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1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @setfilename ../../info/cl
3 @settitle Common Lisp Extensions
4
5 @copying
6 This file documents the GNU Emacs Common Lisp emulation package.
7
8 Copyright @copyright{} 1993, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
9 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 1.2 or
14 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
15 Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU
16 Manual'', and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the
17 license is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation
18 License'' in the Emacs manual.
19
20 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have freedom to copy and modify
21 this GNU Manual, like GNU software. Copies published by the Free
22 Software Foundation raise funds for GNU development.''
23
24 This document is part of a collection distributed under the GNU Free
25 Documentation License. If you want to distribute this document
26 separately from the collection, you can do so by adding a copy of the
27 license to the document, as described in section 6 of the license.
28 @end quotation
29 @end copying
30
31 @dircategory Emacs
32 @direntry
33 * CL: (cl). Partial Common Lisp support for Emacs Lisp.
34 @end direntry
35
36 @finalout
37
38 @titlepage
39 @sp 6
40 @center @titlefont{Common Lisp Extensions}
41 @sp 4
42 @center For GNU Emacs Lisp
43 @sp 1
44 @center Version 2.02
45 @sp 5
46 @center Dave Gillespie
47 @center daveg@@synaptics.com
48 @page
49 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
50 @insertcopying
51 @end titlepage
52
53 @node Top, Overview, (dir), (dir)
54 @chapter Introduction
55
56 @noindent
57 This document describes a set of Emacs Lisp facilities borrowed from
58 Common Lisp. All the facilities are described here in detail. While
59 this document does not assume any prior knowledge of Common Lisp, it
60 does assume a basic familiarity with Emacs Lisp.
61
62 @menu
63 * Overview:: Installation, usage, etc.
64 * Program Structure:: Arglists, `eval-when', `defalias'
65 * Predicates:: `typep', `eql', and `equalp'
66 * Control Structure:: `setf', `do', `loop', etc.
67 * Macros:: Destructuring, `define-compiler-macro'
68 * Declarations:: `proclaim', `declare', etc.
69 * Symbols:: Property lists, `gensym'
70 * Numbers:: Predicates, functions, random numbers
71 * Sequences:: Mapping, functions, searching, sorting
72 * Lists:: `cadr', `sublis', `member*', `assoc*', etc.
73 * Structures:: `defstruct'
74 * Assertions:: `check-type', `assert', `ignore-errors'.
75
76 * Efficiency Concerns:: Hints and techniques
77 * Common Lisp Compatibility:: All known differences with Steele
78 * Old CL Compatibility:: All known differences with old cl.el
79 * Porting Common Lisp:: Hints for porting Common Lisp code
80
81 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation.
82 * Function Index::
83 * Variable Index::
84 @end menu
85
86 @node Overview, Program Structure, Top, Top
87 @ifnottex
88 @chapter Overview
89 @end ifnottex
90
91 @noindent
92 Common Lisp is a huge language, and Common Lisp systems tend to be
93 massive and extremely complex. Emacs Lisp, by contrast, is rather
94 minimalist in the choice of Lisp features it offers the programmer.
95 As Emacs Lisp programmers have grown in number, and the applications
96 they write have grown more ambitious, it has become clear that Emacs
97 Lisp could benefit from many of the conveniences of Common Lisp.
98
99 The @dfn{CL} package adds a number of Common Lisp functions and
100 control structures to Emacs Lisp. While not a 100% complete
101 implementation of Common Lisp, @dfn{CL} adds enough functionality
102 to make Emacs Lisp programming significantly more convenient.
103
104 @strong{Please note:} the @dfn{CL} functions are not standard parts of
105 the Emacs Lisp name space, so it is legitimate for users to define
106 them with other, conflicting meanings. To avoid conflicting with
107 those user activities, we have a policy that packages installed in
108 Emacs must not load @dfn{CL} at run time. (It is ok for them to load
109 @dfn{CL} at compile time only, with @code{eval-when-compile}, and use
110 the macros it provides.) If you are writing packages that you plan to
111 distribute and invite widespread use for, you might want to observe
112 the same rule.
113
114 Some Common Lisp features have been omitted from this package
115 for various reasons:
116
117 @itemize @bullet
118 @item
119 Some features are too complex or bulky relative to their benefit
120 to Emacs Lisp programmers. CLOS and Common Lisp streams are fine
121 examples of this group.
122
123 @item
124 Other features cannot be implemented without modification to the
125 Emacs Lisp interpreter itself, such as multiple return values,
126 lexical scoping, case-insensitive symbols, and complex numbers.
127 The @dfn{CL} package generally makes no attempt to emulate these
128 features.
129
130 @item
131 Some features conflict with existing things in Emacs Lisp. For
132 example, Emacs' @code{assoc} function is incompatible with the
133 Common Lisp @code{assoc}. In such cases, this package usually
134 adds the suffix @samp{*} to the function name of the Common
135 Lisp version of the function (e.g., @code{assoc*}).
136 @end itemize
137
138 The package described here was written by Dave Gillespie,
139 @file{daveg@@synaptics.com}. It is a total rewrite of the original
140 1986 @file{cl.el} package by Cesar Quiroz. Most features of the
141 Quiroz package have been retained; any incompatibilities are
142 noted in the descriptions below. Care has been taken in this
143 version to ensure that each function is defined efficiently,
144 concisely, and with minimal impact on the rest of the Emacs
145 environment.
146
147 @menu
148 * Usage:: How to use the CL package
149 * Organization:: The package's five component files
150 * Installation:: Compiling and installing CL
151 * Naming Conventions:: Notes on CL function names
152 @end menu
153
154 @node Usage, Organization, Overview, Overview
155 @section Usage
156
157 @noindent
158 Lisp code that uses features from the @dfn{CL} package should
159 include at the beginning:
160
161 @example
162 (require 'cl)
163 @end example
164
165 @noindent
166 If you want to ensure that the new (Gillespie) version of @dfn{CL}
167 is the one that is present, add an additional @code{(require 'cl-19)}
168 call:
169
170 @example
171 (require 'cl)
172 (require 'cl-19)
173 @end example
174
175 @noindent
176 The second call will fail (with ``@file{cl-19.el} not found'') if
177 the old @file{cl.el} package was in use.
178
179 It is safe to arrange to load @dfn{CL} at all times, e.g.,
180 in your @file{.emacs} file. But it's a good idea, for portability,
181 to @code{(require 'cl)} in your code even if you do this.
182
183 @node Organization, Installation, Usage, Overview
184 @section Organization
185
186 @noindent
187 The Common Lisp package is organized into four files:
188
189 @table @file
190 @item cl.el
191 This is the ``main'' file, which contains basic functions
192 and information about the package. This file is relatively
193 compact---about 700 lines.
194
195 @item cl-extra.el
196 This file contains the larger, more complex or unusual functions.
197 It is kept separate so that packages which only want to use Common
198 Lisp fundamentals like the @code{cadr} function won't need to pay
199 the overhead of loading the more advanced functions.
200
201 @item cl-seq.el
202 This file contains most of the advanced functions for operating
203 on sequences or lists, such as @code{delete-if} and @code{assoc*}.
204
205 @item cl-macs.el
206 This file contains the features of the packages which are macros
207 instead of functions. Macros expand when the caller is compiled,
208 not when it is run, so the macros generally only need to be
209 present when the byte-compiler is running (or when the macros are
210 used in uncompiled code such as a @file{.emacs} file). Most of
211 the macros of this package are isolated in @file{cl-macs.el} so
212 that they won't take up memory unless you are compiling.
213 @end table
214
215 The file @file{cl.el} includes all necessary @code{autoload}
216 commands for the functions and macros in the other three files.
217 All you have to do is @code{(require 'cl)}, and @file{cl.el}
218 will take care of pulling in the other files when they are
219 needed.
220
221 There is another file, @file{cl-compat.el}, which defines some
222 routines from the older @file{cl.el} package that are no longer
223 present in the new package. This includes internal routines
224 like @code{setelt} and @code{zip-lists}, deprecated features
225 like @code{defkeyword}, and an emulation of the old-style
226 multiple-values feature. @xref{Old CL Compatibility}.
227
228 @node Installation, Naming Conventions, Organization, Overview
229 @section Installation
230
231 @noindent
232 Installation of the @dfn{CL} package is simple: Just put the
233 byte-compiled files @file{cl.elc}, @file{cl-extra.elc},
234 @file{cl-seq.elc}, @file{cl-macs.elc}, and @file{cl-compat.elc}
235 into a directory on your @code{load-path}.
236
237 There are no special requirements to compile this package:
238 The files do not have to be loaded before they are compiled,
239 nor do they need to be compiled in any particular order.
240
241 You may choose to put the files into your main @file{lisp/}
242 directory, replacing the original @file{cl.el} file there. Or,
243 you could put them into a directory that comes before @file{lisp/}
244 on your @code{load-path} so that the old @file{cl.el} is
245 effectively hidden.
246
247 Also, format the @file{cl.texinfo} file and put the resulting
248 Info files in the @file{info/} directory or another suitable place.
249
250 You may instead wish to leave this package's components all in
251 their own directory, and then add this directory to your
252 @code{load-path} and @code{Info-directory-list}.
253 Add the directory to the front of the list so the old @dfn{CL}
254 package and its documentation are hidden.
255
256 @node Naming Conventions, , Installation, Overview
257 @section Naming Conventions
258
259 @noindent
260 Except where noted, all functions defined by this package have the
261 same names and calling conventions as their Common Lisp counterparts.
262
263 Following is a complete list of functions whose names were changed
264 from Common Lisp, usually to avoid conflicts with Emacs. In each
265 case, a @samp{*} has been appended to the Common Lisp name to obtain
266 the Emacs name:
267
268 @example
269 defun* defsubst* defmacro* function*
270 member* assoc* rassoc* get*
271 remove* delete* mapcar* sort*
272 floor* ceiling* truncate* round*
273 mod* rem* random*
274 @end example
275
276 Internal function and variable names in the package are prefixed
277 by @code{cl-}. Here is a complete list of functions @emph{not}
278 prefixed by @code{cl-} which were not taken from Common Lisp:
279
280 @example
281 floatp-safe lexical-let lexical-let*
282 callf callf2 letf letf*
283 defsubst*
284 @end example
285
286 The following simple functions and macros are defined in @file{cl.el};
287 they do not cause other components like @file{cl-extra} to be loaded.
288
289 @example
290 eql floatp-safe endp
291 evenp oddp plusp minusp
292 caaar .. cddddr
293 list* ldiff rest first .. tenth
294 copy-list subst mapcar* [2]
295 adjoin [3] acons pairlis pop [4]
296 push [4] pushnew [3,4] incf [4] decf [4]
297 proclaim declaim
298 @end example
299
300 @noindent
301 [2] Only for one sequence argument or two list arguments.
302
303 @noindent
304 [3] Only if @code{:test} is @code{eq}, @code{equal}, or unspecified,
305 and @code{:key} is not used.
306
307 @noindent
308 [4] Only when @var{place} is a plain variable name.
309
310 @iftex
311 @chapno=4
312 @end iftex
313
314 @node Program Structure, Predicates, Overview, Top
315 @chapter Program Structure
316
317 @noindent
318 This section describes features of the @dfn{CL} package which have to
319 do with programs as a whole: advanced argument lists for functions,
320 and the @code{eval-when} construct.
321
322 @menu
323 * Argument Lists:: `&key', `&aux', `defun*', `defmacro*'.
324 * Time of Evaluation:: The `eval-when' construct.
325 @end menu
326
327 @iftex
328 @secno=1
329 @end iftex
330
331 @node Argument Lists, Time of Evaluation, Program Structure, Program Structure
332 @section Argument Lists
333
334 @noindent
335 Emacs Lisp's notation for argument lists of functions is a subset of
336 the Common Lisp notation. As well as the familiar @code{&optional}
337 and @code{&rest} markers, Common Lisp allows you to specify default
338 values for optional arguments, and it provides the additional markers
339 @code{&key} and @code{&aux}.
340
341 Since argument parsing is built-in to Emacs, there is no way for
342 this package to implement Common Lisp argument lists seamlessly.
343 Instead, this package defines alternates for several Lisp forms
344 which you must use if you need Common Lisp argument lists.
345
346 @defspec defun* name arglist body...
347 This form is identical to the regular @code{defun} form, except
348 that @var{arglist} is allowed to be a full Common Lisp argument
349 list. Also, the function body is enclosed in an implicit block
350 called @var{name}; @pxref{Blocks and Exits}.
351 @end defspec
352
353 @defspec defsubst* name arglist body...
354 This is just like @code{defun*}, except that the function that
355 is defined is automatically proclaimed @code{inline}, i.e.,
356 calls to it may be expanded into in-line code by the byte compiler.
357 This is analogous to the @code{defsubst} form;
358 @code{defsubst*} uses a different method (compiler macros) which
359 works in all version of Emacs, and also generates somewhat more
360 efficient inline expansions. In particular, @code{defsubst*}
361 arranges for the processing of keyword arguments, default values,
362 etc., to be done at compile-time whenever possible.
363 @end defspec
364
365 @defspec defmacro* name arglist body...
366 This is identical to the regular @code{defmacro} form,
367 except that @var{arglist} is allowed to be a full Common Lisp
368 argument list. The @code{&environment} keyword is supported as
369 described in Steele. The @code{&whole} keyword is supported only
370 within destructured lists (see below); top-level @code{&whole}
371 cannot be implemented with the current Emacs Lisp interpreter.
372 The macro expander body is enclosed in an implicit block called
373 @var{name}.
374 @end defspec
375
376 @defspec function* symbol-or-lambda
377 This is identical to the regular @code{function} form,
378 except that if the argument is a @code{lambda} form then that
379 form may use a full Common Lisp argument list.
380 @end defspec
381
382 Also, all forms (such as @code{defsetf} and @code{flet}) defined
383 in this package that include @var{arglist}s in their syntax allow
384 full Common Lisp argument lists.
385
386 Note that it is @emph{not} necessary to use @code{defun*} in
387 order to have access to most @dfn{CL} features in your function.
388 These features are always present; @code{defun*}'s only
389 difference from @code{defun} is its more flexible argument
390 lists and its implicit block.
391
392 The full form of a Common Lisp argument list is
393
394 @example
395 (@var{var}...
396 &optional (@var{var} @var{initform} @var{svar})...
397 &rest @var{var}
398 &key ((@var{keyword} @var{var}) @var{initform} @var{svar})...
399 &aux (@var{var} @var{initform})...)
400 @end example
401
402 Each of the five argument list sections is optional. The @var{svar},
403 @var{initform}, and @var{keyword} parts are optional; if they are
404 omitted, then @samp{(@var{var})} may be written simply @samp{@var{var}}.
405
406 The first section consists of zero or more @dfn{required} arguments.
407 These arguments must always be specified in a call to the function;
408 there is no difference between Emacs Lisp and Common Lisp as far as
409 required arguments are concerned.
410
411 The second section consists of @dfn{optional} arguments. These
412 arguments may be specified in the function call; if they are not,
413 @var{initform} specifies the default value used for the argument.
414 (No @var{initform} means to use @code{nil} as the default.) The
415 @var{initform} is evaluated with the bindings for the preceding
416 arguments already established; @code{(a &optional (b (1+ a)))}
417 matches one or two arguments, with the second argument defaulting
418 to one plus the first argument. If the @var{svar} is specified,
419 it is an auxiliary variable which is bound to @code{t} if the optional
420 argument was specified, or to @code{nil} if the argument was omitted.
421 If you don't use an @var{svar}, then there will be no way for your
422 function to tell whether it was called with no argument, or with
423 the default value passed explicitly as an argument.
424
425 The third section consists of a single @dfn{rest} argument. If
426 more arguments were passed to the function than are accounted for
427 by the required and optional arguments, those extra arguments are
428 collected into a list and bound to the ``rest'' argument variable.
429 Common Lisp's @code{&rest} is equivalent to that of Emacs Lisp.
430 Common Lisp accepts @code{&body} as a synonym for @code{&rest} in
431 macro contexts; this package accepts it all the time.
432
433 The fourth section consists of @dfn{keyword} arguments. These
434 are optional arguments which are specified by name rather than
435 positionally in the argument list. For example,
436
437 @example
438 (defun* foo (a &optional b &key c d (e 17)))
439 @end example
440
441 @noindent
442 defines a function which may be called with one, two, or more
443 arguments. The first two arguments are bound to @code{a} and
444 @code{b} in the usual way. The remaining arguments must be
445 pairs of the form @code{:c}, @code{:d}, or @code{:e} followed
446 by the value to be bound to the corresponding argument variable.
447 (Symbols whose names begin with a colon are called @dfn{keywords},
448 and they are self-quoting in the same way as @code{nil} and
449 @code{t}.)
450
451 For example, the call @code{(foo 1 2 :d 3 :c 4)} sets the five
452 arguments to 1, 2, 4, 3, and 17, respectively. If the same keyword
453 appears more than once in the function call, the first occurrence
454 takes precedence over the later ones. Note that it is not possible
455 to specify keyword arguments without specifying the optional
456 argument @code{b} as well, since @code{(foo 1 :c 2)} would bind
457 @code{b} to the keyword @code{:c}, then signal an error because
458 @code{2} is not a valid keyword.
459
460 If a @var{keyword} symbol is explicitly specified in the argument
461 list as shown in the above diagram, then that keyword will be
462 used instead of just the variable name prefixed with a colon.
463 You can specify a @var{keyword} symbol which does not begin with
464 a colon at all, but such symbols will not be self-quoting; you
465 will have to quote them explicitly with an apostrophe in the
466 function call.
467
468 Ordinarily it is an error to pass an unrecognized keyword to
469 a function, e.g., @code{(foo 1 2 :c 3 :goober 4)}. You can ask
470 Lisp to ignore unrecognized keywords, either by adding the
471 marker @code{&allow-other-keys} after the keyword section
472 of the argument list, or by specifying an @code{:allow-other-keys}
473 argument in the call whose value is non-@code{nil}. If the
474 function uses both @code{&rest} and @code{&key} at the same time,
475 the ``rest'' argument is bound to the keyword list as it appears
476 in the call. For example:
477
478 @smallexample
479 (defun* find-thing (thing &rest rest &key need &allow-other-keys)
480 (or (apply 'member* thing thing-list :allow-other-keys t rest)
481 (if need (error "Thing not found"))))
482 @end smallexample
483
484 @noindent
485 This function takes a @code{:need} keyword argument, but also
486 accepts other keyword arguments which are passed on to the
487 @code{member*} function. @code{allow-other-keys} is used to
488 keep both @code{find-thing} and @code{member*} from complaining
489 about each others' keywords in the arguments.
490
491 The fifth section of the argument list consists of @dfn{auxiliary
492 variables}. These are not really arguments at all, but simply
493 variables which are bound to @code{nil} or to the specified
494 @var{initforms} during execution of the function. There is no
495 difference between the following two functions, except for a
496 matter of stylistic taste:
497
498 @example
499 (defun* foo (a b &aux (c (+ a b)) d)
500 @var{body})
501
502 (defun* foo (a b)
503 (let ((c (+ a b)) d)
504 @var{body}))
505 @end example
506
507 Argument lists support @dfn{destructuring}. In Common Lisp,
508 destructuring is only allowed with @code{defmacro}; this package
509 allows it with @code{defun*} and other argument lists as well.
510 In destructuring, any argument variable (@var{var} in the above
511 diagram) can be replaced by a list of variables, or more generally,
512 a recursive argument list. The corresponding argument value must
513 be a list whose elements match this recursive argument list.
514 For example:
515
516 @example
517 (defmacro* dolist ((var listform &optional resultform)
518 &rest body)
519 ...)
520 @end example
521
522 This says that the first argument of @code{dolist} must be a list
523 of two or three items; if there are other arguments as well as this
524 list, they are stored in @code{body}. All features allowed in
525 regular argument lists are allowed in these recursive argument lists.
526 In addition, the clause @samp{&whole @var{var}} is allowed at the
527 front of a recursive argument list. It binds @var{var} to the
528 whole list being matched; thus @code{(&whole all a b)} matches
529 a list of two things, with @code{a} bound to the first thing,
530 @code{b} bound to the second thing, and @code{all} bound to the
531 list itself. (Common Lisp allows @code{&whole} in top-level
532 @code{defmacro} argument lists as well, but Emacs Lisp does not
533 support this usage.)
534
535 One last feature of destructuring is that the argument list may be
536 dotted, so that the argument list @code{(a b . c)} is functionally
537 equivalent to @code{(a b &rest c)}.
538
539 If the optimization quality @code{safety} is set to 0
540 (@pxref{Declarations}), error checking for wrong number of
541 arguments and invalid keyword arguments is disabled. By default,
542 argument lists are rigorously checked.
543
544 @node Time of Evaluation, , Argument Lists, Program Structure
545 @section Time of Evaluation
546
547 @noindent
548 Normally, the byte-compiler does not actually execute the forms in
549 a file it compiles. For example, if a file contains @code{(setq foo t)},
550 the act of compiling it will not actually set @code{foo} to @code{t}.
551 This is true even if the @code{setq} was a top-level form (i.e., not
552 enclosed in a @code{defun} or other form). Sometimes, though, you
553 would like to have certain top-level forms evaluated at compile-time.
554 For example, the compiler effectively evaluates @code{defmacro} forms
555 at compile-time so that later parts of the file can refer to the
556 macros that are defined.
557
558 @defspec eval-when (situations...) forms...
559 This form controls when the body @var{forms} are evaluated.
560 The @var{situations} list may contain any set of the symbols
561 @code{compile}, @code{load}, and @code{eval} (or their long-winded
562 ANSI equivalents, @code{:compile-toplevel}, @code{:load-toplevel},
563 and @code{:execute}).
564
565 The @code{eval-when} form is handled differently depending on
566 whether or not it is being compiled as a top-level form.
567 Specifically, it gets special treatment if it is being compiled
568 by a command such as @code{byte-compile-file} which compiles files
569 or buffers of code, and it appears either literally at the
570 top level of the file or inside a top-level @code{progn}.
571
572 For compiled top-level @code{eval-when}s, the body @var{forms} are
573 executed at compile-time if @code{compile} is in the @var{situations}
574 list, and the @var{forms} are written out to the file (to be executed
575 at load-time) if @code{load} is in the @var{situations} list.
576
577 For non-compiled-top-level forms, only the @code{eval} situation is
578 relevant. (This includes forms executed by the interpreter, forms
579 compiled with @code{byte-compile} rather than @code{byte-compile-file},
580 and non-top-level forms.) The @code{eval-when} acts like a
581 @code{progn} if @code{eval} is specified, and like @code{nil}
582 (ignoring the body @var{forms}) if not.
583
584 The rules become more subtle when @code{eval-when}s are nested;
585 consult Steele (second edition) for the gruesome details (and
586 some gruesome examples).
587
588 Some simple examples:
589
590 @example
591 ;; Top-level forms in foo.el:
592 (eval-when (compile) (setq foo1 'bar))
593 (eval-when (load) (setq foo2 'bar))
594 (eval-when (compile load) (setq foo3 'bar))
595 (eval-when (eval) (setq foo4 'bar))
596 (eval-when (eval compile) (setq foo5 'bar))
597 (eval-when (eval load) (setq foo6 'bar))
598 (eval-when (eval compile load) (setq foo7 'bar))
599 @end example
600
601 When @file{foo.el} is compiled, these variables will be set during
602 the compilation itself:
603
604 @example
605 foo1 foo3 foo5 foo7 ; `compile'
606 @end example
607
608 When @file{foo.elc} is loaded, these variables will be set:
609
610 @example
611 foo2 foo3 foo6 foo7 ; `load'
612 @end example
613
614 And if @file{foo.el} is loaded uncompiled, these variables will
615 be set:
616
617 @example
618 foo4 foo5 foo6 foo7 ; `eval'
619 @end example
620
621 If these seven @code{eval-when}s had been, say, inside a @code{defun},
622 then the first three would have been equivalent to @code{nil} and the
623 last four would have been equivalent to the corresponding @code{setq}s.
624
625 Note that @code{(eval-when (load eval) @dots{})} is equivalent
626 to @code{(progn @dots{})} in all contexts. The compiler treats
627 certain top-level forms, like @code{defmacro} (sort-of) and
628 @code{require}, as if they were wrapped in @code{(eval-when
629 (compile load eval) @dots{})}.
630 @end defspec
631
632 Emacs includes two special forms related to @code{eval-when}.
633 One of these, @code{eval-when-compile}, is not quite equivalent to
634 any @code{eval-when} construct and is described below.
635
636 The other form, @code{(eval-and-compile @dots{})}, is exactly
637 equivalent to @samp{(eval-when (compile load eval) @dots{})} and
638 so is not itself defined by this package.
639
640 @defspec eval-when-compile forms...
641 The @var{forms} are evaluated at compile-time; at execution time,
642 this form acts like a quoted constant of the resulting value. Used
643 at top-level, @code{eval-when-compile} is just like @samp{eval-when
644 (compile eval)}. In other contexts, @code{eval-when-compile}
645 allows code to be evaluated once at compile-time for efficiency
646 or other reasons.
647
648 This form is similar to the @samp{#.} syntax of true Common Lisp.
649 @end defspec
650
651 @defspec load-time-value form
652 The @var{form} is evaluated at load-time; at execution time,
653 this form acts like a quoted constant of the resulting value.
654
655 Early Common Lisp had a @samp{#,} syntax that was similar to
656 this, but ANSI Common Lisp replaced it with @code{load-time-value}
657 and gave it more well-defined semantics.
658
659 In a compiled file, @code{load-time-value} arranges for @var{form}
660 to be evaluated when the @file{.elc} file is loaded and then used
661 as if it were a quoted constant. In code compiled by
662 @code{byte-compile} rather than @code{byte-compile-file}, the
663 effect is identical to @code{eval-when-compile}. In uncompiled
664 code, both @code{eval-when-compile} and @code{load-time-value}
665 act exactly like @code{progn}.
666
667 @example
668 (defun report ()
669 (insert "This function was executed on: "
670 (current-time-string)
671 ", compiled on: "
672 (eval-when-compile (current-time-string))
673 ;; or '#.(current-time-string) in real Common Lisp
674 ", and loaded on: "
675 (load-time-value (current-time-string))))
676 @end example
677
678 @noindent
679 Byte-compiled, the above defun will result in the following code
680 (or its compiled equivalent, of course) in the @file{.elc} file:
681
682 @example
683 (setq --temp-- (current-time-string))
684 (defun report ()
685 (insert "This function was executed on: "
686 (current-time-string)
687 ", compiled on: "
688 '"Wed Jun 23 18:33:43 1993"
689 ", and loaded on: "
690 --temp--))
691 @end example
692 @end defspec
693
694 @node Predicates, Control Structure, Program Structure, Top
695 @chapter Predicates
696
697 @noindent
698 This section describes functions for testing whether various
699 facts are true or false.
700
701 @menu
702 * Type Predicates:: `typep', `deftype', and `coerce'
703 * Equality Predicates:: `eql' and `equalp'
704 @end menu
705
706 @node Type Predicates, Equality Predicates, Predicates, Predicates
707 @section Type Predicates
708
709 @noindent
710 The @dfn{CL} package defines a version of the Common Lisp @code{typep}
711 predicate.
712
713 @defun typep object type
714 Check if @var{object} is of type @var{type}, where @var{type} is a
715 (quoted) type name of the sort used by Common Lisp. For example,
716 @code{(typep foo 'integer)} is equivalent to @code{(integerp foo)}.
717 @end defun
718
719 The @var{type} argument to the above function is either a symbol
720 or a list beginning with a symbol.
721
722 @itemize @bullet
723 @item
724 If the type name is a symbol, Emacs appends @samp{-p} to the
725 symbol name to form the name of a predicate function for testing
726 the type. (Built-in predicates whose names end in @samp{p} rather
727 than @samp{-p} are used when appropriate.)
728
729 @item
730 The type symbol @code{t} stands for the union of all types.
731 @code{(typep @var{object} t)} is always true. Likewise, the
732 type symbol @code{nil} stands for nothing at all, and
733 @code{(typep @var{object} nil)} is always false.
734
735 @item
736 The type symbol @code{null} represents the symbol @code{nil}.
737 Thus @code{(typep @var{object} 'null)} is equivalent to
738 @code{(null @var{object})}.
739
740 @item
741 The type symbol @code{atom} represents all objects that are not cons
742 cells. Thus @code{(typep @var{object} 'atom)} is equivalent to
743 @code{(atom @var{object})}.
744
745 @item
746 The type symbol @code{real} is a synonym for @code{number}, and
747 @code{fixnum} is a synonym for @code{integer}.
748
749 @item
750 The type symbols @code{character} and @code{string-char} match
751 integers in the range from 0 to 255.
752
753 @item
754 The type symbol @code{float} uses the @code{floatp-safe} predicate
755 defined by this package rather than @code{floatp}, so it will work
756 correctly even in Emacs versions without floating-point support.
757
758 @item
759 The type list @code{(integer @var{low} @var{high})} represents all
760 integers between @var{low} and @var{high}, inclusive. Either bound
761 may be a list of a single integer to specify an exclusive limit,
762 or a @code{*} to specify no limit. The type @code{(integer * *)}
763 is thus equivalent to @code{integer}.
764
765 @item
766 Likewise, lists beginning with @code{float}, @code{real}, or
767 @code{number} represent numbers of that type falling in a particular
768 range.
769
770 @item
771 Lists beginning with @code{and}, @code{or}, and @code{not} form
772 combinations of types. For example, @code{(or integer (float 0 *))}
773 represents all objects that are integers or non-negative floats.
774
775 @item
776 Lists beginning with @code{member} or @code{member*} represent
777 objects @code{eql} to any of the following values. For example,
778 @code{(member 1 2 3 4)} is equivalent to @code{(integer 1 4)},
779 and @code{(member nil)} is equivalent to @code{null}.
780
781 @item
782 Lists of the form @code{(satisfies @var{predicate})} represent
783 all objects for which @var{predicate} returns true when called
784 with that object as an argument.
785 @end itemize
786
787 The following function and macro (not technically predicates) are
788 related to @code{typep}.
789
790 @defun coerce object type
791 This function attempts to convert @var{object} to the specified
792 @var{type}. If @var{object} is already of that type as determined by
793 @code{typep}, it is simply returned. Otherwise, certain types of
794 conversions will be made: If @var{type} is any sequence type
795 (@code{string}, @code{list}, etc.) then @var{object} will be
796 converted to that type if possible. If @var{type} is
797 @code{character}, then strings of length one and symbols with
798 one-character names can be coerced. If @var{type} is @code{float},
799 then integers can be coerced in versions of Emacs that support
800 floats. In all other circumstances, @code{coerce} signals an
801 error.
802 @end defun
803
804 @defspec deftype name arglist forms...
805 This macro defines a new type called @var{name}. It is similar
806 to @code{defmacro} in many ways; when @var{name} is encountered
807 as a type name, the body @var{forms} are evaluated and should
808 return a type specifier that is equivalent to the type. The
809 @var{arglist} is a Common Lisp argument list of the sort accepted
810 by @code{defmacro*}. The type specifier @samp{(@var{name} @var{args}...)}
811 is expanded by calling the expander with those arguments; the type
812 symbol @samp{@var{name}} is expanded by calling the expander with
813 no arguments. The @var{arglist} is processed the same as for
814 @code{defmacro*} except that optional arguments without explicit
815 defaults use @code{*} instead of @code{nil} as the ``default''
816 default. Some examples:
817
818 @example
819 (deftype null () '(satisfies null)) ; predefined
820 (deftype list () '(or null cons)) ; predefined
821 (deftype unsigned-byte (&optional bits)
822 (list 'integer 0 (if (eq bits '*) bits (1- (lsh 1 bits)))))
823 (unsigned-byte 8) @equiv{} (integer 0 255)
824 (unsigned-byte) @equiv{} (integer 0 *)
825 unsigned-byte @equiv{} (integer 0 *)
826 @end example
827
828 @noindent
829 The last example shows how the Common Lisp @code{unsigned-byte}
830 type specifier could be implemented if desired; this package does
831 not implement @code{unsigned-byte} by default.
832 @end defspec
833
834 The @code{typecase} and @code{check-type} macros also use type
835 names. @xref{Conditionals}. @xref{Assertions}. The @code{map},
836 @code{concatenate}, and @code{merge} functions take type-name
837 arguments to specify the type of sequence to return. @xref{Sequences}.
838
839 @node Equality Predicates, , Type Predicates, Predicates
840 @section Equality Predicates
841
842 @noindent
843 This package defines two Common Lisp predicates, @code{eql} and
844 @code{equalp}.
845
846 @defun eql a b
847 This function is almost the same as @code{eq}, except that if @var{a}
848 and @var{b} are numbers of the same type, it compares them for numeric
849 equality (as if by @code{equal} instead of @code{eq}). This makes a
850 difference only for versions of Emacs that are compiled with
851 floating-point support. Emacs floats are allocated
852 objects just like cons cells, which means that @code{(eq 3.0 3.0)}
853 will not necessarily be true---if the two @code{3.0}s were allocated
854 separately, the pointers will be different even though the numbers are
855 the same. But @code{(eql 3.0 3.0)} will always be true.
856
857 The types of the arguments must match, so @code{(eql 3 3.0)} is
858 still false.
859
860 Note that Emacs integers are ``direct'' rather than allocated, which
861 basically means @code{(eq 3 3)} will always be true. Thus @code{eq}
862 and @code{eql} behave differently only if floating-point numbers are
863 involved, and are indistinguishable on Emacs versions that don't
864 support floats.
865
866 There is a slight inconsistency with Common Lisp in the treatment of
867 positive and negative zeros. Some machines, notably those with IEEE
868 standard arithmetic, represent @code{+0} and @code{-0} as distinct
869 values. Normally this doesn't matter because the standard specifies
870 that @code{(= 0.0 -0.0)} should always be true, and this is indeed
871 what Emacs Lisp and Common Lisp do. But the Common Lisp standard
872 states that @code{(eql 0.0 -0.0)} and @code{(equal 0.0 -0.0)} should
873 be false on IEEE-like machines; Emacs Lisp does not do this, and in
874 fact the only known way to distinguish between the two zeros in Emacs
875 Lisp is to @code{format} them and check for a minus sign.
876 @end defun
877
878 @defun equalp a b
879 This function is a more flexible version of @code{equal}. In
880 particular, it compares strings case-insensitively, and it compares
881 numbers without regard to type (so that @code{(equalp 3 3.0)} is
882 true). Vectors and conses are compared recursively. All other
883 objects are compared as if by @code{equal}.
884
885 This function differs from Common Lisp @code{equalp} in several
886 respects. First, Common Lisp's @code{equalp} also compares
887 @emph{characters} case-insensitively, which would be impractical
888 in this package since Emacs does not distinguish between integers
889 and characters. In keeping with the idea that strings are less
890 vector-like in Emacs Lisp, this package's @code{equalp} also will
891 not compare strings against vectors of integers.
892 @end defun
893
894 Also note that the Common Lisp functions @code{member} and @code{assoc}
895 use @code{eql} to compare elements, whereas Emacs Lisp follows the
896 MacLisp tradition and uses @code{equal} for these two functions.
897 In Emacs, use @code{member*} and @code{assoc*} to get functions
898 which use @code{eql} for comparisons.
899
900 @node Control Structure, Macros, Predicates, Top
901 @chapter Control Structure
902
903 @noindent
904 The features described in the following sections implement
905 various advanced control structures, including the powerful
906 @code{setf} facility and a number of looping and conditional
907 constructs.
908
909 @menu
910 * Assignment:: The `psetq' form
911 * Generalized Variables:: `setf', `incf', `push', etc.
912 * Variable Bindings:: `progv', `lexical-let', `flet', `macrolet'
913 * Conditionals:: `case', `typecase'
914 * Blocks and Exits:: `block', `return', `return-from'
915 * Iteration:: `do', `dotimes', `dolist', `do-symbols'
916 * Loop Facility:: The Common Lisp `loop' macro
917 * Multiple Values:: `values', `multiple-value-bind', etc.
918 @end menu
919
920 @node Assignment, Generalized Variables, Control Structure, Control Structure
921 @section Assignment
922
923 @noindent
924 The @code{psetq} form is just like @code{setq}, except that multiple
925 assignments are done in parallel rather than sequentially.
926
927 @defspec psetq [symbol form]@dots{}
928 This special form (actually a macro) is used to assign to several
929 variables simultaneously. Given only one @var{symbol} and @var{form},
930 it has the same effect as @code{setq}. Given several @var{symbol}
931 and @var{form} pairs, it evaluates all the @var{form}s in advance
932 and then stores the corresponding variables afterwards.
933
934 @example
935 (setq x 2 y 3)
936 (setq x (+ x y) y (* x y))
937 x
938 @result{} 5
939 y ; @r{@code{y} was computed after @code{x} was set.}
940 @result{} 15
941 (setq x 2 y 3)
942 (psetq x (+ x y) y (* x y))
943 x
944 @result{} 5
945 y ; @r{@code{y} was computed before @code{x} was set.}
946 @result{} 6
947 @end example
948
949 The simplest use of @code{psetq} is @code{(psetq x y y x)}, which
950 exchanges the values of two variables. (The @code{rotatef} form
951 provides an even more convenient way to swap two variables;
952 @pxref{Modify Macros}.)
953
954 @code{psetq} always returns @code{nil}.
955 @end defspec
956
957 @node Generalized Variables, Variable Bindings, Assignment, Control Structure
958 @section Generalized Variables
959
960 @noindent
961 A ``generalized variable'' or ``place form'' is one of the many places
962 in Lisp memory where values can be stored. The simplest place form is
963 a regular Lisp variable. But the cars and cdrs of lists, elements
964 of arrays, properties of symbols, and many other locations are also
965 places where Lisp values are stored.
966
967 The @code{setf} form is like @code{setq}, except that it accepts
968 arbitrary place forms on the left side rather than just
969 symbols. For example, @code{(setf (car a) b)} sets the car of
970 @code{a} to @code{b}, doing the same operation as @code{(setcar a b)}
971 but without having to remember two separate functions for setting
972 and accessing every type of place.
973
974 Generalized variables are analogous to ``lvalues'' in the C
975 language, where @samp{x = a[i]} gets an element from an array
976 and @samp{a[i] = x} stores an element using the same notation.
977 Just as certain forms like @code{a[i]} can be lvalues in C, there
978 is a set of forms that can be generalized variables in Lisp.
979
980 @menu
981 * Basic Setf:: `setf' and place forms
982 * Modify Macros:: `incf', `push', `rotatef', `letf', `callf', etc.
983 * Customizing Setf:: `define-modify-macro', `defsetf', `define-setf-method'
984 @end menu
985
986 @node Basic Setf, Modify Macros, Generalized Variables, Generalized Variables
987 @subsection Basic Setf
988
989 @noindent
990 The @code{setf} macro is the most basic way to operate on generalized
991 variables.
992
993 @defspec setf [place form]@dots{}
994 This macro evaluates @var{form} and stores it in @var{place}, which
995 must be a valid generalized variable form. If there are several
996 @var{place} and @var{form} pairs, the assignments are done sequentially
997 just as with @code{setq}. @code{setf} returns the value of the last
998 @var{form}.
999
1000 The following Lisp forms will work as generalized variables, and
1001 so may appear in the @var{place} argument of @code{setf}:
1002
1003 @itemize @bullet
1004 @item
1005 A symbol naming a variable. In other words, @code{(setf x y)} is
1006 exactly equivalent to @code{(setq x y)}, and @code{setq} itself is
1007 strictly speaking redundant now that @code{setf} exists. Many
1008 programmers continue to prefer @code{setq} for setting simple
1009 variables, though, purely for stylistic or historical reasons.
1010 The macro @code{(setf x y)} actually expands to @code{(setq x y)},
1011 so there is no performance penalty for using it in compiled code.
1012
1013 @item
1014 A call to any of the following Lisp functions:
1015
1016 @smallexample
1017 car cdr caar .. cddddr
1018 nth rest first .. tenth
1019 aref elt nthcdr
1020 symbol-function symbol-value symbol-plist
1021 get get* getf
1022 gethash subseq
1023 @end smallexample
1024
1025 @noindent
1026 Note that for @code{nthcdr} and @code{getf}, the list argument
1027 of the function must itself be a valid @var{place} form. For
1028 example, @code{(setf (nthcdr 0 foo) 7)} will set @code{foo} itself
1029 to 7. Note that @code{push} and @code{pop} on an @code{nthcdr}
1030 place can be used to insert or delete at any position in a list.
1031 The use of @code{nthcdr} as a @var{place} form is an extension
1032 to standard Common Lisp.
1033
1034 @item
1035 The following Emacs-specific functions are also @code{setf}-able.
1036
1037 @smallexample
1038 buffer-file-name marker-position
1039 buffer-modified-p match-data
1040 buffer-name mouse-position
1041 buffer-string overlay-end
1042 buffer-substring overlay-get
1043 current-buffer overlay-start
1044 current-case-table point
1045 current-column point-marker
1046 current-global-map point-max
1047 current-input-mode point-min
1048 current-local-map process-buffer
1049 current-window-configuration process-filter
1050 default-file-modes process-sentinel
1051 default-value read-mouse-position
1052 documentation-property screen-height
1053 extent-data screen-menubar
1054 extent-end-position screen-width
1055 extent-start-position selected-window
1056 face-background selected-screen
1057 face-background-pixmap selected-frame
1058 face-font standard-case-table
1059 face-foreground syntax-table
1060 face-underline-p window-buffer
1061 file-modes window-dedicated-p
1062 frame-height window-display-table
1063 frame-parameters window-height
1064 frame-visible-p window-hscroll
1065 frame-width window-point
1066 get-register window-start
1067 getenv window-width
1068 global-key-binding x-get-cut-buffer
1069 keymap-parent x-get-cutbuffer
1070 local-key-binding x-get-secondary-selection
1071 mark x-get-selection
1072 mark-marker
1073 @end smallexample
1074
1075 Most of these have directly corresponding ``set'' functions, like
1076 @code{use-local-map} for @code{current-local-map}, or @code{goto-char}
1077 for @code{point}. A few, like @code{point-min}, expand to longer
1078 sequences of code when they are @code{setf}'d (@code{(narrow-to-region
1079 x (point-max))} in this case).
1080
1081 @item
1082 A call of the form @code{(substring @var{subplace} @var{n} [@var{m}])},
1083 where @var{subplace} is itself a valid generalized variable whose
1084 current value is a string, and where the value stored is also a
1085 string. The new string is spliced into the specified part of the
1086 destination string. For example:
1087
1088 @example
1089 (setq a (list "hello" "world"))
1090 @result{} ("hello" "world")
1091 (cadr a)
1092 @result{} "world"
1093 (substring (cadr a) 2 4)
1094 @result{} "rl"
1095 (setf (substring (cadr a) 2 4) "o")
1096 @result{} "o"
1097 (cadr a)
1098 @result{} "wood"
1099 a
1100 @result{} ("hello" "wood")
1101 @end example
1102
1103 The generalized variable @code{buffer-substring}, listed above,
1104 also works in this way by replacing a portion of the current buffer.
1105
1106 @item
1107 A call of the form @code{(apply '@var{func} @dots{})} or
1108 @code{(apply (function @var{func}) @dots{})}, where @var{func}
1109 is a @code{setf}-able function whose store function is ``suitable''
1110 in the sense described in Steele's book; since none of the standard
1111 Emacs place functions are suitable in this sense, this feature is
1112 only interesting when used with places you define yourself with
1113 @code{define-setf-method} or the long form of @code{defsetf}.
1114
1115 @item
1116 A macro call, in which case the macro is expanded and @code{setf}
1117 is applied to the resulting form.
1118
1119 @item
1120 Any form for which a @code{defsetf} or @code{define-setf-method}
1121 has been made.
1122 @end itemize
1123
1124 Using any forms other than these in the @var{place} argument to
1125 @code{setf} will signal an error.
1126
1127 The @code{setf} macro takes care to evaluate all subforms in
1128 the proper left-to-right order; for example,
1129
1130 @example
1131 (setf (aref vec (incf i)) i)
1132 @end example
1133
1134 @noindent
1135 looks like it will evaluate @code{(incf i)} exactly once, before the
1136 following access to @code{i}; the @code{setf} expander will insert
1137 temporary variables as necessary to ensure that it does in fact work
1138 this way no matter what setf-method is defined for @code{aref}.
1139 (In this case, @code{aset} would be used and no such steps would
1140 be necessary since @code{aset} takes its arguments in a convenient
1141 order.)
1142
1143 However, if the @var{place} form is a macro which explicitly
1144 evaluates its arguments in an unusual order, this unusual order
1145 will be preserved. Adapting an example from Steele, given
1146
1147 @example
1148 (defmacro wrong-order (x y) (list 'aref y x))
1149 @end example
1150
1151 @noindent
1152 the form @code{(setf (wrong-order @var{a} @var{b}) 17)} will
1153 evaluate @var{b} first, then @var{a}, just as in an actual call
1154 to @code{wrong-order}.
1155 @end defspec
1156
1157 @node Modify Macros, Customizing Setf, Basic Setf, Generalized Variables
1158 @subsection Modify Macros
1159
1160 @noindent
1161 This package defines a number of other macros besides @code{setf}
1162 that operate on generalized variables. Many are interesting and
1163 useful even when the @var{place} is just a variable name.
1164
1165 @defspec psetf [place form]@dots{}
1166 This macro is to @code{setf} what @code{psetq} is to @code{setq}:
1167 When several @var{place}s and @var{form}s are involved, the
1168 assignments take place in parallel rather than sequentially.
1169 Specifically, all subforms are evaluated from left to right, then
1170 all the assignments are done (in an undefined order).
1171 @end defspec
1172
1173 @defspec incf place &optional x
1174 This macro increments the number stored in @var{place} by one, or
1175 by @var{x} if specified. The incremented value is returned. For
1176 example, @code{(incf i)} is equivalent to @code{(setq i (1+ i))}, and
1177 @code{(incf (car x) 2)} is equivalent to @code{(setcar x (+ (car x) 2))}.
1178
1179 Once again, care is taken to preserve the ``apparent'' order of
1180 evaluation. For example,
1181
1182 @example
1183 (incf (aref vec (incf i)))
1184 @end example
1185
1186 @noindent
1187 appears to increment @code{i} once, then increment the element of
1188 @code{vec} addressed by @code{i}; this is indeed exactly what it
1189 does, which means the above form is @emph{not} equivalent to the
1190 ``obvious'' expansion,
1191
1192 @example
1193 (setf (aref vec (incf i)) (1+ (aref vec (incf i)))) ; Wrong!
1194 @end example
1195
1196 @noindent
1197 but rather to something more like
1198
1199 @example
1200 (let ((temp (incf i)))
1201 (setf (aref vec temp) (1+ (aref vec temp))))
1202 @end example
1203
1204 @noindent
1205 Again, all of this is taken care of automatically by @code{incf} and
1206 the other generalized-variable macros.
1207
1208 As a more Emacs-specific example of @code{incf}, the expression
1209 @code{(incf (point) @var{n})} is essentially equivalent to
1210 @code{(forward-char @var{n})}.
1211 @end defspec
1212
1213 @defspec decf place &optional x
1214 This macro decrements the number stored in @var{place} by one, or
1215 by @var{x} if specified.
1216 @end defspec
1217
1218 @defspec pop place
1219 This macro removes and returns the first element of the list stored
1220 in @var{place}. It is analogous to @code{(prog1 (car @var{place})
1221 (setf @var{place} (cdr @var{place})))}, except that it takes care
1222 to evaluate all subforms only once.
1223 @end defspec
1224
1225 @defspec push x place
1226 This macro inserts @var{x} at the front of the list stored in
1227 @var{place}. It is analogous to @code{(setf @var{place} (cons
1228 @var{x} @var{place}))}, except for evaluation of the subforms.
1229 @end defspec
1230
1231 @defspec pushnew x place @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
1232 This macro inserts @var{x} at the front of the list stored in
1233 @var{place}, but only if @var{x} was not @code{eql} to any
1234 existing element of the list. The optional keyword arguments
1235 are interpreted in the same way as for @code{adjoin}.
1236 @xref{Lists as Sets}.
1237 @end defspec
1238
1239 @defspec shiftf place@dots{} newvalue
1240 This macro shifts the @var{place}s left by one, shifting in the
1241 value of @var{newvalue} (which may be any Lisp expression, not just
1242 a generalized variable), and returning the value shifted out of
1243 the first @var{place}. Thus, @code{(shiftf @var{a} @var{b} @var{c}
1244 @var{d})} is equivalent to
1245
1246 @example
1247 (prog1
1248 @var{a}
1249 (psetf @var{a} @var{b}
1250 @var{b} @var{c}
1251 @var{c} @var{d}))
1252 @end example
1253
1254 @noindent
1255 except that the subforms of @var{a}, @var{b}, and @var{c} are actually
1256 evaluated only once each and in the apparent order.
1257 @end defspec
1258
1259 @defspec rotatef place@dots{}
1260 This macro rotates the @var{place}s left by one in circular fashion.
1261 Thus, @code{(rotatef @var{a} @var{b} @var{c} @var{d})} is equivalent to
1262
1263 @example
1264 (psetf @var{a} @var{b}
1265 @var{b} @var{c}
1266 @var{c} @var{d}
1267 @var{d} @var{a})
1268 @end example
1269
1270 @noindent
1271 except for the evaluation of subforms. @code{rotatef} always
1272 returns @code{nil}. Note that @code{(rotatef @var{a} @var{b})}
1273 conveniently exchanges @var{a} and @var{b}.
1274 @end defspec
1275
1276 The following macros were invented for this package; they have no
1277 analogues in Common Lisp.
1278
1279 @defspec letf (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1280 This macro is analogous to @code{let}, but for generalized variables
1281 rather than just symbols. Each @var{binding} should be of the form
1282 @code{(@var{place} @var{value})}; the original contents of the
1283 @var{place}s are saved, the @var{value}s are stored in them, and
1284 then the body @var{form}s are executed. Afterwards, the @var{places}
1285 are set back to their original saved contents. This cleanup happens
1286 even if the @var{form}s exit irregularly due to a @code{throw} or an
1287 error.
1288
1289 For example,
1290
1291 @example
1292 (letf (((point) (point-min))
1293 (a 17))
1294 ...)
1295 @end example
1296
1297 @noindent
1298 moves ``point'' in the current buffer to the beginning of the buffer,
1299 and also binds @code{a} to 17 (as if by a normal @code{let}, since
1300 @code{a} is just a regular variable). After the body exits, @code{a}
1301 is set back to its original value and point is moved back to its
1302 original position.
1303
1304 Note that @code{letf} on @code{(point)} is not quite like a
1305 @code{save-excursion}, as the latter effectively saves a marker
1306 which tracks insertions and deletions in the buffer. Actually,
1307 a @code{letf} of @code{(point-marker)} is much closer to this
1308 behavior. (@code{point} and @code{point-marker} are equivalent
1309 as @code{setf} places; each will accept either an integer or a
1310 marker as the stored value.)
1311
1312 Since generalized variables look like lists, @code{let}'s shorthand
1313 of using @samp{foo} for @samp{(foo nil)} as a @var{binding} would
1314 be ambiguous in @code{letf} and is not allowed.
1315
1316 However, a @var{binding} specifier may be a one-element list
1317 @samp{(@var{place})}, which is similar to @samp{(@var{place}
1318 @var{place})}. In other words, the @var{place} is not disturbed
1319 on entry to the body, and the only effect of the @code{letf} is
1320 to restore the original value of @var{place} afterwards. (The
1321 redundant access-and-store suggested by the @code{(@var{place}
1322 @var{place})} example does not actually occur.)
1323
1324 In most cases, the @var{place} must have a well-defined value on
1325 entry to the @code{letf} form. The only exceptions are plain
1326 variables and calls to @code{symbol-value} and @code{symbol-function}.
1327 If the symbol is not bound on entry, it is simply made unbound by
1328 @code{makunbound} or @code{fmakunbound} on exit.
1329 @end defspec
1330
1331 @defspec letf* (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1332 This macro is to @code{letf} what @code{let*} is to @code{let}:
1333 It does the bindings in sequential rather than parallel order.
1334 @end defspec
1335
1336 @defspec callf @var{function} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{}
1337 This is the ``generic'' modify macro. It calls @var{function},
1338 which should be an unquoted function name, macro name, or lambda.
1339 It passes @var{place} and @var{args} as arguments, and assigns the
1340 result back to @var{place}. For example, @code{(incf @var{place}
1341 @var{n})} is the same as @code{(callf + @var{place} @var{n})}.
1342 Some more examples:
1343
1344 @example
1345 (callf abs my-number)
1346 (callf concat (buffer-name) "<" (int-to-string n) ">")
1347 (callf union happy-people (list joe bob) :test 'same-person)
1348 @end example
1349
1350 @xref{Customizing Setf}, for @code{define-modify-macro}, a way
1351 to create even more concise notations for modify macros. Note
1352 again that @code{callf} is an extension to standard Common Lisp.
1353 @end defspec
1354
1355 @defspec callf2 @var{function} @var{arg1} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{}
1356 This macro is like @code{callf}, except that @var{place} is
1357 the @emph{second} argument of @var{function} rather than the
1358 first. For example, @code{(push @var{x} @var{place})} is
1359 equivalent to @code{(callf2 cons @var{x} @var{place})}.
1360 @end defspec
1361
1362 The @code{callf} and @code{callf2} macros serve as building
1363 blocks for other macros like @code{incf}, @code{pushnew}, and
1364 @code{define-modify-macro}. The @code{letf} and @code{letf*}
1365 macros are used in the processing of symbol macros;
1366 @pxref{Macro Bindings}.
1367
1368 @node Customizing Setf, , Modify Macros, Generalized Variables
1369 @subsection Customizing Setf
1370
1371 @noindent
1372 Common Lisp defines three macros, @code{define-modify-macro},
1373 @code{defsetf}, and @code{define-setf-method}, that allow the
1374 user to extend generalized variables in various ways.
1375
1376 @defspec define-modify-macro name arglist function [doc-string]
1377 This macro defines a ``read-modify-write'' macro similar to
1378 @code{incf} and @code{decf}. The macro @var{name} is defined
1379 to take a @var{place} argument followed by additional arguments
1380 described by @var{arglist}. The call
1381
1382 @example
1383 (@var{name} @var{place} @var{args}...)
1384 @end example
1385
1386 @noindent
1387 will be expanded to
1388
1389 @example
1390 (callf @var{func} @var{place} @var{args}...)
1391 @end example
1392
1393 @noindent
1394 which in turn is roughly equivalent to
1395
1396 @example
1397 (setf @var{place} (@var{func} @var{place} @var{args}...))
1398 @end example
1399
1400 For example:
1401
1402 @example
1403 (define-modify-macro incf (&optional (n 1)) +)
1404 (define-modify-macro concatf (&rest args) concat)
1405 @end example
1406
1407 Note that @code{&key} is not allowed in @var{arglist}, but
1408 @code{&rest} is sufficient to pass keywords on to the function.
1409
1410 Most of the modify macros defined by Common Lisp do not exactly
1411 follow the pattern of @code{define-modify-macro}. For example,
1412 @code{push} takes its arguments in the wrong order, and @code{pop}
1413 is completely irregular. You can define these macros ``by hand''
1414 using @code{get-setf-method}, or consult the source file
1415 @file{cl-macs.el} to see how to use the internal @code{setf}
1416 building blocks.
1417 @end defspec
1418
1419 @defspec defsetf access-fn update-fn
1420 This is the simpler of two @code{defsetf} forms. Where
1421 @var{access-fn} is the name of a function which accesses a place,
1422 this declares @var{update-fn} to be the corresponding store
1423 function. From now on,
1424
1425 @example
1426 (setf (@var{access-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3}) @var{value})
1427 @end example
1428
1429 @noindent
1430 will be expanded to
1431
1432 @example
1433 (@var{update-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3} @var{value})
1434 @end example
1435
1436 @noindent
1437 The @var{update-fn} is required to be either a true function, or
1438 a macro which evaluates its arguments in a function-like way. Also,
1439 the @var{update-fn} is expected to return @var{value} as its result.
1440 Otherwise, the above expansion would not obey the rules for the way
1441 @code{setf} is supposed to behave.
1442
1443 As a special (non-Common-Lisp) extension, a third argument of @code{t}
1444 to @code{defsetf} says that the @code{update-fn}'s return value is
1445 not suitable, so that the above @code{setf} should be expanded to
1446 something more like
1447
1448 @example
1449 (let ((temp @var{value}))
1450 (@var{update-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3} temp)
1451 temp)
1452 @end example
1453
1454 Some examples of the use of @code{defsetf}, drawn from the standard
1455 suite of setf methods, are:
1456
1457 @example
1458 (defsetf car setcar)
1459 (defsetf symbol-value set)
1460 (defsetf buffer-name rename-buffer t)
1461 @end example
1462 @end defspec
1463
1464 @defspec defsetf access-fn arglist (store-var) forms@dots{}
1465 This is the second, more complex, form of @code{defsetf}. It is
1466 rather like @code{defmacro} except for the additional @var{store-var}
1467 argument. The @var{forms} should return a Lisp form which stores
1468 the value of @var{store-var} into the generalized variable formed
1469 by a call to @var{access-fn} with arguments described by @var{arglist}.
1470 The @var{forms} may begin with a string which documents the @code{setf}
1471 method (analogous to the doc string that appears at the front of a
1472 function).
1473
1474 For example, the simple form of @code{defsetf} is shorthand for
1475
1476 @example
1477 (defsetf @var{access-fn} (&rest args) (store)
1478 (append '(@var{update-fn}) args (list store)))
1479 @end example
1480
1481 The Lisp form that is returned can access the arguments from
1482 @var{arglist} and @var{store-var} in an unrestricted fashion;
1483 macros like @code{setf} and @code{incf} which invoke this
1484 setf-method will insert temporary variables as needed to make
1485 sure the apparent order of evaluation is preserved.
1486
1487 Another example drawn from the standard package:
1488
1489 @example
1490 (defsetf nth (n x) (store)
1491 (list 'setcar (list 'nthcdr n x) store))
1492 @end example
1493 @end defspec
1494
1495 @defspec define-setf-method access-fn arglist forms@dots{}
1496 This is the most general way to create new place forms. When
1497 a @code{setf} to @var{access-fn} with arguments described by
1498 @var{arglist} is expanded, the @var{forms} are evaluated and
1499 must return a list of five items:
1500
1501 @enumerate
1502 @item
1503 A list of @dfn{temporary variables}.
1504
1505 @item
1506 A list of @dfn{value forms} corresponding to the temporary variables
1507 above. The temporary variables will be bound to these value forms
1508 as the first step of any operation on the generalized variable.
1509
1510 @item
1511 A list of exactly one @dfn{store variable} (generally obtained
1512 from a call to @code{gensym}).
1513
1514 @item
1515 A Lisp form which stores the contents of the store variable into
1516 the generalized variable, assuming the temporaries have been
1517 bound as described above.
1518
1519 @item
1520 A Lisp form which accesses the contents of the generalized variable,
1521 assuming the temporaries have been bound.
1522 @end enumerate
1523
1524 This is exactly like the Common Lisp macro of the same name,
1525 except that the method returns a list of five values rather
1526 than the five values themselves, since Emacs Lisp does not
1527 support Common Lisp's notion of multiple return values.
1528
1529 Once again, the @var{forms} may begin with a documentation string.
1530
1531 A setf-method should be maximally conservative with regard to
1532 temporary variables. In the setf-methods generated by
1533 @code{defsetf}, the second return value is simply the list of
1534 arguments in the place form, and the first return value is a
1535 list of a corresponding number of temporary variables generated
1536 by @code{gensym}. Macros like @code{setf} and @code{incf} which
1537 use this setf-method will optimize away most temporaries that
1538 turn out to be unnecessary, so there is little reason for the
1539 setf-method itself to optimize.
1540 @end defspec
1541
1542 @defun get-setf-method place &optional env
1543 This function returns the setf-method for @var{place}, by
1544 invoking the definition previously recorded by @code{defsetf}
1545 or @code{define-setf-method}. The result is a list of five
1546 values as described above. You can use this function to build
1547 your own @code{incf}-like modify macros. (Actually, it is
1548 better to use the internal functions @code{cl-setf-do-modify}
1549 and @code{cl-setf-do-store}, which are a bit easier to use and
1550 which also do a number of optimizations; consult the source
1551 code for the @code{incf} function for a simple example.)
1552
1553 The argument @var{env} specifies the ``environment'' to be
1554 passed on to @code{macroexpand} if @code{get-setf-method} should
1555 need to expand a macro in @var{place}. It should come from
1556 an @code{&environment} argument to the macro or setf-method
1557 that called @code{get-setf-method}.
1558
1559 See also the source code for the setf-methods for @code{apply}
1560 and @code{substring}, each of which works by calling
1561 @code{get-setf-method} on a simpler case, then massaging
1562 the result in various ways.
1563 @end defun
1564
1565 Modern Common Lisp defines a second, independent way to specify
1566 the @code{setf} behavior of a function, namely ``@code{setf}
1567 functions'' whose names are lists @code{(setf @var{name})}
1568 rather than symbols. For example, @code{(defun (setf foo) @dots{})}
1569 defines the function that is used when @code{setf} is applied to
1570 @code{foo}. This package does not currently support @code{setf}
1571 functions. In particular, it is a compile-time error to use
1572 @code{setf} on a form which has not already been @code{defsetf}'d
1573 or otherwise declared; in newer Common Lisps, this would not be
1574 an error since the function @code{(setf @var{func})} might be
1575 defined later.
1576
1577 @iftex
1578 @secno=4
1579 @end iftex
1580
1581 @node Variable Bindings, Conditionals, Generalized Variables, Control Structure
1582 @section Variable Bindings
1583
1584 @noindent
1585 These Lisp forms make bindings to variables and function names,
1586 analogous to Lisp's built-in @code{let} form.
1587
1588 @xref{Modify Macros}, for the @code{letf} and @code{letf*} forms which
1589 are also related to variable bindings.
1590
1591 @menu
1592 * Dynamic Bindings:: The `progv' form
1593 * Lexical Bindings:: `lexical-let' and lexical closures
1594 * Function Bindings:: `flet' and `labels'
1595 * Macro Bindings:: `macrolet' and `symbol-macrolet'
1596 @end menu
1597
1598 @node Dynamic Bindings, Lexical Bindings, Variable Bindings, Variable Bindings
1599 @subsection Dynamic Bindings
1600
1601 @noindent
1602 The standard @code{let} form binds variables whose names are known
1603 at compile-time. The @code{progv} form provides an easy way to
1604 bind variables whose names are computed at run-time.
1605
1606 @defspec progv symbols values forms@dots{}
1607 This form establishes @code{let}-style variable bindings on a
1608 set of variables computed at run-time. The expressions
1609 @var{symbols} and @var{values} are evaluated, and must return lists
1610 of symbols and values, respectively. The symbols are bound to the
1611 corresponding values for the duration of the body @var{form}s.
1612 If @var{values} is shorter than @var{symbols}, the last few symbols
1613 are made unbound (as if by @code{makunbound}) inside the body.
1614 If @var{symbols} is shorter than @var{values}, the excess values
1615 are ignored.
1616 @end defspec
1617
1618 @node Lexical Bindings, Function Bindings, Dynamic Bindings, Variable Bindings
1619 @subsection Lexical Bindings
1620
1621 @noindent
1622 The @dfn{CL} package defines the following macro which
1623 more closely follows the Common Lisp @code{let} form:
1624
1625 @defspec lexical-let (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1626 This form is exactly like @code{let} except that the bindings it
1627 establishes are purely lexical. Lexical bindings are similar to
1628 local variables in a language like C: Only the code physically
1629 within the body of the @code{lexical-let} (after macro expansion)
1630 may refer to the bound variables.
1631
1632 @example
1633 (setq a 5)
1634 (defun foo (b) (+ a b))
1635 (let ((a 2)) (foo a))
1636 @result{} 4
1637 (lexical-let ((a 2)) (foo a))
1638 @result{} 7
1639 @end example
1640
1641 @noindent
1642 In this example, a regular @code{let} binding of @code{a} actually
1643 makes a temporary change to the global variable @code{a}, so @code{foo}
1644 is able to see the binding of @code{a} to 2. But @code{lexical-let}
1645 actually creates a distinct local variable @code{a} for use within its
1646 body, without any effect on the global variable of the same name.
1647
1648 The most important use of lexical bindings is to create @dfn{closures}.
1649 A closure is a function object that refers to an outside lexical
1650 variable. For example:
1651
1652 @example
1653 (defun make-adder (n)
1654 (lexical-let ((n n))
1655 (function (lambda (m) (+ n m)))))
1656 (setq add17 (make-adder 17))
1657 (funcall add17 4)
1658 @result{} 21
1659 @end example
1660
1661 @noindent
1662 The call @code{(make-adder 17)} returns a function object which adds
1663 17 to its argument. If @code{let} had been used instead of
1664 @code{lexical-let}, the function object would have referred to the
1665 global @code{n}, which would have been bound to 17 only during the
1666 call to @code{make-adder} itself.
1667
1668 @example
1669 (defun make-counter ()
1670 (lexical-let ((n 0))
1671 (function* (lambda (&optional (m 1)) (incf n m)))))
1672 (setq count-1 (make-counter))
1673 (funcall count-1 3)
1674 @result{} 3
1675 (funcall count-1 14)
1676 @result{} 17
1677 (setq count-2 (make-counter))
1678 (funcall count-2 5)
1679 @result{} 5
1680 (funcall count-1 2)
1681 @result{} 19
1682 (funcall count-2)
1683 @result{} 6
1684 @end example
1685
1686 @noindent
1687 Here we see that each call to @code{make-counter} creates a distinct
1688 local variable @code{n}, which serves as a private counter for the
1689 function object that is returned.
1690
1691 Closed-over lexical variables persist until the last reference to
1692 them goes away, just like all other Lisp objects. For example,
1693 @code{count-2} refers to a function object which refers to an
1694 instance of the variable @code{n}; this is the only reference
1695 to that variable, so after @code{(setq count-2 nil)} the garbage
1696 collector would be able to delete this instance of @code{n}.
1697 Of course, if a @code{lexical-let} does not actually create any
1698 closures, then the lexical variables are free as soon as the
1699 @code{lexical-let} returns.
1700
1701 Many closures are used only during the extent of the bindings they
1702 refer to; these are known as ``downward funargs'' in Lisp parlance.
1703 When a closure is used in this way, regular Emacs Lisp dynamic
1704 bindings suffice and will be more efficient than @code{lexical-let}
1705 closures:
1706
1707 @example
1708 (defun add-to-list (x list)
1709 (mapcar (lambda (y) (+ x y))) list)
1710 (add-to-list 7 '(1 2 5))
1711 @result{} (8 9 12)
1712 @end example
1713
1714 @noindent
1715 Since this lambda is only used while @code{x} is still bound,
1716 it is not necessary to make a true closure out of it.
1717
1718 You can use @code{defun} or @code{flet} inside a @code{lexical-let}
1719 to create a named closure. If several closures are created in the
1720 body of a single @code{lexical-let}, they all close over the same
1721 instance of the lexical variable.
1722
1723 The @code{lexical-let} form is an extension to Common Lisp. In
1724 true Common Lisp, all bindings are lexical unless declared otherwise.
1725 @end defspec
1726
1727 @defspec lexical-let* (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1728 This form is just like @code{lexical-let}, except that the bindings
1729 are made sequentially in the manner of @code{let*}.
1730 @end defspec
1731
1732 @node Function Bindings, Macro Bindings, Lexical Bindings, Variable Bindings
1733 @subsection Function Bindings
1734
1735 @noindent
1736 These forms make @code{let}-like bindings to functions instead
1737 of variables.
1738
1739 @defspec flet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1740 This form establishes @code{let}-style bindings on the function
1741 cells of symbols rather than on the value cells. Each @var{binding}
1742 must be a list of the form @samp{(@var{name} @var{arglist}
1743 @var{forms}@dots{})}, which defines a function exactly as if
1744 it were a @code{defun*} form. The function @var{name} is defined
1745 accordingly for the duration of the body of the @code{flet}; then
1746 the old function definition, or lack thereof, is restored.
1747
1748 While @code{flet} in Common Lisp establishes a lexical binding of
1749 @var{name}, Emacs Lisp @code{flet} makes a dynamic binding. The
1750 result is that @code{flet} affects indirect calls to a function as
1751 well as calls directly inside the @code{flet} form itself.
1752
1753 You can use @code{flet} to disable or modify the behavior of a
1754 function in a temporary fashion. This will even work on Emacs
1755 primitives, although note that some calls to primitive functions
1756 internal to Emacs are made without going through the symbol's
1757 function cell, and so will not be affected by @code{flet}. For
1758 example,
1759
1760 @example
1761 (flet ((message (&rest args) (push args saved-msgs)))
1762 (do-something))
1763 @end example
1764
1765 This code attempts to replace the built-in function @code{message}
1766 with a function that simply saves the messages in a list rather
1767 than displaying them. The original definition of @code{message}
1768 will be restored after @code{do-something} exits. This code will
1769 work fine on messages generated by other Lisp code, but messages
1770 generated directly inside Emacs will not be caught since they make
1771 direct C-language calls to the message routines rather than going
1772 through the Lisp @code{message} function.
1773
1774 Functions defined by @code{flet} may use the full Common Lisp
1775 argument notation supported by @code{defun*}; also, the function
1776 body is enclosed in an implicit block as if by @code{defun*}.
1777 @xref{Program Structure}.
1778 @end defspec
1779
1780 @defspec labels (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1781 The @code{labels} form is like @code{flet}, except that it
1782 makes lexical bindings of the function names rather than
1783 dynamic bindings. (In true Common Lisp, both @code{flet} and
1784 @code{labels} make lexical bindings of slightly different sorts;
1785 since Emacs Lisp is dynamically bound by default, it seemed
1786 more appropriate for @code{flet} also to use dynamic binding.
1787 The @code{labels} form, with its lexical binding, is fully
1788 compatible with Common Lisp.)
1789
1790 Lexical scoping means that all references to the named
1791 functions must appear physically within the body of the
1792 @code{labels} form. References may appear both in the body
1793 @var{forms} of @code{labels} itself, and in the bodies of
1794 the functions themselves. Thus, @code{labels} can define
1795 local recursive functions, or mutually-recursive sets of
1796 functions.
1797
1798 A ``reference'' to a function name is either a call to that
1799 function, or a use of its name quoted by @code{quote} or
1800 @code{function} to be passed on to, say, @code{mapcar}.
1801 @end defspec
1802
1803 @node Macro Bindings, , Function Bindings, Variable Bindings
1804 @subsection Macro Bindings
1805
1806 @noindent
1807 These forms create local macros and ``symbol macros.''
1808
1809 @defspec macrolet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1810 This form is analogous to @code{flet}, but for macros instead of
1811 functions. Each @var{binding} is a list of the same form as the
1812 arguments to @code{defmacro*} (i.e., a macro name, argument list,
1813 and macro-expander forms). The macro is defined accordingly for
1814 use within the body of the @code{macrolet}.
1815
1816 Because of the nature of macros, @code{macrolet} is lexically
1817 scoped even in Emacs Lisp: The @code{macrolet} binding will
1818 affect only calls that appear physically within the body
1819 @var{forms}, possibly after expansion of other macros in the
1820 body.
1821 @end defspec
1822
1823 @defspec symbol-macrolet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1824 This form creates @dfn{symbol macros}, which are macros that look
1825 like variable references rather than function calls. Each
1826 @var{binding} is a list @samp{(@var{var} @var{expansion})};
1827 any reference to @var{var} within the body @var{forms} is
1828 replaced by @var{expansion}.
1829
1830 @example
1831 (setq bar '(5 . 9))
1832 (symbol-macrolet ((foo (car bar)))
1833 (incf foo))
1834 bar
1835 @result{} (6 . 9)
1836 @end example
1837
1838 A @code{setq} of a symbol macro is treated the same as a @code{setf}.
1839 I.e., @code{(setq foo 4)} in the above would be equivalent to
1840 @code{(setf foo 4)}, which in turn expands to @code{(setf (car bar) 4)}.
1841
1842 Likewise, a @code{let} or @code{let*} binding a symbol macro is
1843 treated like a @code{letf} or @code{letf*}. This differs from true
1844 Common Lisp, where the rules of lexical scoping cause a @code{let}
1845 binding to shadow a @code{symbol-macrolet} binding. In this package,
1846 only @code{lexical-let} and @code{lexical-let*} will shadow a symbol
1847 macro.
1848
1849 There is no analogue of @code{defmacro} for symbol macros; all symbol
1850 macros are local. A typical use of @code{symbol-macrolet} is in the
1851 expansion of another macro:
1852
1853 @example
1854 (defmacro* my-dolist ((x list) &rest body)
1855 (let ((var (gensym)))
1856 (list 'loop 'for var 'on list 'do
1857 (list* 'symbol-macrolet (list (list x (list 'car var)))
1858 body))))
1859
1860 (setq mylist '(1 2 3 4))
1861 (my-dolist (x mylist) (incf x))
1862 mylist
1863 @result{} (2 3 4 5)
1864 @end example
1865
1866 @noindent
1867 In this example, the @code{my-dolist} macro is similar to @code{dolist}
1868 (@pxref{Iteration}) except that the variable @code{x} becomes a true
1869 reference onto the elements of the list. The @code{my-dolist} call
1870 shown here expands to
1871
1872 @example
1873 (loop for G1234 on mylist do
1874 (symbol-macrolet ((x (car G1234)))
1875 (incf x)))
1876 @end example
1877
1878 @noindent
1879 which in turn expands to
1880
1881 @example
1882 (loop for G1234 on mylist do (incf (car G1234)))
1883 @end example
1884
1885 @xref{Loop Facility}, for a description of the @code{loop} macro.
1886 This package defines a nonstandard @code{in-ref} loop clause that
1887 works much like @code{my-dolist}.
1888 @end defspec
1889
1890 @node Conditionals, Blocks and Exits, Variable Bindings, Control Structure
1891 @section Conditionals
1892
1893 @noindent
1894 These conditional forms augment Emacs Lisp's simple @code{if},
1895 @code{and}, @code{or}, and @code{cond} forms.
1896
1897 @defspec case keyform clause@dots{}
1898 This macro evaluates @var{keyform}, then compares it with the key
1899 values listed in the various @var{clause}s. Whichever clause matches
1900 the key is executed; comparison is done by @code{eql}. If no clause
1901 matches, the @code{case} form returns @code{nil}. The clauses are
1902 of the form
1903
1904 @example
1905 (@var{keylist} @var{body-forms}@dots{})
1906 @end example
1907
1908 @noindent
1909 where @var{keylist} is a list of key values. If there is exactly
1910 one value, and it is not a cons cell or the symbol @code{nil} or
1911 @code{t}, then it can be used by itself as a @var{keylist} without
1912 being enclosed in a list. All key values in the @code{case} form
1913 must be distinct. The final clauses may use @code{t} in place of
1914 a @var{keylist} to indicate a default clause that should be taken
1915 if none of the other clauses match. (The symbol @code{otherwise}
1916 is also recognized in place of @code{t}. To make a clause that
1917 matches the actual symbol @code{t}, @code{nil}, or @code{otherwise},
1918 enclose the symbol in a list.)
1919
1920 For example, this expression reads a keystroke, then does one of
1921 four things depending on whether it is an @samp{a}, a @samp{b},
1922 a @key{RET} or @kbd{C-j}, or anything else.
1923
1924 @example
1925 (case (read-char)
1926 (?a (do-a-thing))
1927 (?b (do-b-thing))
1928 ((?\r ?\n) (do-ret-thing))
1929 (t (do-other-thing)))
1930 @end example
1931 @end defspec
1932
1933 @defspec ecase keyform clause@dots{}
1934 This macro is just like @code{case}, except that if the key does
1935 not match any of the clauses, an error is signaled rather than
1936 simply returning @code{nil}.
1937 @end defspec
1938
1939 @defspec typecase keyform clause@dots{}
1940 This macro is a version of @code{case} that checks for types
1941 rather than values. Each @var{clause} is of the form
1942 @samp{(@var{type} @var{body}...)}. @xref{Type Predicates},
1943 for a description of type specifiers. For example,
1944
1945 @example
1946 (typecase x
1947 (integer (munch-integer x))
1948 (float (munch-float x))
1949 (string (munch-integer (string-to-int x)))
1950 (t (munch-anything x)))
1951 @end example
1952
1953 The type specifier @code{t} matches any type of object; the word
1954 @code{otherwise} is also allowed. To make one clause match any of
1955 several types, use an @code{(or ...)} type specifier.
1956 @end defspec
1957
1958 @defspec etypecase keyform clause@dots{}
1959 This macro is just like @code{typecase}, except that if the key does
1960 not match any of the clauses, an error is signaled rather than
1961 simply returning @code{nil}.
1962 @end defspec
1963
1964 @node Blocks and Exits, Iteration, Conditionals, Control Structure
1965 @section Blocks and Exits
1966
1967 @noindent
1968 Common Lisp @dfn{blocks} provide a non-local exit mechanism very
1969 similar to @code{catch} and @code{throw}, but lexically rather than
1970 dynamically scoped. This package actually implements @code{block}
1971 in terms of @code{catch}; however, the lexical scoping allows the
1972 optimizing byte-compiler to omit the costly @code{catch} step if the
1973 body of the block does not actually @code{return-from} the block.
1974
1975 @defspec block name forms@dots{}
1976 The @var{forms} are evaluated as if by a @code{progn}. However,
1977 if any of the @var{forms} execute @code{(return-from @var{name})},
1978 they will jump out and return directly from the @code{block} form.
1979 The @code{block} returns the result of the last @var{form} unless
1980 a @code{return-from} occurs.
1981
1982 The @code{block}/@code{return-from} mechanism is quite similar to
1983 the @code{catch}/@code{throw} mechanism. The main differences are
1984 that block @var{name}s are unevaluated symbols, rather than forms
1985 (such as quoted symbols) which evaluate to a tag at run-time; and
1986 also that blocks are lexically scoped whereas @code{catch}/@code{throw}
1987 are dynamically scoped. This means that functions called from the
1988 body of a @code{catch} can also @code{throw} to the @code{catch},
1989 but the @code{return-from} referring to a block name must appear
1990 physically within the @var{forms} that make up the body of the block.
1991 They may not appear within other called functions, although they may
1992 appear within macro expansions or @code{lambda}s in the body. Block
1993 names and @code{catch} names form independent name-spaces.
1994
1995 In true Common Lisp, @code{defun} and @code{defmacro} surround
1996 the function or expander bodies with implicit blocks with the
1997 same name as the function or macro. This does not occur in Emacs
1998 Lisp, but this package provides @code{defun*} and @code{defmacro*}
1999 forms which do create the implicit block.
2000
2001 The Common Lisp looping constructs defined by this package,
2002 such as @code{loop} and @code{dolist}, also create implicit blocks
2003 just as in Common Lisp.
2004
2005 Because they are implemented in terms of Emacs Lisp @code{catch}
2006 and @code{throw}, blocks have the same overhead as actual
2007 @code{catch} constructs (roughly two function calls). However,
2008 the optimizing byte compiler will optimize away the @code{catch}
2009 if the block does
2010 not in fact contain any @code{return} or @code{return-from} calls
2011 that jump to it. This means that @code{do} loops and @code{defun*}
2012 functions which don't use @code{return} don't pay the overhead to
2013 support it.
2014 @end defspec
2015
2016 @defspec return-from name [result]
2017 This macro returns from the block named @var{name}, which must be
2018 an (unevaluated) symbol. If a @var{result} form is specified, it
2019 is evaluated to produce the result returned from the @code{block}.
2020 Otherwise, @code{nil} is returned.
2021 @end defspec
2022
2023 @defspec return [result]
2024 This macro is exactly like @code{(return-from nil @var{result})}.
2025 Common Lisp loops like @code{do} and @code{dolist} implicitly enclose
2026 themselves in @code{nil} blocks.
2027 @end defspec
2028
2029 @node Iteration, Loop Facility, Blocks and Exits, Control Structure
2030 @section Iteration
2031
2032 @noindent
2033 The macros described here provide more sophisticated, high-level
2034 looping constructs to complement Emacs Lisp's basic @code{while}
2035 loop.
2036
2037 @defspec loop forms@dots{}
2038 The @dfn{CL} package supports both the simple, old-style meaning of
2039 @code{loop} and the extremely powerful and flexible feature known as
2040 the @dfn{Loop Facility} or @dfn{Loop Macro}. This more advanced
2041 facility is discussed in the following section; @pxref{Loop Facility}.
2042 The simple form of @code{loop} is described here.
2043
2044 If @code{loop} is followed by zero or more Lisp expressions,
2045 then @code{(loop @var{exprs}@dots{})} simply creates an infinite
2046 loop executing the expressions over and over. The loop is
2047 enclosed in an implicit @code{nil} block. Thus,
2048
2049 @example
2050 (loop (foo) (if (no-more) (return 72)) (bar))
2051 @end example
2052
2053 @noindent
2054 is exactly equivalent to
2055
2056 @example
2057 (block nil (while t (foo) (if (no-more) (return 72)) (bar)))
2058 @end example
2059
2060 If any of the expressions are plain symbols, the loop is instead
2061 interpreted as a Loop Macro specification as described later.
2062 (This is not a restriction in practice, since a plain symbol
2063 in the above notation would simply access and throw away the
2064 value of a variable.)
2065 @end defspec
2066
2067 @defspec do (spec@dots{}) (end-test [result@dots{}]) forms@dots{}
2068 This macro creates a general iterative loop. Each @var{spec} is
2069 of the form
2070
2071 @example
2072 (@var{var} [@var{init} [@var{step}]])
2073 @end example
2074
2075 The loop works as follows: First, each @var{var} is bound to the
2076 associated @var{init} value as if by a @code{let} form. Then, in
2077 each iteration of the loop, the @var{end-test} is evaluated; if
2078 true, the loop is finished. Otherwise, the body @var{forms} are
2079 evaluated, then each @var{var} is set to the associated @var{step}
2080 expression (as if by a @code{psetq} form) and the next iteration
2081 begins. Once the @var{end-test} becomes true, the @var{result}
2082 forms are evaluated (with the @var{var}s still bound to their
2083 values) to produce the result returned by @code{do}.
2084
2085 The entire @code{do} loop is enclosed in an implicit @code{nil}
2086 block, so that you can use @code{(return)} to break out of the
2087 loop at any time.
2088
2089 If there are no @var{result} forms, the loop returns @code{nil}.
2090 If a given @var{var} has no @var{step} form, it is bound to its
2091 @var{init} value but not otherwise modified during the @code{do}
2092 loop (unless the code explicitly modifies it); this case is just
2093 a shorthand for putting a @code{(let ((@var{var} @var{init})) @dots{})}
2094 around the loop. If @var{init} is also omitted it defaults to
2095 @code{nil}, and in this case a plain @samp{@var{var}} can be used
2096 in place of @samp{(@var{var})}, again following the analogy with
2097 @code{let}.
2098
2099 This example (from Steele) illustrates a loop which applies the
2100 function @code{f} to successive pairs of values from the lists
2101 @code{foo} and @code{bar}; it is equivalent to the call
2102 @code{(mapcar* 'f foo bar)}. Note that this loop has no body
2103 @var{forms} at all, performing all its work as side effects of
2104 the rest of the loop.
2105
2106 @example
2107 (do ((x foo (cdr x))
2108 (y bar (cdr y))
2109 (z nil (cons (f (car x) (car y)) z)))
2110 ((or (null x) (null y))
2111 (nreverse z)))
2112 @end example
2113 @end defspec
2114
2115 @defspec do* (spec@dots{}) (end-test [result@dots{}]) forms@dots{}
2116 This is to @code{do} what @code{let*} is to @code{let}. In
2117 particular, the initial values are bound as if by @code{let*}
2118 rather than @code{let}, and the steps are assigned as if by
2119 @code{setq} rather than @code{psetq}.
2120
2121 Here is another way to write the above loop:
2122
2123 @example
2124 (do* ((xp foo (cdr xp))
2125 (yp bar (cdr yp))
2126 (x (car xp) (car xp))
2127 (y (car yp) (car yp))
2128 z)
2129 ((or (null xp) (null yp))
2130 (nreverse z))
2131 (push (f x y) z))
2132 @end example
2133 @end defspec
2134
2135 @defspec dolist (var list [result]) forms@dots{}
2136 This is a more specialized loop which iterates across the elements
2137 of a list. @var{list} should evaluate to a list; the body @var{forms}
2138 are executed with @var{var} bound to each element of the list in
2139 turn. Finally, the @var{result} form (or @code{nil}) is evaluated
2140 with @var{var} bound to @code{nil} to produce the result returned by
2141 the loop. Unlike with Emacs's built in @code{dolist}, the loop is
2142 surrounded by an implicit @code{nil} block.
2143 @end defspec
2144
2145 @defspec dotimes (var count [result]) forms@dots{}
2146 This is a more specialized loop which iterates a specified number
2147 of times. The body is executed with @var{var} bound to the integers
2148 from zero (inclusive) to @var{count} (exclusive), in turn. Then
2149 the @code{result} form is evaluated with @var{var} bound to the total
2150 number of iterations that were done (i.e., @code{(max 0 @var{count})})
2151 to get the return value for the loop form. Unlike with Emacs's built in
2152 @code{dolist}, the loop is surrounded by an implicit @code{nil} block.
2153 @end defspec
2154
2155 @defspec do-symbols (var [obarray [result]]) forms@dots{}
2156 This loop iterates over all interned symbols. If @var{obarray}
2157 is specified and is not @code{nil}, it loops over all symbols in
2158 that obarray. For each symbol, the body @var{forms} are evaluated
2159 with @var{var} bound to that symbol. The symbols are visited in
2160 an unspecified order. Afterward the @var{result} form, if any,
2161 is evaluated (with @var{var} bound to @code{nil}) to get the return
2162 value. The loop is surrounded by an implicit @code{nil} block.
2163 @end defspec
2164
2165 @defspec do-all-symbols (var [result]) forms@dots{}
2166 This is identical to @code{do-symbols} except that the @var{obarray}
2167 argument is omitted; it always iterates over the default obarray.
2168 @end defspec
2169
2170 @xref{Mapping over Sequences}, for some more functions for
2171 iterating over vectors or lists.
2172
2173 @node Loop Facility, Multiple Values, Iteration, Control Structure
2174 @section Loop Facility
2175
2176 @noindent
2177 A common complaint with Lisp's traditional looping constructs is
2178 that they are either too simple and limited, such as Common Lisp's
2179 @code{dotimes} or Emacs Lisp's @code{while}, or too unreadable and
2180 obscure, like Common Lisp's @code{do} loop.
2181
2182 To remedy this, recent versions of Common Lisp have added a new
2183 construct called the ``Loop Facility'' or ``@code{loop} macro,''
2184 with an easy-to-use but very powerful and expressive syntax.
2185
2186 @menu
2187 * Loop Basics:: `loop' macro, basic clause structure
2188 * Loop Examples:: Working examples of `loop' macro
2189 * For Clauses:: Clauses introduced by `for' or `as'
2190 * Iteration Clauses:: `repeat', `while', `thereis', etc.
2191 * Accumulation Clauses:: `collect', `sum', `maximize', etc.
2192 * Other Clauses:: `with', `if', `initially', `finally'
2193 @end menu
2194
2195 @node Loop Basics, Loop Examples, Loop Facility, Loop Facility
2196 @subsection Loop Basics
2197
2198 @noindent
2199 The @code{loop} macro essentially creates a mini-language within
2200 Lisp that is specially tailored for describing loops. While this
2201 language is a little strange-looking by the standards of regular Lisp,
2202 it turns out to be very easy to learn and well-suited to its purpose.
2203
2204 Since @code{loop} is a macro, all parsing of the loop language
2205 takes place at byte-compile time; compiled @code{loop}s are just
2206 as efficient as the equivalent @code{while} loops written longhand.
2207
2208 @defspec loop clauses@dots{}
2209 A loop construct consists of a series of @var{clause}s, each
2210 introduced by a symbol like @code{for} or @code{do}. Clauses
2211 are simply strung together in the argument list of @code{loop},
2212 with minimal extra parentheses. The various types of clauses
2213 specify initializations, such as the binding of temporary
2214 variables, actions to be taken in the loop, stepping actions,
2215 and final cleanup.
2216
2217 Common Lisp specifies a certain general order of clauses in a
2218 loop:
2219
2220 @example
2221 (loop @var{name-clause}
2222 @var{var-clauses}@dots{}
2223 @var{action-clauses}@dots{})
2224 @end example
2225
2226 The @var{name-clause} optionally gives a name to the implicit
2227 block that surrounds the loop. By default, the implicit block
2228 is named @code{nil}. The @var{var-clauses} specify what
2229 variables should be bound during the loop, and how they should
2230 be modified or iterated throughout the course of the loop. The
2231 @var{action-clauses} are things to be done during the loop, such
2232 as computing, collecting, and returning values.
2233
2234 The Emacs version of the @code{loop} macro is less restrictive about
2235 the order of clauses, but things will behave most predictably if
2236 you put the variable-binding clauses @code{with}, @code{for}, and
2237 @code{repeat} before the action clauses. As in Common Lisp,
2238 @code{initially} and @code{finally} clauses can go anywhere.
2239
2240 Loops generally return @code{nil} by default, but you can cause
2241 them to return a value by using an accumulation clause like
2242 @code{collect}, an end-test clause like @code{always}, or an
2243 explicit @code{return} clause to jump out of the implicit block.
2244 (Because the loop body is enclosed in an implicit block, you can
2245 also use regular Lisp @code{return} or @code{return-from} to
2246 break out of the loop.)
2247 @end defspec
2248
2249 The following sections give some examples of the Loop Macro in
2250 action, and describe the particular loop clauses in great detail.
2251 Consult the second edition of Steele's @dfn{Common Lisp, the Language},
2252 for additional discussion and examples of the @code{loop} macro.
2253
2254 @node Loop Examples, For Clauses, Loop Basics, Loop Facility
2255 @subsection Loop Examples
2256
2257 @noindent
2258 Before listing the full set of clauses that are allowed, let's
2259 look at a few example loops just to get a feel for the @code{loop}
2260 language.
2261
2262 @example
2263 (loop for buf in (buffer-list)
2264 collect (buffer-file-name buf))
2265 @end example
2266
2267 @noindent
2268 This loop iterates over all Emacs buffers, using the list
2269 returned by @code{buffer-list}. For each buffer @code{buf},
2270 it calls @code{buffer-file-name} and collects the results into
2271 a list, which is then returned from the @code{loop} construct.
2272 The result is a list of the file names of all the buffers in
2273 Emacs' memory. The words @code{for}, @code{in}, and @code{collect}
2274 are reserved words in the @code{loop} language.
2275
2276 @example
2277 (loop repeat 20 do (insert "Yowsa\n"))
2278 @end example
2279
2280 @noindent
2281 This loop inserts the phrase ``Yowsa'' twenty times in the
2282 current buffer.
2283
2284 @example
2285 (loop until (eobp) do (munch-line) (forward-line 1))
2286 @end example
2287
2288 @noindent
2289 This loop calls @code{munch-line} on every line until the end
2290 of the buffer. If point is already at the end of the buffer,
2291 the loop exits immediately.
2292
2293 @example
2294 (loop do (munch-line) until (eobp) do (forward-line 1))
2295 @end example
2296
2297 @noindent
2298 This loop is similar to the above one, except that @code{munch-line}
2299 is always called at least once.
2300
2301 @example
2302 (loop for x from 1 to 100
2303 for y = (* x x)
2304 until (>= y 729)
2305 finally return (list x (= y 729)))
2306 @end example
2307
2308 @noindent
2309 This more complicated loop searches for a number @code{x} whose
2310 square is 729. For safety's sake it only examines @code{x}
2311 values up to 100; dropping the phrase @samp{to 100} would
2312 cause the loop to count upwards with no limit. The second
2313 @code{for} clause defines @code{y} to be the square of @code{x}
2314 within the loop; the expression after the @code{=} sign is
2315 reevaluated each time through the loop. The @code{until}
2316 clause gives a condition for terminating the loop, and the
2317 @code{finally} clause says what to do when the loop finishes.
2318 (This particular example was written less concisely than it
2319 could have been, just for the sake of illustration.)
2320
2321 Note that even though this loop contains three clauses (two
2322 @code{for}s and an @code{until}) that would have been enough to
2323 define loops all by themselves, it still creates a single loop
2324 rather than some sort of triple-nested loop. You must explicitly
2325 nest your @code{loop} constructs if you want nested loops.
2326
2327 @node For Clauses, Iteration Clauses, Loop Examples, Loop Facility
2328 @subsection For Clauses
2329
2330 @noindent
2331 Most loops are governed by one or more @code{for} clauses.
2332 A @code{for} clause simultaneously describes variables to be
2333 bound, how those variables are to be stepped during the loop,
2334 and usually an end condition based on those variables.
2335
2336 The word @code{as} is a synonym for the word @code{for}. This
2337 word is followed by a variable name, then a word like @code{from}
2338 or @code{across} that describes the kind of iteration desired.
2339 In Common Lisp, the phrase @code{being the} sometimes precedes
2340 the type of iteration; in this package both @code{being} and
2341 @code{the} are optional. The word @code{each} is a synonym
2342 for @code{the}, and the word that follows it may be singular
2343 or plural: @samp{for x being the elements of y} or
2344 @samp{for x being each element of y}. Which form you use
2345 is purely a matter of style.
2346
2347 The variable is bound around the loop as if by @code{let}:
2348
2349 @example
2350 (setq i 'happy)
2351 (loop for i from 1 to 10 do (do-something-with i))
2352 i
2353 @result{} happy
2354 @end example
2355
2356 @table @code
2357 @item for @var{var} from @var{expr1} to @var{expr2} by @var{expr3}
2358 This type of @code{for} clause creates a counting loop. Each of
2359 the three sub-terms is optional, though there must be at least one
2360 term so that the clause is marked as a counting clause.
2361
2362 The three expressions are the starting value, the ending value, and
2363 the step value, respectively, of the variable. The loop counts
2364 upwards by default (@var{expr3} must be positive), from @var{expr1}
2365 to @var{expr2} inclusively. If you omit the @code{from} term, the
2366 loop counts from zero; if you omit the @code{to} term, the loop
2367 counts forever without stopping (unless stopped by some other
2368 loop clause, of course); if you omit the @code{by} term, the loop
2369 counts in steps of one.
2370
2371 You can replace the word @code{from} with @code{upfrom} or
2372 @code{downfrom} to indicate the direction of the loop. Likewise,
2373 you can replace @code{to} with @code{upto} or @code{downto}.
2374 For example, @samp{for x from 5 downto 1} executes five times
2375 with @code{x} taking on the integers from 5 down to 1 in turn.
2376 Also, you can replace @code{to} with @code{below} or @code{above},
2377 which are like @code{upto} and @code{downto} respectively except
2378 that they are exclusive rather than inclusive limits:
2379
2380 @example
2381 (loop for x to 10 collect x)
2382 @result{} (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10)
2383 (loop for x below 10 collect x)
2384 @result{} (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9)
2385 @end example
2386
2387 The @code{by} value is always positive, even for downward-counting
2388 loops. Some sort of @code{from} value is required for downward
2389 loops; @samp{for x downto 5} is not a valid loop clause all by
2390 itself.
2391
2392 @item for @var{var} in @var{list} by @var{function}
2393 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the elements of @var{list},
2394 in turn. If you specify the @code{by} term, then @var{function}
2395 is used to traverse the list instead of @code{cdr}; it must be a
2396 function taking one argument. For example:
2397
2398 @example
2399 (loop for x in '(1 2 3 4 5 6) collect (* x x))
2400 @result{} (1 4 9 16 25 36)
2401 (loop for x in '(1 2 3 4 5 6) by 'cddr collect (* x x))
2402 @result{} (1 9 25)
2403 @end example
2404
2405 @item for @var{var} on @var{list} by @var{function}
2406 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the cons cells of @var{list}.
2407
2408 @example
2409 (loop for x on '(1 2 3 4) collect x)
2410 @result{} ((1 2 3 4) (2 3 4) (3 4) (4))
2411 @end example
2412
2413 With @code{by}, there is no real reason that the @code{on} expression
2414 must be a list. For example:
2415
2416 @example
2417 (loop for x on first-animal by 'next-animal collect x)
2418 @end example
2419
2420 @noindent
2421 where @code{(next-animal x)} takes an ``animal'' @var{x} and returns
2422 the next in the (assumed) sequence of animals, or @code{nil} if
2423 @var{x} was the last animal in the sequence.
2424
2425 @item for @var{var} in-ref @var{list} by @var{function}
2426 This is like a regular @code{in} clause, but @var{var} becomes
2427 a @code{setf}-able ``reference'' onto the elements of the list
2428 rather than just a temporary variable. For example,
2429
2430 @example
2431 (loop for x in-ref my-list do (incf x))
2432 @end example
2433
2434 @noindent
2435 increments every element of @code{my-list} in place. This clause
2436 is an extension to standard Common Lisp.
2437
2438 @item for @var{var} across @var{array}
2439 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the elements of @var{array},
2440 which may be a vector or a string.
2441
2442 @example
2443 (loop for x across "aeiou"
2444 do (use-vowel (char-to-string x)))
2445 @end example
2446
2447 @item for @var{var} across-ref @var{array}
2448 This clause iterates over an array, with @var{var} a @code{setf}-able
2449 reference onto the elements; see @code{in-ref} above.
2450
2451 @item for @var{var} being the elements of @var{sequence}
2452 This clause iterates over the elements of @var{sequence}, which may
2453 be a list, vector, or string. Since the type must be determined
2454 at run-time, this is somewhat less efficient than @code{in} or
2455 @code{across}. The clause may be followed by the additional term
2456 @samp{using (index @var{var2})} to cause @var{var2} to be bound to
2457 the successive indices (starting at 0) of the elements.
2458
2459 This clause type is taken from older versions of the @code{loop} macro,
2460 and is not present in modern Common Lisp. The @samp{using (sequence ...)}
2461 term of the older macros is not supported.
2462
2463 @item for @var{var} being the elements of-ref @var{sequence}
2464 This clause iterates over a sequence, with @var{var} a @code{setf}-able
2465 reference onto the elements; see @code{in-ref} above.
2466
2467 @item for @var{var} being the symbols [of @var{obarray}]
2468 This clause iterates over symbols, either over all interned symbols
2469 or over all symbols in @var{obarray}. The loop is executed with
2470 @var{var} bound to each symbol in turn. The symbols are visited in
2471 an unspecified order.
2472
2473 As an example,
2474
2475 @example
2476 (loop for sym being the symbols
2477 when (fboundp sym)
2478 when (string-match "^map" (symbol-name sym))
2479 collect sym)
2480 @end example
2481
2482 @noindent
2483 returns a list of all the functions whose names begin with @samp{map}.
2484
2485 The Common Lisp words @code{external-symbols} and @code{present-symbols}
2486 are also recognized but are equivalent to @code{symbols} in Emacs Lisp.
2487
2488 Due to a minor implementation restriction, it will not work to have
2489 more than one @code{for} clause iterating over symbols, hash tables,
2490 keymaps, overlays, or intervals in a given @code{loop}. Fortunately,
2491 it would rarely if ever be useful to do so. It @emph{is} valid to mix
2492 one of these types of clauses with other clauses like @code{for ... to}
2493 or @code{while}.
2494
2495 @item for @var{var} being the hash-keys of @var{hash-table}
2496 This clause iterates over the entries in @var{hash-table}. For each
2497 hash table entry, @var{var} is bound to the entry's key. If you write
2498 @samp{the hash-values} instead, @var{var} is bound to the values
2499 of the entries. The clause may be followed by the additional
2500 term @samp{using (hash-values @var{var2})} (where @code{hash-values}
2501 is the opposite word of the word following @code{the}) to cause
2502 @var{var} and @var{var2} to be bound to the two parts of each
2503 hash table entry.
2504
2505 @item for @var{var} being the key-codes of @var{keymap}
2506 This clause iterates over the entries in @var{keymap}.
2507 The iteration does not enter nested keymaps or inherited (parent) keymaps.
2508 You can use @samp{the key-bindings} to access the commands bound to
2509 the keys rather than the key codes, and you can add a @code{using}
2510 clause to access both the codes and the bindings together.
2511
2512 @item for @var{var} being the key-seqs of @var{keymap}
2513 This clause iterates over all key sequences defined by @var{keymap}
2514 and its nested keymaps, where @var{var} takes on values which are
2515 vectors. The strings or vectors
2516 are reused for each iteration, so you must copy them if you wish to keep
2517 them permanently. You can add a @samp{using (key-bindings ...)}
2518 clause to get the command bindings as well.
2519
2520 @item for @var{var} being the overlays [of @var{buffer}] @dots{}
2521 This clause iterates over the ``overlays'' of a buffer
2522 (the clause @code{extents} is synonymous
2523 with @code{overlays}). If the @code{of} term is omitted, the current
2524 buffer is used.
2525 This clause also accepts optional @samp{from @var{pos}} and
2526 @samp{to @var{pos}} terms, limiting the clause to overlays which
2527 overlap the specified region.
2528
2529 @item for @var{var} being the intervals [of @var{buffer}] @dots{}
2530 This clause iterates over all intervals of a buffer with constant
2531 text properties. The variable @var{var} will be bound to conses
2532 of start and end positions, where one start position is always equal
2533 to the previous end position. The clause allows @code{of},
2534 @code{from}, @code{to}, and @code{property} terms, where the latter
2535 term restricts the search to just the specified property. The
2536 @code{of} term may specify either a buffer or a string.
2537
2538 @item for @var{var} being the frames
2539 This clause iterates over all frames, i.e., X window system windows
2540 open on Emacs files. The
2541 clause @code{screens} is a synonym for @code{frames}. The frames
2542 are visited in @code{next-frame} order starting from
2543 @code{selected-frame}.
2544
2545 @item for @var{var} being the windows [of @var{frame}]
2546 This clause iterates over the windows (in the Emacs sense) of
2547 the current frame, or of the specified @var{frame}.
2548
2549 @item for @var{var} being the buffers
2550 This clause iterates over all buffers in Emacs. It is equivalent
2551 to @samp{for @var{var} in (buffer-list)}.
2552
2553 @item for @var{var} = @var{expr1} then @var{expr2}
2554 This clause does a general iteration. The first time through
2555 the loop, @var{var} will be bound to @var{expr1}. On the second
2556 and successive iterations it will be set by evaluating @var{expr2}
2557 (which may refer to the old value of @var{var}). For example,
2558 these two loops are effectively the same:
2559
2560 @example
2561 (loop for x on my-list by 'cddr do ...)
2562 (loop for x = my-list then (cddr x) while x do ...)
2563 @end example
2564
2565 Note that this type of @code{for} clause does not imply any sort
2566 of terminating condition; the above example combines it with a
2567 @code{while} clause to tell when to end the loop.
2568
2569 If you omit the @code{then} term, @var{expr1} is used both for
2570 the initial setting and for successive settings:
2571
2572 @example
2573 (loop for x = (random) when (> x 0) return x)
2574 @end example
2575
2576 @noindent
2577 This loop keeps taking random numbers from the @code{(random)}
2578 function until it gets a positive one, which it then returns.
2579 @end table
2580
2581 If you include several @code{for} clauses in a row, they are
2582 treated sequentially (as if by @code{let*} and @code{setq}).
2583 You can instead use the word @code{and} to link the clauses,
2584 in which case they are processed in parallel (as if by @code{let}
2585 and @code{psetq}).
2586
2587 @example
2588 (loop for x below 5 for y = nil then x collect (list x y))
2589 @result{} ((0 nil) (1 1) (2 2) (3 3) (4 4))
2590 (loop for x below 5 and y = nil then x collect (list x y))
2591 @result{} ((0 nil) (1 0) (2 1) (3 2) (4 3))
2592 @end example
2593
2594 @noindent
2595 In the first loop, @code{y} is set based on the value of @code{x}
2596 that was just set by the previous clause; in the second loop,
2597 @code{x} and @code{y} are set simultaneously so @code{y} is set
2598 based on the value of @code{x} left over from the previous time
2599 through the loop.
2600
2601 Another feature of the @code{loop} macro is @dfn{destructuring},
2602 similar in concept to the destructuring provided by @code{defmacro}.
2603 The @var{var} part of any @code{for} clause can be given as a list
2604 of variables instead of a single variable. The values produced
2605 during loop execution must be lists; the values in the lists are
2606 stored in the corresponding variables.
2607
2608 @example
2609 (loop for (x y) in '((2 3) (4 5) (6 7)) collect (+ x y))
2610 @result{} (5 9 13)
2611 @end example
2612
2613 In loop destructuring, if there are more values than variables
2614 the trailing values are ignored, and if there are more variables
2615 than values the trailing variables get the value @code{nil}.
2616 If @code{nil} is used as a variable name, the corresponding
2617 values are ignored. Destructuring may be nested, and dotted
2618 lists of variables like @code{(x . y)} are allowed.
2619
2620 @node Iteration Clauses, Accumulation Clauses, For Clauses, Loop Facility
2621 @subsection Iteration Clauses
2622
2623 @noindent
2624 Aside from @code{for} clauses, there are several other loop clauses
2625 that control the way the loop operates. They might be used by
2626 themselves, or in conjunction with one or more @code{for} clauses.
2627
2628 @table @code
2629 @item repeat @var{integer}
2630 This clause simply counts up to the specified number using an
2631 internal temporary variable. The loops
2632
2633 @example
2634 (loop repeat n do ...)
2635 (loop for temp to n do ...)
2636 @end example
2637
2638 @noindent
2639 are identical except that the second one forces you to choose
2640 a name for a variable you aren't actually going to use.
2641
2642 @item while @var{condition}
2643 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition (any Lisp
2644 expression) becomes @code{nil}. For example, the following two
2645 loops are equivalent, except for the implicit @code{nil} block
2646 that surrounds the second one:
2647
2648 @example
2649 (while @var{cond} @var{forms}@dots{})
2650 (loop while @var{cond} do @var{forms}@dots{})
2651 @end example
2652
2653 @item until @var{condition}
2654 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition is true,
2655 i.e., non-@code{nil}.
2656
2657 @item always @var{condition}
2658 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition is @code{nil}.
2659 Unlike @code{while}, it stops the loop using @code{return nil} so that
2660 the @code{finally} clauses are not executed. If all the conditions
2661 were non-@code{nil}, the loop returns @code{t}:
2662
2663 @example
2664 (if (loop for size in size-list always (> size 10))
2665 (some-big-sizes)
2666 (no-big-sizes))
2667 @end example
2668
2669 @item never @var{condition}
2670 This clause is like @code{always}, except that the loop returns
2671 @code{t} if any conditions were false, or @code{nil} otherwise.
2672
2673 @item thereis @var{condition}
2674 This clause stops the loop when the specified form is non-@code{nil};
2675 in this case, it returns that non-@code{nil} value. If all the
2676 values were @code{nil}, the loop returns @code{nil}.
2677 @end table
2678
2679 @node Accumulation Clauses, Other Clauses, Iteration Clauses, Loop Facility
2680 @subsection Accumulation Clauses
2681
2682 @noindent
2683 These clauses cause the loop to accumulate information about the
2684 specified Lisp @var{form}. The accumulated result is returned
2685 from the loop unless overridden, say, by a @code{return} clause.
2686
2687 @table @code
2688 @item collect @var{form}
2689 This clause collects the values of @var{form} into a list. Several
2690 examples of @code{collect} appear elsewhere in this manual.
2691
2692 The word @code{collecting} is a synonym for @code{collect}, and
2693 likewise for the other accumulation clauses.
2694
2695 @item append @var{form}
2696 This clause collects lists of values into a result list using
2697 @code{append}.
2698
2699 @item nconc @var{form}
2700 This clause collects lists of values into a result list by
2701 destructively modifying the lists rather than copying them.
2702
2703 @item concat @var{form}
2704 This clause concatenates the values of the specified @var{form}
2705 into a string. (It and the following clause are extensions to
2706 standard Common Lisp.)
2707
2708 @item vconcat @var{form}
2709 This clause concatenates the values of the specified @var{form}
2710 into a vector.
2711
2712 @item count @var{form}
2713 This clause counts the number of times the specified @var{form}
2714 evaluates to a non-@code{nil} value.
2715
2716 @item sum @var{form}
2717 This clause accumulates the sum of the values of the specified
2718 @var{form}, which must evaluate to a number.
2719
2720 @item maximize @var{form}
2721 This clause accumulates the maximum value of the specified @var{form},
2722 which must evaluate to a number. The return value is undefined if
2723 @code{maximize} is executed zero times.
2724
2725 @item minimize @var{form}
2726 This clause accumulates the minimum value of the specified @var{form}.
2727 @end table
2728
2729 Accumulation clauses can be followed by @samp{into @var{var}} to
2730 cause the data to be collected into variable @var{var} (which is
2731 automatically @code{let}-bound during the loop) rather than an
2732 unnamed temporary variable. Also, @code{into} accumulations do
2733 not automatically imply a return value. The loop must use some
2734 explicit mechanism, such as @code{finally return}, to return
2735 the accumulated result.
2736
2737 It is valid for several accumulation clauses of the same type to
2738 accumulate into the same place. From Steele:
2739
2740 @example
2741 (loop for name in '(fred sue alice joe june)
2742 for kids in '((bob ken) () () (kris sunshine) ())
2743 collect name
2744 append kids)
2745 @result{} (fred bob ken sue alice joe kris sunshine june)
2746 @end example
2747
2748 @node Other Clauses, , Accumulation Clauses, Loop Facility
2749 @subsection Other Clauses
2750
2751 @noindent
2752 This section describes the remaining loop clauses.
2753
2754 @table @code
2755 @item with @var{var} = @var{value}
2756 This clause binds a variable to a value around the loop, but
2757 otherwise leaves the variable alone during the loop. The following
2758 loops are basically equivalent:
2759
2760 @example
2761 (loop with x = 17 do ...)
2762 (let ((x 17)) (loop do ...))
2763 (loop for x = 17 then x do ...)
2764 @end example
2765
2766 Naturally, the variable @var{var} might be used for some purpose
2767 in the rest of the loop. For example:
2768
2769 @example
2770 (loop for x in my-list with res = nil do (push x res)
2771 finally return res)
2772 @end example
2773
2774 This loop inserts the elements of @code{my-list} at the front of
2775 a new list being accumulated in @code{res}, then returns the
2776 list @code{res} at the end of the loop. The effect is similar
2777 to that of a @code{collect} clause, but the list gets reversed
2778 by virtue of the fact that elements are being pushed onto the
2779 front of @code{res} rather than the end.
2780
2781 If you omit the @code{=} term, the variable is initialized to
2782 @code{nil}. (Thus the @samp{= nil} in the above example is
2783 unnecessary.)
2784
2785 Bindings made by @code{with} are sequential by default, as if
2786 by @code{let*}. Just like @code{for} clauses, @code{with} clauses
2787 can be linked with @code{and} to cause the bindings to be made by
2788 @code{let} instead.
2789
2790 @item if @var{condition} @var{clause}
2791 This clause executes the following loop clause only if the specified
2792 condition is true. The following @var{clause} should be an accumulation,
2793 @code{do}, @code{return}, @code{if}, or @code{unless} clause.
2794 Several clauses may be linked by separating them with @code{and}.
2795 These clauses may be followed by @code{else} and a clause or clauses
2796 to execute if the condition was false. The whole construct may
2797 optionally be followed by the word @code{end} (which may be used to
2798 disambiguate an @code{else} or @code{and} in a nested @code{if}).
2799
2800 The actual non-@code{nil} value of the condition form is available
2801 by the name @code{it} in the ``then'' part. For example:
2802
2803 @example
2804 (setq funny-numbers '(6 13 -1))
2805 @result{} (6 13 -1)
2806 (loop for x below 10
2807 if (oddp x)
2808 collect x into odds
2809 and if (memq x funny-numbers) return (cdr it) end
2810 else
2811 collect x into evens
2812 finally return (vector odds evens))
2813 @result{} [(1 3 5 7 9) (0 2 4 6 8)]
2814 (setq funny-numbers '(6 7 13 -1))
2815 @result{} (6 7 13 -1)
2816 (loop <@r{same thing again}>)
2817 @result{} (13 -1)
2818 @end example
2819
2820 Note the use of @code{and} to put two clauses into the ``then''
2821 part, one of which is itself an @code{if} clause. Note also that
2822 @code{end}, while normally optional, was necessary here to make
2823 it clear that the @code{else} refers to the outermost @code{if}
2824 clause. In the first case, the loop returns a vector of lists
2825 of the odd and even values of @var{x}. In the second case, the
2826 odd number 7 is one of the @code{funny-numbers} so the loop
2827 returns early; the actual returned value is based on the result
2828 of the @code{memq} call.
2829
2830 @item when @var{condition} @var{clause}
2831 This clause is just a synonym for @code{if}.
2832
2833 @item unless @var{condition} @var{clause}
2834 The @code{unless} clause is just like @code{if} except that the
2835 sense of the condition is reversed.
2836
2837 @item named @var{name}
2838 This clause gives a name other than @code{nil} to the implicit
2839 block surrounding the loop. The @var{name} is the symbol to be
2840 used as the block name.
2841
2842 @item initially [do] @var{forms}...
2843 This keyword introduces one or more Lisp forms which will be
2844 executed before the loop itself begins (but after any variables
2845 requested by @code{for} or @code{with} have been bound to their
2846 initial values). @code{initially} clauses can appear anywhere;
2847 if there are several, they are executed in the order they appear
2848 in the loop. The keyword @code{do} is optional.
2849
2850 @item finally [do] @var{forms}...
2851 This introduces Lisp forms which will be executed after the loop
2852 finishes (say, on request of a @code{for} or @code{while}).
2853 @code{initially} and @code{finally} clauses may appear anywhere
2854 in the loop construct, but they are executed (in the specified
2855 order) at the beginning or end, respectively, of the loop.
2856
2857 @item finally return @var{form}
2858 This says that @var{form} should be executed after the loop
2859 is done to obtain a return value. (Without this, or some other
2860 clause like @code{collect} or @code{return}, the loop will simply
2861 return @code{nil}.) Variables bound by @code{for}, @code{with},
2862 or @code{into} will still contain their final values when @var{form}
2863 is executed.
2864
2865 @item do @var{forms}...
2866 The word @code{do} may be followed by any number of Lisp expressions
2867 which are executed as an implicit @code{progn} in the body of the
2868 loop. Many of the examples in this section illustrate the use of
2869 @code{do}.
2870
2871 @item return @var{form}
2872 This clause causes the loop to return immediately. The following
2873 Lisp form is evaluated to give the return value of the @code{loop}
2874 form. The @code{finally} clauses, if any, are not executed.
2875 Of course, @code{return} is generally used inside an @code{if} or
2876 @code{unless}, as its use in a top-level loop clause would mean
2877 the loop would never get to ``loop'' more than once.
2878
2879 The clause @samp{return @var{form}} is equivalent to
2880 @samp{do (return @var{form})} (or @code{return-from} if the loop
2881 was named). The @code{return} clause is implemented a bit more
2882 efficiently, though.
2883 @end table
2884
2885 While there is no high-level way to add user extensions to @code{loop}
2886 (comparable to @code{defsetf} for @code{setf}, say), this package
2887 does offer two properties called @code{cl-loop-handler} and
2888 @code{cl-loop-for-handler} which are functions to be called when
2889 a given symbol is encountered as a top-level loop clause or
2890 @code{for} clause, respectively. Consult the source code in
2891 file @file{cl-macs.el} for details.
2892
2893 This package's @code{loop} macro is compatible with that of Common
2894 Lisp, except that a few features are not implemented: @code{loop-finish}
2895 and data-type specifiers. Naturally, the @code{for} clauses which
2896 iterate over keymaps, overlays, intervals, frames, windows, and
2897 buffers are Emacs-specific extensions.
2898
2899 @node Multiple Values, , Loop Facility, Control Structure
2900 @section Multiple Values
2901
2902 @noindent
2903 Common Lisp functions can return zero or more results. Emacs Lisp
2904 functions, by contrast, always return exactly one result. This
2905 package makes no attempt to emulate Common Lisp multiple return
2906 values; Emacs versions of Common Lisp functions that return more
2907 than one value either return just the first value (as in
2908 @code{compiler-macroexpand}) or return a list of values (as in
2909 @code{get-setf-method}). This package @emph{does} define placeholders
2910 for the Common Lisp functions that work with multiple values, but
2911 in Emacs Lisp these functions simply operate on lists instead.
2912 The @code{values} form, for example, is a synonym for @code{list}
2913 in Emacs.
2914
2915 @defspec multiple-value-bind (var@dots{}) values-form forms@dots{}
2916 This form evaluates @var{values-form}, which must return a list of
2917 values. It then binds the @var{var}s to these respective values,
2918 as if by @code{let}, and then executes the body @var{forms}.
2919 If there are more @var{var}s than values, the extra @var{var}s
2920 are bound to @code{nil}. If there are fewer @var{var}s than
2921 values, the excess values are ignored.
2922 @end defspec
2923
2924 @defspec multiple-value-setq (var@dots{}) form
2925 This form evaluates @var{form}, which must return a list of values.
2926 It then sets the @var{var}s to these respective values, as if by
2927 @code{setq}. Extra @var{var}s or values are treated the same as
2928 in @code{multiple-value-bind}.
2929 @end defspec
2930
2931 The older Quiroz package attempted a more faithful (but still
2932 imperfect) emulation of Common Lisp multiple values. The old
2933 method ``usually'' simulated true multiple values quite well,
2934 but under certain circumstances would leave spurious return
2935 values in memory where a later, unrelated @code{multiple-value-bind}
2936 form would see them.
2937
2938 Since a perfect emulation is not feasible in Emacs Lisp, this
2939 package opts to keep it as simple and predictable as possible.
2940
2941 @node Macros, Declarations, Control Structure, Top
2942 @chapter Macros
2943
2944 @noindent
2945 This package implements the various Common Lisp features of
2946 @code{defmacro}, such as destructuring, @code{&environment},
2947 and @code{&body}. Top-level @code{&whole} is not implemented
2948 for @code{defmacro} due to technical difficulties.
2949 @xref{Argument Lists}.
2950
2951 Destructuring is made available to the user by way of the
2952 following macro:
2953
2954 @defspec destructuring-bind arglist expr forms@dots{}
2955 This macro expands to code which executes @var{forms}, with
2956 the variables in @var{arglist} bound to the list of values
2957 returned by @var{expr}. The @var{arglist} can include all
2958 the features allowed for @code{defmacro} argument lists,
2959 including destructuring. (The @code{&environment} keyword
2960 is not allowed.) The macro expansion will signal an error
2961 if @var{expr} returns a list of the wrong number of arguments
2962 or with incorrect keyword arguments.
2963 @end defspec
2964
2965 This package also includes the Common Lisp @code{define-compiler-macro}
2966 facility, which allows you to define compile-time expansions and
2967 optimizations for your functions.
2968
2969 @defspec define-compiler-macro name arglist forms@dots{}
2970 This form is similar to @code{defmacro}, except that it only expands
2971 calls to @var{name} at compile-time; calls processed by the Lisp
2972 interpreter are not expanded, nor are they expanded by the
2973 @code{macroexpand} function.
2974
2975 The argument list may begin with a @code{&whole} keyword and a
2976 variable. This variable is bound to the macro-call form itself,
2977 i.e., to a list of the form @samp{(@var{name} @var{args}@dots{})}.
2978 If the macro expander returns this form unchanged, then the
2979 compiler treats it as a normal function call. This allows
2980 compiler macros to work as optimizers for special cases of a
2981 function, leaving complicated cases alone.
2982
2983 For example, here is a simplified version of a definition that
2984 appears as a standard part of this package:
2985
2986 @example
2987 (define-compiler-macro member* (&whole form a list &rest keys)
2988 (if (and (null keys)
2989 (eq (car-safe a) 'quote)
2990 (not (floatp-safe (cadr a))))
2991 (list 'memq a list)
2992 form))
2993 @end example
2994
2995 @noindent
2996 This definition causes @code{(member* @var{a} @var{list})} to change
2997 to a call to the faster @code{memq} in the common case where @var{a}
2998 is a non-floating-point constant; if @var{a} is anything else, or
2999 if there are any keyword arguments in the call, then the original
3000 @code{member*} call is left intact. (The actual compiler macro
3001 for @code{member*} optimizes a number of other cases, including
3002 common @code{:test} predicates.)
3003 @end defspec
3004
3005 @defun compiler-macroexpand form
3006 This function is analogous to @code{macroexpand}, except that it
3007 expands compiler macros rather than regular macros. It returns
3008 @var{form} unchanged if it is not a call to a function for which
3009 a compiler macro has been defined, or if that compiler macro
3010 decided to punt by returning its @code{&whole} argument. Like
3011 @code{macroexpand}, it expands repeatedly until it reaches a form
3012 for which no further expansion is possible.
3013 @end defun
3014
3015 @xref{Macro Bindings}, for descriptions of the @code{macrolet}
3016 and @code{symbol-macrolet} forms for making ``local'' macro
3017 definitions.
3018
3019 @node Declarations, Symbols, Macros, Top
3020 @chapter Declarations
3021
3022 @noindent
3023 Common Lisp includes a complex and powerful ``declaration''
3024 mechanism that allows you to give the compiler special hints
3025 about the types of data that will be stored in particular variables,
3026 and about the ways those variables and functions will be used. This
3027 package defines versions of all the Common Lisp declaration forms:
3028 @code{declare}, @code{locally}, @code{proclaim}, @code{declaim},
3029 and @code{the}.
3030
3031 Most of the Common Lisp declarations are not currently useful in
3032 Emacs Lisp, as the byte-code system provides little opportunity
3033 to benefit from type information, and @code{special} declarations
3034 are redundant in a fully dynamically-scoped Lisp. A few
3035 declarations are meaningful when the optimizing byte
3036 compiler is being used, however. Under the earlier non-optimizing
3037 compiler, these declarations will effectively be ignored.
3038
3039 @defun proclaim decl-spec
3040 This function records a ``global'' declaration specified by
3041 @var{decl-spec}. Since @code{proclaim} is a function, @var{decl-spec}
3042 is evaluated and thus should normally be quoted.
3043 @end defun
3044
3045 @defspec declaim decl-specs@dots{}
3046 This macro is like @code{proclaim}, except that it takes any number
3047 of @var{decl-spec} arguments, and the arguments are unevaluated and
3048 unquoted. The @code{declaim} macro also puts an @code{(eval-when
3049 (compile load eval) ...)} around the declarations so that they will
3050 be registered at compile-time as well as at run-time. (This is vital,
3051 since normally the declarations are meant to influence the way the
3052 compiler treats the rest of the file that contains the @code{declaim}
3053 form.)
3054 @end defspec
3055
3056 @defspec declare decl-specs@dots{}
3057 This macro is used to make declarations within functions and other
3058 code. Common Lisp allows declarations in various locations, generally
3059 at the beginning of any of the many ``implicit @code{progn}s''
3060 throughout Lisp syntax, such as function bodies, @code{let} bodies,
3061 etc. Currently the only declaration understood by @code{declare}
3062 is @code{special}.
3063 @end defspec
3064
3065 @defspec locally declarations@dots{} forms@dots{}
3066 In this package, @code{locally} is no different from @code{progn}.
3067 @end defspec
3068
3069 @defspec the type form
3070 Type information provided by @code{the} is ignored in this package;
3071 in other words, @code{(the @var{type} @var{form})} is equivalent
3072 to @var{form}. Future versions of the optimizing byte-compiler may
3073 make use of this information.
3074
3075 For example, @code{mapcar} can map over both lists and arrays. It is
3076 hard for the compiler to expand @code{mapcar} into an in-line loop
3077 unless it knows whether the sequence will be a list or an array ahead
3078 of time. With @code{(mapcar 'car (the vector foo))}, a future
3079 compiler would have enough information to expand the loop in-line.
3080 For now, Emacs Lisp will treat the above code as exactly equivalent
3081 to @code{(mapcar 'car foo)}.
3082 @end defspec
3083
3084 Each @var{decl-spec} in a @code{proclaim}, @code{declaim}, or
3085 @code{declare} should be a list beginning with a symbol that says
3086 what kind of declaration it is. This package currently understands
3087 @code{special}, @code{inline}, @code{notinline}, @code{optimize},
3088 and @code{warn} declarations. (The @code{warn} declaration is an
3089 extension of standard Common Lisp.) Other Common Lisp declarations,
3090 such as @code{type} and @code{ftype}, are silently ignored.
3091
3092 @table @code
3093 @item special
3094 Since all variables in Emacs Lisp are ``special'' (in the Common
3095 Lisp sense), @code{special} declarations are only advisory. They
3096 simply tell the optimizing byte compiler that the specified
3097 variables are intentionally being referred to without being
3098 bound in the body of the function. The compiler normally emits
3099 warnings for such references, since they could be typographical
3100 errors for references to local variables.
3101
3102 The declaration @code{(declare (special @var{var1} @var{var2}))} is
3103 equivalent to @code{(defvar @var{var1}) (defvar @var{var2})} in the
3104 optimizing compiler, or to nothing at all in older compilers (which
3105 do not warn for non-local references).
3106
3107 In top-level contexts, it is generally better to write
3108 @code{(defvar @var{var})} than @code{(declaim (special @var{var}))},
3109 since @code{defvar} makes your intentions clearer. But the older
3110 byte compilers can not handle @code{defvar}s appearing inside of
3111 functions, while @code{(declare (special @var{var}))} takes care
3112 to work correctly with all compilers.
3113
3114 @item inline
3115 The @code{inline} @var{decl-spec} lists one or more functions
3116 whose bodies should be expanded ``in-line'' into calling functions
3117 whenever the compiler is able to arrange for it. For example,
3118 the Common Lisp function @code{cadr} is declared @code{inline}
3119 by this package so that the form @code{(cadr @var{x})} will
3120 expand directly into @code{(car (cdr @var{x}))} when it is called
3121 in user functions, for a savings of one (relatively expensive)
3122 function call.
3123
3124 The following declarations are all equivalent. Note that the
3125 @code{defsubst} form is a convenient way to define a function
3126 and declare it inline all at once.
3127
3128 @example
3129 (declaim (inline foo bar))
3130 (eval-when (compile load eval) (proclaim '(inline foo bar)))
3131 (defsubst foo (...) ...) ; instead of defun
3132 @end example
3133
3134 @strong{Please note:} this declaration remains in effect after the
3135 containing source file is done. It is correct to use it to
3136 request that a function you have defined should be inlined,
3137 but it is impolite to use it to request inlining of an external
3138 function.
3139
3140 In Common Lisp, it is possible to use @code{(declare (inline @dots{}))}
3141 before a particular call to a function to cause just that call to
3142 be inlined; the current byte compilers provide no way to implement
3143 this, so @code{(declare (inline @dots{}))} is currently ignored by
3144 this package.
3145
3146 @item notinline
3147 The @code{notinline} declaration lists functions which should
3148 not be inlined after all; it cancels a previous @code{inline}
3149 declaration.
3150
3151 @item optimize
3152 This declaration controls how much optimization is performed by
3153 the compiler. Naturally, it is ignored by the earlier non-optimizing
3154 compilers.
3155
3156 The word @code{optimize} is followed by any number of lists like
3157 @code{(speed 3)} or @code{(safety 2)}. Common Lisp defines several
3158 optimization ``qualities''; this package ignores all but @code{speed}
3159 and @code{safety}. The value of a quality should be an integer from
3160 0 to 3, with 0 meaning ``unimportant'' and 3 meaning ``very important.''
3161 The default level for both qualities is 1.
3162
3163 In this package, with the optimizing compiler, the
3164 @code{speed} quality is tied to the @code{byte-compile-optimize}
3165 flag, which is set to @code{nil} for @code{(speed 0)} and to
3166 @code{t} for higher settings; and the @code{safety} quality is
3167 tied to the @code{byte-compile-delete-errors} flag, which is
3168 set to @code{t} for @code{(safety 3)} and to @code{nil} for all
3169 lower settings. (The latter flag controls whether the compiler
3170 is allowed to optimize out code whose only side-effect could
3171 be to signal an error, e.g., rewriting @code{(progn foo bar)} to
3172 @code{bar} when it is not known whether @code{foo} will be bound
3173 at run-time.)
3174
3175 Note that even compiling with @code{(safety 0)}, the Emacs
3176 byte-code system provides sufficient checking to prevent real
3177 harm from being done. For example, barring serious bugs in
3178 Emacs itself, Emacs will not crash with a segmentation fault
3179 just because of an error in a fully-optimized Lisp program.
3180
3181 The @code{optimize} declaration is normally used in a top-level
3182 @code{proclaim} or @code{declaim} in a file; Common Lisp allows
3183 it to be used with @code{declare} to set the level of optimization
3184 locally for a given form, but this will not work correctly with the
3185 current version of the optimizing compiler. (The @code{declare}
3186 will set the new optimization level, but that level will not
3187 automatically be unset after the enclosing form is done.)
3188
3189 @item warn
3190 This declaration controls what sorts of warnings are generated
3191 by the byte compiler. Again, only the optimizing compiler
3192 generates warnings. The word @code{warn} is followed by any
3193 number of ``warning qualities,'' similar in form to optimization
3194 qualities. The currently supported warning types are
3195 @code{redefine}, @code{callargs}, @code{unresolved}, and
3196 @code{free-vars}; in the current system, a value of 0 will
3197 disable these warnings and any higher value will enable them.
3198 See the documentation for the optimizing byte compiler for details.
3199 @end table
3200
3201 @node Symbols, Numbers, Declarations, Top
3202 @chapter Symbols
3203
3204 @noindent
3205 This package defines several symbol-related features that were
3206 missing from Emacs Lisp.
3207
3208 @menu
3209 * Property Lists:: `get*', `remprop', `getf', `remf'
3210 * Creating Symbols:: `gensym', `gentemp'
3211 @end menu
3212
3213 @node Property Lists, Creating Symbols, Symbols, Symbols
3214 @section Property Lists
3215
3216 @noindent
3217 These functions augment the standard Emacs Lisp functions @code{get}
3218 and @code{put} for operating on properties attached to symbols.
3219 There are also functions for working with property lists as
3220 first-class data structures not attached to particular symbols.
3221
3222 @defun get* symbol property &optional default
3223 This function is like @code{get}, except that if the property is
3224 not found, the @var{default} argument provides the return value.
3225 (The Emacs Lisp @code{get} function always uses @code{nil} as
3226 the default; this package's @code{get*} is equivalent to Common
3227 Lisp's @code{get}.)
3228
3229 The @code{get*} function is @code{setf}-able; when used in this
3230 fashion, the @var{default} argument is allowed but ignored.
3231 @end defun
3232
3233 @defun remprop symbol property
3234 This function removes the entry for @var{property} from the property
3235 list of @var{symbol}. It returns a true value if the property was
3236 indeed found and removed, or @code{nil} if there was no such property.
3237 (This function was probably omitted from Emacs originally because,
3238 since @code{get} did not allow a @var{default}, it was very difficult
3239 to distinguish between a missing property and a property whose value
3240 was @code{nil}; thus, setting a property to @code{nil} was close
3241 enough to @code{remprop} for most purposes.)
3242 @end defun
3243
3244 @defun getf place property &optional default
3245 This function scans the list @var{place} as if it were a property
3246 list, i.e., a list of alternating property names and values. If
3247 an even-numbered element of @var{place} is found which is @code{eq}
3248 to @var{property}, the following odd-numbered element is returned.
3249 Otherwise, @var{default} is returned (or @code{nil} if no default
3250 is given).
3251
3252 In particular,
3253
3254 @example
3255 (get sym prop) @equiv{} (getf (symbol-plist sym) prop)
3256 @end example
3257
3258 It is valid to use @code{getf} as a @code{setf} place, in which case
3259 its @var{place} argument must itself be a valid @code{setf} place.
3260 The @var{default} argument, if any, is ignored in this context.
3261 The effect is to change (via @code{setcar}) the value cell in the
3262 list that corresponds to @var{property}, or to cons a new property-value
3263 pair onto the list if the property is not yet present.
3264
3265 @example
3266 (put sym prop val) @equiv{} (setf (getf (symbol-plist sym) prop) val)
3267 @end example
3268
3269 The @code{get} and @code{get*} functions are also @code{setf}-able.
3270 The fact that @code{default} is ignored can sometimes be useful:
3271
3272 @example
3273 (incf (get* 'foo 'usage-count 0))
3274 @end example
3275
3276 Here, symbol @code{foo}'s @code{usage-count} property is incremented
3277 if it exists, or set to 1 (an incremented 0) otherwise.
3278
3279 When not used as a @code{setf} form, @code{getf} is just a regular
3280 function and its @var{place} argument can actually be any Lisp
3281 expression.
3282 @end defun
3283
3284 @defspec remf place property
3285 This macro removes the property-value pair for @var{property} from
3286 the property list stored at @var{place}, which is any @code{setf}-able
3287 place expression. It returns true if the property was found. Note
3288 that if @var{property} happens to be first on the list, this will
3289 effectively do a @code{(setf @var{place} (cddr @var{place}))},
3290 whereas if it occurs later, this simply uses @code{setcdr} to splice
3291 out the property and value cells.
3292 @end defspec
3293
3294 @iftex
3295 @secno=2
3296 @end iftex
3297
3298 @node Creating Symbols, , Property Lists, Symbols
3299 @section Creating Symbols
3300
3301 @noindent
3302 These functions create unique symbols, typically for use as
3303 temporary variables.
3304
3305 @defun gensym &optional x
3306 This function creates a new, uninterned symbol (using @code{make-symbol})
3307 with a unique name. (The name of an uninterned symbol is relevant
3308 only if the symbol is printed.) By default, the name is generated
3309 from an increasing sequence of numbers, @samp{G1000}, @samp{G1001},
3310 @samp{G1002}, etc. If the optional argument @var{x} is a string, that
3311 string is used as a prefix instead of @samp{G}. Uninterned symbols
3312 are used in macro expansions for temporary variables, to ensure that
3313 their names will not conflict with ``real'' variables in the user's
3314 code.
3315 @end defun
3316
3317 @defvar *gensym-counter*
3318 This variable holds the counter used to generate @code{gensym} names.
3319 It is incremented after each use by @code{gensym}. In Common Lisp
3320 this is initialized with 0, but this package initializes it with a
3321 random (time-dependent) value to avoid trouble when two files that
3322 each used @code{gensym} in their compilation are loaded together.
3323 (Uninterned symbols become interned when the compiler writes them
3324 out to a file and the Emacs loader loads them, so their names have to
3325 be treated a bit more carefully than in Common Lisp where uninterned
3326 symbols remain uninterned after loading.)
3327 @end defvar
3328
3329 @defun gentemp &optional x
3330 This function is like @code{gensym}, except that it produces a new
3331 @emph{interned} symbol. If the symbol that is generated already
3332 exists, the function keeps incrementing the counter and trying
3333 again until a new symbol is generated.
3334 @end defun
3335
3336 The Quiroz @file{cl.el} package also defined a @code{defkeyword}
3337 form for creating self-quoting keyword symbols. This package
3338 automatically creates all keywords that are called for by
3339 @code{&key} argument specifiers, and discourages the use of
3340 keywords as data unrelated to keyword arguments, so the
3341 @code{defkeyword} form has been discontinued.
3342
3343 @iftex
3344 @chapno=11
3345 @end iftex
3346
3347 @node Numbers, Sequences, Symbols, Top
3348 @chapter Numbers
3349
3350 @noindent
3351 This section defines a few simple Common Lisp operations on numbers
3352 which were left out of Emacs Lisp.
3353
3354 @menu
3355 * Predicates on Numbers:: `plusp', `oddp', `floatp-safe', etc.
3356 * Numerical Functions:: `abs', `floor*', etc.
3357 * Random Numbers:: `random*', `make-random-state'
3358 * Implementation Parameters:: `most-positive-float'
3359 @end menu
3360
3361 @iftex
3362 @secno=1
3363 @end iftex
3364
3365 @node Predicates on Numbers, Numerical Functions, Numbers, Numbers
3366 @section Predicates on Numbers
3367
3368 @noindent
3369 These functions return @code{t} if the specified condition is
3370 true of the numerical argument, or @code{nil} otherwise.
3371
3372 @defun plusp number
3373 This predicate tests whether @var{number} is positive. It is an
3374 error if the argument is not a number.
3375 @end defun
3376
3377 @defun minusp number
3378 This predicate tests whether @var{number} is negative. It is an
3379 error if the argument is not a number.
3380 @end defun
3381
3382 @defun oddp integer
3383 This predicate tests whether @var{integer} is odd. It is an
3384 error if the argument is not an integer.
3385 @end defun
3386
3387 @defun evenp integer
3388 This predicate tests whether @var{integer} is even. It is an
3389 error if the argument is not an integer.
3390 @end defun
3391
3392 @defun floatp-safe object
3393 This predicate tests whether @var{object} is a floating-point
3394 number. On systems that support floating-point, this is equivalent
3395 to @code{floatp}. On other systems, this always returns @code{nil}.
3396 @end defun
3397
3398 @iftex
3399 @secno=3
3400 @end iftex
3401
3402 @node Numerical Functions, Random Numbers, Predicates on Numbers, Numbers
3403 @section Numerical Functions
3404
3405 @noindent
3406 These functions perform various arithmetic operations on numbers.
3407
3408 @defun gcd &rest integers
3409 This function returns the Greatest Common Divisor of the arguments.
3410 For one argument, it returns the absolute value of that argument.
3411 For zero arguments, it returns zero.
3412 @end defun
3413
3414 @defun lcm &rest integers
3415 This function returns the Least Common Multiple of the arguments.
3416 For one argument, it returns the absolute value of that argument.
3417 For zero arguments, it returns one.
3418 @end defun
3419
3420 @defun isqrt integer
3421 This function computes the ``integer square root'' of its integer
3422 argument, i.e., the greatest integer less than or equal to the true
3423 square root of the argument.
3424 @end defun
3425
3426 @defun floor* number &optional divisor
3427 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{floor} function.
3428 It is called @code{floor*} to avoid name conflicts with the
3429 simpler @code{floor} function built-in to Emacs.
3430
3431 With one argument, @code{floor*} returns a list of two numbers:
3432 The argument rounded down (toward minus infinity) to an integer,
3433 and the ``remainder'' which would have to be added back to the
3434 first return value to yield the argument again. If the argument
3435 is an integer @var{x}, the result is always the list @code{(@var{x} 0)}.
3436 If the argument is a floating-point number, the first
3437 result is a Lisp integer and the second is a Lisp float between
3438 0 (inclusive) and 1 (exclusive).
3439
3440 With two arguments, @code{floor*} divides @var{number} by
3441 @var{divisor}, and returns the floor of the quotient and the
3442 corresponding remainder as a list of two numbers. If
3443 @code{(floor* @var{x} @var{y})} returns @code{(@var{q} @var{r})},
3444 then @code{@var{q}*@var{y} + @var{r} = @var{x}}, with @var{r}
3445 between 0 (inclusive) and @var{r} (exclusive). Also, note
3446 that @code{(floor* @var{x})} is exactly equivalent to
3447 @code{(floor* @var{x} 1)}.
3448
3449 This function is entirely compatible with Common Lisp's @code{floor}
3450 function, except that it returns the two results in a list since
3451 Emacs Lisp does not support multiple-valued functions.
3452 @end defun
3453
3454 @defun ceiling* number &optional divisor
3455 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{ceiling} function,
3456 which is analogous to @code{floor} except that it rounds the
3457 argument or quotient of the arguments up toward plus infinity.
3458 The remainder will be between 0 and minus @var{r}.
3459 @end defun
3460
3461 @defun truncate* number &optional divisor
3462 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{truncate} function,
3463 which is analogous to @code{floor} except that it rounds the
3464 argument or quotient of the arguments toward zero. Thus it is
3465 equivalent to @code{floor*} if the argument or quotient is
3466 positive, or to @code{ceiling*} otherwise. The remainder has
3467 the same sign as @var{number}.
3468 @end defun
3469
3470 @defun round* number &optional divisor
3471 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{round} function,
3472 which is analogous to @code{floor} except that it rounds the
3473 argument or quotient of the arguments to the nearest integer.
3474 In the case of a tie (the argument or quotient is exactly
3475 halfway between two integers), it rounds to the even integer.
3476 @end defun
3477
3478 @defun mod* number divisor
3479 This function returns the same value as the second return value
3480 of @code{floor}.
3481 @end defun
3482
3483 @defun rem* number divisor
3484 This function returns the same value as the second return value
3485 of @code{truncate}.
3486 @end defun
3487
3488 These definitions are compatible with those in the Quiroz
3489 @file{cl.el} package, except that this package appends @samp{*}
3490 to certain function names to avoid conflicts with existing
3491 Emacs functions, and that the mechanism for returning
3492 multiple values is different.
3493
3494 @iftex
3495 @secno=8
3496 @end iftex
3497
3498 @node Random Numbers, Implementation Parameters, Numerical Functions, Numbers
3499 @section Random Numbers
3500
3501 @noindent
3502 This package also provides an implementation of the Common Lisp
3503 random number generator. It uses its own additive-congruential
3504 algorithm, which is much more likely to give statistically clean
3505 random numbers than the simple generators supplied by many
3506 operating systems.
3507
3508 @defun random* number &optional state
3509 This function returns a random nonnegative number less than
3510 @var{number}, and of the same type (either integer or floating-point).
3511 The @var{state} argument should be a @code{random-state} object
3512 which holds the state of the random number generator. The
3513 function modifies this state object as a side effect. If
3514 @var{state} is omitted, it defaults to the variable
3515 @code{*random-state*}, which contains a pre-initialized
3516 @code{random-state} object.
3517 @end defun
3518
3519 @defvar *random-state*
3520 This variable contains the system ``default'' @code{random-state}
3521 object, used for calls to @code{random*} that do not specify an
3522 alternative state object. Since any number of programs in the
3523 Emacs process may be accessing @code{*random-state*} in interleaved
3524 fashion, the sequence generated from this variable will be
3525 irreproducible for all intents and purposes.
3526 @end defvar
3527
3528 @defun make-random-state &optional state
3529 This function creates or copies a @code{random-state} object.
3530 If @var{state} is omitted or @code{nil}, it returns a new copy of
3531 @code{*random-state*}. This is a copy in the sense that future
3532 sequences of calls to @code{(random* @var{n})} and
3533 @code{(random* @var{n} @var{s})} (where @var{s} is the new
3534 random-state object) will return identical sequences of random
3535 numbers.
3536
3537 If @var{state} is a @code{random-state} object, this function
3538 returns a copy of that object. If @var{state} is @code{t}, this
3539 function returns a new @code{random-state} object seeded from the
3540 date and time. As an extension to Common Lisp, @var{state} may also
3541 be an integer in which case the new object is seeded from that
3542 integer; each different integer seed will result in a completely
3543 different sequence of random numbers.
3544
3545 It is valid to print a @code{random-state} object to a buffer or
3546 file and later read it back with @code{read}. If a program wishes
3547 to use a sequence of pseudo-random numbers which can be reproduced
3548 later for debugging, it can call @code{(make-random-state t)} to
3549 get a new sequence, then print this sequence to a file. When the
3550 program is later rerun, it can read the original run's random-state
3551 from the file.
3552 @end defun
3553
3554 @defun random-state-p object
3555 This predicate returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a
3556 @code{random-state} object, or @code{nil} otherwise.
3557 @end defun
3558
3559 @node Implementation Parameters, , Random Numbers, Numbers
3560 @section Implementation Parameters
3561
3562 @noindent
3563 This package defines several useful constants having to with numbers.
3564
3565 The following parameters have to do with floating-point numbers.
3566 This package determines their values by exercising the computer's
3567 floating-point arithmetic in various ways. Because this operation
3568 might be slow, the code for initializing them is kept in a separate
3569 function that must be called before the parameters can be used.
3570
3571 @defun cl-float-limits
3572 This function makes sure that the Common Lisp floating-point parameters
3573 like @code{most-positive-float} have been initialized. Until it is
3574 called, these parameters will be @code{nil}. If this version of Emacs
3575 does not support floats, the parameters will remain @code{nil}. If the
3576 parameters have already been initialized, the function returns
3577 immediately.
3578
3579 The algorithm makes assumptions that will be valid for most modern
3580 machines, but will fail if the machine's arithmetic is extremely
3581 unusual, e.g., decimal.
3582 @end defun
3583
3584 Since true Common Lisp supports up to four different floating-point
3585 precisions, it has families of constants like
3586 @code{most-positive-single-float}, @code{most-positive-double-float},
3587 @code{most-positive-long-float}, and so on. Emacs has only one
3588 floating-point precision, so this package omits the precision word
3589 from the constants' names.
3590
3591 @defvar most-positive-float
3592 This constant equals the largest value a Lisp float can hold.
3593 For those systems whose arithmetic supports infinities, this is
3594 the largest @emph{finite} value. For IEEE machines, the value
3595 is approximately @code{1.79e+308}.
3596 @end defvar
3597
3598 @defvar most-negative-float
3599 This constant equals the most-negative value a Lisp float can hold.
3600 (It is assumed to be equal to @code{(- most-positive-float)}.)
3601 @end defvar
3602
3603 @defvar least-positive-float
3604 This constant equals the smallest Lisp float value greater than zero.
3605 For IEEE machines, it is about @code{4.94e-324} if denormals are
3606 supported or @code{2.22e-308} if not.
3607 @end defvar
3608
3609 @defvar least-positive-normalized-float
3610 This constant equals the smallest @emph{normalized} Lisp float greater
3611 than zero, i.e., the smallest value for which IEEE denormalization
3612 will not result in a loss of precision. For IEEE machines, this
3613 value is about @code{2.22e-308}. For machines that do not support
3614 the concept of denormalization and gradual underflow, this constant
3615 will always equal @code{least-positive-float}.
3616 @end defvar
3617
3618 @defvar least-negative-float
3619 This constant is the negative counterpart of @code{least-positive-float}.
3620 @end defvar
3621
3622 @defvar least-negative-normalized-float
3623 This constant is the negative counterpart of
3624 @code{least-positive-normalized-float}.
3625 @end defvar
3626
3627 @defvar float-epsilon
3628 This constant is the smallest positive Lisp float that can be added
3629 to 1.0 to produce a distinct value. Adding a smaller number to 1.0
3630 will yield 1.0 again due to roundoff. For IEEE machines, epsilon
3631 is about @code{2.22e-16}.
3632 @end defvar
3633
3634 @defvar float-negative-epsilon
3635 This is the smallest positive value that can be subtracted from
3636 1.0 to produce a distinct value. For IEEE machines, it is about
3637 @code{1.11e-16}.
3638 @end defvar
3639
3640 @iftex
3641 @chapno=13
3642 @end iftex
3643
3644 @node Sequences, Lists, Numbers, Top
3645 @chapter Sequences
3646
3647 @noindent
3648 Common Lisp defines a number of functions that operate on
3649 @dfn{sequences}, which are either lists, strings, or vectors.
3650 Emacs Lisp includes a few of these, notably @code{elt} and
3651 @code{length}; this package defines most of the rest.
3652
3653 @menu
3654 * Sequence Basics:: Arguments shared by all sequence functions
3655 * Mapping over Sequences:: `mapcar*', `mapcan', `map', `every', etc.
3656 * Sequence Functions:: `subseq', `remove*', `substitute', etc.
3657 * Searching Sequences:: `find', `position', `count', `search', etc.
3658 * Sorting Sequences:: `sort*', `stable-sort', `merge'
3659 @end menu
3660
3661 @node Sequence Basics, Mapping over Sequences, Sequences, Sequences
3662 @section Sequence Basics
3663
3664 @noindent
3665 Many of the sequence functions take keyword arguments; @pxref{Argument
3666 Lists}. All keyword arguments are optional and, if specified,
3667 may appear in any order.
3668
3669 The @code{:key} argument should be passed either @code{nil}, or a
3670 function of one argument. This key function is used as a filter
3671 through which the elements of the sequence are seen; for example,
3672 @code{(find x y :key 'car)} is similar to @code{(assoc* x y)}:
3673 It searches for an element of the list whose @code{car} equals
3674 @code{x}, rather than for an element which equals @code{x} itself.
3675 If @code{:key} is omitted or @code{nil}, the filter is effectively
3676 the identity function.
3677
3678 The @code{:test} and @code{:test-not} arguments should be either
3679 @code{nil}, or functions of two arguments. The test function is
3680 used to compare two sequence elements, or to compare a search value
3681 with sequence elements. (The two values are passed to the test
3682 function in the same order as the original sequence function
3683 arguments from which they are derived, or, if they both come from
3684 the same sequence, in the same order as they appear in that sequence.)
3685 The @code{:test} argument specifies a function which must return
3686 true (non-@code{nil}) to indicate a match; instead, you may use
3687 @code{:test-not} to give a function which returns @emph{false} to
3688 indicate a match. The default test function is @code{:test 'eql}.
3689
3690 Many functions which take @var{item} and @code{:test} or @code{:test-not}
3691 arguments also come in @code{-if} and @code{-if-not} varieties,
3692 where a @var{predicate} function is passed instead of @var{item},
3693 and sequence elements match if the predicate returns true on them
3694 (or false in the case of @code{-if-not}). For example:
3695
3696 @example
3697 (remove* 0 seq :test '=) @equiv{} (remove-if 'zerop seq)
3698 @end example
3699
3700 @noindent
3701 to remove all zeros from sequence @code{seq}.
3702
3703 Some operations can work on a subsequence of the argument sequence;
3704 these function take @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments which
3705 default to zero and the length of the sequence, respectively.
3706 Only elements between @var{start} (inclusive) and @var{end}
3707 (exclusive) are affected by the operation. The @var{end} argument
3708 may be passed @code{nil} to signify the length of the sequence;
3709 otherwise, both @var{start} and @var{end} must be integers, with
3710 @code{0 <= @var{start} <= @var{end} <= (length @var{seq})}.
3711 If the function takes two sequence arguments, the limits are
3712 defined by keywords @code{:start1} and @code{:end1} for the first,
3713 and @code{:start2} and @code{:end2} for the second.
3714
3715 A few functions accept a @code{:from-end} argument, which, if
3716 non-@code{nil}, causes the operation to go from right-to-left
3717 through the sequence instead of left-to-right, and a @code{:count}
3718 argument, which specifies an integer maximum number of elements
3719 to be removed or otherwise processed.
3720
3721 The sequence functions make no guarantees about the order in
3722 which the @code{:test}, @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key} functions
3723 are called on various elements. Therefore, it is a bad idea to depend
3724 on side effects of these functions. For example, @code{:from-end}
3725 may cause the sequence to be scanned actually in reverse, or it may
3726 be scanned forwards but computing a result ``as if'' it were scanned
3727 backwards. (Some functions, like @code{mapcar*} and @code{every},
3728 @emph{do} specify exactly the order in which the function is called
3729 so side effects are perfectly acceptable in those cases.)
3730
3731 Strings may contain ``text properties'' as well
3732 as character data. Except as noted, it is undefined whether or
3733 not text properties are preserved by sequence functions. For
3734 example, @code{(remove* ?A @var{str})} may or may not preserve
3735 the properties of the characters copied from @var{str} into the
3736 result.
3737
3738 @node Mapping over Sequences, Sequence Functions, Sequence Basics, Sequences
3739 @section Mapping over Sequences
3740
3741 @noindent
3742 These functions ``map'' the function you specify over the elements
3743 of lists or arrays. They are all variations on the theme of the
3744 built-in function @code{mapcar}.
3745
3746 @defun mapcar* function seq &rest more-seqs
3747 This function calls @var{function} on successive parallel sets of
3748 elements from its argument sequences. Given a single @var{seq}
3749 argument it is equivalent to @code{mapcar}; given @var{n} sequences,
3750 it calls the function with the first elements of each of the sequences
3751 as the @var{n} arguments to yield the first element of the result
3752 list, then with the second elements, and so on. The mapping stops as
3753 soon as the shortest sequence runs out. The argument sequences may
3754 be any mixture of lists, strings, and vectors; the return sequence
3755 is always a list.
3756
3757 Common Lisp's @code{mapcar} accepts multiple arguments but works
3758 only on lists; Emacs Lisp's @code{mapcar} accepts a single sequence
3759 argument. This package's @code{mapcar*} works as a compatible
3760 superset of both.
3761 @end defun
3762
3763 @defun map result-type function seq &rest more-seqs
3764 This function maps @var{function} over the argument sequences,
3765 just like @code{mapcar*}, but it returns a sequence of type
3766 @var{result-type} rather than a list. @var{result-type} must
3767 be one of the following symbols: @code{vector}, @code{string},
3768 @code{list} (in which case the effect is the same as for
3769 @code{mapcar*}), or @code{nil} (in which case the results are
3770 thrown away and @code{map} returns @code{nil}).
3771 @end defun
3772
3773 @defun maplist function list &rest more-lists
3774 This function calls @var{function} on each of its argument lists,
3775 then on the @code{cdr}s of those lists, and so on, until the
3776 shortest list runs out. The results are returned in the form
3777 of a list. Thus, @code{maplist} is like @code{mapcar*} except
3778 that it passes in the list pointers themselves rather than the
3779 @code{car}s of the advancing pointers.
3780 @end defun
3781
3782 @defun mapc function seq &rest more-seqs
3783 This function is like @code{mapcar*}, except that the values returned
3784 by @var{function} are ignored and thrown away rather than being
3785 collected into a list. The return value of @code{mapc} is @var{seq},
3786 the first sequence. This function is more general than the Emacs
3787 primitive @code{mapc}.
3788 @end defun
3789
3790 @defun mapl function list &rest more-lists
3791 This function is like @code{maplist}, except that it throws away
3792 the values returned by @var{function}.
3793 @end defun
3794
3795 @defun mapcan function seq &rest more-seqs
3796 This function is like @code{mapcar*}, except that it concatenates
3797 the return values (which must be lists) using @code{nconc},
3798 rather than simply collecting them into a list.
3799 @end defun
3800
3801 @defun mapcon function list &rest more-lists
3802 This function is like @code{maplist}, except that it concatenates
3803 the return values using @code{nconc}.
3804 @end defun
3805
3806 @defun some predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3807 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of @var{seq}
3808 in turn; if @var{predicate} returns a non-@code{nil} value,
3809 @code{some} returns that value, otherwise it returns @code{nil}.
3810 Given several sequence arguments, it steps through the sequences
3811 in parallel until the shortest one runs out, just as in
3812 @code{mapcar*}. You can rely on the left-to-right order in which
3813 the elements are visited, and on the fact that mapping stops
3814 immediately as soon as @var{predicate} returns non-@code{nil}.
3815 @end defun
3816
3817 @defun every predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3818 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3819 in turn; it returns @code{nil} as soon as @var{predicate} returns
3820 @code{nil} for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate was true
3821 for all elements.
3822 @end defun
3823
3824 @defun notany predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3825 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3826 in turn; it returns @code{nil} as soon as @var{predicate} returns
3827 a non-@code{nil} value for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate
3828 was @code{nil} for all elements.
3829 @end defun
3830
3831 @defun notevery predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3832 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3833 in turn; it returns a non-@code{nil} value as soon as @var{predicate}
3834 returns @code{nil} for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate was
3835 true for all elements.
3836 @end defun
3837
3838 @defun reduce function seq @t{&key :from-end :start :end :initial-value :key}
3839 This function combines the elements of @var{seq} using an associative
3840 binary operation. Suppose @var{function} is @code{*} and @var{seq} is
3841 the list @code{(2 3 4 5)}. The first two elements of the list are
3842 combined with @code{(* 2 3) = 6}; this is combined with the next
3843 element, @code{(* 6 4) = 24}, and that is combined with the final
3844 element: @code{(* 24 5) = 120}. Note that the @code{*} function happens
3845 to be self-reducing, so that @code{(* 2 3 4 5)} has the same effect as
3846 an explicit call to @code{reduce}.
3847
3848 If @code{:from-end} is true, the reduction is right-associative instead
3849 of left-associative:
3850
3851 @example
3852 (reduce '- '(1 2 3 4))
3853 @equiv{} (- (- (- 1 2) 3) 4) @result{} -8
3854 (reduce '- '(1 2 3 4) :from-end t)
3855 @equiv{} (- 1 (- 2 (- 3 4))) @result{} -2
3856 @end example
3857
3858 If @code{:key} is specified, it is a function of one argument which
3859 is called on each of the sequence elements in turn.
3860
3861 If @code{:initial-value} is specified, it is effectively added to the
3862 front (or rear in the case of @code{:from-end}) of the sequence.
3863 The @code{:key} function is @emph{not} applied to the initial value.
3864
3865 If the sequence, including the initial value, has exactly one element
3866 then that element is returned without ever calling @var{function}.
3867 If the sequence is empty (and there is no initial value), then
3868 @var{function} is called with no arguments to obtain the return value.
3869 @end defun
3870
3871 All of these mapping operations can be expressed conveniently in
3872 terms of the @code{loop} macro. In compiled code, @code{loop} will
3873 be faster since it generates the loop as in-line code with no
3874 function calls.
3875
3876 @node Sequence Functions, Searching Sequences, Mapping over Sequences, Sequences
3877 @section Sequence Functions
3878
3879 @noindent
3880 This section describes a number of Common Lisp functions for
3881 operating on sequences.
3882
3883 @defun subseq sequence start &optional end
3884 This function returns a given subsequence of the argument
3885 @var{sequence}, which may be a list, string, or vector.
3886 The indices @var{start} and @var{end} must be in range, and
3887 @var{start} must be no greater than @var{end}. If @var{end}
3888 is omitted, it defaults to the length of the sequence. The
3889 return value is always a copy; it does not share structure
3890 with @var{sequence}.
3891
3892 As an extension to Common Lisp, @var{start} and/or @var{end}
3893 may be negative, in which case they represent a distance back
3894 from the end of the sequence. This is for compatibility with
3895 Emacs' @code{substring} function. Note that @code{subseq} is
3896 the @emph{only} sequence function that allows negative
3897 @var{start} and @var{end}.
3898
3899 You can use @code{setf} on a @code{subseq} form to replace a
3900 specified range of elements with elements from another sequence.
3901 The replacement is done as if by @code{replace}, described below.
3902 @end defun
3903
3904 @defun concatenate result-type &rest seqs
3905 This function concatenates the argument sequences together to
3906 form a result sequence of type @var{result-type}, one of the
3907 symbols @code{vector}, @code{string}, or @code{list}. The
3908 arguments are always copied, even in cases such as
3909 @code{(concatenate 'list '(1 2 3))} where the result is
3910 identical to an argument.
3911 @end defun
3912
3913 @defun fill seq item @t{&key :start :end}
3914 This function fills the elements of the sequence (or the specified
3915 part of the sequence) with the value @var{item}.
3916 @end defun
3917
3918 @defun replace seq1 seq2 @t{&key :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2}
3919 This function copies part of @var{seq2} into part of @var{seq1}.
3920 The sequence @var{seq1} is not stretched or resized; the amount
3921 of data copied is simply the shorter of the source and destination
3922 (sub)sequences. The function returns @var{seq1}.
3923
3924 If @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} are @code{eq}, then the replacement
3925 will work correctly even if the regions indicated by the start
3926 and end arguments overlap. However, if @var{seq1} and @var{seq2}
3927 are lists which share storage but are not @code{eq}, and the
3928 start and end arguments specify overlapping regions, the effect
3929 is undefined.
3930 @end defun
3931
3932 @defun remove* item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3933 This returns a copy of @var{seq} with all elements matching
3934 @var{item} removed. The result may share storage with or be
3935 @code{eq} to @var{seq} in some circumstances, but the original
3936 @var{seq} will not be modified. The @code{:test}, @code{:test-not},
3937 and @code{:key} arguments define the matching test that is used;
3938 by default, elements @code{eql} to @var{item} are removed. The
3939 @code{:count} argument specifies the maximum number of matching
3940 elements that can be removed (only the leftmost @var{count} matches
3941 are removed). The @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments specify
3942 a region in @var{seq} in which elements will be removed; elements
3943 outside that region are not matched or removed. The @code{:from-end}
3944 argument, if true, says that elements should be deleted from the
3945 end of the sequence rather than the beginning (this matters only
3946 if @var{count} was also specified).
3947 @end defun
3948
3949 @defun delete* item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3950 This deletes all elements of @var{seq} which match @var{item}.
3951 It is a destructive operation. Since Emacs Lisp does not support
3952 stretchable strings or vectors, this is the same as @code{remove*}
3953 for those sequence types. On lists, @code{remove*} will copy the
3954 list if necessary to preserve the original list, whereas
3955 @code{delete*} will splice out parts of the argument list.
3956 Compare @code{append} and @code{nconc}, which are analogous
3957 non-destructive and destructive list operations in Emacs Lisp.
3958 @end defun
3959
3960 @findex remove-if
3961 @findex remove-if-not
3962 @findex delete-if
3963 @findex delete-if-not
3964 The predicate-oriented functions @code{remove-if}, @code{remove-if-not},
3965 @code{delete-if}, and @code{delete-if-not} are defined similarly.
3966
3967 @defun remove-duplicates seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3968 This function returns a copy of @var{seq} with duplicate elements
3969 removed. Specifically, if two elements from the sequence match
3970 according to the @code{:test}, @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key}
3971 arguments, only the rightmost one is retained. If @code{:from-end}
3972 is true, the leftmost one is retained instead. If @code{:start} or
3973 @code{:end} is specified, only elements within that subsequence are
3974 examined or removed.
3975 @end defun
3976
3977 @defun delete-duplicates seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3978 This function deletes duplicate elements from @var{seq}. It is
3979 a destructive version of @code{remove-duplicates}.
3980 @end defun
3981
3982 @defun substitute new old seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3983 This function returns a copy of @var{seq}, with all elements
3984 matching @var{old} replaced with @var{new}. The @code{:count},
3985 @code{:start}, @code{:end}, and @code{:from-end} arguments may be
3986 used to limit the number of substitutions made.
3987 @end defun
3988
3989 @defun nsubstitute new old seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3990 This is a destructive version of @code{substitute}; it performs
3991 the substitution using @code{setcar} or @code{aset} rather than
3992 by returning a changed copy of the sequence.
3993 @end defun
3994
3995 @findex substitute-if
3996 @findex substitute-if-not
3997 @findex nsubstitute-if
3998 @findex nsubstitute-if-not
3999 The @code{substitute-if}, @code{substitute-if-not}, @code{nsubstitute-if},
4000 and @code{nsubstitute-if-not} functions are defined similarly. For
4001 these, a @var{predicate} is given in place of the @var{old} argument.
4002
4003 @node Searching Sequences, Sorting Sequences, Sequence Functions, Sequences
4004 @section Searching Sequences
4005
4006 @noindent
4007 These functions search for elements or subsequences in a sequence.
4008 (See also @code{member*} and @code{assoc*}; @pxref{Lists}.)
4009
4010 @defun find item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
4011 This function searches @var{seq} for an element matching @var{item}.
4012 If it finds a match, it returns the matching element. Otherwise,
4013 it returns @code{nil}. It returns the leftmost match, unless
4014 @code{:from-end} is true, in which case it returns the rightmost
4015 match. The @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments may be used to
4016 limit the range of elements that are searched.
4017 @end defun
4018
4019 @defun position item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
4020 This function is like @code{find}, except that it returns the
4021 integer position in the sequence of the matching item rather than
4022 the item itself. The position is relative to the start of the
4023 sequence as a whole, even if @code{:start} is non-zero. The function
4024 returns @code{nil} if no matching element was found.
4025 @end defun
4026
4027 @defun count item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end}
4028 This function returns the number of elements of @var{seq} which
4029 match @var{item}. The result is always a nonnegative integer.
4030 @end defun
4031
4032 @findex find-if
4033 @findex find-if-not
4034 @findex position-if
4035 @findex position-if-not
4036 @findex count-if
4037 @findex count-if-not
4038 The @code{find-if}, @code{find-if-not}, @code{position-if},
4039 @code{position-if-not}, @code{count-if}, and @code{count-if-not}
4040 functions are defined similarly.
4041
4042 @defun mismatch seq1 seq2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2 :from-end}
4043 This function compares the specified parts of @var{seq1} and
4044 @var{seq2}. If they are the same length and the corresponding
4045 elements match (according to @code{:test}, @code{:test-not},
4046 and @code{:key}), the function returns @code{nil}. If there is
4047 a mismatch, the function returns the index (relative to @var{seq1})
4048 of the first mismatching element. This will be the leftmost pair of
4049 elements which do not match, or the position at which the shorter of
4050 the two otherwise-matching sequences runs out.
4051
4052 If @code{:from-end} is true, then the elements are compared from right
4053 to left starting at @code{(1- @var{end1})} and @code{(1- @var{end2})}.
4054 If the sequences differ, then one plus the index of the rightmost
4055 difference (relative to @var{seq1}) is returned.
4056
4057 An interesting example is @code{(mismatch str1 str2 :key 'upcase)},
4058 which compares two strings case-insensitively.
4059 @end defun
4060
4061 @defun search seq1 seq2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key :from-end :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2}
4062 This function searches @var{seq2} for a subsequence that matches
4063 @var{seq1} (or part of it specified by @code{:start1} and
4064 @code{:end1}.) Only matches which fall entirely within the region
4065 defined by @code{:start2} and @code{:end2} will be considered.
4066 The return value is the index of the leftmost element of the
4067 leftmost match, relative to the start of @var{seq2}, or @code{nil}
4068 if no matches were found. If @code{:from-end} is true, the
4069 function finds the @emph{rightmost} matching subsequence.
4070 @end defun
4071
4072 @node Sorting Sequences, , Searching Sequences, Sequences
4073 @section Sorting Sequences
4074
4075 @defun sort* seq predicate @t{&key :key}
4076 This function sorts @var{seq} into increasing order as determined
4077 by using @var{predicate} to compare pairs of elements. @var{predicate}
4078 should return true (non-@code{nil}) if and only if its first argument
4079 is less than (not equal to) its second argument. For example,
4080 @code{<} and @code{string-lessp} are suitable predicate functions
4081 for sorting numbers and strings, respectively; @code{>} would sort
4082 numbers into decreasing rather than increasing order.
4083
4084 This function differs from Emacs' built-in @code{sort} in that it
4085 can operate on any type of sequence, not just lists. Also, it
4086 accepts a @code{:key} argument which is used to preprocess data
4087 fed to the @var{predicate} function. For example,
4088
4089 @example
4090 (setq data (sort* data 'string-lessp :key 'downcase))
4091 @end example
4092
4093 @noindent
4094 sorts @var{data}, a sequence of strings, into increasing alphabetical
4095 order without regard to case. A @code{:key} function of @code{car}
4096 would be useful for sorting association lists. It should only be a
4097 simple accessor though, it's used heavily in the current
4098 implementation.
4099
4100 The @code{sort*} function is destructive; it sorts lists by actually
4101 rearranging the @code{cdr} pointers in suitable fashion.
4102 @end defun
4103
4104 @defun stable-sort seq predicate @t{&key :key}
4105 This function sorts @var{seq} @dfn{stably}, meaning two elements
4106 which are equal in terms of @var{predicate} are guaranteed not to
4107 be rearranged out of their original order by the sort.
4108
4109 In practice, @code{sort*} and @code{stable-sort} are equivalent
4110 in Emacs Lisp because the underlying @code{sort} function is
4111 stable by default. However, this package reserves the right to
4112 use non-stable methods for @code{sort*} in the future.
4113 @end defun
4114
4115 @defun merge type seq1 seq2 predicate @t{&key :key}
4116 This function merges two sequences @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} by
4117 interleaving their elements. The result sequence, of type @var{type}
4118 (in the sense of @code{concatenate}), has length equal to the sum
4119 of the lengths of the two input sequences. The sequences may be
4120 modified destructively. Order of elements within @var{seq1} and
4121 @var{seq2} is preserved in the interleaving; elements of the two
4122 sequences are compared by @var{predicate} (in the sense of
4123 @code{sort}) and the lesser element goes first in the result.
4124 When elements are equal, those from @var{seq1} precede those from
4125 @var{seq2} in the result. Thus, if @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} are
4126 both sorted according to @var{predicate}, then the result will be
4127 a merged sequence which is (stably) sorted according to
4128 @var{predicate}.
4129 @end defun
4130
4131 @node Lists, Structures, Sequences, Top
4132 @chapter Lists
4133
4134 @noindent
4135 The functions described here operate on lists.
4136
4137 @menu
4138 * List Functions:: `caddr', `first', `list*', etc.
4139 * Substitution of Expressions:: `subst', `sublis', etc.
4140 * Lists as Sets:: `member*', `adjoin', `union', etc.
4141 * Association Lists:: `assoc*', `rassoc*', `acons', `pairlis'
4142 @end menu
4143
4144 @node List Functions, Substitution of Expressions, Lists, Lists
4145 @section List Functions
4146
4147 @noindent
4148 This section describes a number of simple operations on lists,
4149 i.e., chains of cons cells.
4150
4151 @defun caddr x
4152 This function is equivalent to @code{(car (cdr (cdr @var{x})))}.
4153 Likewise, this package defines all 28 @code{c@var{xxx}r} functions
4154 where @var{xxx} is up to four @samp{a}s and/or @samp{d}s.
4155 All of these functions are @code{setf}-able, and calls to them
4156 are expanded inline by the byte-compiler for maximum efficiency.
4157 @end defun
4158
4159 @defun first x
4160 This function is a synonym for @code{(car @var{x})}. Likewise,
4161 the functions @code{second}, @code{third}, @dots{}, through
4162 @code{tenth} return the given element of the list @var{x}.
4163 @end defun
4164
4165 @defun rest x
4166 This function is a synonym for @code{(cdr @var{x})}.
4167 @end defun
4168
4169 @defun endp x
4170 Common Lisp defines this function to act like @code{null}, but
4171 signaling an error if @code{x} is neither a @code{nil} nor a
4172 cons cell. This package simply defines @code{endp} as a synonym
4173 for @code{null}.
4174 @end defun
4175
4176 @defun list-length x
4177 This function returns the length of list @var{x}, exactly like
4178 @code{(length @var{x})}, except that if @var{x} is a circular
4179 list (where the cdr-chain forms a loop rather than terminating
4180 with @code{nil}), this function returns @code{nil}. (The regular
4181 @code{length} function would get stuck if given a circular list.)
4182 @end defun
4183
4184 @defun list* arg &rest others
4185 This function constructs a list of its arguments. The final
4186 argument becomes the @code{cdr} of the last cell constructed.
4187 Thus, @code{(list* @var{a} @var{b} @var{c})} is equivalent to
4188 @code{(cons @var{a} (cons @var{b} @var{c}))}, and
4189 @code{(list* @var{a} @var{b} nil)} is equivalent to
4190 @code{(list @var{a} @var{b})}.
4191
4192 (Note that this function really is called @code{list*} in Common
4193 Lisp; it is not a name invented for this package like @code{member*}
4194 or @code{defun*}.)
4195 @end defun
4196
4197 @defun ldiff list sublist
4198 If @var{sublist} is a sublist of @var{list}, i.e., is @code{eq} to
4199 one of the cons cells of @var{list}, then this function returns
4200 a copy of the part of @var{list} up to but not including
4201 @var{sublist}. For example, @code{(ldiff x (cddr x))} returns
4202 the first two elements of the list @code{x}. The result is a
4203 copy; the original @var{list} is not modified. If @var{sublist}
4204 is not a sublist of @var{list}, a copy of the entire @var{list}
4205 is returned.
4206 @end defun
4207
4208 @defun copy-list list
4209 This function returns a copy of the list @var{list}. It copies
4210 dotted lists like @code{(1 2 . 3)} correctly.
4211 @end defun
4212
4213 @defun copy-tree x &optional vecp
4214 This function returns a copy of the tree of cons cells @var{x}.
4215 Unlike @code{copy-sequence} (and its alias @code{copy-list}),
4216 which copies only along the @code{cdr} direction, this function
4217 copies (recursively) along both the @code{car} and the @code{cdr}
4218 directions. If @var{x} is not a cons cell, the function simply
4219 returns @var{x} unchanged. If the optional @var{vecp} argument
4220 is true, this function copies vectors (recursively) as well as
4221 cons cells.
4222 @end defun
4223
4224 @defun tree-equal x y @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4225 This function compares two trees of cons cells. If @var{x} and
4226 @var{y} are both cons cells, their @code{car}s and @code{cdr}s are
4227 compared recursively. If neither @var{x} nor @var{y} is a cons
4228 cell, they are compared by @code{eql}, or according to the
4229 specified test. The @code{:key} function, if specified, is
4230 applied to the elements of both trees. @xref{Sequences}.
4231 @end defun
4232
4233 @iftex
4234 @secno=3
4235 @end iftex
4236
4237 @node Substitution of Expressions, Lists as Sets, List Functions, Lists
4238 @section Substitution of Expressions
4239
4240 @noindent
4241 These functions substitute elements throughout a tree of cons
4242 cells. (@xref{Sequence Functions}, for the @code{substitute}
4243 function, which works on just the top-level elements of a list.)
4244
4245 @defun subst new old tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4246 This function substitutes occurrences of @var{old} with @var{new}
4247 in @var{tree}, a tree of cons cells. It returns a substituted
4248 tree, which will be a copy except that it may share storage with
4249 the argument @var{tree} in parts where no substitutions occurred.
4250 The original @var{tree} is not modified. This function recurses
4251 on, and compares against @var{old}, both @code{car}s and @code{cdr}s
4252 of the component cons cells. If @var{old} is itself a cons cell,
4253 then matching cells in the tree are substituted as usual without
4254 recursively substituting in that cell. Comparisons with @var{old}
4255 are done according to the specified test (@code{eql} by default).
4256 The @code{:key} function is applied to the elements of the tree
4257 but not to @var{old}.
4258 @end defun
4259
4260 @defun nsubst new old tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4261 This function is like @code{subst}, except that it works by
4262 destructive modification (by @code{setcar} or @code{setcdr})
4263 rather than copying.
4264 @end defun
4265
4266 @findex subst-if
4267 @findex subst-if-not
4268 @findex nsubst-if
4269 @findex nsubst-if-not
4270 The @code{subst-if}, @code{subst-if-not}, @code{nsubst-if}, and
4271 @code{nsubst-if-not} functions are defined similarly.
4272
4273 @defun sublis alist tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4274 This function is like @code{subst}, except that it takes an
4275 association list @var{alist} of @var{old}-@var{new} pairs.
4276 Each element of the tree (after applying the @code{:key}
4277 function, if any), is compared with the @code{car}s of
4278 @var{alist}; if it matches, it is replaced by the corresponding
4279 @code{cdr}.
4280 @end defun
4281
4282 @defun nsublis alist tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4283 This is a destructive version of @code{sublis}.
4284 @end defun
4285
4286 @node Lists as Sets, Association Lists, Substitution of Expressions, Lists
4287 @section Lists as Sets
4288
4289 @noindent
4290 These functions perform operations on lists which represent sets
4291 of elements.
4292
4293 @defun member* item list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4294 This function searches @var{list} for an element matching @var{item}.
4295 If a match is found, it returns the cons cell whose @code{car} was
4296 the matching element. Otherwise, it returns @code{nil}. Elements
4297 are compared by @code{eql} by default; you can use the @code{:test},
4298 @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key} arguments to modify this behavior.
4299 @xref{Sequences}.
4300
4301 Note that this function's name is suffixed by @samp{*} to avoid
4302 the incompatible @code{member} function defined in Emacs.
4303 (That function uses @code{equal} for comparisons; it is equivalent
4304 to @code{(member* @var{item} @var{list} :test 'equal)}.)
4305 @end defun
4306
4307 @findex member-if
4308 @findex member-if-not
4309 The @code{member-if} and @code{member-if-not} functions
4310 analogously search for elements which satisfy a given predicate.
4311
4312 @defun tailp sublist list
4313 This function returns @code{t} if @var{sublist} is a sublist of
4314 @var{list}, i.e., if @var{sublist} is @code{eql} to @var{list} or to
4315 any of its @code{cdr}s.
4316 @end defun
4317
4318 @defun adjoin item list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4319 This function conses @var{item} onto the front of @var{list},
4320 like @code{(cons @var{item} @var{list})}, but only if @var{item}
4321 is not already present on the list (as determined by @code{member*}).
4322 If a @code{:key} argument is specified, it is applied to
4323 @var{item} as well as to the elements of @var{list} during
4324 the search, on the reasoning that @var{item} is ``about'' to
4325 become part of the list.
4326 @end defun
4327
4328 @defun union list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4329 This function combines two lists which represent sets of items,
4330 returning a list that represents the union of those two sets.
4331 The result list will contain all items which appear in @var{list1}
4332 or @var{list2}, and no others. If an item appears in both
4333 @var{list1} and @var{list2} it will be copied only once. If
4334 an item is duplicated in @var{list1} or @var{list2}, it is
4335 undefined whether or not that duplication will survive in the
4336 result list. The order of elements in the result list is also
4337 undefined.
4338 @end defun
4339
4340 @defun nunion list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4341 This is a destructive version of @code{union}; rather than copying,
4342 it tries to reuse the storage of the argument lists if possible.
4343 @end defun
4344
4345 @defun intersection list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4346 This function computes the intersection of the sets represented
4347 by @var{list1} and @var{list2}. It returns the list of items
4348 which appear in both @var{list1} and @var{list2}.
4349 @end defun
4350
4351 @defun nintersection list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4352 This is a destructive version of @code{intersection}. It
4353 tries to reuse storage of @var{list1} rather than copying.
4354 It does @emph{not} reuse the storage of @var{list2}.
4355 @end defun
4356
4357 @defun set-difference list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4358 This function computes the ``set difference'' of @var{list1}
4359 and @var{list2}, i.e., the set of elements that appear in
4360 @var{list1} but @emph{not} in @var{list2}.
4361 @end defun
4362
4363 @defun nset-difference list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4364 This is a destructive @code{set-difference}, which will try
4365 to reuse @var{list1} if possible.
4366 @end defun
4367
4368 @defun set-exclusive-or list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4369 This function computes the ``set exclusive or'' of @var{list1}
4370 and @var{list2}, i.e., the set of elements that appear in
4371 exactly one of @var{list1} and @var{list2}.
4372 @end defun
4373
4374 @defun nset-exclusive-or list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4375 This is a destructive @code{set-exclusive-or}, which will try
4376 to reuse @var{list1} and @var{list2} if possible.
4377 @end defun
4378
4379 @defun subsetp list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4380 This function checks whether @var{list1} represents a subset
4381 of @var{list2}, i.e., whether every element of @var{list1}
4382 also appears in @var{list2}.
4383 @end defun
4384
4385 @node Association Lists, , Lists as Sets, Lists
4386 @section Association Lists
4387
4388 @noindent
4389 An @dfn{association list} is a list representing a mapping from
4390 one set of values to another; any list whose elements are cons
4391 cells is an association list.
4392
4393 @defun assoc* item a-list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4394 This function searches the association list @var{a-list} for an
4395 element whose @code{car} matches (in the sense of @code{:test},
4396 @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key}, or by comparison with @code{eql})
4397 a given @var{item}. It returns the matching element, if any,
4398 otherwise @code{nil}. It ignores elements of @var{a-list} which
4399 are not cons cells. (This corresponds to the behavior of
4400 @code{assq} and @code{assoc} in Emacs Lisp; Common Lisp's
4401 @code{assoc} ignores @code{nil}s but considers any other non-cons
4402 elements of @var{a-list} to be an error.)
4403 @end defun
4404
4405 @defun rassoc* item a-list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4406 This function searches for an element whose @code{cdr} matches
4407 @var{item}. If @var{a-list} represents a mapping, this applies
4408 the inverse of the mapping to @var{item}.
4409 @end defun
4410
4411 @findex assoc-if
4412 @findex assoc-if-not
4413 @findex rassoc-if
4414 @findex rassoc-if-not
4415 The @code{assoc-if}, @code{assoc-if-not}, @code{rassoc-if},
4416 and @code{rassoc-if-not} functions are defined similarly.
4417
4418 Two simple functions for constructing association lists are:
4419
4420 @defun acons key value alist
4421 This is equivalent to @code{(cons (cons @var{key} @var{value}) @var{alist})}.
4422 @end defun
4423
4424 @defun pairlis keys values &optional alist
4425 This is equivalent to @code{(nconc (mapcar* 'cons @var{keys} @var{values})
4426 @var{alist})}.
4427 @end defun
4428
4429 @iftex
4430 @chapno=18
4431 @end iftex
4432
4433 @node Structures, Assertions, Lists, Top
4434 @chapter Structures
4435
4436 @noindent
4437 The Common Lisp @dfn{structure} mechanism provides a general way
4438 to define data types similar to C's @code{struct} types. A
4439 structure is a Lisp object containing some number of @dfn{slots},
4440 each of which can hold any Lisp data object. Functions are
4441 provided for accessing and setting the slots, creating or copying
4442 structure objects, and recognizing objects of a particular structure
4443 type.
4444
4445 In true Common Lisp, each structure type is a new type distinct
4446 from all existing Lisp types. Since the underlying Emacs Lisp
4447 system provides no way to create new distinct types, this package
4448 implements structures as vectors (or lists upon request) with a
4449 special ``tag'' symbol to identify them.
4450
4451 @defspec defstruct name slots@dots{}
4452 The @code{defstruct} form defines a new structure type called
4453 @var{name}, with the specified @var{slots}. (The @var{slots}
4454 may begin with a string which documents the structure type.)
4455 In the simplest case, @var{name} and each of the @var{slots}
4456 are symbols. For example,
4457
4458 @example
4459 (defstruct person name age sex)
4460 @end example
4461
4462 @noindent
4463 defines a struct type called @code{person} which contains three
4464 slots. Given a @code{person} object @var{p}, you can access those
4465 slots by calling @code{(person-name @var{p})}, @code{(person-age @var{p})},
4466 and @code{(person-sex @var{p})}. You can also change these slots by
4467 using @code{setf} on any of these place forms:
4468
4469 @example
4470 (incf (person-age birthday-boy))
4471 @end example
4472
4473 You can create a new @code{person} by calling @code{make-person},
4474 which takes keyword arguments @code{:name}, @code{:age}, and
4475 @code{:sex} to specify the initial values of these slots in the
4476 new object. (Omitting any of these arguments leaves the corresponding
4477 slot ``undefined,'' according to the Common Lisp standard; in Emacs
4478 Lisp, such uninitialized slots are filled with @code{nil}.)
4479
4480 Given a @code{person}, @code{(copy-person @var{p})} makes a new
4481 object of the same type whose slots are @code{eq} to those of @var{p}.
4482
4483 Given any Lisp object @var{x}, @code{(person-p @var{x})} returns
4484 true if @var{x} looks like a @code{person}, false otherwise. (Again,
4485 in Common Lisp this predicate would be exact; in Emacs Lisp the
4486 best it can do is verify that @var{x} is a vector of the correct
4487 length which starts with the correct tag symbol.)
4488
4489 Accessors like @code{person-name} normally check their arguments
4490 (effectively using @code{person-p}) and signal an error if the
4491 argument is the wrong type. This check is affected by
4492 @code{(optimize (safety @dots{}))} declarations. Safety level 1,
4493 the default, uses a somewhat optimized check that will detect all
4494 incorrect arguments, but may use an uninformative error message
4495 (e.g., ``expected a vector'' instead of ``expected a @code{person}'').
4496 Safety level 0 omits all checks except as provided by the underlying
4497 @code{aref} call; safety levels 2 and 3 do rigorous checking that will
4498 always print a descriptive error message for incorrect inputs.
4499 @xref{Declarations}.
4500
4501 @example
4502 (setq dave (make-person :name "Dave" :sex 'male))
4503 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Dave" nil male]
4504 (setq other (copy-person dave))
4505 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Dave" nil male]
4506 (eq dave other)
4507 @result{} nil
4508 (eq (person-name dave) (person-name other))
4509 @result{} t
4510 (person-p dave)
4511 @result{} t
4512 (person-p [1 2 3 4])
4513 @result{} nil
4514 (person-p "Bogus")
4515 @result{} nil
4516 (person-p '[cl-struct-person counterfeit person object])
4517 @result{} t
4518 @end example
4519
4520 In general, @var{name} is either a name symbol or a list of a name
4521 symbol followed by any number of @dfn{struct options}; each @var{slot}
4522 is either a slot symbol or a list of the form @samp{(@var{slot-name}
4523 @var{default-value} @var{slot-options}@dots{})}. The @var{default-value}
4524 is a Lisp form which is evaluated any time an instance of the
4525 structure type is created without specifying that slot's value.
4526
4527 Common Lisp defines several slot options, but the only one
4528 implemented in this package is @code{:read-only}. A non-@code{nil}
4529 value for this option means the slot should not be @code{setf}-able;
4530 the slot's value is determined when the object is created and does
4531 not change afterward.
4532
4533 @example
4534 (defstruct person
4535 (name nil :read-only t)
4536 age
4537 (sex 'unknown))
4538 @end example
4539
4540 Any slot options other than @code{:read-only} are ignored.
4541
4542 For obscure historical reasons, structure options take a different
4543 form than slot options. A structure option is either a keyword
4544 symbol, or a list beginning with a keyword symbol possibly followed
4545 by arguments. (By contrast, slot options are key-value pairs not
4546 enclosed in lists.)
4547
4548 @example
4549 (defstruct (person (:constructor create-person)
4550 (:type list)
4551 :named)
4552 name age sex)
4553 @end example
4554
4555 The following structure options are recognized.
4556
4557 @table @code
4558 @iftex
4559 @itemmax=0 in
4560 @advance@leftskip-.5@tableindent
4561 @end iftex
4562 @item :conc-name
4563 The argument is a symbol whose print name is used as the prefix for
4564 the names of slot accessor functions. The default is the name of
4565 the struct type followed by a hyphen. The option @code{(:conc-name p-)}
4566 would change this prefix to @code{p-}. Specifying @code{nil} as an
4567 argument means no prefix, so that the slot names themselves are used
4568 to name the accessor functions.
4569
4570 @item :constructor
4571 In the simple case, this option takes one argument which is an
4572 alternate name to use for the constructor function. The default
4573 is @code{make-@var{name}}, e.g., @code{make-person}. The above
4574 example changes this to @code{create-person}. Specifying @code{nil}
4575 as an argument means that no standard constructor should be
4576 generated at all.
4577
4578 In the full form of this option, the constructor name is followed
4579 by an arbitrary argument list. @xref{Program Structure}, for a
4580 description of the format of Common Lisp argument lists. All
4581 options, such as @code{&rest} and @code{&key}, are supported.
4582 The argument names should match the slot names; each slot is
4583 initialized from the corresponding argument. Slots whose names
4584 do not appear in the argument list are initialized based on the
4585 @var{default-value} in their slot descriptor. Also, @code{&optional}
4586 and @code{&key} arguments which don't specify defaults take their
4587 defaults from the slot descriptor. It is valid to include arguments
4588 which don't correspond to slot names; these are useful if they are
4589 referred to in the defaults for optional, keyword, or @code{&aux}
4590 arguments which @emph{do} correspond to slots.
4591
4592 You can specify any number of full-format @code{:constructor}
4593 options on a structure. The default constructor is still generated
4594 as well unless you disable it with a simple-format @code{:constructor}
4595 option.
4596
4597 @example
4598 (defstruct
4599 (person
4600 (:constructor nil) ; no default constructor
4601 (:constructor new-person (name sex &optional (age 0)))
4602 (:constructor new-hound (&key (name "Rover")
4603 (dog-years 0)
4604 &aux (age (* 7 dog-years))
4605 (sex 'canine))))
4606 name age sex)
4607 @end example
4608
4609 The first constructor here takes its arguments positionally rather
4610 than by keyword. (In official Common Lisp terminology, constructors
4611 that work By Order of Arguments instead of by keyword are called
4612 ``BOA constructors.'' No, I'm not making this up.) For example,
4613 @code{(new-person "Jane" 'female)} generates a person whose slots
4614 are @code{"Jane"}, 0, and @code{female}, respectively.
4615
4616 The second constructor takes two keyword arguments, @code{:name},
4617 which initializes the @code{name} slot and defaults to @code{"Rover"},
4618 and @code{:dog-years}, which does not itself correspond to a slot
4619 but which is used to initialize the @code{age} slot. The @code{sex}
4620 slot is forced to the symbol @code{canine} with no syntax for
4621 overriding it.
4622
4623 @item :copier
4624 The argument is an alternate name for the copier function for
4625 this type. The default is @code{copy-@var{name}}. @code{nil}
4626 means not to generate a copier function. (In this implementation,
4627 all copier functions are simply synonyms for @code{copy-sequence}.)
4628
4629 @item :predicate
4630 The argument is an alternate name for the predicate which recognizes
4631 objects of this type. The default is @code{@var{name}-p}. @code{nil}
4632 means not to generate a predicate function. (If the @code{:type}
4633 option is used without the @code{:named} option, no predicate is
4634 ever generated.)
4635
4636 In true Common Lisp, @code{typep} is always able to recognize a
4637 structure object even if @code{:predicate} was used. In this
4638 package, @code{typep} simply looks for a function called
4639 @code{@var{typename}-p}, so it will work for structure types
4640 only if they used the default predicate name.
4641
4642 @item :include
4643 This option implements a very limited form of C++-style inheritance.
4644 The argument is the name of another structure type previously
4645 created with @code{defstruct}. The effect is to cause the new
4646 structure type to inherit all of the included structure's slots
4647 (plus, of course, any new slots described by this struct's slot
4648 descriptors). The new structure is considered a ``specialization''
4649 of the included one. In fact, the predicate and slot accessors
4650 for the included type will also accept objects of the new type.
4651
4652 If there are extra arguments to the @code{:include} option after
4653 the included-structure name, these options are treated as replacement
4654 slot descriptors for slots in the included structure, possibly with
4655 modified default values. Borrowing an example from Steele:
4656
4657 @example
4658 (defstruct person name (age 0) sex)
4659 @result{} person
4660 (defstruct (astronaut (:include person (age 45)))
4661 helmet-size
4662 (favorite-beverage 'tang))
4663 @result{} astronaut
4664
4665 (setq joe (make-person :name "Joe"))
4666 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Joe" 0 nil]
4667 (setq buzz (make-astronaut :name "Buzz"))
4668 @result{} [cl-struct-astronaut "Buzz" 45 nil nil tang]
4669
4670 (list (person-p joe) (person-p buzz))
4671 @result{} (t t)
4672 (list (astronaut-p joe) (astronaut-p buzz))
4673 @result{} (nil t)
4674
4675 (person-name buzz)
4676 @result{} "Buzz"
4677 (astronaut-name joe)
4678 @result{} error: "astronaut-name accessing a non-astronaut"
4679 @end example
4680
4681 Thus, if @code{astronaut} is a specialization of @code{person},
4682 then every @code{astronaut} is also a @code{person} (but not the
4683 other way around). Every @code{astronaut} includes all the slots
4684 of a @code{person}, plus extra slots that are specific to
4685 astronauts. Operations that work on people (like @code{person-name})
4686 work on astronauts just like other people.
4687
4688 @item :print-function
4689 In full Common Lisp, this option allows you to specify a function
4690 which is called to print an instance of the structure type. The
4691 Emacs Lisp system offers no hooks into the Lisp printer which would
4692 allow for such a feature, so this package simply ignores
4693 @code{:print-function}.
4694
4695 @item :type
4696 The argument should be one of the symbols @code{vector} or @code{list}.
4697 This tells which underlying Lisp data type should be used to implement
4698 the new structure type. Vectors are used by default, but
4699 @code{(:type list)} will cause structure objects to be stored as
4700 lists instead.
4701
4702 The vector representation for structure objects has the advantage
4703 that all structure slots can be accessed quickly, although creating
4704 vectors is a bit slower in Emacs Lisp. Lists are easier to create,
4705 but take a relatively long time accessing the later slots.
4706
4707 @item :named
4708 This option, which takes no arguments, causes a characteristic ``tag''
4709 symbol to be stored at the front of the structure object. Using
4710 @code{:type} without also using @code{:named} will result in a
4711 structure type stored as plain vectors or lists with no identifying
4712 features.
4713
4714 The default, if you don't specify @code{:type} explicitly, is to
4715 use named vectors. Therefore, @code{:named} is only useful in
4716 conjunction with @code{:type}.
4717
4718 @example
4719 (defstruct (person1) name age sex)
4720 (defstruct (person2 (:type list) :named) name age sex)
4721 (defstruct (person3 (:type list)) name age sex)
4722
4723 (setq p1 (make-person1))
4724 @result{} [cl-struct-person1 nil nil nil]
4725 (setq p2 (make-person2))
4726 @result{} (person2 nil nil nil)
4727 (setq p3 (make-person3))
4728 @result{} (nil nil nil)
4729
4730 (person1-p p1)
4731 @result{} t
4732 (person2-p p2)
4733 @result{} t
4734 (person3-p p3)
4735 @result{} error: function person3-p undefined
4736 @end example
4737
4738 Since unnamed structures don't have tags, @code{defstruct} is not
4739 able to make a useful predicate for recognizing them. Also,
4740 accessors like @code{person3-name} will be generated but they
4741 will not be able to do any type checking. The @code{person3-name}
4742 function, for example, will simply be a synonym for @code{car} in
4743 this case. By contrast, @code{person2-name} is able to verify
4744 that its argument is indeed a @code{person2} object before
4745 proceeding.
4746
4747 @item :initial-offset
4748 The argument must be a nonnegative integer. It specifies a
4749 number of slots to be left ``empty'' at the front of the
4750 structure. If the structure is named, the tag appears at the
4751 specified position in the list or vector; otherwise, the first
4752 slot appears at that position. Earlier positions are filled
4753 with @code{nil} by the constructors and ignored otherwise. If
4754 the type @code{:include}s another type, then @code{:initial-offset}
4755 specifies a number of slots to be skipped between the last slot
4756 of the included type and the first new slot.
4757 @end table
4758 @end defspec
4759
4760 Except as noted, the @code{defstruct} facility of this package is
4761 entirely compatible with that of Common Lisp.
4762
4763 @iftex
4764 @chapno=23
4765 @end iftex
4766
4767 @node Assertions, Efficiency Concerns, Structures, Top
4768 @chapter Assertions and Errors
4769
4770 @noindent
4771 This section describes two macros that test @dfn{assertions}, i.e.,
4772 conditions which must be true if the program is operating correctly.
4773 Assertions never add to the behavior of a Lisp program; they simply
4774 make ``sanity checks'' to make sure everything is as it should be.
4775
4776 If the optimization property @code{speed} has been set to 3, and
4777 @code{safety} is less than 3, then the byte-compiler will optimize
4778 away the following assertions. Because assertions might be optimized
4779 away, it is a bad idea for them to include side-effects.
4780
4781 @defspec assert test-form [show-args string args@dots{}]
4782 This form verifies that @var{test-form} is true (i.e., evaluates to
4783 a non-@code{nil} value). If so, it returns @code{nil}. If the test
4784 is not satisfied, @code{assert} signals an error.
4785
4786 A default error message will be supplied which includes @var{test-form}.
4787 You can specify a different error message by including a @var{string}
4788 argument plus optional extra arguments. Those arguments are simply
4789 passed to @code{error} to signal the error.
4790
4791 If the optional second argument @var{show-args} is @code{t} instead
4792 of @code{nil}, then the error message (with or without @var{string})
4793 will also include all non-constant arguments of the top-level
4794 @var{form}. For example:
4795
4796 @example
4797 (assert (> x 10) t "x is too small: %d")
4798 @end example
4799
4800 This usage of @var{show-args} is an extension to Common Lisp. In
4801 true Common Lisp, the second argument gives a list of @var{places}
4802 which can be @code{setf}'d by the user before continuing from the
4803 error. Since Emacs Lisp does not support continuable errors, it
4804 makes no sense to specify @var{places}.
4805 @end defspec
4806
4807 @defspec check-type form type [string]
4808 This form verifies that @var{form} evaluates to a value of type
4809 @var{type}. If so, it returns @code{nil}. If not, @code{check-type}
4810 signals a @code{wrong-type-argument} error. The default error message
4811 lists the erroneous value along with @var{type} and @var{form}
4812 themselves. If @var{string} is specified, it is included in the
4813 error message in place of @var{type}. For example:
4814
4815 @example
4816 (check-type x (integer 1 *) "a positive integer")
4817 @end example
4818
4819 @xref{Type Predicates}, for a description of the type specifiers
4820 that may be used for @var{type}.
4821
4822 Note that in Common Lisp, the first argument to @code{check-type}
4823 must be a @var{place} suitable for use by @code{setf}, because
4824 @code{check-type} signals a continuable error that allows the
4825 user to modify @var{place}.
4826 @end defspec
4827
4828 The following error-related macro is also defined:
4829
4830 @defspec ignore-errors forms@dots{}
4831 This executes @var{forms} exactly like a @code{progn}, except that
4832 errors are ignored during the @var{forms}. More precisely, if
4833 an error is signaled then @code{ignore-errors} immediately
4834 aborts execution of the @var{forms} and returns @code{nil}.
4835 If the @var{forms} complete successfully, @code{ignore-errors}
4836 returns the result of the last @var{form}.
4837 @end defspec
4838
4839 @node Efficiency Concerns, Common Lisp Compatibility, Assertions, Top
4840 @appendix Efficiency Concerns
4841
4842 @appendixsec Macros
4843
4844 @noindent
4845 Many of the advanced features of this package, such as @code{defun*},
4846 @code{loop}, and @code{setf}, are implemented as Lisp macros. In
4847 byte-compiled code, these complex notations will be expanded into
4848 equivalent Lisp code which is simple and efficient. For example,
4849 the forms
4850
4851 @example
4852 (incf i n)
4853 (push x (car p))
4854 @end example
4855
4856 @noindent
4857 are expanded at compile-time to the Lisp forms
4858
4859 @example
4860 (setq i (+ i n))
4861 (setcar p (cons x (car p)))
4862 @end example
4863
4864 @noindent
4865 which are the most efficient ways of doing these respective operations
4866 in Lisp. Thus, there is no performance penalty for using the more
4867 readable @code{incf} and @code{push} forms in your compiled code.
4868
4869 @emph{Interpreted} code, on the other hand, must expand these macros
4870 every time they are executed. For this reason it is strongly
4871 recommended that code making heavy use of macros be compiled.
4872 (The features labeled ``Special Form'' instead of ``Function'' in
4873 this manual are macros.) A loop using @code{incf} a hundred times
4874 will execute considerably faster if compiled, and will also
4875 garbage-collect less because the macro expansion will not have
4876 to be generated, used, and thrown away a hundred times.
4877
4878 You can find out how a macro expands by using the
4879 @code{cl-prettyexpand} function.
4880
4881 @defun cl-prettyexpand form &optional full
4882 This function takes a single Lisp form as an argument and inserts
4883 a nicely formatted copy of it in the current buffer (which must be
4884 in Lisp mode so that indentation works properly). It also expands
4885 all Lisp macros which appear in the form. The easiest way to use
4886 this function is to go to the @code{*scratch*} buffer and type, say,
4887
4888 @example
4889 (cl-prettyexpand '(loop for x below 10 collect x))
4890 @end example
4891
4892 @noindent
4893 and type @kbd{C-x C-e} immediately after the closing parenthesis;
4894 the expansion
4895
4896 @example
4897 (block nil
4898 (let* ((x 0)
4899 (G1004 nil))
4900 (while (< x 10)
4901 (setq G1004 (cons x G1004))
4902 (setq x (+ x 1)))
4903 (nreverse G1004)))
4904 @end example
4905
4906 @noindent
4907 will be inserted into the buffer. (The @code{block} macro is
4908 expanded differently in the interpreter and compiler, so
4909 @code{cl-prettyexpand} just leaves it alone. The temporary
4910 variable @code{G1004} was created by @code{gensym}.)
4911
4912 If the optional argument @var{full} is true, then @emph{all}
4913 macros are expanded, including @code{block}, @code{eval-when},
4914 and compiler macros. Expansion is done as if @var{form} were
4915 a top-level form in a file being compiled. For example,
4916
4917 @example
4918 (cl-prettyexpand '(pushnew 'x list))
4919 @print{} (setq list (adjoin 'x list))
4920 (cl-prettyexpand '(pushnew 'x list) t)
4921 @print{} (setq list (if (memq 'x list) list (cons 'x list)))
4922 (cl-prettyexpand '(caddr (member* 'a list)) t)
4923 @print{} (car (cdr (cdr (memq 'a list))))
4924 @end example
4925
4926 Note that @code{adjoin}, @code{caddr}, and @code{member*} all
4927 have built-in compiler macros to optimize them in common cases.
4928 @end defun
4929
4930 @ifinfo
4931 @example
4932
4933 @end example
4934 @end ifinfo
4935 @appendixsec Error Checking
4936
4937 @noindent
4938 Common Lisp compliance has in general not been sacrificed for the
4939 sake of efficiency. A few exceptions have been made for cases
4940 where substantial gains were possible at the expense of marginal
4941 incompatibility.
4942
4943 The Common Lisp standard (as embodied in Steele's book) uses the
4944 phrase ``it is an error if'' to indicate a situation which is not
4945 supposed to arise in complying programs; implementations are strongly
4946 encouraged but not required to signal an error in these situations.
4947 This package sometimes omits such error checking in the interest of
4948 compactness and efficiency. For example, @code{do} variable
4949 specifiers are supposed to be lists of one, two, or three forms;
4950 extra forms are ignored by this package rather than signaling a
4951 syntax error. The @code{endp} function is simply a synonym for
4952 @code{null} in this package. Functions taking keyword arguments
4953 will accept an odd number of arguments, treating the trailing
4954 keyword as if it were followed by the value @code{nil}.
4955
4956 Argument lists (as processed by @code{defun*} and friends)
4957 @emph{are} checked rigorously except for the minor point just
4958 mentioned; in particular, keyword arguments are checked for
4959 validity, and @code{&allow-other-keys} and @code{:allow-other-keys}
4960 are fully implemented. Keyword validity checking is slightly
4961 time consuming (though not too bad in byte-compiled code);
4962 you can use @code{&allow-other-keys} to omit this check. Functions
4963 defined in this package such as @code{find} and @code{member*}
4964 do check their keyword arguments for validity.
4965
4966 @ifinfo
4967 @example
4968
4969 @end example
4970 @end ifinfo
4971 @appendixsec Optimizing Compiler
4972
4973 @noindent
4974 Use of the optimizing Emacs compiler is highly recommended; many of the Common
4975 Lisp macros emit
4976 code which can be improved by optimization. In particular,
4977 @code{block}s (whether explicit or implicit in constructs like
4978 @code{defun*} and @code{loop}) carry a fair run-time penalty; the
4979 optimizing compiler removes @code{block}s which are not actually
4980 referenced by @code{return} or @code{return-from} inside the block.
4981
4982 @node Common Lisp Compatibility, Old CL Compatibility, Efficiency Concerns, Top
4983 @appendix Common Lisp Compatibility
4984
4985 @noindent
4986 Following is a list of all known incompatibilities between this
4987 package and Common Lisp as documented in Steele (2nd edition).
4988
4989 Certain function names, such as @code{member}, @code{assoc}, and
4990 @code{floor}, were already taken by (incompatible) Emacs Lisp
4991 functions; this package appends @samp{*} to the names of its
4992 Common Lisp versions of these functions.
4993
4994 The word @code{defun*} is required instead of @code{defun} in order
4995 to use extended Common Lisp argument lists in a function. Likewise,
4996 @code{defmacro*} and @code{function*} are versions of those forms
4997 which understand full-featured argument lists. The @code{&whole}
4998 keyword does not work in @code{defmacro} argument lists (except
4999 inside recursive argument lists).
5000
5001 The @code{eql} and @code{equal} predicates do not distinguish
5002 between IEEE floating-point plus and minus zero. The @code{equalp}
5003 predicate has several differences with Common Lisp; @pxref{Predicates}.
5004
5005 The @code{setf} mechanism is entirely compatible, except that
5006 setf-methods return a list of five values rather than five
5007 values directly. Also, the new ``@code{setf} function'' concept
5008 (typified by @code{(defun (setf foo) @dots{})}) is not implemented.
5009
5010 The @code{do-all-symbols} form is the same as @code{do-symbols}
5011 with no @var{obarray} argument. In Common Lisp, this form would
5012 iterate over all symbols in all packages. Since Emacs obarrays
5013 are not a first-class package mechanism, there is no way for
5014 @code{do-all-symbols} to locate any but the default obarray.
5015
5016 The @code{loop} macro is complete except that @code{loop-finish}
5017 and type specifiers are unimplemented.
5018
5019 The multiple-value return facility treats lists as multiple
5020 values, since Emacs Lisp cannot support multiple return values
5021 directly. The macros will be compatible with Common Lisp if
5022 @code{values} or @code{values-list} is always used to return to
5023 a @code{multiple-value-bind} or other multiple-value receiver;
5024 if @code{values} is used without @code{multiple-value-@dots{}}
5025 or vice-versa the effect will be different from Common Lisp.
5026
5027 Many Common Lisp declarations are ignored, and others match
5028 the Common Lisp standard in concept but not in detail. For
5029 example, local @code{special} declarations, which are purely
5030 advisory in Emacs Lisp, do not rigorously obey the scoping rules
5031 set down in Steele's book.
5032
5033 The variable @code{*gensym-counter*} starts out with a pseudo-random
5034 value rather than with zero. This is to cope with the fact that
5035 generated symbols become interned when they are written to and
5036 loaded back from a file.
5037
5038 The @code{defstruct} facility is compatible, except that structures
5039 are of type @code{:type vector :named} by default rather than some
5040 special, distinct type. Also, the @code{:type} slot option is ignored.
5041
5042 The second argument of @code{check-type} is treated differently.
5043
5044 @node Old CL Compatibility, Porting Common Lisp, Common Lisp Compatibility, Top
5045 @appendix Old CL Compatibility
5046
5047 @noindent
5048 Following is a list of all known incompatibilities between this package
5049 and the older Quiroz @file{cl.el} package.
5050
5051 This package's emulation of multiple return values in functions is
5052 incompatible with that of the older package. That package attempted
5053 to come as close as possible to true Common Lisp multiple return
5054 values; unfortunately, it could not be 100% reliable and so was prone
5055 to occasional surprises if used freely. This package uses a simpler
5056 method, namely replacing multiple values with lists of values, which
5057 is more predictable though more noticeably different from Common Lisp.
5058
5059 The @code{defkeyword} form and @code{keywordp} function are not
5060 implemented in this package.
5061
5062 The @code{member}, @code{floor}, @code{ceiling}, @code{truncate},
5063 @code{round}, @code{mod}, and @code{rem} functions are suffixed
5064 by @samp{*} in this package to avoid collision with existing
5065 functions in Emacs. The older package simply
5066 redefined these functions, overwriting the built-in meanings and
5067 causing serious portability problems. (Some more
5068 recent versions of the Quiroz package changed the names to
5069 @code{cl-member}, etc.; this package defines the latter names as
5070 aliases for @code{member*}, etc.)
5071
5072 Certain functions in the old package which were buggy or inconsistent
5073 with the Common Lisp standard are incompatible with the conforming
5074 versions in this package. For example, @code{eql} and @code{member}
5075 were synonyms for @code{eq} and @code{memq} in that package, @code{setf}
5076 failed to preserve correct order of evaluation of its arguments, etc.
5077
5078 Finally, unlike the older package, this package is careful to
5079 prefix all of its internal names with @code{cl-}. Except for a
5080 few functions which are explicitly defined as additional features
5081 (such as @code{floatp-safe} and @code{letf}), this package does not
5082 export any non-@samp{cl-} symbols which are not also part of Common
5083 Lisp.
5084
5085 @ifinfo
5086 @example
5087
5088 @end example
5089 @end ifinfo
5090 @appendixsec The @code{cl-compat} package
5091
5092 @noindent
5093 The @dfn{CL} package includes emulations of some features of the
5094 old @file{cl.el}, in the form of a compatibility package
5095 @code{cl-compat}. To use it, put @code{(require 'cl-compat)} in
5096 your program.
5097
5098 The old package defined a number of internal routines without
5099 @code{cl-} prefixes or other annotations. Call to these routines
5100 may have crept into existing Lisp code. @code{cl-compat}
5101 provides emulations of the following internal routines:
5102 @code{pair-with-newsyms}, @code{zip-lists}, @code{unzip-lists},
5103 @code{reassemble-arglists}, @code{duplicate-symbols-p},
5104 @code{safe-idiv}.
5105
5106 Some @code{setf} forms translated into calls to internal
5107 functions that user code might call directly. The functions
5108 @code{setnth}, @code{setnthcdr}, and @code{setelt} fall in
5109 this category; they are defined by @code{cl-compat}, but the
5110 best fix is to change to use @code{setf} properly.
5111
5112 The @code{cl-compat} file defines the keyword functions
5113 @code{keywordp}, @code{keyword-of}, and @code{defkeyword},
5114 which are not defined by the new @dfn{CL} package because the
5115 use of keywords as data is discouraged.
5116
5117 The @code{build-klist} mechanism for parsing keyword arguments
5118 is emulated by @code{cl-compat}; the @code{with-keyword-args}
5119 macro is not, however, and in any case it's best to change to
5120 use the more natural keyword argument processing offered by
5121 @code{defun*}.
5122
5123 Multiple return values are treated differently by the two
5124 Common Lisp packages. The old package's method was more
5125 compatible with true Common Lisp, though it used heuristics
5126 that caused it to report spurious multiple return values in
5127 certain cases. The @code{cl-compat} package defines a set
5128 of multiple-value macros that are compatible with the old
5129 CL package; again, they are heuristic in nature, but they
5130 are guaranteed to work in any case where the old package's
5131 macros worked. To avoid name collision with the ``official''
5132 multiple-value facilities, the ones in @code{cl-compat} have
5133 capitalized names: @code{Values}, @code{Values-list},
5134 @code{Multiple-value-bind}, etc.
5135
5136 The functions @code{cl-floor}, @code{cl-ceiling}, @code{cl-truncate},
5137 and @code{cl-round} are defined by @code{cl-compat} to use the
5138 old-style multiple-value mechanism, just as they did in the old
5139 package. The newer @code{floor*} and friends return their two
5140 results in a list rather than as multiple values. Note that
5141 older versions of the old package used the unadorned names
5142 @code{floor}, @code{ceiling}, etc.; @code{cl-compat} cannot use
5143 these names because they conflict with Emacs built-ins.
5144
5145 @node Porting Common Lisp, GNU Free Documentation License, Old CL Compatibility, Top
5146 @appendix Porting Common Lisp
5147
5148 @noindent
5149 This package is meant to be used as an extension to Emacs Lisp,
5150 not as an Emacs implementation of true Common Lisp. Some of the
5151 remaining differences between Emacs Lisp and Common Lisp make it
5152 difficult to port large Common Lisp applications to Emacs. For
5153 one, some of the features in this package are not fully compliant
5154 with ANSI or Steele; @pxref{Common Lisp Compatibility}. But there
5155 are also quite a few features that this package does not provide
5156 at all. Here are some major omissions that you will want to watch out
5157 for when bringing Common Lisp code into Emacs.
5158
5159 @itemize @bullet
5160 @item
5161 Case-insensitivity. Symbols in Common Lisp are case-insensitive
5162 by default. Some programs refer to a function or variable as
5163 @code{foo} in one place and @code{Foo} or @code{FOO} in another.
5164 Emacs Lisp will treat these as three distinct symbols.
5165
5166 Some Common Lisp code is written entirely in upper case. While Emacs
5167 is happy to let the program's own functions and variables use
5168 this convention, calls to Lisp builtins like @code{if} and
5169 @code{defun} will have to be changed to lower case.
5170
5171 @item
5172 Lexical scoping. In Common Lisp, function arguments and @code{let}
5173 bindings apply only to references physically within their bodies
5174 (or within macro expansions in their bodies). Emacs Lisp, by
5175 contrast, uses @dfn{dynamic scoping} wherein a binding to a
5176 variable is visible even inside functions called from the body.
5177
5178 Variables in Common Lisp can be made dynamically scoped by
5179 declaring them @code{special} or using @code{defvar}. In Emacs
5180 Lisp it is as if all variables were declared @code{special}.
5181
5182 Often you can use code that was written for lexical scoping
5183 even in a dynamically scoped Lisp, but not always. Here is
5184 an example of a Common Lisp code fragment that would fail in
5185 Emacs Lisp:
5186
5187 @example
5188 (defun map-odd-elements (func list)
5189 (loop for x in list
5190 for flag = t then (not flag)
5191 collect (if flag x (funcall func x))))
5192
5193 (defun add-odd-elements (list x)
5194 (map-odd-elements (lambda (a) (+ a x))) list)
5195 @end example
5196
5197 @noindent
5198 In Common Lisp, the two functions' usages of @code{x} are completely
5199 independent. In Emacs Lisp, the binding to @code{x} made by
5200 @code{add-odd-elements} will have been hidden by the binding
5201 in @code{map-odd-elements} by the time the @code{(+ a x)} function
5202 is called.
5203
5204 (This package avoids such problems in its own mapping functions
5205 by using names like @code{cl-x} instead of @code{x} internally;
5206 as long as you don't use the @code{cl-} prefix for your own
5207 variables no collision can occur.)
5208
5209 @xref{Lexical Bindings}, for a description of the @code{lexical-let}
5210 form which establishes a Common Lisp-style lexical binding, and some
5211 examples of how it differs from Emacs' regular @code{let}.
5212
5213 @item
5214 Reader macros. Common Lisp includes a second type of macro that
5215 works at the level of individual characters. For example, Common
5216 Lisp implements the quote notation by a reader macro called @code{'},
5217 whereas Emacs Lisp's parser just treats quote as a special case.
5218 Some Lisp packages use reader macros to create special syntaxes
5219 for themselves, which the Emacs parser is incapable of reading.
5220
5221 The lack of reader macros, incidentally, is the reason behind
5222 Emacs Lisp's unusual backquote syntax. Since backquotes are
5223 implemented as a Lisp package and not built-in to the Emacs
5224 parser, they are forced to use a regular macro named @code{`}
5225 which is used with the standard function/macro call notation.
5226
5227 @item
5228 Other syntactic features. Common Lisp provides a number of
5229 notations beginning with @code{#} that the Emacs Lisp parser
5230 won't understand. For example, @samp{#| ... |#} is an
5231 alternate comment notation, and @samp{#+lucid (foo)} tells
5232 the parser to ignore the @code{(foo)} except in Lucid Common
5233 Lisp.
5234
5235 @item
5236 Packages. In Common Lisp, symbols are divided into @dfn{packages}.
5237 Symbols that are Lisp built-ins are typically stored in one package;
5238 symbols that are vendor extensions are put in another, and each
5239 application program would have a package for its own symbols.
5240 Certain symbols are ``exported'' by a package and others are
5241 internal; certain packages ``use'' or import the exported symbols
5242 of other packages. To access symbols that would not normally be
5243 visible due to this importing and exporting, Common Lisp provides
5244 a syntax like @code{package:symbol} or @code{package::symbol}.
5245
5246 Emacs Lisp has a single namespace for all interned symbols, and
5247 then uses a naming convention of putting a prefix like @code{cl-}
5248 in front of the name. Some Emacs packages adopt the Common Lisp-like
5249 convention of using @code{cl:} or @code{cl::} as the prefix.
5250 However, the Emacs parser does not understand colons and just
5251 treats them as part of the symbol name. Thus, while @code{mapcar}
5252 and @code{lisp:mapcar} may refer to the same symbol in Common
5253 Lisp, they are totally distinct in Emacs Lisp. Common Lisp
5254 programs which refer to a symbol by the full name sometimes
5255 and the short name other times will not port cleanly to Emacs.
5256
5257 Emacs Lisp does have a concept of ``obarrays,'' which are
5258 package-like collections of symbols, but this feature is not
5259 strong enough to be used as a true package mechanism.
5260
5261 @item
5262 The @code{format} function is quite different between Common
5263 Lisp and Emacs Lisp. It takes an additional ``destination''
5264 argument before the format string. A destination of @code{nil}
5265 means to format to a string as in Emacs Lisp; a destination
5266 of @code{t} means to write to the terminal (similar to
5267 @code{message} in Emacs). Also, format control strings are
5268 utterly different; @code{~} is used instead of @code{%} to
5269 introduce format codes, and the set of available codes is
5270 much richer. There are no notations like @code{\n} for
5271 string literals; instead, @code{format} is used with the
5272 ``newline'' format code, @code{~%}. More advanced formatting
5273 codes provide such features as paragraph filling, case
5274 conversion, and even loops and conditionals.
5275
5276 While it would have been possible to implement most of Common
5277 Lisp @code{format} in this package (under the name @code{format*},
5278 of course), it was not deemed worthwhile. It would have required
5279 a huge amount of code to implement even a decent subset of
5280 @code{format*}, yet the functionality it would provide over
5281 Emacs Lisp's @code{format} would rarely be useful.
5282
5283 @item
5284 Vector constants use square brackets in Emacs Lisp, but
5285 @code{#(a b c)} notation in Common Lisp. To further complicate
5286 matters, Emacs has its own @code{#(} notation for
5287 something entirely different---strings with properties.
5288
5289 @item
5290 Characters are distinct from integers in Common Lisp. The
5291 notation for character constants is also different: @code{#\A}
5292 instead of @code{?A}. Also, @code{string=} and @code{string-equal}
5293 are synonyms in Emacs Lisp whereas the latter is case-insensitive
5294 in Common Lisp.
5295
5296 @item
5297 Data types. Some Common Lisp data types do not exist in Emacs
5298 Lisp. Rational numbers and complex numbers are not present,
5299 nor are large integers (all integers are ``fixnums''). All
5300 arrays are one-dimensional. There are no readtables or pathnames;
5301 streams are a set of existing data types rather than a new data
5302 type of their own. Hash tables, random-states, structures, and
5303 packages (obarrays) are built from Lisp vectors or lists rather
5304 than being distinct types.
5305
5306 @item
5307 The Common Lisp Object System (CLOS) is not implemented,
5308 nor is the Common Lisp Condition System. However, the EIEIO package
5309 from @uref{ftp://ftp.ultranet.com/pub/zappo} does implement some
5310 CLOS functionality.
5311
5312 @item
5313 Common Lisp features that are completely redundant with Emacs
5314 Lisp features of a different name generally have not been
5315 implemented. For example, Common Lisp writes @code{defconstant}
5316 where Emacs Lisp uses @code{defconst}. Similarly, @code{make-list}
5317 takes its arguments in different ways in the two Lisps but does
5318 exactly the same thing, so this package has not bothered to
5319 implement a Common Lisp-style @code{make-list}.
5320
5321 @item
5322 A few more notable Common Lisp features not included in this
5323 package: @code{compiler-let}, @code{tagbody}, @code{prog},
5324 @code{ldb/dpb}, @code{parse-integer}, @code{cerror}.
5325
5326 @item
5327 Recursion. While recursion works in Emacs Lisp just like it
5328 does in Common Lisp, various details of the Emacs Lisp system
5329 and compiler make recursion much less efficient than it is in
5330 most Lisps. Some schools of thought prefer to use recursion
5331 in Lisp over other techniques; they would sum a list of
5332 numbers using something like
5333
5334 @example
5335 (defun sum-list (list)
5336 (if list
5337 (+ (car list) (sum-list (cdr list)))
5338 0))
5339 @end example
5340
5341 @noindent
5342 where a more iteratively-minded programmer might write one of
5343 these forms:
5344
5345 @example
5346 (let ((total 0)) (dolist (x my-list) (incf total x)) total)
5347 (loop for x in my-list sum x)
5348 @end example
5349
5350 While this would be mainly a stylistic choice in most Common Lisps,
5351 in Emacs Lisp you should be aware that the iterative forms are
5352 much faster than recursion. Also, Lisp programmers will want to
5353 note that the current Emacs Lisp compiler does not optimize tail
5354 recursion.
5355 @end itemize
5356
5357 @node GNU Free Documentation License, Function Index, Porting Common Lisp, Top
5358 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
5359 @include doclicense.texi
5360
5361 @node Function Index, Variable Index, GNU Free Documentation License, Top
5362 @unnumbered Function Index
5363
5364 @printindex fn
5365
5366 @node Variable Index, , Function Index, Top
5367 @unnumbered Variable Index
5368
5369 @printindex vr
5370
5371 @setchapternewpage odd
5372 @contents
5373 @bye
5374
5375 @ignore
5376 arch-tag: b61e7200-3bfa-4a70-a9d3-095e152696f8
5377 @end ignore