)
638 ", compiled on: "
639 '"Wed Jun 23 18:33:43 1993"
640 ", and loaded on: "
641 --temp--))
642 @end example
643 @end defmac
644
645 @node Predicates
646 @chapter Predicates
647
648 @noindent
649 This section describes functions for testing whether various
650 facts are true or false.
651
652 @menu
653 * Type Predicates:: @code{cl-typep}, @code{cl-deftype}, and @code{cl-coerce}.
654 * Equality Predicates:: @code{cl-equalp}.
655 @end menu
656
657 @node Type Predicates
658 @section Type Predicates
659
660 @defun cl-typep object type
661 Check if @var{object} is of type @var{type}, where @var{type} is a
662 (quoted) type name of the sort used by Common Lisp. For example,
663 @code{(cl-typep foo 'integer)} is equivalent to @code{(integerp foo)}.
664 @end defun
665
666 The @var{type} argument to the above function is either a symbol
667 or a list beginning with a symbol.
668
669 @itemize @bullet
670 @item
671 If the type name is a symbol, Emacs appends @samp{-p} to the
672 symbol name to form the name of a predicate function for testing
673 the type. (Built-in predicates whose names end in @samp{p} rather
674 than @samp{-p} are used when appropriate.)
675
676 @item
677 The type symbol @code{t} stands for the union of all types.
678 @code{(cl-typep @var{object} t)} is always true. Likewise, the
679 type symbol @code{nil} stands for nothing at all, and
680 @code{(cl-typep @var{object} nil)} is always false.
681
682 @item
683 The type symbol @code{null} represents the symbol @code{nil}.
684 Thus @code{(cl-typep @var{object} 'null)} is equivalent to
685 @code{(null @var{object})}.
686
687 @item
688 The type symbol @code{atom} represents all objects that are not cons
689 cells. Thus @code{(cl-typep @var{object} 'atom)} is equivalent to
690 @code{(atom @var{object})}.
691
692 @item
693 The type symbol @code{real} is a synonym for @code{number}, and
694 @code{fixnum} is a synonym for @code{integer}.
695
696 @item
697 The type symbols @code{character} and @code{string-char} match
698 integers in the range from 0 to 255.
699
700 @item
701 The type symbol @code{float} uses the @code{cl-floatp-safe} predicate
702 defined by this package rather than @code{floatp}, so it will work
703 correctly even in Emacs versions without floating-point support.
704
705 @item
706 The type list @code{(integer @var{low} @var{high})} represents all
707 integers between @var{low} and @var{high}, inclusive. Either bound
708 may be a list of a single integer to specify an exclusive limit,
709 or a @code{*} to specify no limit. The type @code{(integer * *)}
710 is thus equivalent to @code{integer}.
711
712 @item
713 Likewise, lists beginning with @code{float}, @code{real}, or
714 @code{number} represent numbers of that type falling in a particular
715 range.
716
717 @item
718 Lists beginning with @code{and}, @code{or}, and @code{not} form
719 combinations of types. For example, @code{(or integer (float 0 *))}
720 represents all objects that are integers or non-negative floats.
721
722 @item
723 Lists beginning with @code{member} or @code{cl-member} represent
724 objects @code{eql} to any of the following values. For example,
725 @code{(member 1 2 3 4)} is equivalent to @code{(integer 1 4)},
726 and @code{(member nil)} is equivalent to @code{null}.
727
728 @item
729 Lists of the form @code{(satisfies @var{predicate})} represent
730 all objects for which @var{predicate} returns true when called
731 with that object as an argument.
732 @end itemize
733
734 The following function and macro (not technically predicates) are
735 related to @code{cl-typep}.
736
737 @defun cl-coerce object type
738 This function attempts to convert @var{object} to the specified
739 @var{type}. If @var{object} is already of that type as determined by
740 @code{cl-typep}, it is simply returned. Otherwise, certain types of
741 conversions will be made: If @var{type} is any sequence type
742 (@code{string}, @code{list}, etc.) then @var{object} will be
743 converted to that type if possible. If @var{type} is
744 @code{character}, then strings of length one and symbols with
745 one-character names can be coerced. If @var{type} is @code{float},
746 then integers can be coerced in versions of Emacs that support
747 floats. In all other circumstances, @code{cl-coerce} signals an
748 error.
749 @end defun
750
751 @defmac cl-deftype name arglist forms...
752 This macro defines a new type called @var{name}. It is similar
753 to @code{defmacro} in many ways; when @var{name} is encountered
754 as a type name, the body @var{forms} are evaluated and should
755 return a type specifier that is equivalent to the type. The
756 @var{arglist} is a Common Lisp argument list of the sort accepted
757 by @code{cl-defmacro}. The type specifier @samp{(@var{name} @var{args}...)}
758 is expanded by calling the expander with those arguments; the type
759 symbol @samp{@var{name}} is expanded by calling the expander with
760 no arguments. The @var{arglist} is processed the same as for
761 @code{cl-defmacro} except that optional arguments without explicit
762 defaults use @code{*} instead of @code{nil} as the ``default''
763 default. Some examples:
764
765 @example
766 (cl-deftype null () '(satisfies null)) ; predefined
767 (cl-deftype list () '(or null cons)) ; predefined
768 (cl-deftype unsigned-byte (&optional bits)
769 (list 'integer 0 (if (eq bits '*) bits (1- (lsh 1 bits)))))
770 (unsigned-byte 8) @equiv{} (integer 0 255)
771 (unsigned-byte) @equiv{} (integer 0 *)
772 unsigned-byte @equiv{} (integer 0 *)
773 @end example
774
775 @noindent
776 The last example shows how the Common Lisp @code{unsigned-byte}
777 type specifier could be implemented if desired; this package does
778 not implement @code{unsigned-byte} by default.
779 @end defmac
780
781 The @code{cl-typecase} and @code{cl-check-type} macros also use type
782 names. @xref{Conditionals}. @xref{Assertions}. The @code{cl-map},
783 @code{cl-concatenate}, and @code{cl-merge} functions take type-name
784 arguments to specify the type of sequence to return. @xref{Sequences}.
785
786 @node Equality Predicates
787 @section Equality Predicates
788
789 @noindent
790 This package defines the Common Lisp predicate @code{cl-equalp}.
791
792 @defun cl-equalp a b
793 This function is a more flexible version of @code{equal}. In
794 particular, it compares strings case-insensitively, and it compares
795 numbers without regard to type (so that @code{(cl-equalp 3 3.0)} is
796 true). Vectors and conses are compared recursively. All other
797 objects are compared as if by @code{equal}.
798
799 This function differs from Common Lisp @code{equalp} in several
800 respects. First, Common Lisp's @code{equalp} also compares
801 @emph{characters} case-insensitively, which would be impractical
802 in this package since Emacs does not distinguish between integers
803 and characters. In keeping with the idea that strings are less
804 vector-like in Emacs Lisp, this package's @code{cl-equalp} also will
805 not compare strings against vectors of integers.
806 @end defun
807
808 Also note that the Common Lisp functions @code{member} and @code{assoc}
809 use @code{eql} to compare elements, whereas Emacs Lisp follows the
810 MacLisp tradition and uses @code{equal} for these two functions.
811 In Emacs, use @code{memq} (or @code{cl-member}) and @code{assq} (or
812 @code{cl-assoc}) to get functions which use @code{eql} for comparisons.
813
814 @node Control Structure
815 @chapter Control Structure
816
817 @noindent
818 The features described in the following sections implement
819 various advanced control structures, including extensions to the
820 standard @code{setf} facility, and a number of looping and conditional
821 constructs.
822
823 @menu
824 * Assignment:: The @code{cl-psetq} form.
825 * Generalized Variables:: Extensions to generalized variables.
826 * Variable Bindings:: @code{cl-progv}, @code{cl-flet}, @code{cl-macrolet}.
827 * Conditionals:: @code{cl-case}, @code{cl-typecase}.
828 * Blocks and Exits:: @code{cl-block}, @code{cl-return}, @code{cl-return-from}.
829 * Iteration:: @code{cl-do}, @code{cl-dotimes}, @code{cl-dolist}, @code{cl-do-symbols}.
830 * Loop Facility:: The Common Lisp @code{cl-loop} macro.
831 * Multiple Values:: @code{cl-values}, @code{cl-multiple-value-bind}, etc.
832 @end menu
833
834 @node Assignment
835 @section Assignment
836
837 @noindent
838 The @code{cl-psetq} form is just like @code{setq}, except that multiple
839 assignments are done in parallel rather than sequentially.
840
841 @defmac cl-psetq [symbol form]@dots{}
842 This special form (actually a macro) is used to assign to several
843 variables simultaneously. Given only one @var{symbol} and @var{form},
844 it has the same effect as @code{setq}. Given several @var{symbol}
845 and @var{form} pairs, it evaluates all the @var{form}s in advance
846 and then stores the corresponding variables afterwards.
847
848 @example
849 (setq x 2 y 3)
850 (setq x (+ x y) y (* x y))
851 x
852 @result{} 5
853 y ; @r{@code{y} was computed after @code{x} was set.}
854 @result{} 15
855 (setq x 2 y 3)
856 (cl-psetq x (+ x y) y (* x y))
857 x
858 @result{} 5
859 y ; @r{@code{y} was computed before @code{x} was set.}
860 @result{} 6
861 @end example
862
863 The simplest use of @code{cl-psetq} is @code{(cl-psetq x y y x)}, which
864 exchanges the values of two variables. (The @code{cl-rotatef} form
865 provides an even more convenient way to swap two variables;
866 @pxref{Modify Macros}.)
867
868 @code{cl-psetq} always returns @code{nil}.
869 @end defmac
870
871 @node Generalized Variables
872 @section Generalized Variables
873
874 A @dfn{generalized variable} or @dfn{place form} is one of the many
875 places in Lisp memory where values can be stored. The simplest place
876 form is a regular Lisp variable. But the cars and cdrs of lists,
877 elements of arrays, properties of symbols, and many other locations
878 are also places where Lisp values are stored. For basic information,
879 @pxref{Generalized Variables,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
880 This package provides several additional features related to
881 generalized variables.
882
883 @menu
884 * Setf Extensions:: Additional @code{setf} places.
885 * Modify Macros:: @code{cl-incf}, @code{cl-rotatef}, @code{cl-letf}, @code{cl-callf}, etc.
886 @end menu
887
888 @node Setf Extensions
889 @subsection Setf Extensions
890
891 Several standard (e.g. @code{car}) and Emacs-specific
892 (e.g. @code{window-point}) Lisp functions are @code{setf}-able by default.
893 This package defines @code{setf} handlers for several additional functions:
894
895 @itemize
896 @item
897 Functions from @code{CL} itself:
898 @smallexample
899 cl-caaar .. cl-cddddr cl-first .. cl-tenth
900 cl-rest cl-get cl-getf cl-subseq
901 @end smallexample
902
903 @noindent
904 Note that for @code{cl-getf} (as for @code{nthcdr}), the list argument
905 of the function must itself be a valid @var{place} form.
906
907 @item
908 General Emacs Lisp functions:
909 @smallexample
910 buffer-file-name getenv
911 buffer-modified-p global-key-binding
912 buffer-name local-key-binding
913 buffer-string mark
914 buffer-substring mark-marker
915 current-buffer marker-position
916 current-case-table mouse-position
917 current-column point
918 current-global-map point-marker
919 current-input-mode point-max
920 current-local-map point-min
921 current-window-configuration read-mouse-position
922 default-file-modes screen-height
923 documentation-property screen-width
924 face-background selected-window
925 face-background-pixmap selected-screen
926 face-font selected-frame
927 face-foreground standard-case-table
928 face-underline-p syntax-table
929 file-modes visited-file-modtime
930 frame-height window-height
931 frame-parameters window-width
932 frame-visible-p x-get-secondary-selection
933 frame-width x-get-selection
934 get-register
935 @end smallexample
936
937 Most of these have directly corresponding ``set'' functions, like
938 @code{use-local-map} for @code{current-local-map}, or @code{goto-char}
939 for @code{point}. A few, like @code{point-min}, expand to longer
940 sequences of code when they are used with @code{setf}
941 (@code{(narrow-to-region x (point-max))} in this case).
942
943 @item
944 A call of the form @code{(substring @var{subplace} @var{n} [@var{m}])},
945 where @var{subplace} is itself a valid generalized variable whose
946 current value is a string, and where the value stored is also a
947 string. The new string is spliced into the specified part of the
948 destination string. For example:
949
950 @example
951 (setq a (list "hello" "world"))
952 @result{} ("hello" "world")
953 (cadr a)
954 @result{} "world"
955 (substring (cadr a) 2 4)
956 @result{} "rl"
957 (setf (substring (cadr a) 2 4) "o")
958 @result{} "o"
959 (cadr a)
960 @result{} "wood"
961 a
962 @result{} ("hello" "wood")
963 @end example
964
965 The generalized variable @code{buffer-substring}, listed above,
966 also works in this way by replacing a portion of the current buffer.
967
968 @c FIXME? Also `eq'? (see cl-lib.el)
969
970 @c Currently commented out in cl.el.
971 @ignore
972 @item
973 A call of the form @code{(apply '@var{func} @dots{})} or
974 @code{(apply (function @var{func}) @dots{})}, where @var{func}
975 is a @code{setf}-able function whose store function is ``suitable''
976 in the sense described in Steele's book; since none of the standard
977 Emacs place functions are suitable in this sense, this feature is
978 only interesting when used with places you define yourself with
979 @code{define-setf-method} or the long form of @code{defsetf}.
980 @xref{Obsolete Setf Customization}.
981 @end ignore
982
983 @item
984 A macro call, in which case the macro is expanded and @code{setf}
985 is applied to the resulting form.
986
987 @item
988 Any form for which a @code{defsetf} or @code{define-setf-method}
989 has been made. @xref{Obsolete Setf Customization}.
990 @end itemize
991
992 @c FIXME should this be in lispref? It seems self-evident.
993 @c Contrast with the cl-incf example later on.
994 @c Here it really only serves as a contrast to wrong-order.
995 The @code{setf} macro takes care to evaluate all subforms in
996 the proper left-to-right order; for example,
997
998 @example
999 (setf (aref vec (cl-incf i)) i)
1000 @end example
1001
1002 @noindent
1003 looks like it will evaluate @code{(cl-incf i)} exactly once, before the
1004 following access to @code{i}; the @code{setf} expander will insert
1005 temporary variables as necessary to ensure that it does in fact work
1006 this way no matter what setf-method is defined for @code{aref}.
1007 (In this case, @code{aset} would be used and no such steps would
1008 be necessary since @code{aset} takes its arguments in a convenient
1009 order.)
1010
1011 However, if the @var{place} form is a macro which explicitly
1012 evaluates its arguments in an unusual order, this unusual order
1013 will be preserved. Adapting an example from Steele, given
1014
1015 @example
1016 (defmacro wrong-order (x y) (list 'aref y x))
1017 @end example
1018
1019 @noindent
1020 the form @code{(setf (wrong-order @var{a} @var{b}) 17)} will
1021 evaluate @var{b} first, then @var{a}, just as in an actual call
1022 to @code{wrong-order}.
1023
1024 @node Modify Macros
1025 @subsection Modify Macros
1026
1027 @noindent
1028 This package defines a number of macros that operate on generalized
1029 variables. Many are interesting and useful even when the @var{place}
1030 is just a variable name.
1031
1032 @defmac cl-psetf [place form]@dots{}
1033 This macro is to @code{setf} what @code{cl-psetq} is to @code{setq}:
1034 When several @var{place}s and @var{form}s are involved, the
1035 assignments take place in parallel rather than sequentially.
1036 Specifically, all subforms are evaluated from left to right, then
1037 all the assignments are done (in an undefined order).
1038 @end defmac
1039
1040 @defmac cl-incf place &optional x
1041 This macro increments the number stored in @var{place} by one, or
1042 by @var{x} if specified. The incremented value is returned. For
1043 example, @code{(cl-incf i)} is equivalent to @code{(setq i (1+ i))}, and
1044 @code{(cl-incf (car x) 2)} is equivalent to @code{(setcar x (+ (car x) 2))}.
1045
1046 As with @code{setf}, care is taken to preserve the ``apparent'' order
1047 of evaluation. For example,
1048
1049 @example
1050 (cl-incf (aref vec (cl-incf i)))
1051 @end example
1052
1053 @noindent
1054 appears to increment @code{i} once, then increment the element of
1055 @code{vec} addressed by @code{i}; this is indeed exactly what it
1056 does, which means the above form is @emph{not} equivalent to the
1057 ``obvious'' expansion,
1058
1059 @example
1060 (setf (aref vec (cl-incf i))
1061 (1+ (aref vec (cl-incf i)))) ; wrong!
1062 @end example
1063
1064 @noindent
1065 but rather to something more like
1066
1067 @example
1068 (let ((temp (cl-incf i)))
1069 (setf (aref vec temp) (1+ (aref vec temp))))
1070 @end example
1071
1072 @noindent
1073 Again, all of this is taken care of automatically by @code{cl-incf} and
1074 the other generalized-variable macros.
1075
1076 As a more Emacs-specific example of @code{cl-incf}, the expression
1077 @code{(cl-incf (point) @var{n})} is essentially equivalent to
1078 @code{(forward-char @var{n})}.
1079 @end defmac
1080
1081 @defmac cl-decf place &optional x
1082 This macro decrements the number stored in @var{place} by one, or
1083 by @var{x} if specified.
1084 @end defmac
1085
1086 @defmac cl-pushnew x place @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
1087 This macro inserts @var{x} at the front of the list stored in
1088 @var{place}, but only if @var{x} was not @code{eql} to any
1089 existing element of the list. The optional keyword arguments
1090 are interpreted in the same way as for @code{cl-adjoin}.
1091 @xref{Lists as Sets}.
1092 @end defmac
1093
1094 @defmac cl-shiftf place@dots{} newvalue
1095 This macro shifts the @var{place}s left by one, shifting in the
1096 value of @var{newvalue} (which may be any Lisp expression, not just
1097 a generalized variable), and returning the value shifted out of
1098 the first @var{place}. Thus, @code{(cl-shiftf @var{a} @var{b} @var{c}
1099 @var{d})} is equivalent to
1100
1101 @example
1102 (prog1
1103 @var{a}
1104 (cl-psetf @var{a} @var{b}
1105 @var{b} @var{c}
1106 @var{c} @var{d}))
1107 @end example
1108
1109 @noindent
1110 except that the subforms of @var{a}, @var{b}, and @var{c} are actually
1111 evaluated only once each and in the apparent order.
1112 @end defmac
1113
1114 @defmac cl-rotatef place@dots{}
1115 This macro rotates the @var{place}s left by one in circular fashion.
1116 Thus, @code{(cl-rotatef @var{a} @var{b} @var{c} @var{d})} is equivalent to
1117
1118 @example
1119 (cl-psetf @var{a} @var{b}
1120 @var{b} @var{c}
1121 @var{c} @var{d}
1122 @var{d} @var{a})
1123 @end example
1124
1125 @noindent
1126 except for the evaluation of subforms. @code{cl-rotatef} always
1127 returns @code{nil}. Note that @code{(cl-rotatef @var{a} @var{b})}
1128 conveniently exchanges @var{a} and @var{b}.
1129 @end defmac
1130
1131 The following macros were invented for this package; they have no
1132 analogues in Common Lisp.
1133
1134 @defmac cl-letf (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1135 This macro is analogous to @code{let}, but for generalized variables
1136 rather than just symbols. Each @var{binding} should be of the form
1137 @code{(@var{place} @var{value})}; the original contents of the
1138 @var{place}s are saved, the @var{value}s are stored in them, and
1139 then the body @var{form}s are executed. Afterwards, the @var{places}
1140 are set back to their original saved contents. This cleanup happens
1141 even if the @var{form}s exit irregularly due to a @code{throw} or an
1142 error.
1143
1144 For example,
1145
1146 @example
1147 (cl-letf (((point) (point-min))
1148 (a 17))
1149 ...)
1150 @end example
1151
1152 @noindent
1153 moves point in the current buffer to the beginning of the buffer,
1154 and also binds @code{a} to 17 (as if by a normal @code{let}, since
1155 @code{a} is just a regular variable). After the body exits, @code{a}
1156 is set back to its original value and point is moved back to its
1157 original position.
1158
1159 Note that @code{cl-letf} on @code{(point)} is not quite like a
1160 @code{save-excursion}, as the latter effectively saves a marker
1161 which tracks insertions and deletions in the buffer. Actually,
1162 a @code{cl-letf} of @code{(point-marker)} is much closer to this
1163 behavior. (@code{point} and @code{point-marker} are equivalent
1164 as @code{setf} places; each will accept either an integer or a
1165 marker as the stored value.)
1166
1167 Since generalized variables look like lists, @code{let}'s shorthand
1168 of using @samp{foo} for @samp{(foo nil)} as a @var{binding} would
1169 be ambiguous in @code{cl-letf} and is not allowed.
1170
1171 However, a @var{binding} specifier may be a one-element list
1172 @samp{(@var{place})}, which is similar to @samp{(@var{place}
1173 @var{place})}. In other words, the @var{place} is not disturbed
1174 on entry to the body, and the only effect of the @code{cl-letf} is
1175 to restore the original value of @var{place} afterwards.
1176 @c I suspect this may no longer be true; either way it's
1177 @c implementation detail and so not essential to document.
1178 @ignore
1179 (The redundant access-and-store suggested by the @code{(@var{place}
1180 @var{place})} example does not actually occur.)
1181 @end ignore
1182
1183 Note that in this case, and in fact almost every case, @var{place}
1184 must have a well-defined value outside the @code{cl-letf} body.
1185 There is essentially only one exception to this, which is @var{place}
1186 a plain variable with a specified @var{value} (such as @code{(a 17)}
1187 in the above example).
1188 @c See http://debbugs.gnu.org/12758
1189 @c Some or all of this was true for cl.el, but not for cl-lib.el.
1190 @ignore
1191 The only exceptions are plain variables and calls to
1192 @code{symbol-value} and @code{symbol-function}. If the symbol is not
1193 bound on entry, it is simply made unbound by @code{makunbound} or
1194 @code{fmakunbound} on exit.
1195 @end ignore
1196
1197 Note that the @file{cl.el} version of this macro behaves slightly
1198 differently. @xref{Obsolete Macros}.
1199 @end defmac
1200
1201 @defmac cl-letf* (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1202 This macro is to @code{cl-letf} what @code{let*} is to @code{let}:
1203 It does the bindings in sequential rather than parallel order.
1204 @end defmac
1205
1206 @defmac cl-callf @var{function} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{}
1207 This is the ``generic'' modify macro. It calls @var{function},
1208 which should be an unquoted function name, macro name, or lambda.
1209 It passes @var{place} and @var{args} as arguments, and assigns the
1210 result back to @var{place}. For example, @code{(cl-incf @var{place}
1211 @var{n})} is the same as @code{(cl-callf + @var{place} @var{n})}.
1212 Some more examples:
1213
1214 @example
1215 (cl-callf abs my-number)
1216 (cl-callf concat (buffer-name) "<" (number-to-string n) ">")
1217 (cl-callf cl-union happy-people (list joe bob) :test 'same-person)
1218 @end example
1219
1220 Note again that @code{cl-callf} is an extension to standard Common Lisp.
1221 @end defmac
1222
1223 @defmac cl-callf2 @var{function} @var{arg1} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{}
1224 This macro is like @code{cl-callf}, except that @var{place} is
1225 the @emph{second} argument of @var{function} rather than the
1226 first. For example, @code{(push @var{x} @var{place})} is
1227 equivalent to @code{(cl-callf2 cons @var{x} @var{place})}.
1228 @end defmac
1229
1230 The @code{cl-callf} and @code{cl-callf2} macros serve as building
1231 blocks for other macros like @code{cl-incf}, and @code{cl-pushnew}.
1232 The @code{cl-letf} and @code{cl-letf*} macros are used in the processing
1233 of symbol macros; @pxref{Macro Bindings}.
1234
1235
1236 @node Variable Bindings
1237 @section Variable Bindings
1238
1239 @noindent
1240 These Lisp forms make bindings to variables and function names,
1241 analogous to Lisp's built-in @code{let} form.
1242
1243 @xref{Modify Macros}, for the @code{cl-letf} and @code{cl-letf*} forms which
1244 are also related to variable bindings.
1245
1246 @menu
1247 * Dynamic Bindings:: The @code{cl-progv} form.
1248 * Function Bindings:: @code{cl-flet} and @code{cl-labels}.
1249 * Macro Bindings:: @code{cl-macrolet} and @code{cl-symbol-macrolet}.
1250 @end menu
1251
1252 @node Dynamic Bindings
1253 @subsection Dynamic Bindings
1254
1255 @noindent
1256 The standard @code{let} form binds variables whose names are known
1257 at compile-time. The @code{cl-progv} form provides an easy way to
1258 bind variables whose names are computed at run-time.
1259
1260 @defmac cl-progv symbols values forms@dots{}
1261 This form establishes @code{let}-style variable bindings on a
1262 set of variables computed at run-time. The expressions
1263 @var{symbols} and @var{values} are evaluated, and must return lists
1264 of symbols and values, respectively. The symbols are bound to the
1265 corresponding values for the duration of the body @var{form}s.
1266 If @var{values} is shorter than @var{symbols}, the last few symbols
1267 are bound to @code{nil}.
1268 If @var{symbols} is shorter than @var{values}, the excess values
1269 are ignored.
1270 @end defmac
1271
1272 @node Function Bindings
1273 @subsection Function Bindings
1274
1275 @noindent
1276 These forms make @code{let}-like bindings to functions instead
1277 of variables.
1278
1279 @defmac cl-flet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1280 This form establishes @code{let}-style bindings on the function
1281 cells of symbols rather than on the value cells. Each @var{binding}
1282 must be a list of the form @samp{(@var{name} @var{arglist}
1283 @var{forms}@dots{})}, which defines a function exactly as if
1284 it were a @code{cl-defun} form. The function @var{name} is defined
1285 accordingly for the duration of the body of the @code{cl-flet}; then
1286 the old function definition, or lack thereof, is restored.
1287
1288 You can use @code{cl-flet} to disable or modify the behavior of a
1289 function in a temporary fashion. (Compare this with the idea
1290 of advising functions.
1291 @xref{Advising Functions,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.)
1292 This will even work on Emacs primitives, although note that some calls
1293 to primitive functions internal to Emacs are made without going
1294 through the symbol's function cell, and so will not be affected by
1295 @code{cl-flet}. For example,
1296
1297 @example
1298 (cl-flet ((message (&rest args) (push args saved-msgs)))
1299 (do-something))
1300 @end example
1301
1302 This code attempts to replace the built-in function @code{message}
1303 with a function that simply saves the messages in a list rather
1304 than displaying them. The original definition of @code{message}
1305 will be restored after @code{do-something} exits. This code will
1306 work fine on messages generated by other Lisp code, but messages
1307 generated directly inside Emacs will not be caught since they make
1308 direct C-language calls to the message routines rather than going
1309 through the Lisp @code{message} function.
1310
1311 Functions defined by @code{cl-flet} may use the full Common Lisp
1312 argument notation supported by @code{cl-defun}; also, the function
1313 body is enclosed in an implicit block as if by @code{cl-defun}.
1314 @xref{Program Structure}.
1315
1316 Note that the @file{cl.el} version of this macro behaves slightly
1317 differently. @xref{Obsolete Macros}.
1318 @end defmac
1319
1320 @defmac cl-labels (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1321 The @code{cl-labels} form is like @code{cl-flet}, except that
1322 the function bindings can be recursive. The scoping is lexical,
1323 but you can only capture functions in closures if
1324 @code{lexical-binding} is non-@code{nil}.
1325 @xref{Closures,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}, and
1326 @ref{Using Lexical Binding,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
1327
1328 Lexical scoping means that all references to the named
1329 functions must appear physically within the body of the
1330 @code{cl-labels} form. References may appear both in the body
1331 @var{forms} of @code{cl-labels} itself, and in the bodies of
1332 the functions themselves. Thus, @code{cl-labels} can define
1333 local recursive functions, or mutually-recursive sets of functions.
1334
1335 A ``reference'' to a function name is either a call to that
1336 function, or a use of its name quoted by @code{quote} or
1337 @code{function} to be passed on to, say, @code{mapcar}.
1338
1339 Note that the @file{cl.el} version of this macro behaves slightly
1340 differently. @xref{Obsolete Macros}.
1341 @end defmac
1342
1343 @node Macro Bindings
1344 @subsection Macro Bindings
1345
1346 @noindent
1347 These forms create local macros and ``symbol macros''.
1348
1349 @defmac cl-macrolet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1350 This form is analogous to @code{cl-flet}, but for macros instead of
1351 functions. Each @var{binding} is a list of the same form as the
1352 arguments to @code{cl-defmacro} (i.e., a macro name, argument list,
1353 and macro-expander forms). The macro is defined accordingly for
1354 use within the body of the @code{cl-macrolet}.
1355
1356 @c FIXME this should be modified to say ``even when lexical-binding
1357 @c is code{nil}'', but is that true? The doc of cl-macrolet just
1358 @c refers us to cl-flet, which refers to cl-labels, which says that it
1359 @c behaves differently according to whether l-b is true or not.
1360 Because of the nature of macros, @code{cl-macrolet} is lexically
1361 scoped even in Emacs Lisp: The @code{cl-macrolet} binding will
1362 affect only calls that appear physically within the body
1363 @var{forms}, possibly after expansion of other macros in the
1364 body.
1365 @end defmac
1366
1367 @defmac cl-symbol-macrolet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1368 This form creates @dfn{symbol macros}, which are macros that look
1369 like variable references rather than function calls. Each
1370 @var{binding} is a list @samp{(@var{var} @var{expansion})};
1371 any reference to @var{var} within the body @var{forms} is
1372 replaced by @var{expansion}.
1373
1374 @example
1375 (setq bar '(5 . 9))
1376 (cl-symbol-macrolet ((foo (car bar)))
1377 (cl-incf foo))
1378 bar
1379 @result{} (6 . 9)
1380 @end example
1381
1382 A @code{setq} of a symbol macro is treated the same as a @code{setf}.
1383 I.e., @code{(setq foo 4)} in the above would be equivalent to
1384 @code{(setf foo 4)}, which in turn expands to @code{(setf (car bar) 4)}.
1385
1386 Likewise, a @code{let} or @code{let*} binding a symbol macro is
1387 treated like a @code{cl-letf} or @code{cl-letf*}. This differs from true
1388 @c FIXME does it work like this in Emacs with lexical-binding = t?
1389 Common Lisp, where the rules of lexical scoping cause a @code{let}
1390 binding to shadow a @code{cl-symbol-macrolet} binding. In this package,
1391 @c FIXME obsolete.
1392 only @code{lexical-let} and @code{lexical-let*} will shadow a symbol
1393 macro.
1394
1395 There is no analogue of @code{defmacro} for symbol macros; all symbol
1396 macros are local. A typical use of @code{cl-symbol-macrolet} is in the
1397 expansion of another macro:
1398
1399 @example
1400 (cl-defmacro my-dolist ((x list) &rest body)
1401 (let ((var (gensym)))
1402 (list 'cl-loop 'for var 'on list 'do
1403 (cl-list* 'cl-symbol-macrolet
1404 (list (list x (list 'car var)))
1405 body))))
1406
1407 (setq mylist '(1 2 3 4))
1408 (my-dolist (x mylist) (cl-incf x))
1409 mylist
1410 @result{} (2 3 4 5)
1411 @end example
1412
1413 @noindent
1414 In this example, the @code{my-dolist} macro is similar to @code{dolist}
1415 (@pxref{Iteration}) except that the variable @code{x} becomes a true
1416 reference onto the elements of the list. The @code{my-dolist} call
1417 shown here expands to
1418
1419 @example
1420 (cl-loop for G1234 on mylist do
1421 (cl-symbol-macrolet ((x (car G1234)))
1422 (cl-incf x)))
1423 @end example
1424
1425 @noindent
1426 which in turn expands to
1427
1428 @example
1429 (cl-loop for G1234 on mylist do (cl-incf (car G1234)))
1430 @end example
1431
1432 @xref{Loop Facility}, for a description of the @code{cl-loop} macro.
1433 This package defines a nonstandard @code{in-ref} loop clause that
1434 works much like @code{my-dolist}.
1435 @end defmac
1436
1437 @node Conditionals
1438 @section Conditionals
1439
1440 @noindent
1441 These conditional forms augment Emacs Lisp's simple @code{if},
1442 @code{and}, @code{or}, and @code{cond} forms.
1443
1444 @defmac cl-case keyform clause@dots{}
1445 This macro evaluates @var{keyform}, then compares it with the key
1446 values listed in the various @var{clause}s. Whichever clause matches
1447 the key is executed; comparison is done by @code{eql}. If no clause
1448 matches, the @code{cl-case} form returns @code{nil}. The clauses are
1449 of the form
1450
1451 @example
1452 (@var{keylist} @var{body-forms}@dots{})
1453 @end example
1454
1455 @noindent
1456 where @var{keylist} is a list of key values. If there is exactly
1457 one value, and it is not a cons cell or the symbol @code{nil} or
1458 @code{t}, then it can be used by itself as a @var{keylist} without
1459 being enclosed in a list. All key values in the @code{cl-case} form
1460 must be distinct. The final clauses may use @code{t} in place of
1461 a @var{keylist} to indicate a default clause that should be taken
1462 if none of the other clauses match. (The symbol @code{otherwise}
1463 is also recognized in place of @code{t}. To make a clause that
1464 matches the actual symbol @code{t}, @code{nil}, or @code{otherwise},
1465 enclose the symbol in a list.)
1466
1467 For example, this expression reads a keystroke, then does one of
1468 four things depending on whether it is an @samp{a}, a @samp{b},
1469 a @key{RET} or @kbd{C-j}, or anything else.
1470
1471 @example
1472 (cl-case (read-char)
1473 (?a (do-a-thing))
1474 (?b (do-b-thing))
1475 ((?\r ?\n) (do-ret-thing))
1476 (t (do-other-thing)))
1477 @end example
1478 @end defmac
1479
1480 @defmac cl-ecase keyform clause@dots{}
1481 This macro is just like @code{cl-case}, except that if the key does
1482 not match any of the clauses, an error is signaled rather than
1483 simply returning @code{nil}.
1484 @end defmac
1485
1486 @defmac cl-typecase keyform clause@dots{}
1487 This macro is a version of @code{cl-case} that checks for types
1488 rather than values. Each @var{clause} is of the form
1489 @samp{(@var{type} @var{body}...)}. @xref{Type Predicates},
1490 for a description of type specifiers. For example,
1491
1492 @example
1493 (cl-typecase x
1494 (integer (munch-integer x))
1495 (float (munch-float x))
1496 (string (munch-integer (string-to-int x)))
1497 (t (munch-anything x)))
1498 @end example
1499
1500 The type specifier @code{t} matches any type of object; the word
1501 @code{otherwise} is also allowed. To make one clause match any of
1502 several types, use an @code{(or ...)} type specifier.
1503 @end defmac
1504
1505 @defmac cl-etypecase keyform clause@dots{}
1506 This macro is just like @code{cl-typecase}, except that if the key does
1507 not match any of the clauses, an error is signaled rather than
1508 simply returning @code{nil}.
1509 @end defmac
1510
1511 @node Blocks and Exits
1512 @section Blocks and Exits
1513
1514 @noindent
1515 Common Lisp @dfn{blocks} provide a non-local exit mechanism very
1516 similar to @code{catch} and @code{throw}, but lexically rather than
1517 dynamically scoped. This package actually implements @code{cl-block}
1518 in terms of @code{catch}; however, the lexical scoping allows the
1519 optimizing byte-compiler to omit the costly @code{catch} step if the
1520 body of the block does not actually @code{cl-return-from} the block.
1521
1522 @defmac cl-block name forms@dots{}
1523 The @var{forms} are evaluated as if by a @code{progn}. However,
1524 if any of the @var{forms} execute @code{(cl-return-from @var{name})},
1525 they will jump out and return directly from the @code{cl-block} form.
1526 The @code{cl-block} returns the result of the last @var{form} unless
1527 a @code{cl-return-from} occurs.
1528
1529 The @code{cl-block}/@code{cl-return-from} mechanism is quite similar to
1530 the @code{catch}/@code{throw} mechanism. The main differences are
1531 that block @var{name}s are unevaluated symbols, rather than forms
1532 (such as quoted symbols) which evaluate to a tag at run-time; and
1533 also that blocks are lexically scoped whereas @code{catch}/@code{throw}
1534 are dynamically scoped. This means that functions called from the
1535 body of a @code{catch} can also @code{throw} to the @code{catch},
1536 but the @code{cl-return-from} referring to a block name must appear
1537 physically within the @var{forms} that make up the body of the block.
1538 They may not appear within other called functions, although they may
1539 appear within macro expansions or @code{lambda}s in the body. Block
1540 names and @code{catch} names form independent name-spaces.
1541
1542 In true Common Lisp, @code{defun} and @code{defmacro} surround
1543 the function or expander bodies with implicit blocks with the
1544 same name as the function or macro. This does not occur in Emacs
1545 Lisp, but this package provides @code{cl-defun} and @code{cl-defmacro}
1546 forms which do create the implicit block.
1547
1548 The Common Lisp looping constructs defined by this package,
1549 such as @code{cl-loop} and @code{cl-dolist}, also create implicit blocks
1550 just as in Common Lisp.
1551
1552 Because they are implemented in terms of Emacs Lisp @code{catch}
1553 and @code{throw}, blocks have the same overhead as actual
1554 @code{catch} constructs (roughly two function calls). However,
1555 the optimizing byte compiler will optimize away the @code{catch}
1556 if the block does
1557 not in fact contain any @code{cl-return} or @code{cl-return-from} calls
1558 that jump to it. This means that @code{cl-do} loops and @code{cl-defun}
1559 functions which don't use @code{cl-return} don't pay the overhead to
1560 support it.
1561 @end defmac
1562
1563 @defmac cl-return-from name [result]
1564 This macro returns from the block named @var{name}, which must be
1565 an (unevaluated) symbol. If a @var{result} form is specified, it
1566 is evaluated to produce the result returned from the @code{block}.
1567 Otherwise, @code{nil} is returned.
1568 @end defmac
1569
1570 @defmac cl-return [result]
1571 This macro is exactly like @code{(cl-return-from nil @var{result})}.
1572 Common Lisp loops like @code{cl-do} and @code{cl-dolist} implicitly enclose
1573 themselves in @code{nil} blocks.
1574 @end defmac
1575
1576 @node Iteration
1577 @section Iteration
1578
1579 @noindent
1580 The macros described here provide more sophisticated, high-level
1581 looping constructs to complement Emacs Lisp's basic @code{while}
1582 loop.
1583
1584 @defmac cl-loop forms@dots{}
1585 The @code{CL} package supports both the simple, old-style meaning of
1586 @code{loop} and the extremely powerful and flexible feature known as
1587 the @dfn{Loop Facility} or @dfn{Loop Macro}. This more advanced
1588 facility is discussed in the following section; @pxref{Loop Facility}.
1589 The simple form of @code{loop} is described here.
1590
1591 If @code{cl-loop} is followed by zero or more Lisp expressions,
1592 then @code{(cl-loop @var{exprs}@dots{})} simply creates an infinite
1593 loop executing the expressions over and over. The loop is
1594 enclosed in an implicit @code{nil} block. Thus,
1595
1596 @example
1597 (cl-loop (foo) (if (no-more) (return 72)) (bar))
1598 @end example
1599
1600 @noindent
1601 is exactly equivalent to
1602
1603 @example
1604 (cl-block nil (while t (foo) (if (no-more) (return 72)) (bar)))
1605 @end example
1606
1607 If any of the expressions are plain symbols, the loop is instead
1608 interpreted as a Loop Macro specification as described later.
1609 (This is not a restriction in practice, since a plain symbol
1610 in the above notation would simply access and throw away the
1611 value of a variable.)
1612 @end defmac
1613
1614 @defmac cl-do (spec@dots{}) (end-test [result@dots{}]) forms@dots{}
1615 This macro creates a general iterative loop. Each @var{spec} is
1616 of the form
1617
1618 @example
1619 (@var{var} [@var{init} [@var{step}]])
1620 @end example
1621
1622 The loop works as follows: First, each @var{var} is bound to the
1623 associated @var{init} value as if by a @code{let} form. Then, in
1624 each iteration of the loop, the @var{end-test} is evaluated; if
1625 true, the loop is finished. Otherwise, the body @var{forms} are
1626 evaluated, then each @var{var} is set to the associated @var{step}
1627 expression (as if by a @code{cl-psetq} form) and the next iteration
1628 begins. Once the @var{end-test} becomes true, the @var{result}
1629 forms are evaluated (with the @var{var}s still bound to their
1630 values) to produce the result returned by @code{cl-do}.
1631
1632 The entire @code{cl-do} loop is enclosed in an implicit @code{nil}
1633 block, so that you can use @code{(cl-return)} to break out of the
1634 loop at any time.
1635
1636 If there are no @var{result} forms, the loop returns @code{nil}.
1637 If a given @var{var} has no @var{step} form, it is bound to its
1638 @var{init} value but not otherwise modified during the @code{cl-do}
1639 loop (unless the code explicitly modifies it); this case is just
1640 a shorthand for putting a @code{(let ((@var{var} @var{init})) @dots{})}
1641 around the loop. If @var{init} is also omitted it defaults to
1642 @code{nil}, and in this case a plain @samp{@var{var}} can be used
1643 in place of @samp{(@var{var})}, again following the analogy with
1644 @code{let}.
1645
1646 This example (from Steele) illustrates a loop which applies the
1647 function @code{f} to successive pairs of values from the lists
1648 @code{foo} and @code{bar}; it is equivalent to the call
1649 @code{(cl-mapcar 'f foo bar)}. Note that this loop has no body
1650 @var{forms} at all, performing all its work as side effects of
1651 the rest of the loop.
1652
1653 @example
1654 (cl-do ((x foo (cdr x))
1655 (y bar (cdr y))
1656 (z nil (cons (f (car x) (car y)) z)))
1657 ((or (null x) (null y))
1658 (nreverse z)))
1659 @end example
1660 @end defmac
1661
1662 @defmac cl-do* (spec@dots{}) (end-test [result@dots{}]) forms@dots{}
1663 This is to @code{cl-do} what @code{let*} is to @code{let}. In
1664 particular, the initial values are bound as if by @code{let*}
1665 rather than @code{let}, and the steps are assigned as if by
1666 @code{setq} rather than @code{cl-psetq}.
1667
1668 Here is another way to write the above loop:
1669
1670 @example
1671 (cl-do* ((xp foo (cdr xp))
1672 (yp bar (cdr yp))
1673 (x (car xp) (car xp))
1674 (y (car yp) (car yp))
1675 z)
1676 ((or (null xp) (null yp))
1677 (nreverse z))
1678 (push (f x y) z))
1679 @end example
1680 @end defmac
1681
1682 @defmac cl-dolist (var list [result]) forms@dots{}
1683 This is a more specialized loop which iterates across the elements
1684 of a list. @var{list} should evaluate to a list; the body @var{forms}
1685 are executed with @var{var} bound to each element of the list in
1686 turn. Finally, the @var{result} form (or @code{nil}) is evaluated
1687 with @var{var} bound to @code{nil} to produce the result returned by
1688 the loop. Unlike with Emacs's built in @code{dolist}, the loop is
1689 surrounded by an implicit @code{nil} block.
1690 @end defmac
1691
1692 @defmac cl-dotimes (var count [result]) forms@dots{}
1693 This is a more specialized loop which iterates a specified number
1694 of times. The body is executed with @var{var} bound to the integers
1695 from zero (inclusive) to @var{count} (exclusive), in turn. Then
1696 the @code{result} form is evaluated with @var{var} bound to the total
1697 number of iterations that were done (i.e., @code{(max 0 @var{count})})
1698 to get the return value for the loop form. Unlike with Emacs's built in
1699 @code{dolist}, the loop is surrounded by an implicit @code{nil} block.
1700 @end defmac
1701
1702 @defmac cl-do-symbols (var [obarray [result]]) forms@dots{}
1703 This loop iterates over all interned symbols. If @var{obarray}
1704 is specified and is not @code{nil}, it loops over all symbols in
1705 that obarray. For each symbol, the body @var{forms} are evaluated
1706 with @var{var} bound to that symbol. The symbols are visited in
1707 an unspecified order. Afterward the @var{result} form, if any,
1708 is evaluated (with @var{var} bound to @code{nil}) to get the return
1709 value. The loop is surrounded by an implicit @code{nil} block.
1710 @end defmac
1711
1712 @defmac cl-do-all-symbols (var [result]) forms@dots{}
1713 This is identical to @code{cl-do-symbols} except that the @var{obarray}
1714 argument is omitted; it always iterates over the default obarray.
1715 @end defmac
1716
1717 @xref{Mapping over Sequences}, for some more functions for
1718 iterating over vectors or lists.
1719
1720 @node Loop Facility
1721 @section Loop Facility
1722
1723 @noindent
1724 A common complaint with Lisp's traditional looping constructs is
1725 that they are either too simple and limited, such as Common Lisp's
1726 @code{dotimes} or Emacs Lisp's @code{while}, or too unreadable and
1727 obscure, like Common Lisp's @code{do} loop.
1728
1729 To remedy this, recent versions of Common Lisp have added a new
1730 construct called the ``Loop Facility'' or ``@code{loop} macro'',
1731 with an easy-to-use but very powerful and expressive syntax.
1732
1733 @menu
1734 * Loop Basics:: @code{cl-loop} macro, basic clause structure.
1735 * Loop Examples:: Working examples of @code{cl-loop} macro.
1736 * For Clauses:: Clauses introduced by @code{for} or @code{as}.
1737 * Iteration Clauses:: @code{repeat}, @code{while}, @code{thereis}, etc.
1738 * Accumulation Clauses:: @code{collect}, @code{sum}, @code{maximize}, etc.
1739 * Other Clauses:: @code{with}, @code{if}, @code{initially}, @code{finally}.
1740 @end menu
1741
1742 @node Loop Basics
1743 @subsection Loop Basics
1744
1745 @noindent
1746 The @code{cl-loop} macro essentially creates a mini-language within
1747 Lisp that is specially tailored for describing loops. While this
1748 language is a little strange-looking by the standards of regular Lisp,
1749 it turns out to be very easy to learn and well-suited to its purpose.
1750
1751 Since @code{cl-loop} is a macro, all parsing of the loop language
1752 takes place at byte-compile time; compiled @code{cl-loop}s are just
1753 as efficient as the equivalent @code{while} loops written longhand.
1754
1755 @defmac cl-loop clauses@dots{}
1756 A loop construct consists of a series of @var{clause}s, each
1757 introduced by a symbol like @code{for} or @code{do}. Clauses
1758 are simply strung together in the argument list of @code{cl-loop},
1759 with minimal extra parentheses. The various types of clauses
1760 specify initializations, such as the binding of temporary
1761 variables, actions to be taken in the loop, stepping actions,
1762 and final cleanup.
1763
1764 Common Lisp specifies a certain general order of clauses in a
1765 loop:
1766
1767 @example
1768 (cl-loop @var{name-clause}
1769 @var{var-clauses}@dots{}
1770 @var{action-clauses}@dots{})
1771 @end example
1772
1773 The @var{name-clause} optionally gives a name to the implicit
1774 block that surrounds the loop. By default, the implicit block
1775 is named @code{nil}. The @var{var-clauses} specify what
1776 variables should be bound during the loop, and how they should
1777 be modified or iterated throughout the course of the loop. The
1778 @var{action-clauses} are things to be done during the loop, such
1779 as computing, collecting, and returning values.
1780
1781 The Emacs version of the @code{cl-loop} macro is less restrictive about
1782 the order of clauses, but things will behave most predictably if
1783 you put the variable-binding clauses @code{with}, @code{for}, and
1784 @code{repeat} before the action clauses. As in Common Lisp,
1785 @code{initially} and @code{finally} clauses can go anywhere.
1786
1787 Loops generally return @code{nil} by default, but you can cause
1788 them to return a value by using an accumulation clause like
1789 @code{collect}, an end-test clause like @code{always}, or an
1790 explicit @code{return} clause to jump out of the implicit block.
1791 (Because the loop body is enclosed in an implicit block, you can
1792 also use regular Lisp @code{cl-return} or @code{cl-return-from} to
1793 break out of the loop.)
1794 @end defmac
1795
1796 The following sections give some examples of the Loop Macro in
1797 action, and describe the particular loop clauses in great detail.
1798 Consult the second edition of Steele's @dfn{Common Lisp, the Language},
1799 for additional discussion and examples of the @code{loop} macro.
1800
1801 @node Loop Examples
1802 @subsection Loop Examples
1803
1804 @noindent
1805 Before listing the full set of clauses that are allowed, let's
1806 look at a few example loops just to get a feel for the @code{cl-loop}
1807 language.
1808
1809 @example
1810 (cl-loop for buf in (buffer-list)
1811 collect (buffer-file-name buf))
1812 @end example
1813
1814 @noindent
1815 This loop iterates over all Emacs buffers, using the list
1816 returned by @code{buffer-list}. For each buffer @var{buf},
1817 it calls @code{buffer-file-name} and collects the results into
1818 a list, which is then returned from the @code{cl-loop} construct.
1819 The result is a list of the file names of all the buffers in
1820 Emacs's memory. The words @code{for}, @code{in}, and @code{collect}
1821 are reserved words in the @code{cl-loop} language.
1822
1823 @example
1824 (cl-loop repeat 20 do (insert "Yowsa\n"))
1825 @end example
1826
1827 @noindent
1828 This loop inserts the phrase ``Yowsa'' twenty times in the
1829 current buffer.
1830
1831 @example
1832 (cl-loop until (eobp) do (munch-line) (forward-line 1))
1833 @end example
1834
1835 @noindent
1836 This loop calls @code{munch-line} on every line until the end
1837 of the buffer. If point is already at the end of the buffer,
1838 the loop exits immediately.
1839
1840 @example
1841 (cl-loop do (munch-line) until (eobp) do (forward-line 1))
1842 @end example
1843
1844 @noindent
1845 This loop is similar to the above one, except that @code{munch-line}
1846 is always called at least once.
1847
1848 @example
1849 (cl-loop for x from 1 to 100
1850 for y = (* x x)
1851 until (>= y 729)
1852 finally return (list x (= y 729)))
1853 @end example
1854
1855 @noindent
1856 This more complicated loop searches for a number @code{x} whose
1857 square is 729. For safety's sake it only examines @code{x}
1858 values up to 100; dropping the phrase @samp{to 100} would
1859 cause the loop to count upwards with no limit. The second
1860 @code{for} clause defines @code{y} to be the square of @code{x}
1861 within the loop; the expression after the @code{=} sign is
1862 reevaluated each time through the loop. The @code{until}
1863 clause gives a condition for terminating the loop, and the
1864 @code{finally} clause says what to do when the loop finishes.
1865 (This particular example was written less concisely than it
1866 could have been, just for the sake of illustration.)
1867
1868 Note that even though this loop contains three clauses (two
1869 @code{for}s and an @code{until}) that would have been enough to
1870 define loops all by themselves, it still creates a single loop
1871 rather than some sort of triple-nested loop. You must explicitly
1872 nest your @code{cl-loop} constructs if you want nested loops.
1873
1874 @node For Clauses
1875 @subsection For Clauses
1876
1877 @noindent
1878 Most loops are governed by one or more @code{for} clauses.
1879 A @code{for} clause simultaneously describes variables to be
1880 bound, how those variables are to be stepped during the loop,
1881 and usually an end condition based on those variables.
1882
1883 The word @code{as} is a synonym for the word @code{for}. This
1884 word is followed by a variable name, then a word like @code{from}
1885 or @code{across} that describes the kind of iteration desired.
1886 In Common Lisp, the phrase @code{being the} sometimes precedes
1887 the type of iteration; in this package both @code{being} and
1888 @code{the} are optional. The word @code{each} is a synonym
1889 for @code{the}, and the word that follows it may be singular
1890 or plural: @samp{for x being the elements of y} or
1891 @samp{for x being each element of y}. Which form you use
1892 is purely a matter of style.
1893
1894 The variable is bound around the loop as if by @code{let}:
1895
1896 @example
1897 (setq i 'happy)
1898 (cl-loop for i from 1 to 10 do (do-something-with i))
1899 i
1900 @result{} happy
1901 @end example
1902
1903 @table @code
1904 @item for @var{var} from @var{expr1} to @var{expr2} by @var{expr3}
1905 This type of @code{for} clause creates a counting loop. Each of
1906 the three sub-terms is optional, though there must be at least one
1907 term so that the clause is marked as a counting clause.
1908
1909 The three expressions are the starting value, the ending value, and
1910 the step value, respectively, of the variable. The loop counts
1911 upwards by default (@var{expr3} must be positive), from @var{expr1}
1912 to @var{expr2} inclusively. If you omit the @code{from} term, the
1913 loop counts from zero; if you omit the @code{to} term, the loop
1914 counts forever without stopping (unless stopped by some other
1915 loop clause, of course); if you omit the @code{by} term, the loop
1916 counts in steps of one.
1917
1918 You can replace the word @code{from} with @code{upfrom} or
1919 @code{downfrom} to indicate the direction of the loop. Likewise,
1920 you can replace @code{to} with @code{upto} or @code{downto}.
1921 For example, @samp{for x from 5 downto 1} executes five times
1922 with @code{x} taking on the integers from 5 down to 1 in turn.
1923 Also, you can replace @code{to} with @code{below} or @code{above},
1924 which are like @code{upto} and @code{downto} respectively except
1925 that they are exclusive rather than inclusive limits:
1926
1927 @example
1928 (cl-loop for x to 10 collect x)
1929 @result{} (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10)
1930 (cl-loop for x below 10 collect x)
1931 @result{} (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9)
1932 @end example
1933
1934 The @code{by} value is always positive, even for downward-counting
1935 loops. Some sort of @code{from} value is required for downward
1936 loops; @samp{for x downto 5} is not a valid loop clause all by
1937 itself.
1938
1939 @item for @var{var} in @var{list} by @var{function}
1940 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the elements of @var{list},
1941 in turn. If you specify the @code{by} term, then @var{function}
1942 is used to traverse the list instead of @code{cdr}; it must be a
1943 function taking one argument. For example:
1944
1945 @example
1946 (cl-loop for x in '(1 2 3 4 5 6) collect (* x x))
1947 @result{} (1 4 9 16 25 36)
1948 (cl-loop for x in '(1 2 3 4 5 6) by 'cddr collect (* x x))
1949 @result{} (1 9 25)
1950 @end example
1951
1952 @item for @var{var} on @var{list} by @var{function}
1953 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the cons cells of @var{list}.
1954
1955 @example
1956 (cl-loop for x on '(1 2 3 4) collect x)
1957 @result{} ((1 2 3 4) (2 3 4) (3 4) (4))
1958 @end example
1959
1960 With @code{by}, there is no real reason that the @code{on} expression
1961 must be a list. For example:
1962
1963 @example
1964 (cl-loop for x on first-animal by 'next-animal collect x)
1965 @end example
1966
1967 @noindent
1968 where @code{(next-animal x)} takes an ``animal'' @var{x} and returns
1969 the next in the (assumed) sequence of animals, or @code{nil} if
1970 @var{x} was the last animal in the sequence.
1971
1972 @item for @var{var} in-ref @var{list} by @var{function}
1973 This is like a regular @code{in} clause, but @var{var} becomes
1974 a @code{setf}-able ``reference'' onto the elements of the list
1975 rather than just a temporary variable. For example,
1976
1977 @example
1978 (cl-loop for x in-ref my-list do (cl-incf x))
1979 @end example
1980
1981 @noindent
1982 increments every element of @code{my-list} in place. This clause
1983 is an extension to standard Common Lisp.
1984
1985 @item for @var{var} across @var{array}
1986 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the elements of @var{array},
1987 which may be a vector or a string.
1988
1989 @example
1990 (cl-loop for x across "aeiou"
1991 do (use-vowel (char-to-string x)))
1992 @end example
1993
1994 @item for @var{var} across-ref @var{array}
1995 This clause iterates over an array, with @var{var} a @code{setf}-able
1996 reference onto the elements; see @code{in-ref} above.
1997
1998 @item for @var{var} being the elements of @var{sequence}
1999 This clause iterates over the elements of @var{sequence}, which may
2000 be a list, vector, or string. Since the type must be determined
2001 at run-time, this is somewhat less efficient than @code{in} or
2002 @code{across}. The clause may be followed by the additional term
2003 @samp{using (index @var{var2})} to cause @var{var2} to be bound to
2004 the successive indices (starting at 0) of the elements.
2005
2006 This clause type is taken from older versions of the @code{loop} macro,
2007 and is not present in modern Common Lisp. The @samp{using (sequence ...)}
2008 term of the older macros is not supported.
2009
2010 @item for @var{var} being the elements of-ref @var{sequence}
2011 This clause iterates over a sequence, with @var{var} a @code{setf}-able
2012 reference onto the elements; see @code{in-ref} above.
2013
2014 @item for @var{var} being the symbols [of @var{obarray}]
2015 This clause iterates over symbols, either over all interned symbols
2016 or over all symbols in @var{obarray}. The loop is executed with
2017 @var{var} bound to each symbol in turn. The symbols are visited in
2018 an unspecified order.
2019
2020 As an example,
2021
2022 @example
2023 (cl-loop for sym being the symbols
2024 when (fboundp sym)
2025 when (string-match "^map" (symbol-name sym))
2026 collect sym)
2027 @end example
2028
2029 @noindent
2030 returns a list of all the functions whose names begin with @samp{map}.
2031
2032 The Common Lisp words @code{external-symbols} and @code{present-symbols}
2033 are also recognized but are equivalent to @code{symbols} in Emacs Lisp.
2034
2035 Due to a minor implementation restriction, it will not work to have
2036 more than one @code{for} clause iterating over symbols, hash tables,
2037 keymaps, overlays, or intervals in a given @code{cl-loop}. Fortunately,
2038 it would rarely if ever be useful to do so. It @emph{is} valid to mix
2039 one of these types of clauses with other clauses like @code{for ... to}
2040 or @code{while}.
2041
2042 @item for @var{var} being the hash-keys of @var{hash-table}
2043 @itemx for @var{var} being the hash-values of @var{hash-table}
2044 This clause iterates over the entries in @var{hash-table} with
2045 @var{var} bound to each key, or value. A @samp{using} clause can bind
2046 a second variable to the opposite part.
2047
2048 @example
2049 (cl-loop for k being the hash-keys of h
2050 using (hash-values v)
2051 do
2052 (message "key %S -> value %S" k v))
2053 @end example
2054
2055 @item for @var{var} being the key-codes of @var{keymap}
2056 @itemx for @var{var} being the key-bindings of @var{keymap}
2057 This clause iterates over the entries in @var{keymap}.
2058 The iteration does not enter nested keymaps but does enter inherited
2059 (parent) keymaps.
2060 A @code{using} clause can access both the codes and the bindings
2061 together.
2062
2063 @example
2064 (cl-loop for c being the key-codes of (current-local-map)
2065 using (key-bindings b)
2066 do
2067 (message "key %S -> binding %S" c b))
2068 @end example
2069
2070
2071 @item for @var{var} being the key-seqs of @var{keymap}
2072 This clause iterates over all key sequences defined by @var{keymap}
2073 and its nested keymaps, where @var{var} takes on values which are
2074 vectors. The strings or vectors
2075 are reused for each iteration, so you must copy them if you wish to keep
2076 them permanently. You can add a @samp{using (key-bindings ...)}
2077 clause to get the command bindings as well.
2078
2079 @item for @var{var} being the overlays [of @var{buffer}] @dots{}
2080 This clause iterates over the ``overlays'' of a buffer
2081 (the clause @code{extents} is synonymous
2082 with @code{overlays}). If the @code{of} term is omitted, the current
2083 buffer is used.
2084 This clause also accepts optional @samp{from @var{pos}} and
2085 @samp{to @var{pos}} terms, limiting the clause to overlays which
2086 overlap the specified region.
2087
2088 @item for @var{var} being the intervals [of @var{buffer}] @dots{}
2089 This clause iterates over all intervals of a buffer with constant
2090 text properties. The variable @var{var} will be bound to conses
2091 of start and end positions, where one start position is always equal
2092 to the previous end position. The clause allows @code{of},
2093 @code{from}, @code{to}, and @code{property} terms, where the latter
2094 term restricts the search to just the specified property. The
2095 @code{of} term may specify either a buffer or a string.
2096
2097 @item for @var{var} being the frames
2098 This clause iterates over all Emacs frames. The clause @code{screens} is
2099 a synonym for @code{frames}. The frames are visited in
2100 @code{next-frame} order starting from @code{selected-frame}.
2101
2102 @item for @var{var} being the windows [of @var{frame}]
2103 This clause iterates over the windows (in the Emacs sense) of
2104 the current frame, or of the specified @var{frame}. It visits windows
2105 in @code{next-window} order starting from @code{selected-window}
2106 (or @code{frame-selected-window} if you specify @var{frame}).
2107 This clause treats the minibuffer window in the same way as
2108 @code{next-window} does. For greater flexibility, consider using
2109 @code{walk-windows} instead.
2110
2111 @item for @var{var} being the buffers
2112 This clause iterates over all buffers in Emacs. It is equivalent
2113 to @samp{for @var{var} in (buffer-list)}.
2114
2115 @item for @var{var} = @var{expr1} then @var{expr2}
2116 This clause does a general iteration. The first time through
2117 the loop, @var{var} will be bound to @var{expr1}. On the second
2118 and successive iterations it will be set by evaluating @var{expr2}
2119 (which may refer to the old value of @var{var}). For example,
2120 these two loops are effectively the same:
2121
2122 @example
2123 (cl-loop for x on my-list by 'cddr do ...)
2124 (cl-loop for x = my-list then (cddr x) while x do ...)
2125 @end example
2126
2127 Note that this type of @code{for} clause does not imply any sort
2128 of terminating condition; the above example combines it with a
2129 @code{while} clause to tell when to end the loop.
2130
2131 If you omit the @code{then} term, @var{expr1} is used both for
2132 the initial setting and for successive settings:
2133
2134 @example
2135 (cl-loop for x = (random) when (> x 0) return x)
2136 @end example
2137
2138 @noindent
2139 This loop keeps taking random numbers from the @code{(random)}
2140 function until it gets a positive one, which it then returns.
2141 @end table
2142
2143 If you include several @code{for} clauses in a row, they are
2144 treated sequentially (as if by @code{let*} and @code{setq}).
2145 You can instead use the word @code{and} to link the clauses,
2146 in which case they are processed in parallel (as if by @code{let}
2147 and @code{cl-psetq}).
2148
2149 @example
2150 (cl-loop for x below 5 for y = nil then x collect (list x y))
2151 @result{} ((0 nil) (1 1) (2 2) (3 3) (4 4))
2152 (cl-loop for x below 5 and y = nil then x collect (list x y))
2153 @result{} ((0 nil) (1 0) (2 1) (3 2) (4 3))
2154 @end example
2155
2156 @noindent
2157 In the first loop, @code{y} is set based on the value of @code{x}
2158 that was just set by the previous clause; in the second loop,
2159 @code{x} and @code{y} are set simultaneously so @code{y} is set
2160 based on the value of @code{x} left over from the previous time
2161 through the loop.
2162
2163 Another feature of the @code{cl-loop} macro is @dfn{destructuring},
2164 similar in concept to the destructuring provided by @code{defmacro}.
2165 The @var{var} part of any @code{for} clause can be given as a list
2166 of variables instead of a single variable. The values produced
2167 during loop execution must be lists; the values in the lists are
2168 stored in the corresponding variables.
2169
2170 @example
2171 (cl-loop for (x y) in '((2 3) (4 5) (6 7)) collect (+ x y))
2172 @result{} (5 9 13)
2173 @end example
2174
2175 In loop destructuring, if there are more values than variables
2176 the trailing values are ignored, and if there are more variables
2177 than values the trailing variables get the value @code{nil}.
2178 If @code{nil} is used as a variable name, the corresponding
2179 values are ignored. Destructuring may be nested, and dotted
2180 lists of variables like @code{(x . y)} are allowed, so for example
2181 to process an alist
2182
2183 @example
2184 (cl-loop for (key . value) in '((a . 1) (b . 2))
2185 collect value)
2186 @result{} (1 2)
2187 @end example
2188
2189 @node Iteration Clauses
2190 @subsection Iteration Clauses
2191
2192 @noindent
2193 Aside from @code{for} clauses, there are several other loop clauses
2194 that control the way the loop operates. They might be used by
2195 themselves, or in conjunction with one or more @code{for} clauses.
2196
2197 @table @code
2198 @item repeat @var{integer}
2199 This clause simply counts up to the specified number using an
2200 internal temporary variable. The loops
2201
2202 @example
2203 (cl-loop repeat (1+ n) do ...)
2204 (cl-loop for temp to n do ...)
2205 @end example
2206
2207 @noindent
2208 are identical except that the second one forces you to choose
2209 a name for a variable you aren't actually going to use.
2210
2211 @item while @var{condition}
2212 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition (any Lisp
2213 expression) becomes @code{nil}. For example, the following two
2214 loops are equivalent, except for the implicit @code{nil} block
2215 that surrounds the second one:
2216
2217 @example
2218 (while @var{cond} @var{forms}@dots{})
2219 (cl-loop while @var{cond} do @var{forms}@dots{})
2220 @end example
2221
2222 @item until @var{condition}
2223 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition is true,
2224 i.e., non-@code{nil}.
2225
2226 @item always @var{condition}
2227 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition is @code{nil}.
2228 Unlike @code{while}, it stops the loop using @code{return nil} so that
2229 the @code{finally} clauses are not executed. If all the conditions
2230 were non-@code{nil}, the loop returns @code{t}:
2231
2232 @example
2233 (if (cl-loop for size in size-list always (> size 10))
2234 (some-big-sizes)
2235 (no-big-sizes))
2236 @end example
2237
2238 @item never @var{condition}
2239 This clause is like @code{always}, except that the loop returns
2240 @code{t} if any conditions were false, or @code{nil} otherwise.
2241
2242 @item thereis @var{condition}
2243 This clause stops the loop when the specified form is non-@code{nil};
2244 in this case, it returns that non-@code{nil} value. If all the
2245 values were @code{nil}, the loop returns @code{nil}.
2246 @end table
2247
2248 @node Accumulation Clauses
2249 @subsection Accumulation Clauses
2250
2251 @noindent
2252 These clauses cause the loop to accumulate information about the
2253 specified Lisp @var{form}. The accumulated result is returned
2254 from the loop unless overridden, say, by a @code{return} clause.
2255
2256 @table @code
2257 @item collect @var{form}
2258 This clause collects the values of @var{form} into a list. Several
2259 examples of @code{collect} appear elsewhere in this manual.
2260
2261 The word @code{collecting} is a synonym for @code{collect}, and
2262 likewise for the other accumulation clauses.
2263
2264 @item append @var{form}
2265 This clause collects lists of values into a result list using
2266 @code{append}.
2267
2268 @item nconc @var{form}
2269 This clause collects lists of values into a result list by
2270 destructively modifying the lists rather than copying them.
2271
2272 @item concat @var{form}
2273 This clause concatenates the values of the specified @var{form}
2274 into a string. (It and the following clause are extensions to
2275 standard Common Lisp.)
2276
2277 @item vconcat @var{form}
2278 This clause concatenates the values of the specified @var{form}
2279 into a vector.
2280
2281 @item count @var{form}
2282 This clause counts the number of times the specified @var{form}
2283 evaluates to a non-@code{nil} value.
2284
2285 @item sum @var{form}
2286 This clause accumulates the sum of the values of the specified
2287 @var{form}, which must evaluate to a number.
2288
2289 @item maximize @var{form}
2290 This clause accumulates the maximum value of the specified @var{form},
2291 which must evaluate to a number. The return value is undefined if
2292 @code{maximize} is executed zero times.
2293
2294 @item minimize @var{form}
2295 This clause accumulates the minimum value of the specified @var{form}.
2296 @end table
2297
2298 Accumulation clauses can be followed by @samp{into @var{var}} to
2299 cause the data to be collected into variable @var{var} (which is
2300 automatically @code{let}-bound during the loop) rather than an
2301 unnamed temporary variable. Also, @code{into} accumulations do
2302 not automatically imply a return value. The loop must use some
2303 explicit mechanism, such as @code{finally return}, to return
2304 the accumulated result.
2305
2306 It is valid for several accumulation clauses of the same type to
2307 accumulate into the same place. From Steele:
2308
2309 @example
2310 (cl-loop for name in '(fred sue alice joe june)
2311 for kids in '((bob ken) () () (kris sunshine) ())
2312 collect name
2313 append kids)
2314 @result{} (fred bob ken sue alice joe kris sunshine june)
2315 @end example
2316
2317 @node Other Clauses
2318 @subsection Other Clauses
2319
2320 @noindent
2321 This section describes the remaining loop clauses.
2322
2323 @table @code
2324 @item with @var{var} = @var{value}
2325 This clause binds a variable to a value around the loop, but
2326 otherwise leaves the variable alone during the loop. The following
2327 loops are basically equivalent:
2328
2329 @example
2330 (cl-loop with x = 17 do ...)
2331 (let ((x 17)) (cl-loop do ...))
2332 (cl-loop for x = 17 then x do ...)
2333 @end example
2334
2335 Naturally, the variable @var{var} might be used for some purpose
2336 in the rest of the loop. For example:
2337
2338 @example
2339 (cl-loop for x in my-list with res = nil do (push x res)
2340 finally return res)
2341 @end example
2342
2343 This loop inserts the elements of @code{my-list} at the front of
2344 a new list being accumulated in @code{res}, then returns the
2345 list @code{res} at the end of the loop. The effect is similar
2346 to that of a @code{collect} clause, but the list gets reversed
2347 by virtue of the fact that elements are being pushed onto the
2348 front of @code{res} rather than the end.
2349
2350 If you omit the @code{=} term, the variable is initialized to
2351 @code{nil}. (Thus the @samp{= nil} in the above example is
2352 unnecessary.)
2353
2354 Bindings made by @code{with} are sequential by default, as if
2355 by @code{let*}. Just like @code{for} clauses, @code{with} clauses
2356 can be linked with @code{and} to cause the bindings to be made by
2357 @code{let} instead.
2358
2359 @item if @var{condition} @var{clause}
2360 This clause executes the following loop clause only if the specified
2361 condition is true. The following @var{clause} should be an accumulation,
2362 @code{do}, @code{return}, @code{if}, or @code{unless} clause.
2363 Several clauses may be linked by separating them with @code{and}.
2364 These clauses may be followed by @code{else} and a clause or clauses
2365 to execute if the condition was false. The whole construct may
2366 optionally be followed by the word @code{end} (which may be used to
2367 disambiguate an @code{else} or @code{and} in a nested @code{if}).
2368
2369 The actual non-@code{nil} value of the condition form is available
2370 by the name @code{it} in the ``then'' part. For example:
2371
2372 @example
2373 (setq funny-numbers '(6 13 -1))
2374 @result{} (6 13 -1)
2375 (cl-loop for x below 10
2376 if (oddp x)
2377 collect x into odds
2378 and if (memq x funny-numbers) return (cdr it) end
2379 else
2380 collect x into evens
2381 finally return (vector odds evens))
2382 @result{} [(1 3 5 7 9) (0 2 4 6 8)]
2383 (setq funny-numbers '(6 7 13 -1))
2384 @result{} (6 7 13 -1)
2385 (cl-loop <@r{same thing again}>)
2386 @result{} (13 -1)
2387 @end example
2388
2389 Note the use of @code{and} to put two clauses into the ``then''
2390 part, one of which is itself an @code{if} clause. Note also that
2391 @code{end}, while normally optional, was necessary here to make
2392 it clear that the @code{else} refers to the outermost @code{if}
2393 clause. In the first case, the loop returns a vector of lists
2394 of the odd and even values of @var{x}. In the second case, the
2395 odd number 7 is one of the @code{funny-numbers} so the loop
2396 returns early; the actual returned value is based on the result
2397 of the @code{memq} call.
2398
2399 @item when @var{condition} @var{clause}
2400 This clause is just a synonym for @code{if}.
2401
2402 @item unless @var{condition} @var{clause}
2403 The @code{unless} clause is just like @code{if} except that the
2404 sense of the condition is reversed.
2405
2406 @item named @var{name}
2407 This clause gives a name other than @code{nil} to the implicit
2408 block surrounding the loop. The @var{name} is the symbol to be
2409 used as the block name.
2410
2411 @item initially [do] @var{forms}...
2412 This keyword introduces one or more Lisp forms which will be
2413 executed before the loop itself begins (but after any variables
2414 requested by @code{for} or @code{with} have been bound to their
2415 initial values). @code{initially} clauses can appear anywhere;
2416 if there are several, they are executed in the order they appear
2417 in the loop. The keyword @code{do} is optional.
2418
2419 @item finally [do] @var{forms}...
2420 This introduces Lisp forms which will be executed after the loop
2421 finishes (say, on request of a @code{for} or @code{while}).
2422 @code{initially} and @code{finally} clauses may appear anywhere
2423 in the loop construct, but they are executed (in the specified
2424 order) at the beginning or end, respectively, of the loop.
2425
2426 @item finally return @var{form}
2427 This says that @var{form} should be executed after the loop
2428 is done to obtain a return value. (Without this, or some other
2429 clause like @code{collect} or @code{return}, the loop will simply
2430 return @code{nil}.) Variables bound by @code{for}, @code{with},
2431 or @code{into} will still contain their final values when @var{form}
2432 is executed.
2433
2434 @item do @var{forms}...
2435 The word @code{do} may be followed by any number of Lisp expressions
2436 which are executed as an implicit @code{progn} in the body of the
2437 loop. Many of the examples in this section illustrate the use of
2438 @code{do}.
2439
2440 @item return @var{form}
2441 This clause causes the loop to return immediately. The following
2442 Lisp form is evaluated to give the return value of the @code{loop}
2443 form. The @code{finally} clauses, if any, are not executed.
2444 Of course, @code{return} is generally used inside an @code{if} or
2445 @code{unless}, as its use in a top-level loop clause would mean
2446 the loop would never get to ``loop'' more than once.
2447
2448 The clause @samp{return @var{form}} is equivalent to
2449 @c FIXME cl-do, cl-return?
2450 @samp{do (return @var{form})} (or @code{return-from} if the loop
2451 was named). The @code{return} clause is implemented a bit more
2452 efficiently, though.
2453 @end table
2454
2455 While there is no high-level way to add user extensions to @code{cl-loop},
2456 this package does offer two properties called @code{cl-loop-handler}
2457 and @code{cl-loop-for-handler} which are functions to be called when a
2458 given symbol is encountered as a top-level loop clause or @code{for}
2459 clause, respectively. Consult the source code in file
2460 @file{cl-macs.el} for details.
2461
2462 This package's @code{cl-loop} macro is compatible with that of Common
2463 Lisp, except that a few features are not implemented: @code{loop-finish}
2464 and data-type specifiers. Naturally, the @code{for} clauses which
2465 iterate over keymaps, overlays, intervals, frames, windows, and
2466 buffers are Emacs-specific extensions.
2467
2468 @node Multiple Values
2469 @section Multiple Values
2470
2471 @noindent
2472 Common Lisp functions can return zero or more results. Emacs Lisp
2473 functions, by contrast, always return exactly one result. This
2474 package makes no attempt to emulate Common Lisp multiple return
2475 values; Emacs versions of Common Lisp functions that return more
2476 than one value either return just the first value (as in
2477 @code{cl-compiler-macroexpand}) or return a list of values.
2478 This package @emph{does} define placeholders
2479 for the Common Lisp functions that work with multiple values, but
2480 in Emacs Lisp these functions simply operate on lists instead.
2481 The @code{cl-values} form, for example, is a synonym for @code{list}
2482 in Emacs.
2483
2484 @defmac cl-multiple-value-bind (var@dots{}) values-form forms@dots{}
2485 This form evaluates @var{values-form}, which must return a list of
2486 values. It then binds the @var{var}s to these respective values,
2487 as if by @code{let}, and then executes the body @var{forms}.
2488 If there are more @var{var}s than values, the extra @var{var}s
2489 are bound to @code{nil}. If there are fewer @var{var}s than
2490 values, the excess values are ignored.
2491 @end defmac
2492
2493 @defmac cl-multiple-value-setq (var@dots{}) form
2494 This form evaluates @var{form}, which must return a list of values.
2495 It then sets the @var{var}s to these respective values, as if by
2496 @code{setq}. Extra @var{var}s or values are treated the same as
2497 in @code{cl-multiple-value-bind}.
2498 @end defmac
2499
2500 Since a perfect emulation is not feasible in Emacs Lisp, this
2501 package opts to keep it as simple and predictable as possible.
2502
2503 @node Macros
2504 @chapter Macros
2505
2506 @noindent
2507 This package implements the various Common Lisp features of
2508 @code{defmacro}, such as destructuring, @code{&environment},
2509 and @code{&body}. Top-level @code{&whole} is not implemented
2510 for @code{defmacro} due to technical difficulties.
2511 @xref{Argument Lists}.
2512
2513 Destructuring is made available to the user by way of the
2514 following macro:
2515
2516 @defmac cl-destructuring-bind arglist expr forms@dots{}
2517 This macro expands to code which executes @var{forms}, with
2518 the variables in @var{arglist} bound to the list of values
2519 returned by @var{expr}. The @var{arglist} can include all
2520 the features allowed for @code{defmacro} argument lists,
2521 including destructuring. (The @code{&environment} keyword
2522 is not allowed.) The macro expansion will signal an error
2523 if @var{expr} returns a list of the wrong number of arguments
2524 or with incorrect keyword arguments.
2525 @end defmac
2526
2527 This package also includes the Common Lisp @code{cl-define-compiler-macro}
2528 facility, which allows you to define compile-time expansions and
2529 optimizations for your functions.
2530
2531 @defmac cl-define-compiler-macro name arglist forms@dots{}
2532 This form is similar to @code{defmacro}, except that it only expands
2533 calls to @var{name} at compile-time; calls processed by the Lisp
2534 interpreter are not expanded, nor are they expanded by the
2535 @code{macroexpand} function.
2536
2537 The argument list may begin with a @code{&whole} keyword and a
2538 variable. This variable is bound to the macro-call form itself,
2539 i.e., to a list of the form @samp{(@var{name} @var{args}@dots{})}.
2540 If the macro expander returns this form unchanged, then the
2541 compiler treats it as a normal function call. This allows
2542 compiler macros to work as optimizers for special cases of a
2543 function, leaving complicated cases alone.
2544
2545 For example, here is a simplified version of a definition that
2546 appears as a standard part of this package:
2547
2548 @example
2549 (cl-define-compiler-macro cl-member (&whole form a list &rest keys)
2550 (if (and (null keys)
2551 (eq (car-safe a) 'quote)
2552 (not (floatp-safe (cadr a))))
2553 (list 'memq a list)
2554 form))
2555 @end example
2556
2557 @noindent
2558 This definition causes @code{(cl-member @var{a} @var{list})} to change
2559 to a call to the faster @code{memq} in the common case where @var{a}
2560 is a non-floating-point constant; if @var{a} is anything else, or
2561 if there are any keyword arguments in the call, then the original
2562 @code{cl-member} call is left intact. (The actual compiler macro
2563 for @code{cl-member} optimizes a number of other cases, including
2564 common @code{:test} predicates.)
2565 @end defmac
2566
2567 @defun cl-compiler-macroexpand form
2568 This function is analogous to @code{macroexpand}, except that it
2569 expands compiler macros rather than regular macros. It returns
2570 @var{form} unchanged if it is not a call to a function for which
2571 a compiler macro has been defined, or if that compiler macro
2572 decided to punt by returning its @code{&whole} argument. Like
2573 @code{macroexpand}, it expands repeatedly until it reaches a form
2574 for which no further expansion is possible.
2575 @end defun
2576
2577 @xref{Macro Bindings}, for descriptions of the @code{cl-macrolet}
2578 and @code{cl-symbol-macrolet} forms for making ``local'' macro
2579 definitions.
2580
2581 @node Declarations
2582 @chapter Declarations
2583
2584 @noindent
2585 Common Lisp includes a complex and powerful ``declaration''
2586 mechanism that allows you to give the compiler special hints
2587 about the types of data that will be stored in particular variables,
2588 and about the ways those variables and functions will be used. This
2589 package defines versions of all the Common Lisp declaration forms:
2590 @code{cl-declare}, @code{cl-locally}, @code{cl-proclaim}, @code{cl-declaim},
2591 and @code{cl-the}.
2592
2593 Most of the Common Lisp declarations are not currently useful in
2594 Emacs Lisp, as the byte-code system provides little opportunity
2595 to benefit from type information, and @code{special} declarations
2596 are redundant in a fully dynamically-scoped Lisp. A few
2597 declarations are meaningful when the optimizing byte
2598 compiler is being used, however. Under the earlier non-optimizing
2599 compiler, these declarations will effectively be ignored.
2600
2601 @defun cl-proclaim decl-spec
2602 This function records a ``global'' declaration specified by
2603 @var{decl-spec}. Since @code{cl-proclaim} is a function, @var{decl-spec}
2604 is evaluated and thus should normally be quoted.
2605 @end defun
2606
2607 @defmac cl-declaim decl-specs@dots{}
2608 This macro is like @code{cl-proclaim}, except that it takes any number
2609 of @var{decl-spec} arguments, and the arguments are unevaluated and
2610 unquoted. The @code{cl-declaim} macro also puts an @code{(cl-eval-when
2611 (compile load eval) ...)} around the declarations so that they will
2612 be registered at compile-time as well as at run-time. (This is vital,
2613 since normally the declarations are meant to influence the way the
2614 compiler treats the rest of the file that contains the @code{cl-declaim}
2615 form.)
2616 @end defmac
2617
2618 @defmac cl-declare decl-specs@dots{}
2619 This macro is used to make declarations within functions and other
2620 code. Common Lisp allows declarations in various locations, generally
2621 at the beginning of any of the many ``implicit @code{progn}s''
2622 throughout Lisp syntax, such as function bodies, @code{let} bodies,
2623 etc. Currently the only declaration understood by @code{cl-declare}
2624 is @code{special}.
2625 @end defmac
2626
2627 @defmac cl-locally declarations@dots{} forms@dots{}
2628 In this package, @code{cl-locally} is no different from @code{progn}.
2629 @end defmac
2630
2631 @defmac cl-the type form
2632 Type information provided by @code{cl-the} is ignored in this package;
2633 in other words, @code{(cl-the @var{type} @var{form})} is equivalent
2634 to @var{form}. Future versions of the optimizing byte-compiler may
2635 make use of this information.
2636
2637 For example, @code{mapcar} can map over both lists and arrays. It is
2638 hard for the compiler to expand @code{mapcar} into an in-line loop
2639 unless it knows whether the sequence will be a list or an array ahead
2640 of time. With @code{(mapcar 'car (cl-the vector foo))}, a future
2641 compiler would have enough information to expand the loop in-line.
2642 For now, Emacs Lisp will treat the above code as exactly equivalent
2643 to @code{(mapcar 'car foo)}.
2644 @end defmac
2645
2646 Each @var{decl-spec} in a @code{cl-proclaim}, @code{cl-declaim}, or
2647 @code{cl-declare} should be a list beginning with a symbol that says
2648 what kind of declaration it is. This package currently understands
2649 @code{special}, @code{inline}, @code{notinline}, @code{optimize},
2650 and @code{warn} declarations. (The @code{warn} declaration is an
2651 extension of standard Common Lisp.) Other Common Lisp declarations,
2652 such as @code{type} and @code{ftype}, are silently ignored.
2653
2654 @table @code
2655 @item special
2656 Since all variables in Emacs Lisp are ``special'' (in the Common
2657 Lisp sense), @code{special} declarations are only advisory. They
2658 simply tell the optimizing byte compiler that the specified
2659 variables are intentionally being referred to without being
2660 bound in the body of the function. The compiler normally emits
2661 warnings for such references, since they could be typographical
2662 errors for references to local variables.
2663
2664 The declaration @code{(cl-declare (special @var{var1} @var{var2}))} is
2665 equivalent to @code{(defvar @var{var1}) (defvar @var{var2})} in the
2666 optimizing compiler, or to nothing at all in older compilers (which
2667 do not warn for non-local references).
2668
2669 In top-level contexts, it is generally better to write
2670 @code{(defvar @var{var})} than @code{(cl-declaim (special @var{var}))},
2671 since @code{defvar} makes your intentions clearer. But the older
2672 byte compilers can not handle @code{defvar}s appearing inside of
2673 functions, while @code{(cl-declare (special @var{var}))} takes care
2674 to work correctly with all compilers.
2675
2676 @item inline
2677 The @code{inline} @var{decl-spec} lists one or more functions
2678 whose bodies should be expanded ``in-line'' into calling functions
2679 whenever the compiler is able to arrange for it. For example,
2680 the Common Lisp function @code{cadr} is declared @code{inline}
2681 by this package so that the form @code{(cadr @var{x})} will
2682 expand directly into @code{(car (cdr @var{x}))} when it is called
2683 in user functions, for a savings of one (relatively expensive)
2684 function call.
2685
2686 The following declarations are all equivalent. Note that the
2687 @code{defsubst} form is a convenient way to define a function
2688 and declare it inline all at once.
2689
2690 @example
2691 (cl-declaim (inline foo bar))
2692 (cl-eval-when (compile load eval)
2693 (cl-proclaim '(inline foo bar)))
2694 (defsubst foo (...) ...) ; instead of defun
2695 @end example
2696
2697 @strong{Please note:} this declaration remains in effect after the
2698 containing source file is done. It is correct to use it to
2699 request that a function you have defined should be inlined,
2700 but it is impolite to use it to request inlining of an external
2701 function.
2702
2703 In Common Lisp, it is possible to use @code{(cl-declare (inline @dots{}))}
2704 before a particular call to a function to cause just that call to
2705 be inlined; the current byte compilers provide no way to implement
2706 this, so @code{(cl-declare (inline @dots{}))} is currently ignored by
2707 this package.
2708
2709 @item notinline
2710 The @code{notinline} declaration lists functions which should
2711 not be inlined after all; it cancels a previous @code{inline}
2712 declaration.
2713
2714 @item optimize
2715 This declaration controls how much optimization is performed by
2716 the compiler. Naturally, it is ignored by the earlier non-optimizing
2717 compilers.
2718
2719 The word @code{optimize} is followed by any number of lists like
2720 @code{(speed 3)} or @code{(safety 2)}. Common Lisp defines several
2721 optimization ``qualities''; this package ignores all but @code{speed}
2722 and @code{safety}. The value of a quality should be an integer from
2723 0 to 3, with 0 meaning ``unimportant'' and 3 meaning ``very important''.
2724 The default level for both qualities is 1.
2725
2726 In this package, with the optimizing compiler, the
2727 @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{cl-declare} to set the level of optimization
2747 locally for a given form, but this will not work correctly with the
2748 current version of the optimizing 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. Again, only the optimizing compiler
2755 generates warnings. The word @code{warn} is followed by any
2756 number of ``warning qualities'', similar in form to optimization
2757 qualities. The currently supported warning types are
2758 @code{redefine}, @code{callargs}, @code{unresolved}, and
2759 @code{free-vars}; in the current system, a value of 0 will
2760 disable these warnings and any higher value will enable them.
2761 See the documentation for the optimizing byte compiler for 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 @end defun
2875
2876 @defvar cl--gensym-counter
2877 This variable holds the counter used to generate @code{cl-gensym} names.
2878 It is incremented after each use by @code{cl-gensym}. In Common Lisp
2879 this is initialized with 0, but this package initializes it with a
2880 random (time-dependent) value to avoid trouble when two files that
2881 each used @code{cl-gensym} in their compilation are loaded together.
2882 (Uninterned symbols become interned when the compiler writes them
2883 out to a file and the Emacs loader loads them, so their names have to
2884 be treated a bit more carefully than in Common Lisp where uninterned
2885 symbols remain uninterned after loading.)
2886 @end defvar
2887
2888 @defun cl-gentemp &optional x
2889 This function is like @code{cl-gensym}, except that it produces a new
2890 @emph{interned} symbol. If the symbol that is generated already
2891 exists, the function keeps incrementing the counter and trying
2892 again until a new symbol is generated.
2893 @end defun
2894
2895 This package automatically creates all keywords that are called for by
2896 @code{&key} argument specifiers, and discourages the use of keywords
2897 as data unrelated to keyword arguments, so the related function
2898 @code{defkeyword} (to create self-quoting keyword symbols) is not
2899 provided.
2900
2901 @node Numbers
2902 @chapter Numbers
2903
2904 @noindent
2905 This section defines a few simple Common Lisp operations on numbers
2906 which were left out of Emacs Lisp.
2907
2908 @menu
2909 * Predicates on Numbers:: @code{cl-plusp}, @code{cl-oddp}, @code{cl-floatp-safe}, etc.
2910 * Numerical Functions:: @code{abs}, @code{cl-floor}, etc.
2911 * Random Numbers:: @code{cl-random}, @code{cl-make-random-state}.
2912 * Implementation Parameters:: @code{cl-most-positive-float}.
2913 @end menu
2914
2915 @node Predicates on Numbers
2916 @section Predicates on Numbers
2917
2918 @noindent
2919 These functions return @code{t} if the specified condition is
2920 true of the numerical argument, or @code{nil} otherwise.
2921
2922 @defun cl-plusp number
2923 This predicate tests whether @var{number} is positive. It is an
2924 error if the argument is not a number.
2925 @end defun
2926
2927 @defun cl-minusp number
2928 This predicate tests whether @var{number} is negative. It is an
2929 error if the argument is not a number.
2930 @end defun
2931
2932 @defun cl-oddp integer
2933 This predicate tests whether @var{integer} is odd. It is an
2934 error if the argument is not an integer.
2935 @end defun
2936
2937 @defun cl-evenp integer
2938 This predicate tests whether @var{integer} is even. It is an
2939 error if the argument is not an integer.
2940 @end defun
2941
2942 @defun cl-floatp-safe object
2943 This predicate tests whether @var{object} is a floating-point
2944 number. On systems that support floating-point, this is equivalent
2945 to @code{floatp}. On other systems, this always returns @code{nil}.
2946 @end defun
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 random numbers than the simple generators supplied by many
3038 operating systems.
3039
3040 @defun cl-random number &optional state
3041 This function returns a random nonnegative number less than
3042 @var{number}, and of the same type (either integer or floating-point).
3043 The @var{state} argument should be a @code{random-state} object
3044 which holds the state of the random number generator. The
3045 function modifies this state object as a side effect. If
3046 @var{state} is omitted, it defaults to the variable
3047 @code{cl--random-state}, which contains a pre-initialized
3048 @code{random-state} object.
3049 @end defun
3050
3051 @defvar cl--random-state
3052 This variable contains the system ``default'' @code{random-state}
3053 object, used for calls to @code{cl-random} that do not specify an
3054 alternative state object. Since any number of programs in the
3055 Emacs process may be accessing @code{cl--random-state} in interleaved
3056 fashion, the sequence generated from this variable will be
3057 irreproducible for all intents and purposes.
3058 @end defvar
3059
3060 @defun cl-make-random-state &optional state
3061 This function creates or copies a @code{random-state} object.
3062 If @var{state} is omitted or @code{nil}, it returns a new copy of
3063 @code{cl--random-state}. This is a copy in the sense that future
3064 sequences of calls to @code{(cl-random @var{n})} and
3065 @code{(cl-random @var{n} @var{s})} (where @var{s} is the new
3066 random-state object) will return identical sequences of random
3067 numbers.
3068
3069 If @var{state} is a @code{random-state} object, this function
3070 returns a copy of that object. If @var{state} is @code{t}, this
3071 function returns a new @code{random-state} object seeded from the
3072 date and time. As an extension to Common Lisp, @var{state} may also
3073 be an integer in which case the new object is seeded from that
3074 integer; each different integer seed will result in a completely
3075 different sequence of random numbers.
3076
3077 It is valid to print a @code{random-state} object to a buffer or
3078 file and later read it back with @code{read}. If a program wishes
3079 to use a sequence of pseudo-random numbers which can be reproduced
3080 later for debugging, it can call @code{(cl-make-random-state t)} to
3081 get a new sequence, then print this sequence to a file. When the
3082 program is later rerun, it can read the original run's random-state
3083 from the file.
3084 @end defun
3085
3086 @defun cl-random-state-p object
3087 This predicate returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a
3088 @code{random-state} object, or @code{nil} otherwise.
3089 @end defun
3090
3091 @node Implementation Parameters
3092 @section Implementation Parameters
3093
3094 @noindent
3095 This package defines several useful constants having to with numbers.
3096
3097 The following parameters have to do with floating-point numbers.
3098 This package determines their values by exercising the computer's
3099 floating-point arithmetic in various ways. Because this operation
3100 might be slow, the code for initializing them is kept in a separate
3101 function that must be called before the parameters can be used.
3102
3103 @defun cl-float-limits
3104 This function makes sure that the Common Lisp floating-point parameters
3105 like @code{cl-most-positive-float} have been initialized. Until it is
3106 called, these parameters will be @code{nil}. If this version of Emacs
3107 does not support floats, the parameters will remain @code{nil}. If the
3108 parameters have already been initialized, the function returns
3109 immediately.
3110
3111 The algorithm makes assumptions that will be valid for most modern
3112 machines, but will fail if the machine's arithmetic is extremely
3113 unusual, e.g., decimal.
3114 @end defun
3115
3116 Since true Common Lisp supports up to four different floating-point
3117 precisions, it has families of constants like
3118 @code{most-positive-single-float}, @code{most-positive-double-float},
3119 @code{most-positive-long-float}, and so on. Emacs has only one
3120 floating-point precision, so this package omits the precision word
3121 from the constants' names.
3122
3123 @defvar cl-most-positive-float
3124 This constant equals the largest value a Lisp float can hold.
3125 For those systems whose arithmetic supports infinities, this is
3126 the largest @emph{finite} value. For IEEE machines, the value
3127 is approximately @code{1.79e+308}.
3128 @end defvar
3129
3130 @defvar cl-most-negative-float
3131 This constant equals the most-negative value a Lisp float can hold.
3132 (It is assumed to be equal to @code{(- cl-most-positive-float)}.)
3133 @end defvar
3134
3135 @defvar cl-least-positive-float
3136 This constant equals the smallest Lisp float value greater than zero.
3137 For IEEE machines, it is about @code{4.94e-324} if denormals are
3138 supported or @code{2.22e-308} if not.
3139 @end defvar
3140
3141 @defvar cl-least-positive-normalized-float
3142 This constant equals the smallest @emph{normalized} Lisp float greater
3143 than zero, i.e., the smallest value for which IEEE denormalization
3144 will not result in a loss of precision. For IEEE machines, this
3145 value is about @code{2.22e-308}. For machines that do not support
3146 the concept of denormalization and gradual underflow, this constant
3147 will always equal @code{cl-least-positive-float}.
3148 @end defvar
3149
3150 @defvar cl-least-negative-float
3151 This constant is the negative counterpart of @code{cl-least-positive-float}.
3152 @end defvar
3153
3154 @defvar cl-least-negative-normalized-float
3155 This constant is the negative counterpart of
3156 @code{cl-least-positive-normalized-float}.
3157 @end defvar
3158
3159 @defvar cl-float-epsilon
3160 This constant is the smallest positive Lisp float that can be added
3161 to 1.0 to produce a distinct value. Adding a smaller number to 1.0
3162 will yield 1.0 again due to roundoff. For IEEE machines, epsilon
3163 is about @code{2.22e-16}.
3164 @end defvar
3165
3166 @defvar cl-float-negative-epsilon
3167 This is the smallest positive value that can be subtracted from
3168 1.0 to produce a distinct value. For IEEE machines, it is about
3169 @code{1.11e-16}.
3170 @end defvar
3171
3172 @node Sequences
3173 @chapter Sequences
3174
3175 @noindent
3176 Common Lisp defines a number of functions that operate on
3177 @dfn{sequences}, which are either lists, strings, or vectors.
3178 Emacs Lisp includes a few of these, notably @code{elt} and
3179 @code{length}; this package defines most of the rest.
3180
3181 @menu
3182 * Sequence Basics:: Arguments shared by all sequence functions.
3183 * Mapping over Sequences:: @code{cl-mapcar}, @code{cl-mapcan}, @code{cl-map}, @code{cl-every}, etc.
3184 * Sequence Functions:: @code{cl-subseq}, @code{cl-remove}, @code{cl-substitute}, etc.
3185 * Searching Sequences:: @code{cl-find}, @code{cl-position}, @code{cl-count}, @code{cl-search}, etc.
3186 * Sorting Sequences:: @code{cl-sort}, @code{cl-stable-sort}, @code{cl-merge}.
3187 @end menu
3188
3189 @node Sequence Basics
3190 @section Sequence Basics
3191
3192 @noindent
3193 Many of the sequence functions take keyword arguments; @pxref{Argument
3194 Lists}. All keyword arguments are optional and, if specified,
3195 may appear in any order.
3196
3197 The @code{:key} argument should be passed either @code{nil}, or a
3198 function of one argument. This key function is used as a filter
3199 through which the elements of the sequence are seen; for example,
3200 @code{(cl-find x y :key 'car)} is similar to @code{(cl-assoc x y)}:
3201 It searches for an element of the list whose @code{car} equals
3202 @code{x}, rather than for an element which equals @code{x} itself.
3203 If @code{:key} is omitted or @code{nil}, the filter is effectively
3204 the identity function.
3205
3206 The @code{:test} and @code{:test-not} arguments should be either
3207 @code{nil}, or functions of two arguments. The test function is
3208 used to compare two sequence elements, or to compare a search value
3209 with sequence elements. (The two values are passed to the test
3210 function in the same order as the original sequence function
3211 arguments from which they are derived, or, if they both come from
3212 the same sequence, in the same order as they appear in that sequence.)
3213 The @code{:test} argument specifies a function which must return
3214 true (non-@code{nil}) to indicate a match; instead, you may use
3215 @code{:test-not} to give a function which returns @emph{false} to
3216 indicate a match. The default test function is @code{eql}.
3217
3218 Many functions which take @var{item} and @code{:test} or @code{:test-not}
3219 arguments also come in @code{-if} and @code{-if-not} varieties,
3220 where a @var{predicate} function is passed instead of @var{item},
3221 and sequence elements match if the predicate returns true on them
3222 (or false in the case of @code{-if-not}). For example:
3223
3224 @example
3225 (cl-remove 0 seq :test '=) @equiv{} (cl-remove-if 'zerop seq)
3226 @end example
3227
3228 @noindent
3229 to remove all zeros from sequence @code{seq}.
3230
3231 Some operations can work on a subsequence of the argument sequence;
3232 these function take @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments which
3233 default to zero and the length of the sequence, respectively.
3234 Only elements between @var{start} (inclusive) and @var{end}
3235 (exclusive) are affected by the operation. The @var{end} argument
3236 may be passed @code{nil} to signify the length of the sequence;
3237 otherwise, both @var{start} and @var{end} must be integers, with
3238 @code{0 <= @var{start} <= @var{end} <= (length @var{seq})}.
3239 If the function takes two sequence arguments, the limits are
3240 defined by keywords @code{:start1} and @code{:end1} for the first,
3241 and @code{:start2} and @code{:end2} for the second.
3242
3243 A few functions accept a @code{:from-end} argument, which, if
3244 non-@code{nil}, causes the operation to go from right-to-left
3245 through the sequence instead of left-to-right, and a @code{:count}
3246 argument, which specifies an integer maximum number of elements
3247 to be removed or otherwise processed.
3248
3249 The sequence functions make no guarantees about the order in
3250 which the @code{:test}, @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key} functions
3251 are called on various elements. Therefore, it is a bad idea to depend
3252 on side effects of these functions. For example, @code{:from-end}
3253 may cause the sequence to be scanned actually in reverse, or it may
3254 be scanned forwards but computing a result ``as if'' it were scanned
3255 backwards. (Some functions, like @code{cl-mapcar} and @code{cl-every},
3256 @emph{do} specify exactly the order in which the function is called
3257 so side effects are perfectly acceptable in those cases.)
3258
3259 Strings may contain ``text properties'' as well
3260 as character data. Except as noted, it is undefined whether or
3261 not text properties are preserved by sequence functions. For
3262 example, @code{(cl-remove ?A @var{str})} may or may not preserve
3263 the properties of the characters copied from @var{str} into the
3264 result.
3265
3266 @node Mapping over Sequences
3267 @section Mapping over Sequences
3268
3269 @noindent
3270 These functions ``map'' the function you specify over the elements
3271 of lists or arrays. They are all variations on the theme of the
3272 built-in function @code{mapcar}.
3273
3274 @defun cl-mapcar function seq &rest more-seqs
3275 This function calls @var{function} on successive parallel sets of
3276 elements from its argument sequences. Given a single @var{seq}
3277 argument it is equivalent to @code{mapcar}; given @var{n} sequences,
3278 it calls the function with the first elements of each of the sequences
3279 as the @var{n} arguments to yield the first element of the result
3280 list, then with the second elements, and so on. The mapping stops as
3281 soon as the shortest sequence runs out. The argument sequences may
3282 be any mixture of lists, strings, and vectors; the return sequence
3283 is always a list.
3284
3285 Common Lisp's @code{mapcar} accepts multiple arguments but works
3286 only on lists; Emacs Lisp's @code{mapcar} accepts a single sequence
3287 argument. This package's @code{cl-mapcar} works as a compatible
3288 superset of both.
3289 @end defun
3290
3291 @defun cl-map result-type function seq &rest more-seqs
3292 This function maps @var{function} over the argument sequences,
3293 just like @code{cl-mapcar}, but it returns a sequence of type
3294 @var{result-type} rather than a list. @var{result-type} must
3295 be one of the following symbols: @code{vector}, @code{string},
3296 @code{list} (in which case the effect is the same as for
3297 @code{cl-mapcar}), or @code{nil} (in which case the results are
3298 thrown away and @code{cl-map} returns @code{nil}).
3299 @end defun
3300
3301 @defun cl-maplist function list &rest more-lists
3302 This function calls @var{function} on each of its argument lists,
3303 then on the @code{cdr}s of those lists, and so on, until the
3304 shortest list runs out. The results are returned in the form
3305 of a list. Thus, @code{cl-maplist} is like @code{cl-mapcar} except
3306 that it passes in the list pointers themselves rather than the
3307 @code{car}s of the advancing pointers.
3308 @end defun
3309
3310 @defun cl-mapc function seq &rest more-seqs
3311 This function is like @code{cl-mapcar}, except that the values returned
3312 by @var{function} are ignored and thrown away rather than being
3313 collected into a list. The return value of @code{cl-mapc} is @var{seq},
3314 the first sequence. This function is more general than the Emacs
3315 primitive @code{mapc}. (Note that this function is called
3316 @code{cl-mapc} even in @file{cl.el}, rather than @code{mapc*} as you
3317 might expect.)
3318 @c http://debbugs.gnu.org/6575
3319 @end defun
3320
3321 @defun cl-mapl function list &rest more-lists
3322 This function is like @code{cl-maplist}, except that it throws away
3323 the values returned by @var{function}.
3324 @end defun
3325
3326 @defun cl-mapcan function seq &rest more-seqs
3327 This function is like @code{cl-mapcar}, except that it concatenates
3328 the return values (which must be lists) using @code{nconc},
3329 rather than simply collecting them into a list.
3330 @end defun
3331
3332 @defun cl-mapcon function list &rest more-lists
3333 This function is like @code{cl-maplist}, except that it concatenates
3334 the return values using @code{nconc}.
3335 @end defun
3336
3337 @defun cl-some predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3338 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of @var{seq}
3339 in turn; if @var{predicate} returns a non-@code{nil} value,
3340 @code{some} returns that value, otherwise it returns @code{nil}.
3341 Given several sequence arguments, it steps through the sequences
3342 in parallel until the shortest one runs out, just as in
3343 @code{cl-mapcar}. You can rely on the left-to-right order in which
3344 the elements are visited, and on the fact that mapping stops
3345 immediately as soon as @var{predicate} returns non-@code{nil}.
3346 @end defun
3347
3348 @defun cl-every predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3349 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3350 in turn; it returns @code{nil} as soon as @var{predicate} returns
3351 @code{nil} for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate was true
3352 for all elements.
3353 @end defun
3354
3355 @defun cl-notany predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3356 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3357 in turn; it returns @code{nil} as soon as @var{predicate} returns
3358 a non-@code{nil} value for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate
3359 was @code{nil} for all elements.
3360 @end defun
3361
3362 @defun cl-notevery predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3363 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3364 in turn; it returns a non-@code{nil} value as soon as @var{predicate}
3365 returns @code{nil} for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate was
3366 true for all elements.
3367 @end defun
3368
3369 @defun cl-reduce function seq @t{&key :from-end :start :end :initial-value :key}
3370 This function combines the elements of @var{seq} using an associative
3371 binary operation. Suppose @var{function} is @code{*} and @var{seq} is
3372 the list @code{(2 3 4 5)}. The first two elements of the list are
3373 combined with @code{(* 2 3) = 6}; this is combined with the next
3374 element, @code{(* 6 4) = 24}, and that is combined with the final
3375 element: @code{(* 24 5) = 120}. Note that the @code{*} function happens
3376 to be self-reducing, so that @code{(* 2 3 4 5)} has the same effect as
3377 an explicit call to @code{cl-reduce}.
3378
3379 If @code{:from-end} is true, the reduction is right-associative instead
3380 of left-associative:
3381
3382 @example
3383 (cl-reduce '- '(1 2 3 4))
3384 @equiv{} (- (- (- 1 2) 3) 4) @result{} -8
3385 (cl-reduce '- '(1 2 3 4) :from-end t)
3386 @equiv{} (- 1 (- 2 (- 3 4))) @result{} -2
3387 @end example
3388
3389 If @code{:key} is specified, it is a function of one argument which
3390 is called on each of the sequence elements in turn.
3391
3392 If @code{:initial-value} is specified, it is effectively added to the
3393 front (or rear in the case of @code{:from-end}) of the sequence.
3394 The @code{:key} function is @emph{not} applied to the initial value.
3395
3396 If the sequence, including the initial value, has exactly one element
3397 then that element is returned without ever calling @var{function}.
3398 If the sequence is empty (and there is no initial value), then
3399 @var{function} is called with no arguments to obtain the return value.
3400 @end defun
3401
3402 All of these mapping operations can be expressed conveniently in
3403 terms of the @code{cl-loop} macro. In compiled code, @code{cl-loop} will
3404 be faster since it generates the loop as in-line code with no
3405 function calls.
3406
3407 @node Sequence Functions
3408 @section Sequence Functions
3409
3410 @noindent
3411 This section describes a number of Common Lisp functions for
3412 operating on sequences.
3413
3414 @defun cl-subseq sequence start &optional end
3415 This function returns a given subsequence of the argument
3416 @var{sequence}, which may be a list, string, or vector.
3417 The indices @var{start} and @var{end} must be in range, and
3418 @var{start} must be no greater than @var{end}. If @var{end}
3419 is omitted, it defaults to the length of the sequence. The
3420 return value is always a copy; it does not share structure
3421 with @var{sequence}.
3422
3423 As an extension to Common Lisp, @var{start} and/or @var{end}
3424 may be negative, in which case they represent a distance back
3425 from the end of the sequence. This is for compatibility with
3426 Emacs's @code{substring} function. Note that @code{cl-subseq} is
3427 the @emph{only} sequence function that allows negative
3428 @var{start} and @var{end}.
3429
3430 You can use @code{setf} on a @code{cl-subseq} form to replace a
3431 specified range of elements with elements from another sequence.
3432 The replacement is done as if by @code{cl-replace}, described below.
3433 @end defun
3434
3435 @defun cl-concatenate result-type &rest seqs
3436 This function concatenates the argument sequences together to
3437 form a result sequence of type @var{result-type}, one of the
3438 symbols @code{vector}, @code{string}, or @code{list}. The
3439 arguments are always copied, even in cases such as
3440 @code{(cl-concatenate 'list '(1 2 3))} where the result is
3441 identical to an argument.
3442 @end defun
3443
3444 @defun cl-fill seq item @t{&key :start :end}
3445 This function fills the elements of the sequence (or the specified
3446 part of the sequence) with the value @var{item}.
3447 @end defun
3448
3449 @defun cl-replace seq1 seq2 @t{&key :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2}
3450 This function copies part of @var{seq2} into part of @var{seq1}.
3451 The sequence @var{seq1} is not stretched or resized; the amount
3452 of data copied is simply the shorter of the source and destination
3453 (sub)sequences. The function returns @var{seq1}.
3454
3455 If @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} are @code{eq}, then the replacement
3456 will work correctly even if the regions indicated by the start
3457 and end arguments overlap. However, if @var{seq1} and @var{seq2}
3458 are lists which share storage but are not @code{eq}, and the
3459 start and end arguments specify overlapping regions, the effect
3460 is undefined.
3461 @end defun
3462
3463 @defun cl-remove item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3464 This returns a copy of @var{seq} with all elements matching
3465 @var{item} removed. The result may share storage with or be
3466 @code{eq} to @var{seq} in some circumstances, but the original
3467 @var{seq} will not be modified. The @code{:test}, @code{:test-not},
3468 and @code{:key} arguments define the matching test that is used;
3469 by default, elements @code{eql} to @var{item} are removed. The
3470 @code{:count} argument specifies the maximum number of matching
3471 elements that can be removed (only the leftmost @var{count} matches
3472 are removed). The @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments specify
3473 a region in @var{seq} in which elements will be removed; elements
3474 outside that region are not matched or removed. The @code{:from-end}
3475 argument, if true, says that elements should be deleted from the
3476 end of the sequence rather than the beginning (this matters only
3477 if @var{count} was also specified).
3478 @end defun
3479
3480 @defun cl-delete item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3481 This deletes all elements of @var{seq} which match @var{item}.
3482 It is a destructive operation. Since Emacs Lisp does not support
3483 stretchable strings or vectors, this is the same as @code{cl-remove}
3484 for those sequence types. On lists, @code{cl-remove} will copy the
3485 list if necessary to preserve the original list, whereas
3486 @code{cl-delete} will splice out parts of the argument list.
3487 Compare @code{append} and @code{nconc}, which are analogous
3488 non-destructive and destructive list operations in Emacs Lisp.
3489 @end defun
3490
3491 @findex cl-remove-if
3492 @findex cl-remove-if-not
3493 @findex cl-delete-if
3494 @findex cl-delete-if-not
3495 The predicate-oriented functions @code{cl-remove-if}, @code{cl-remove-if-not},
3496 @code{cl-delete-if}, and @code{cl-delete-if-not} are defined similarly.
3497
3498 @defun cl-remove-duplicates seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3499 This function returns a copy of @var{seq} with duplicate elements
3500 removed. Specifically, if two elements from the sequence match
3501 according to the @code{:test}, @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key}
3502 arguments, only the rightmost one is retained. If @code{:from-end}
3503 is true, the leftmost one is retained instead. If @code{:start} or
3504 @code{:end} is specified, only elements within that subsequence are
3505 examined or removed.
3506 @end defun
3507
3508 @defun cl-delete-duplicates seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3509 This function deletes duplicate elements from @var{seq}. It is
3510 a destructive version of @code{cl-remove-duplicates}.
3511 @end defun
3512
3513 @defun cl-substitute new old seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3514 This function returns a copy of @var{seq}, with all elements
3515 matching @var{old} replaced with @var{new}. The @code{:count},
3516 @code{:start}, @code{:end}, and @code{:from-end} arguments may be
3517 used to limit the number of substitutions made.
3518 @end defun
3519
3520 @defun cl-nsubstitute new old seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3521 This is a destructive version of @code{cl-substitute}; it performs
3522 the substitution using @code{setcar} or @code{aset} rather than
3523 by returning a changed copy of the sequence.
3524 @end defun
3525
3526 @findex cl-substitute-if
3527 @findex cl-substitute-if-not
3528 @findex cl-nsubstitute-if
3529 @findex cl-nsubstitute-if-not
3530 The functions @code{cl-substitute-if}, @code{cl-substitute-if-not},
3531 @code{cl-nsubstitute-if}, and @code{cl-nsubstitute-if-not} are defined
3532 similarly. For these, a @var{predicate} is given in place of the
3533 @var{old} argument.
3534
3535 @node Searching Sequences
3536 @section Searching Sequences
3537
3538 @noindent
3539 These functions search for elements or subsequences in a sequence.
3540 (See also @code{cl-member} and @code{cl-assoc}; @pxref{Lists}.)
3541
3542 @defun cl-find item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3543 This function searches @var{seq} for an element matching @var{item}.
3544 If it finds a match, it returns the matching element. Otherwise,
3545 it returns @code{nil}. It returns the leftmost match, unless
3546 @code{:from-end} is true, in which case it returns the rightmost
3547 match. The @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments may be used to
3548 limit the range of elements that are searched.
3549 @end defun
3550
3551 @defun cl-position item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3552 This function is like @code{cl-find}, except that it returns the
3553 integer position in the sequence of the matching item rather than
3554 the item itself. The position is relative to the start of the
3555 sequence as a whole, even if @code{:start} is non-zero. The function
3556 returns @code{nil} if no matching element was found.
3557 @end defun
3558
3559 @defun cl-count item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end}
3560 This function returns the number of elements of @var{seq} which
3561 match @var{item}. The result is always a nonnegative integer.
3562 @end defun
3563
3564 @findex cl-find-if
3565 @findex cl-find-if-not
3566 @findex cl-position-if
3567 @findex cl-position-if-not
3568 @findex cl-count-if
3569 @findex cl-count-if-not
3570 The @code{cl-find-if}, @code{cl-find-if-not}, @code{cl-position-if},
3571 @code{cl-position-if-not}, @code{cl-count-if}, and @code{cl-count-if-not}
3572 functions are defined similarly.
3573
3574 @defun cl-mismatch seq1 seq2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2 :from-end}
3575 This function compares the specified parts of @var{seq1} and
3576 @var{seq2}. If they are the same length and the corresponding
3577 elements match (according to @code{:test}, @code{:test-not},
3578 and @code{:key}), the function returns @code{nil}. If there is
3579 a mismatch, the function returns the index (relative to @var{seq1})
3580 of the first mismatching element. This will be the leftmost pair of
3581 elements which do not match, or the position at which the shorter of
3582 the two otherwise-matching sequences runs out.
3583
3584 If @code{:from-end} is true, then the elements are compared from right
3585 to left starting at @code{(1- @var{end1})} and @code{(1- @var{end2})}.
3586 If the sequences differ, then one plus the index of the rightmost
3587 difference (relative to @var{seq1}) is returned.
3588
3589 An interesting example is @code{(cl-mismatch str1 str2 :key 'upcase)},
3590 which compares two strings case-insensitively.
3591 @end defun
3592
3593 @defun cl-search seq1 seq2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key :from-end :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2}
3594 This function searches @var{seq2} for a subsequence that matches
3595 @var{seq1} (or part of it specified by @code{:start1} and
3596 @code{:end1}.) Only matches which fall entirely within the region
3597 defined by @code{:start2} and @code{:end2} will be considered.
3598 The return value is the index of the leftmost element of the
3599 leftmost match, relative to the start of @var{seq2}, or @code{nil}
3600 if no matches were found. If @code{:from-end} is true, the
3601 function finds the @emph{rightmost} matching subsequence.
3602 @end defun
3603
3604 @node Sorting Sequences
3605 @section Sorting Sequences
3606
3607 @defun clsort seq predicate @t{&key :key}
3608 This function sorts @var{seq} into increasing order as determined
3609 by using @var{predicate} to compare pairs of elements. @var{predicate}
3610 should return true (non-@code{nil}) if and only if its first argument
3611 is less than (not equal to) its second argument. For example,
3612 @code{<} and @code{string-lessp} are suitable predicate functions
3613 for sorting numbers and strings, respectively; @code{>} would sort
3614 numbers into decreasing rather than increasing order.
3615
3616 This function differs from Emacs's built-in @code{sort} in that it
3617 can operate on any type of sequence, not just lists. Also, it
3618 accepts a @code{:key} argument which is used to preprocess data
3619 fed to the @var{predicate} function. For example,
3620
3621 @example
3622 (setq data (cl-sort data 'string-lessp :key 'downcase))
3623 @end example
3624
3625 @noindent
3626 sorts @var{data}, a sequence of strings, into increasing alphabetical
3627 order without regard to case. A @code{:key} function of @code{car}
3628 would be useful for sorting association lists. It should only be a
3629 simple accessor though, it's used heavily in the current
3630 implementation.
3631
3632 The @code{cl-sort} function is destructive; it sorts lists by actually
3633 rearranging the @code{cdr} pointers in suitable fashion.
3634 @end defun
3635
3636 @defun cl-stable-sort seq predicate @t{&key :key}
3637 This function sorts @var{seq} @dfn{stably}, meaning two elements
3638 which are equal in terms of @var{predicate} are guaranteed not to
3639 be rearranged out of their original order by the sort.
3640
3641 In practice, @code{cl-sort} and @code{cl-stable-sort} are equivalent
3642 in Emacs Lisp because the underlying @code{sort} function is
3643 stable by default. However, this package reserves the right to
3644 use non-stable methods for @code{cl-sort} in the future.
3645 @end defun
3646
3647 @defun cl-merge type seq1 seq2 predicate @t{&key :key}
3648 This function merges two sequences @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} by
3649 interleaving their elements. The result sequence, of type @var{type}
3650 (in the sense of @code{cl-concatenate}), has length equal to the sum
3651 of the lengths of the two input sequences. The sequences may be
3652 modified destructively. Order of elements within @var{seq1} and
3653 @var{seq2} is preserved in the interleaving; elements of the two
3654 sequences are compared by @var{predicate} (in the sense of
3655 @code{sort}) and the lesser element goes first in the result.
3656 When elements are equal, those from @var{seq1} precede those from
3657 @var{seq2} in the result. Thus, if @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} are
3658 both sorted according to @var{predicate}, then the result will be
3659 a merged sequence which is (stably) sorted according to
3660 @var{predicate}.
3661 @end defun
3662
3663 @node Lists
3664 @chapter Lists
3665
3666 @noindent
3667 The functions described here operate on lists.
3668
3669 @menu
3670 * List Functions:: @code{cl-caddr}, @code{cl-first}, @code{cl-list*}, etc.
3671 * Substitution of Expressions:: @code{cl-subst}, @code{cl-sublis}, etc.
3672 * Lists as Sets:: @code{cl-member}, @code{cl-adjoin}, @code{cl-union}, etc.
3673 * Association Lists:: @code{cl-assoc}, @code{cl-rassoc}, @code{cl-acons}, @code{cl-pairlis}.
3674 @end menu
3675
3676 @node List Functions
3677 @section List Functions
3678
3679 @noindent
3680 This section describes a number of simple operations on lists,
3681 i.e., chains of cons cells.
3682
3683 @defun cl-caddr x
3684 This function is equivalent to @code{(car (cdr (cdr @var{x})))}.
3685 Likewise, this package defines all 28 @code{c@var{xxx}r} functions
3686 where @var{xxx} is up to four @samp{a}s and/or @samp{d}s.
3687 All of these functions are @code{setf}-able, and calls to them
3688 are expanded inline by the byte-compiler for maximum efficiency.
3689 @end defun
3690
3691 @defun cl-first x
3692 This function is a synonym for @code{(car @var{x})}. Likewise,
3693 the functions @code{cl-second}, @code{cl-third}, @dots{}, through
3694 @code{cl-tenth} return the given element of the list @var{x}.
3695 @end defun
3696
3697 @defun cl-rest x
3698 This function is a synonym for @code{(cdr @var{x})}.
3699 @end defun
3700
3701 @defun cl-endp x
3702 Common Lisp defines this function to act like @code{null}, but
3703 signaling an error if @code{x} is neither a @code{nil} nor a
3704 cons cell. This package simply defines @code{cl-endp} as a synonym
3705 for @code{null}.
3706 @end defun
3707
3708 @defun cl-list-length x
3709 This function returns the length of list @var{x}, exactly like
3710 @code{(length @var{x})}, except that if @var{x} is a circular
3711 list (where the cdr-chain forms a loop rather than terminating
3712 with @code{nil}), this function returns @code{nil}. (The regular
3713 @code{length} function would get stuck if given a circular list.)
3714 @end defun
3715
3716 @defun cl-list* arg &rest others
3717 This function constructs a list of its arguments. The final
3718 argument becomes the @code{cdr} of the last cell constructed.
3719 Thus, @code{(cl-list* @var{a} @var{b} @var{c})} is equivalent to
3720 @code{(cons @var{a} (cons @var{b} @var{c}))}, and
3721 @code{(cl-list* @var{a} @var{b} nil)} is equivalent to
3722 @code{(list @var{a} @var{b})}.
3723 @end defun
3724
3725 @defun cl-ldiff list sublist
3726 If @var{sublist} is a sublist of @var{list}, i.e., is @code{eq} to
3727 one of the cons cells of @var{list}, then this function returns
3728 a copy of the part of @var{list} up to but not including
3729 @var{sublist}. For example, @code{(cl-ldiff x (cddr x))} returns
3730 the first two elements of the list @code{x}. The result is a
3731 copy; the original @var{list} is not modified. If @var{sublist}
3732 is not a sublist of @var{list}, a copy of the entire @var{list}
3733 is returned.
3734 @end defun
3735
3736 @defun cl-copy-list list
3737 This function returns a copy of the list @var{list}. It copies
3738 dotted lists like @code{(1 2 . 3)} correctly.
3739 @end defun
3740
3741 @defun copy-tree x &optional vecp
3742 This function returns a copy of the tree of cons cells @var{x}.
3743 @c FIXME? cl-copy-list is not an alias of copy-sequence.
3744 Unlike @code{copy-sequence} (and its alias @code{cl-copy-list}),
3745 which copies only along the @code{cdr} direction, this function
3746 copies (recursively) along both the @code{car} and the @code{cdr}
3747 directions. If @var{x} is not a cons cell, the function simply
3748 returns @var{x} unchanged. If the optional @var{vecp} argument
3749 is true, this function copies vectors (recursively) as well as
3750 cons cells.
3751 @end defun
3752
3753 @defun cl-tree-equal x y @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3754 This function compares two trees of cons cells. If @var{x} and
3755 @var{y} are both cons cells, their @code{car}s and @code{cdr}s are
3756 compared recursively. If neither @var{x} nor @var{y} is a cons
3757 cell, they are compared by @code{eql}, or according to the
3758 specified test. The @code{:key} function, if specified, is
3759 applied to the elements of both trees. @xref{Sequences}.
3760 @end defun
3761
3762 @node Substitution of Expressions
3763 @section Substitution of Expressions
3764
3765 @noindent
3766 These functions substitute elements throughout a tree of cons
3767 cells. (@xref{Sequence Functions}, for the @code{cl-substitute}
3768 function, which works on just the top-level elements of a list.)
3769
3770 @defun cl-subst new old tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3771 This function substitutes occurrences of @var{old} with @var{new}
3772 in @var{tree}, a tree of cons cells. It returns a substituted
3773 tree, which will be a copy except that it may share storage with
3774 the argument @var{tree} in parts where no substitutions occurred.
3775 The original @var{tree} is not modified. This function recurses
3776 on, and compares against @var{old}, both @code{car}s and @code{cdr}s
3777 of the component cons cells. If @var{old} is itself a cons cell,
3778 then matching cells in the tree are substituted as usual without
3779 recursively substituting in that cell. Comparisons with @var{old}
3780 are done according to the specified test (@code{eql} by default).
3781 The @code{:key} function is applied to the elements of the tree
3782 but not to @var{old}.
3783 @end defun
3784
3785 @defun cl-nsubst new old tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3786 This function is like @code{cl-subst}, except that it works by
3787 destructive modification (by @code{setcar} or @code{setcdr})
3788 rather than copying.
3789 @end defun
3790
3791 @findex cl-subst-if
3792 @findex cl-subst-if-not
3793 @findex cl-nsubst-if
3794 @findex cl-nsubst-if-not
3795 The @code{cl-subst-if}, @code{cl-subst-if-not}, @code{cl-nsubst-if}, and
3796 @code{cl-nsubst-if-not} functions are defined similarly.
3797
3798 @defun cl-sublis alist tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3799 This function is like @code{cl-subst}, except that it takes an
3800 association list @var{alist} of @var{old}-@var{new} pairs.
3801 Each element of the tree (after applying the @code{:key}
3802 function, if any), is compared with the @code{car}s of
3803 @var{alist}; if it matches, it is replaced by the corresponding
3804 @code{cdr}.
3805 @end defun
3806
3807 @defun cl-nsublis alist tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3808 This is a destructive version of @code{cl-sublis}.
3809 @end defun
3810
3811 @node Lists as Sets
3812 @section Lists as Sets
3813
3814 @noindent
3815 These functions perform operations on lists which represent sets
3816 of elements.
3817
3818 @defun cl-member item list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3819 This function searches @var{list} for an element matching @var{item}.
3820 If a match is found, it returns the cons cell whose @code{car} was
3821 the matching element. Otherwise, it returns @code{nil}. Elements
3822 are compared by @code{eql} by default; you can use the @code{:test},
3823 @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key} arguments to modify this behavior.
3824 @xref{Sequences}.
3825
3826 The standard Emacs lisp function @code{member} uses @code{equal} for
3827 comparisons; it is equivalent to @code{(cl-member @var{item} @var{list}
3828 :test 'equal)}.
3829 @end defun
3830
3831 @findex cl-member-if
3832 @findex cl-member-if-not
3833 The @code{cl-member-if} and @code{cl-member-if-not} functions
3834 analogously search for elements which satisfy a given predicate.
3835
3836 @defun cl-tailp sublist list
3837 This function returns @code{t} if @var{sublist} is a sublist of
3838 @var{list}, i.e., if @var{sublist} is @code{eql} to @var{list} or to
3839 any of its @code{cdr}s.
3840 @end defun
3841
3842 @defun cl-adjoin item list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3843 This function conses @var{item} onto the front of @var{list},
3844 like @code{(cons @var{item} @var{list})}, but only if @var{item}
3845 is not already present on the list (as determined by @code{cl-member}).
3846 If a @code{:key} argument is specified, it is applied to
3847 @var{item} as well as to the elements of @var{list} during
3848 the search, on the reasoning that @var{item} is ``about'' to
3849 become part of the list.
3850 @end defun
3851
3852 @defun cl-union list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3853 This function combines two lists which represent sets of items,
3854 returning a list that represents the union of those two sets.
3855 The result list will contain all items which appear in @var{list1}
3856 or @var{list2}, and no others. If an item appears in both
3857 @var{list1} and @var{list2} it will be copied only once. If
3858 an item is duplicated in @var{list1} or @var{list2}, it is
3859 undefined whether or not that duplication will survive in the
3860 result list. The order of elements in the result list is also
3861 undefined.
3862 @end defun
3863
3864 @defun cl-nunion list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3865 This is a destructive version of @code{cl-union}; rather than copying,
3866 it tries to reuse the storage of the argument lists if possible.
3867 @end defun
3868
3869 @defun cl-intersection list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3870 This function computes the intersection of the sets represented
3871 by @var{list1} and @var{list2}. It returns the list of items
3872 which appear in both @var{list1} and @var{list2}.
3873 @end defun
3874
3875 @defun cl-nintersection list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3876 This is a destructive version of @code{cl-intersection}. It
3877 tries to reuse storage of @var{list1} rather than copying.
3878 It does @emph{not} reuse the storage of @var{list2}.
3879 @end defun
3880
3881 @defun cl-set-difference list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3882 This function computes the ``set difference'' of @var{list1}
3883 and @var{list2}, i.e., the set of elements that appear in
3884 @var{list1} but @emph{not} in @var{list2}.
3885 @end defun
3886
3887 @defun cl-nset-difference list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3888 This is a destructive @code{cl-set-difference}, which will try
3889 to reuse @var{list1} if possible.
3890 @end defun
3891
3892 @defun cl-set-exclusive-or list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3893 This function computes the ``set exclusive or'' of @var{list1}
3894 and @var{list2}, i.e., the set of elements that appear in
3895 exactly one of @var{list1} and @var{list2}.
3896 @end defun
3897
3898 @defun cl-nset-exclusive-or list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3899 This is a destructive @code{cl-set-exclusive-or}, which will try
3900 to reuse @var{list1} and @var{list2} if possible.
3901 @end defun
3902
3903 @defun cl-subsetp list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3904 This function checks whether @var{list1} represents a subset
3905 of @var{list2}, i.e., whether every element of @var{list1}
3906 also appears in @var{list2}.
3907 @end defun
3908
3909 @node Association Lists
3910 @section Association Lists
3911
3912 @noindent
3913 An @dfn{association list} is a list representing a mapping from
3914 one set of values to another; any list whose elements are cons
3915 cells is an association list.
3916
3917 @defun cl-assoc item a-list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3918 This function searches the association list @var{a-list} for an
3919 element whose @code{car} matches (in the sense of @code{:test},
3920 @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key}, or by comparison with @code{eql})
3921 a given @var{item}. It returns the matching element, if any,
3922 otherwise @code{nil}. It ignores elements of @var{a-list} which
3923 are not cons cells. (This corresponds to the behavior of
3924 @code{assq} and @code{assoc} in Emacs Lisp; Common Lisp's
3925 @code{assoc} ignores @code{nil}s but considers any other non-cons
3926 elements of @var{a-list} to be an error.)
3927 @end defun
3928
3929 @defun cl-rassoc item a-list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3930 This function searches for an element whose @code{cdr} matches
3931 @var{item}. If @var{a-list} represents a mapping, this applies
3932 the inverse of the mapping to @var{item}.
3933 @end defun
3934
3935 @findex cl-assoc-if
3936 @findex cl-assoc-if-not
3937 @findex cl-rassoc-if
3938 @findex cl-rassoc-if-not
3939 The @code{cl-assoc-if}, @code{cl-assoc-if-not}, @code{cl-rassoc-if},
3940 and @code{cl-rassoc-if-not} functions are defined similarly.
3941
3942 Two simple functions for constructing association lists are:
3943
3944 @defun cl-acons key value alist
3945 This is equivalent to @code{(cons (cons @var{key} @var{value}) @var{alist})}.
3946 @end defun
3947
3948 @defun cl-pairlis keys values &optional alist
3949 This is equivalent to @code{(nconc (cl-mapcar 'cons @var{keys} @var{values})
3950 @var{alist})}.
3951 @end defun
3952
3953 @node Structures
3954 @chapter Structures
3955
3956 @noindent
3957 The Common Lisp @dfn{structure} mechanism provides a general way
3958 to define data types similar to C's @code{struct} types. A
3959 structure is a Lisp object containing some number of @dfn{slots},
3960 each of which can hold any Lisp data object. Functions are
3961 provided for accessing and setting the slots, creating or copying
3962 structure objects, and recognizing objects of a particular structure
3963 type.
3964
3965 In true Common Lisp, each structure type is a new type distinct
3966 from all existing Lisp types. Since the underlying Emacs Lisp
3967 system provides no way to create new distinct types, this package
3968 implements structures as vectors (or lists upon request) with a
3969 special ``tag'' symbol to identify them.
3970
3971 @defmac cl-defstruct name slots@dots{}
3972 The @code{cl-defstruct} form defines a new structure type called
3973 @var{name}, with the specified @var{slots}. (The @var{slots}
3974 may begin with a string which documents the structure type.)
3975 In the simplest case, @var{name} and each of the @var{slots}
3976 are symbols. For example,
3977
3978 @example
3979 (cl-defstruct person name age sex)
3980 @end example
3981
3982 @noindent
3983 defines a struct type called @code{person} which contains three
3984 slots. Given a @code{person} object @var{p}, you can access those
3985 slots by calling @code{(person-name @var{p})}, @code{(person-age @var{p})},
3986 and @code{(person-sex @var{p})}. You can also change these slots by
3987 using @code{setf} on any of these place forms:
3988
3989 @example
3990 (cl-incf (person-age birthday-boy))
3991 @end example
3992
3993 You can create a new @code{person} by calling @code{make-person},
3994 which takes keyword arguments @code{:name}, @code{:age}, and
3995 @code{:sex} to specify the initial values of these slots in the
3996 new object. (Omitting any of these arguments leaves the corresponding
3997 slot ``undefined'', according to the Common Lisp standard; in Emacs
3998 Lisp, such uninitialized slots are filled with @code{nil}.)
3999
4000 Given a @code{person}, @code{(copy-person @var{p})} makes a new
4001 object of the same type whose slots are @code{eq} to those of @var{p}.
4002
4003 Given any Lisp object @var{x}, @code{(person-p @var{x})} returns
4004 true if @var{x} looks like a @code{person}, false otherwise. (Again,
4005 in Common Lisp this predicate would be exact; in Emacs Lisp the
4006 best it can do is verify that @var{x} is a vector of the correct
4007 length which starts with the correct tag symbol.)
4008
4009 Accessors like @code{person-name} normally check their arguments
4010 (effectively using @code{person-p}) and signal an error if the
4011 argument is the wrong type. This check is affected by
4012 @code{(optimize (safety @dots{}))} declarations. Safety level 1,
4013 the default, uses a somewhat optimized check that will detect all
4014 incorrect arguments, but may use an uninformative error message
4015 (e.g., ``expected a vector'' instead of ``expected a @code{person}'').
4016 Safety level 0 omits all checks except as provided by the underlying
4017 @code{aref} call; safety levels 2 and 3 do rigorous checking that will
4018 always print a descriptive error message for incorrect inputs.
4019 @xref{Declarations}.
4020
4021 @example
4022 (setq dave (make-person :name "Dave" :sex 'male))
4023 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Dave" nil male]
4024 (setq other (copy-person dave))
4025 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Dave" nil male]
4026 (eq dave other)
4027 @result{} nil
4028 (eq (person-name dave) (person-name other))
4029 @result{} t
4030 (person-p dave)
4031 @result{} t
4032 (person-p [1 2 3 4])
4033 @result{} nil
4034 (person-p "Bogus")
4035 @result{} nil
4036 (person-p '[cl-struct-person counterfeit person object])
4037 @result{} t
4038 @end example
4039
4040 In general, @var{name} is either a name symbol or a list of a name
4041 symbol followed by any number of @dfn{struct options}; each @var{slot}
4042 is either a slot symbol or a list of the form @samp{(@var{slot-name}
4043 @var{default-value} @var{slot-options}@dots{})}. The @var{default-value}
4044 is a Lisp form which is evaluated any time an instance of the
4045 structure type is created without specifying that slot's value.
4046
4047 Common Lisp defines several slot options, but the only one
4048 implemented in this package is @code{:read-only}. A non-@code{nil}
4049 value for this option means the slot should not be @code{setf}-able;
4050 the slot's value is determined when the object is created and does
4051 not change afterward.
4052
4053 @example
4054 (cl-defstruct person
4055 (name nil :read-only t)
4056 age
4057 (sex 'unknown))
4058 @end example
4059
4060 Any slot options other than @code{:read-only} are ignored.
4061
4062 For obscure historical reasons, structure options take a different
4063 form than slot options. A structure option is either a keyword
4064 symbol, or a list beginning with a keyword symbol possibly followed
4065 by arguments. (By contrast, slot options are key-value pairs not
4066 enclosed in lists.)
4067
4068 @example
4069 (cl-defstruct (person (:constructor create-person)
4070 (:type list)
4071 :named)
4072 name age sex)
4073 @end example
4074
4075 The following structure options are recognized.
4076
4077 @table @code
4078 @item :conc-name
4079 The argument is a symbol whose print name is used as the prefix for
4080 the names of slot accessor functions. The default is the name of
4081 the struct type followed by a hyphen. The option @code{(:conc-name p-)}
4082 would change this prefix to @code{p-}. Specifying @code{nil} as an
4083 argument means no prefix, so that the slot names themselves are used
4084 to name the accessor functions.
4085
4086 @item :constructor
4087 In the simple case, this option takes one argument which is an
4088 alternate name to use for the constructor function. The default
4089 is @code{make-@var{name}}, e.g., @code{make-person}. The above
4090 example changes this to @code{create-person}. Specifying @code{nil}
4091 as an argument means that no standard constructor should be
4092 generated at all.
4093
4094 In the full form of this option, the constructor name is followed
4095 by an arbitrary argument list. @xref{Program Structure}, for a
4096 description of the format of Common Lisp argument lists. All
4097 options, such as @code{&rest} and @code{&key}, are supported.
4098 The argument names should match the slot names; each slot is
4099 initialized from the corresponding argument. Slots whose names
4100 do not appear in the argument list are initialized based on the
4101 @var{default-value} in their slot descriptor. Also, @code{&optional}
4102 and @code{&key} arguments which don't specify defaults take their
4103 defaults from the slot descriptor. It is valid to include arguments
4104 which don't correspond to slot names; these are useful if they are
4105 referred to in the defaults for optional, keyword, or @code{&aux}
4106 arguments which @emph{do} correspond to slots.
4107
4108 You can specify any number of full-format @code{:constructor}
4109 options on a structure. The default constructor is still generated
4110 as well unless you disable it with a simple-format @code{:constructor}
4111 option.
4112
4113 @example
4114 (cl-defstruct
4115 (person
4116 (:constructor nil) ; no default constructor
4117 (:constructor new-person
4118 (name sex &optional (age 0)))
4119 (:constructor new-hound (&key (name "Rover")
4120 (dog-years 0)
4121 &aux (age (* 7 dog-years))
4122 (sex 'canine))))
4123 name age sex)
4124 @end example
4125
4126 The first constructor here takes its arguments positionally rather
4127 than by keyword. (In official Common Lisp terminology, constructors
4128 that work By Order of Arguments instead of by keyword are called
4129 ``BOA constructors''. No, I'm not making this up.) For example,
4130 @code{(new-person "Jane" 'female)} generates a person whose slots
4131 are @code{"Jane"}, 0, and @code{female}, respectively.
4132
4133 The second constructor takes two keyword arguments, @code{:name},
4134 which initializes the @code{name} slot and defaults to @code{"Rover"},
4135 and @code{:dog-years}, which does not itself correspond to a slot
4136 but which is used to initialize the @code{age} slot. The @code{sex}
4137 slot is forced to the symbol @code{canine} with no syntax for
4138 overriding it.
4139
4140 @item :copier
4141 The argument is an alternate name for the copier function for
4142 this type. The default is @code{copy-@var{name}}. @code{nil}
4143 means not to generate a copier function. (In this implementation,
4144 all copier functions are simply synonyms for @code{copy-sequence}.)
4145
4146 @item :predicate
4147 The argument is an alternate name for the predicate which recognizes
4148 objects of this type. The default is @code{@var{name}-p}. @code{nil}
4149 means not to generate a predicate function. (If the @code{:type}
4150 option is used without the @code{:named} option, no predicate is
4151 ever generated.)
4152
4153 In true Common Lisp, @code{typep} is always able to recognize a
4154 structure object even if @code{:predicate} was used. In this
4155 package, @code{cl-typep} simply looks for a function called
4156 @code{@var{typename}-p}, so it will work for structure types
4157 only if they used the default predicate name.
4158
4159 @item :include
4160 This option implements a very limited form of C++-style inheritance.
4161 The argument is the name of another structure type previously
4162 created with @code{cl-defstruct}. The effect is to cause the new
4163 structure type to inherit all of the included structure's slots
4164 (plus, of course, any new slots described by this struct's slot
4165 descriptors). The new structure is considered a ``specialization''
4166 of the included one. In fact, the predicate and slot accessors
4167 for the included type will also accept objects of the new type.
4168
4169 If there are extra arguments to the @code{:include} option after
4170 the included-structure name, these options are treated as replacement
4171 slot descriptors for slots in the included structure, possibly with
4172 modified default values. Borrowing an example from Steele:
4173
4174 @example
4175 (cl-defstruct person name (age 0) sex)
4176 @result{} person
4177 (cl-defstruct (astronaut (:include person (age 45)))
4178 helmet-size
4179 (favorite-beverage 'tang))
4180 @result{} astronaut
4181
4182 (setq joe (make-person :name "Joe"))
4183 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Joe" 0 nil]
4184 (setq buzz (make-astronaut :name "Buzz"))
4185 @result{} [cl-struct-astronaut "Buzz" 45 nil nil tang]
4186
4187 (list (person-p joe) (person-p buzz))
4188 @result{} (t t)
4189 (list (astronaut-p joe) (astronaut-p buzz))
4190 @result{} (nil t)
4191
4192 (person-name buzz)
4193 @result{} "Buzz"
4194 (astronaut-name joe)
4195 @result{} error: "astronaut-name accessing a non-astronaut"
4196 @end example
4197
4198 Thus, if @code{astronaut} is a specialization of @code{person},
4199 then every @code{astronaut} is also a @code{person} (but not the
4200 other way around). Every @code{astronaut} includes all the slots
4201 of a @code{person}, plus extra slots that are specific to
4202 astronauts. Operations that work on people (like @code{person-name})
4203 work on astronauts just like other people.
4204
4205 @item :print-function
4206 In full Common Lisp, this option allows you to specify a function
4207 which is called to print an instance of the structure type. The
4208 Emacs Lisp system offers no hooks into the Lisp printer which would
4209 allow for such a feature, so this package simply ignores
4210 @code{:print-function}.
4211
4212 @item :type
4213 The argument should be one of the symbols @code{vector} or @code{list}.
4214 This tells which underlying Lisp data type should be used to implement
4215 the new structure type. Vectors are used by default, but
4216 @code{(:type list)} will cause structure objects to be stored as
4217 lists instead.
4218
4219 The vector representation for structure objects has the advantage
4220 that all structure slots can be accessed quickly, although creating
4221 vectors is a bit slower in Emacs Lisp. Lists are easier to create,
4222 but take a relatively long time accessing the later slots.
4223
4224 @item :named
4225 This option, which takes no arguments, causes a characteristic ``tag''
4226 symbol to be stored at the front of the structure object. Using
4227 @code{:type} without also using @code{:named} will result in a
4228 structure type stored as plain vectors or lists with no identifying
4229 features.
4230
4231 The default, if you don't specify @code{:type} explicitly, is to
4232 use named vectors. Therefore, @code{:named} is only useful in
4233 conjunction with @code{:type}.
4234
4235 @example
4236 (cl-defstruct (person1) name age sex)
4237 (cl-defstruct (person2 (:type list) :named) name age sex)
4238 (cl-defstruct (person3 (:type list)) name age sex)
4239
4240 (setq p1 (make-person1))
4241 @result{} [cl-struct-person1 nil nil nil]
4242 (setq p2 (make-person2))
4243 @result{} (person2 nil nil nil)
4244 (setq p3 (make-person3))
4245 @result{} (nil nil nil)
4246
4247 (person1-p p1)
4248 @result{} t
4249 (person2-p p2)
4250 @result{} t
4251 (person3-p p3)
4252 @result{} error: function person3-p undefined
4253 @end example
4254
4255 Since unnamed structures don't have tags, @code{cl-defstruct} is not
4256 able to make a useful predicate for recognizing them. Also,
4257 accessors like @code{person3-name} will be generated but they
4258 will not be able to do any type checking. The @code{person3-name}
4259 function, for example, will simply be a synonym for @code{car} in
4260 this case. By contrast, @code{person2-name} is able to verify
4261 that its argument is indeed a @code{person2} object before
4262 proceeding.
4263
4264 @item :initial-offset
4265 The argument must be a nonnegative integer. It specifies a
4266 number of slots to be left ``empty'' at the front of the
4267 structure. If the structure is named, the tag appears at the
4268 specified position in the list or vector; otherwise, the first
4269 slot appears at that position. Earlier positions are filled
4270 with @code{nil} by the constructors and ignored otherwise. If
4271 the type @code{:include}s another type, then @code{:initial-offset}
4272 specifies a number of slots to be skipped between the last slot
4273 of the included type and the first new slot.
4274 @end table
4275 @end defmac
4276
4277 Except as noted, the @code{cl-defstruct} facility of this package is
4278 entirely compatible with that of Common Lisp.
4279
4280 @node Assertions
4281 @chapter Assertions and Errors
4282
4283 @noindent
4284 This section describes two macros that test @dfn{assertions}, i.e.,
4285 conditions which must be true if the program is operating correctly.
4286 Assertions never add to the behavior of a Lisp program; they simply
4287 make ``sanity checks'' to make sure everything is as it should be.
4288
4289 If the optimization property @code{speed} has been set to 3, and
4290 @code{safety} is less than 3, then the byte-compiler will optimize
4291 away the following assertions. Because assertions might be optimized
4292 away, it is a bad idea for them to include side-effects.
4293
4294 @defmac cl-assert test-form [show-args string args@dots{}]
4295 This form verifies that @var{test-form} is true (i.e., evaluates to
4296 a non-@code{nil} value). If so, it returns @code{nil}. If the test
4297 is not satisfied, @code{cl-assert} signals an error.
4298
4299 A default error message will be supplied which includes @var{test-form}.
4300 You can specify a different error message by including a @var{string}
4301 argument plus optional extra arguments. Those arguments are simply
4302 passed to @code{error} to signal the error.
4303
4304 If the optional second argument @var{show-args} is @code{t} instead
4305 of @code{nil}, then the error message (with or without @var{string})
4306 will also include all non-constant arguments of the top-level
4307 @var{form}. For example:
4308
4309 @example
4310 (cl-assert (> x 10) t "x is too small: %d")
4311 @end example
4312
4313 This usage of @var{show-args} is an extension to Common Lisp. In
4314 true Common Lisp, the second argument gives a list of @var{places}
4315 which can be @code{setf}'d by the user before continuing from the
4316 error. Since Emacs Lisp does not support continuable errors, it
4317 makes no sense to specify @var{places}.
4318 @end defmac
4319
4320 @defmac cl-check-type form type [string]
4321 This form verifies that @var{form} evaluates to a value of type
4322 @var{type}. If so, it returns @code{nil}. If not, @code{cl-check-type}
4323 signals a @code{wrong-type-argument} error. The default error message
4324 lists the erroneous value along with @var{type} and @var{form}
4325 themselves. If @var{string} is specified, it is included in the
4326 error message in place of @var{type}. For example:
4327
4328 @example
4329 (cl-check-type x (integer 1 *) "a positive integer")
4330 @end example
4331
4332 @xref{Type Predicates}, for a description of the type specifiers
4333 that may be used for @var{type}.
4334
4335 Note that in Common Lisp, the first argument to @code{check-type}
4336 must be a @var{place} suitable for use by @code{setf}, because
4337 @code{check-type} signals a continuable error that allows the
4338 user to modify @var{place}.
4339 @end defmac
4340
4341 @node Efficiency Concerns
4342 @appendix Efficiency Concerns
4343
4344 @appendixsec Macros
4345
4346 @noindent
4347 Many of the advanced features of this package, such as @code{cl-defun},
4348 @code{cl-loop}, etc., are implemented as Lisp macros. In
4349 byte-compiled code, these complex notations will be expanded into
4350 equivalent Lisp code which is simple and efficient. For example,
4351 the form
4352
4353 @example
4354 (cl-incf i n)
4355 @end example
4356
4357 @noindent
4358 is expanded at compile-time to the Lisp form
4359
4360 @example
4361 (setq i (+ i n))
4362 @end example
4363
4364 @noindent
4365 which is the most efficient ways of doing this operation
4366 in Lisp. Thus, there is no performance penalty for using the more
4367 readable @code{cl-incf} form in your compiled code.
4368
4369 @emph{Interpreted} code, on the other hand, must expand these macros
4370 every time they are executed. For this reason it is strongly
4371 recommended that code making heavy use of macros be compiled.
4372 A loop using @code{cl-incf} a hundred times will execute considerably
4373 faster if compiled, and will also garbage-collect less because the
4374 macro expansion will not have to be generated, used, and thrown away a
4375 hundred times.
4376
4377 You can find out how a macro expands by using the
4378 @code{cl-prettyexpand} function.
4379
4380 @defun cl-prettyexpand form &optional full
4381 This function takes a single Lisp form as an argument and inserts
4382 a nicely formatted copy of it in the current buffer (which must be
4383 in Lisp mode so that indentation works properly). It also expands
4384 all Lisp macros which appear in the form. The easiest way to use
4385 this function is to go to the @file{*scratch*} buffer and type, say,
4386
4387 @example
4388 (cl-prettyexpand '(cl-loop for x below 10 collect x))
4389 @end example
4390
4391 @noindent
4392 and type @kbd{C-x C-e} immediately after the closing parenthesis;
4393 the expansion
4394
4395 @example
4396 (cl-block nil
4397 (let* ((x 0)
4398 (G1004 nil))
4399 (while (< x 10)
4400 (setq G1004 (cons x G1004))
4401 (setq x (+ x 1)))
4402 (nreverse G1004)))
4403 @end example
4404
4405 @noindent
4406 will be inserted into the buffer. (The @code{cl-block} macro is
4407 expanded differently in the interpreter and compiler, so
4408 @code{cl-prettyexpand} just leaves it alone. The temporary
4409 variable @code{G1004} was created by @code{cl-gensym}.)
4410
4411 If the optional argument @var{full} is true, then @emph{all}
4412 macros are expanded, including @code{cl-block}, @code{cl-eval-when},
4413 and compiler macros. Expansion is done as if @var{form} were
4414 a top-level form in a file being compiled. For example,
4415
4416 @example
4417 (cl-prettyexpand '(cl-pushnew 'x list))
4418 @print{} (setq list (cl-adjoin 'x list))
4419 (cl-prettyexpand '(cl-pushnew 'x list) t)
4420 @print{} (setq list (if (memq 'x list) list (cons 'x list)))
4421 (cl-prettyexpand '(caddr (cl-member 'a list)) t)
4422 @print{} (car (cdr (cdr (memq 'a list))))
4423 @end example
4424
4425 Note that @code{cl-adjoin}, @code{cl-caddr}, and @code{cl-member} all
4426 have built-in compiler macros to optimize them in common cases.
4427 @end defun
4428
4429 @ifinfo
4430 @example
4431
4432 @end example
4433 @end ifinfo
4434 @appendixsec Error Checking
4435
4436 @noindent
4437 Common Lisp compliance has in general not been sacrificed for the
4438 sake of efficiency. A few exceptions have been made for cases
4439 where substantial gains were possible at the expense of marginal
4440 incompatibility.
4441
4442 The Common Lisp standard (as embodied in Steele's book) uses the
4443 phrase ``it is an error if'' to indicate a situation which is not
4444 supposed to arise in complying programs; implementations are strongly
4445 encouraged but not required to signal an error in these situations.
4446 This package sometimes omits such error checking in the interest of
4447 compactness and efficiency. For example, @code{cl-do} variable
4448 specifiers are supposed to be lists of one, two, or three forms;
4449 extra forms are ignored by this package rather than signaling a
4450 syntax error. The @code{cl-endp} function is simply a synonym for
4451 @code{null} in this package. Functions taking keyword arguments
4452 will accept an odd number of arguments, treating the trailing
4453 keyword as if it were followed by the value @code{nil}.
4454
4455 Argument lists (as processed by @code{cl-defun} and friends)
4456 @emph{are} checked rigorously except for the minor point just
4457 mentioned; in particular, keyword arguments are checked for
4458 validity, and @code{&allow-other-keys} and @code{:allow-other-keys}
4459 are fully implemented. Keyword validity checking is slightly
4460 time consuming (though not too bad in byte-compiled code);
4461 you can use @code{&allow-other-keys} to omit this check. Functions
4462 defined in this package such as @code{cl-find} and @code{cl-member}
4463 do check their keyword arguments for validity.
4464
4465 @ifinfo
4466 @example
4467
4468 @end example
4469 @end ifinfo
4470 @appendixsec Optimizing Compiler
4471
4472 @noindent
4473 Use of the optimizing Emacs compiler is highly recommended; many of the Common
4474 Lisp macros emit
4475 code which can be improved by optimization. In particular,
4476 @code{cl-block}s (whether explicit or implicit in constructs like
4477 @code{cl-defun} and @code{cl-loop}) carry a fair run-time penalty; the
4478 optimizing compiler removes @code{cl-block}s which are not actually
4479 referenced by @code{cl-return} or @code{cl-return-from} inside the block.
4480
4481 @node Common Lisp Compatibility
4482 @appendix Common Lisp Compatibility
4483
4484 @noindent
4485 Following is a list of all known incompatibilities between this
4486 package and Common Lisp as documented in Steele (2nd edition).
4487
4488 The word @code{cl-defun} is required instead of @code{defun} in order
4489 to use extended Common Lisp argument lists in a function. Likewise,
4490 @code{cl-defmacro} and @code{cl-function} are versions of those forms
4491 which understand full-featured argument lists. The @code{&whole}
4492 keyword does not work in @code{defmacro} argument lists (except
4493 inside recursive argument lists).
4494
4495 The @code{equal} predicate does not distinguish
4496 between IEEE floating-point plus and minus zero. The @code{cl-equalp}
4497 predicate has several differences with Common Lisp; @pxref{Predicates}.
4498
4499 @c FIXME no longer provided by cl.
4500 The @code{setf} mechanism is entirely compatible, except that
4501 setf-methods return a list of five values rather than five
4502 values directly. Also, the new ``@code{setf} function'' concept
4503 (typified by @code{(defun (setf foo) @dots{})}) is not implemented.
4504
4505 The @code{cl-do-all-symbols} form is the same as @code{cl-do-symbols}
4506 with no @var{obarray} argument. In Common Lisp, this form would
4507 iterate over all symbols in all packages. Since Emacs obarrays
4508 are not a first-class package mechanism, there is no way for
4509 @code{cl-do-all-symbols} to locate any but the default obarray.
4510
4511 The @code{cl-loop} macro is complete except that @code{loop-finish}
4512 and type specifiers are unimplemented.
4513
4514 The multiple-value return facility treats lists as multiple
4515 values, since Emacs Lisp cannot support multiple return values
4516 directly. The macros will be compatible with Common Lisp if
4517 @code{cl-values} or @code{cl-values-list} is always used to return to
4518 a @code{cl-multiple-value-bind} or other multiple-value receiver;
4519 if @code{cl-values} is used without @code{cl-multiple-value-@dots{}}
4520 or vice-versa the effect will be different from Common Lisp.
4521
4522 Many Common Lisp declarations are ignored, and others match
4523 the Common Lisp standard in concept but not in detail. For
4524 example, local @code{special} declarations, which are purely
4525 advisory in Emacs Lisp, do not rigorously obey the scoping rules
4526 set down in Steele's book.
4527
4528 The variable @code{cl--gensym-counter} starts out with a pseudo-random
4529 value rather than with zero. This is to cope with the fact that
4530 generated symbols become interned when they are written to and
4531 loaded back from a file.
4532
4533 The @code{cl-defstruct} facility is compatible, except that structures
4534 are of type @code{:type vector :named} by default rather than some
4535 special, distinct type. Also, the @code{:type} slot option is ignored.
4536
4537 The second argument of @code{cl-check-type} is treated differently.
4538
4539 @node Porting Common Lisp
4540 @appendix Porting Common Lisp
4541
4542 @noindent
4543 This package is meant to be used as an extension to Emacs Lisp,
4544 not as an Emacs implementation of true Common Lisp. Some of the
4545 remaining differences between Emacs Lisp and Common Lisp make it
4546 difficult to port large Common Lisp applications to Emacs. For
4547 one, some of the features in this package are not fully compliant
4548 with ANSI or Steele; @pxref{Common Lisp Compatibility}. But there
4549 are also quite a few features that this package does not provide
4550 at all. Here are some major omissions that you will want to watch out
4551 for when bringing Common Lisp code into Emacs.
4552
4553 @itemize @bullet
4554 @item
4555 Case-insensitivity. Symbols in Common Lisp are case-insensitive
4556 by default. Some programs refer to a function or variable as
4557 @code{foo} in one place and @code{Foo} or @code{FOO} in another.
4558 Emacs Lisp will treat these as three distinct symbols.
4559
4560 Some Common Lisp code is written entirely in upper case. While Emacs
4561 is happy to let the program's own functions and variables use
4562 this convention, calls to Lisp builtins like @code{if} and
4563 @code{defun} will have to be changed to lower case.
4564
4565 @item
4566 Lexical scoping. In Common Lisp, function arguments and @code{let}
4567 bindings apply only to references physically within their bodies (or
4568 within macro expansions in their bodies). Traditionally, Emacs Lisp
4569 uses @dfn{dynamic scoping} wherein a binding to a variable is visible
4570 even inside functions called from the body.
4571 @xref{Dynamic Binding,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
4572 Lexical binding is available since Emacs 24.1, so be sure to set
4573 @code{lexical-binding} to @code{t} if you need to emulate this aspect
4574 of Common Lisp. @xref{Lexical Binding,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
4575
4576 Here is an example of a Common Lisp code fragment that would fail in
4577 Emacs Lisp if @code{lexical-binding} were set to @code{nil}:
4578
4579 @example
4580 (defun map-odd-elements (func list)
4581 (loop for x in list
4582 for flag = t then (not flag)
4583 collect (if flag x (funcall func x))))
4584
4585 (defun add-odd-elements (list x)
4586 (map-odd-elements (lambda (a) (+ a x)) list))
4587 @end example
4588
4589 @noindent
4590 With lexical binding, the two functions' usages of @code{x} are
4591 completely independent. With dynamic binding, the binding to @code{x}
4592 made by @code{add-odd-elements} will have been hidden by the binding
4593 in @code{map-odd-elements} by the time the @code{(+ a x)} function is
4594 called.
4595
4596 Internally, this package uses lexical binding so that such problems do
4597 not occur. @xref{Obsolete Lexical Binding}, for a description of the obsolete
4598 @code{lexical-let} form that emulates a Common Lisp-style lexical
4599 binding when dynamic binding is in use.
4600
4601 @item
4602 Reader macros. Common Lisp includes a second type of macro that
4603 works at the level of individual characters. For example, Common
4604 Lisp implements the quote notation by a reader macro called @code{'},
4605 whereas Emacs Lisp's parser just treats quote as a special case.
4606 Some Lisp packages use reader macros to create special syntaxes
4607 for themselves, which the Emacs parser is incapable of reading.
4608
4609 @item
4610 Other syntactic features. Common Lisp provides a number of
4611 notations beginning with @code{#} that the Emacs Lisp parser
4612 won't understand. For example, @samp{#| ... |#} is an
4613 alternate comment notation, and @samp{#+lucid (foo)} tells
4614 the parser to ignore the @code{(foo)} except in Lucid Common
4615 Lisp.
4616
4617 @item
4618 Packages. In Common Lisp, symbols are divided into @dfn{packages}.
4619 Symbols that are Lisp built-ins are typically stored in one package;
4620 symbols that are vendor extensions are put in another, and each
4621 application program would have a package for its own symbols.
4622 Certain symbols are ``exported'' by a package and others are
4623 internal; certain packages ``use'' or import the exported symbols
4624 of other packages. To access symbols that would not normally be
4625 visible due to this importing and exporting, Common Lisp provides
4626 a syntax like @code{package:symbol} or @code{package::symbol}.
4627
4628 Emacs Lisp has a single namespace for all interned symbols, and
4629 then uses a naming convention of putting a prefix like @code{cl-}
4630 in front of the name. Some Emacs packages adopt the Common Lisp-like
4631 convention of using @code{cl:} or @code{cl::} as the prefix.
4632 However, the Emacs parser does not understand colons and just
4633 treats them as part of the symbol name. Thus, while @code{mapcar}
4634 and @code{lisp:mapcar} may refer to the same symbol in Common
4635 Lisp, they are totally distinct in Emacs Lisp. Common Lisp
4636 programs which refer to a symbol by the full name sometimes
4637 and the short name other times will not port cleanly to Emacs.
4638
4639 Emacs Lisp does have a concept of ``obarrays'', which are
4640 package-like collections of symbols, but this feature is not
4641 strong enough to be used as a true package mechanism.
4642
4643 @item
4644 The @code{format} function is quite different between Common
4645 Lisp and Emacs Lisp. It takes an additional ``destination''
4646 argument before the format string. A destination of @code{nil}
4647 means to format to a string as in Emacs Lisp; a destination
4648 of @code{t} means to write to the terminal (similar to
4649 @code{message} in Emacs). Also, format control strings are
4650 utterly different; @code{~} is used instead of @code{%} to
4651 introduce format codes, and the set of available codes is
4652 much richer. There are no notations like @code{\n} for
4653 string literals; instead, @code{format} is used with the
4654 ``newline'' format code, @code{~%}. More advanced formatting
4655 codes provide such features as paragraph filling, case
4656 conversion, and even loops and conditionals.
4657
4658 While it would have been possible to implement most of Common
4659 Lisp @code{format} in this package (under the name @code{cl-format},
4660 of course), it was not deemed worthwhile. It would have required
4661 a huge amount of code to implement even a decent subset of
4662 @code{cl-format}, yet the functionality it would provide over
4663 Emacs Lisp's @code{format} would rarely be useful.
4664
4665 @item
4666 Vector constants use square brackets in Emacs Lisp, but
4667 @code{#(a b c)} notation in Common Lisp. To further complicate
4668 matters, Emacs has its own @code{#(} notation for
4669 something entirely different---strings with properties.
4670
4671 @item
4672 Characters are distinct from integers in Common Lisp. The notation
4673 for character constants is also different: @code{#\A} in Common Lisp
4674 where Emacs Lisp uses @code{?A}. Also, @code{string=} and
4675 @code{string-equal} are synonyms in Emacs Lisp, whereas the latter is
4676 case-insensitive in Common Lisp.
4677
4678 @item
4679 Data types. Some Common Lisp data types do not exist in Emacs
4680 Lisp. Rational numbers and complex numbers are not present,
4681 nor are large integers (all integers are ``fixnums''). All
4682 arrays are one-dimensional. There are no readtables or pathnames;
4683 streams are a set of existing data types rather than a new data
4684 type of their own. Hash tables, random-states, structures, and
4685 packages (obarrays) are built from Lisp vectors or lists rather
4686 than being distinct types.
4687
4688 @item
4689 The Common Lisp Object System (CLOS) is not implemented,
4690 nor is the Common Lisp Condition System. However, the EIEIO package
4691 (@pxref{Top, , Introduction, eieio, EIEIO}) does implement some
4692 CLOS functionality.
4693
4694 @item
4695 Common Lisp features that are completely redundant with Emacs
4696 Lisp features of a different name generally have not been
4697 implemented. For example, Common Lisp writes @code{defconstant}
4698 where Emacs Lisp uses @code{defconst}. Similarly, @code{make-list}
4699 takes its arguments in different ways in the two Lisps but does
4700 exactly the same thing, so this package has not bothered to
4701 implement a Common Lisp-style @code{make-list}.
4702
4703 @item
4704 A few more notable Common Lisp features not included in this
4705 package: @code{compiler-let}, @code{tagbody}, @code{prog},
4706 @code{ldb/dpb}, @code{parse-integer}, @code{cerror}.
4707
4708 @item
4709 Recursion. While recursion works in Emacs Lisp just like it
4710 does in Common Lisp, various details of the Emacs Lisp system
4711 and compiler make recursion much less efficient than it is in
4712 most Lisps. Some schools of thought prefer to use recursion
4713 in Lisp over other techniques; they would sum a list of
4714 numbers using something like
4715
4716 @example
4717 (defun sum-list (list)
4718 (if list
4719 (+ (car list) (sum-list (cdr list)))
4720 0))
4721 @end example
4722
4723 @noindent
4724 where a more iteratively-minded programmer might write one of
4725 these forms:
4726
4727 @example
4728 (let ((total 0)) (dolist (x my-list) (cl-incf total x)) total)
4729 (cl-loop for x in my-list sum x)
4730 @end example
4731
4732 While this would be mainly a stylistic choice in most Common Lisps,
4733 in Emacs Lisp you should be aware that the iterative forms are
4734 much faster than recursion. Also, Lisp programmers will want to
4735 note that the current Emacs Lisp compiler does not optimize tail
4736 recursion.
4737 @end itemize
4738
4739 @node Obsolete Features
4740 @appendix Obsolete Features
4741
4742 This section describes some features of the package that are obsolete
4743 and should not be used in new code. They are either only provided by
4744 the old @file{cl.el} entry point, not by the newer @file{cl-lib.el};
4745 or where versions with a @samp{cl-} prefix do exist they do not behave
4746 in exactly the same way.
4747
4748 @menu
4749 * Obsolete Lexical Binding:: An approximation of lexical binding.
4750 * Obsolete Macros:: Obsolete macros.
4751 * Obsolete Setf Customization:: Obsolete ways to customize setf.
4752 @end menu
4753
4754 @node Obsolete Lexical Binding
4755 @appendixsec Obsolete Lexical Binding
4756
4757 The following macros are extensions to Common Lisp, where all bindings
4758 are lexical unless declared otherwise. These features are likewise
4759 obsolete since the introduction of true lexical binding in Emacs 24.1.
4760
4761 @defmac lexical-let (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
4762 This form is exactly like @code{let} except that the bindings it
4763 establishes are purely lexical.
4764 @end defmac
4765
4766 @c FIXME remove this and refer to elisp manual.
4767 @c Maybe merge some stuff from here to there?
4768 @noindent
4769 Lexical bindings are similar to local variables in a language like C:
4770 Only the code physically within the body of the @code{lexical-let}
4771 (after macro expansion) may refer to the bound variables.
4772
4773 @example
4774 (setq a 5)
4775 (defun foo (b) (+ a b))
4776 (let ((a 2)) (foo a))
4777 @result{} 4
4778 (lexical-let ((a 2)) (foo a))
4779 @result{} 7
4780 @end example
4781
4782 @noindent
4783 In this example, a regular @code{let} binding of @code{a} actually
4784 makes a temporary change to the global variable @code{a}, so @code{foo}
4785 is able to see the binding of @code{a} to 2. But @code{lexical-let}
4786 actually creates a distinct local variable @code{a} for use within its
4787 body, without any effect on the global variable of the same name.
4788
4789 The most important use of lexical bindings is to create @dfn{closures}.
4790 A closure is a function object that refers to an outside lexical
4791 variable (@pxref{Closures,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}).
4792 For example:
4793
4794 @example
4795 (defun make-adder (n)
4796 (lexical-let ((n n))
4797 (function (lambda (m) (+ n m)))))
4798 (setq add17 (make-adder 17))
4799 (funcall add17 4)
4800 @result{} 21
4801 @end example
4802
4803 @noindent
4804 The call @code{(make-adder 17)} returns a function object which adds
4805 17 to its argument. If @code{let} had been used instead of
4806 @code{lexical-let}, the function object would have referred to the
4807 global @code{n}, which would have been bound to 17 only during the
4808 call to @code{make-adder} itself.
4809
4810 @example
4811 (defun make-counter ()
4812 (lexical-let ((n 0))
4813 (cl-function (lambda (&optional (m 1)) (cl-incf n m)))))
4814 (setq count-1 (make-counter))
4815 (funcall count-1 3)
4816 @result{} 3
4817 (funcall count-1 14)
4818 @result{} 17
4819 (setq count-2 (make-counter))
4820 (funcall count-2 5)
4821 @result{} 5
4822 (funcall count-1 2)
4823 @result{} 19
4824 (funcall count-2)
4825 @result{} 6
4826 @end example
4827
4828 @noindent
4829 Here we see that each call to @code{make-counter} creates a distinct
4830 local variable @code{n}, which serves as a private counter for the
4831 function object that is returned.
4832
4833 Closed-over lexical variables persist until the last reference to
4834 them goes away, just like all other Lisp objects. For example,
4835 @code{count-2} refers to a function object which refers to an
4836 instance of the variable @code{n}; this is the only reference
4837 to that variable, so after @code{(setq count-2 nil)} the garbage
4838 collector would be able to delete this instance of @code{n}.
4839 Of course, if a @code{lexical-let} does not actually create any
4840 closures, then the lexical variables are free as soon as the
4841 @code{lexical-let} returns.
4842
4843 Many closures are used only during the extent of the bindings they
4844 refer to; these are known as ``downward funargs'' in Lisp parlance.
4845 When a closure is used in this way, regular Emacs Lisp dynamic
4846 bindings suffice and will be more efficient than @code{lexical-let}
4847 closures:
4848
4849 @example
4850 (defun add-to-list (x list)
4851 (mapcar (lambda (y) (+ x y))) list)
4852 (add-to-list 7 '(1 2 5))
4853 @result{} (8 9 12)
4854 @end example
4855
4856 @noindent
4857 Since this lambda is only used while @code{x} is still bound,
4858 it is not necessary to make a true closure out of it.
4859
4860 You can use @code{defun} or @code{flet} inside a @code{lexical-let}
4861 to create a named closure. If several closures are created in the
4862 body of a single @code{lexical-let}, they all close over the same
4863 instance of the lexical variable.
4864
4865 @defmac lexical-let* (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
4866 This form is just like @code{lexical-let}, except that the bindings
4867 are made sequentially in the manner of @code{let*}.
4868 @end defmac
4869
4870 @node Obsolete Macros
4871 @appendixsec Obsolete Macros
4872
4873 The following macros are obsolete, and are replaced by versions with
4874 a @samp{cl-} prefix that do not behave in exactly the same way.
4875 Consequently, the @file{cl.el} versions are not simply aliases to the
4876 @file{cl-lib.el} versions.
4877
4878 @defmac flet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
4879 This macro is replaced by @code{cl-flet} (@pxref{Function Bindings}),
4880 which behaves the same way as Common Lisp's @code{flet}.
4881 This @code{flet} takes the same arguments as @code{cl-flet}, but does
4882 not behave in precisely the same way.
4883
4884 While @code{flet} in Common Lisp establishes a lexical function
4885 binding, this @code{flet} makes a dynamic binding (it dates from a
4886 time before Emacs had lexical binding). The result is
4887 that @code{flet} affects indirect calls to a function as well as calls
4888 directly inside the @code{flet} form itself.
4889
4890 @c Bug#411.
4891 Note that many primitives (e.g. @code{+}) have special byte-compile
4892 handling. Attempts to redefine such functions using @code{flet} will
4893 fail if byte-compiled.
4894 @c Or cl-flet.
4895 @c In such cases, use @code{labels} instead.
4896 @end defmac
4897
4898 @defmac labels (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
4899 This macro is replaced by @code{cl-labels} (@pxref{Function Bindings}),
4900 which behaves the same way as Common Lisp's @code{labels}.
4901 This @code{labels} takes the same arguments as @code{cl-labels}, but
4902 does not behave in precisely the same way.
4903
4904 This version of @code{labels} uses the obsolete @code{lexical-let}
4905 form (@pxref{Obsolete Lexical Binding}), rather than the true
4906 lexical binding that @code{cl-labels} uses.
4907 @end defmac
4908
4909 @defmac letf (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
4910 This macro is almost exactly the same as @code{cl-letf}, which
4911 replaces it (@pxref{Modify Macros}). The only difference is in
4912 details that relate to some deprecated usage of @code{symbol-function}
4913 in place forms.
4914 @end defmac
4915
4916 @node Obsolete Setf Customization
4917 @appendixsec Obsolete Ways to Customize Setf
4918
4919 Common Lisp defines three macros, @code{define-modify-macro},
4920 @code{defsetf}, and @code{define-setf-method}, that allow the
4921 user to extend generalized variables in various ways.
4922 In Emacs, these are obsolete, replaced by various features of
4923 @file{gv.el} in Emacs 24.3.
4924 @c FIXME details.
4925
4926 @defmac define-modify-macro name arglist function [doc-string]
4927 This macro defines a ``read-modify-write'' macro similar to
4928 @code{cl-incf} and @code{cl-decf}. The macro @var{name} is defined
4929 to take a @var{place} argument followed by additional arguments
4930 described by @var{arglist}. The call
4931
4932 @example
4933 (@var{name} @var{place} @var{args}...)
4934 @end example
4935
4936 @noindent
4937 will be expanded to
4938
4939 @example
4940 (cl-callf @var{func} @var{place} @var{args}...)
4941 @end example
4942
4943 @noindent
4944 which in turn is roughly equivalent to
4945
4946 @example
4947 (setf @var{place} (@var{func} @var{place} @var{args}...))
4948 @end example
4949
4950 For example:
4951
4952 @example
4953 (define-modify-macro cl-incf (&optional (n 1)) +)
4954 (define-modify-macro cl-concatf (&rest args) concat)
4955 @end example
4956
4957 Note that @code{&key} is not allowed in @var{arglist}, but
4958 @code{&rest} is sufficient to pass keywords on to the function.
4959
4960 Most of the modify macros defined by Common Lisp do not exactly
4961 follow the pattern of @code{define-modify-macro}. For example,
4962 @code{push} takes its arguments in the wrong order, and @code{pop}
4963 is completely irregular. You can define these macros ``by hand''
4964 using @code{get-setf-method}, or consult the source
4965 to see how to use the internal @code{setf} building blocks.
4966 @end defmac
4967
4968 @defmac defsetf access-fn update-fn
4969 This is the simpler of two @code{defsetf} forms. Where
4970 @var{access-fn} is the name of a function which accesses a place,
4971 this declares @var{update-fn} to be the corresponding store
4972 function. From now on,
4973
4974 @example
4975 (setf (@var{access-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3}) @var{value})
4976 @end example
4977
4978 @noindent
4979 will be expanded to
4980
4981 @example
4982 (@var{update-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3} @var{value})
4983 @end example
4984
4985 @noindent
4986 The @var{update-fn} is required to be either a true function, or
4987 a macro which evaluates its arguments in a function-like way. Also,
4988 the @var{update-fn} is expected to return @var{value} as its result.
4989 Otherwise, the above expansion would not obey the rules for the way
4990 @code{setf} is supposed to behave.
4991
4992 As a special (non-Common-Lisp) extension, a third argument of @code{t}
4993 to @code{defsetf} says that the @code{update-fn}'s return value is
4994 not suitable, so that the above @code{setf} should be expanded to
4995 something more like
4996
4997 @example
4998 (let ((temp @var{value}))
4999 (@var{update-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3} temp)
5000 temp)
5001 @end example
5002
5003 Some examples of the use of @code{defsetf}, drawn from the standard
5004 suite of setf methods, are:
5005
5006 @example
5007 (defsetf car setcar)
5008 (defsetf symbol-value set)
5009 (defsetf buffer-name rename-buffer t)
5010 @end example
5011 @end defmac
5012
5013 @defmac defsetf access-fn arglist (store-var) forms@dots{}
5014 This is the second, more complex, form of @code{defsetf}. It is
5015 rather like @code{defmacro} except for the additional @var{store-var}
5016 argument. The @var{forms} should return a Lisp form which stores
5017 the value of @var{store-var} into the generalized variable formed
5018 by a call to @var{access-fn} with arguments described by @var{arglist}.
5019 The @var{forms} may begin with a string which documents the @code{setf}
5020 method (analogous to the doc string that appears at the front of a
5021 function).
5022
5023 For example, the simple form of @code{defsetf} is shorthand for
5024
5025 @example
5026 (defsetf @var{access-fn} (&rest args) (store)
5027 (append '(@var{update-fn}) args (list store)))
5028 @end example
5029
5030 The Lisp form that is returned can access the arguments from
5031 @var{arglist} and @var{store-var} in an unrestricted fashion;
5032 macros like @code{setf} and @code{cl-incf} which invoke this
5033 setf-method will insert temporary variables as needed to make
5034 sure the apparent order of evaluation is preserved.
5035
5036 Another example drawn from the standard package:
5037
5038 @example
5039 (defsetf nth (n x) (store)
5040 (list 'setcar (list 'nthcdr n x) store))
5041 @end example
5042 @end defmac
5043
5044 @defmac define-setf-method access-fn arglist forms@dots{}
5045 This is the most general way to create new place forms. When
5046 a @code{setf} to @var{access-fn} with arguments described by
5047 @var{arglist} is expanded, the @var{forms} are evaluated and
5048 must return a list of five items:
5049
5050 @enumerate
5051 @item
5052 A list of @dfn{temporary variables}.
5053
5054 @item
5055 A list of @dfn{value forms} corresponding to the temporary variables
5056 above. The temporary variables will be bound to these value forms
5057 as the first step of any operation on the generalized variable.
5058
5059 @item
5060 A list of exactly one @dfn{store variable} (generally obtained
5061 from a call to @code{gensym}).
5062
5063 @item
5064 A Lisp form which stores the contents of the store variable into
5065 the generalized variable, assuming the temporaries have been
5066 bound as described above.
5067
5068 @item
5069 A Lisp form which accesses the contents of the generalized variable,
5070 assuming the temporaries have been bound.
5071 @end enumerate
5072
5073 This is exactly like the Common Lisp macro of the same name,
5074 except that the method returns a list of five values rather
5075 than the five values themselves, since Emacs Lisp does not
5076 support Common Lisp's notion of multiple return values.
5077
5078 Once again, the @var{forms} may begin with a documentation string.
5079
5080 A setf-method should be maximally conservative with regard to
5081 temporary variables. In the setf-methods generated by
5082 @code{defsetf}, the second return value is simply the list of
5083 arguments in the place form, and the first return value is a
5084 list of a corresponding number of temporary variables generated
5085 by @code{cl-gensym}. Macros like @code{setf} and @code{cl-incf} which
5086 use this setf-method will optimize away most temporaries that
5087 turn out to be unnecessary, so there is little reason for the
5088 setf-method itself to optimize.
5089 @end defmac
5090
5091 @defun get-setf-method place &optional env
5092 This function returns the setf-method for @var{place}, by
5093 invoking the definition previously recorded by @code{defsetf}
5094 or @code{define-setf-method}. The result is a list of five
5095 values as described above. You can use this function to build
5096 your own @code{cl-incf}-like modify macros. (Actually, it is
5097 @c FIXME?
5098 better to use the internal functions @code{cl-setf-do-modify}
5099 and @code{cl-setf-do-store}, which are a bit easier to use and
5100 which also do a number of optimizations; consult the source
5101 code for the @code{cl-incf} function for a simple example.)
5102
5103 The argument @var{env} specifies the ``environment'' to be
5104 passed on to @code{macroexpand} if @code{get-setf-method} should
5105 need to expand a macro in @var{place}. It should come from
5106 an @code{&environment} argument to the macro or setf-method
5107 that called @code{get-setf-method}.
5108
5109 See also the source code for the setf-method for
5110 @c Also @code{apply}, but that is commented out.
5111 @code{substring}, which works by calling @code{get-setf-method} on a
5112 simpler case, then massaging the result.
5113 @end defun
5114
5115 Modern Common Lisp defines a second, independent way to specify
5116 the @code{setf} behavior of a function, namely ``@code{setf}
5117 functions'' whose names are lists @code{(setf @var{name})}
5118 rather than symbols. For example, @code{(defun (setf foo) @dots{})}
5119 defines the function that is used when @code{setf} is applied to
5120 @code{foo}. This package does not currently support @code{setf}
5121 functions. In particular, it is a compile-time error to use
5122 @code{setf} on a form which has not already been @code{defsetf}'d
5123 or otherwise declared; in newer Common Lisps, this would not be
5124 an error since the function @code{(setf @var{func})} might be
5125 defined later.
5126
5127
5128 @node GNU Free Documentation License
5129 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
5130 @include doclicense.texi
5131
5132 @node Function Index
5133 @unnumbered Function Index
5134
5135 @printindex fn
5136
5137 @node Variable Index
5138 @unnumbered Variable Index
5139
5140 @printindex vr
5141
5142 @bye