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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, 2001-2012 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
9
10 @quotation
11 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
12 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
13 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
14 Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU Manual'',
15 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the license
16 is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
17
18 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have the freedom to copy and
19 modify this GNU manual. Buying copies from the FSF supports it in
20 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
21 @end quotation
22 @end copying
23
24 @dircategory Emacs lisp libraries
25 @direntry
26 * CL: (cl). Partial Common Lisp support for Emacs Lisp.
27 @end direntry
28
29 @finalout
30
31 @titlepage
32 @sp 6
33 @center @titlefont{Common Lisp Extensions}
34 @sp 4
35 @center For GNU Emacs Lisp
36 @sp 1
37 @center Version 2.02
38 @sp 5
39 @center Dave Gillespie
40 @center daveg@@synaptics.com
41 @page
42 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
43 @insertcopying
44 @end titlepage
45
46 @contents
47
48 @ifnottex
49 @node Top
50 @top GNU Emacs Common Lisp Emulation
51
52 @insertcopying
53 @end ifnottex
54
55 @menu
56 * Overview:: Installation, usage, etc.
57 * Program Structure:: Arglists, @code{eval-when}, @code{defalias}
58 * Predicates:: @code{typep} and @code{equalp}
59 * Control Structure:: @code{setf}, @code{do}, @code{loop}, etc.
60 * Macros:: Destructuring, @code{define-compiler-macro}
61 * Declarations:: @code{proclaim}, @code{declare}, etc.
62 * Symbols:: Property lists, @code{gensym}
63 * Numbers:: Predicates, functions, random numbers
64 * Sequences:: Mapping, functions, searching, sorting
65 * Lists:: @code{caddr}, @code{sublis}, @code{member*}, @code{assoc*}, etc.
66 * Structures:: @code{defstruct}
67 * Assertions:: @code{check-type}, @code{assert}, @code{ignore-errors}.
68
69 * Efficiency Concerns:: Hints and techniques
70 * Common Lisp Compatibility:: All known differences with Steele
71 * Old CL Compatibility:: All known differences with old cl.el
72 * Porting Common Lisp:: Hints for porting Common Lisp code
73
74 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation.
75 * Function Index::
76 * Variable Index::
77 @end menu
78
79 @node Overview
80 @chapter Overview
81
82 @noindent
83 This document describes a set of Emacs Lisp facilities borrowed from
84 Common Lisp. All the facilities are described here in detail. While
85 this document does not assume any prior knowledge of Common Lisp, it
86 does assume a basic familiarity with Emacs Lisp.
87
88 Common Lisp is a huge language, and Common Lisp systems tend to be
89 massive and extremely complex. Emacs Lisp, by contrast, is rather
90 minimalist in the choice of Lisp features it offers the programmer.
91 As Emacs Lisp programmers have grown in number, and the applications
92 they write have grown more ambitious, it has become clear that Emacs
93 Lisp could benefit from many of the conveniences of Common Lisp.
94
95 The @dfn{CL} package adds a number of Common Lisp functions and
96 control structures to Emacs Lisp. While not a 100% complete
97 implementation of Common Lisp, @dfn{CL} adds enough functionality
98 to make Emacs Lisp programming significantly more convenient.
99
100 @strong{Please note:} the @dfn{CL} functions are not standard parts of
101 the Emacs Lisp name space, so it is legitimate for users to define
102 them with other, conflicting meanings. To avoid conflicting with
103 those user activities, we have a policy that packages installed in
104 Emacs must not load @dfn{CL} at run time. (It is ok for them to load
105 @dfn{CL} at compile time only, with @code{eval-when-compile}, and use
106 the macros it provides.) If you are writing packages that you plan to
107 distribute and invite widespread use for, you might want to observe
108 the same rule.
109
110 Some Common Lisp features have been omitted from this package
111 for various reasons:
112
113 @itemize @bullet
114 @item
115 Some features are too complex or bulky relative to their benefit
116 to Emacs Lisp programmers. CLOS and Common Lisp streams are fine
117 examples of this group.
118
119 @item
120 Other features cannot be implemented without modification to the
121 Emacs Lisp interpreter itself, such as multiple return values,
122 lexical scoping, case-insensitive symbols, and complex numbers.
123 The @dfn{CL} package generally makes no attempt to emulate these
124 features.
125
126 @item
127 Some features conflict with existing things in Emacs Lisp. For
128 example, Emacs's @code{assoc} function is incompatible with the
129 Common Lisp @code{assoc}. In such cases, this package usually
130 adds the suffix @samp{*} to the function name of the Common
131 Lisp version of the function (e.g., @code{assoc*}).
132 @end itemize
133
134 The package described here was written by Dave Gillespie,
135 @file{daveg@@synaptics.com}. It is a total rewrite of the original
136 1986 @file{cl.el} package by Cesar Quiroz. Most features of the
137 Quiroz package have been retained; any incompatibilities are
138 noted in the descriptions below. Care has been taken in this
139 version to ensure that each function is defined efficiently,
140 concisely, and with minimal impact on the rest of the Emacs
141 environment.
142
143 @menu
144 * Usage:: How to use the CL package
145 * Organization:: The package's five component files
146 * Installation:: Compiling and installing CL
147 * Naming Conventions:: Notes on CL function names
148 @end menu
149
150 @node Usage
151 @section Usage
152
153 @noindent
154 Lisp code that uses features from the @dfn{CL} package should
155 include at the beginning:
156
157 @example
158 (require 'cl)
159 @end example
160
161 @noindent
162 It is safe to arrange to load @dfn{CL} at all times, e.g.,
163 in your @file{.emacs} file. But it's a good idea, for portability,
164 to @code{(require 'cl)} in your code even if you do this.
165
166 @node Organization
167 @section Organization
168
169 @noindent
170 The Common Lisp package is organized into four files:
171
172 @table @file
173 @item cl.el
174 This is the ``main'' file, which contains basic functions
175 and information about the package. This file is relatively
176 compact---about 700 lines.
177
178 @item cl-extra.el
179 This file contains the larger, more complex or unusual functions.
180 It is kept separate so that packages which only want to use Common
181 Lisp fundamentals like the @code{cadr} function won't need to pay
182 the overhead of loading the more advanced functions.
183
184 @item cl-seq.el
185 This file contains most of the advanced functions for operating
186 on sequences or lists, such as @code{delete-if} and @code{assoc*}.
187
188 @item cl-macs.el
189 This file contains the features of the packages which are macros
190 instead of functions. Macros expand when the caller is compiled,
191 not when it is run, so the macros generally only need to be
192 present when the byte-compiler is running (or when the macros are
193 used in uncompiled code such as a @file{.emacs} file). Most of
194 the macros of this package are isolated in @file{cl-macs.el} so
195 that they won't take up memory unless you are compiling.
196 @end table
197
198 The file @file{cl.el} includes all necessary @code{autoload}
199 commands for the functions and macros in the other three files.
200 All you have to do is @code{(require 'cl)}, and @file{cl.el}
201 will take care of pulling in the other files when they are
202 needed.
203
204 There is another file, @file{cl-compat.el}, which defines some
205 routines from the older @file{cl.el} package that are not otherwise
206 present in the new package. This includes internal routines
207 like @code{setelt} and @code{zip-lists}, deprecated features
208 like @code{defkeyword}, and an emulation of the old-style
209 multiple-values feature. This file is obsolete and should not be used
210 in new code. @xref{Old CL Compatibility}.
211
212 @node Installation
213 @section Installation
214
215 @noindent
216 The @dfn{CL} package is distributed with Emacs, so there is no need
217 to install anything.
218
219 If you do need to install it, just put the byte-compiled files
220 @file{cl.elc}, @file{cl-extra.elc}, @file{cl-seq.elc},
221 @file{cl-macs.elc}, and (if necessary) @file{cl-compat.elc} into a
222 directory on your @code{load-path}. Also, format the @file{cl.texi}
223 file and put the resulting Info files into a directory in your
224 @code{Info-directory-list}.
225
226 @node Naming Conventions
227 @section Naming Conventions
228
229 @noindent
230 Except where noted, all functions defined by this package have the
231 same names and calling conventions as their Common Lisp counterparts.
232
233 Following is a complete list of functions whose names were changed
234 from Common Lisp, usually to avoid conflicts with Emacs. In each
235 case, a @samp{*} has been appended to the Common Lisp name to obtain
236 the Emacs name:
237
238 @example
239 defun* defsubst* defmacro* function*
240 member* assoc* rassoc* get*
241 remove* delete* mapcar* sort*
242 floor* ceiling* truncate* round*
243 mod* rem* random*
244 @end example
245
246 Internal function and variable names in the package are prefixed
247 by @code{cl-}. Here is a complete list of functions @emph{not}
248 prefixed by @code{cl-} which were not taken from Common Lisp:
249
250 @example
251 floatp-safe lexical-let lexical-let*
252 callf callf2 letf letf*
253 defsubst*
254 @end example
255
256 The following simple functions and macros are defined in @file{cl.el};
257 they do not cause other components like @file{cl-extra} to be loaded.
258
259 @example
260 floatp-safe endp
261 evenp oddp plusp minusp
262 caaar .. cddddr
263 list* ldiff rest first .. tenth
264 copy-list subst mapcar* [2]
265 adjoin [3] acons pairlis pop [4]
266 push [4] pushnew [3,4] incf [4] decf [4]
267 proclaim declaim
268 @end example
269
270 @noindent
271 [2] Only for one sequence argument or two list arguments.
272
273 @noindent
274 [3] Only if @code{:test} is @code{eq}, @code{equal}, or unspecified,
275 and @code{:key} is not used.
276
277 @noindent
278 [4] Only when @var{place} is a plain variable name.
279
280 @node Program Structure
281 @chapter Program Structure
282
283 @noindent
284 This section describes features of the @dfn{CL} package which have to
285 do with programs as a whole: advanced argument lists for functions,
286 and the @code{eval-when} construct.
287
288 @menu
289 * Argument Lists:: @code{&key}, @code{&aux}, @code{defun*}, @code{defmacro*}.
290 * Time of Evaluation:: The @code{eval-when} construct.
291 @end menu
292
293 @iftex
294 @secno=1
295 @end iftex
296
297 @node Argument Lists
298 @section Argument Lists
299
300 @noindent
301 Emacs Lisp's notation for argument lists of functions is a subset of
302 the Common Lisp notation. As well as the familiar @code{&optional}
303 and @code{&rest} markers, Common Lisp allows you to specify default
304 values for optional arguments, and it provides the additional markers
305 @code{&key} and @code{&aux}.
306
307 Since argument parsing is built-in to Emacs, there is no way for
308 this package to implement Common Lisp argument lists seamlessly.
309 Instead, this package defines alternates for several Lisp forms
310 which you must use if you need Common Lisp argument lists.
311
312 @defspec defun* name arglist body...
313 This form is identical to the regular @code{defun} form, except
314 that @var{arglist} is allowed to be a full Common Lisp argument
315 list. Also, the function body is enclosed in an implicit block
316 called @var{name}; @pxref{Blocks and Exits}.
317 @end defspec
318
319 @defspec defsubst* name arglist body...
320 This is just like @code{defun*}, except that the function that
321 is defined is automatically proclaimed @code{inline}, i.e.,
322 calls to it may be expanded into in-line code by the byte compiler.
323 This is analogous to the @code{defsubst} form;
324 @code{defsubst*} uses a different method (compiler macros) which
325 works in all versions of Emacs, and also generates somewhat more
326 efficient inline expansions. In particular, @code{defsubst*}
327 arranges for the processing of keyword arguments, default values,
328 etc., to be done at compile-time whenever possible.
329 @end defspec
330
331 @defspec defmacro* name arglist body...
332 This is identical to the regular @code{defmacro} form,
333 except that @var{arglist} is allowed to be a full Common Lisp
334 argument list. The @code{&environment} keyword is supported as
335 described in Steele. The @code{&whole} keyword is supported only
336 within destructured lists (see below); top-level @code{&whole}
337 cannot be implemented with the current Emacs Lisp interpreter.
338 The macro expander body is enclosed in an implicit block called
339 @var{name}.
340 @end defspec
341
342 @defspec function* symbol-or-lambda
343 This is identical to the regular @code{function} form,
344 except that if the argument is a @code{lambda} form then that
345 form may use a full Common Lisp argument list.
346 @end defspec
347
348 Also, all forms (such as @code{defsetf} and @code{flet}) defined
349 in this package that include @var{arglist}s in their syntax allow
350 full Common Lisp argument lists.
351
352 Note that it is @emph{not} necessary to use @code{defun*} in
353 order to have access to most @dfn{CL} features in your function.
354 These features are always present; @code{defun*}'s only
355 difference from @code{defun} is its more flexible argument
356 lists and its implicit block.
357
358 The full form of a Common Lisp argument list is
359
360 @example
361 (@var{var}...
362 &optional (@var{var} @var{initform} @var{svar})...
363 &rest @var{var}
364 &key ((@var{keyword} @var{var}) @var{initform} @var{svar})...
365 &aux (@var{var} @var{initform})...)
366 @end example
367
368 Each of the five argument list sections is optional. The @var{svar},
369 @var{initform}, and @var{keyword} parts are optional; if they are
370 omitted, then @samp{(@var{var})} may be written simply @samp{@var{var}}.
371
372 The first section consists of zero or more @dfn{required} arguments.
373 These arguments must always be specified in a call to the function;
374 there is no difference between Emacs Lisp and Common Lisp as far as
375 required arguments are concerned.
376
377 The second section consists of @dfn{optional} arguments. These
378 arguments may be specified in the function call; if they are not,
379 @var{initform} specifies the default value used for the argument.
380 (No @var{initform} means to use @code{nil} as the default.) The
381 @var{initform} is evaluated with the bindings for the preceding
382 arguments already established; @code{(a &optional (b (1+ a)))}
383 matches one or two arguments, with the second argument defaulting
384 to one plus the first argument. If the @var{svar} is specified,
385 it is an auxiliary variable which is bound to @code{t} if the optional
386 argument was specified, or to @code{nil} if the argument was omitted.
387 If you don't use an @var{svar}, then there will be no way for your
388 function to tell whether it was called with no argument, or with
389 the default value passed explicitly as an argument.
390
391 The third section consists of a single @dfn{rest} argument. If
392 more arguments were passed to the function than are accounted for
393 by the required and optional arguments, those extra arguments are
394 collected into a list and bound to the ``rest'' argument variable.
395 Common Lisp's @code{&rest} is equivalent to that of Emacs Lisp.
396 Common Lisp accepts @code{&body} as a synonym for @code{&rest} in
397 macro contexts; this package accepts it all the time.
398
399 The fourth section consists of @dfn{keyword} arguments. These
400 are optional arguments which are specified by name rather than
401 positionally in the argument list. For example,
402
403 @example
404 (defun* foo (a &optional b &key c d (e 17)))
405 @end example
406
407 @noindent
408 defines a function which may be called with one, two, or more
409 arguments. The first two arguments are bound to @code{a} and
410 @code{b} in the usual way. The remaining arguments must be
411 pairs of the form @code{:c}, @code{:d}, or @code{:e} followed
412 by the value to be bound to the corresponding argument variable.
413 (Symbols whose names begin with a colon are called @dfn{keywords},
414 and they are self-quoting in the same way as @code{nil} and
415 @code{t}.)
416
417 For example, the call @code{(foo 1 2 :d 3 :c 4)} sets the five
418 arguments to 1, 2, 4, 3, and 17, respectively. If the same keyword
419 appears more than once in the function call, the first occurrence
420 takes precedence over the later ones. Note that it is not possible
421 to specify keyword arguments without specifying the optional
422 argument @code{b} as well, since @code{(foo 1 :c 2)} would bind
423 @code{b} to the keyword @code{:c}, then signal an error because
424 @code{2} is not a valid keyword.
425
426 You can also explicitly specify the keyword argument; it need not be
427 simply the variable name prefixed with a colon. For example,
428
429 @example
430 (defun* bar (&key (a 1) ((baz b) 4)))
431 @end example
432
433 @noindent
434
435 specifies a keyword @code{:a} that sets the variable @code{a} with
436 default value 1, as well as a keyword @code{baz} that sets the
437 variable @code{b} with default value 4. In this case, because
438 @code{baz} is not self-quoting, you must quote it explicitly in the
439 function call, like this:
440
441 @example
442 (bar :a 10 'baz 42)
443 @end example
444
445 Ordinarily, it is an error to pass an unrecognized keyword to
446 a function, e.g., @code{(foo 1 2 :c 3 :goober 4)}. You can ask
447 Lisp to ignore unrecognized keywords, either by adding the
448 marker @code{&allow-other-keys} after the keyword section
449 of the argument list, or by specifying an @code{:allow-other-keys}
450 argument in the call whose value is non-@code{nil}. If the
451 function uses both @code{&rest} and @code{&key} at the same time,
452 the ``rest'' argument is bound to the keyword list as it appears
453 in the call. For example:
454
455 @smallexample
456 (defun* find-thing (thing &rest rest &key need &allow-other-keys)
457 (or (apply 'member* thing thing-list :allow-other-keys t rest)
458 (if need (error "Thing not found"))))
459 @end smallexample
460
461 @noindent
462 This function takes a @code{:need} keyword argument, but also
463 accepts other keyword arguments which are passed on to the
464 @code{member*} function. @code{allow-other-keys} is used to
465 keep both @code{find-thing} and @code{member*} from complaining
466 about each others' keywords in the arguments.
467
468 The fifth section of the argument list consists of @dfn{auxiliary
469 variables}. These are not really arguments at all, but simply
470 variables which are bound to @code{nil} or to the specified
471 @var{initforms} during execution of the function. There is no
472 difference between the following two functions, except for a
473 matter of stylistic taste:
474
475 @example
476 (defun* foo (a b &aux (c (+ a b)) d)
477 @var{body})
478
479 (defun* foo (a b)
480 (let ((c (+ a b)) d)
481 @var{body}))
482 @end example
483
484 Argument lists support @dfn{destructuring}. In Common Lisp,
485 destructuring is only allowed with @code{defmacro}; this package
486 allows it with @code{defun*} and other argument lists as well.
487 In destructuring, any argument variable (@var{var} in the above
488 diagram) can be replaced by a list of variables, or more generally,
489 a recursive argument list. The corresponding argument value must
490 be a list whose elements match this recursive argument list.
491 For example:
492
493 @example
494 (defmacro* dolist ((var listform &optional resultform)
495 &rest body)
496 ...)
497 @end example
498
499 This says that the first argument of @code{dolist} must be a list
500 of two or three items; if there are other arguments as well as this
501 list, they are stored in @code{body}. All features allowed in
502 regular argument lists are allowed in these recursive argument lists.
503 In addition, the clause @samp{&whole @var{var}} is allowed at the
504 front of a recursive argument list. It binds @var{var} to the
505 whole list being matched; thus @code{(&whole all a b)} matches
506 a list of two things, with @code{a} bound to the first thing,
507 @code{b} bound to the second thing, and @code{all} bound to the
508 list itself. (Common Lisp allows @code{&whole} in top-level
509 @code{defmacro} argument lists as well, but Emacs Lisp does not
510 support this usage.)
511
512 One last feature of destructuring is that the argument list may be
513 dotted, so that the argument list @code{(a b . c)} is functionally
514 equivalent to @code{(a b &rest c)}.
515
516 If the optimization quality @code{safety} is set to 0
517 (@pxref{Declarations}), error checking for wrong number of
518 arguments and invalid keyword arguments is disabled. By default,
519 argument lists are rigorously checked.
520
521 @node Time of Evaluation
522 @section Time of Evaluation
523
524 @noindent
525 Normally, the byte-compiler does not actually execute the forms in
526 a file it compiles. For example, if a file contains @code{(setq foo t)},
527 the act of compiling it will not actually set @code{foo} to @code{t}.
528 This is true even if the @code{setq} was a top-level form (i.e., not
529 enclosed in a @code{defun} or other form). Sometimes, though, you
530 would like to have certain top-level forms evaluated at compile-time.
531 For example, the compiler effectively evaluates @code{defmacro} forms
532 at compile-time so that later parts of the file can refer to the
533 macros that are defined.
534
535 @defspec eval-when (situations...) forms...
536 This form controls when the body @var{forms} are evaluated.
537 The @var{situations} list may contain any set of the symbols
538 @code{compile}, @code{load}, and @code{eval} (or their long-winded
539 ANSI equivalents, @code{:compile-toplevel}, @code{:load-toplevel},
540 and @code{:execute}).
541
542 The @code{eval-when} form is handled differently depending on
543 whether or not it is being compiled as a top-level form.
544 Specifically, it gets special treatment if it is being compiled
545 by a command such as @code{byte-compile-file} which compiles files
546 or buffers of code, and it appears either literally at the
547 top level of the file or inside a top-level @code{progn}.
548
549 For compiled top-level @code{eval-when}s, the body @var{forms} are
550 executed at compile-time if @code{compile} is in the @var{situations}
551 list, and the @var{forms} are written out to the file (to be executed
552 at load-time) if @code{load} is in the @var{situations} list.
553
554 For non-compiled-top-level forms, only the @code{eval} situation is
555 relevant. (This includes forms executed by the interpreter, forms
556 compiled with @code{byte-compile} rather than @code{byte-compile-file},
557 and non-top-level forms.) The @code{eval-when} acts like a
558 @code{progn} if @code{eval} is specified, and like @code{nil}
559 (ignoring the body @var{forms}) if not.
560
561 The rules become more subtle when @code{eval-when}s are nested;
562 consult Steele (second edition) for the gruesome details (and
563 some gruesome examples).
564
565 Some simple examples:
566
567 @example
568 ;; Top-level forms in foo.el:
569 (eval-when (compile) (setq foo1 'bar))
570 (eval-when (load) (setq foo2 'bar))
571 (eval-when (compile load) (setq foo3 'bar))
572 (eval-when (eval) (setq foo4 'bar))
573 (eval-when (eval compile) (setq foo5 'bar))
574 (eval-when (eval load) (setq foo6 'bar))
575 (eval-when (eval compile load) (setq foo7 'bar))
576 @end example
577
578 When @file{foo.el} is compiled, these variables will be set during
579 the compilation itself:
580
581 @example
582 foo1 foo3 foo5 foo7 ; `compile'
583 @end example
584
585 When @file{foo.elc} is loaded, these variables will be set:
586
587 @example
588 foo2 foo3 foo6 foo7 ; `load'
589 @end example
590
591 And if @file{foo.el} is loaded uncompiled, these variables will
592 be set:
593
594 @example
595 foo4 foo5 foo6 foo7 ; `eval'
596 @end example
597
598 If these seven @code{eval-when}s had been, say, inside a @code{defun},
599 then the first three would have been equivalent to @code{nil} and the
600 last four would have been equivalent to the corresponding @code{setq}s.
601
602 Note that @code{(eval-when (load eval) @dots{})} is equivalent
603 to @code{(progn @dots{})} in all contexts. The compiler treats
604 certain top-level forms, like @code{defmacro} (sort-of) and
605 @code{require}, as if they were wrapped in @code{(eval-when
606 (compile load eval) @dots{})}.
607 @end defspec
608
609 Emacs includes two special forms related to @code{eval-when}.
610 One of these, @code{eval-when-compile}, is not quite equivalent to
611 any @code{eval-when} construct and is described below.
612
613 The other form, @code{(eval-and-compile @dots{})}, is exactly
614 equivalent to @samp{(eval-when (compile load eval) @dots{})} and
615 so is not itself defined by this package.
616
617 @defspec eval-when-compile forms...
618 The @var{forms} are evaluated at compile-time; at execution time,
619 this form acts like a quoted constant of the resulting value. Used
620 at top-level, @code{eval-when-compile} is just like @samp{eval-when
621 (compile eval)}. In other contexts, @code{eval-when-compile}
622 allows code to be evaluated once at compile-time for efficiency
623 or other reasons.
624
625 This form is similar to the @samp{#.} syntax of true Common Lisp.
626 @end defspec
627
628 @defspec load-time-value form
629 The @var{form} is evaluated at load-time; at execution time,
630 this form acts like a quoted constant of the resulting value.
631
632 Early Common Lisp had a @samp{#,} syntax that was similar to
633 this, but ANSI Common Lisp replaced it with @code{load-time-value}
634 and gave it more well-defined semantics.
635
636 In a compiled file, @code{load-time-value} arranges for @var{form}
637 to be evaluated when the @file{.elc} file is loaded and then used
638 as if it were a quoted constant. In code compiled by
639 @code{byte-compile} rather than @code{byte-compile-file}, the
640 effect is identical to @code{eval-when-compile}. In uncompiled
641 code, both @code{eval-when-compile} and @code{load-time-value}
642 act exactly like @code{progn}.
643
644 @example
645 (defun report ()
646 (insert "This function was executed on: "
647 (current-time-string)
648 ", compiled on: "
649 (eval-when-compile (current-time-string))
650 ;; or '#.(current-time-string) in real Common Lisp
651 ", and loaded on: "
652 (load-time-value (current-time-string))))
653 @end example
654
655 @noindent
656 Byte-compiled, the above defun will result in the following code
657 (or its compiled equivalent, of course) in the @file{.elc} file:
658
659 @example
660 (setq --temp-- (current-time-string))
661 (defun report ()
662 (insert "This function was executed on: "
663 (current-time-string)
664 ", compiled on: "
665 '"Wed Jun 23 18:33:43 1993"
666 ", and loaded on: "
667 --temp--))
668 @end example
669 @end defspec
670
671 @node Predicates
672 @chapter Predicates
673
674 @noindent
675 This section describes functions for testing whether various
676 facts are true or false.
677
678 @menu
679 * Type Predicates:: @code{typep}, @code{deftype}, and @code{coerce}
680 * Equality Predicates:: @code{equalp}
681 @end menu
682
683 @node Type Predicates
684 @section Type Predicates
685
686 @noindent
687 The @dfn{CL} package defines a version of the Common Lisp @code{typep}
688 predicate.
689
690 @defun typep object type
691 Check if @var{object} is of type @var{type}, where @var{type} is a
692 (quoted) type name of the sort used by Common Lisp. For example,
693 @code{(typep foo 'integer)} is equivalent to @code{(integerp foo)}.
694 @end defun
695
696 The @var{type} argument to the above function is either a symbol
697 or a list beginning with a symbol.
698
699 @itemize @bullet
700 @item
701 If the type name is a symbol, Emacs appends @samp{-p} to the
702 symbol name to form the name of a predicate function for testing
703 the type. (Built-in predicates whose names end in @samp{p} rather
704 than @samp{-p} are used when appropriate.)
705
706 @item
707 The type symbol @code{t} stands for the union of all types.
708 @code{(typep @var{object} t)} is always true. Likewise, the
709 type symbol @code{nil} stands for nothing at all, and
710 @code{(typep @var{object} nil)} is always false.
711
712 @item
713 The type symbol @code{null} represents the symbol @code{nil}.
714 Thus @code{(typep @var{object} 'null)} is equivalent to
715 @code{(null @var{object})}.
716
717 @item
718 The type symbol @code{atom} represents all objects that are not cons
719 cells. Thus @code{(typep @var{object} 'atom)} is equivalent to
720 @code{(atom @var{object})}.
721
722 @item
723 The type symbol @code{real} is a synonym for @code{number}, and
724 @code{fixnum} is a synonym for @code{integer}.
725
726 @item
727 The type symbols @code{character} and @code{string-char} match
728 integers in the range from 0 to 255.
729
730 @item
731 The type symbol @code{float} uses the @code{floatp-safe} predicate
732 defined by this package rather than @code{floatp}, so it will work
733 correctly even in Emacs versions without floating-point support.
734
735 @item
736 The type list @code{(integer @var{low} @var{high})} represents all
737 integers between @var{low} and @var{high}, inclusive. Either bound
738 may be a list of a single integer to specify an exclusive limit,
739 or a @code{*} to specify no limit. The type @code{(integer * *)}
740 is thus equivalent to @code{integer}.
741
742 @item
743 Likewise, lists beginning with @code{float}, @code{real}, or
744 @code{number} represent numbers of that type falling in a particular
745 range.
746
747 @item
748 Lists beginning with @code{and}, @code{or}, and @code{not} form
749 combinations of types. For example, @code{(or integer (float 0 *))}
750 represents all objects that are integers or non-negative floats.
751
752 @item
753 Lists beginning with @code{member} or @code{member*} represent
754 objects @code{eql} to any of the following values. For example,
755 @code{(member 1 2 3 4)} is equivalent to @code{(integer 1 4)},
756 and @code{(member nil)} is equivalent to @code{null}.
757
758 @item
759 Lists of the form @code{(satisfies @var{predicate})} represent
760 all objects for which @var{predicate} returns true when called
761 with that object as an argument.
762 @end itemize
763
764 The following function and macro (not technically predicates) are
765 related to @code{typep}.
766
767 @defun coerce object type
768 This function attempts to convert @var{object} to the specified
769 @var{type}. If @var{object} is already of that type as determined by
770 @code{typep}, it is simply returned. Otherwise, certain types of
771 conversions will be made: If @var{type} is any sequence type
772 (@code{string}, @code{list}, etc.) then @var{object} will be
773 converted to that type if possible. If @var{type} is
774 @code{character}, then strings of length one and symbols with
775 one-character names can be coerced. If @var{type} is @code{float},
776 then integers can be coerced in versions of Emacs that support
777 floats. In all other circumstances, @code{coerce} signals an
778 error.
779 @end defun
780
781 @defspec deftype name arglist forms...
782 This macro defines a new type called @var{name}. It is similar
783 to @code{defmacro} in many ways; when @var{name} is encountered
784 as a type name, the body @var{forms} are evaluated and should
785 return a type specifier that is equivalent to the type. The
786 @var{arglist} is a Common Lisp argument list of the sort accepted
787 by @code{defmacro*}. The type specifier @samp{(@var{name} @var{args}...)}
788 is expanded by calling the expander with those arguments; the type
789 symbol @samp{@var{name}} is expanded by calling the expander with
790 no arguments. The @var{arglist} is processed the same as for
791 @code{defmacro*} except that optional arguments without explicit
792 defaults use @code{*} instead of @code{nil} as the ``default''
793 default. Some examples:
794
795 @example
796 (deftype null () '(satisfies null)) ; predefined
797 (deftype list () '(or null cons)) ; predefined
798 (deftype unsigned-byte (&optional bits)
799 (list 'integer 0 (if (eq bits '*) bits (1- (lsh 1 bits)))))
800 (unsigned-byte 8) @equiv{} (integer 0 255)
801 (unsigned-byte) @equiv{} (integer 0 *)
802 unsigned-byte @equiv{} (integer 0 *)
803 @end example
804
805 @noindent
806 The last example shows how the Common Lisp @code{unsigned-byte}
807 type specifier could be implemented if desired; this package does
808 not implement @code{unsigned-byte} by default.
809 @end defspec
810
811 The @code{typecase} and @code{check-type} macros also use type
812 names. @xref{Conditionals}. @xref{Assertions}. The @code{map},
813 @code{concatenate}, and @code{merge} functions take type-name
814 arguments to specify the type of sequence to return. @xref{Sequences}.
815
816 @node Equality Predicates
817 @section Equality Predicates
818
819 @noindent
820 This package defines the Common Lisp predicate @code{equalp}.
821
822 @defun equalp a b
823 This function is a more flexible version of @code{equal}. In
824 particular, it compares strings case-insensitively, and it compares
825 numbers without regard to type (so that @code{(equalp 3 3.0)} is
826 true). Vectors and conses are compared recursively. All other
827 objects are compared as if by @code{equal}.
828
829 This function differs from Common Lisp @code{equalp} in several
830 respects. First, Common Lisp's @code{equalp} also compares
831 @emph{characters} case-insensitively, which would be impractical
832 in this package since Emacs does not distinguish between integers
833 and characters. In keeping with the idea that strings are less
834 vector-like in Emacs Lisp, this package's @code{equalp} also will
835 not compare strings against vectors of integers.
836 @end defun
837
838 Also note that the Common Lisp functions @code{member} and @code{assoc}
839 use @code{eql} to compare elements, whereas Emacs Lisp follows the
840 MacLisp tradition and uses @code{equal} for these two functions.
841 In Emacs, use @code{member*} and @code{assoc*} to get functions
842 which use @code{eql} for comparisons.
843
844 @node Control Structure
845 @chapter Control Structure
846
847 @noindent
848 The features described in the following sections implement
849 various advanced control structures, including the powerful
850 @code{setf} facility and a number of looping and conditional
851 constructs.
852
853 @menu
854 * Assignment:: The @code{psetq} form
855 * Generalized Variables:: @code{setf}, @code{incf}, @code{push}, etc.
856 * Variable Bindings:: @code{progv}, @code{lexical-let}, @code{flet}, @code{macrolet}
857 * Conditionals:: @code{case}, @code{typecase}
858 * Blocks and Exits:: @code{block}, @code{return}, @code{return-from}
859 * Iteration:: @code{do}, @code{dotimes}, @code{dolist}, @code{do-symbols}
860 * Loop Facility:: The Common Lisp @code{loop} macro
861 * Multiple Values:: @code{values}, @code{multiple-value-bind}, etc.
862 @end menu
863
864 @node Assignment
865 @section Assignment
866
867 @noindent
868 The @code{psetq} form is just like @code{setq}, except that multiple
869 assignments are done in parallel rather than sequentially.
870
871 @defspec psetq [symbol form]@dots{}
872 This special form (actually a macro) is used to assign to several
873 variables simultaneously. Given only one @var{symbol} and @var{form},
874 it has the same effect as @code{setq}. Given several @var{symbol}
875 and @var{form} pairs, it evaluates all the @var{form}s in advance
876 and then stores the corresponding variables afterwards.
877
878 @example
879 (setq x 2 y 3)
880 (setq x (+ x y) y (* x y))
881 x
882 @result{} 5
883 y ; @r{@code{y} was computed after @code{x} was set.}
884 @result{} 15
885 (setq x 2 y 3)
886 (psetq x (+ x y) y (* x y))
887 x
888 @result{} 5
889 y ; @r{@code{y} was computed before @code{x} was set.}
890 @result{} 6
891 @end example
892
893 The simplest use of @code{psetq} is @code{(psetq x y y x)}, which
894 exchanges the values of two variables. (The @code{rotatef} form
895 provides an even more convenient way to swap two variables;
896 @pxref{Modify Macros}.)
897
898 @code{psetq} always returns @code{nil}.
899 @end defspec
900
901 @node Generalized Variables
902 @section Generalized Variables
903
904 @noindent
905 A ``generalized variable'' or ``place form'' is one of the many places
906 in Lisp memory where values can be stored. The simplest place form is
907 a regular Lisp variable. But the cars and cdrs of lists, elements
908 of arrays, properties of symbols, and many other locations are also
909 places where Lisp values are stored.
910
911 The @code{setf} form is like @code{setq}, except that it accepts
912 arbitrary place forms on the left side rather than just
913 symbols. For example, @code{(setf (car a) b)} sets the car of
914 @code{a} to @code{b}, doing the same operation as @code{(setcar a b)}
915 but without having to remember two separate functions for setting
916 and accessing every type of place.
917
918 Generalized variables are analogous to ``lvalues'' in the C
919 language, where @samp{x = a[i]} gets an element from an array
920 and @samp{a[i] = x} stores an element using the same notation.
921 Just as certain forms like @code{a[i]} can be lvalues in C, there
922 is a set of forms that can be generalized variables in Lisp.
923
924 @menu
925 * Basic Setf:: @code{setf} and place forms
926 * Modify Macros:: @code{incf}, @code{push}, @code{rotatef}, @code{letf}, @code{callf}, etc.
927 * Customizing Setf:: @code{define-modify-macro}, @code{defsetf}, @code{define-setf-method}
928 @end menu
929
930 @node Basic Setf
931 @subsection Basic Setf
932
933 @noindent
934 The @code{setf} macro is the most basic way to operate on generalized
935 variables.
936
937 @defspec setf [place form]@dots{}
938 This macro evaluates @var{form} and stores it in @var{place}, which
939 must be a valid generalized variable form. If there are several
940 @var{place} and @var{form} pairs, the assignments are done sequentially
941 just as with @code{setq}. @code{setf} returns the value of the last
942 @var{form}.
943
944 The following Lisp forms will work as generalized variables, and
945 so may appear in the @var{place} argument of @code{setf}:
946
947 @itemize @bullet
948 @item
949 A symbol naming a variable. In other words, @code{(setf x y)} is
950 exactly equivalent to @code{(setq x y)}, and @code{setq} itself is
951 strictly speaking redundant now that @code{setf} exists. Many
952 programmers continue to prefer @code{setq} for setting simple
953 variables, though, purely for stylistic or historical reasons.
954 The macro @code{(setf x y)} actually expands to @code{(setq x y)},
955 so there is no performance penalty for using it in compiled code.
956
957 @item
958 A call to any of the following Lisp functions:
959
960 @smallexample
961 car cdr caar .. cddddr
962 nth rest first .. tenth
963 aref elt nthcdr
964 symbol-function symbol-value symbol-plist
965 get get* getf
966 gethash subseq
967 @end smallexample
968
969 @noindent
970 Note that for @code{nthcdr} and @code{getf}, the list argument
971 of the function must itself be a valid @var{place} form. For
972 example, @code{(setf (nthcdr 0 foo) 7)} will set @code{foo} itself
973 to 7. Note that @code{push} and @code{pop} on an @code{nthcdr}
974 place can be used to insert or delete at any position in a list.
975 The use of @code{nthcdr} as a @var{place} form is an extension
976 to standard Common Lisp.
977
978 @item
979 The following Emacs-specific functions are also @code{setf}-able.
980
981 @smallexample
982 buffer-file-name marker-position
983 buffer-modified-p match-data
984 buffer-name mouse-position
985 buffer-string overlay-end
986 buffer-substring overlay-get
987 current-buffer overlay-start
988 current-case-table point
989 current-column point-marker
990 current-global-map point-max
991 current-input-mode point-min
992 current-local-map process-buffer
993 current-window-configuration process-filter
994 default-file-modes process-sentinel
995 default-value read-mouse-position
996 documentation-property screen-height
997 extent-data screen-menubar
998 extent-end-position screen-width
999 extent-start-position selected-window
1000 face-background selected-screen
1001 face-background-pixmap selected-frame
1002 face-font standard-case-table
1003 face-foreground syntax-table
1004 face-underline-p window-buffer
1005 file-modes window-dedicated-p
1006 frame-height window-display-table
1007 frame-parameters window-height
1008 frame-visible-p window-hscroll
1009 frame-width window-point
1010 get-register window-start
1011 getenv window-width
1012 global-key-binding x-get-secondary-selection
1013 keymap-parent x-get-selection
1014 local-key-binding
1015 mark
1016 mark-marker
1017 @end smallexample
1018
1019 Most of these have directly corresponding ``set'' functions, like
1020 @code{use-local-map} for @code{current-local-map}, or @code{goto-char}
1021 for @code{point}. A few, like @code{point-min}, expand to longer
1022 sequences of code when they are @code{setf}'d (@code{(narrow-to-region
1023 x (point-max))} in this case).
1024
1025 @item
1026 A call of the form @code{(substring @var{subplace} @var{n} [@var{m}])},
1027 where @var{subplace} is itself a valid generalized variable whose
1028 current value is a string, and where the value stored is also a
1029 string. The new string is spliced into the specified part of the
1030 destination string. For example:
1031
1032 @example
1033 (setq a (list "hello" "world"))
1034 @result{} ("hello" "world")
1035 (cadr a)
1036 @result{} "world"
1037 (substring (cadr a) 2 4)
1038 @result{} "rl"
1039 (setf (substring (cadr a) 2 4) "o")
1040 @result{} "o"
1041 (cadr a)
1042 @result{} "wood"
1043 a
1044 @result{} ("hello" "wood")
1045 @end example
1046
1047 The generalized variable @code{buffer-substring}, listed above,
1048 also works in this way by replacing a portion of the current buffer.
1049
1050 @item
1051 A call of the form @code{(apply '@var{func} @dots{})} or
1052 @code{(apply (function @var{func}) @dots{})}, where @var{func}
1053 is a @code{setf}-able function whose store function is ``suitable''
1054 in the sense described in Steele's book; since none of the standard
1055 Emacs place functions are suitable in this sense, this feature is
1056 only interesting when used with places you define yourself with
1057 @code{define-setf-method} or the long form of @code{defsetf}.
1058
1059 @item
1060 A macro call, in which case the macro is expanded and @code{setf}
1061 is applied to the resulting form.
1062
1063 @item
1064 Any form for which a @code{defsetf} or @code{define-setf-method}
1065 has been made.
1066 @end itemize
1067
1068 Using any forms other than these in the @var{place} argument to
1069 @code{setf} will signal an error.
1070
1071 The @code{setf} macro takes care to evaluate all subforms in
1072 the proper left-to-right order; for example,
1073
1074 @example
1075 (setf (aref vec (incf i)) i)
1076 @end example
1077
1078 @noindent
1079 looks like it will evaluate @code{(incf i)} exactly once, before the
1080 following access to @code{i}; the @code{setf} expander will insert
1081 temporary variables as necessary to ensure that it does in fact work
1082 this way no matter what setf-method is defined for @code{aref}.
1083 (In this case, @code{aset} would be used and no such steps would
1084 be necessary since @code{aset} takes its arguments in a convenient
1085 order.)
1086
1087 However, if the @var{place} form is a macro which explicitly
1088 evaluates its arguments in an unusual order, this unusual order
1089 will be preserved. Adapting an example from Steele, given
1090
1091 @example
1092 (defmacro wrong-order (x y) (list 'aref y x))
1093 @end example
1094
1095 @noindent
1096 the form @code{(setf (wrong-order @var{a} @var{b}) 17)} will
1097 evaluate @var{b} first, then @var{a}, just as in an actual call
1098 to @code{wrong-order}.
1099 @end defspec
1100
1101 @node Modify Macros
1102 @subsection Modify Macros
1103
1104 @noindent
1105 This package defines a number of other macros besides @code{setf}
1106 that operate on generalized variables. Many are interesting and
1107 useful even when the @var{place} is just a variable name.
1108
1109 @defspec psetf [place form]@dots{}
1110 This macro is to @code{setf} what @code{psetq} is to @code{setq}:
1111 When several @var{place}s and @var{form}s are involved, the
1112 assignments take place in parallel rather than sequentially.
1113 Specifically, all subforms are evaluated from left to right, then
1114 all the assignments are done (in an undefined order).
1115 @end defspec
1116
1117 @defspec incf place &optional x
1118 This macro increments the number stored in @var{place} by one, or
1119 by @var{x} if specified. The incremented value is returned. For
1120 example, @code{(incf i)} is equivalent to @code{(setq i (1+ i))}, and
1121 @code{(incf (car x) 2)} is equivalent to @code{(setcar x (+ (car x) 2))}.
1122
1123 Once again, care is taken to preserve the ``apparent'' order of
1124 evaluation. For example,
1125
1126 @example
1127 (incf (aref vec (incf i)))
1128 @end example
1129
1130 @noindent
1131 appears to increment @code{i} once, then increment the element of
1132 @code{vec} addressed by @code{i}; this is indeed exactly what it
1133 does, which means the above form is @emph{not} equivalent to the
1134 ``obvious'' expansion,
1135
1136 @example
1137 (setf (aref vec (incf i)) (1+ (aref vec (incf i)))) ; Wrong!
1138 @end example
1139
1140 @noindent
1141 but rather to something more like
1142
1143 @example
1144 (let ((temp (incf i)))
1145 (setf (aref vec temp) (1+ (aref vec temp))))
1146 @end example
1147
1148 @noindent
1149 Again, all of this is taken care of automatically by @code{incf} and
1150 the other generalized-variable macros.
1151
1152 As a more Emacs-specific example of @code{incf}, the expression
1153 @code{(incf (point) @var{n})} is essentially equivalent to
1154 @code{(forward-char @var{n})}.
1155 @end defspec
1156
1157 @defspec decf place &optional x
1158 This macro decrements the number stored in @var{place} by one, or
1159 by @var{x} if specified.
1160 @end defspec
1161
1162 @defspec pop place
1163 This macro removes and returns the first element of the list stored
1164 in @var{place}. It is analogous to @code{(prog1 (car @var{place})
1165 (setf @var{place} (cdr @var{place})))}, except that it takes care
1166 to evaluate all subforms only once.
1167 @end defspec
1168
1169 @defspec push x place
1170 This macro inserts @var{x} at the front of the list stored in
1171 @var{place}. It is analogous to @code{(setf @var{place} (cons
1172 @var{x} @var{place}))}, except for evaluation of the subforms.
1173 @end defspec
1174
1175 @defspec pushnew x place @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
1176 This macro inserts @var{x} at the front of the list stored in
1177 @var{place}, but only if @var{x} was not @code{eql} to any
1178 existing element of the list. The optional keyword arguments
1179 are interpreted in the same way as for @code{adjoin}.
1180 @xref{Lists as Sets}.
1181 @end defspec
1182
1183 @defspec shiftf place@dots{} newvalue
1184 This macro shifts the @var{place}s left by one, shifting in the
1185 value of @var{newvalue} (which may be any Lisp expression, not just
1186 a generalized variable), and returning the value shifted out of
1187 the first @var{place}. Thus, @code{(shiftf @var{a} @var{b} @var{c}
1188 @var{d})} is equivalent to
1189
1190 @example
1191 (prog1
1192 @var{a}
1193 (psetf @var{a} @var{b}
1194 @var{b} @var{c}
1195 @var{c} @var{d}))
1196 @end example
1197
1198 @noindent
1199 except that the subforms of @var{a}, @var{b}, and @var{c} are actually
1200 evaluated only once each and in the apparent order.
1201 @end defspec
1202
1203 @defspec rotatef place@dots{}
1204 This macro rotates the @var{place}s left by one in circular fashion.
1205 Thus, @code{(rotatef @var{a} @var{b} @var{c} @var{d})} is equivalent to
1206
1207 @example
1208 (psetf @var{a} @var{b}
1209 @var{b} @var{c}
1210 @var{c} @var{d}
1211 @var{d} @var{a})
1212 @end example
1213
1214 @noindent
1215 except for the evaluation of subforms. @code{rotatef} always
1216 returns @code{nil}. Note that @code{(rotatef @var{a} @var{b})}
1217 conveniently exchanges @var{a} and @var{b}.
1218 @end defspec
1219
1220 The following macros were invented for this package; they have no
1221 analogues in Common Lisp.
1222
1223 @defspec letf (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1224 This macro is analogous to @code{let}, but for generalized variables
1225 rather than just symbols. Each @var{binding} should be of the form
1226 @code{(@var{place} @var{value})}; the original contents of the
1227 @var{place}s are saved, the @var{value}s are stored in them, and
1228 then the body @var{form}s are executed. Afterwards, the @var{places}
1229 are set back to their original saved contents. This cleanup happens
1230 even if the @var{form}s exit irregularly due to a @code{throw} or an
1231 error.
1232
1233 For example,
1234
1235 @example
1236 (letf (((point) (point-min))
1237 (a 17))
1238 ...)
1239 @end example
1240
1241 @noindent
1242 moves ``point'' in the current buffer to the beginning of the buffer,
1243 and also binds @code{a} to 17 (as if by a normal @code{let}, since
1244 @code{a} is just a regular variable). After the body exits, @code{a}
1245 is set back to its original value and point is moved back to its
1246 original position.
1247
1248 Note that @code{letf} on @code{(point)} is not quite like a
1249 @code{save-excursion}, as the latter effectively saves a marker
1250 which tracks insertions and deletions in the buffer. Actually,
1251 a @code{letf} of @code{(point-marker)} is much closer to this
1252 behavior. (@code{point} and @code{point-marker} are equivalent
1253 as @code{setf} places; each will accept either an integer or a
1254 marker as the stored value.)
1255
1256 Since generalized variables look like lists, @code{let}'s shorthand
1257 of using @samp{foo} for @samp{(foo nil)} as a @var{binding} would
1258 be ambiguous in @code{letf} and is not allowed.
1259
1260 However, a @var{binding} specifier may be a one-element list
1261 @samp{(@var{place})}, which is similar to @samp{(@var{place}
1262 @var{place})}. In other words, the @var{place} is not disturbed
1263 on entry to the body, and the only effect of the @code{letf} is
1264 to restore the original value of @var{place} afterwards. (The
1265 redundant access-and-store suggested by the @code{(@var{place}
1266 @var{place})} example does not actually occur.)
1267
1268 In most cases, the @var{place} must have a well-defined value on
1269 entry to the @code{letf} form. The only exceptions are plain
1270 variables and calls to @code{symbol-value} and @code{symbol-function}.
1271 If the symbol is not bound on entry, it is simply made unbound by
1272 @code{makunbound} or @code{fmakunbound} on exit.
1273 @end defspec
1274
1275 @defspec letf* (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1276 This macro is to @code{letf} what @code{let*} is to @code{let}:
1277 It does the bindings in sequential rather than parallel order.
1278 @end defspec
1279
1280 @defspec callf @var{function} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{}
1281 This is the ``generic'' modify macro. It calls @var{function},
1282 which should be an unquoted function name, macro name, or lambda.
1283 It passes @var{place} and @var{args} as arguments, and assigns the
1284 result back to @var{place}. For example, @code{(incf @var{place}
1285 @var{n})} is the same as @code{(callf + @var{place} @var{n})}.
1286 Some more examples:
1287
1288 @example
1289 (callf abs my-number)
1290 (callf concat (buffer-name) "<" (int-to-string n) ">")
1291 (callf union happy-people (list joe bob) :test 'same-person)
1292 @end example
1293
1294 @xref{Customizing Setf}, for @code{define-modify-macro}, a way
1295 to create even more concise notations for modify macros. Note
1296 again that @code{callf} is an extension to standard Common Lisp.
1297 @end defspec
1298
1299 @defspec callf2 @var{function} @var{arg1} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{}
1300 This macro is like @code{callf}, except that @var{place} is
1301 the @emph{second} argument of @var{function} rather than the
1302 first. For example, @code{(push @var{x} @var{place})} is
1303 equivalent to @code{(callf2 cons @var{x} @var{place})}.
1304 @end defspec
1305
1306 The @code{callf} and @code{callf2} macros serve as building
1307 blocks for other macros like @code{incf}, @code{pushnew}, and
1308 @code{define-modify-macro}. The @code{letf} and @code{letf*}
1309 macros are used in the processing of symbol macros;
1310 @pxref{Macro Bindings}.
1311
1312 @node Customizing Setf
1313 @subsection Customizing Setf
1314
1315 @noindent
1316 Common Lisp defines three macros, @code{define-modify-macro},
1317 @code{defsetf}, and @code{define-setf-method}, that allow the
1318 user to extend generalized variables in various ways.
1319
1320 @defspec define-modify-macro name arglist function [doc-string]
1321 This macro defines a ``read-modify-write'' macro similar to
1322 @code{incf} and @code{decf}. The macro @var{name} is defined
1323 to take a @var{place} argument followed by additional arguments
1324 described by @var{arglist}. The call
1325
1326 @example
1327 (@var{name} @var{place} @var{args}...)
1328 @end example
1329
1330 @noindent
1331 will be expanded to
1332
1333 @example
1334 (callf @var{func} @var{place} @var{args}...)
1335 @end example
1336
1337 @noindent
1338 which in turn is roughly equivalent to
1339
1340 @example
1341 (setf @var{place} (@var{func} @var{place} @var{args}...))
1342 @end example
1343
1344 For example:
1345
1346 @example
1347 (define-modify-macro incf (&optional (n 1)) +)
1348 (define-modify-macro concatf (&rest args) concat)
1349 @end example
1350
1351 Note that @code{&key} is not allowed in @var{arglist}, but
1352 @code{&rest} is sufficient to pass keywords on to the function.
1353
1354 Most of the modify macros defined by Common Lisp do not exactly
1355 follow the pattern of @code{define-modify-macro}. For example,
1356 @code{push} takes its arguments in the wrong order, and @code{pop}
1357 is completely irregular. You can define these macros ``by hand''
1358 using @code{get-setf-method}, or consult the source file
1359 @file{cl-macs.el} to see how to use the internal @code{setf}
1360 building blocks.
1361 @end defspec
1362
1363 @defspec defsetf access-fn update-fn
1364 This is the simpler of two @code{defsetf} forms. Where
1365 @var{access-fn} is the name of a function which accesses a place,
1366 this declares @var{update-fn} to be the corresponding store
1367 function. From now on,
1368
1369 @example
1370 (setf (@var{access-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3}) @var{value})
1371 @end example
1372
1373 @noindent
1374 will be expanded to
1375
1376 @example
1377 (@var{update-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3} @var{value})
1378 @end example
1379
1380 @noindent
1381 The @var{update-fn} is required to be either a true function, or
1382 a macro which evaluates its arguments in a function-like way. Also,
1383 the @var{update-fn} is expected to return @var{value} as its result.
1384 Otherwise, the above expansion would not obey the rules for the way
1385 @code{setf} is supposed to behave.
1386
1387 As a special (non-Common-Lisp) extension, a third argument of @code{t}
1388 to @code{defsetf} says that the @code{update-fn}'s return value is
1389 not suitable, so that the above @code{setf} should be expanded to
1390 something more like
1391
1392 @example
1393 (let ((temp @var{value}))
1394 (@var{update-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3} temp)
1395 temp)
1396 @end example
1397
1398 Some examples of the use of @code{defsetf}, drawn from the standard
1399 suite of setf methods, are:
1400
1401 @example
1402 (defsetf car setcar)
1403 (defsetf symbol-value set)
1404 (defsetf buffer-name rename-buffer t)
1405 @end example
1406 @end defspec
1407
1408 @defspec defsetf access-fn arglist (store-var) forms@dots{}
1409 This is the second, more complex, form of @code{defsetf}. It is
1410 rather like @code{defmacro} except for the additional @var{store-var}
1411 argument. The @var{forms} should return a Lisp form which stores
1412 the value of @var{store-var} into the generalized variable formed
1413 by a call to @var{access-fn} with arguments described by @var{arglist}.
1414 The @var{forms} may begin with a string which documents the @code{setf}
1415 method (analogous to the doc string that appears at the front of a
1416 function).
1417
1418 For example, the simple form of @code{defsetf} is shorthand for
1419
1420 @example
1421 (defsetf @var{access-fn} (&rest args) (store)
1422 (append '(@var{update-fn}) args (list store)))
1423 @end example
1424
1425 The Lisp form that is returned can access the arguments from
1426 @var{arglist} and @var{store-var} in an unrestricted fashion;
1427 macros like @code{setf} and @code{incf} which invoke this
1428 setf-method will insert temporary variables as needed to make
1429 sure the apparent order of evaluation is preserved.
1430
1431 Another example drawn from the standard package:
1432
1433 @example
1434 (defsetf nth (n x) (store)
1435 (list 'setcar (list 'nthcdr n x) store))
1436 @end example
1437 @end defspec
1438
1439 @defspec define-setf-method access-fn arglist forms@dots{}
1440 This is the most general way to create new place forms. When
1441 a @code{setf} to @var{access-fn} with arguments described by
1442 @var{arglist} is expanded, the @var{forms} are evaluated and
1443 must return a list of five items:
1444
1445 @enumerate
1446 @item
1447 A list of @dfn{temporary variables}.
1448
1449 @item
1450 A list of @dfn{value forms} corresponding to the temporary variables
1451 above. The temporary variables will be bound to these value forms
1452 as the first step of any operation on the generalized variable.
1453
1454 @item
1455 A list of exactly one @dfn{store variable} (generally obtained
1456 from a call to @code{gensym}).
1457
1458 @item
1459 A Lisp form which stores the contents of the store variable into
1460 the generalized variable, assuming the temporaries have been
1461 bound as described above.
1462
1463 @item
1464 A Lisp form which accesses the contents of the generalized variable,
1465 assuming the temporaries have been bound.
1466 @end enumerate
1467
1468 This is exactly like the Common Lisp macro of the same name,
1469 except that the method returns a list of five values rather
1470 than the five values themselves, since Emacs Lisp does not
1471 support Common Lisp's notion of multiple return values.
1472
1473 Once again, the @var{forms} may begin with a documentation string.
1474
1475 A setf-method should be maximally conservative with regard to
1476 temporary variables. In the setf-methods generated by
1477 @code{defsetf}, the second return value is simply the list of
1478 arguments in the place form, and the first return value is a
1479 list of a corresponding number of temporary variables generated
1480 by @code{gensym}. Macros like @code{setf} and @code{incf} which
1481 use this setf-method will optimize away most temporaries that
1482 turn out to be unnecessary, so there is little reason for the
1483 setf-method itself to optimize.
1484 @end defspec
1485
1486 @defun get-setf-method place &optional env
1487 This function returns the setf-method for @var{place}, by
1488 invoking the definition previously recorded by @code{defsetf}
1489 or @code{define-setf-method}. The result is a list of five
1490 values as described above. You can use this function to build
1491 your own @code{incf}-like modify macros. (Actually, it is
1492 better to use the internal functions @code{cl-setf-do-modify}
1493 and @code{cl-setf-do-store}, which are a bit easier to use and
1494 which also do a number of optimizations; consult the source
1495 code for the @code{incf} function for a simple example.)
1496
1497 The argument @var{env} specifies the ``environment'' to be
1498 passed on to @code{macroexpand} if @code{get-setf-method} should
1499 need to expand a macro in @var{place}. It should come from
1500 an @code{&environment} argument to the macro or setf-method
1501 that called @code{get-setf-method}.
1502
1503 See also the source code for the setf-methods for @code{apply}
1504 and @code{substring}, each of which works by calling
1505 @code{get-setf-method} on a simpler case, then massaging
1506 the result in various ways.
1507 @end defun
1508
1509 Modern Common Lisp defines a second, independent way to specify
1510 the @code{setf} behavior of a function, namely ``@code{setf}
1511 functions'' whose names are lists @code{(setf @var{name})}
1512 rather than symbols. For example, @code{(defun (setf foo) @dots{})}
1513 defines the function that is used when @code{setf} is applied to
1514 @code{foo}. This package does not currently support @code{setf}
1515 functions. In particular, it is a compile-time error to use
1516 @code{setf} on a form which has not already been @code{defsetf}'d
1517 or otherwise declared; in newer Common Lisps, this would not be
1518 an error since the function @code{(setf @var{func})} might be
1519 defined later.
1520
1521 @iftex
1522 @secno=4
1523 @end iftex
1524
1525 @node Variable Bindings
1526 @section Variable Bindings
1527
1528 @noindent
1529 These Lisp forms make bindings to variables and function names,
1530 analogous to Lisp's built-in @code{let} form.
1531
1532 @xref{Modify Macros}, for the @code{letf} and @code{letf*} forms which
1533 are also related to variable bindings.
1534
1535 @menu
1536 * Dynamic Bindings:: The @code{progv} form
1537 * Lexical Bindings:: @code{lexical-let} and lexical closures
1538 * Function Bindings:: @code{flet} and @code{labels}
1539 * Macro Bindings:: @code{macrolet} and @code{symbol-macrolet}
1540 @end menu
1541
1542 @node Dynamic Bindings
1543 @subsection Dynamic Bindings
1544
1545 @noindent
1546 The standard @code{let} form binds variables whose names are known
1547 at compile-time. The @code{progv} form provides an easy way to
1548 bind variables whose names are computed at run-time.
1549
1550 @defspec progv symbols values forms@dots{}
1551 This form establishes @code{let}-style variable bindings on a
1552 set of variables computed at run-time. The expressions
1553 @var{symbols} and @var{values} are evaluated, and must return lists
1554 of symbols and values, respectively. The symbols are bound to the
1555 corresponding values for the duration of the body @var{form}s.
1556 If @var{values} is shorter than @var{symbols}, the last few symbols
1557 are made unbound (as if by @code{makunbound}) inside the body.
1558 If @var{symbols} is shorter than @var{values}, the excess values
1559 are ignored.
1560 @end defspec
1561
1562 @node Lexical Bindings
1563 @subsection Lexical Bindings
1564
1565 @noindent
1566 The @dfn{CL} package defines the following macro which
1567 more closely follows the Common Lisp @code{let} form:
1568
1569 @defspec lexical-let (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1570 This form is exactly like @code{let} except that the bindings it
1571 establishes are purely lexical. Lexical bindings are similar to
1572 local variables in a language like C: Only the code physically
1573 within the body of the @code{lexical-let} (after macro expansion)
1574 may refer to the bound variables.
1575
1576 @example
1577 (setq a 5)
1578 (defun foo (b) (+ a b))
1579 (let ((a 2)) (foo a))
1580 @result{} 4
1581 (lexical-let ((a 2)) (foo a))
1582 @result{} 7
1583 @end example
1584
1585 @noindent
1586 In this example, a regular @code{let} binding of @code{a} actually
1587 makes a temporary change to the global variable @code{a}, so @code{foo}
1588 is able to see the binding of @code{a} to 2. But @code{lexical-let}
1589 actually creates a distinct local variable @code{a} for use within its
1590 body, without any effect on the global variable of the same name.
1591
1592 The most important use of lexical bindings is to create @dfn{closures}.
1593 A closure is a function object that refers to an outside lexical
1594 variable. For example:
1595
1596 @example
1597 (defun make-adder (n)
1598 (lexical-let ((n n))
1599 (function (lambda (m) (+ n m)))))
1600 (setq add17 (make-adder 17))
1601 (funcall add17 4)
1602 @result{} 21
1603 @end example
1604
1605 @noindent
1606 The call @code{(make-adder 17)} returns a function object which adds
1607 17 to its argument. If @code{let} had been used instead of
1608 @code{lexical-let}, the function object would have referred to the
1609 global @code{n}, which would have been bound to 17 only during the
1610 call to @code{make-adder} itself.
1611
1612 @example
1613 (defun make-counter ()
1614 (lexical-let ((n 0))
1615 (function* (lambda (&optional (m 1)) (incf n m)))))
1616 (setq count-1 (make-counter))
1617 (funcall count-1 3)
1618 @result{} 3
1619 (funcall count-1 14)
1620 @result{} 17
1621 (setq count-2 (make-counter))
1622 (funcall count-2 5)
1623 @result{} 5
1624 (funcall count-1 2)
1625 @result{} 19
1626 (funcall count-2)
1627 @result{} 6
1628 @end example
1629
1630 @noindent
1631 Here we see that each call to @code{make-counter} creates a distinct
1632 local variable @code{n}, which serves as a private counter for the
1633 function object that is returned.
1634
1635 Closed-over lexical variables persist until the last reference to
1636 them goes away, just like all other Lisp objects. For example,
1637 @code{count-2} refers to a function object which refers to an
1638 instance of the variable @code{n}; this is the only reference
1639 to that variable, so after @code{(setq count-2 nil)} the garbage
1640 collector would be able to delete this instance of @code{n}.
1641 Of course, if a @code{lexical-let} does not actually create any
1642 closures, then the lexical variables are free as soon as the
1643 @code{lexical-let} returns.
1644
1645 Many closures are used only during the extent of the bindings they
1646 refer to; these are known as ``downward funargs'' in Lisp parlance.
1647 When a closure is used in this way, regular Emacs Lisp dynamic
1648 bindings suffice and will be more efficient than @code{lexical-let}
1649 closures:
1650
1651 @example
1652 (defun add-to-list (x list)
1653 (mapcar (lambda (y) (+ x y))) list)
1654 (add-to-list 7 '(1 2 5))
1655 @result{} (8 9 12)
1656 @end example
1657
1658 @noindent
1659 Since this lambda is only used while @code{x} is still bound,
1660 it is not necessary to make a true closure out of it.
1661
1662 You can use @code{defun} or @code{flet} inside a @code{lexical-let}
1663 to create a named closure. If several closures are created in the
1664 body of a single @code{lexical-let}, they all close over the same
1665 instance of the lexical variable.
1666
1667 The @code{lexical-let} form is an extension to Common Lisp. In
1668 true Common Lisp, all bindings are lexical unless declared otherwise.
1669 @end defspec
1670
1671 @defspec lexical-let* (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1672 This form is just like @code{lexical-let}, except that the bindings
1673 are made sequentially in the manner of @code{let*}.
1674 @end defspec
1675
1676 @node Function Bindings
1677 @subsection Function Bindings
1678
1679 @noindent
1680 These forms make @code{let}-like bindings to functions instead
1681 of variables.
1682
1683 @defspec flet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1684 This form establishes @code{let}-style bindings on the function
1685 cells of symbols rather than on the value cells. Each @var{binding}
1686 must be a list of the form @samp{(@var{name} @var{arglist}
1687 @var{forms}@dots{})}, which defines a function exactly as if
1688 it were a @code{defun*} form. The function @var{name} is defined
1689 accordingly for the duration of the body of the @code{flet}; then
1690 the old function definition, or lack thereof, is restored.
1691
1692 While @code{flet} in Common Lisp establishes a lexical binding of
1693 @var{name}, Emacs Lisp @code{flet} makes a dynamic binding. The
1694 result is that @code{flet} affects indirect calls to a function as
1695 well as calls directly inside the @code{flet} form itself.
1696
1697 You can use @code{flet} to disable or modify the behavior of a
1698 function in a temporary fashion. This will even work on Emacs
1699 primitives, although note that some calls to primitive functions
1700 internal to Emacs are made without going through the symbol's
1701 function cell, and so will not be affected by @code{flet}. For
1702 example,
1703
1704 @example
1705 (flet ((message (&rest args) (push args saved-msgs)))
1706 (do-something))
1707 @end example
1708
1709 This code attempts to replace the built-in function @code{message}
1710 with a function that simply saves the messages in a list rather
1711 than displaying them. The original definition of @code{message}
1712 will be restored after @code{do-something} exits. This code will
1713 work fine on messages generated by other Lisp code, but messages
1714 generated directly inside Emacs will not be caught since they make
1715 direct C-language calls to the message routines rather than going
1716 through the Lisp @code{message} function.
1717
1718 @c Bug#411.
1719 Also note that many primitives (e.g. @code{+}) have special byte-compile
1720 handling. Attempts to redefine such functions using @code{flet} will
1721 fail if byte-compiled. In such cases, use @code{labels} instead.
1722
1723 Functions defined by @code{flet} may use the full Common Lisp
1724 argument notation supported by @code{defun*}; also, the function
1725 body is enclosed in an implicit block as if by @code{defun*}.
1726 @xref{Program Structure}.
1727 @end defspec
1728
1729 @defspec labels (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1730 The @code{labels} form is like @code{flet}, except that it
1731 makes lexical bindings of the function names rather than
1732 dynamic bindings. (In true Common Lisp, both @code{flet} and
1733 @code{labels} make lexical bindings of slightly different sorts;
1734 since Emacs Lisp is dynamically bound by default, it seemed
1735 more appropriate for @code{flet} also to use dynamic binding.
1736 The @code{labels} form, with its lexical binding, is fully
1737 compatible with Common Lisp.)
1738
1739 Lexical scoping means that all references to the named
1740 functions must appear physically within the body of the
1741 @code{labels} form. References may appear both in the body
1742 @var{forms} of @code{labels} itself, and in the bodies of
1743 the functions themselves. Thus, @code{labels} can define
1744 local recursive functions, or mutually-recursive sets of
1745 functions.
1746
1747 A ``reference'' to a function name is either a call to that
1748 function, or a use of its name quoted by @code{quote} or
1749 @code{function} to be passed on to, say, @code{mapcar}.
1750 @end defspec
1751
1752 @node Macro Bindings
1753 @subsection Macro Bindings
1754
1755 @noindent
1756 These forms create local macros and ``symbol macros.''
1757
1758 @defspec macrolet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1759 This form is analogous to @code{flet}, but for macros instead of
1760 functions. Each @var{binding} is a list of the same form as the
1761 arguments to @code{defmacro*} (i.e., a macro name, argument list,
1762 and macro-expander forms). The macro is defined accordingly for
1763 use within the body of the @code{macrolet}.
1764
1765 Because of the nature of macros, @code{macrolet} is lexically
1766 scoped even in Emacs Lisp: The @code{macrolet} binding will
1767 affect only calls that appear physically within the body
1768 @var{forms}, possibly after expansion of other macros in the
1769 body.
1770 @end defspec
1771
1772 @defspec symbol-macrolet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1773 This form creates @dfn{symbol macros}, which are macros that look
1774 like variable references rather than function calls. Each
1775 @var{binding} is a list @samp{(@var{var} @var{expansion})};
1776 any reference to @var{var} within the body @var{forms} is
1777 replaced by @var{expansion}.
1778
1779 @example
1780 (setq bar '(5 . 9))
1781 (symbol-macrolet ((foo (car bar)))
1782 (incf foo))
1783 bar
1784 @result{} (6 . 9)
1785 @end example
1786
1787 A @code{setq} of a symbol macro is treated the same as a @code{setf}.
1788 I.e., @code{(setq foo 4)} in the above would be equivalent to
1789 @code{(setf foo 4)}, which in turn expands to @code{(setf (car bar) 4)}.
1790
1791 Likewise, a @code{let} or @code{let*} binding a symbol macro is
1792 treated like a @code{letf} or @code{letf*}. This differs from true
1793 Common Lisp, where the rules of lexical scoping cause a @code{let}
1794 binding to shadow a @code{symbol-macrolet} binding. In this package,
1795 only @code{lexical-let} and @code{lexical-let*} will shadow a symbol
1796 macro.
1797
1798 There is no analogue of @code{defmacro} for symbol macros; all symbol
1799 macros are local. A typical use of @code{symbol-macrolet} is in the
1800 expansion of another macro:
1801
1802 @example
1803 (defmacro* my-dolist ((x list) &rest body)
1804 (let ((var (gensym)))
1805 (list 'loop 'for var 'on list 'do
1806 (list* 'symbol-macrolet (list (list x (list 'car var)))
1807 body))))
1808
1809 (setq mylist '(1 2 3 4))
1810 (my-dolist (x mylist) (incf x))
1811 mylist
1812 @result{} (2 3 4 5)
1813 @end example
1814
1815 @noindent
1816 In this example, the @code{my-dolist} macro is similar to @code{dolist}
1817 (@pxref{Iteration}) except that the variable @code{x} becomes a true
1818 reference onto the elements of the list. The @code{my-dolist} call
1819 shown here expands to
1820
1821 @example
1822 (loop for G1234 on mylist do
1823 (symbol-macrolet ((x (car G1234)))
1824 (incf x)))
1825 @end example
1826
1827 @noindent
1828 which in turn expands to
1829
1830 @example
1831 (loop for G1234 on mylist do (incf (car G1234)))
1832 @end example
1833
1834 @xref{Loop Facility}, for a description of the @code{loop} macro.
1835 This package defines a nonstandard @code{in-ref} loop clause that
1836 works much like @code{my-dolist}.
1837 @end defspec
1838
1839 @node Conditionals
1840 @section Conditionals
1841
1842 @noindent
1843 These conditional forms augment Emacs Lisp's simple @code{if},
1844 @code{and}, @code{or}, and @code{cond} forms.
1845
1846 @defspec case keyform clause@dots{}
1847 This macro evaluates @var{keyform}, then compares it with the key
1848 values listed in the various @var{clause}s. Whichever clause matches
1849 the key is executed; comparison is done by @code{eql}. If no clause
1850 matches, the @code{case} form returns @code{nil}. The clauses are
1851 of the form
1852
1853 @example
1854 (@var{keylist} @var{body-forms}@dots{})
1855 @end example
1856
1857 @noindent
1858 where @var{keylist} is a list of key values. If there is exactly
1859 one value, and it is not a cons cell or the symbol @code{nil} or
1860 @code{t}, then it can be used by itself as a @var{keylist} without
1861 being enclosed in a list. All key values in the @code{case} form
1862 must be distinct. The final clauses may use @code{t} in place of
1863 a @var{keylist} to indicate a default clause that should be taken
1864 if none of the other clauses match. (The symbol @code{otherwise}
1865 is also recognized in place of @code{t}. To make a clause that
1866 matches the actual symbol @code{t}, @code{nil}, or @code{otherwise},
1867 enclose the symbol in a list.)
1868
1869 For example, this expression reads a keystroke, then does one of
1870 four things depending on whether it is an @samp{a}, a @samp{b},
1871 a @key{RET} or @kbd{C-j}, or anything else.
1872
1873 @example
1874 (case (read-char)
1875 (?a (do-a-thing))
1876 (?b (do-b-thing))
1877 ((?\r ?\n) (do-ret-thing))
1878 (t (do-other-thing)))
1879 @end example
1880 @end defspec
1881
1882 @defspec ecase keyform clause@dots{}
1883 This macro is just like @code{case}, except that if the key does
1884 not match any of the clauses, an error is signaled rather than
1885 simply returning @code{nil}.
1886 @end defspec
1887
1888 @defspec typecase keyform clause@dots{}
1889 This macro is a version of @code{case} that checks for types
1890 rather than values. Each @var{clause} is of the form
1891 @samp{(@var{type} @var{body}...)}. @xref{Type Predicates},
1892 for a description of type specifiers. For example,
1893
1894 @example
1895 (typecase x
1896 (integer (munch-integer x))
1897 (float (munch-float x))
1898 (string (munch-integer (string-to-int x)))
1899 (t (munch-anything x)))
1900 @end example
1901
1902 The type specifier @code{t} matches any type of object; the word
1903 @code{otherwise} is also allowed. To make one clause match any of
1904 several types, use an @code{(or ...)} type specifier.
1905 @end defspec
1906
1907 @defspec etypecase keyform clause@dots{}
1908 This macro is just like @code{typecase}, except that if the key does
1909 not match any of the clauses, an error is signaled rather than
1910 simply returning @code{nil}.
1911 @end defspec
1912
1913 @node Blocks and Exits
1914 @section Blocks and Exits
1915
1916 @noindent
1917 Common Lisp @dfn{blocks} provide a non-local exit mechanism very
1918 similar to @code{catch} and @code{throw}, but lexically rather than
1919 dynamically scoped. This package actually implements @code{block}
1920 in terms of @code{catch}; however, the lexical scoping allows the
1921 optimizing byte-compiler to omit the costly @code{catch} step if the
1922 body of the block does not actually @code{return-from} the block.
1923
1924 @defspec block name forms@dots{}
1925 The @var{forms} are evaluated as if by a @code{progn}. However,
1926 if any of the @var{forms} execute @code{(return-from @var{name})},
1927 they will jump out and return directly from the @code{block} form.
1928 The @code{block} returns the result of the last @var{form} unless
1929 a @code{return-from} occurs.
1930
1931 The @code{block}/@code{return-from} mechanism is quite similar to
1932 the @code{catch}/@code{throw} mechanism. The main differences are
1933 that block @var{name}s are unevaluated symbols, rather than forms
1934 (such as quoted symbols) which evaluate to a tag at run-time; and
1935 also that blocks are lexically scoped whereas @code{catch}/@code{throw}
1936 are dynamically scoped. This means that functions called from the
1937 body of a @code{catch} can also @code{throw} to the @code{catch},
1938 but the @code{return-from} referring to a block name must appear
1939 physically within the @var{forms} that make up the body of the block.
1940 They may not appear within other called functions, although they may
1941 appear within macro expansions or @code{lambda}s in the body. Block
1942 names and @code{catch} names form independent name-spaces.
1943
1944 In true Common Lisp, @code{defun} and @code{defmacro} surround
1945 the function or expander bodies with implicit blocks with the
1946 same name as the function or macro. This does not occur in Emacs
1947 Lisp, but this package provides @code{defun*} and @code{defmacro*}
1948 forms which do create the implicit block.
1949
1950 The Common Lisp looping constructs defined by this package,
1951 such as @code{loop} and @code{dolist}, also create implicit blocks
1952 just as in Common Lisp.
1953
1954 Because they are implemented in terms of Emacs Lisp @code{catch}
1955 and @code{throw}, blocks have the same overhead as actual
1956 @code{catch} constructs (roughly two function calls). However,
1957 the optimizing byte compiler will optimize away the @code{catch}
1958 if the block does
1959 not in fact contain any @code{return} or @code{return-from} calls
1960 that jump to it. This means that @code{do} loops and @code{defun*}
1961 functions which don't use @code{return} don't pay the overhead to
1962 support it.
1963 @end defspec
1964
1965 @defspec return-from name [result]
1966 This macro returns from the block named @var{name}, which must be
1967 an (unevaluated) symbol. If a @var{result} form is specified, it
1968 is evaluated to produce the result returned from the @code{block}.
1969 Otherwise, @code{nil} is returned.
1970 @end defspec
1971
1972 @defspec return [result]
1973 This macro is exactly like @code{(return-from nil @var{result})}.
1974 Common Lisp loops like @code{do} and @code{dolist} implicitly enclose
1975 themselves in @code{nil} blocks.
1976 @end defspec
1977
1978 @node Iteration
1979 @section Iteration
1980
1981 @noindent
1982 The macros described here provide more sophisticated, high-level
1983 looping constructs to complement Emacs Lisp's basic @code{while}
1984 loop.
1985
1986 @defspec loop forms@dots{}
1987 The @dfn{CL} package supports both the simple, old-style meaning of
1988 @code{loop} and the extremely powerful and flexible feature known as
1989 the @dfn{Loop Facility} or @dfn{Loop Macro}. This more advanced
1990 facility is discussed in the following section; @pxref{Loop Facility}.
1991 The simple form of @code{loop} is described here.
1992
1993 If @code{loop} is followed by zero or more Lisp expressions,
1994 then @code{(loop @var{exprs}@dots{})} simply creates an infinite
1995 loop executing the expressions over and over. The loop is
1996 enclosed in an implicit @code{nil} block. Thus,
1997
1998 @example
1999 (loop (foo) (if (no-more) (return 72)) (bar))
2000 @end example
2001
2002 @noindent
2003 is exactly equivalent to
2004
2005 @example
2006 (block nil (while t (foo) (if (no-more) (return 72)) (bar)))
2007 @end example
2008
2009 If any of the expressions are plain symbols, the loop is instead
2010 interpreted as a Loop Macro specification as described later.
2011 (This is not a restriction in practice, since a plain symbol
2012 in the above notation would simply access and throw away the
2013 value of a variable.)
2014 @end defspec
2015
2016 @defspec do (spec@dots{}) (end-test [result@dots{}]) forms@dots{}
2017 This macro creates a general iterative loop. Each @var{spec} is
2018 of the form
2019
2020 @example
2021 (@var{var} [@var{init} [@var{step}]])
2022 @end example
2023
2024 The loop works as follows: First, each @var{var} is bound to the
2025 associated @var{init} value as if by a @code{let} form. Then, in
2026 each iteration of the loop, the @var{end-test} is evaluated; if
2027 true, the loop is finished. Otherwise, the body @var{forms} are
2028 evaluated, then each @var{var} is set to the associated @var{step}
2029 expression (as if by a @code{psetq} form) and the next iteration
2030 begins. Once the @var{end-test} becomes true, the @var{result}
2031 forms are evaluated (with the @var{var}s still bound to their
2032 values) to produce the result returned by @code{do}.
2033
2034 The entire @code{do} loop is enclosed in an implicit @code{nil}
2035 block, so that you can use @code{(return)} to break out of the
2036 loop at any time.
2037
2038 If there are no @var{result} forms, the loop returns @code{nil}.
2039 If a given @var{var} has no @var{step} form, it is bound to its
2040 @var{init} value but not otherwise modified during the @code{do}
2041 loop (unless the code explicitly modifies it); this case is just
2042 a shorthand for putting a @code{(let ((@var{var} @var{init})) @dots{})}
2043 around the loop. If @var{init} is also omitted it defaults to
2044 @code{nil}, and in this case a plain @samp{@var{var}} can be used
2045 in place of @samp{(@var{var})}, again following the analogy with
2046 @code{let}.
2047
2048 This example (from Steele) illustrates a loop which applies the
2049 function @code{f} to successive pairs of values from the lists
2050 @code{foo} and @code{bar}; it is equivalent to the call
2051 @code{(mapcar* 'f foo bar)}. Note that this loop has no body
2052 @var{forms} at all, performing all its work as side effects of
2053 the rest of the loop.
2054
2055 @example
2056 (do ((x foo (cdr x))
2057 (y bar (cdr y))
2058 (z nil (cons (f (car x) (car y)) z)))
2059 ((or (null x) (null y))
2060 (nreverse z)))
2061 @end example
2062 @end defspec
2063
2064 @defspec do* (spec@dots{}) (end-test [result@dots{}]) forms@dots{}
2065 This is to @code{do} what @code{let*} is to @code{let}. In
2066 particular, the initial values are bound as if by @code{let*}
2067 rather than @code{let}, and the steps are assigned as if by
2068 @code{setq} rather than @code{psetq}.
2069
2070 Here is another way to write the above loop:
2071
2072 @example
2073 (do* ((xp foo (cdr xp))
2074 (yp bar (cdr yp))
2075 (x (car xp) (car xp))
2076 (y (car yp) (car yp))
2077 z)
2078 ((or (null xp) (null yp))
2079 (nreverse z))
2080 (push (f x y) z))
2081 @end example
2082 @end defspec
2083
2084 @defspec dolist (var list [result]) forms@dots{}
2085 This is a more specialized loop which iterates across the elements
2086 of a list. @var{list} should evaluate to a list; the body @var{forms}
2087 are executed with @var{var} bound to each element of the list in
2088 turn. Finally, the @var{result} form (or @code{nil}) is evaluated
2089 with @var{var} bound to @code{nil} to produce the result returned by
2090 the loop. Unlike with Emacs's built in @code{dolist}, the loop is
2091 surrounded by an implicit @code{nil} block.
2092 @end defspec
2093
2094 @defspec dotimes (var count [result]) forms@dots{}
2095 This is a more specialized loop which iterates a specified number
2096 of times. The body is executed with @var{var} bound to the integers
2097 from zero (inclusive) to @var{count} (exclusive), in turn. Then
2098 the @code{result} form is evaluated with @var{var} bound to the total
2099 number of iterations that were done (i.e., @code{(max 0 @var{count})})
2100 to get the return value for the loop form. Unlike with Emacs's built in
2101 @code{dolist}, the loop is surrounded by an implicit @code{nil} block.
2102 @end defspec
2103
2104 @defspec do-symbols (var [obarray [result]]) forms@dots{}
2105 This loop iterates over all interned symbols. If @var{obarray}
2106 is specified and is not @code{nil}, it loops over all symbols in
2107 that obarray. For each symbol, the body @var{forms} are evaluated
2108 with @var{var} bound to that symbol. The symbols are visited in
2109 an unspecified order. Afterward the @var{result} form, if any,
2110 is evaluated (with @var{var} bound to @code{nil}) to get the return
2111 value. The loop is surrounded by an implicit @code{nil} block.
2112 @end defspec
2113
2114 @defspec do-all-symbols (var [result]) forms@dots{}
2115 This is identical to @code{do-symbols} except that the @var{obarray}
2116 argument is omitted; it always iterates over the default obarray.
2117 @end defspec
2118
2119 @xref{Mapping over Sequences}, for some more functions for
2120 iterating over vectors or lists.
2121
2122 @node Loop Facility
2123 @section Loop Facility
2124
2125 @noindent
2126 A common complaint with Lisp's traditional looping constructs is
2127 that they are either too simple and limited, such as Common Lisp's
2128 @code{dotimes} or Emacs Lisp's @code{while}, or too unreadable and
2129 obscure, like Common Lisp's @code{do} loop.
2130
2131 To remedy this, recent versions of Common Lisp have added a new
2132 construct called the ``Loop Facility'' or ``@code{loop} macro,''
2133 with an easy-to-use but very powerful and expressive syntax.
2134
2135 @menu
2136 * Loop Basics:: @code{loop} macro, basic clause structure
2137 * Loop Examples:: Working examples of @code{loop} macro
2138 * For Clauses:: Clauses introduced by @code{for} or @code{as}
2139 * Iteration Clauses:: @code{repeat}, @code{while}, @code{thereis}, etc.
2140 * Accumulation Clauses:: @code{collect}, @code{sum}, @code{maximize}, etc.
2141 * Other Clauses:: @code{with}, @code{if}, @code{initially}, @code{finally}
2142 @end menu
2143
2144 @node Loop Basics
2145 @subsection Loop Basics
2146
2147 @noindent
2148 The @code{loop} macro essentially creates a mini-language within
2149 Lisp that is specially tailored for describing loops. While this
2150 language is a little strange-looking by the standards of regular Lisp,
2151 it turns out to be very easy to learn and well-suited to its purpose.
2152
2153 Since @code{loop} is a macro, all parsing of the loop language
2154 takes place at byte-compile time; compiled @code{loop}s are just
2155 as efficient as the equivalent @code{while} loops written longhand.
2156
2157 @defspec loop clauses@dots{}
2158 A loop construct consists of a series of @var{clause}s, each
2159 introduced by a symbol like @code{for} or @code{do}. Clauses
2160 are simply strung together in the argument list of @code{loop},
2161 with minimal extra parentheses. The various types of clauses
2162 specify initializations, such as the binding of temporary
2163 variables, actions to be taken in the loop, stepping actions,
2164 and final cleanup.
2165
2166 Common Lisp specifies a certain general order of clauses in a
2167 loop:
2168
2169 @example
2170 (loop @var{name-clause}
2171 @var{var-clauses}@dots{}
2172 @var{action-clauses}@dots{})
2173 @end example
2174
2175 The @var{name-clause} optionally gives a name to the implicit
2176 block that surrounds the loop. By default, the implicit block
2177 is named @code{nil}. The @var{var-clauses} specify what
2178 variables should be bound during the loop, and how they should
2179 be modified or iterated throughout the course of the loop. The
2180 @var{action-clauses} are things to be done during the loop, such
2181 as computing, collecting, and returning values.
2182
2183 The Emacs version of the @code{loop} macro is less restrictive about
2184 the order of clauses, but things will behave most predictably if
2185 you put the variable-binding clauses @code{with}, @code{for}, and
2186 @code{repeat} before the action clauses. As in Common Lisp,
2187 @code{initially} and @code{finally} clauses can go anywhere.
2188
2189 Loops generally return @code{nil} by default, but you can cause
2190 them to return a value by using an accumulation clause like
2191 @code{collect}, an end-test clause like @code{always}, or an
2192 explicit @code{return} clause to jump out of the implicit block.
2193 (Because the loop body is enclosed in an implicit block, you can
2194 also use regular Lisp @code{return} or @code{return-from} to
2195 break out of the loop.)
2196 @end defspec
2197
2198 The following sections give some examples of the Loop Macro in
2199 action, and describe the particular loop clauses in great detail.
2200 Consult the second edition of Steele's @dfn{Common Lisp, the Language},
2201 for additional discussion and examples of the @code{loop} macro.
2202
2203 @node Loop Examples
2204 @subsection Loop Examples
2205
2206 @noindent
2207 Before listing the full set of clauses that are allowed, let's
2208 look at a few example loops just to get a feel for the @code{loop}
2209 language.
2210
2211 @example
2212 (loop for buf in (buffer-list)
2213 collect (buffer-file-name buf))
2214 @end example
2215
2216 @noindent
2217 This loop iterates over all Emacs buffers, using the list
2218 returned by @code{buffer-list}. For each buffer @code{buf},
2219 it calls @code{buffer-file-name} and collects the results into
2220 a list, which is then returned from the @code{loop} construct.
2221 The result is a list of the file names of all the buffers in
2222 Emacs's memory. The words @code{for}, @code{in}, and @code{collect}
2223 are reserved words in the @code{loop} language.
2224
2225 @example
2226 (loop repeat 20 do (insert "Yowsa\n"))
2227 @end example
2228
2229 @noindent
2230 This loop inserts the phrase ``Yowsa'' twenty times in the
2231 current buffer.
2232
2233 @example
2234 (loop until (eobp) do (munch-line) (forward-line 1))
2235 @end example
2236
2237 @noindent
2238 This loop calls @code{munch-line} on every line until the end
2239 of the buffer. If point is already at the end of the buffer,
2240 the loop exits immediately.
2241
2242 @example
2243 (loop do (munch-line) until (eobp) do (forward-line 1))
2244 @end example
2245
2246 @noindent
2247 This loop is similar to the above one, except that @code{munch-line}
2248 is always called at least once.
2249
2250 @example
2251 (loop for x from 1 to 100
2252 for y = (* x x)
2253 until (>= y 729)
2254 finally return (list x (= y 729)))
2255 @end example
2256
2257 @noindent
2258 This more complicated loop searches for a number @code{x} whose
2259 square is 729. For safety's sake it only examines @code{x}
2260 values up to 100; dropping the phrase @samp{to 100} would
2261 cause the loop to count upwards with no limit. The second
2262 @code{for} clause defines @code{y} to be the square of @code{x}
2263 within the loop; the expression after the @code{=} sign is
2264 reevaluated each time through the loop. The @code{until}
2265 clause gives a condition for terminating the loop, and the
2266 @code{finally} clause says what to do when the loop finishes.
2267 (This particular example was written less concisely than it
2268 could have been, just for the sake of illustration.)
2269
2270 Note that even though this loop contains three clauses (two
2271 @code{for}s and an @code{until}) that would have been enough to
2272 define loops all by themselves, it still creates a single loop
2273 rather than some sort of triple-nested loop. You must explicitly
2274 nest your @code{loop} constructs if you want nested loops.
2275
2276 @node For Clauses
2277 @subsection For Clauses
2278
2279 @noindent
2280 Most loops are governed by one or more @code{for} clauses.
2281 A @code{for} clause simultaneously describes variables to be
2282 bound, how those variables are to be stepped during the loop,
2283 and usually an end condition based on those variables.
2284
2285 The word @code{as} is a synonym for the word @code{for}. This
2286 word is followed by a variable name, then a word like @code{from}
2287 or @code{across} that describes the kind of iteration desired.
2288 In Common Lisp, the phrase @code{being the} sometimes precedes
2289 the type of iteration; in this package both @code{being} and
2290 @code{the} are optional. The word @code{each} is a synonym
2291 for @code{the}, and the word that follows it may be singular
2292 or plural: @samp{for x being the elements of y} or
2293 @samp{for x being each element of y}. Which form you use
2294 is purely a matter of style.
2295
2296 The variable is bound around the loop as if by @code{let}:
2297
2298 @example
2299 (setq i 'happy)
2300 (loop for i from 1 to 10 do (do-something-with i))
2301 i
2302 @result{} happy
2303 @end example
2304
2305 @table @code
2306 @item for @var{var} from @var{expr1} to @var{expr2} by @var{expr3}
2307 This type of @code{for} clause creates a counting loop. Each of
2308 the three sub-terms is optional, though there must be at least one
2309 term so that the clause is marked as a counting clause.
2310
2311 The three expressions are the starting value, the ending value, and
2312 the step value, respectively, of the variable. The loop counts
2313 upwards by default (@var{expr3} must be positive), from @var{expr1}
2314 to @var{expr2} inclusively. If you omit the @code{from} term, the
2315 loop counts from zero; if you omit the @code{to} term, the loop
2316 counts forever without stopping (unless stopped by some other
2317 loop clause, of course); if you omit the @code{by} term, the loop
2318 counts in steps of one.
2319
2320 You can replace the word @code{from} with @code{upfrom} or
2321 @code{downfrom} to indicate the direction of the loop. Likewise,
2322 you can replace @code{to} with @code{upto} or @code{downto}.
2323 For example, @samp{for x from 5 downto 1} executes five times
2324 with @code{x} taking on the integers from 5 down to 1 in turn.
2325 Also, you can replace @code{to} with @code{below} or @code{above},
2326 which are like @code{upto} and @code{downto} respectively except
2327 that they are exclusive rather than inclusive limits:
2328
2329 @example
2330 (loop for x to 10 collect x)
2331 @result{} (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10)
2332 (loop for x below 10 collect x)
2333 @result{} (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9)
2334 @end example
2335
2336 The @code{by} value is always positive, even for downward-counting
2337 loops. Some sort of @code{from} value is required for downward
2338 loops; @samp{for x downto 5} is not a valid loop clause all by
2339 itself.
2340
2341 @item for @var{var} in @var{list} by @var{function}
2342 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the elements of @var{list},
2343 in turn. If you specify the @code{by} term, then @var{function}
2344 is used to traverse the list instead of @code{cdr}; it must be a
2345 function taking one argument. For example:
2346
2347 @example
2348 (loop for x in '(1 2 3 4 5 6) collect (* x x))
2349 @result{} (1 4 9 16 25 36)
2350 (loop for x in '(1 2 3 4 5 6) by 'cddr collect (* x x))
2351 @result{} (1 9 25)
2352 @end example
2353
2354 @item for @var{var} on @var{list} by @var{function}
2355 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the cons cells of @var{list}.
2356
2357 @example
2358 (loop for x on '(1 2 3 4) collect x)
2359 @result{} ((1 2 3 4) (2 3 4) (3 4) (4))
2360 @end example
2361
2362 With @code{by}, there is no real reason that the @code{on} expression
2363 must be a list. For example:
2364
2365 @example
2366 (loop for x on first-animal by 'next-animal collect x)
2367 @end example
2368
2369 @noindent
2370 where @code{(next-animal x)} takes an ``animal'' @var{x} and returns
2371 the next in the (assumed) sequence of animals, or @code{nil} if
2372 @var{x} was the last animal in the sequence.
2373
2374 @item for @var{var} in-ref @var{list} by @var{function}
2375 This is like a regular @code{in} clause, but @var{var} becomes
2376 a @code{setf}-able ``reference'' onto the elements of the list
2377 rather than just a temporary variable. For example,
2378
2379 @example
2380 (loop for x in-ref my-list do (incf x))
2381 @end example
2382
2383 @noindent
2384 increments every element of @code{my-list} in place. This clause
2385 is an extension to standard Common Lisp.
2386
2387 @item for @var{var} across @var{array}
2388 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the elements of @var{array},
2389 which may be a vector or a string.
2390
2391 @example
2392 (loop for x across "aeiou"
2393 do (use-vowel (char-to-string x)))
2394 @end example
2395
2396 @item for @var{var} across-ref @var{array}
2397 This clause iterates over an array, with @var{var} a @code{setf}-able
2398 reference onto the elements; see @code{in-ref} above.
2399
2400 @item for @var{var} being the elements of @var{sequence}
2401 This clause iterates over the elements of @var{sequence}, which may
2402 be a list, vector, or string. Since the type must be determined
2403 at run-time, this is somewhat less efficient than @code{in} or
2404 @code{across}. The clause may be followed by the additional term
2405 @samp{using (index @var{var2})} to cause @var{var2} to be bound to
2406 the successive indices (starting at 0) of the elements.
2407
2408 This clause type is taken from older versions of the @code{loop} macro,
2409 and is not present in modern Common Lisp. The @samp{using (sequence ...)}
2410 term of the older macros is not supported.
2411
2412 @item for @var{var} being the elements of-ref @var{sequence}
2413 This clause iterates over a sequence, with @var{var} a @code{setf}-able
2414 reference onto the elements; see @code{in-ref} above.
2415
2416 @item for @var{var} being the symbols [of @var{obarray}]
2417 This clause iterates over symbols, either over all interned symbols
2418 or over all symbols in @var{obarray}. The loop is executed with
2419 @var{var} bound to each symbol in turn. The symbols are visited in
2420 an unspecified order.
2421
2422 As an example,
2423
2424 @example
2425 (loop for sym being the symbols
2426 when (fboundp sym)
2427 when (string-match "^map" (symbol-name sym))
2428 collect sym)
2429 @end example
2430
2431 @noindent
2432 returns a list of all the functions whose names begin with @samp{map}.
2433
2434 The Common Lisp words @code{external-symbols} and @code{present-symbols}
2435 are also recognized but are equivalent to @code{symbols} in Emacs Lisp.
2436
2437 Due to a minor implementation restriction, it will not work to have
2438 more than one @code{for} clause iterating over symbols, hash tables,
2439 keymaps, overlays, or intervals in a given @code{loop}. Fortunately,
2440 it would rarely if ever be useful to do so. It @emph{is} valid to mix
2441 one of these types of clauses with other clauses like @code{for ... to}
2442 or @code{while}.
2443
2444 @item for @var{var} being the hash-keys of @var{hash-table}
2445 @itemx for @var{var} being the hash-values of @var{hash-table}
2446 This clause iterates over the entries in @var{hash-table} with
2447 @var{var} bound to each key, or value. A @samp{using} clause can bind
2448 a second variable to the opposite part.
2449
2450 @example
2451 (loop for k being the hash-keys of h
2452 using (hash-values v)
2453 do
2454 (message "key %S -> value %S" k v))
2455 @end example
2456
2457 @item for @var{var} being the key-codes of @var{keymap}
2458 @itemx for @var{var} being the key-bindings of @var{keymap}
2459 This clause iterates over the entries in @var{keymap}.
2460 The iteration does not enter nested keymaps but does enter inherited
2461 (parent) keymaps.
2462 A @code{using} clause can access both the codes and the bindings
2463 together.
2464
2465 @example
2466 (loop for c being the key-codes of (current-local-map)
2467 using (key-bindings b)
2468 do
2469 (message "key %S -> binding %S" c b))
2470 @end example
2471
2472
2473 @item for @var{var} being the key-seqs of @var{keymap}
2474 This clause iterates over all key sequences defined by @var{keymap}
2475 and its nested keymaps, where @var{var} takes on values which are
2476 vectors. The strings or vectors
2477 are reused for each iteration, so you must copy them if you wish to keep
2478 them permanently. You can add a @samp{using (key-bindings ...)}
2479 clause to get the command bindings as well.
2480
2481 @item for @var{var} being the overlays [of @var{buffer}] @dots{}
2482 This clause iterates over the ``overlays'' of a buffer
2483 (the clause @code{extents} is synonymous
2484 with @code{overlays}). If the @code{of} term is omitted, the current
2485 buffer is used.
2486 This clause also accepts optional @samp{from @var{pos}} and
2487 @samp{to @var{pos}} terms, limiting the clause to overlays which
2488 overlap the specified region.
2489
2490 @item for @var{var} being the intervals [of @var{buffer}] @dots{}
2491 This clause iterates over all intervals of a buffer with constant
2492 text properties. The variable @var{var} will be bound to conses
2493 of start and end positions, where one start position is always equal
2494 to the previous end position. The clause allows @code{of},
2495 @code{from}, @code{to}, and @code{property} terms, where the latter
2496 term restricts the search to just the specified property. The
2497 @code{of} term may specify either a buffer or a string.
2498
2499 @item for @var{var} being the frames
2500 This clause iterates over all Emacs frames. The clause @code{screens} is
2501 a synonym for @code{frames}. The frames are visited in
2502 @code{next-frame} order starting from @code{selected-frame}.
2503
2504 @item for @var{var} being the windows [of @var{frame}]
2505 This clause iterates over the windows (in the Emacs sense) of
2506 the current frame, or of the specified @var{frame}. It visits windows
2507 in @code{next-window} order starting from @code{selected-window}
2508 (or @code{frame-selected-window} if you specify @var{frame}).
2509 This clause treats the minibuffer window in the same way as
2510 @code{next-window} does. For greater flexibility, consider using
2511 @code{walk-windows} instead.
2512
2513 @item for @var{var} being the buffers
2514 This clause iterates over all buffers in Emacs. It is equivalent
2515 to @samp{for @var{var} in (buffer-list)}.
2516
2517 @item for @var{var} = @var{expr1} then @var{expr2}
2518 This clause does a general iteration. The first time through
2519 the loop, @var{var} will be bound to @var{expr1}. On the second
2520 and successive iterations it will be set by evaluating @var{expr2}
2521 (which may refer to the old value of @var{var}). For example,
2522 these two loops are effectively the same:
2523
2524 @example
2525 (loop for x on my-list by 'cddr do ...)
2526 (loop for x = my-list then (cddr x) while x do ...)
2527 @end example
2528
2529 Note that this type of @code{for} clause does not imply any sort
2530 of terminating condition; the above example combines it with a
2531 @code{while} clause to tell when to end the loop.
2532
2533 If you omit the @code{then} term, @var{expr1} is used both for
2534 the initial setting and for successive settings:
2535
2536 @example
2537 (loop for x = (random) when (> x 0) return x)
2538 @end example
2539
2540 @noindent
2541 This loop keeps taking random numbers from the @code{(random)}
2542 function until it gets a positive one, which it then returns.
2543 @end table
2544
2545 If you include several @code{for} clauses in a row, they are
2546 treated sequentially (as if by @code{let*} and @code{setq}).
2547 You can instead use the word @code{and} to link the clauses,
2548 in which case they are processed in parallel (as if by @code{let}
2549 and @code{psetq}).
2550
2551 @example
2552 (loop for x below 5 for y = nil then x collect (list x y))
2553 @result{} ((0 nil) (1 1) (2 2) (3 3) (4 4))
2554 (loop for x below 5 and y = nil then x collect (list x y))
2555 @result{} ((0 nil) (1 0) (2 1) (3 2) (4 3))
2556 @end example
2557
2558 @noindent
2559 In the first loop, @code{y} is set based on the value of @code{x}
2560 that was just set by the previous clause; in the second loop,
2561 @code{x} and @code{y} are set simultaneously so @code{y} is set
2562 based on the value of @code{x} left over from the previous time
2563 through the loop.
2564
2565 Another feature of the @code{loop} macro is @dfn{destructuring},
2566 similar in concept to the destructuring provided by @code{defmacro}.
2567 The @var{var} part of any @code{for} clause can be given as a list
2568 of variables instead of a single variable. The values produced
2569 during loop execution must be lists; the values in the lists are
2570 stored in the corresponding variables.
2571
2572 @example
2573 (loop for (x y) in '((2 3) (4 5) (6 7)) collect (+ x y))
2574 @result{} (5 9 13)
2575 @end example
2576
2577 In loop destructuring, if there are more values than variables
2578 the trailing values are ignored, and if there are more variables
2579 than values the trailing variables get the value @code{nil}.
2580 If @code{nil} is used as a variable name, the corresponding
2581 values are ignored. Destructuring may be nested, and dotted
2582 lists of variables like @code{(x . y)} are allowed, so for example
2583 to process an alist
2584
2585 @example
2586 (loop for (key . value) in '((a . 1) (b . 2))
2587 collect value)
2588 @result{} (1 2)
2589 @end example
2590
2591 @node Iteration Clauses
2592 @subsection Iteration Clauses
2593
2594 @noindent
2595 Aside from @code{for} clauses, there are several other loop clauses
2596 that control the way the loop operates. They might be used by
2597 themselves, or in conjunction with one or more @code{for} clauses.
2598
2599 @table @code
2600 @item repeat @var{integer}
2601 This clause simply counts up to the specified number using an
2602 internal temporary variable. The loops
2603
2604 @example
2605 (loop repeat (1+ n) do ...)
2606 (loop for temp to n do ...)
2607 @end example
2608
2609 @noindent
2610 are identical except that the second one forces you to choose
2611 a name for a variable you aren't actually going to use.
2612
2613 @item while @var{condition}
2614 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition (any Lisp
2615 expression) becomes @code{nil}. For example, the following two
2616 loops are equivalent, except for the implicit @code{nil} block
2617 that surrounds the second one:
2618
2619 @example
2620 (while @var{cond} @var{forms}@dots{})
2621 (loop while @var{cond} do @var{forms}@dots{})
2622 @end example
2623
2624 @item until @var{condition}
2625 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition is true,
2626 i.e., non-@code{nil}.
2627
2628 @item always @var{condition}
2629 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition is @code{nil}.
2630 Unlike @code{while}, it stops the loop using @code{return nil} so that
2631 the @code{finally} clauses are not executed. If all the conditions
2632 were non-@code{nil}, the loop returns @code{t}:
2633
2634 @example
2635 (if (loop for size in size-list always (> size 10))
2636 (some-big-sizes)
2637 (no-big-sizes))
2638 @end example
2639
2640 @item never @var{condition}
2641 This clause is like @code{always}, except that the loop returns
2642 @code{t} if any conditions were false, or @code{nil} otherwise.
2643
2644 @item thereis @var{condition}
2645 This clause stops the loop when the specified form is non-@code{nil};
2646 in this case, it returns that non-@code{nil} value. If all the
2647 values were @code{nil}, the loop returns @code{nil}.
2648 @end table
2649
2650 @node Accumulation Clauses
2651 @subsection Accumulation Clauses
2652
2653 @noindent
2654 These clauses cause the loop to accumulate information about the
2655 specified Lisp @var{form}. The accumulated result is returned
2656 from the loop unless overridden, say, by a @code{return} clause.
2657
2658 @table @code
2659 @item collect @var{form}
2660 This clause collects the values of @var{form} into a list. Several
2661 examples of @code{collect} appear elsewhere in this manual.
2662
2663 The word @code{collecting} is a synonym for @code{collect}, and
2664 likewise for the other accumulation clauses.
2665
2666 @item append @var{form}
2667 This clause collects lists of values into a result list using
2668 @code{append}.
2669
2670 @item nconc @var{form}
2671 This clause collects lists of values into a result list by
2672 destructively modifying the lists rather than copying them.
2673
2674 @item concat @var{form}
2675 This clause concatenates the values of the specified @var{form}
2676 into a string. (It and the following clause are extensions to
2677 standard Common Lisp.)
2678
2679 @item vconcat @var{form}
2680 This clause concatenates the values of the specified @var{form}
2681 into a vector.
2682
2683 @item count @var{form}
2684 This clause counts the number of times the specified @var{form}
2685 evaluates to a non-@code{nil} value.
2686
2687 @item sum @var{form}
2688 This clause accumulates the sum of the values of the specified
2689 @var{form}, which must evaluate to a number.
2690
2691 @item maximize @var{form}
2692 This clause accumulates the maximum value of the specified @var{form},
2693 which must evaluate to a number. The return value is undefined if
2694 @code{maximize} is executed zero times.
2695
2696 @item minimize @var{form}
2697 This clause accumulates the minimum value of the specified @var{form}.
2698 @end table
2699
2700 Accumulation clauses can be followed by @samp{into @var{var}} to
2701 cause the data to be collected into variable @var{var} (which is
2702 automatically @code{let}-bound during the loop) rather than an
2703 unnamed temporary variable. Also, @code{into} accumulations do
2704 not automatically imply a return value. The loop must use some
2705 explicit mechanism, such as @code{finally return}, to return
2706 the accumulated result.
2707
2708 It is valid for several accumulation clauses of the same type to
2709 accumulate into the same place. From Steele:
2710
2711 @example
2712 (loop for name in '(fred sue alice joe june)
2713 for kids in '((bob ken) () () (kris sunshine) ())
2714 collect name
2715 append kids)
2716 @result{} (fred bob ken sue alice joe kris sunshine june)
2717 @end example
2718
2719 @node Other Clauses
2720 @subsection Other Clauses
2721
2722 @noindent
2723 This section describes the remaining loop clauses.
2724
2725 @table @code
2726 @item with @var{var} = @var{value}
2727 This clause binds a variable to a value around the loop, but
2728 otherwise leaves the variable alone during the loop. The following
2729 loops are basically equivalent:
2730
2731 @example
2732 (loop with x = 17 do ...)
2733 (let ((x 17)) (loop do ...))
2734 (loop for x = 17 then x do ...)
2735 @end example
2736
2737 Naturally, the variable @var{var} might be used for some purpose
2738 in the rest of the loop. For example:
2739
2740 @example
2741 (loop for x in my-list with res = nil do (push x res)
2742 finally return res)
2743 @end example
2744
2745 This loop inserts the elements of @code{my-list} at the front of
2746 a new list being accumulated in @code{res}, then returns the
2747 list @code{res} at the end of the loop. The effect is similar
2748 to that of a @code{collect} clause, but the list gets reversed
2749 by virtue of the fact that elements are being pushed onto the
2750 front of @code{res} rather than the end.
2751
2752 If you omit the @code{=} term, the variable is initialized to
2753 @code{nil}. (Thus the @samp{= nil} in the above example is
2754 unnecessary.)
2755
2756 Bindings made by @code{with} are sequential by default, as if
2757 by @code{let*}. Just like @code{for} clauses, @code{with} clauses
2758 can be linked with @code{and} to cause the bindings to be made by
2759 @code{let} instead.
2760
2761 @item if @var{condition} @var{clause}
2762 This clause executes the following loop clause only if the specified
2763 condition is true. The following @var{clause} should be an accumulation,
2764 @code{do}, @code{return}, @code{if}, or @code{unless} clause.
2765 Several clauses may be linked by separating them with @code{and}.
2766 These clauses may be followed by @code{else} and a clause or clauses
2767 to execute if the condition was false. The whole construct may
2768 optionally be followed by the word @code{end} (which may be used to
2769 disambiguate an @code{else} or @code{and} in a nested @code{if}).
2770
2771 The actual non-@code{nil} value of the condition form is available
2772 by the name @code{it} in the ``then'' part. For example:
2773
2774 @example
2775 (setq funny-numbers '(6 13 -1))
2776 @result{} (6 13 -1)
2777 (loop for x below 10
2778 if (oddp x)
2779 collect x into odds
2780 and if (memq x funny-numbers) return (cdr it) end
2781 else
2782 collect x into evens
2783 finally return (vector odds evens))
2784 @result{} [(1 3 5 7 9) (0 2 4 6 8)]
2785 (setq funny-numbers '(6 7 13 -1))
2786 @result{} (6 7 13 -1)
2787 (loop <@r{same thing again}>)
2788 @result{} (13 -1)
2789 @end example
2790
2791 Note the use of @code{and} to put two clauses into the ``then''
2792 part, one of which is itself an @code{if} clause. Note also that
2793 @code{end}, while normally optional, was necessary here to make
2794 it clear that the @code{else} refers to the outermost @code{if}
2795 clause. In the first case, the loop returns a vector of lists
2796 of the odd and even values of @var{x}. In the second case, the
2797 odd number 7 is one of the @code{funny-numbers} so the loop
2798 returns early; the actual returned value is based on the result
2799 of the @code{memq} call.
2800
2801 @item when @var{condition} @var{clause}
2802 This clause is just a synonym for @code{if}.
2803
2804 @item unless @var{condition} @var{clause}
2805 The @code{unless} clause is just like @code{if} except that the
2806 sense of the condition is reversed.
2807
2808 @item named @var{name}
2809 This clause gives a name other than @code{nil} to the implicit
2810 block surrounding the loop. The @var{name} is the symbol to be
2811 used as the block name.
2812
2813 @item initially [do] @var{forms}...
2814 This keyword introduces one or more Lisp forms which will be
2815 executed before the loop itself begins (but after any variables
2816 requested by @code{for} or @code{with} have been bound to their
2817 initial values). @code{initially} clauses can appear anywhere;
2818 if there are several, they are executed in the order they appear
2819 in the loop. The keyword @code{do} is optional.
2820
2821 @item finally [do] @var{forms}...
2822 This introduces Lisp forms which will be executed after the loop
2823 finishes (say, on request of a @code{for} or @code{while}).
2824 @code{initially} and @code{finally} clauses may appear anywhere
2825 in the loop construct, but they are executed (in the specified
2826 order) at the beginning or end, respectively, of the loop.
2827
2828 @item finally return @var{form}
2829 This says that @var{form} should be executed after the loop
2830 is done to obtain a return value. (Without this, or some other
2831 clause like @code{collect} or @code{return}, the loop will simply
2832 return @code{nil}.) Variables bound by @code{for}, @code{with},
2833 or @code{into} will still contain their final values when @var{form}
2834 is executed.
2835
2836 @item do @var{forms}...
2837 The word @code{do} may be followed by any number of Lisp expressions
2838 which are executed as an implicit @code{progn} in the body of the
2839 loop. Many of the examples in this section illustrate the use of
2840 @code{do}.
2841
2842 @item return @var{form}
2843 This clause causes the loop to return immediately. The following
2844 Lisp form is evaluated to give the return value of the @code{loop}
2845 form. The @code{finally} clauses, if any, are not executed.
2846 Of course, @code{return} is generally used inside an @code{if} or
2847 @code{unless}, as its use in a top-level loop clause would mean
2848 the loop would never get to ``loop'' more than once.
2849
2850 The clause @samp{return @var{form}} is equivalent to
2851 @samp{do (return @var{form})} (or @code{return-from} if the loop
2852 was named). The @code{return} clause is implemented a bit more
2853 efficiently, though.
2854 @end table
2855
2856 While there is no high-level way to add user extensions to @code{loop}
2857 (comparable to @code{defsetf} for @code{setf}, say), this package
2858 does offer two properties called @code{cl-loop-handler} and
2859 @code{cl-loop-for-handler} which are functions to be called when
2860 a given symbol is encountered as a top-level loop clause or
2861 @code{for} clause, respectively. Consult the source code in
2862 file @file{cl-macs.el} for details.
2863
2864 This package's @code{loop} macro is compatible with that of Common
2865 Lisp, except that a few features are not implemented: @code{loop-finish}
2866 and data-type specifiers. Naturally, the @code{for} clauses which
2867 iterate over keymaps, overlays, intervals, frames, windows, and
2868 buffers are Emacs-specific extensions.
2869
2870 @node Multiple Values
2871 @section Multiple Values
2872
2873 @noindent
2874 Common Lisp functions can return zero or more results. Emacs Lisp
2875 functions, by contrast, always return exactly one result. This
2876 package makes no attempt to emulate Common Lisp multiple return
2877 values; Emacs versions of Common Lisp functions that return more
2878 than one value either return just the first value (as in
2879 @code{compiler-macroexpand}) or return a list of values (as in
2880 @code{get-setf-method}). This package @emph{does} define placeholders
2881 for the Common Lisp functions that work with multiple values, but
2882 in Emacs Lisp these functions simply operate on lists instead.
2883 The @code{values} form, for example, is a synonym for @code{list}
2884 in Emacs.
2885
2886 @defspec multiple-value-bind (var@dots{}) values-form forms@dots{}
2887 This form evaluates @var{values-form}, which must return a list of
2888 values. It then binds the @var{var}s to these respective values,
2889 as if by @code{let}, and then executes the body @var{forms}.
2890 If there are more @var{var}s than values, the extra @var{var}s
2891 are bound to @code{nil}. If there are fewer @var{var}s than
2892 values, the excess values are ignored.
2893 @end defspec
2894
2895 @defspec multiple-value-setq (var@dots{}) form
2896 This form evaluates @var{form}, which must return a list of values.
2897 It then sets the @var{var}s to these respective values, as if by
2898 @code{setq}. Extra @var{var}s or values are treated the same as
2899 in @code{multiple-value-bind}.
2900 @end defspec
2901
2902 The older Quiroz package attempted a more faithful (but still
2903 imperfect) emulation of Common Lisp multiple values. The old
2904 method ``usually'' simulated true multiple values quite well,
2905 but under certain circumstances would leave spurious return
2906 values in memory where a later, unrelated @code{multiple-value-bind}
2907 form would see them.
2908
2909 Since a perfect emulation is not feasible in Emacs Lisp, this
2910 package opts to keep it as simple and predictable as possible.
2911
2912 @node Macros
2913 @chapter Macros
2914
2915 @noindent
2916 This package implements the various Common Lisp features of
2917 @code{defmacro}, such as destructuring, @code{&environment},
2918 and @code{&body}. Top-level @code{&whole} is not implemented
2919 for @code{defmacro} due to technical difficulties.
2920 @xref{Argument Lists}.
2921
2922 Destructuring is made available to the user by way of the
2923 following macro:
2924
2925 @defspec destructuring-bind arglist expr forms@dots{}
2926 This macro expands to code which executes @var{forms}, with
2927 the variables in @var{arglist} bound to the list of values
2928 returned by @var{expr}. The @var{arglist} can include all
2929 the features allowed for @code{defmacro} argument lists,
2930 including destructuring. (The @code{&environment} keyword
2931 is not allowed.) The macro expansion will signal an error
2932 if @var{expr} returns a list of the wrong number of arguments
2933 or with incorrect keyword arguments.
2934 @end defspec
2935
2936 This package also includes the Common Lisp @code{define-compiler-macro}
2937 facility, which allows you to define compile-time expansions and
2938 optimizations for your functions.
2939
2940 @defspec define-compiler-macro name arglist forms@dots{}
2941 This form is similar to @code{defmacro}, except that it only expands
2942 calls to @var{name} at compile-time; calls processed by the Lisp
2943 interpreter are not expanded, nor are they expanded by the
2944 @code{macroexpand} function.
2945
2946 The argument list may begin with a @code{&whole} keyword and a
2947 variable. This variable is bound to the macro-call form itself,
2948 i.e., to a list of the form @samp{(@var{name} @var{args}@dots{})}.
2949 If the macro expander returns this form unchanged, then the
2950 compiler treats it as a normal function call. This allows
2951 compiler macros to work as optimizers for special cases of a
2952 function, leaving complicated cases alone.
2953
2954 For example, here is a simplified version of a definition that
2955 appears as a standard part of this package:
2956
2957 @example
2958 (define-compiler-macro member* (&whole form a list &rest keys)
2959 (if (and (null keys)
2960 (eq (car-safe a) 'quote)
2961 (not (floatp-safe (cadr a))))
2962 (list 'memq a list)
2963 form))
2964 @end example
2965
2966 @noindent
2967 This definition causes @code{(member* @var{a} @var{list})} to change
2968 to a call to the faster @code{memq} in the common case where @var{a}
2969 is a non-floating-point constant; if @var{a} is anything else, or
2970 if there are any keyword arguments in the call, then the original
2971 @code{member*} call is left intact. (The actual compiler macro
2972 for @code{member*} optimizes a number of other cases, including
2973 common @code{:test} predicates.)
2974 @end defspec
2975
2976 @defun compiler-macroexpand form
2977 This function is analogous to @code{macroexpand}, except that it
2978 expands compiler macros rather than regular macros. It returns
2979 @var{form} unchanged if it is not a call to a function for which
2980 a compiler macro has been defined, or if that compiler macro
2981 decided to punt by returning its @code{&whole} argument. Like
2982 @code{macroexpand}, it expands repeatedly until it reaches a form
2983 for which no further expansion is possible.
2984 @end defun
2985
2986 @xref{Macro Bindings}, for descriptions of the @code{macrolet}
2987 and @code{symbol-macrolet} forms for making ``local'' macro
2988 definitions.
2989
2990 @node Declarations
2991 @chapter Declarations
2992
2993 @noindent
2994 Common Lisp includes a complex and powerful ``declaration''
2995 mechanism that allows you to give the compiler special hints
2996 about the types of data that will be stored in particular variables,
2997 and about the ways those variables and functions will be used. This
2998 package defines versions of all the Common Lisp declaration forms:
2999 @code{declare}, @code{locally}, @code{proclaim}, @code{declaim},
3000 and @code{the}.
3001
3002 Most of the Common Lisp declarations are not currently useful in
3003 Emacs Lisp, as the byte-code system provides little opportunity
3004 to benefit from type information, and @code{special} declarations
3005 are redundant in a fully dynamically-scoped Lisp. A few
3006 declarations are meaningful when the optimizing byte
3007 compiler is being used, however. Under the earlier non-optimizing
3008 compiler, these declarations will effectively be ignored.
3009
3010 @defun proclaim decl-spec
3011 This function records a ``global'' declaration specified by
3012 @var{decl-spec}. Since @code{proclaim} is a function, @var{decl-spec}
3013 is evaluated and thus should normally be quoted.
3014 @end defun
3015
3016 @defspec declaim decl-specs@dots{}
3017 This macro is like @code{proclaim}, except that it takes any number
3018 of @var{decl-spec} arguments, and the arguments are unevaluated and
3019 unquoted. The @code{declaim} macro also puts an @code{(eval-when
3020 (compile load eval) ...)} around the declarations so that they will
3021 be registered at compile-time as well as at run-time. (This is vital,
3022 since normally the declarations are meant to influence the way the
3023 compiler treats the rest of the file that contains the @code{declaim}
3024 form.)
3025 @end defspec
3026
3027 @defspec declare decl-specs@dots{}
3028 This macro is used to make declarations within functions and other
3029 code. Common Lisp allows declarations in various locations, generally
3030 at the beginning of any of the many ``implicit @code{progn}s''
3031 throughout Lisp syntax, such as function bodies, @code{let} bodies,
3032 etc. Currently the only declaration understood by @code{declare}
3033 is @code{special}.
3034 @end defspec
3035
3036 @defspec locally declarations@dots{} forms@dots{}
3037 In this package, @code{locally} is no different from @code{progn}.
3038 @end defspec
3039
3040 @defspec the type form
3041 Type information provided by @code{the} is ignored in this package;
3042 in other words, @code{(the @var{type} @var{form})} is equivalent
3043 to @var{form}. Future versions of the optimizing byte-compiler may
3044 make use of this information.
3045
3046 For example, @code{mapcar} can map over both lists and arrays. It is
3047 hard for the compiler to expand @code{mapcar} into an in-line loop
3048 unless it knows whether the sequence will be a list or an array ahead
3049 of time. With @code{(mapcar 'car (the vector foo))}, a future
3050 compiler would have enough information to expand the loop in-line.
3051 For now, Emacs Lisp will treat the above code as exactly equivalent
3052 to @code{(mapcar 'car foo)}.
3053 @end defspec
3054
3055 Each @var{decl-spec} in a @code{proclaim}, @code{declaim}, or
3056 @code{declare} should be a list beginning with a symbol that says
3057 what kind of declaration it is. This package currently understands
3058 @code{special}, @code{inline}, @code{notinline}, @code{optimize},
3059 and @code{warn} declarations. (The @code{warn} declaration is an
3060 extension of standard Common Lisp.) Other Common Lisp declarations,
3061 such as @code{type} and @code{ftype}, are silently ignored.
3062
3063 @table @code
3064 @item special
3065 Since all variables in Emacs Lisp are ``special'' (in the Common
3066 Lisp sense), @code{special} declarations are only advisory. They
3067 simply tell the optimizing byte compiler that the specified
3068 variables are intentionally being referred to without being
3069 bound in the body of the function. The compiler normally emits
3070 warnings for such references, since they could be typographical
3071 errors for references to local variables.
3072
3073 The declaration @code{(declare (special @var{var1} @var{var2}))} is
3074 equivalent to @code{(defvar @var{var1}) (defvar @var{var2})} in the
3075 optimizing compiler, or to nothing at all in older compilers (which
3076 do not warn for non-local references).
3077
3078 In top-level contexts, it is generally better to write
3079 @code{(defvar @var{var})} than @code{(declaim (special @var{var}))},
3080 since @code{defvar} makes your intentions clearer. But the older
3081 byte compilers can not handle @code{defvar}s appearing inside of
3082 functions, while @code{(declare (special @var{var}))} takes care
3083 to work correctly with all compilers.
3084
3085 @item inline
3086 The @code{inline} @var{decl-spec} lists one or more functions
3087 whose bodies should be expanded ``in-line'' into calling functions
3088 whenever the compiler is able to arrange for it. For example,
3089 the Common Lisp function @code{cadr} is declared @code{inline}
3090 by this package so that the form @code{(cadr @var{x})} will
3091 expand directly into @code{(car (cdr @var{x}))} when it is called
3092 in user functions, for a savings of one (relatively expensive)
3093 function call.
3094
3095 The following declarations are all equivalent. Note that the
3096 @code{defsubst} form is a convenient way to define a function
3097 and declare it inline all at once.
3098
3099 @example
3100 (declaim (inline foo bar))
3101 (eval-when (compile load eval) (proclaim '(inline foo bar)))
3102 (defsubst foo (...) ...) ; instead of defun
3103 @end example
3104
3105 @strong{Please note:} this declaration remains in effect after the
3106 containing source file is done. It is correct to use it to
3107 request that a function you have defined should be inlined,
3108 but it is impolite to use it to request inlining of an external
3109 function.
3110
3111 In Common Lisp, it is possible to use @code{(declare (inline @dots{}))}
3112 before a particular call to a function to cause just that call to
3113 be inlined; the current byte compilers provide no way to implement
3114 this, so @code{(declare (inline @dots{}))} is currently ignored by
3115 this package.
3116
3117 @item notinline
3118 The @code{notinline} declaration lists functions which should
3119 not be inlined after all; it cancels a previous @code{inline}
3120 declaration.
3121
3122 @item optimize
3123 This declaration controls how much optimization is performed by
3124 the compiler. Naturally, it is ignored by the earlier non-optimizing
3125 compilers.
3126
3127 The word @code{optimize} is followed by any number of lists like
3128 @code{(speed 3)} or @code{(safety 2)}. Common Lisp defines several
3129 optimization ``qualities''; this package ignores all but @code{speed}
3130 and @code{safety}. The value of a quality should be an integer from
3131 0 to 3, with 0 meaning ``unimportant'' and 3 meaning ``very important.''
3132 The default level for both qualities is 1.
3133
3134 In this package, with the optimizing compiler, the
3135 @code{speed} quality is tied to the @code{byte-compile-optimize}
3136 flag, which is set to @code{nil} for @code{(speed 0)} and to
3137 @code{t} for higher settings; and the @code{safety} quality is
3138 tied to the @code{byte-compile-delete-errors} flag, which is
3139 set to @code{t} for @code{(safety 3)} and to @code{nil} for all
3140 lower settings. (The latter flag controls whether the compiler
3141 is allowed to optimize out code whose only side-effect could
3142 be to signal an error, e.g., rewriting @code{(progn foo bar)} to
3143 @code{bar} when it is not known whether @code{foo} will be bound
3144 at run-time.)
3145
3146 Note that even compiling with @code{(safety 0)}, the Emacs
3147 byte-code system provides sufficient checking to prevent real
3148 harm from being done. For example, barring serious bugs in
3149 Emacs itself, Emacs will not crash with a segmentation fault
3150 just because of an error in a fully-optimized Lisp program.
3151
3152 The @code{optimize} declaration is normally used in a top-level
3153 @code{proclaim} or @code{declaim} in a file; Common Lisp allows
3154 it to be used with @code{declare} to set the level of optimization
3155 locally for a given form, but this will not work correctly with the
3156 current version of the optimizing compiler. (The @code{declare}
3157 will set the new optimization level, but that level will not
3158 automatically be unset after the enclosing form is done.)
3159
3160 @item warn
3161 This declaration controls what sorts of warnings are generated
3162 by the byte compiler. Again, only the optimizing compiler
3163 generates warnings. The word @code{warn} is followed by any
3164 number of ``warning qualities,'' similar in form to optimization
3165 qualities. The currently supported warning types are
3166 @code{redefine}, @code{callargs}, @code{unresolved}, and
3167 @code{free-vars}; in the current system, a value of 0 will
3168 disable these warnings and any higher value will enable them.
3169 See the documentation for the optimizing byte compiler for details.
3170 @end table
3171
3172 @node Symbols
3173 @chapter Symbols
3174
3175 @noindent
3176 This package defines several symbol-related features that were
3177 missing from Emacs Lisp.
3178
3179 @menu
3180 * Property Lists:: @code{get*}, @code{remprop}, @code{getf}, @code{remf}
3181 * Creating Symbols:: @code{gensym}, @code{gentemp}
3182 @end menu
3183
3184 @node Property Lists
3185 @section Property Lists
3186
3187 @noindent
3188 These functions augment the standard Emacs Lisp functions @code{get}
3189 and @code{put} for operating on properties attached to symbols.
3190 There are also functions for working with property lists as
3191 first-class data structures not attached to particular symbols.
3192
3193 @defun get* symbol property &optional default
3194 This function is like @code{get}, except that if the property is
3195 not found, the @var{default} argument provides the return value.
3196 (The Emacs Lisp @code{get} function always uses @code{nil} as
3197 the default; this package's @code{get*} is equivalent to Common
3198 Lisp's @code{get}.)
3199
3200 The @code{get*} function is @code{setf}-able; when used in this
3201 fashion, the @var{default} argument is allowed but ignored.
3202 @end defun
3203
3204 @defun remprop symbol property
3205 This function removes the entry for @var{property} from the property
3206 list of @var{symbol}. It returns a true value if the property was
3207 indeed found and removed, or @code{nil} if there was no such property.
3208 (This function was probably omitted from Emacs originally because,
3209 since @code{get} did not allow a @var{default}, it was very difficult
3210 to distinguish between a missing property and a property whose value
3211 was @code{nil}; thus, setting a property to @code{nil} was close
3212 enough to @code{remprop} for most purposes.)
3213 @end defun
3214
3215 @defun getf place property &optional default
3216 This function scans the list @var{place} as if it were a property
3217 list, i.e., a list of alternating property names and values. If
3218 an even-numbered element of @var{place} is found which is @code{eq}
3219 to @var{property}, the following odd-numbered element is returned.
3220 Otherwise, @var{default} is returned (or @code{nil} if no default
3221 is given).
3222
3223 In particular,
3224
3225 @example
3226 (get sym prop) @equiv{} (getf (symbol-plist sym) prop)
3227 @end example
3228
3229 It is valid to use @code{getf} as a @code{setf} place, in which case
3230 its @var{place} argument must itself be a valid @code{setf} place.
3231 The @var{default} argument, if any, is ignored in this context.
3232 The effect is to change (via @code{setcar}) the value cell in the
3233 list that corresponds to @var{property}, or to cons a new property-value
3234 pair onto the list if the property is not yet present.
3235
3236 @example
3237 (put sym prop val) @equiv{} (setf (getf (symbol-plist sym) prop) val)
3238 @end example
3239
3240 The @code{get} and @code{get*} functions are also @code{setf}-able.
3241 The fact that @code{default} is ignored can sometimes be useful:
3242
3243 @example
3244 (incf (get* 'foo 'usage-count 0))
3245 @end example
3246
3247 Here, symbol @code{foo}'s @code{usage-count} property is incremented
3248 if it exists, or set to 1 (an incremented 0) otherwise.
3249
3250 When not used as a @code{setf} form, @code{getf} is just a regular
3251 function and its @var{place} argument can actually be any Lisp
3252 expression.
3253 @end defun
3254
3255 @defspec remf place property
3256 This macro removes the property-value pair for @var{property} from
3257 the property list stored at @var{place}, which is any @code{setf}-able
3258 place expression. It returns true if the property was found. Note
3259 that if @var{property} happens to be first on the list, this will
3260 effectively do a @code{(setf @var{place} (cddr @var{place}))},
3261 whereas if it occurs later, this simply uses @code{setcdr} to splice
3262 out the property and value cells.
3263 @end defspec
3264
3265 @iftex
3266 @secno=2
3267 @end iftex
3268
3269 @node Creating Symbols
3270 @section Creating Symbols
3271
3272 @noindent
3273 These functions create unique symbols, typically for use as
3274 temporary variables.
3275
3276 @defun gensym &optional x
3277 This function creates a new, uninterned symbol (using @code{make-symbol})
3278 with a unique name. (The name of an uninterned symbol is relevant
3279 only if the symbol is printed.) By default, the name is generated
3280 from an increasing sequence of numbers, @samp{G1000}, @samp{G1001},
3281 @samp{G1002}, etc. If the optional argument @var{x} is a string, that
3282 string is used as a prefix instead of @samp{G}. Uninterned symbols
3283 are used in macro expansions for temporary variables, to ensure that
3284 their names will not conflict with ``real'' variables in the user's
3285 code.
3286 @end defun
3287
3288 @defvar *gensym-counter*
3289 This variable holds the counter used to generate @code{gensym} names.
3290 It is incremented after each use by @code{gensym}. In Common Lisp
3291 this is initialized with 0, but this package initializes it with a
3292 random (time-dependent) value to avoid trouble when two files that
3293 each used @code{gensym} in their compilation are loaded together.
3294 (Uninterned symbols become interned when the compiler writes them
3295 out to a file and the Emacs loader loads them, so their names have to
3296 be treated a bit more carefully than in Common Lisp where uninterned
3297 symbols remain uninterned after loading.)
3298 @end defvar
3299
3300 @defun gentemp &optional x
3301 This function is like @code{gensym}, except that it produces a new
3302 @emph{interned} symbol. If the symbol that is generated already
3303 exists, the function keeps incrementing the counter and trying
3304 again until a new symbol is generated.
3305 @end defun
3306
3307 The Quiroz @file{cl.el} package also defined a @code{defkeyword}
3308 form for creating self-quoting keyword symbols. This package
3309 automatically creates all keywords that are called for by
3310 @code{&key} argument specifiers, and discourages the use of
3311 keywords as data unrelated to keyword arguments, so the
3312 @code{defkeyword} form has been discontinued.
3313
3314 @node Numbers
3315 @chapter Numbers
3316
3317 @noindent
3318 This section defines a few simple Common Lisp operations on numbers
3319 which were left out of Emacs Lisp.
3320
3321 @menu
3322 * Predicates on Numbers:: @code{plusp}, @code{oddp}, @code{floatp-safe}, etc.
3323 * Numerical Functions:: @code{abs}, @code{floor*}, etc.
3324 * Random Numbers:: @code{random*}, @code{make-random-state}
3325 * Implementation Parameters:: @code{most-positive-float}
3326 @end menu
3327
3328 @iftex
3329 @secno=1
3330 @end iftex
3331
3332 @node Predicates on Numbers
3333 @section Predicates on Numbers
3334
3335 @noindent
3336 These functions return @code{t} if the specified condition is
3337 true of the numerical argument, or @code{nil} otherwise.
3338
3339 @defun plusp number
3340 This predicate tests whether @var{number} is positive. It is an
3341 error if the argument is not a number.
3342 @end defun
3343
3344 @defun minusp number
3345 This predicate tests whether @var{number} is negative. It is an
3346 error if the argument is not a number.
3347 @end defun
3348
3349 @defun oddp integer
3350 This predicate tests whether @var{integer} is odd. It is an
3351 error if the argument is not an integer.
3352 @end defun
3353
3354 @defun evenp integer
3355 This predicate tests whether @var{integer} is even. It is an
3356 error if the argument is not an integer.
3357 @end defun
3358
3359 @defun floatp-safe object
3360 This predicate tests whether @var{object} is a floating-point
3361 number. On systems that support floating-point, this is equivalent
3362 to @code{floatp}. On other systems, this always returns @code{nil}.
3363 @end defun
3364
3365 @iftex
3366 @secno=3
3367 @end iftex
3368
3369 @node Numerical Functions
3370 @section Numerical Functions
3371
3372 @noindent
3373 These functions perform various arithmetic operations on numbers.
3374
3375 @defun gcd &rest integers
3376 This function returns the Greatest Common Divisor of the arguments.
3377 For one argument, it returns the absolute value of that argument.
3378 For zero arguments, it returns zero.
3379 @end defun
3380
3381 @defun lcm &rest integers
3382 This function returns the Least Common Multiple of the arguments.
3383 For one argument, it returns the absolute value of that argument.
3384 For zero arguments, it returns one.
3385 @end defun
3386
3387 @defun isqrt integer
3388 This function computes the ``integer square root'' of its integer
3389 argument, i.e., the greatest integer less than or equal to the true
3390 square root of the argument.
3391 @end defun
3392
3393 @defun floor* number &optional divisor
3394 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{floor} function.
3395 It is called @code{floor*} to avoid name conflicts with the
3396 simpler @code{floor} function built-in to Emacs.
3397
3398 With one argument, @code{floor*} returns a list of two numbers:
3399 The argument rounded down (toward minus infinity) to an integer,
3400 and the ``remainder'' which would have to be added back to the
3401 first return value to yield the argument again. If the argument
3402 is an integer @var{x}, the result is always the list @code{(@var{x} 0)}.
3403 If the argument is a floating-point number, the first
3404 result is a Lisp integer and the second is a Lisp float between
3405 0 (inclusive) and 1 (exclusive).
3406
3407 With two arguments, @code{floor*} divides @var{number} by
3408 @var{divisor}, and returns the floor of the quotient and the
3409 corresponding remainder as a list of two numbers. If
3410 @code{(floor* @var{x} @var{y})} returns @code{(@var{q} @var{r})},
3411 then @code{@var{q}*@var{y} + @var{r} = @var{x}}, with @var{r}
3412 between 0 (inclusive) and @var{r} (exclusive). Also, note
3413 that @code{(floor* @var{x})} is exactly equivalent to
3414 @code{(floor* @var{x} 1)}.
3415
3416 This function is entirely compatible with Common Lisp's @code{floor}
3417 function, except that it returns the two results in a list since
3418 Emacs Lisp does not support multiple-valued functions.
3419 @end defun
3420
3421 @defun ceiling* number &optional divisor
3422 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{ceiling} function,
3423 which is analogous to @code{floor} except that it rounds the
3424 argument or quotient of the arguments up toward plus infinity.
3425 The remainder will be between 0 and minus @var{r}.
3426 @end defun
3427
3428 @defun truncate* number &optional divisor
3429 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{truncate} function,
3430 which is analogous to @code{floor} except that it rounds the
3431 argument or quotient of the arguments toward zero. Thus it is
3432 equivalent to @code{floor*} if the argument or quotient is
3433 positive, or to @code{ceiling*} otherwise. The remainder has
3434 the same sign as @var{number}.
3435 @end defun
3436
3437 @defun round* number &optional divisor
3438 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{round} function,
3439 which is analogous to @code{floor} except that it rounds the
3440 argument or quotient of the arguments to the nearest integer.
3441 In the case of a tie (the argument or quotient is exactly
3442 halfway between two integers), it rounds to the even integer.
3443 @end defun
3444
3445 @defun mod* number divisor
3446 This function returns the same value as the second return value
3447 of @code{floor}.
3448 @end defun
3449
3450 @defun rem* number divisor
3451 This function returns the same value as the second return value
3452 of @code{truncate}.
3453 @end defun
3454
3455 These definitions are compatible with those in the Quiroz
3456 @file{cl.el} package, except that this package appends @samp{*}
3457 to certain function names to avoid conflicts with existing
3458 Emacs functions, and that the mechanism for returning
3459 multiple values is different.
3460
3461 @iftex
3462 @secno=8
3463 @end iftex
3464
3465 @node Random Numbers
3466 @section Random Numbers
3467
3468 @noindent
3469 This package also provides an implementation of the Common Lisp
3470 random number generator. It uses its own additive-congruential
3471 algorithm, which is much more likely to give statistically clean
3472 random numbers than the simple generators supplied by many
3473 operating systems.
3474
3475 @defun random* number &optional state
3476 This function returns a random nonnegative number less than
3477 @var{number}, and of the same type (either integer or floating-point).
3478 The @var{state} argument should be a @code{random-state} object
3479 which holds the state of the random number generator. The
3480 function modifies this state object as a side effect. If
3481 @var{state} is omitted, it defaults to the variable
3482 @code{*random-state*}, which contains a pre-initialized
3483 @code{random-state} object.
3484 @end defun
3485
3486 @defvar *random-state*
3487 This variable contains the system ``default'' @code{random-state}
3488 object, used for calls to @code{random*} that do not specify an
3489 alternative state object. Since any number of programs in the
3490 Emacs process may be accessing @code{*random-state*} in interleaved
3491 fashion, the sequence generated from this variable will be
3492 irreproducible for all intents and purposes.
3493 @end defvar
3494
3495 @defun make-random-state &optional state
3496 This function creates or copies a @code{random-state} object.
3497 If @var{state} is omitted or @code{nil}, it returns a new copy of
3498 @code{*random-state*}. This is a copy in the sense that future
3499 sequences of calls to @code{(random* @var{n})} and
3500 @code{(random* @var{n} @var{s})} (where @var{s} is the new
3501 random-state object) will return identical sequences of random
3502 numbers.
3503
3504 If @var{state} is a @code{random-state} object, this function
3505 returns a copy of that object. If @var{state} is @code{t}, this
3506 function returns a new @code{random-state} object seeded from the
3507 date and time. As an extension to Common Lisp, @var{state} may also
3508 be an integer in which case the new object is seeded from that
3509 integer; each different integer seed will result in a completely
3510 different sequence of random numbers.
3511
3512 It is valid to print a @code{random-state} object to a buffer or
3513 file and later read it back with @code{read}. If a program wishes
3514 to use a sequence of pseudo-random numbers which can be reproduced
3515 later for debugging, it can call @code{(make-random-state t)} to
3516 get a new sequence, then print this sequence to a file. When the
3517 program is later rerun, it can read the original run's random-state
3518 from the file.
3519 @end defun
3520
3521 @defun random-state-p object
3522 This predicate returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a
3523 @code{random-state} object, or @code{nil} otherwise.
3524 @end defun
3525
3526 @node Implementation Parameters
3527 @section Implementation Parameters
3528
3529 @noindent
3530 This package defines several useful constants having to with numbers.
3531
3532 The following parameters have to do with floating-point numbers.
3533 This package determines their values by exercising the computer's
3534 floating-point arithmetic in various ways. Because this operation
3535 might be slow, the code for initializing them is kept in a separate
3536 function that must be called before the parameters can be used.
3537
3538 @defun cl-float-limits
3539 This function makes sure that the Common Lisp floating-point parameters
3540 like @code{most-positive-float} have been initialized. Until it is
3541 called, these parameters will be @code{nil}. If this version of Emacs
3542 does not support floats, the parameters will remain @code{nil}. If the
3543 parameters have already been initialized, the function returns
3544 immediately.
3545
3546 The algorithm makes assumptions that will be valid for most modern
3547 machines, but will fail if the machine's arithmetic is extremely
3548 unusual, e.g., decimal.
3549 @end defun
3550
3551 Since true Common Lisp supports up to four different floating-point
3552 precisions, it has families of constants like
3553 @code{most-positive-single-float}, @code{most-positive-double-float},
3554 @code{most-positive-long-float}, and so on. Emacs has only one
3555 floating-point precision, so this package omits the precision word
3556 from the constants' names.
3557
3558 @defvar most-positive-float
3559 This constant equals the largest value a Lisp float can hold.
3560 For those systems whose arithmetic supports infinities, this is
3561 the largest @emph{finite} value. For IEEE machines, the value
3562 is approximately @code{1.79e+308}.
3563 @end defvar
3564
3565 @defvar most-negative-float
3566 This constant equals the most-negative value a Lisp float can hold.
3567 (It is assumed to be equal to @code{(- most-positive-float)}.)
3568 @end defvar
3569
3570 @defvar least-positive-float
3571 This constant equals the smallest Lisp float value greater than zero.
3572 For IEEE machines, it is about @code{4.94e-324} if denormals are
3573 supported or @code{2.22e-308} if not.
3574 @end defvar
3575
3576 @defvar least-positive-normalized-float
3577 This constant equals the smallest @emph{normalized} Lisp float greater
3578 than zero, i.e., the smallest value for which IEEE denormalization
3579 will not result in a loss of precision. For IEEE machines, this
3580 value is about @code{2.22e-308}. For machines that do not support
3581 the concept of denormalization and gradual underflow, this constant
3582 will always equal @code{least-positive-float}.
3583 @end defvar
3584
3585 @defvar least-negative-float
3586 This constant is the negative counterpart of @code{least-positive-float}.
3587 @end defvar
3588
3589 @defvar least-negative-normalized-float
3590 This constant is the negative counterpart of
3591 @code{least-positive-normalized-float}.
3592 @end defvar
3593
3594 @defvar float-epsilon
3595 This constant is the smallest positive Lisp float that can be added
3596 to 1.0 to produce a distinct value. Adding a smaller number to 1.0
3597 will yield 1.0 again due to roundoff. For IEEE machines, epsilon
3598 is about @code{2.22e-16}.
3599 @end defvar
3600
3601 @defvar float-negative-epsilon
3602 This is the smallest positive value that can be subtracted from
3603 1.0 to produce a distinct value. For IEEE machines, it is about
3604 @code{1.11e-16}.
3605 @end defvar
3606
3607 @node Sequences
3608 @chapter Sequences
3609
3610 @noindent
3611 Common Lisp defines a number of functions that operate on
3612 @dfn{sequences}, which are either lists, strings, or vectors.
3613 Emacs Lisp includes a few of these, notably @code{elt} and
3614 @code{length}; this package defines most of the rest.
3615
3616 @menu
3617 * Sequence Basics:: Arguments shared by all sequence functions
3618 * Mapping over Sequences:: @code{mapcar*}, @code{mapcan}, @code{map}, @code{every}, etc.
3619 * Sequence Functions:: @code{subseq}, @code{remove*}, @code{substitute}, etc.
3620 * Searching Sequences:: @code{find}, @code{position}, @code{count}, @code{search}, etc.
3621 * Sorting Sequences:: @code{sort*}, @code{stable-sort}, @code{merge}
3622 @end menu
3623
3624 @node Sequence Basics
3625 @section Sequence Basics
3626
3627 @noindent
3628 Many of the sequence functions take keyword arguments; @pxref{Argument
3629 Lists}. All keyword arguments are optional and, if specified,
3630 may appear in any order.
3631
3632 The @code{:key} argument should be passed either @code{nil}, or a
3633 function of one argument. This key function is used as a filter
3634 through which the elements of the sequence are seen; for example,
3635 @code{(find x y :key 'car)} is similar to @code{(assoc* x y)}:
3636 It searches for an element of the list whose @code{car} equals
3637 @code{x}, rather than for an element which equals @code{x} itself.
3638 If @code{:key} is omitted or @code{nil}, the filter is effectively
3639 the identity function.
3640
3641 The @code{:test} and @code{:test-not} arguments should be either
3642 @code{nil}, or functions of two arguments. The test function is
3643 used to compare two sequence elements, or to compare a search value
3644 with sequence elements. (The two values are passed to the test
3645 function in the same order as the original sequence function
3646 arguments from which they are derived, or, if they both come from
3647 the same sequence, in the same order as they appear in that sequence.)
3648 The @code{:test} argument specifies a function which must return
3649 true (non-@code{nil}) to indicate a match; instead, you may use
3650 @code{:test-not} to give a function which returns @emph{false} to
3651 indicate a match. The default test function is @code{eql}.
3652
3653 Many functions which take @var{item} and @code{:test} or @code{:test-not}
3654 arguments also come in @code{-if} and @code{-if-not} varieties,
3655 where a @var{predicate} function is passed instead of @var{item},
3656 and sequence elements match if the predicate returns true on them
3657 (or false in the case of @code{-if-not}). For example:
3658
3659 @example
3660 (remove* 0 seq :test '=) @equiv{} (remove-if 'zerop seq)
3661 @end example
3662
3663 @noindent
3664 to remove all zeros from sequence @code{seq}.
3665
3666 Some operations can work on a subsequence of the argument sequence;
3667 these function take @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments which
3668 default to zero and the length of the sequence, respectively.
3669 Only elements between @var{start} (inclusive) and @var{end}
3670 (exclusive) are affected by the operation. The @var{end} argument
3671 may be passed @code{nil} to signify the length of the sequence;
3672 otherwise, both @var{start} and @var{end} must be integers, with
3673 @code{0 <= @var{start} <= @var{end} <= (length @var{seq})}.
3674 If the function takes two sequence arguments, the limits are
3675 defined by keywords @code{:start1} and @code{:end1} for the first,
3676 and @code{:start2} and @code{:end2} for the second.
3677
3678 A few functions accept a @code{:from-end} argument, which, if
3679 non-@code{nil}, causes the operation to go from right-to-left
3680 through the sequence instead of left-to-right, and a @code{:count}
3681 argument, which specifies an integer maximum number of elements
3682 to be removed or otherwise processed.
3683
3684 The sequence functions make no guarantees about the order in
3685 which the @code{:test}, @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key} functions
3686 are called on various elements. Therefore, it is a bad idea to depend
3687 on side effects of these functions. For example, @code{:from-end}
3688 may cause the sequence to be scanned actually in reverse, or it may
3689 be scanned forwards but computing a result ``as if'' it were scanned
3690 backwards. (Some functions, like @code{mapcar*} and @code{every},
3691 @emph{do} specify exactly the order in which the function is called
3692 so side effects are perfectly acceptable in those cases.)
3693
3694 Strings may contain ``text properties'' as well
3695 as character data. Except as noted, it is undefined whether or
3696 not text properties are preserved by sequence functions. For
3697 example, @code{(remove* ?A @var{str})} may or may not preserve
3698 the properties of the characters copied from @var{str} into the
3699 result.
3700
3701 @node Mapping over Sequences
3702 @section Mapping over Sequences
3703
3704 @noindent
3705 These functions ``map'' the function you specify over the elements
3706 of lists or arrays. They are all variations on the theme of the
3707 built-in function @code{mapcar}.
3708
3709 @defun mapcar* function seq &rest more-seqs
3710 This function calls @var{function} on successive parallel sets of
3711 elements from its argument sequences. Given a single @var{seq}
3712 argument it is equivalent to @code{mapcar}; given @var{n} sequences,
3713 it calls the function with the first elements of each of the sequences
3714 as the @var{n} arguments to yield the first element of the result
3715 list, then with the second elements, and so on. The mapping stops as
3716 soon as the shortest sequence runs out. The argument sequences may
3717 be any mixture of lists, strings, and vectors; the return sequence
3718 is always a list.
3719
3720 Common Lisp's @code{mapcar} accepts multiple arguments but works
3721 only on lists; Emacs Lisp's @code{mapcar} accepts a single sequence
3722 argument. This package's @code{mapcar*} works as a compatible
3723 superset of both.
3724 @end defun
3725
3726 @defun map result-type function seq &rest more-seqs
3727 This function maps @var{function} over the argument sequences,
3728 just like @code{mapcar*}, but it returns a sequence of type
3729 @var{result-type} rather than a list. @var{result-type} must
3730 be one of the following symbols: @code{vector}, @code{string},
3731 @code{list} (in which case the effect is the same as for
3732 @code{mapcar*}), or @code{nil} (in which case the results are
3733 thrown away and @code{map} returns @code{nil}).
3734 @end defun
3735
3736 @defun maplist function list &rest more-lists
3737 This function calls @var{function} on each of its argument lists,
3738 then on the @code{cdr}s of those lists, and so on, until the
3739 shortest list runs out. The results are returned in the form
3740 of a list. Thus, @code{maplist} is like @code{mapcar*} except
3741 that it passes in the list pointers themselves rather than the
3742 @code{car}s of the advancing pointers.
3743 @end defun
3744
3745 @defun cl-mapc function seq &rest more-seqs
3746 This function is like @code{mapcar*}, except that the values returned
3747 by @var{function} are ignored and thrown away rather than being
3748 collected into a list. The return value of @code{cl-mapc} is @var{seq},
3749 the first sequence. This function is more general than the Emacs
3750 primitive @code{mapc}.
3751 @end defun
3752
3753 @defun mapl function list &rest more-lists
3754 This function is like @code{maplist}, except that it throws away
3755 the values returned by @var{function}.
3756 @end defun
3757
3758 @defun mapcan function seq &rest more-seqs
3759 This function is like @code{mapcar*}, except that it concatenates
3760 the return values (which must be lists) using @code{nconc},
3761 rather than simply collecting them into a list.
3762 @end defun
3763
3764 @defun mapcon function list &rest more-lists
3765 This function is like @code{maplist}, except that it concatenates
3766 the return values using @code{nconc}.
3767 @end defun
3768
3769 @defun some predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3770 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of @var{seq}
3771 in turn; if @var{predicate} returns a non-@code{nil} value,
3772 @code{some} returns that value, otherwise it returns @code{nil}.
3773 Given several sequence arguments, it steps through the sequences
3774 in parallel until the shortest one runs out, just as in
3775 @code{mapcar*}. You can rely on the left-to-right order in which
3776 the elements are visited, and on the fact that mapping stops
3777 immediately as soon as @var{predicate} returns non-@code{nil}.
3778 @end defun
3779
3780 @defun every predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3781 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3782 in turn; it returns @code{nil} as soon as @var{predicate} returns
3783 @code{nil} for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate was true
3784 for all elements.
3785 @end defun
3786
3787 @defun notany predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3788 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3789 in turn; it returns @code{nil} as soon as @var{predicate} returns
3790 a non-@code{nil} value for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate
3791 was @code{nil} for all elements.
3792 @end defun
3793
3794 @defun notevery predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3795 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3796 in turn; it returns a non-@code{nil} value as soon as @var{predicate}
3797 returns @code{nil} for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate was
3798 true for all elements.
3799 @end defun
3800
3801 @defun reduce function seq @t{&key :from-end :start :end :initial-value :key}
3802 This function combines the elements of @var{seq} using an associative
3803 binary operation. Suppose @var{function} is @code{*} and @var{seq} is
3804 the list @code{(2 3 4 5)}. The first two elements of the list are
3805 combined with @code{(* 2 3) = 6}; this is combined with the next
3806 element, @code{(* 6 4) = 24}, and that is combined with the final
3807 element: @code{(* 24 5) = 120}. Note that the @code{*} function happens
3808 to be self-reducing, so that @code{(* 2 3 4 5)} has the same effect as
3809 an explicit call to @code{reduce}.
3810
3811 If @code{:from-end} is true, the reduction is right-associative instead
3812 of left-associative:
3813
3814 @example
3815 (reduce '- '(1 2 3 4))
3816 @equiv{} (- (- (- 1 2) 3) 4) @result{} -8
3817 (reduce '- '(1 2 3 4) :from-end t)
3818 @equiv{} (- 1 (- 2 (- 3 4))) @result{} -2
3819 @end example
3820
3821 If @code{:key} is specified, it is a function of one argument which
3822 is called on each of the sequence elements in turn.
3823
3824 If @code{:initial-value} is specified, it is effectively added to the
3825 front (or rear in the case of @code{:from-end}) of the sequence.
3826 The @code{:key} function is @emph{not} applied to the initial value.
3827
3828 If the sequence, including the initial value, has exactly one element
3829 then that element is returned without ever calling @var{function}.
3830 If the sequence is empty (and there is no initial value), then
3831 @var{function} is called with no arguments to obtain the return value.
3832 @end defun
3833
3834 All of these mapping operations can be expressed conveniently in
3835 terms of the @code{loop} macro. In compiled code, @code{loop} will
3836 be faster since it generates the loop as in-line code with no
3837 function calls.
3838
3839 @node Sequence Functions
3840 @section Sequence Functions
3841
3842 @noindent
3843 This section describes a number of Common Lisp functions for
3844 operating on sequences.
3845
3846 @defun subseq sequence start &optional end
3847 This function returns a given subsequence of the argument
3848 @var{sequence}, which may be a list, string, or vector.
3849 The indices @var{start} and @var{end} must be in range, and
3850 @var{start} must be no greater than @var{end}. If @var{end}
3851 is omitted, it defaults to the length of the sequence. The
3852 return value is always a copy; it does not share structure
3853 with @var{sequence}.
3854
3855 As an extension to Common Lisp, @var{start} and/or @var{end}
3856 may be negative, in which case they represent a distance back
3857 from the end of the sequence. This is for compatibility with
3858 Emacs's @code{substring} function. Note that @code{subseq} is
3859 the @emph{only} sequence function that allows negative
3860 @var{start} and @var{end}.
3861
3862 You can use @code{setf} on a @code{subseq} form to replace a
3863 specified range of elements with elements from another sequence.
3864 The replacement is done as if by @code{replace}, described below.
3865 @end defun
3866
3867 @defun concatenate result-type &rest seqs
3868 This function concatenates the argument sequences together to
3869 form a result sequence of type @var{result-type}, one of the
3870 symbols @code{vector}, @code{string}, or @code{list}. The
3871 arguments are always copied, even in cases such as
3872 @code{(concatenate 'list '(1 2 3))} where the result is
3873 identical to an argument.
3874 @end defun
3875
3876 @defun fill seq item @t{&key :start :end}
3877 This function fills the elements of the sequence (or the specified
3878 part of the sequence) with the value @var{item}.
3879 @end defun
3880
3881 @defun replace seq1 seq2 @t{&key :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2}
3882 This function copies part of @var{seq2} into part of @var{seq1}.
3883 The sequence @var{seq1} is not stretched or resized; the amount
3884 of data copied is simply the shorter of the source and destination
3885 (sub)sequences. The function returns @var{seq1}.
3886
3887 If @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} are @code{eq}, then the replacement
3888 will work correctly even if the regions indicated by the start
3889 and end arguments overlap. However, if @var{seq1} and @var{seq2}
3890 are lists which share storage but are not @code{eq}, and the
3891 start and end arguments specify overlapping regions, the effect
3892 is undefined.
3893 @end defun
3894
3895 @defun remove* item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3896 This returns a copy of @var{seq} with all elements matching
3897 @var{item} removed. The result may share storage with or be
3898 @code{eq} to @var{seq} in some circumstances, but the original
3899 @var{seq} will not be modified. The @code{:test}, @code{:test-not},
3900 and @code{:key} arguments define the matching test that is used;
3901 by default, elements @code{eql} to @var{item} are removed. The
3902 @code{:count} argument specifies the maximum number of matching
3903 elements that can be removed (only the leftmost @var{count} matches
3904 are removed). The @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments specify
3905 a region in @var{seq} in which elements will be removed; elements
3906 outside that region are not matched or removed. The @code{:from-end}
3907 argument, if true, says that elements should be deleted from the
3908 end of the sequence rather than the beginning (this matters only
3909 if @var{count} was also specified).
3910 @end defun
3911
3912 @defun delete* item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3913 This deletes all elements of @var{seq} which match @var{item}.
3914 It is a destructive operation. Since Emacs Lisp does not support
3915 stretchable strings or vectors, this is the same as @code{remove*}
3916 for those sequence types. On lists, @code{remove*} will copy the
3917 list if necessary to preserve the original list, whereas
3918 @code{delete*} will splice out parts of the argument list.
3919 Compare @code{append} and @code{nconc}, which are analogous
3920 non-destructive and destructive list operations in Emacs Lisp.
3921 @end defun
3922
3923 @findex remove-if
3924 @findex remove-if-not
3925 @findex delete-if
3926 @findex delete-if-not
3927 The predicate-oriented functions @code{remove-if}, @code{remove-if-not},
3928 @code{delete-if}, and @code{delete-if-not} are defined similarly.
3929
3930 @defun remove-duplicates seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3931 This function returns a copy of @var{seq} with duplicate elements
3932 removed. Specifically, if two elements from the sequence match
3933 according to the @code{:test}, @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key}
3934 arguments, only the rightmost one is retained. If @code{:from-end}
3935 is true, the leftmost one is retained instead. If @code{:start} or
3936 @code{:end} is specified, only elements within that subsequence are
3937 examined or removed.
3938 @end defun
3939
3940 @defun delete-duplicates seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3941 This function deletes duplicate elements from @var{seq}. It is
3942 a destructive version of @code{remove-duplicates}.
3943 @end defun
3944
3945 @defun substitute new old seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3946 This function returns a copy of @var{seq}, with all elements
3947 matching @var{old} replaced with @var{new}. The @code{:count},
3948 @code{:start}, @code{:end}, and @code{:from-end} arguments may be
3949 used to limit the number of substitutions made.
3950 @end defun
3951
3952 @defun nsubstitute new old seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3953 This is a destructive version of @code{substitute}; it performs
3954 the substitution using @code{setcar} or @code{aset} rather than
3955 by returning a changed copy of the sequence.
3956 @end defun
3957
3958 @findex substitute-if
3959 @findex substitute-if-not
3960 @findex nsubstitute-if
3961 @findex nsubstitute-if-not
3962 The @code{substitute-if}, @code{substitute-if-not}, @code{nsubstitute-if},
3963 and @code{nsubstitute-if-not} functions are defined similarly. For
3964 these, a @var{predicate} is given in place of the @var{old} argument.
3965
3966 @node Searching Sequences
3967 @section Searching Sequences
3968
3969 @noindent
3970 These functions search for elements or subsequences in a sequence.
3971 (See also @code{member*} and @code{assoc*}; @pxref{Lists}.)
3972
3973 @defun find item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3974 This function searches @var{seq} for an element matching @var{item}.
3975 If it finds a match, it returns the matching element. Otherwise,
3976 it returns @code{nil}. It returns the leftmost match, unless
3977 @code{:from-end} is true, in which case it returns the rightmost
3978 match. The @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments may be used to
3979 limit the range of elements that are searched.
3980 @end defun
3981
3982 @defun position item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3983 This function is like @code{find}, except that it returns the
3984 integer position in the sequence of the matching item rather than
3985 the item itself. The position is relative to the start of the
3986 sequence as a whole, even if @code{:start} is non-zero. The function
3987 returns @code{nil} if no matching element was found.
3988 @end defun
3989
3990 @defun count item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end}
3991 This function returns the number of elements of @var{seq} which
3992 match @var{item}. The result is always a nonnegative integer.
3993 @end defun
3994
3995 @findex find-if
3996 @findex find-if-not
3997 @findex position-if
3998 @findex position-if-not
3999 @findex count-if
4000 @findex count-if-not
4001 The @code{find-if}, @code{find-if-not}, @code{position-if},
4002 @code{position-if-not}, @code{count-if}, and @code{count-if-not}
4003 functions are defined similarly.
4004
4005 @defun mismatch seq1 seq2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2 :from-end}
4006 This function compares the specified parts of @var{seq1} and
4007 @var{seq2}. If they are the same length and the corresponding
4008 elements match (according to @code{:test}, @code{:test-not},
4009 and @code{:key}), the function returns @code{nil}. If there is
4010 a mismatch, the function returns the index (relative to @var{seq1})
4011 of the first mismatching element. This will be the leftmost pair of
4012 elements which do not match, or the position at which the shorter of
4013 the two otherwise-matching sequences runs out.
4014
4015 If @code{:from-end} is true, then the elements are compared from right
4016 to left starting at @code{(1- @var{end1})} and @code{(1- @var{end2})}.
4017 If the sequences differ, then one plus the index of the rightmost
4018 difference (relative to @var{seq1}) is returned.
4019
4020 An interesting example is @code{(mismatch str1 str2 :key 'upcase)},
4021 which compares two strings case-insensitively.
4022 @end defun
4023
4024 @defun search seq1 seq2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key :from-end :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2}
4025 This function searches @var{seq2} for a subsequence that matches
4026 @var{seq1} (or part of it specified by @code{:start1} and
4027 @code{:end1}.) Only matches which fall entirely within the region
4028 defined by @code{:start2} and @code{:end2} will be considered.
4029 The return value is the index of the leftmost element of the
4030 leftmost match, relative to the start of @var{seq2}, or @code{nil}
4031 if no matches were found. If @code{:from-end} is true, the
4032 function finds the @emph{rightmost} matching subsequence.
4033 @end defun
4034
4035 @node Sorting Sequences
4036 @section Sorting Sequences
4037
4038 @defun sort* seq predicate @t{&key :key}
4039 This function sorts @var{seq} into increasing order as determined
4040 by using @var{predicate} to compare pairs of elements. @var{predicate}
4041 should return true (non-@code{nil}) if and only if its first argument
4042 is less than (not equal to) its second argument. For example,
4043 @code{<} and @code{string-lessp} are suitable predicate functions
4044 for sorting numbers and strings, respectively; @code{>} would sort
4045 numbers into decreasing rather than increasing order.
4046
4047 This function differs from Emacs's built-in @code{sort} in that it
4048 can operate on any type of sequence, not just lists. Also, it
4049 accepts a @code{:key} argument which is used to preprocess data
4050 fed to the @var{predicate} function. For example,
4051
4052 @example
4053 (setq data (sort* data 'string-lessp :key 'downcase))
4054 @end example
4055
4056 @noindent
4057 sorts @var{data}, a sequence of strings, into increasing alphabetical
4058 order without regard to case. A @code{:key} function of @code{car}
4059 would be useful for sorting association lists. It should only be a
4060 simple accessor though, it's used heavily in the current
4061 implementation.
4062
4063 The @code{sort*} function is destructive; it sorts lists by actually
4064 rearranging the @code{cdr} pointers in suitable fashion.
4065 @end defun
4066
4067 @defun stable-sort seq predicate @t{&key :key}
4068 This function sorts @var{seq} @dfn{stably}, meaning two elements
4069 which are equal in terms of @var{predicate} are guaranteed not to
4070 be rearranged out of their original order by the sort.
4071
4072 In practice, @code{sort*} and @code{stable-sort} are equivalent
4073 in Emacs Lisp because the underlying @code{sort} function is
4074 stable by default. However, this package reserves the right to
4075 use non-stable methods for @code{sort*} in the future.
4076 @end defun
4077
4078 @defun merge type seq1 seq2 predicate @t{&key :key}
4079 This function merges two sequences @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} by
4080 interleaving their elements. The result sequence, of type @var{type}
4081 (in the sense of @code{concatenate}), has length equal to the sum
4082 of the lengths of the two input sequences. The sequences may be
4083 modified destructively. Order of elements within @var{seq1} and
4084 @var{seq2} is preserved in the interleaving; elements of the two
4085 sequences are compared by @var{predicate} (in the sense of
4086 @code{sort}) and the lesser element goes first in the result.
4087 When elements are equal, those from @var{seq1} precede those from
4088 @var{seq2} in the result. Thus, if @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} are
4089 both sorted according to @var{predicate}, then the result will be
4090 a merged sequence which is (stably) sorted according to
4091 @var{predicate}.
4092 @end defun
4093
4094 @node Lists
4095 @chapter Lists
4096
4097 @noindent
4098 The functions described here operate on lists.
4099
4100 @menu
4101 * List Functions:: @code{caddr}, @code{first}, @code{list*}, etc.
4102 * Substitution of Expressions:: @code{subst}, @code{sublis}, etc.
4103 * Lists as Sets:: @code{member*}, @code{adjoin}, @code{union}, etc.
4104 * Association Lists:: @code{assoc*}, @code{rassoc*}, @code{acons}, @code{pairlis}
4105 @end menu
4106
4107 @node List Functions
4108 @section List Functions
4109
4110 @noindent
4111 This section describes a number of simple operations on lists,
4112 i.e., chains of cons cells.
4113
4114 @defun caddr x
4115 This function is equivalent to @code{(car (cdr (cdr @var{x})))}.
4116 Likewise, this package defines all 28 @code{c@var{xxx}r} functions
4117 where @var{xxx} is up to four @samp{a}s and/or @samp{d}s.
4118 All of these functions are @code{setf}-able, and calls to them
4119 are expanded inline by the byte-compiler for maximum efficiency.
4120 @end defun
4121
4122 @defun first x
4123 This function is a synonym for @code{(car @var{x})}. Likewise,
4124 the functions @code{second}, @code{third}, @dots{}, through
4125 @code{tenth} return the given element of the list @var{x}.
4126 @end defun
4127
4128 @defun rest x
4129 This function is a synonym for @code{(cdr @var{x})}.
4130 @end defun
4131
4132 @defun endp x
4133 Common Lisp defines this function to act like @code{null}, but
4134 signaling an error if @code{x} is neither a @code{nil} nor a
4135 cons cell. This package simply defines @code{endp} as a synonym
4136 for @code{null}.
4137 @end defun
4138
4139 @defun list-length x
4140 This function returns the length of list @var{x}, exactly like
4141 @code{(length @var{x})}, except that if @var{x} is a circular
4142 list (where the cdr-chain forms a loop rather than terminating
4143 with @code{nil}), this function returns @code{nil}. (The regular
4144 @code{length} function would get stuck if given a circular list.)
4145 @end defun
4146
4147 @defun list* arg &rest others
4148 This function constructs a list of its arguments. The final
4149 argument becomes the @code{cdr} of the last cell constructed.
4150 Thus, @code{(list* @var{a} @var{b} @var{c})} is equivalent to
4151 @code{(cons @var{a} (cons @var{b} @var{c}))}, and
4152 @code{(list* @var{a} @var{b} nil)} is equivalent to
4153 @code{(list @var{a} @var{b})}.
4154
4155 (Note that this function really is called @code{list*} in Common
4156 Lisp; it is not a name invented for this package like @code{member*}
4157 or @code{defun*}.)
4158 @end defun
4159
4160 @defun ldiff list sublist
4161 If @var{sublist} is a sublist of @var{list}, i.e., is @code{eq} to
4162 one of the cons cells of @var{list}, then this function returns
4163 a copy of the part of @var{list} up to but not including
4164 @var{sublist}. For example, @code{(ldiff x (cddr x))} returns
4165 the first two elements of the list @code{x}. The result is a
4166 copy; the original @var{list} is not modified. If @var{sublist}
4167 is not a sublist of @var{list}, a copy of the entire @var{list}
4168 is returned.
4169 @end defun
4170
4171 @defun copy-list list
4172 This function returns a copy of the list @var{list}. It copies
4173 dotted lists like @code{(1 2 . 3)} correctly.
4174 @end defun
4175
4176 @defun copy-tree x &optional vecp
4177 This function returns a copy of the tree of cons cells @var{x}.
4178 Unlike @code{copy-sequence} (and its alias @code{copy-list}),
4179 which copies only along the @code{cdr} direction, this function
4180 copies (recursively) along both the @code{car} and the @code{cdr}
4181 directions. If @var{x} is not a cons cell, the function simply
4182 returns @var{x} unchanged. If the optional @var{vecp} argument
4183 is true, this function copies vectors (recursively) as well as
4184 cons cells.
4185 @end defun
4186
4187 @defun tree-equal x y @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4188 This function compares two trees of cons cells. If @var{x} and
4189 @var{y} are both cons cells, their @code{car}s and @code{cdr}s are
4190 compared recursively. If neither @var{x} nor @var{y} is a cons
4191 cell, they are compared by @code{eql}, or according to the
4192 specified test. The @code{:key} function, if specified, is
4193 applied to the elements of both trees. @xref{Sequences}.
4194 @end defun
4195
4196 @iftex
4197 @secno=3
4198 @end iftex
4199
4200 @node Substitution of Expressions
4201 @section Substitution of Expressions
4202
4203 @noindent
4204 These functions substitute elements throughout a tree of cons
4205 cells. (@xref{Sequence Functions}, for the @code{substitute}
4206 function, which works on just the top-level elements of a list.)
4207
4208 @defun subst new old tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4209 This function substitutes occurrences of @var{old} with @var{new}
4210 in @var{tree}, a tree of cons cells. It returns a substituted
4211 tree, which will be a copy except that it may share storage with
4212 the argument @var{tree} in parts where no substitutions occurred.
4213 The original @var{tree} is not modified. This function recurses
4214 on, and compares against @var{old}, both @code{car}s and @code{cdr}s
4215 of the component cons cells. If @var{old} is itself a cons cell,
4216 then matching cells in the tree are substituted as usual without
4217 recursively substituting in that cell. Comparisons with @var{old}
4218 are done according to the specified test (@code{eql} by default).
4219 The @code{:key} function is applied to the elements of the tree
4220 but not to @var{old}.
4221 @end defun
4222
4223 @defun nsubst new old tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4224 This function is like @code{subst}, except that it works by
4225 destructive modification (by @code{setcar} or @code{setcdr})
4226 rather than copying.
4227 @end defun
4228
4229 @findex subst-if
4230 @findex subst-if-not
4231 @findex nsubst-if
4232 @findex nsubst-if-not
4233 The @code{subst-if}, @code{subst-if-not}, @code{nsubst-if}, and
4234 @code{nsubst-if-not} functions are defined similarly.
4235
4236 @defun sublis alist tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4237 This function is like @code{subst}, except that it takes an
4238 association list @var{alist} of @var{old}-@var{new} pairs.
4239 Each element of the tree (after applying the @code{:key}
4240 function, if any), is compared with the @code{car}s of
4241 @var{alist}; if it matches, it is replaced by the corresponding
4242 @code{cdr}.
4243 @end defun
4244
4245 @defun nsublis alist tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4246 This is a destructive version of @code{sublis}.
4247 @end defun
4248
4249 @node Lists as Sets
4250 @section Lists as Sets
4251
4252 @noindent
4253 These functions perform operations on lists which represent sets
4254 of elements.
4255
4256 @defun member* item list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4257 This function searches @var{list} for an element matching @var{item}.
4258 If a match is found, it returns the cons cell whose @code{car} was
4259 the matching element. Otherwise, it returns @code{nil}. Elements
4260 are compared by @code{eql} by default; you can use the @code{:test},
4261 @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key} arguments to modify this behavior.
4262 @xref{Sequences}.
4263
4264 Note that this function's name is suffixed by @samp{*} to avoid
4265 the incompatible @code{member} function defined in Emacs.
4266 (That function uses @code{equal} for comparisons; it is equivalent
4267 to @code{(member* @var{item} @var{list} :test 'equal)}.)
4268 @end defun
4269
4270 @findex member-if
4271 @findex member-if-not
4272 The @code{member-if} and @code{member-if-not} functions
4273 analogously search for elements which satisfy a given predicate.
4274
4275 @defun tailp sublist list
4276 This function returns @code{t} if @var{sublist} is a sublist of
4277 @var{list}, i.e., if @var{sublist} is @code{eql} to @var{list} or to
4278 any of its @code{cdr}s.
4279 @end defun
4280
4281 @defun adjoin item list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4282 This function conses @var{item} onto the front of @var{list},
4283 like @code{(cons @var{item} @var{list})}, but only if @var{item}
4284 is not already present on the list (as determined by @code{member*}).
4285 If a @code{:key} argument is specified, it is applied to
4286 @var{item} as well as to the elements of @var{list} during
4287 the search, on the reasoning that @var{item} is ``about'' to
4288 become part of the list.
4289 @end defun
4290
4291 @defun union list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4292 This function combines two lists which represent sets of items,
4293 returning a list that represents the union of those two sets.
4294 The result list will contain all items which appear in @var{list1}
4295 or @var{list2}, and no others. If an item appears in both
4296 @var{list1} and @var{list2} it will be copied only once. If
4297 an item is duplicated in @var{list1} or @var{list2}, it is
4298 undefined whether or not that duplication will survive in the
4299 result list. The order of elements in the result list is also
4300 undefined.
4301 @end defun
4302
4303 @defun nunion list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4304 This is a destructive version of @code{union}; rather than copying,
4305 it tries to reuse the storage of the argument lists if possible.
4306 @end defun
4307
4308 @defun intersection list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4309 This function computes the intersection of the sets represented
4310 by @var{list1} and @var{list2}. It returns the list of items
4311 which appear in both @var{list1} and @var{list2}.
4312 @end defun
4313
4314 @defun nintersection list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4315 This is a destructive version of @code{intersection}. It
4316 tries to reuse storage of @var{list1} rather than copying.
4317 It does @emph{not} reuse the storage of @var{list2}.
4318 @end defun
4319
4320 @defun set-difference list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4321 This function computes the ``set difference'' of @var{list1}
4322 and @var{list2}, i.e., the set of elements that appear in
4323 @var{list1} but @emph{not} in @var{list2}.
4324 @end defun
4325
4326 @defun nset-difference list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4327 This is a destructive @code{set-difference}, which will try
4328 to reuse @var{list1} if possible.
4329 @end defun
4330
4331 @defun set-exclusive-or list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4332 This function computes the ``set exclusive or'' of @var{list1}
4333 and @var{list2}, i.e., the set of elements that appear in
4334 exactly one of @var{list1} and @var{list2}.
4335 @end defun
4336
4337 @defun nset-exclusive-or list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4338 This is a destructive @code{set-exclusive-or}, which will try
4339 to reuse @var{list1} and @var{list2} if possible.
4340 @end defun
4341
4342 @defun subsetp list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4343 This function checks whether @var{list1} represents a subset
4344 of @var{list2}, i.e., whether every element of @var{list1}
4345 also appears in @var{list2}.
4346 @end defun
4347
4348 @node Association Lists
4349 @section Association Lists
4350
4351 @noindent
4352 An @dfn{association list} is a list representing a mapping from
4353 one set of values to another; any list whose elements are cons
4354 cells is an association list.
4355
4356 @defun assoc* item a-list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4357 This function searches the association list @var{a-list} for an
4358 element whose @code{car} matches (in the sense of @code{:test},
4359 @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key}, or by comparison with @code{eql})
4360 a given @var{item}. It returns the matching element, if any,
4361 otherwise @code{nil}. It ignores elements of @var{a-list} which
4362 are not cons cells. (This corresponds to the behavior of
4363 @code{assq} and @code{assoc} in Emacs Lisp; Common Lisp's
4364 @code{assoc} ignores @code{nil}s but considers any other non-cons
4365 elements of @var{a-list} to be an error.)
4366 @end defun
4367
4368 @defun rassoc* item a-list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4369 This function searches for an element whose @code{cdr} matches
4370 @var{item}. If @var{a-list} represents a mapping, this applies
4371 the inverse of the mapping to @var{item}.
4372 @end defun
4373
4374 @findex assoc-if
4375 @findex assoc-if-not
4376 @findex rassoc-if
4377 @findex rassoc-if-not
4378 The @code{assoc-if}, @code{assoc-if-not}, @code{rassoc-if},
4379 and @code{rassoc-if-not} functions are defined similarly.
4380
4381 Two simple functions for constructing association lists are:
4382
4383 @defun acons key value alist
4384 This is equivalent to @code{(cons (cons @var{key} @var{value}) @var{alist})}.
4385 @end defun
4386
4387 @defun pairlis keys values &optional alist
4388 This is equivalent to @code{(nconc (mapcar* 'cons @var{keys} @var{values})
4389 @var{alist})}.
4390 @end defun
4391
4392 @node Structures
4393 @chapter Structures
4394
4395 @noindent
4396 The Common Lisp @dfn{structure} mechanism provides a general way
4397 to define data types similar to C's @code{struct} types. A
4398 structure is a Lisp object containing some number of @dfn{slots},
4399 each of which can hold any Lisp data object. Functions are
4400 provided for accessing and setting the slots, creating or copying
4401 structure objects, and recognizing objects of a particular structure
4402 type.
4403
4404 In true Common Lisp, each structure type is a new type distinct
4405 from all existing Lisp types. Since the underlying Emacs Lisp
4406 system provides no way to create new distinct types, this package
4407 implements structures as vectors (or lists upon request) with a
4408 special ``tag'' symbol to identify them.
4409
4410 @defspec defstruct name slots@dots{}
4411 The @code{defstruct} form defines a new structure type called
4412 @var{name}, with the specified @var{slots}. (The @var{slots}
4413 may begin with a string which documents the structure type.)
4414 In the simplest case, @var{name} and each of the @var{slots}
4415 are symbols. For example,
4416
4417 @example
4418 (defstruct person name age sex)
4419 @end example
4420
4421 @noindent
4422 defines a struct type called @code{person} which contains three
4423 slots. Given a @code{person} object @var{p}, you can access those
4424 slots by calling @code{(person-name @var{p})}, @code{(person-age @var{p})},
4425 and @code{(person-sex @var{p})}. You can also change these slots by
4426 using @code{setf} on any of these place forms:
4427
4428 @example
4429 (incf (person-age birthday-boy))
4430 @end example
4431
4432 You can create a new @code{person} by calling @code{make-person},
4433 which takes keyword arguments @code{:name}, @code{:age}, and
4434 @code{:sex} to specify the initial values of these slots in the
4435 new object. (Omitting any of these arguments leaves the corresponding
4436 slot ``undefined,'' according to the Common Lisp standard; in Emacs
4437 Lisp, such uninitialized slots are filled with @code{nil}.)
4438
4439 Given a @code{person}, @code{(copy-person @var{p})} makes a new
4440 object of the same type whose slots are @code{eq} to those of @var{p}.
4441
4442 Given any Lisp object @var{x}, @code{(person-p @var{x})} returns
4443 true if @var{x} looks like a @code{person}, false otherwise. (Again,
4444 in Common Lisp this predicate would be exact; in Emacs Lisp the
4445 best it can do is verify that @var{x} is a vector of the correct
4446 length which starts with the correct tag symbol.)
4447
4448 Accessors like @code{person-name} normally check their arguments
4449 (effectively using @code{person-p}) and signal an error if the
4450 argument is the wrong type. This check is affected by
4451 @code{(optimize (safety @dots{}))} declarations. Safety level 1,
4452 the default, uses a somewhat optimized check that will detect all
4453 incorrect arguments, but may use an uninformative error message
4454 (e.g., ``expected a vector'' instead of ``expected a @code{person}'').
4455 Safety level 0 omits all checks except as provided by the underlying
4456 @code{aref} call; safety levels 2 and 3 do rigorous checking that will
4457 always print a descriptive error message for incorrect inputs.
4458 @xref{Declarations}.
4459
4460 @example
4461 (setq dave (make-person :name "Dave" :sex 'male))
4462 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Dave" nil male]
4463 (setq other (copy-person dave))
4464 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Dave" nil male]
4465 (eq dave other)
4466 @result{} nil
4467 (eq (person-name dave) (person-name other))
4468 @result{} t
4469 (person-p dave)
4470 @result{} t
4471 (person-p [1 2 3 4])
4472 @result{} nil
4473 (person-p "Bogus")
4474 @result{} nil
4475 (person-p '[cl-struct-person counterfeit person object])
4476 @result{} t
4477 @end example
4478
4479 In general, @var{name} is either a name symbol or a list of a name
4480 symbol followed by any number of @dfn{struct options}; each @var{slot}
4481 is either a slot symbol or a list of the form @samp{(@var{slot-name}
4482 @var{default-value} @var{slot-options}@dots{})}. The @var{default-value}
4483 is a Lisp form which is evaluated any time an instance of the
4484 structure type is created without specifying that slot's value.
4485
4486 Common Lisp defines several slot options, but the only one
4487 implemented in this package is @code{:read-only}. A non-@code{nil}
4488 value for this option means the slot should not be @code{setf}-able;
4489 the slot's value is determined when the object is created and does
4490 not change afterward.
4491
4492 @example
4493 (defstruct person
4494 (name nil :read-only t)
4495 age
4496 (sex 'unknown))
4497 @end example
4498
4499 Any slot options other than @code{:read-only} are ignored.
4500
4501 For obscure historical reasons, structure options take a different
4502 form than slot options. A structure option is either a keyword
4503 symbol, or a list beginning with a keyword symbol possibly followed
4504 by arguments. (By contrast, slot options are key-value pairs not
4505 enclosed in lists.)
4506
4507 @example
4508 (defstruct (person (:constructor create-person)
4509 (:type list)
4510 :named)
4511 name age sex)
4512 @end example
4513
4514 The following structure options are recognized.
4515
4516 @table @code
4517 @iftex
4518 @itemmax=0 in
4519 @advance@leftskip-.5@tableindent
4520 @end iftex
4521 @item :conc-name
4522 The argument is a symbol whose print name is used as the prefix for
4523 the names of slot accessor functions. The default is the name of
4524 the struct type followed by a hyphen. The option @code{(:conc-name p-)}
4525 would change this prefix to @code{p-}. Specifying @code{nil} as an
4526 argument means no prefix, so that the slot names themselves are used
4527 to name the accessor functions.
4528
4529 @item :constructor
4530 In the simple case, this option takes one argument which is an
4531 alternate name to use for the constructor function. The default
4532 is @code{make-@var{name}}, e.g., @code{make-person}. The above
4533 example changes this to @code{create-person}. Specifying @code{nil}
4534 as an argument means that no standard constructor should be
4535 generated at all.
4536
4537 In the full form of this option, the constructor name is followed
4538 by an arbitrary argument list. @xref{Program Structure}, for a
4539 description of the format of Common Lisp argument lists. All
4540 options, such as @code{&rest} and @code{&key}, are supported.
4541 The argument names should match the slot names; each slot is
4542 initialized from the corresponding argument. Slots whose names
4543 do not appear in the argument list are initialized based on the
4544 @var{default-value} in their slot descriptor. Also, @code{&optional}
4545 and @code{&key} arguments which don't specify defaults take their
4546 defaults from the slot descriptor. It is valid to include arguments
4547 which don't correspond to slot names; these are useful if they are
4548 referred to in the defaults for optional, keyword, or @code{&aux}
4549 arguments which @emph{do} correspond to slots.
4550
4551 You can specify any number of full-format @code{:constructor}
4552 options on a structure. The default constructor is still generated
4553 as well unless you disable it with a simple-format @code{:constructor}
4554 option.
4555
4556 @example
4557 (defstruct
4558 (person
4559 (:constructor nil) ; no default constructor
4560 (:constructor new-person (name sex &optional (age 0)))
4561 (:constructor new-hound (&key (name "Rover")
4562 (dog-years 0)
4563 &aux (age (* 7 dog-years))
4564 (sex 'canine))))
4565 name age sex)
4566 @end example
4567
4568 The first constructor here takes its arguments positionally rather
4569 than by keyword. (In official Common Lisp terminology, constructors
4570 that work By Order of Arguments instead of by keyword are called
4571 ``BOA constructors.'' No, I'm not making this up.) For example,
4572 @code{(new-person "Jane" 'female)} generates a person whose slots
4573 are @code{"Jane"}, 0, and @code{female}, respectively.
4574
4575 The second constructor takes two keyword arguments, @code{:name},
4576 which initializes the @code{name} slot and defaults to @code{"Rover"},
4577 and @code{:dog-years}, which does not itself correspond to a slot
4578 but which is used to initialize the @code{age} slot. The @code{sex}
4579 slot is forced to the symbol @code{canine} with no syntax for
4580 overriding it.
4581
4582 @item :copier
4583 The argument is an alternate name for the copier function for
4584 this type. The default is @code{copy-@var{name}}. @code{nil}
4585 means not to generate a copier function. (In this implementation,
4586 all copier functions are simply synonyms for @code{copy-sequence}.)
4587
4588 @item :predicate
4589 The argument is an alternate name for the predicate which recognizes
4590 objects of this type. The default is @code{@var{name}-p}. @code{nil}
4591 means not to generate a predicate function. (If the @code{:type}
4592 option is used without the @code{:named} option, no predicate is
4593 ever generated.)
4594
4595 In true Common Lisp, @code{typep} is always able to recognize a
4596 structure object even if @code{:predicate} was used. In this
4597 package, @code{typep} simply looks for a function called
4598 @code{@var{typename}-p}, so it will work for structure types
4599 only if they used the default predicate name.
4600
4601 @item :include
4602 This option implements a very limited form of C++-style inheritance.
4603 The argument is the name of another structure type previously
4604 created with @code{defstruct}. The effect is to cause the new
4605 structure type to inherit all of the included structure's slots
4606 (plus, of course, any new slots described by this struct's slot
4607 descriptors). The new structure is considered a ``specialization''
4608 of the included one. In fact, the predicate and slot accessors
4609 for the included type will also accept objects of the new type.
4610
4611 If there are extra arguments to the @code{:include} option after
4612 the included-structure name, these options are treated as replacement
4613 slot descriptors for slots in the included structure, possibly with
4614 modified default values. Borrowing an example from Steele:
4615
4616 @example
4617 (defstruct person name (age 0) sex)
4618 @result{} person
4619 (defstruct (astronaut (:include person (age 45)))
4620 helmet-size
4621 (favorite-beverage 'tang))
4622 @result{} astronaut
4623
4624 (setq joe (make-person :name "Joe"))
4625 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Joe" 0 nil]
4626 (setq buzz (make-astronaut :name "Buzz"))
4627 @result{} [cl-struct-astronaut "Buzz" 45 nil nil tang]
4628
4629 (list (person-p joe) (person-p buzz))
4630 @result{} (t t)
4631 (list (astronaut-p joe) (astronaut-p buzz))
4632 @result{} (nil t)
4633
4634 (person-name buzz)
4635 @result{} "Buzz"
4636 (astronaut-name joe)
4637 @result{} error: "astronaut-name accessing a non-astronaut"
4638 @end example
4639
4640 Thus, if @code{astronaut} is a specialization of @code{person},
4641 then every @code{astronaut} is also a @code{person} (but not the
4642 other way around). Every @code{astronaut} includes all the slots
4643 of a @code{person}, plus extra slots that are specific to
4644 astronauts. Operations that work on people (like @code{person-name})
4645 work on astronauts just like other people.
4646
4647 @item :print-function
4648 In full Common Lisp, this option allows you to specify a function
4649 which is called to print an instance of the structure type. The
4650 Emacs Lisp system offers no hooks into the Lisp printer which would
4651 allow for such a feature, so this package simply ignores
4652 @code{:print-function}.
4653
4654 @item :type
4655 The argument should be one of the symbols @code{vector} or @code{list}.
4656 This tells which underlying Lisp data type should be used to implement
4657 the new structure type. Vectors are used by default, but
4658 @code{(:type list)} will cause structure objects to be stored as
4659 lists instead.
4660
4661 The vector representation for structure objects has the advantage
4662 that all structure slots can be accessed quickly, although creating
4663 vectors is a bit slower in Emacs Lisp. Lists are easier to create,
4664 but take a relatively long time accessing the later slots.
4665
4666 @item :named
4667 This option, which takes no arguments, causes a characteristic ``tag''
4668 symbol to be stored at the front of the structure object. Using
4669 @code{:type} without also using @code{:named} will result in a
4670 structure type stored as plain vectors or lists with no identifying
4671 features.
4672
4673 The default, if you don't specify @code{:type} explicitly, is to
4674 use named vectors. Therefore, @code{:named} is only useful in
4675 conjunction with @code{:type}.
4676
4677 @example
4678 (defstruct (person1) name age sex)
4679 (defstruct (person2 (:type list) :named) name age sex)
4680 (defstruct (person3 (:type list)) name age sex)
4681
4682 (setq p1 (make-person1))
4683 @result{} [cl-struct-person1 nil nil nil]
4684 (setq p2 (make-person2))
4685 @result{} (person2 nil nil nil)
4686 (setq p3 (make-person3))
4687 @result{} (nil nil nil)
4688
4689 (person1-p p1)
4690 @result{} t
4691 (person2-p p2)
4692 @result{} t
4693 (person3-p p3)
4694 @result{} error: function person3-p undefined
4695 @end example
4696
4697 Since unnamed structures don't have tags, @code{defstruct} is not
4698 able to make a useful predicate for recognizing them. Also,
4699 accessors like @code{person3-name} will be generated but they
4700 will not be able to do any type checking. The @code{person3-name}
4701 function, for example, will simply be a synonym for @code{car} in
4702 this case. By contrast, @code{person2-name} is able to verify
4703 that its argument is indeed a @code{person2} object before
4704 proceeding.
4705
4706 @item :initial-offset
4707 The argument must be a nonnegative integer. It specifies a
4708 number of slots to be left ``empty'' at the front of the
4709 structure. If the structure is named, the tag appears at the
4710 specified position in the list or vector; otherwise, the first
4711 slot appears at that position. Earlier positions are filled
4712 with @code{nil} by the constructors and ignored otherwise. If
4713 the type @code{:include}s another type, then @code{:initial-offset}
4714 specifies a number of slots to be skipped between the last slot
4715 of the included type and the first new slot.
4716 @end table
4717 @end defspec
4718
4719 Except as noted, the @code{defstruct} facility of this package is
4720 entirely compatible with that of Common Lisp.
4721
4722 @node Assertions
4723 @chapter Assertions and Errors
4724
4725 @noindent
4726 This section describes two macros that test @dfn{assertions}, i.e.,
4727 conditions which must be true if the program is operating correctly.
4728 Assertions never add to the behavior of a Lisp program; they simply
4729 make ``sanity checks'' to make sure everything is as it should be.
4730
4731 If the optimization property @code{speed} has been set to 3, and
4732 @code{safety} is less than 3, then the byte-compiler will optimize
4733 away the following assertions. Because assertions might be optimized
4734 away, it is a bad idea for them to include side-effects.
4735
4736 @defspec assert test-form [show-args string args@dots{}]
4737 This form verifies that @var{test-form} is true (i.e., evaluates to
4738 a non-@code{nil} value). If so, it returns @code{nil}. If the test
4739 is not satisfied, @code{assert} signals an error.
4740
4741 A default error message will be supplied which includes @var{test-form}.
4742 You can specify a different error message by including a @var{string}
4743 argument plus optional extra arguments. Those arguments are simply
4744 passed to @code{error} to signal the error.
4745
4746 If the optional second argument @var{show-args} is @code{t} instead
4747 of @code{nil}, then the error message (with or without @var{string})
4748 will also include all non-constant arguments of the top-level
4749 @var{form}. For example:
4750
4751 @example
4752 (assert (> x 10) t "x is too small: %d")
4753 @end example
4754
4755 This usage of @var{show-args} is an extension to Common Lisp. In
4756 true Common Lisp, the second argument gives a list of @var{places}
4757 which can be @code{setf}'d by the user before continuing from the
4758 error. Since Emacs Lisp does not support continuable errors, it
4759 makes no sense to specify @var{places}.
4760 @end defspec
4761
4762 @defspec check-type form type [string]
4763 This form verifies that @var{form} evaluates to a value of type
4764 @var{type}. If so, it returns @code{nil}. If not, @code{check-type}
4765 signals a @code{wrong-type-argument} error. The default error message
4766 lists the erroneous value along with @var{type} and @var{form}
4767 themselves. If @var{string} is specified, it is included in the
4768 error message in place of @var{type}. For example:
4769
4770 @example
4771 (check-type x (integer 1 *) "a positive integer")
4772 @end example
4773
4774 @xref{Type Predicates}, for a description of the type specifiers
4775 that may be used for @var{type}.
4776
4777 Note that in Common Lisp, the first argument to @code{check-type}
4778 must be a @var{place} suitable for use by @code{setf}, because
4779 @code{check-type} signals a continuable error that allows the
4780 user to modify @var{place}.
4781 @end defspec
4782
4783 The following error-related macro is also defined:
4784
4785 @defspec ignore-errors forms@dots{}
4786 This executes @var{forms} exactly like a @code{progn}, except that
4787 errors are ignored during the @var{forms}. More precisely, if
4788 an error is signaled then @code{ignore-errors} immediately
4789 aborts execution of the @var{forms} and returns @code{nil}.
4790 If the @var{forms} complete successfully, @code{ignore-errors}
4791 returns the result of the last @var{form}.
4792 @end defspec
4793
4794 @node Efficiency Concerns
4795 @appendix Efficiency Concerns
4796
4797 @appendixsec Macros
4798
4799 @noindent
4800 Many of the advanced features of this package, such as @code{defun*},
4801 @code{loop}, and @code{setf}, are implemented as Lisp macros. In
4802 byte-compiled code, these complex notations will be expanded into
4803 equivalent Lisp code which is simple and efficient. For example,
4804 the forms
4805
4806 @example
4807 (incf i n)
4808 (push x (car p))
4809 @end example
4810
4811 @noindent
4812 are expanded at compile-time to the Lisp forms
4813
4814 @example
4815 (setq i (+ i n))
4816 (setcar p (cons x (car p)))
4817 @end example
4818
4819 @noindent
4820 which are the most efficient ways of doing these respective operations
4821 in Lisp. Thus, there is no performance penalty for using the more
4822 readable @code{incf} and @code{push} forms in your compiled code.
4823
4824 @emph{Interpreted} code, on the other hand, must expand these macros
4825 every time they are executed. For this reason it is strongly
4826 recommended that code making heavy use of macros be compiled.
4827 (The features labeled ``Special Form'' instead of ``Function'' in
4828 this manual are macros.) A loop using @code{incf} a hundred times
4829 will execute considerably faster if compiled, and will also
4830 garbage-collect less because the macro expansion will not have
4831 to be generated, used, and thrown away a hundred times.
4832
4833 You can find out how a macro expands by using the
4834 @code{cl-prettyexpand} function.
4835
4836 @defun cl-prettyexpand form &optional full
4837 This function takes a single Lisp form as an argument and inserts
4838 a nicely formatted copy of it in the current buffer (which must be
4839 in Lisp mode so that indentation works properly). It also expands
4840 all Lisp macros which appear in the form. The easiest way to use
4841 this function is to go to the @code{*scratch*} buffer and type, say,
4842
4843 @example
4844 (cl-prettyexpand '(loop for x below 10 collect x))
4845 @end example
4846
4847 @noindent
4848 and type @kbd{C-x C-e} immediately after the closing parenthesis;
4849 the expansion
4850
4851 @example
4852 (block nil
4853 (let* ((x 0)
4854 (G1004 nil))
4855 (while (< x 10)
4856 (setq G1004 (cons x G1004))
4857 (setq x (+ x 1)))
4858 (nreverse G1004)))
4859 @end example
4860
4861 @noindent
4862 will be inserted into the buffer. (The @code{block} macro is
4863 expanded differently in the interpreter and compiler, so
4864 @code{cl-prettyexpand} just leaves it alone. The temporary
4865 variable @code{G1004} was created by @code{gensym}.)
4866
4867 If the optional argument @var{full} is true, then @emph{all}
4868 macros are expanded, including @code{block}, @code{eval-when},
4869 and compiler macros. Expansion is done as if @var{form} were
4870 a top-level form in a file being compiled. For example,
4871
4872 @example
4873 (cl-prettyexpand '(pushnew 'x list))
4874 @print{} (setq list (adjoin 'x list))
4875 (cl-prettyexpand '(pushnew 'x list) t)
4876 @print{} (setq list (if (memq 'x list) list (cons 'x list)))
4877 (cl-prettyexpand '(caddr (member* 'a list)) t)
4878 @print{} (car (cdr (cdr (memq 'a list))))
4879 @end example
4880
4881 Note that @code{adjoin}, @code{caddr}, and @code{member*} all
4882 have built-in compiler macros to optimize them in common cases.
4883 @end defun
4884
4885 @ifinfo
4886 @example
4887
4888 @end example
4889 @end ifinfo
4890 @appendixsec Error Checking
4891
4892 @noindent
4893 Common Lisp compliance has in general not been sacrificed for the
4894 sake of efficiency. A few exceptions have been made for cases
4895 where substantial gains were possible at the expense of marginal
4896 incompatibility.
4897
4898 The Common Lisp standard (as embodied in Steele's book) uses the
4899 phrase ``it is an error if'' to indicate a situation which is not
4900 supposed to arise in complying programs; implementations are strongly
4901 encouraged but not required to signal an error in these situations.
4902 This package sometimes omits such error checking in the interest of
4903 compactness and efficiency. For example, @code{do} variable
4904 specifiers are supposed to be lists of one, two, or three forms;
4905 extra forms are ignored by this package rather than signaling a
4906 syntax error. The @code{endp} function is simply a synonym for
4907 @code{null} in this package. Functions taking keyword arguments
4908 will accept an odd number of arguments, treating the trailing
4909 keyword as if it were followed by the value @code{nil}.
4910
4911 Argument lists (as processed by @code{defun*} and friends)
4912 @emph{are} checked rigorously except for the minor point just
4913 mentioned; in particular, keyword arguments are checked for
4914 validity, and @code{&allow-other-keys} and @code{:allow-other-keys}
4915 are fully implemented. Keyword validity checking is slightly
4916 time consuming (though not too bad in byte-compiled code);
4917 you can use @code{&allow-other-keys} to omit this check. Functions
4918 defined in this package such as @code{find} and @code{member*}
4919 do check their keyword arguments for validity.
4920
4921 @ifinfo
4922 @example
4923
4924 @end example
4925 @end ifinfo
4926 @appendixsec Optimizing Compiler
4927
4928 @noindent
4929 Use of the optimizing Emacs compiler is highly recommended; many of the Common
4930 Lisp macros emit
4931 code which can be improved by optimization. In particular,
4932 @code{block}s (whether explicit or implicit in constructs like
4933 @code{defun*} and @code{loop}) carry a fair run-time penalty; the
4934 optimizing compiler removes @code{block}s which are not actually
4935 referenced by @code{return} or @code{return-from} inside the block.
4936
4937 @node Common Lisp Compatibility
4938 @appendix Common Lisp Compatibility
4939
4940 @noindent
4941 Following is a list of all known incompatibilities between this
4942 package and Common Lisp as documented in Steele (2nd edition).
4943
4944 Certain function names, such as @code{member}, @code{assoc}, and
4945 @code{floor}, were already taken by (incompatible) Emacs Lisp
4946 functions; this package appends @samp{*} to the names of its
4947 Common Lisp versions of these functions.
4948
4949 The word @code{defun*} is required instead of @code{defun} in order
4950 to use extended Common Lisp argument lists in a function. Likewise,
4951 @code{defmacro*} and @code{function*} are versions of those forms
4952 which understand full-featured argument lists. The @code{&whole}
4953 keyword does not work in @code{defmacro} argument lists (except
4954 inside recursive argument lists).
4955
4956 The @code{equal} predicate does not distinguish
4957 between IEEE floating-point plus and minus zero. The @code{equalp}
4958 predicate has several differences with Common Lisp; @pxref{Predicates}.
4959
4960 The @code{setf} mechanism is entirely compatible, except that
4961 setf-methods return a list of five values rather than five
4962 values directly. Also, the new ``@code{setf} function'' concept
4963 (typified by @code{(defun (setf foo) @dots{})}) is not implemented.
4964
4965 The @code{do-all-symbols} form is the same as @code{do-symbols}
4966 with no @var{obarray} argument. In Common Lisp, this form would
4967 iterate over all symbols in all packages. Since Emacs obarrays
4968 are not a first-class package mechanism, there is no way for
4969 @code{do-all-symbols} to locate any but the default obarray.
4970
4971 The @code{loop} macro is complete except that @code{loop-finish}
4972 and type specifiers are unimplemented.
4973
4974 The multiple-value return facility treats lists as multiple
4975 values, since Emacs Lisp cannot support multiple return values
4976 directly. The macros will be compatible with Common Lisp if
4977 @code{values} or @code{values-list} is always used to return to
4978 a @code{multiple-value-bind} or other multiple-value receiver;
4979 if @code{values} is used without @code{multiple-value-@dots{}}
4980 or vice-versa the effect will be different from Common Lisp.
4981
4982 Many Common Lisp declarations are ignored, and others match
4983 the Common Lisp standard in concept but not in detail. For
4984 example, local @code{special} declarations, which are purely
4985 advisory in Emacs Lisp, do not rigorously obey the scoping rules
4986 set down in Steele's book.
4987
4988 The variable @code{*gensym-counter*} starts out with a pseudo-random
4989 value rather than with zero. This is to cope with the fact that
4990 generated symbols become interned when they are written to and
4991 loaded back from a file.
4992
4993 The @code{defstruct} facility is compatible, except that structures
4994 are of type @code{:type vector :named} by default rather than some
4995 special, distinct type. Also, the @code{:type} slot option is ignored.
4996
4997 The second argument of @code{check-type} is treated differently.
4998
4999 @node Old CL Compatibility
5000 @appendix Old CL Compatibility
5001
5002 @noindent
5003 Following is a list of all known incompatibilities between this package
5004 and the older Quiroz @file{cl.el} package.
5005
5006 This package's emulation of multiple return values in functions is
5007 incompatible with that of the older package. That package attempted
5008 to come as close as possible to true Common Lisp multiple return
5009 values; unfortunately, it could not be 100% reliable and so was prone
5010 to occasional surprises if used freely. This package uses a simpler
5011 method, namely replacing multiple values with lists of values, which
5012 is more predictable though more noticeably different from Common Lisp.
5013
5014 The @code{defkeyword} form and @code{keywordp} function are not
5015 implemented in this package.
5016
5017 The @code{member}, @code{floor}, @code{ceiling}, @code{truncate},
5018 @code{round}, @code{mod}, and @code{rem} functions are suffixed
5019 by @samp{*} in this package to avoid collision with existing
5020 functions in Emacs. The older package simply
5021 redefined these functions, overwriting the built-in meanings and
5022 causing serious portability problems. (Some more
5023 recent versions of the Quiroz package changed the names to
5024 @code{cl-member}, etc.; this package defines the latter names as
5025 aliases for @code{member*}, etc.)
5026
5027 Certain functions in the old package which were buggy or inconsistent
5028 with the Common Lisp standard are incompatible with the conforming
5029 versions in this package. For example, @code{eql} and @code{member}
5030 were synonyms for @code{eq} and @code{memq} in that package, @code{setf}
5031 failed to preserve correct order of evaluation of its arguments, etc.
5032
5033 Finally, unlike the older package, this package is careful to
5034 prefix all of its internal names with @code{cl-}. Except for a
5035 few functions which are explicitly defined as additional features
5036 (such as @code{floatp-safe} and @code{letf}), this package does not
5037 export any non-@samp{cl-} symbols which are not also part of Common
5038 Lisp.
5039
5040 @ifinfo
5041 @example
5042
5043 @end example
5044 @end ifinfo
5045 @appendixsec The @code{cl-compat} package
5046
5047 @noindent
5048 The @dfn{CL} package includes emulations of some features of the
5049 old @file{cl.el}, in the form of a compatibility package
5050 @code{cl-compat}. This file is obsolete and may be removed in future,
5051 so it should not be used in new code.
5052
5053 The old package defined a number of internal routines without
5054 @code{cl-} prefixes or other annotations. Call to these routines
5055 may have crept into existing Lisp code. @code{cl-compat}
5056 provides emulations of the following internal routines:
5057 @code{pair-with-newsyms}, @code{zip-lists}, @code{unzip-lists},
5058 @code{reassemble-arglists}, @code{duplicate-symbols-p},
5059 @code{safe-idiv}.
5060
5061 Some @code{setf} forms translated into calls to internal
5062 functions that user code might call directly. The functions
5063 @code{setnth}, @code{setnthcdr}, and @code{setelt} fall in
5064 this category; they are defined by @code{cl-compat}, but the
5065 best fix is to change to use @code{setf} properly.
5066
5067 The @code{cl-compat} file defines the keyword functions
5068 @code{keywordp}, @code{keyword-of}, and @code{defkeyword},
5069 which are not defined by the new @dfn{CL} package because the
5070 use of keywords as data is discouraged.
5071
5072 The @code{build-klist} mechanism for parsing keyword arguments
5073 is emulated by @code{cl-compat}; the @code{with-keyword-args}
5074 macro is not, however, and in any case it's best to change to
5075 use the more natural keyword argument processing offered by
5076 @code{defun*}.
5077
5078 Multiple return values are treated differently by the two
5079 Common Lisp packages. The old package's method was more
5080 compatible with true Common Lisp, though it used heuristics
5081 that caused it to report spurious multiple return values in
5082 certain cases. The @code{cl-compat} package defines a set
5083 of multiple-value macros that are compatible with the old
5084 CL package; again, they are heuristic in nature, but they
5085 are guaranteed to work in any case where the old package's
5086 macros worked. To avoid name collision with the ``official''
5087 multiple-value facilities, the ones in @code{cl-compat} have
5088 capitalized names: @code{Values}, @code{Values-list},
5089 @code{Multiple-value-bind}, etc.
5090
5091 The functions @code{cl-floor}, @code{cl-ceiling}, @code{cl-truncate},
5092 and @code{cl-round} are defined by @code{cl-compat} to use the
5093 old-style multiple-value mechanism, just as they did in the old
5094 package. The newer @code{floor*} and friends return their two
5095 results in a list rather than as multiple values. Note that
5096 older versions of the old package used the unadorned names
5097 @code{floor}, @code{ceiling}, etc.; @code{cl-compat} cannot use
5098 these names because they conflict with Emacs built-ins.
5099
5100 @node Porting Common Lisp
5101 @appendix Porting Common Lisp
5102
5103 @noindent
5104 This package is meant to be used as an extension to Emacs Lisp,
5105 not as an Emacs implementation of true Common Lisp. Some of the
5106 remaining differences between Emacs Lisp and Common Lisp make it
5107 difficult to port large Common Lisp applications to Emacs. For
5108 one, some of the features in this package are not fully compliant
5109 with ANSI or Steele; @pxref{Common Lisp Compatibility}. But there
5110 are also quite a few features that this package does not provide
5111 at all. Here are some major omissions that you will want to watch out
5112 for when bringing Common Lisp code into Emacs.
5113
5114 @itemize @bullet
5115 @item
5116 Case-insensitivity. Symbols in Common Lisp are case-insensitive
5117 by default. Some programs refer to a function or variable as
5118 @code{foo} in one place and @code{Foo} or @code{FOO} in another.
5119 Emacs Lisp will treat these as three distinct symbols.
5120
5121 Some Common Lisp code is written entirely in upper case. While Emacs
5122 is happy to let the program's own functions and variables use
5123 this convention, calls to Lisp builtins like @code{if} and
5124 @code{defun} will have to be changed to lower case.
5125
5126 @item
5127 Lexical scoping. In Common Lisp, function arguments and @code{let}
5128 bindings apply only to references physically within their bodies
5129 (or within macro expansions in their bodies). Emacs Lisp, by
5130 contrast, uses @dfn{dynamic scoping} wherein a binding to a
5131 variable is visible even inside functions called from the body.
5132
5133 Variables in Common Lisp can be made dynamically scoped by
5134 declaring them @code{special} or using @code{defvar}. In Emacs
5135 Lisp it is as if all variables were declared @code{special}.
5136
5137 Often you can use code that was written for lexical scoping
5138 even in a dynamically scoped Lisp, but not always. Here is
5139 an example of a Common Lisp code fragment that would fail in
5140 Emacs Lisp:
5141
5142 @example
5143 (defun map-odd-elements (func list)
5144 (loop for x in list
5145 for flag = t then (not flag)
5146 collect (if flag x (funcall func x))))
5147
5148 (defun add-odd-elements (list x)
5149 (map-odd-elements (lambda (a) (+ a x)) list))
5150 @end example
5151
5152 @noindent
5153 In Common Lisp, the two functions' usages of @code{x} are completely
5154 independent. In Emacs Lisp, the binding to @code{x} made by
5155 @code{add-odd-elements} will have been hidden by the binding
5156 in @code{map-odd-elements} by the time the @code{(+ a x)} function
5157 is called.
5158
5159 (This package avoids such problems in its own mapping functions
5160 by using names like @code{cl-x} instead of @code{x} internally;
5161 as long as you don't use the @code{cl-} prefix for your own
5162 variables no collision can occur.)
5163
5164 @xref{Lexical Bindings}, for a description of the @code{lexical-let}
5165 form which establishes a Common Lisp-style lexical binding, and some
5166 examples of how it differs from Emacs's regular @code{let}.
5167
5168 @item
5169 Reader macros. Common Lisp includes a second type of macro that
5170 works at the level of individual characters. For example, Common
5171 Lisp implements the quote notation by a reader macro called @code{'},
5172 whereas Emacs Lisp's parser just treats quote as a special case.
5173 Some Lisp packages use reader macros to create special syntaxes
5174 for themselves, which the Emacs parser is incapable of reading.
5175
5176 @item
5177 Other syntactic features. Common Lisp provides a number of
5178 notations beginning with @code{#} that the Emacs Lisp parser
5179 won't understand. For example, @samp{#| ... |#} is an
5180 alternate comment notation, and @samp{#+lucid (foo)} tells
5181 the parser to ignore the @code{(foo)} except in Lucid Common
5182 Lisp.
5183
5184 @item
5185 Packages. In Common Lisp, symbols are divided into @dfn{packages}.
5186 Symbols that are Lisp built-ins are typically stored in one package;
5187 symbols that are vendor extensions are put in another, and each
5188 application program would have a package for its own symbols.
5189 Certain symbols are ``exported'' by a package and others are
5190 internal; certain packages ``use'' or import the exported symbols
5191 of other packages. To access symbols that would not normally be
5192 visible due to this importing and exporting, Common Lisp provides
5193 a syntax like @code{package:symbol} or @code{package::symbol}.
5194
5195 Emacs Lisp has a single namespace for all interned symbols, and
5196 then uses a naming convention of putting a prefix like @code{cl-}
5197 in front of the name. Some Emacs packages adopt the Common Lisp-like
5198 convention of using @code{cl:} or @code{cl::} as the prefix.
5199 However, the Emacs parser does not understand colons and just
5200 treats them as part of the symbol name. Thus, while @code{mapcar}
5201 and @code{lisp:mapcar} may refer to the same symbol in Common
5202 Lisp, they are totally distinct in Emacs Lisp. Common Lisp
5203 programs which refer to a symbol by the full name sometimes
5204 and the short name other times will not port cleanly to Emacs.
5205
5206 Emacs Lisp does have a concept of ``obarrays,'' which are
5207 package-like collections of symbols, but this feature is not
5208 strong enough to be used as a true package mechanism.
5209
5210 @item
5211 The @code{format} function is quite different between Common
5212 Lisp and Emacs Lisp. It takes an additional ``destination''
5213 argument before the format string. A destination of @code{nil}
5214 means to format to a string as in Emacs Lisp; a destination
5215 of @code{t} means to write to the terminal (similar to
5216 @code{message} in Emacs). Also, format control strings are
5217 utterly different; @code{~} is used instead of @code{%} to
5218 introduce format codes, and the set of available codes is
5219 much richer. There are no notations like @code{\n} for
5220 string literals; instead, @code{format} is used with the
5221 ``newline'' format code, @code{~%}. More advanced formatting
5222 codes provide such features as paragraph filling, case
5223 conversion, and even loops and conditionals.
5224
5225 While it would have been possible to implement most of Common
5226 Lisp @code{format} in this package (under the name @code{format*},
5227 of course), it was not deemed worthwhile. It would have required
5228 a huge amount of code to implement even a decent subset of
5229 @code{format*}, yet the functionality it would provide over
5230 Emacs Lisp's @code{format} would rarely be useful.
5231
5232 @item
5233 Vector constants use square brackets in Emacs Lisp, but
5234 @code{#(a b c)} notation in Common Lisp. To further complicate
5235 matters, Emacs has its own @code{#(} notation for
5236 something entirely different---strings with properties.
5237
5238 @item
5239 Characters are distinct from integers in Common Lisp. The notation
5240 for character constants is also different: @code{#\A} in Common Lisp
5241 where Emacs Lisp uses @code{?A}. Also, @code{string=} and
5242 @code{string-equal} are synonyms in Emacs Lisp, whereas the latter is
5243 case-insensitive in Common Lisp.
5244
5245 @item
5246 Data types. Some Common Lisp data types do not exist in Emacs
5247 Lisp. Rational numbers and complex numbers are not present,
5248 nor are large integers (all integers are ``fixnums''). All
5249 arrays are one-dimensional. There are no readtables or pathnames;
5250 streams are a set of existing data types rather than a new data
5251 type of their own. Hash tables, random-states, structures, and
5252 packages (obarrays) are built from Lisp vectors or lists rather
5253 than being distinct types.
5254
5255 @item
5256 The Common Lisp Object System (CLOS) is not implemented,
5257 nor is the Common Lisp Condition System. However, the EIEIO package
5258 (@pxref{Top, , Introduction, eieio, EIEIO}) does implement some
5259 CLOS functionality.
5260
5261 @item
5262 Common Lisp features that are completely redundant with Emacs
5263 Lisp features of a different name generally have not been
5264 implemented. For example, Common Lisp writes @code{defconstant}
5265 where Emacs Lisp uses @code{defconst}. Similarly, @code{make-list}
5266 takes its arguments in different ways in the two Lisps but does
5267 exactly the same thing, so this package has not bothered to
5268 implement a Common Lisp-style @code{make-list}.
5269
5270 @item
5271 A few more notable Common Lisp features not included in this
5272 package: @code{compiler-let}, @code{tagbody}, @code{prog},
5273 @code{ldb/dpb}, @code{parse-integer}, @code{cerror}.
5274
5275 @item
5276 Recursion. While recursion works in Emacs Lisp just like it
5277 does in Common Lisp, various details of the Emacs Lisp system
5278 and compiler make recursion much less efficient than it is in
5279 most Lisps. Some schools of thought prefer to use recursion
5280 in Lisp over other techniques; they would sum a list of
5281 numbers using something like
5282
5283 @example
5284 (defun sum-list (list)
5285 (if list
5286 (+ (car list) (sum-list (cdr list)))
5287 0))
5288 @end example
5289
5290 @noindent
5291 where a more iteratively-minded programmer might write one of
5292 these forms:
5293
5294 @example
5295 (let ((total 0)) (dolist (x my-list) (incf total x)) total)
5296 (loop for x in my-list sum x)
5297 @end example
5298
5299 While this would be mainly a stylistic choice in most Common Lisps,
5300 in Emacs Lisp you should be aware that the iterative forms are
5301 much faster than recursion. Also, Lisp programmers will want to
5302 note that the current Emacs Lisp compiler does not optimize tail
5303 recursion.
5304 @end itemize
5305
5306 @node GNU Free Documentation License
5307 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
5308 @include doclicense.texi
5309
5310 @node Function Index
5311 @unnumbered Function Index
5312
5313 @printindex fn
5314
5315 @node Variable Index
5316 @unnumbered Variable Index
5317
5318 @printindex vr
5319
5320 @bye
5321