1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @setfilename ../info/cl
3 @settitle Common Lisp Extensions
6 This file documents the GNU Emacs Common Lisp emulation package.
8 Copyright @copyright{} 1993, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
9 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
12 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
13 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or
14 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
15 Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU
16 Manual'', and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the
17 license is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation
18 License'' in the Emacs manual.
20 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have freedom to copy and modify
21 this GNU Manual, like GNU software. Copies published by the Free
22 Software Foundation raise funds for GNU development.''
24 This document is part of a collection distributed under the GNU Free
25 Documentation License. If you want to distribute this document
26 separately from the collection, you can do so by adding a copy of the
27 license to the document, as described in section 6 of the license.
33 * CL: (cl). Partial Common Lisp support for Emacs Lisp.
40 @center @titlefont{Common Lisp Extensions}
42 @center For GNU Emacs Lisp
46 @center Dave Gillespie
47 @center daveg@@synaptics.com
49 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
53 @node Top, Overview, (dir), (dir)
57 This document describes a set of Emacs Lisp facilities borrowed from
58 Common Lisp. All the facilities are described here in detail. While
59 this document does not assume any prior knowledge of Common Lisp, it
60 does assume a basic familiarity with Emacs Lisp.
63 * Overview:: Installation, usage, etc.
64 * Program Structure:: Arglists, `eval-when', `defalias'
65 * Predicates:: `typep' and `equalp'
66 * Control Structure:: `setf', `do', `loop', etc.
67 * Macros:: Destructuring, `define-compiler-macro'
68 * Declarations:: `proclaim', `declare', etc.
69 * Symbols:: Property lists, `gensym'
70 * Numbers:: Predicates, functions, random numbers
71 * Sequences:: Mapping, functions, searching, sorting
72 * Lists:: `caddr', `sublis', `member*', `assoc*', etc.
73 * Structures:: `defstruct'
74 * Assertions:: `check-type', `assert', `ignore-errors'.
76 * Efficiency Concerns:: Hints and techniques
77 * Common Lisp Compatibility:: All known differences with Steele
78 * Old CL Compatibility:: All known differences with old cl.el
79 * Porting Common Lisp:: Hints for porting Common Lisp code
81 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation.
86 @node Overview, Program Structure, Top, Top
92 Common Lisp is a huge language, and Common Lisp systems tend to be
93 massive and extremely complex. Emacs Lisp, by contrast, is rather
94 minimalist in the choice of Lisp features it offers the programmer.
95 As Emacs Lisp programmers have grown in number, and the applications
96 they write have grown more ambitious, it has become clear that Emacs
97 Lisp could benefit from many of the conveniences of Common Lisp.
99 The @dfn{CL} package adds a number of Common Lisp functions and
100 control structures to Emacs Lisp. While not a 100% complete
101 implementation of Common Lisp, @dfn{CL} adds enough functionality
102 to make Emacs Lisp programming significantly more convenient.
104 @strong{Please note:} the @dfn{CL} functions are not standard parts of
105 the Emacs Lisp name space, so it is legitimate for users to define
106 them with other, conflicting meanings. To avoid conflicting with
107 those user activities, we have a policy that packages installed in
108 Emacs must not load @dfn{CL} at run time. (It is ok for them to load
109 @dfn{CL} at compile time only, with @code{eval-when-compile}, and use
110 the macros it provides.) If you are writing packages that you plan to
111 distribute and invite widespread use for, you might want to observe
114 Some Common Lisp features have been omitted from this package
119 Some features are too complex or bulky relative to their benefit
120 to Emacs Lisp programmers. CLOS and Common Lisp streams are fine
121 examples of this group.
124 Other features cannot be implemented without modification to the
125 Emacs Lisp interpreter itself, such as multiple return values,
126 lexical scoping, case-insensitive symbols, and complex numbers.
127 The @dfn{CL} package generally makes no attempt to emulate these
131 Some features conflict with existing things in Emacs Lisp. For
132 example, Emacs' @code{assoc} function is incompatible with the
133 Common Lisp @code{assoc}. In such cases, this package usually
134 adds the suffix @samp{*} to the function name of the Common
135 Lisp version of the function (e.g., @code{assoc*}).
138 The package described here was written by Dave Gillespie,
139 @file{daveg@@synaptics.com}. It is a total rewrite of the original
140 1986 @file{cl.el} package by Cesar Quiroz. Most features of the
141 Quiroz package have been retained; any incompatibilities are
142 noted in the descriptions below. Care has been taken in this
143 version to ensure that each function is defined efficiently,
144 concisely, and with minimal impact on the rest of the Emacs
148 * Usage:: How to use the CL package
149 * Organization:: The package's five component files
150 * Installation:: Compiling and installing CL
151 * Naming Conventions:: Notes on CL function names
154 @node Usage, Organization, Overview, Overview
158 Lisp code that uses features from the @dfn{CL} package should
159 include at the beginning:
166 If you want to ensure that the new (Gillespie) version of @dfn{CL}
167 is the one that is present, add an additional @code{(require 'cl-19)}
176 The second call will fail (with ``@file{cl-19.el} not found'') if
177 the old @file{cl.el} package was in use.
179 It is safe to arrange to load @dfn{CL} at all times, e.g.,
180 in your @file{.emacs} file. But it's a good idea, for portability,
181 to @code{(require 'cl)} in your code even if you do this.
183 @node Organization, Installation, Usage, Overview
184 @section Organization
187 The Common Lisp package is organized into four files:
191 This is the ``main'' file, which contains basic functions
192 and information about the package. This file is relatively
193 compact---about 700 lines.
196 This file contains the larger, more complex or unusual functions.
197 It is kept separate so that packages which only want to use Common
198 Lisp fundamentals like the @code{cadr} function won't need to pay
199 the overhead of loading the more advanced functions.
202 This file contains most of the advanced functions for operating
203 on sequences or lists, such as @code{delete-if} and @code{assoc*}.
206 This file contains the features of the packages which are macros
207 instead of functions. Macros expand when the caller is compiled,
208 not when it is run, so the macros generally only need to be
209 present when the byte-compiler is running (or when the macros are
210 used in uncompiled code such as a @file{.emacs} file). Most of
211 the macros of this package are isolated in @file{cl-macs.el} so
212 that they won't take up memory unless you are compiling.
215 The file @file{cl.el} includes all necessary @code{autoload}
216 commands for the functions and macros in the other three files.
217 All you have to do is @code{(require 'cl)}, and @file{cl.el}
218 will take care of pulling in the other files when they are
221 There is another file, @file{cl-compat.el}, which defines some
222 routines from the older @file{cl.el} package that are no longer
223 present in the new package. This includes internal routines
224 like @code{setelt} and @code{zip-lists}, deprecated features
225 like @code{defkeyword}, and an emulation of the old-style
226 multiple-values feature. @xref{Old CL Compatibility}.
228 @node Installation, Naming Conventions, Organization, Overview
229 @section Installation
232 Installation of the @dfn{CL} package is simple: Just put the
233 byte-compiled files @file{cl.elc}, @file{cl-extra.elc},
234 @file{cl-seq.elc}, @file{cl-macs.elc}, and @file{cl-compat.elc}
235 into a directory on your @code{load-path}.
237 There are no special requirements to compile this package:
238 The files do not have to be loaded before they are compiled,
239 nor do they need to be compiled in any particular order.
241 You may choose to put the files into your main @file{lisp/}
242 directory, replacing the original @file{cl.el} file there. Or,
243 you could put them into a directory that comes before @file{lisp/}
244 on your @code{load-path} so that the old @file{cl.el} is
247 Also, format the @file{cl.texinfo} file and put the resulting
248 Info files in the @file{info/} directory or another suitable place.
250 You may instead wish to leave this package's components all in
251 their own directory, and then add this directory to your
252 @code{load-path} and @code{Info-directory-list}.
253 Add the directory to the front of the list so the old @dfn{CL}
254 package and its documentation are hidden.
256 @node Naming Conventions, , Installation, Overview
257 @section Naming Conventions
260 Except where noted, all functions defined by this package have the
261 same names and calling conventions as their Common Lisp counterparts.
263 Following is a complete list of functions whose names were changed
264 from Common Lisp, usually to avoid conflicts with Emacs. In each
265 case, a @samp{*} has been appended to the Common Lisp name to obtain
269 defun* defsubst* defmacro* function*
270 member* assoc* rassoc* get*
271 remove* delete* mapcar* sort*
272 floor* ceiling* truncate* round*
276 Internal function and variable names in the package are prefixed
277 by @code{cl-}. Here is a complete list of functions @emph{not}
278 prefixed by @code{cl-} which were not taken from Common Lisp:
281 floatp-safe lexical-let lexical-let*
282 callf callf2 letf letf*
286 The following simple functions and macros are defined in @file{cl.el};
287 they do not cause other components like @file{cl-extra} to be loaded.
291 evenp oddp plusp minusp
293 list* ldiff rest first .. tenth
294 copy-list subst mapcar* [2]
295 adjoin [3] acons pairlis pop [4]
296 push [4] pushnew [3,4] incf [4] decf [4]
301 [2] Only for one sequence argument or two list arguments.
304 [3] Only if @code{:test} is @code{eq}, @code{equal}, or unspecified,
305 and @code{:key} is not used.
308 [4] Only when @var{place} is a plain variable name.
314 @node Program Structure, Predicates, Overview, Top
315 @chapter Program Structure
318 This section describes features of the @dfn{CL} package which have to
319 do with programs as a whole: advanced argument lists for functions,
320 and the @code{eval-when} construct.
323 * Argument Lists:: `&key', `&aux', `defun*', `defmacro*'.
324 * Time of Evaluation:: The `eval-when' construct.
331 @node Argument Lists, Time of Evaluation, Program Structure, Program Structure
332 @section Argument Lists
335 Emacs Lisp's notation for argument lists of functions is a subset of
336 the Common Lisp notation. As well as the familiar @code{&optional}
337 and @code{&rest} markers, Common Lisp allows you to specify default
338 values for optional arguments, and it provides the additional markers
339 @code{&key} and @code{&aux}.
341 Since argument parsing is built-in to Emacs, there is no way for
342 this package to implement Common Lisp argument lists seamlessly.
343 Instead, this package defines alternates for several Lisp forms
344 which you must use if you need Common Lisp argument lists.
346 @defspec defun* name arglist body...
347 This form is identical to the regular @code{defun} form, except
348 that @var{arglist} is allowed to be a full Common Lisp argument
349 list. Also, the function body is enclosed in an implicit block
350 called @var{name}; @pxref{Blocks and Exits}.
353 @defspec defsubst* name arglist body...
354 This is just like @code{defun*}, except that the function that
355 is defined is automatically proclaimed @code{inline}, i.e.,
356 calls to it may be expanded into in-line code by the byte compiler.
357 This is analogous to the @code{defsubst} form;
358 @code{defsubst*} uses a different method (compiler macros) which
359 works in all version of Emacs, and also generates somewhat more
360 efficient inline expansions. In particular, @code{defsubst*}
361 arranges for the processing of keyword arguments, default values,
362 etc., to be done at compile-time whenever possible.
365 @defspec defmacro* name arglist body...
366 This is identical to the regular @code{defmacro} form,
367 except that @var{arglist} is allowed to be a full Common Lisp
368 argument list. The @code{&environment} keyword is supported as
369 described in Steele. The @code{&whole} keyword is supported only
370 within destructured lists (see below); top-level @code{&whole}
371 cannot be implemented with the current Emacs Lisp interpreter.
372 The macro expander body is enclosed in an implicit block called
376 @defspec function* symbol-or-lambda
377 This is identical to the regular @code{function} form,
378 except that if the argument is a @code{lambda} form then that
379 form may use a full Common Lisp argument list.
382 Also, all forms (such as @code{defsetf} and @code{flet}) defined
383 in this package that include @var{arglist}s in their syntax allow
384 full Common Lisp argument lists.
386 Note that it is @emph{not} necessary to use @code{defun*} in
387 order to have access to most @dfn{CL} features in your function.
388 These features are always present; @code{defun*}'s only
389 difference from @code{defun} is its more flexible argument
390 lists and its implicit block.
392 The full form of a Common Lisp argument list is
396 &optional (@var{var} @var{initform} @var{svar})...
398 &key ((@var{keyword} @var{var}) @var{initform} @var{svar})...
399 &aux (@var{var} @var{initform})...)
402 Each of the five argument list sections is optional. The @var{svar},
403 @var{initform}, and @var{keyword} parts are optional; if they are
404 omitted, then @samp{(@var{var})} may be written simply @samp{@var{var}}.
406 The first section consists of zero or more @dfn{required} arguments.
407 These arguments must always be specified in a call to the function;
408 there is no difference between Emacs Lisp and Common Lisp as far as
409 required arguments are concerned.
411 The second section consists of @dfn{optional} arguments. These
412 arguments may be specified in the function call; if they are not,
413 @var{initform} specifies the default value used for the argument.
414 (No @var{initform} means to use @code{nil} as the default.) The
415 @var{initform} is evaluated with the bindings for the preceding
416 arguments already established; @code{(a &optional (b (1+ a)))}
417 matches one or two arguments, with the second argument defaulting
418 to one plus the first argument. If the @var{svar} is specified,
419 it is an auxiliary variable which is bound to @code{t} if the optional
420 argument was specified, or to @code{nil} if the argument was omitted.
421 If you don't use an @var{svar}, then there will be no way for your
422 function to tell whether it was called with no argument, or with
423 the default value passed explicitly as an argument.
425 The third section consists of a single @dfn{rest} argument. If
426 more arguments were passed to the function than are accounted for
427 by the required and optional arguments, those extra arguments are
428 collected into a list and bound to the ``rest'' argument variable.
429 Common Lisp's @code{&rest} is equivalent to that of Emacs Lisp.
430 Common Lisp accepts @code{&body} as a synonym for @code{&rest} in
431 macro contexts; this package accepts it all the time.
433 The fourth section consists of @dfn{keyword} arguments. These
434 are optional arguments which are specified by name rather than
435 positionally in the argument list. For example,
438 (defun* foo (a &optional b &key c d (e 17)))
442 defines a function which may be called with one, two, or more
443 arguments. The first two arguments are bound to @code{a} and
444 @code{b} in the usual way. The remaining arguments must be
445 pairs of the form @code{:c}, @code{:d}, or @code{:e} followed
446 by the value to be bound to the corresponding argument variable.
447 (Symbols whose names begin with a colon are called @dfn{keywords},
448 and they are self-quoting in the same way as @code{nil} and
451 For example, the call @code{(foo 1 2 :d 3 :c 4)} sets the five
452 arguments to 1, 2, 4, 3, and 17, respectively. If the same keyword
453 appears more than once in the function call, the first occurrence
454 takes precedence over the later ones. Note that it is not possible
455 to specify keyword arguments without specifying the optional
456 argument @code{b} as well, since @code{(foo 1 :c 2)} would bind
457 @code{b} to the keyword @code{:c}, then signal an error because
458 @code{2} is not a valid keyword.
460 If a @var{keyword} symbol is explicitly specified in the argument
461 list as shown in the above diagram, then that keyword will be
462 used instead of just the variable name prefixed with a colon.
463 You can specify a @var{keyword} symbol which does not begin with
464 a colon at all, but such symbols will not be self-quoting; you
465 will have to quote them explicitly with an apostrophe in the
468 Ordinarily it is an error to pass an unrecognized keyword to
469 a function, e.g., @code{(foo 1 2 :c 3 :goober 4)}. You can ask
470 Lisp to ignore unrecognized keywords, either by adding the
471 marker @code{&allow-other-keys} after the keyword section
472 of the argument list, or by specifying an @code{:allow-other-keys}
473 argument in the call whose value is non-@code{nil}. If the
474 function uses both @code{&rest} and @code{&key} at the same time,
475 the ``rest'' argument is bound to the keyword list as it appears
476 in the call. For example:
479 (defun* find-thing (thing &rest rest &key need &allow-other-keys)
480 (or (apply 'member* thing thing-list :allow-other-keys t rest)
481 (if need (error "Thing not found"))))
485 This function takes a @code{:need} keyword argument, but also
486 accepts other keyword arguments which are passed on to the
487 @code{member*} function. @code{allow-other-keys} is used to
488 keep both @code{find-thing} and @code{member*} from complaining
489 about each others' keywords in the arguments.
491 The fifth section of the argument list consists of @dfn{auxiliary
492 variables}. These are not really arguments at all, but simply
493 variables which are bound to @code{nil} or to the specified
494 @var{initforms} during execution of the function. There is no
495 difference between the following two functions, except for a
496 matter of stylistic taste:
499 (defun* foo (a b &aux (c (+ a b)) d)
507 Argument lists support @dfn{destructuring}. In Common Lisp,
508 destructuring is only allowed with @code{defmacro}; this package
509 allows it with @code{defun*} and other argument lists as well.
510 In destructuring, any argument variable (@var{var} in the above
511 diagram) can be replaced by a list of variables, or more generally,
512 a recursive argument list. The corresponding argument value must
513 be a list whose elements match this recursive argument list.
517 (defmacro* dolist ((var listform &optional resultform)
522 This says that the first argument of @code{dolist} must be a list
523 of two or three items; if there are other arguments as well as this
524 list, they are stored in @code{body}. All features allowed in
525 regular argument lists are allowed in these recursive argument lists.
526 In addition, the clause @samp{&whole @var{var}} is allowed at the
527 front of a recursive argument list. It binds @var{var} to the
528 whole list being matched; thus @code{(&whole all a b)} matches
529 a list of two things, with @code{a} bound to the first thing,
530 @code{b} bound to the second thing, and @code{all} bound to the
531 list itself. (Common Lisp allows @code{&whole} in top-level
532 @code{defmacro} argument lists as well, but Emacs Lisp does not
535 One last feature of destructuring is that the argument list may be
536 dotted, so that the argument list @code{(a b . c)} is functionally
537 equivalent to @code{(a b &rest c)}.
539 If the optimization quality @code{safety} is set to 0
540 (@pxref{Declarations}), error checking for wrong number of
541 arguments and invalid keyword arguments is disabled. By default,
542 argument lists are rigorously checked.
544 @node Time of Evaluation, , Argument Lists, Program Structure
545 @section Time of Evaluation
548 Normally, the byte-compiler does not actually execute the forms in
549 a file it compiles. For example, if a file contains @code{(setq foo t)},
550 the act of compiling it will not actually set @code{foo} to @code{t}.
551 This is true even if the @code{setq} was a top-level form (i.e., not
552 enclosed in a @code{defun} or other form). Sometimes, though, you
553 would like to have certain top-level forms evaluated at compile-time.
554 For example, the compiler effectively evaluates @code{defmacro} forms
555 at compile-time so that later parts of the file can refer to the
556 macros that are defined.
558 @defspec eval-when (situations...) forms...
559 This form controls when the body @var{forms} are evaluated.
560 The @var{situations} list may contain any set of the symbols
561 @code{compile}, @code{load}, and @code{eval} (or their long-winded
562 ANSI equivalents, @code{:compile-toplevel}, @code{:load-toplevel},
563 and @code{:execute}).
565 The @code{eval-when} form is handled differently depending on
566 whether or not it is being compiled as a top-level form.
567 Specifically, it gets special treatment if it is being compiled
568 by a command such as @code{byte-compile-file} which compiles files
569 or buffers of code, and it appears either literally at the
570 top level of the file or inside a top-level @code{progn}.
572 For compiled top-level @code{eval-when}s, the body @var{forms} are
573 executed at compile-time if @code{compile} is in the @var{situations}
574 list, and the @var{forms} are written out to the file (to be executed
575 at load-time) if @code{load} is in the @var{situations} list.
577 For non-compiled-top-level forms, only the @code{eval} situation is
578 relevant. (This includes forms executed by the interpreter, forms
579 compiled with @code{byte-compile} rather than @code{byte-compile-file},
580 and non-top-level forms.) The @code{eval-when} acts like a
581 @code{progn} if @code{eval} is specified, and like @code{nil}
582 (ignoring the body @var{forms}) if not.
584 The rules become more subtle when @code{eval-when}s are nested;
585 consult Steele (second edition) for the gruesome details (and
586 some gruesome examples).
588 Some simple examples:
591 ;; Top-level forms in foo.el:
592 (eval-when (compile) (setq foo1 'bar))
593 (eval-when (load) (setq foo2 'bar))
594 (eval-when (compile load) (setq foo3 'bar))
595 (eval-when (eval) (setq foo4 'bar))
596 (eval-when (eval compile) (setq foo5 'bar))
597 (eval-when (eval load) (setq foo6 'bar))
598 (eval-when (eval compile load) (setq foo7 'bar))
601 When @file{foo.el} is compiled, these variables will be set during
602 the compilation itself:
605 foo1 foo3 foo5 foo7 ; `compile'
608 When @file{foo.elc} is loaded, these variables will be set:
611 foo2 foo3 foo6 foo7 ; `load'
614 And if @file{foo.el} is loaded uncompiled, these variables will
618 foo4 foo5 foo6 foo7 ; `eval'
621 If these seven @code{eval-when}s had been, say, inside a @code{defun},
622 then the first three would have been equivalent to @code{nil} and the
623 last four would have been equivalent to the corresponding @code{setq}s.
625 Note that @code{(eval-when (load eval) @dots{})} is equivalent
626 to @code{(progn @dots{})} in all contexts. The compiler treats
627 certain top-level forms, like @code{defmacro} (sort-of) and
628 @code{require}, as if they were wrapped in @code{(eval-when
629 (compile load eval) @dots{})}.
632 Emacs includes two special forms related to @code{eval-when}.
633 One of these, @code{eval-when-compile}, is not quite equivalent to
634 any @code{eval-when} construct and is described below.
636 The other form, @code{(eval-and-compile @dots{})}, is exactly
637 equivalent to @samp{(eval-when (compile load eval) @dots{})} and
638 so is not itself defined by this package.
640 @defspec eval-when-compile forms...
641 The @var{forms} are evaluated at compile-time; at execution time,
642 this form acts like a quoted constant of the resulting value. Used
643 at top-level, @code{eval-when-compile} is just like @samp{eval-when
644 (compile eval)}. In other contexts, @code{eval-when-compile}
645 allows code to be evaluated once at compile-time for efficiency
648 This form is similar to the @samp{#.} syntax of true Common Lisp.
651 @defspec load-time-value form
652 The @var{form} is evaluated at load-time; at execution time,
653 this form acts like a quoted constant of the resulting value.
655 Early Common Lisp had a @samp{#,} syntax that was similar to
656 this, but ANSI Common Lisp replaced it with @code{load-time-value}
657 and gave it more well-defined semantics.
659 In a compiled file, @code{load-time-value} arranges for @var{form}
660 to be evaluated when the @file{.elc} file is loaded and then used
661 as if it were a quoted constant. In code compiled by
662 @code{byte-compile} rather than @code{byte-compile-file}, the
663 effect is identical to @code{eval-when-compile}. In uncompiled
664 code, both @code{eval-when-compile} and @code{load-time-value}
665 act exactly like @code{progn}.
669 (insert "This function was executed on: "
670 (current-time-string)
672 (eval-when-compile (current-time-string))
673 ;; or '#.(current-time-string) in real Common Lisp
675 (load-time-value (current-time-string))))
679 Byte-compiled, the above defun will result in the following code
680 (or its compiled equivalent, of course) in the @file{.elc} file:
683 (setq --temp-- (current-time-string))
685 (insert "This function was executed on: "
686 (current-time-string)
688 '"Wed Jun 23 18:33:43 1993"
694 @node Predicates, Control Structure, Program Structure, Top
698 This section describes functions for testing whether various
699 facts are true or false.
702 * Type Predicates:: `typep', `deftype', and `coerce'
703 * Equality Predicates:: `equalp'
706 @node Type Predicates, Equality Predicates, Predicates, Predicates
707 @section Type Predicates
710 The @dfn{CL} package defines a version of the Common Lisp @code{typep}
713 @defun typep object type
714 Check if @var{object} is of type @var{type}, where @var{type} is a
715 (quoted) type name of the sort used by Common Lisp. For example,
716 @code{(typep foo 'integer)} is equivalent to @code{(integerp foo)}.
719 The @var{type} argument to the above function is either a symbol
720 or a list beginning with a symbol.
724 If the type name is a symbol, Emacs appends @samp{-p} to the
725 symbol name to form the name of a predicate function for testing
726 the type. (Built-in predicates whose names end in @samp{p} rather
727 than @samp{-p} are used when appropriate.)
730 The type symbol @code{t} stands for the union of all types.
731 @code{(typep @var{object} t)} is always true. Likewise, the
732 type symbol @code{nil} stands for nothing at all, and
733 @code{(typep @var{object} nil)} is always false.
736 The type symbol @code{null} represents the symbol @code{nil}.
737 Thus @code{(typep @var{object} 'null)} is equivalent to
738 @code{(null @var{object})}.
741 The type symbol @code{atom} represents all objects that are not cons
742 cells. Thus @code{(typep @var{object} 'atom)} is equivalent to
743 @code{(atom @var{object})}.
746 The type symbol @code{real} is a synonym for @code{number}, and
747 @code{fixnum} is a synonym for @code{integer}.
750 The type symbols @code{character} and @code{string-char} match
751 integers in the range from 0 to 255.
754 The type symbol @code{float} uses the @code{floatp-safe} predicate
755 defined by this package rather than @code{floatp}, so it will work
756 correctly even in Emacs versions without floating-point support.
759 The type list @code{(integer @var{low} @var{high})} represents all
760 integers between @var{low} and @var{high}, inclusive. Either bound
761 may be a list of a single integer to specify an exclusive limit,
762 or a @code{*} to specify no limit. The type @code{(integer * *)}
763 is thus equivalent to @code{integer}.
766 Likewise, lists beginning with @code{float}, @code{real}, or
767 @code{number} represent numbers of that type falling in a particular
771 Lists beginning with @code{and}, @code{or}, and @code{not} form
772 combinations of types. For example, @code{(or integer (float 0 *))}
773 represents all objects that are integers or non-negative floats.
776 Lists beginning with @code{member} or @code{member*} represent
777 objects @code{eql} to any of the following values. For example,
778 @code{(member 1 2 3 4)} is equivalent to @code{(integer 1 4)},
779 and @code{(member nil)} is equivalent to @code{null}.
782 Lists of the form @code{(satisfies @var{predicate})} represent
783 all objects for which @var{predicate} returns true when called
784 with that object as an argument.
787 The following function and macro (not technically predicates) are
788 related to @code{typep}.
790 @defun coerce object type
791 This function attempts to convert @var{object} to the specified
792 @var{type}. If @var{object} is already of that type as determined by
793 @code{typep}, it is simply returned. Otherwise, certain types of
794 conversions will be made: If @var{type} is any sequence type
795 (@code{string}, @code{list}, etc.) then @var{object} will be
796 converted to that type if possible. If @var{type} is
797 @code{character}, then strings of length one and symbols with
798 one-character names can be coerced. If @var{type} is @code{float},
799 then integers can be coerced in versions of Emacs that support
800 floats. In all other circumstances, @code{coerce} signals an
804 @defspec deftype name arglist forms...
805 This macro defines a new type called @var{name}. It is similar
806 to @code{defmacro} in many ways; when @var{name} is encountered
807 as a type name, the body @var{forms} are evaluated and should
808 return a type specifier that is equivalent to the type. The
809 @var{arglist} is a Common Lisp argument list of the sort accepted
810 by @code{defmacro*}. The type specifier @samp{(@var{name} @var{args}...)}
811 is expanded by calling the expander with those arguments; the type
812 symbol @samp{@var{name}} is expanded by calling the expander with
813 no arguments. The @var{arglist} is processed the same as for
814 @code{defmacro*} except that optional arguments without explicit
815 defaults use @code{*} instead of @code{nil} as the ``default''
816 default. Some examples:
819 (deftype null () '(satisfies null)) ; predefined
820 (deftype list () '(or null cons)) ; predefined
821 (deftype unsigned-byte (&optional bits)
822 (list 'integer 0 (if (eq bits '*) bits (1- (lsh 1 bits)))))
823 (unsigned-byte 8) @equiv{} (integer 0 255)
824 (unsigned-byte) @equiv{} (integer 0 *)
825 unsigned-byte @equiv{} (integer 0 *)
829 The last example shows how the Common Lisp @code{unsigned-byte}
830 type specifier could be implemented if desired; this package does
831 not implement @code{unsigned-byte} by default.
834 The @code{typecase} and @code{check-type} macros also use type
835 names. @xref{Conditionals}. @xref{Assertions}. The @code{map},
836 @code{concatenate}, and @code{merge} functions take type-name
837 arguments to specify the type of sequence to return. @xref{Sequences}.
839 @node Equality Predicates, , Type Predicates, Predicates
840 @section Equality Predicates
843 This package defines the Common Lisp predicate @code{equalp}.
846 This function is a more flexible version of @code{equal}. In
847 particular, it compares strings case-insensitively, and it compares
848 numbers without regard to type (so that @code{(equalp 3 3.0)} is
849 true). Vectors and conses are compared recursively. All other
850 objects are compared as if by @code{equal}.
852 This function differs from Common Lisp @code{equalp} in several
853 respects. First, Common Lisp's @code{equalp} also compares
854 @emph{characters} case-insensitively, which would be impractical
855 in this package since Emacs does not distinguish between integers
856 and characters. In keeping with the idea that strings are less
857 vector-like in Emacs Lisp, this package's @code{equalp} also will
858 not compare strings against vectors of integers.
861 Also note that the Common Lisp functions @code{member} and @code{assoc}
862 use @code{eql} to compare elements, whereas Emacs Lisp follows the
863 MacLisp tradition and uses @code{equal} for these two functions.
864 In Emacs, use @code{member*} and @code{assoc*} to get functions
865 which use @code{eql} for comparisons.
867 @node Control Structure, Macros, Predicates, Top
868 @chapter Control Structure
871 The features described in the following sections implement
872 various advanced control structures, including the powerful
873 @code{setf} facility and a number of looping and conditional
877 * Assignment:: The `psetq' form
878 * Generalized Variables:: `setf', `incf', `push', etc.
879 * Variable Bindings:: `progv', `lexical-let', `flet', `macrolet'
880 * Conditionals:: `case', `typecase'
881 * Blocks and Exits:: `block', `return', `return-from'
882 * Iteration:: `do', `dotimes', `dolist', `do-symbols'
883 * Loop Facility:: The Common Lisp `loop' macro
884 * Multiple Values:: `values', `multiple-value-bind', etc.
887 @node Assignment, Generalized Variables, Control Structure, Control Structure
891 The @code{psetq} form is just like @code{setq}, except that multiple
892 assignments are done in parallel rather than sequentially.
894 @defspec psetq [symbol form]@dots{}
895 This special form (actually a macro) is used to assign to several
896 variables simultaneously. Given only one @var{symbol} and @var{form},
897 it has the same effect as @code{setq}. Given several @var{symbol}
898 and @var{form} pairs, it evaluates all the @var{form}s in advance
899 and then stores the corresponding variables afterwards.
903 (setq x (+ x y) y (* x y))
906 y ; @r{@code{y} was computed after @code{x} was set.}
909 (psetq x (+ x y) y (* x y))
912 y ; @r{@code{y} was computed before @code{x} was set.}
916 The simplest use of @code{psetq} is @code{(psetq x y y x)}, which
917 exchanges the values of two variables. (The @code{rotatef} form
918 provides an even more convenient way to swap two variables;
919 @pxref{Modify Macros}.)
921 @code{psetq} always returns @code{nil}.
924 @node Generalized Variables, Variable Bindings, Assignment, Control Structure
925 @section Generalized Variables
928 A ``generalized variable'' or ``place form'' is one of the many places
929 in Lisp memory where values can be stored. The simplest place form is
930 a regular Lisp variable. But the cars and cdrs of lists, elements
931 of arrays, properties of symbols, and many other locations are also
932 places where Lisp values are stored.
934 The @code{setf} form is like @code{setq}, except that it accepts
935 arbitrary place forms on the left side rather than just
936 symbols. For example, @code{(setf (car a) b)} sets the car of
937 @code{a} to @code{b}, doing the same operation as @code{(setcar a b)}
938 but without having to remember two separate functions for setting
939 and accessing every type of place.
941 Generalized variables are analogous to ``lvalues'' in the C
942 language, where @samp{x = a[i]} gets an element from an array
943 and @samp{a[i] = x} stores an element using the same notation.
944 Just as certain forms like @code{a[i]} can be lvalues in C, there
945 is a set of forms that can be generalized variables in Lisp.
948 * Basic Setf:: `setf' and place forms
949 * Modify Macros:: `incf', `push', `rotatef', `letf', `callf', etc.
950 * Customizing Setf:: `define-modify-macro', `defsetf', `define-setf-method'
953 @node Basic Setf, Modify Macros, Generalized Variables, Generalized Variables
954 @subsection Basic Setf
957 The @code{setf} macro is the most basic way to operate on generalized
960 @defspec setf [place form]@dots{}
961 This macro evaluates @var{form} and stores it in @var{place}, which
962 must be a valid generalized variable form. If there are several
963 @var{place} and @var{form} pairs, the assignments are done sequentially
964 just as with @code{setq}. @code{setf} returns the value of the last
967 The following Lisp forms will work as generalized variables, and
968 so may appear in the @var{place} argument of @code{setf}:
972 A symbol naming a variable. In other words, @code{(setf x y)} is
973 exactly equivalent to @code{(setq x y)}, and @code{setq} itself is
974 strictly speaking redundant now that @code{setf} exists. Many
975 programmers continue to prefer @code{setq} for setting simple
976 variables, though, purely for stylistic or historical reasons.
977 The macro @code{(setf x y)} actually expands to @code{(setq x y)},
978 so there is no performance penalty for using it in compiled code.
981 A call to any of the following Lisp functions:
984 car cdr caar .. cddddr
985 nth rest first .. tenth
987 symbol-function symbol-value symbol-plist
993 Note that for @code{nthcdr} and @code{getf}, the list argument
994 of the function must itself be a valid @var{place} form. For
995 example, @code{(setf (nthcdr 0 foo) 7)} will set @code{foo} itself
996 to 7. Note that @code{push} and @code{pop} on an @code{nthcdr}
997 place can be used to insert or delete at any position in a list.
998 The use of @code{nthcdr} as a @var{place} form is an extension
999 to standard Common Lisp.
1002 The following Emacs-specific functions are also @code{setf}-able.
1005 buffer-file-name marker-position
1006 buffer-modified-p match-data
1007 buffer-name mouse-position
1008 buffer-string overlay-end
1009 buffer-substring overlay-get
1010 current-buffer overlay-start
1011 current-case-table point
1012 current-column point-marker
1013 current-global-map point-max
1014 current-input-mode point-min
1015 current-local-map process-buffer
1016 current-window-configuration process-filter
1017 default-file-modes process-sentinel
1018 default-value read-mouse-position
1019 documentation-property screen-height
1020 extent-data screen-menubar
1021 extent-end-position screen-width
1022 extent-start-position selected-window
1023 face-background selected-screen
1024 face-background-pixmap selected-frame
1025 face-font standard-case-table
1026 face-foreground syntax-table
1027 face-underline-p window-buffer
1028 file-modes window-dedicated-p
1029 frame-height window-display-table
1030 frame-parameters window-height
1031 frame-visible-p window-hscroll
1032 frame-width window-point
1033 get-register window-start
1035 global-key-binding x-get-cut-buffer
1036 keymap-parent x-get-cutbuffer
1037 local-key-binding x-get-secondary-selection
1038 mark x-get-selection
1042 Most of these have directly corresponding ``set'' functions, like
1043 @code{use-local-map} for @code{current-local-map}, or @code{goto-char}
1044 for @code{point}. A few, like @code{point-min}, expand to longer
1045 sequences of code when they are @code{setf}'d (@code{(narrow-to-region
1046 x (point-max))} in this case).
1049 A call of the form @code{(substring @var{subplace} @var{n} [@var{m}])},
1050 where @var{subplace} is itself a valid generalized variable whose
1051 current value is a string, and where the value stored is also a
1052 string. The new string is spliced into the specified part of the
1053 destination string. For example:
1056 (setq a (list "hello" "world"))
1057 @result{} ("hello" "world")
1060 (substring (cadr a) 2 4)
1062 (setf (substring (cadr a) 2 4) "o")
1067 @result{} ("hello" "wood")
1070 The generalized variable @code{buffer-substring}, listed above,
1071 also works in this way by replacing a portion of the current buffer.
1074 A call of the form @code{(apply '@var{func} @dots{})} or
1075 @code{(apply (function @var{func}) @dots{})}, where @var{func}
1076 is a @code{setf}-able function whose store function is ``suitable''
1077 in the sense described in Steele's book; since none of the standard
1078 Emacs place functions are suitable in this sense, this feature is
1079 only interesting when used with places you define yourself with
1080 @code{define-setf-method} or the long form of @code{defsetf}.
1083 A macro call, in which case the macro is expanded and @code{setf}
1084 is applied to the resulting form.
1087 Any form for which a @code{defsetf} or @code{define-setf-method}
1091 Using any forms other than these in the @var{place} argument to
1092 @code{setf} will signal an error.
1094 The @code{setf} macro takes care to evaluate all subforms in
1095 the proper left-to-right order; for example,
1098 (setf (aref vec (incf i)) i)
1102 looks like it will evaluate @code{(incf i)} exactly once, before the
1103 following access to @code{i}; the @code{setf} expander will insert
1104 temporary variables as necessary to ensure that it does in fact work
1105 this way no matter what setf-method is defined for @code{aref}.
1106 (In this case, @code{aset} would be used and no such steps would
1107 be necessary since @code{aset} takes its arguments in a convenient
1110 However, if the @var{place} form is a macro which explicitly
1111 evaluates its arguments in an unusual order, this unusual order
1112 will be preserved. Adapting an example from Steele, given
1115 (defmacro wrong-order (x y) (list 'aref y x))
1119 the form @code{(setf (wrong-order @var{a} @var{b}) 17)} will
1120 evaluate @var{b} first, then @var{a}, just as in an actual call
1121 to @code{wrong-order}.
1124 @node Modify Macros, Customizing Setf, Basic Setf, Generalized Variables
1125 @subsection Modify Macros
1128 This package defines a number of other macros besides @code{setf}
1129 that operate on generalized variables. Many are interesting and
1130 useful even when the @var{place} is just a variable name.
1132 @defspec psetf [place form]@dots{}
1133 This macro is to @code{setf} what @code{psetq} is to @code{setq}:
1134 When several @var{place}s and @var{form}s are involved, the
1135 assignments take place in parallel rather than sequentially.
1136 Specifically, all subforms are evaluated from left to right, then
1137 all the assignments are done (in an undefined order).
1140 @defspec incf place &optional x
1141 This macro increments the number stored in @var{place} by one, or
1142 by @var{x} if specified. The incremented value is returned. For
1143 example, @code{(incf i)} is equivalent to @code{(setq i (1+ i))}, and
1144 @code{(incf (car x) 2)} is equivalent to @code{(setcar x (+ (car x) 2))}.
1146 Once again, care is taken to preserve the ``apparent'' order of
1147 evaluation. For example,
1150 (incf (aref vec (incf i)))
1154 appears to increment @code{i} once, then increment the element of
1155 @code{vec} addressed by @code{i}; this is indeed exactly what it
1156 does, which means the above form is @emph{not} equivalent to the
1157 ``obvious'' expansion,
1160 (setf (aref vec (incf i)) (1+ (aref vec (incf i)))) ; Wrong!
1164 but rather to something more like
1167 (let ((temp (incf i)))
1168 (setf (aref vec temp) (1+ (aref vec temp))))
1172 Again, all of this is taken care of automatically by @code{incf} and
1173 the other generalized-variable macros.
1175 As a more Emacs-specific example of @code{incf}, the expression
1176 @code{(incf (point) @var{n})} is essentially equivalent to
1177 @code{(forward-char @var{n})}.
1180 @defspec decf place &optional x
1181 This macro decrements the number stored in @var{place} by one, or
1182 by @var{x} if specified.
1186 This macro removes and returns the first element of the list stored
1187 in @var{place}. It is analogous to @code{(prog1 (car @var{place})
1188 (setf @var{place} (cdr @var{place})))}, except that it takes care
1189 to evaluate all subforms only once.
1192 @defspec push x place
1193 This macro inserts @var{x} at the front of the list stored in
1194 @var{place}. It is analogous to @code{(setf @var{place} (cons
1195 @var{x} @var{place}))}, except for evaluation of the subforms.
1198 @defspec pushnew x place @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
1199 This macro inserts @var{x} at the front of the list stored in
1200 @var{place}, but only if @var{x} was not @code{eql} to any
1201 existing element of the list. The optional keyword arguments
1202 are interpreted in the same way as for @code{adjoin}.
1203 @xref{Lists as Sets}.
1206 @defspec shiftf place@dots{} newvalue
1207 This macro shifts the @var{place}s left by one, shifting in the
1208 value of @var{newvalue} (which may be any Lisp expression, not just
1209 a generalized variable), and returning the value shifted out of
1210 the first @var{place}. Thus, @code{(shiftf @var{a} @var{b} @var{c}
1211 @var{d})} is equivalent to
1216 (psetf @var{a} @var{b}
1222 except that the subforms of @var{a}, @var{b}, and @var{c} are actually
1223 evaluated only once each and in the apparent order.
1226 @defspec rotatef place@dots{}
1227 This macro rotates the @var{place}s left by one in circular fashion.
1228 Thus, @code{(rotatef @var{a} @var{b} @var{c} @var{d})} is equivalent to
1231 (psetf @var{a} @var{b}
1238 except for the evaluation of subforms. @code{rotatef} always
1239 returns @code{nil}. Note that @code{(rotatef @var{a} @var{b})}
1240 conveniently exchanges @var{a} and @var{b}.
1243 The following macros were invented for this package; they have no
1244 analogues in Common Lisp.
1246 @defspec letf (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1247 This macro is analogous to @code{let}, but for generalized variables
1248 rather than just symbols. Each @var{binding} should be of the form
1249 @code{(@var{place} @var{value})}; the original contents of the
1250 @var{place}s are saved, the @var{value}s are stored in them, and
1251 then the body @var{form}s are executed. Afterwards, the @var{places}
1252 are set back to their original saved contents. This cleanup happens
1253 even if the @var{form}s exit irregularly due to a @code{throw} or an
1259 (letf (((point) (point-min))
1265 moves ``point'' in the current buffer to the beginning of the buffer,
1266 and also binds @code{a} to 17 (as if by a normal @code{let}, since
1267 @code{a} is just a regular variable). After the body exits, @code{a}
1268 is set back to its original value and point is moved back to its
1271 Note that @code{letf} on @code{(point)} is not quite like a
1272 @code{save-excursion}, as the latter effectively saves a marker
1273 which tracks insertions and deletions in the buffer. Actually,
1274 a @code{letf} of @code{(point-marker)} is much closer to this
1275 behavior. (@code{point} and @code{point-marker} are equivalent
1276 as @code{setf} places; each will accept either an integer or a
1277 marker as the stored value.)
1279 Since generalized variables look like lists, @code{let}'s shorthand
1280 of using @samp{foo} for @samp{(foo nil)} as a @var{binding} would
1281 be ambiguous in @code{letf} and is not allowed.
1283 However, a @var{binding} specifier may be a one-element list
1284 @samp{(@var{place})}, which is similar to @samp{(@var{place}
1285 @var{place})}. In other words, the @var{place} is not disturbed
1286 on entry to the body, and the only effect of the @code{letf} is
1287 to restore the original value of @var{place} afterwards. (The
1288 redundant access-and-store suggested by the @code{(@var{place}
1289 @var{place})} example does not actually occur.)
1291 In most cases, the @var{place} must have a well-defined value on
1292 entry to the @code{letf} form. The only exceptions are plain
1293 variables and calls to @code{symbol-value} and @code{symbol-function}.
1294 If the symbol is not bound on entry, it is simply made unbound by
1295 @code{makunbound} or @code{fmakunbound} on exit.
1298 @defspec letf* (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1299 This macro is to @code{letf} what @code{let*} is to @code{let}:
1300 It does the bindings in sequential rather than parallel order.
1303 @defspec callf @var{function} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{}
1304 This is the ``generic'' modify macro. It calls @var{function},
1305 which should be an unquoted function name, macro name, or lambda.
1306 It passes @var{place} and @var{args} as arguments, and assigns the
1307 result back to @var{place}. For example, @code{(incf @var{place}
1308 @var{n})} is the same as @code{(callf + @var{place} @var{n})}.
1312 (callf abs my-number)
1313 (callf concat (buffer-name) "<" (int-to-string n) ">")
1314 (callf union happy-people (list joe bob) :test 'same-person)
1317 @xref{Customizing Setf}, for @code{define-modify-macro}, a way
1318 to create even more concise notations for modify macros. Note
1319 again that @code{callf} is an extension to standard Common Lisp.
1322 @defspec callf2 @var{function} @var{arg1} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{}
1323 This macro is like @code{callf}, except that @var{place} is
1324 the @emph{second} argument of @var{function} rather than the
1325 first. For example, @code{(push @var{x} @var{place})} is
1326 equivalent to @code{(callf2 cons @var{x} @var{place})}.
1329 The @code{callf} and @code{callf2} macros serve as building
1330 blocks for other macros like @code{incf}, @code{pushnew}, and
1331 @code{define-modify-macro}. The @code{letf} and @code{letf*}
1332 macros are used in the processing of symbol macros;
1333 @pxref{Macro Bindings}.
1335 @node Customizing Setf, , Modify Macros, Generalized Variables
1336 @subsection Customizing Setf
1339 Common Lisp defines three macros, @code{define-modify-macro},
1340 @code{defsetf}, and @code{define-setf-method}, that allow the
1341 user to extend generalized variables in various ways.
1343 @defspec define-modify-macro name arglist function [doc-string]
1344 This macro defines a ``read-modify-write'' macro similar to
1345 @code{incf} and @code{decf}. The macro @var{name} is defined
1346 to take a @var{place} argument followed by additional arguments
1347 described by @var{arglist}. The call
1350 (@var{name} @var{place} @var{args}...)
1357 (callf @var{func} @var{place} @var{args}...)
1361 which in turn is roughly equivalent to
1364 (setf @var{place} (@var{func} @var{place} @var{args}...))
1370 (define-modify-macro incf (&optional (n 1)) +)
1371 (define-modify-macro concatf (&rest args) concat)
1374 Note that @code{&key} is not allowed in @var{arglist}, but
1375 @code{&rest} is sufficient to pass keywords on to the function.
1377 Most of the modify macros defined by Common Lisp do not exactly
1378 follow the pattern of @code{define-modify-macro}. For example,
1379 @code{push} takes its arguments in the wrong order, and @code{pop}
1380 is completely irregular. You can define these macros ``by hand''
1381 using @code{get-setf-method}, or consult the source file
1382 @file{cl-macs.el} to see how to use the internal @code{setf}
1386 @defspec defsetf access-fn update-fn
1387 This is the simpler of two @code{defsetf} forms. Where
1388 @var{access-fn} is the name of a function which accesses a place,
1389 this declares @var{update-fn} to be the corresponding store
1390 function. From now on,
1393 (setf (@var{access-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3}) @var{value})
1400 (@var{update-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3} @var{value})
1404 The @var{update-fn} is required to be either a true function, or
1405 a macro which evaluates its arguments in a function-like way. Also,
1406 the @var{update-fn} is expected to return @var{value} as its result.
1407 Otherwise, the above expansion would not obey the rules for the way
1408 @code{setf} is supposed to behave.
1410 As a special (non-Common-Lisp) extension, a third argument of @code{t}
1411 to @code{defsetf} says that the @code{update-fn}'s return value is
1412 not suitable, so that the above @code{setf} should be expanded to
1416 (let ((temp @var{value}))
1417 (@var{update-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3} temp)
1421 Some examples of the use of @code{defsetf}, drawn from the standard
1422 suite of setf methods, are:
1425 (defsetf car setcar)
1426 (defsetf symbol-value set)
1427 (defsetf buffer-name rename-buffer t)
1431 @defspec defsetf access-fn arglist (store-var) forms@dots{}
1432 This is the second, more complex, form of @code{defsetf}. It is
1433 rather like @code{defmacro} except for the additional @var{store-var}
1434 argument. The @var{forms} should return a Lisp form which stores
1435 the value of @var{store-var} into the generalized variable formed
1436 by a call to @var{access-fn} with arguments described by @var{arglist}.
1437 The @var{forms} may begin with a string which documents the @code{setf}
1438 method (analogous to the doc string that appears at the front of a
1441 For example, the simple form of @code{defsetf} is shorthand for
1444 (defsetf @var{access-fn} (&rest args) (store)
1445 (append '(@var{update-fn}) args (list store)))
1448 The Lisp form that is returned can access the arguments from
1449 @var{arglist} and @var{store-var} in an unrestricted fashion;
1450 macros like @code{setf} and @code{incf} which invoke this
1451 setf-method will insert temporary variables as needed to make
1452 sure the apparent order of evaluation is preserved.
1454 Another example drawn from the standard package:
1457 (defsetf nth (n x) (store)
1458 (list 'setcar (list 'nthcdr n x) store))
1462 @defspec define-setf-method access-fn arglist forms@dots{}
1463 This is the most general way to create new place forms. When
1464 a @code{setf} to @var{access-fn} with arguments described by
1465 @var{arglist} is expanded, the @var{forms} are evaluated and
1466 must return a list of five items:
1470 A list of @dfn{temporary variables}.
1473 A list of @dfn{value forms} corresponding to the temporary variables
1474 above. The temporary variables will be bound to these value forms
1475 as the first step of any operation on the generalized variable.
1478 A list of exactly one @dfn{store variable} (generally obtained
1479 from a call to @code{gensym}).
1482 A Lisp form which stores the contents of the store variable into
1483 the generalized variable, assuming the temporaries have been
1484 bound as described above.
1487 A Lisp form which accesses the contents of the generalized variable,
1488 assuming the temporaries have been bound.
1491 This is exactly like the Common Lisp macro of the same name,
1492 except that the method returns a list of five values rather
1493 than the five values themselves, since Emacs Lisp does not
1494 support Common Lisp's notion of multiple return values.
1496 Once again, the @var{forms} may begin with a documentation string.
1498 A setf-method should be maximally conservative with regard to
1499 temporary variables. In the setf-methods generated by
1500 @code{defsetf}, the second return value is simply the list of
1501 arguments in the place form, and the first return value is a
1502 list of a corresponding number of temporary variables generated
1503 by @code{gensym}. Macros like @code{setf} and @code{incf} which
1504 use this setf-method will optimize away most temporaries that
1505 turn out to be unnecessary, so there is little reason for the
1506 setf-method itself to optimize.
1509 @defun get-setf-method place &optional env
1510 This function returns the setf-method for @var{place}, by
1511 invoking the definition previously recorded by @code{defsetf}
1512 or @code{define-setf-method}. The result is a list of five
1513 values as described above. You can use this function to build
1514 your own @code{incf}-like modify macros. (Actually, it is
1515 better to use the internal functions @code{cl-setf-do-modify}
1516 and @code{cl-setf-do-store}, which are a bit easier to use and
1517 which also do a number of optimizations; consult the source
1518 code for the @code{incf} function for a simple example.)
1520 The argument @var{env} specifies the ``environment'' to be
1521 passed on to @code{macroexpand} if @code{get-setf-method} should
1522 need to expand a macro in @var{place}. It should come from
1523 an @code{&environment} argument to the macro or setf-method
1524 that called @code{get-setf-method}.
1526 See also the source code for the setf-methods for @code{apply}
1527 and @code{substring}, each of which works by calling
1528 @code{get-setf-method} on a simpler case, then massaging
1529 the result in various ways.
1532 Modern Common Lisp defines a second, independent way to specify
1533 the @code{setf} behavior of a function, namely ``@code{setf}
1534 functions'' whose names are lists @code{(setf @var{name})}
1535 rather than symbols. For example, @code{(defun (setf foo) @dots{})}
1536 defines the function that is used when @code{setf} is applied to
1537 @code{foo}. This package does not currently support @code{setf}
1538 functions. In particular, it is a compile-time error to use
1539 @code{setf} on a form which has not already been @code{defsetf}'d
1540 or otherwise declared; in newer Common Lisps, this would not be
1541 an error since the function @code{(setf @var{func})} might be
1548 @node Variable Bindings, Conditionals, Generalized Variables, Control Structure
1549 @section Variable Bindings
1552 These Lisp forms make bindings to variables and function names,
1553 analogous to Lisp's built-in @code{let} form.
1555 @xref{Modify Macros}, for the @code{letf} and @code{letf*} forms which
1556 are also related to variable bindings.
1559 * Dynamic Bindings:: The `progv' form
1560 * Lexical Bindings:: `lexical-let' and lexical closures
1561 * Function Bindings:: `flet' and `labels'
1562 * Macro Bindings:: `macrolet' and `symbol-macrolet'
1565 @node Dynamic Bindings, Lexical Bindings, Variable Bindings, Variable Bindings
1566 @subsection Dynamic Bindings
1569 The standard @code{let} form binds variables whose names are known
1570 at compile-time. The @code{progv} form provides an easy way to
1571 bind variables whose names are computed at run-time.
1573 @defspec progv symbols values forms@dots{}
1574 This form establishes @code{let}-style variable bindings on a
1575 set of variables computed at run-time. The expressions
1576 @var{symbols} and @var{values} are evaluated, and must return lists
1577 of symbols and values, respectively. The symbols are bound to the
1578 corresponding values for the duration of the body @var{form}s.
1579 If @var{values} is shorter than @var{symbols}, the last few symbols
1580 are made unbound (as if by @code{makunbound}) inside the body.
1581 If @var{symbols} is shorter than @var{values}, the excess values
1585 @node Lexical Bindings, Function Bindings, Dynamic Bindings, Variable Bindings
1586 @subsection Lexical Bindings
1589 The @dfn{CL} package defines the following macro which
1590 more closely follows the Common Lisp @code{let} form:
1592 @defspec lexical-let (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1593 This form is exactly like @code{let} except that the bindings it
1594 establishes are purely lexical. Lexical bindings are similar to
1595 local variables in a language like C: Only the code physically
1596 within the body of the @code{lexical-let} (after macro expansion)
1597 may refer to the bound variables.
1601 (defun foo (b) (+ a b))
1602 (let ((a 2)) (foo a))
1604 (lexical-let ((a 2)) (foo a))
1609 In this example, a regular @code{let} binding of @code{a} actually
1610 makes a temporary change to the global variable @code{a}, so @code{foo}
1611 is able to see the binding of @code{a} to 2. But @code{lexical-let}
1612 actually creates a distinct local variable @code{a} for use within its
1613 body, without any effect on the global variable of the same name.
1615 The most important use of lexical bindings is to create @dfn{closures}.
1616 A closure is a function object that refers to an outside lexical
1617 variable. For example:
1620 (defun make-adder (n)
1621 (lexical-let ((n n))
1622 (function (lambda (m) (+ n m)))))
1623 (setq add17 (make-adder 17))
1629 The call @code{(make-adder 17)} returns a function object which adds
1630 17 to its argument. If @code{let} had been used instead of
1631 @code{lexical-let}, the function object would have referred to the
1632 global @code{n}, which would have been bound to 17 only during the
1633 call to @code{make-adder} itself.
1636 (defun make-counter ()
1637 (lexical-let ((n 0))
1638 (function* (lambda (&optional (m 1)) (incf n m)))))
1639 (setq count-1 (make-counter))
1642 (funcall count-1 14)
1644 (setq count-2 (make-counter))
1654 Here we see that each call to @code{make-counter} creates a distinct
1655 local variable @code{n}, which serves as a private counter for the
1656 function object that is returned.
1658 Closed-over lexical variables persist until the last reference to
1659 them goes away, just like all other Lisp objects. For example,
1660 @code{count-2} refers to a function object which refers to an
1661 instance of the variable @code{n}; this is the only reference
1662 to that variable, so after @code{(setq count-2 nil)} the garbage
1663 collector would be able to delete this instance of @code{n}.
1664 Of course, if a @code{lexical-let} does not actually create any
1665 closures, then the lexical variables are free as soon as the
1666 @code{lexical-let} returns.
1668 Many closures are used only during the extent of the bindings they
1669 refer to; these are known as ``downward funargs'' in Lisp parlance.
1670 When a closure is used in this way, regular Emacs Lisp dynamic
1671 bindings suffice and will be more efficient than @code{lexical-let}
1675 (defun add-to-list (x list)
1676 (mapcar (lambda (y) (+ x y))) list)
1677 (add-to-list 7 '(1 2 5))
1682 Since this lambda is only used while @code{x} is still bound,
1683 it is not necessary to make a true closure out of it.
1685 You can use @code{defun} or @code{flet} inside a @code{lexical-let}
1686 to create a named closure. If several closures are created in the
1687 body of a single @code{lexical-let}, they all close over the same
1688 instance of the lexical variable.
1690 The @code{lexical-let} form is an extension to Common Lisp. In
1691 true Common Lisp, all bindings are lexical unless declared otherwise.
1694 @defspec lexical-let* (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1695 This form is just like @code{lexical-let}, except that the bindings
1696 are made sequentially in the manner of @code{let*}.
1699 @node Function Bindings, Macro Bindings, Lexical Bindings, Variable Bindings
1700 @subsection Function Bindings
1703 These forms make @code{let}-like bindings to functions instead
1706 @defspec flet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1707 This form establishes @code{let}-style bindings on the function
1708 cells of symbols rather than on the value cells. Each @var{binding}
1709 must be a list of the form @samp{(@var{name} @var{arglist}
1710 @var{forms}@dots{})}, which defines a function exactly as if
1711 it were a @code{defun*} form. The function @var{name} is defined
1712 accordingly for the duration of the body of the @code{flet}; then
1713 the old function definition, or lack thereof, is restored.
1715 While @code{flet} in Common Lisp establishes a lexical binding of
1716 @var{name}, Emacs Lisp @code{flet} makes a dynamic binding. The
1717 result is that @code{flet} affects indirect calls to a function as
1718 well as calls directly inside the @code{flet} form itself.
1720 You can use @code{flet} to disable or modify the behavior of a
1721 function in a temporary fashion. This will even work on Emacs
1722 primitives, although note that some calls to primitive functions
1723 internal to Emacs are made without going through the symbol's
1724 function cell, and so will not be affected by @code{flet}. For
1728 (flet ((message (&rest args) (push args saved-msgs)))
1732 This code attempts to replace the built-in function @code{message}
1733 with a function that simply saves the messages in a list rather
1734 than displaying them. The original definition of @code{message}
1735 will be restored after @code{do-something} exits. This code will
1736 work fine on messages generated by other Lisp code, but messages
1737 generated directly inside Emacs will not be caught since they make
1738 direct C-language calls to the message routines rather than going
1739 through the Lisp @code{message} function.
1741 Functions defined by @code{flet} may use the full Common Lisp
1742 argument notation supported by @code{defun*}; also, the function
1743 body is enclosed in an implicit block as if by @code{defun*}.
1744 @xref{Program Structure}.
1747 @defspec labels (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1748 The @code{labels} form is like @code{flet}, except that it
1749 makes lexical bindings of the function names rather than
1750 dynamic bindings. (In true Common Lisp, both @code{flet} and
1751 @code{labels} make lexical bindings of slightly different sorts;
1752 since Emacs Lisp is dynamically bound by default, it seemed
1753 more appropriate for @code{flet} also to use dynamic binding.
1754 The @code{labels} form, with its lexical binding, is fully
1755 compatible with Common Lisp.)
1757 Lexical scoping means that all references to the named
1758 functions must appear physically within the body of the
1759 @code{labels} form. References may appear both in the body
1760 @var{forms} of @code{labels} itself, and in the bodies of
1761 the functions themselves. Thus, @code{labels} can define
1762 local recursive functions, or mutually-recursive sets of
1765 A ``reference'' to a function name is either a call to that
1766 function, or a use of its name quoted by @code{quote} or
1767 @code{function} to be passed on to, say, @code{mapcar}.
1770 @node Macro Bindings, , Function Bindings, Variable Bindings
1771 @subsection Macro Bindings
1774 These forms create local macros and ``symbol macros.''
1776 @defspec macrolet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1777 This form is analogous to @code{flet}, but for macros instead of
1778 functions. Each @var{binding} is a list of the same form as the
1779 arguments to @code{defmacro*} (i.e., a macro name, argument list,
1780 and macro-expander forms). The macro is defined accordingly for
1781 use within the body of the @code{macrolet}.
1783 Because of the nature of macros, @code{macrolet} is lexically
1784 scoped even in Emacs Lisp: The @code{macrolet} binding will
1785 affect only calls that appear physically within the body
1786 @var{forms}, possibly after expansion of other macros in the
1790 @defspec symbol-macrolet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1791 This form creates @dfn{symbol macros}, which are macros that look
1792 like variable references rather than function calls. Each
1793 @var{binding} is a list @samp{(@var{var} @var{expansion})};
1794 any reference to @var{var} within the body @var{forms} is
1795 replaced by @var{expansion}.
1799 (symbol-macrolet ((foo (car bar)))
1805 A @code{setq} of a symbol macro is treated the same as a @code{setf}.
1806 I.e., @code{(setq foo 4)} in the above would be equivalent to
1807 @code{(setf foo 4)}, which in turn expands to @code{(setf (car bar) 4)}.
1809 Likewise, a @code{let} or @code{let*} binding a symbol macro is
1810 treated like a @code{letf} or @code{letf*}. This differs from true
1811 Common Lisp, where the rules of lexical scoping cause a @code{let}
1812 binding to shadow a @code{symbol-macrolet} binding. In this package,
1813 only @code{lexical-let} and @code{lexical-let*} will shadow a symbol
1816 There is no analogue of @code{defmacro} for symbol macros; all symbol
1817 macros are local. A typical use of @code{symbol-macrolet} is in the
1818 expansion of another macro:
1821 (defmacro* my-dolist ((x list) &rest body)
1822 (let ((var (gensym)))
1823 (list 'loop 'for var 'on list 'do
1824 (list* 'symbol-macrolet (list (list x (list 'car var)))
1827 (setq mylist '(1 2 3 4))
1828 (my-dolist (x mylist) (incf x))
1834 In this example, the @code{my-dolist} macro is similar to @code{dolist}
1835 (@pxref{Iteration}) except that the variable @code{x} becomes a true
1836 reference onto the elements of the list. The @code{my-dolist} call
1837 shown here expands to
1840 (loop for G1234 on mylist do
1841 (symbol-macrolet ((x (car G1234)))
1846 which in turn expands to
1849 (loop for G1234 on mylist do (incf (car G1234)))
1852 @xref{Loop Facility}, for a description of the @code{loop} macro.
1853 This package defines a nonstandard @code{in-ref} loop clause that
1854 works much like @code{my-dolist}.
1857 @node Conditionals, Blocks and Exits, Variable Bindings, Control Structure
1858 @section Conditionals
1861 These conditional forms augment Emacs Lisp's simple @code{if},
1862 @code{and}, @code{or}, and @code{cond} forms.
1864 @defspec case keyform clause@dots{}
1865 This macro evaluates @var{keyform}, then compares it with the key
1866 values listed in the various @var{clause}s. Whichever clause matches
1867 the key is executed; comparison is done by @code{eql}. If no clause
1868 matches, the @code{case} form returns @code{nil}. The clauses are
1872 (@var{keylist} @var{body-forms}@dots{})
1876 where @var{keylist} is a list of key values. If there is exactly
1877 one value, and it is not a cons cell or the symbol @code{nil} or
1878 @code{t}, then it can be used by itself as a @var{keylist} without
1879 being enclosed in a list. All key values in the @code{case} form
1880 must be distinct. The final clauses may use @code{t} in place of
1881 a @var{keylist} to indicate a default clause that should be taken
1882 if none of the other clauses match. (The symbol @code{otherwise}
1883 is also recognized in place of @code{t}. To make a clause that
1884 matches the actual symbol @code{t}, @code{nil}, or @code{otherwise},
1885 enclose the symbol in a list.)
1887 For example, this expression reads a keystroke, then does one of
1888 four things depending on whether it is an @samp{a}, a @samp{b},
1889 a @key{RET} or @kbd{C-j}, or anything else.
1895 ((?\r ?\n) (do-ret-thing))
1896 (t (do-other-thing)))
1900 @defspec ecase keyform clause@dots{}
1901 This macro is just like @code{case}, except that if the key does
1902 not match any of the clauses, an error is signaled rather than
1903 simply returning @code{nil}.
1906 @defspec typecase keyform clause@dots{}
1907 This macro is a version of @code{case} that checks for types
1908 rather than values. Each @var{clause} is of the form
1909 @samp{(@var{type} @var{body}...)}. @xref{Type Predicates},
1910 for a description of type specifiers. For example,
1914 (integer (munch-integer x))
1915 (float (munch-float x))
1916 (string (munch-integer (string-to-int x)))
1917 (t (munch-anything x)))
1920 The type specifier @code{t} matches any type of object; the word
1921 @code{otherwise} is also allowed. To make one clause match any of
1922 several types, use an @code{(or ...)} type specifier.
1925 @defspec etypecase keyform clause@dots{}
1926 This macro is just like @code{typecase}, except that if the key does
1927 not match any of the clauses, an error is signaled rather than
1928 simply returning @code{nil}.
1931 @node Blocks and Exits, Iteration, Conditionals, Control Structure
1932 @section Blocks and Exits
1935 Common Lisp @dfn{blocks} provide a non-local exit mechanism very
1936 similar to @code{catch} and @code{throw}, but lexically rather than
1937 dynamically scoped. This package actually implements @code{block}
1938 in terms of @code{catch}; however, the lexical scoping allows the
1939 optimizing byte-compiler to omit the costly @code{catch} step if the
1940 body of the block does not actually @code{return-from} the block.
1942 @defspec block name forms@dots{}
1943 The @var{forms} are evaluated as if by a @code{progn}. However,
1944 if any of the @var{forms} execute @code{(return-from @var{name})},
1945 they will jump out and return directly from the @code{block} form.
1946 The @code{block} returns the result of the last @var{form} unless
1947 a @code{return-from} occurs.
1949 The @code{block}/@code{return-from} mechanism is quite similar to
1950 the @code{catch}/@code{throw} mechanism. The main differences are
1951 that block @var{name}s are unevaluated symbols, rather than forms
1952 (such as quoted symbols) which evaluate to a tag at run-time; and
1953 also that blocks are lexically scoped whereas @code{catch}/@code{throw}
1954 are dynamically scoped. This means that functions called from the
1955 body of a @code{catch} can also @code{throw} to the @code{catch},
1956 but the @code{return-from} referring to a block name must appear
1957 physically within the @var{forms} that make up the body of the block.
1958 They may not appear within other called functions, although they may
1959 appear within macro expansions or @code{lambda}s in the body. Block
1960 names and @code{catch} names form independent name-spaces.
1962 In true Common Lisp, @code{defun} and @code{defmacro} surround
1963 the function or expander bodies with implicit blocks with the
1964 same name as the function or macro. This does not occur in Emacs
1965 Lisp, but this package provides @code{defun*} and @code{defmacro*}
1966 forms which do create the implicit block.
1968 The Common Lisp looping constructs defined by this package,
1969 such as @code{loop} and @code{dolist}, also create implicit blocks
1970 just as in Common Lisp.
1972 Because they are implemented in terms of Emacs Lisp @code{catch}
1973 and @code{throw}, blocks have the same overhead as actual
1974 @code{catch} constructs (roughly two function calls). However,
1975 the optimizing byte compiler will optimize away the @code{catch}
1977 not in fact contain any @code{return} or @code{return-from} calls
1978 that jump to it. This means that @code{do} loops and @code{defun*}
1979 functions which don't use @code{return} don't pay the overhead to
1983 @defspec return-from name [result]
1984 This macro returns from the block named @var{name}, which must be
1985 an (unevaluated) symbol. If a @var{result} form is specified, it
1986 is evaluated to produce the result returned from the @code{block}.
1987 Otherwise, @code{nil} is returned.
1990 @defspec return [result]
1991 This macro is exactly like @code{(return-from nil @var{result})}.
1992 Common Lisp loops like @code{do} and @code{dolist} implicitly enclose
1993 themselves in @code{nil} blocks.
1996 @node Iteration, Loop Facility, Blocks and Exits, Control Structure
2000 The macros described here provide more sophisticated, high-level
2001 looping constructs to complement Emacs Lisp's basic @code{while}
2004 @defspec loop forms@dots{}
2005 The @dfn{CL} package supports both the simple, old-style meaning of
2006 @code{loop} and the extremely powerful and flexible feature known as
2007 the @dfn{Loop Facility} or @dfn{Loop Macro}. This more advanced
2008 facility is discussed in the following section; @pxref{Loop Facility}.
2009 The simple form of @code{loop} is described here.
2011 If @code{loop} is followed by zero or more Lisp expressions,
2012 then @code{(loop @var{exprs}@dots{})} simply creates an infinite
2013 loop executing the expressions over and over. The loop is
2014 enclosed in an implicit @code{nil} block. Thus,
2017 (loop (foo) (if (no-more) (return 72)) (bar))
2021 is exactly equivalent to
2024 (block nil (while t (foo) (if (no-more) (return 72)) (bar)))
2027 If any of the expressions are plain symbols, the loop is instead
2028 interpreted as a Loop Macro specification as described later.
2029 (This is not a restriction in practice, since a plain symbol
2030 in the above notation would simply access and throw away the
2031 value of a variable.)
2034 @defspec do (spec@dots{}) (end-test [result@dots{}]) forms@dots{}
2035 This macro creates a general iterative loop. Each @var{spec} is
2039 (@var{var} [@var{init} [@var{step}]])
2042 The loop works as follows: First, each @var{var} is bound to the
2043 associated @var{init} value as if by a @code{let} form. Then, in
2044 each iteration of the loop, the @var{end-test} is evaluated; if
2045 true, the loop is finished. Otherwise, the body @var{forms} are
2046 evaluated, then each @var{var} is set to the associated @var{step}
2047 expression (as if by a @code{psetq} form) and the next iteration
2048 begins. Once the @var{end-test} becomes true, the @var{result}
2049 forms are evaluated (with the @var{var}s still bound to their
2050 values) to produce the result returned by @code{do}.
2052 The entire @code{do} loop is enclosed in an implicit @code{nil}
2053 block, so that you can use @code{(return)} to break out of the
2056 If there are no @var{result} forms, the loop returns @code{nil}.
2057 If a given @var{var} has no @var{step} form, it is bound to its
2058 @var{init} value but not otherwise modified during the @code{do}
2059 loop (unless the code explicitly modifies it); this case is just
2060 a shorthand for putting a @code{(let ((@var{var} @var{init})) @dots{})}
2061 around the loop. If @var{init} is also omitted it defaults to
2062 @code{nil}, and in this case a plain @samp{@var{var}} can be used
2063 in place of @samp{(@var{var})}, again following the analogy with
2066 This example (from Steele) illustrates a loop which applies the
2067 function @code{f} to successive pairs of values from the lists
2068 @code{foo} and @code{bar}; it is equivalent to the call
2069 @code{(mapcar* 'f foo bar)}. Note that this loop has no body
2070 @var{forms} at all, performing all its work as side effects of
2071 the rest of the loop.
2074 (do ((x foo (cdr x))
2076 (z nil (cons (f (car x) (car y)) z)))
2077 ((or (null x) (null y))
2082 @defspec do* (spec@dots{}) (end-test [result@dots{}]) forms@dots{}
2083 This is to @code{do} what @code{let*} is to @code{let}. In
2084 particular, the initial values are bound as if by @code{let*}
2085 rather than @code{let}, and the steps are assigned as if by
2086 @code{setq} rather than @code{psetq}.
2088 Here is another way to write the above loop:
2091 (do* ((xp foo (cdr xp))
2093 (x (car xp) (car xp))
2094 (y (car yp) (car yp))
2096 ((or (null xp) (null yp))
2102 @defspec dolist (var list [result]) forms@dots{}
2103 This is a more specialized loop which iterates across the elements
2104 of a list. @var{list} should evaluate to a list; the body @var{forms}
2105 are executed with @var{var} bound to each element of the list in
2106 turn. Finally, the @var{result} form (or @code{nil}) is evaluated
2107 with @var{var} bound to @code{nil} to produce the result returned by
2108 the loop. Unlike with Emacs's built in @code{dolist}, the loop is
2109 surrounded by an implicit @code{nil} block.
2112 @defspec dotimes (var count [result]) forms@dots{}
2113 This is a more specialized loop which iterates a specified number
2114 of times. The body is executed with @var{var} bound to the integers
2115 from zero (inclusive) to @var{count} (exclusive), in turn. Then
2116 the @code{result} form is evaluated with @var{var} bound to the total
2117 number of iterations that were done (i.e., @code{(max 0 @var{count})})
2118 to get the return value for the loop form. Unlike with Emacs's built in
2119 @code{dolist}, the loop is surrounded by an implicit @code{nil} block.
2122 @defspec do-symbols (var [obarray [result]]) forms@dots{}
2123 This loop iterates over all interned symbols. If @var{obarray}
2124 is specified and is not @code{nil}, it loops over all symbols in
2125 that obarray. For each symbol, the body @var{forms} are evaluated
2126 with @var{var} bound to that symbol. The symbols are visited in
2127 an unspecified order. Afterward the @var{result} form, if any,
2128 is evaluated (with @var{var} bound to @code{nil}) to get the return
2129 value. The loop is surrounded by an implicit @code{nil} block.
2132 @defspec do-all-symbols (var [result]) forms@dots{}
2133 This is identical to @code{do-symbols} except that the @var{obarray}
2134 argument is omitted; it always iterates over the default obarray.
2137 @xref{Mapping over Sequences}, for some more functions for
2138 iterating over vectors or lists.
2140 @node Loop Facility, Multiple Values, Iteration, Control Structure
2141 @section Loop Facility
2144 A common complaint with Lisp's traditional looping constructs is
2145 that they are either too simple and limited, such as Common Lisp's
2146 @code{dotimes} or Emacs Lisp's @code{while}, or too unreadable and
2147 obscure, like Common Lisp's @code{do} loop.
2149 To remedy this, recent versions of Common Lisp have added a new
2150 construct called the ``Loop Facility'' or ``@code{loop} macro,''
2151 with an easy-to-use but very powerful and expressive syntax.
2154 * Loop Basics:: `loop' macro, basic clause structure
2155 * Loop Examples:: Working examples of `loop' macro
2156 * For Clauses:: Clauses introduced by `for' or `as'
2157 * Iteration Clauses:: `repeat', `while', `thereis', etc.
2158 * Accumulation Clauses:: `collect', `sum', `maximize', etc.
2159 * Other Clauses:: `with', `if', `initially', `finally'
2162 @node Loop Basics, Loop Examples, Loop Facility, Loop Facility
2163 @subsection Loop Basics
2166 The @code{loop} macro essentially creates a mini-language within
2167 Lisp that is specially tailored for describing loops. While this
2168 language is a little strange-looking by the standards of regular Lisp,
2169 it turns out to be very easy to learn and well-suited to its purpose.
2171 Since @code{loop} is a macro, all parsing of the loop language
2172 takes place at byte-compile time; compiled @code{loop}s are just
2173 as efficient as the equivalent @code{while} loops written longhand.
2175 @defspec loop clauses@dots{}
2176 A loop construct consists of a series of @var{clause}s, each
2177 introduced by a symbol like @code{for} or @code{do}. Clauses
2178 are simply strung together in the argument list of @code{loop},
2179 with minimal extra parentheses. The various types of clauses
2180 specify initializations, such as the binding of temporary
2181 variables, actions to be taken in the loop, stepping actions,
2184 Common Lisp specifies a certain general order of clauses in a
2188 (loop @var{name-clause}
2189 @var{var-clauses}@dots{}
2190 @var{action-clauses}@dots{})
2193 The @var{name-clause} optionally gives a name to the implicit
2194 block that surrounds the loop. By default, the implicit block
2195 is named @code{nil}. The @var{var-clauses} specify what
2196 variables should be bound during the loop, and how they should
2197 be modified or iterated throughout the course of the loop. The
2198 @var{action-clauses} are things to be done during the loop, such
2199 as computing, collecting, and returning values.
2201 The Emacs version of the @code{loop} macro is less restrictive about
2202 the order of clauses, but things will behave most predictably if
2203 you put the variable-binding clauses @code{with}, @code{for}, and
2204 @code{repeat} before the action clauses. As in Common Lisp,
2205 @code{initially} and @code{finally} clauses can go anywhere.
2207 Loops generally return @code{nil} by default, but you can cause
2208 them to return a value by using an accumulation clause like
2209 @code{collect}, an end-test clause like @code{always}, or an
2210 explicit @code{return} clause to jump out of the implicit block.
2211 (Because the loop body is enclosed in an implicit block, you can
2212 also use regular Lisp @code{return} or @code{return-from} to
2213 break out of the loop.)
2216 The following sections give some examples of the Loop Macro in
2217 action, and describe the particular loop clauses in great detail.
2218 Consult the second edition of Steele's @dfn{Common Lisp, the Language},
2219 for additional discussion and examples of the @code{loop} macro.
2221 @node Loop Examples, For Clauses, Loop Basics, Loop Facility
2222 @subsection Loop Examples
2225 Before listing the full set of clauses that are allowed, let's
2226 look at a few example loops just to get a feel for the @code{loop}
2230 (loop for buf in (buffer-list)
2231 collect (buffer-file-name buf))
2235 This loop iterates over all Emacs buffers, using the list
2236 returned by @code{buffer-list}. For each buffer @code{buf},
2237 it calls @code{buffer-file-name} and collects the results into
2238 a list, which is then returned from the @code{loop} construct.
2239 The result is a list of the file names of all the buffers in
2240 Emacs' memory. The words @code{for}, @code{in}, and @code{collect}
2241 are reserved words in the @code{loop} language.
2244 (loop repeat 20 do (insert "Yowsa\n"))
2248 This loop inserts the phrase ``Yowsa'' twenty times in the
2252 (loop until (eobp) do (munch-line) (forward-line 1))
2256 This loop calls @code{munch-line} on every line until the end
2257 of the buffer. If point is already at the end of the buffer,
2258 the loop exits immediately.
2261 (loop do (munch-line) until (eobp) do (forward-line 1))
2265 This loop is similar to the above one, except that @code{munch-line}
2266 is always called at least once.
2269 (loop for x from 1 to 100
2272 finally return (list x (= y 729)))
2276 This more complicated loop searches for a number @code{x} whose
2277 square is 729. For safety's sake it only examines @code{x}
2278 values up to 100; dropping the phrase @samp{to 100} would
2279 cause the loop to count upwards with no limit. The second
2280 @code{for} clause defines @code{y} to be the square of @code{x}
2281 within the loop; the expression after the @code{=} sign is
2282 reevaluated each time through the loop. The @code{until}
2283 clause gives a condition for terminating the loop, and the
2284 @code{finally} clause says what to do when the loop finishes.
2285 (This particular example was written less concisely than it
2286 could have been, just for the sake of illustration.)
2288 Note that even though this loop contains three clauses (two
2289 @code{for}s and an @code{until}) that would have been enough to
2290 define loops all by themselves, it still creates a single loop
2291 rather than some sort of triple-nested loop. You must explicitly
2292 nest your @code{loop} constructs if you want nested loops.
2294 @node For Clauses, Iteration Clauses, Loop Examples, Loop Facility
2295 @subsection For Clauses
2298 Most loops are governed by one or more @code{for} clauses.
2299 A @code{for} clause simultaneously describes variables to be
2300 bound, how those variables are to be stepped during the loop,
2301 and usually an end condition based on those variables.
2303 The word @code{as} is a synonym for the word @code{for}. This
2304 word is followed by a variable name, then a word like @code{from}
2305 or @code{across} that describes the kind of iteration desired.
2306 In Common Lisp, the phrase @code{being the} sometimes precedes
2307 the type of iteration; in this package both @code{being} and
2308 @code{the} are optional. The word @code{each} is a synonym
2309 for @code{the}, and the word that follows it may be singular
2310 or plural: @samp{for x being the elements of y} or
2311 @samp{for x being each element of y}. Which form you use
2312 is purely a matter of style.
2314 The variable is bound around the loop as if by @code{let}:
2318 (loop for i from 1 to 10 do (do-something-with i))
2324 @item for @var{var} from @var{expr1} to @var{expr2} by @var{expr3}
2325 This type of @code{for} clause creates a counting loop. Each of
2326 the three sub-terms is optional, though there must be at least one
2327 term so that the clause is marked as a counting clause.
2329 The three expressions are the starting value, the ending value, and
2330 the step value, respectively, of the variable. The loop counts
2331 upwards by default (@var{expr3} must be positive), from @var{expr1}
2332 to @var{expr2} inclusively. If you omit the @code{from} term, the
2333 loop counts from zero; if you omit the @code{to} term, the loop
2334 counts forever without stopping (unless stopped by some other
2335 loop clause, of course); if you omit the @code{by} term, the loop
2336 counts in steps of one.
2338 You can replace the word @code{from} with @code{upfrom} or
2339 @code{downfrom} to indicate the direction of the loop. Likewise,
2340 you can replace @code{to} with @code{upto} or @code{downto}.
2341 For example, @samp{for x from 5 downto 1} executes five times
2342 with @code{x} taking on the integers from 5 down to 1 in turn.
2343 Also, you can replace @code{to} with @code{below} or @code{above},
2344 which are like @code{upto} and @code{downto} respectively except
2345 that they are exclusive rather than inclusive limits:
2348 (loop for x to 10 collect x)
2349 @result{} (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10)
2350 (loop for x below 10 collect x)
2351 @result{} (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9)
2354 The @code{by} value is always positive, even for downward-counting
2355 loops. Some sort of @code{from} value is required for downward
2356 loops; @samp{for x downto 5} is not a valid loop clause all by
2359 @item for @var{var} in @var{list} by @var{function}
2360 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the elements of @var{list},
2361 in turn. If you specify the @code{by} term, then @var{function}
2362 is used to traverse the list instead of @code{cdr}; it must be a
2363 function taking one argument. For example:
2366 (loop for x in '(1 2 3 4 5 6) collect (* x x))
2367 @result{} (1 4 9 16 25 36)
2368 (loop for x in '(1 2 3 4 5 6) by 'cddr collect (* x x))
2372 @item for @var{var} on @var{list} by @var{function}
2373 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the cons cells of @var{list}.
2376 (loop for x on '(1 2 3 4) collect x)
2377 @result{} ((1 2 3 4) (2 3 4) (3 4) (4))
2380 With @code{by}, there is no real reason that the @code{on} expression
2381 must be a list. For example:
2384 (loop for x on first-animal by 'next-animal collect x)
2388 where @code{(next-animal x)} takes an ``animal'' @var{x} and returns
2389 the next in the (assumed) sequence of animals, or @code{nil} if
2390 @var{x} was the last animal in the sequence.
2392 @item for @var{var} in-ref @var{list} by @var{function}
2393 This is like a regular @code{in} clause, but @var{var} becomes
2394 a @code{setf}-able ``reference'' onto the elements of the list
2395 rather than just a temporary variable. For example,
2398 (loop for x in-ref my-list do (incf x))
2402 increments every element of @code{my-list} in place. This clause
2403 is an extension to standard Common Lisp.
2405 @item for @var{var} across @var{array}
2406 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the elements of @var{array},
2407 which may be a vector or a string.
2410 (loop for x across "aeiou"
2411 do (use-vowel (char-to-string x)))
2414 @item for @var{var} across-ref @var{array}
2415 This clause iterates over an array, with @var{var} a @code{setf}-able
2416 reference onto the elements; see @code{in-ref} above.
2418 @item for @var{var} being the elements of @var{sequence}
2419 This clause iterates over the elements of @var{sequence}, which may
2420 be a list, vector, or string. Since the type must be determined
2421 at run-time, this is somewhat less efficient than @code{in} or
2422 @code{across}. The clause may be followed by the additional term
2423 @samp{using (index @var{var2})} to cause @var{var2} to be bound to
2424 the successive indices (starting at 0) of the elements.
2426 This clause type is taken from older versions of the @code{loop} macro,
2427 and is not present in modern Common Lisp. The @samp{using (sequence ...)}
2428 term of the older macros is not supported.
2430 @item for @var{var} being the elements of-ref @var{sequence}
2431 This clause iterates over a sequence, with @var{var} a @code{setf}-able
2432 reference onto the elements; see @code{in-ref} above.
2434 @item for @var{var} being the symbols [of @var{obarray}]
2435 This clause iterates over symbols, either over all interned symbols
2436 or over all symbols in @var{obarray}. The loop is executed with
2437 @var{var} bound to each symbol in turn. The symbols are visited in
2438 an unspecified order.
2443 (loop for sym being the symbols
2445 when (string-match "^map" (symbol-name sym))
2450 returns a list of all the functions whose names begin with @samp{map}.
2452 The Common Lisp words @code{external-symbols} and @code{present-symbols}
2453 are also recognized but are equivalent to @code{symbols} in Emacs Lisp.
2455 Due to a minor implementation restriction, it will not work to have
2456 more than one @code{for} clause iterating over symbols, hash tables,
2457 keymaps, overlays, or intervals in a given @code{loop}. Fortunately,
2458 it would rarely if ever be useful to do so. It @emph{is} valid to mix
2459 one of these types of clauses with other clauses like @code{for ... to}
2462 @item for @var{var} being the hash-keys of @var{hash-table}
2463 This clause iterates over the entries in @var{hash-table}. For each
2464 hash table entry, @var{var} is bound to the entry's key. If you write
2465 @samp{the hash-values} instead, @var{var} is bound to the values
2466 of the entries. The clause may be followed by the additional
2467 term @samp{using (hash-values @var{var2})} (where @code{hash-values}
2468 is the opposite word of the word following @code{the}) to cause
2469 @var{var} and @var{var2} to be bound to the two parts of each
2472 @item for @var{var} being the key-codes of @var{keymap}
2473 This clause iterates over the entries in @var{keymap}.
2474 The iteration does not enter nested keymaps but does enter inherited
2476 You can use @samp{the key-bindings} to access the commands bound to
2477 the keys rather than the key codes, and you can add a @code{using}
2478 clause to access both the codes and the bindings together.
2480 @item for @var{var} being the key-seqs of @var{keymap}
2481 This clause iterates over all key sequences defined by @var{keymap}
2482 and its nested keymaps, where @var{var} takes on values which are
2483 vectors. The strings or vectors
2484 are reused for each iteration, so you must copy them if you wish to keep
2485 them permanently. You can add a @samp{using (key-bindings ...)}
2486 clause to get the command bindings as well.
2488 @item for @var{var} being the overlays [of @var{buffer}] @dots{}
2489 This clause iterates over the ``overlays'' of a buffer
2490 (the clause @code{extents} is synonymous
2491 with @code{overlays}). If the @code{of} term is omitted, the current
2493 This clause also accepts optional @samp{from @var{pos}} and
2494 @samp{to @var{pos}} terms, limiting the clause to overlays which
2495 overlap the specified region.
2497 @item for @var{var} being the intervals [of @var{buffer}] @dots{}
2498 This clause iterates over all intervals of a buffer with constant
2499 text properties. The variable @var{var} will be bound to conses
2500 of start and end positions, where one start position is always equal
2501 to the previous end position. The clause allows @code{of},
2502 @code{from}, @code{to}, and @code{property} terms, where the latter
2503 term restricts the search to just the specified property. The
2504 @code{of} term may specify either a buffer or a string.
2506 @item for @var{var} being the frames
2507 This clause iterates over all frames, i.e., X window system windows
2508 open on Emacs files. The
2509 clause @code{screens} is a synonym for @code{frames}. The frames
2510 are visited in @code{next-frame} order starting from
2511 @code{selected-frame}.
2513 @item for @var{var} being the windows [of @var{frame}]
2514 This clause iterates over the windows (in the Emacs sense) of
2515 the current frame, or of the specified @var{frame}.
2517 @item for @var{var} being the buffers
2518 This clause iterates over all buffers in Emacs. It is equivalent
2519 to @samp{for @var{var} in (buffer-list)}.
2521 @item for @var{var} = @var{expr1} then @var{expr2}
2522 This clause does a general iteration. The first time through
2523 the loop, @var{var} will be bound to @var{expr1}. On the second
2524 and successive iterations it will be set by evaluating @var{expr2}
2525 (which may refer to the old value of @var{var}). For example,
2526 these two loops are effectively the same:
2529 (loop for x on my-list by 'cddr do ...)
2530 (loop for x = my-list then (cddr x) while x do ...)
2533 Note that this type of @code{for} clause does not imply any sort
2534 of terminating condition; the above example combines it with a
2535 @code{while} clause to tell when to end the loop.
2537 If you omit the @code{then} term, @var{expr1} is used both for
2538 the initial setting and for successive settings:
2541 (loop for x = (random) when (> x 0) return x)
2545 This loop keeps taking random numbers from the @code{(random)}
2546 function until it gets a positive one, which it then returns.
2549 If you include several @code{for} clauses in a row, they are
2550 treated sequentially (as if by @code{let*} and @code{setq}).
2551 You can instead use the word @code{and} to link the clauses,
2552 in which case they are processed in parallel (as if by @code{let}
2556 (loop for x below 5 for y = nil then x collect (list x y))
2557 @result{} ((0 nil) (1 1) (2 2) (3 3) (4 4))
2558 (loop for x below 5 and y = nil then x collect (list x y))
2559 @result{} ((0 nil) (1 0) (2 1) (3 2) (4 3))
2563 In the first loop, @code{y} is set based on the value of @code{x}
2564 that was just set by the previous clause; in the second loop,
2565 @code{x} and @code{y} are set simultaneously so @code{y} is set
2566 based on the value of @code{x} left over from the previous time
2569 Another feature of the @code{loop} macro is @dfn{destructuring},
2570 similar in concept to the destructuring provided by @code{defmacro}.
2571 The @var{var} part of any @code{for} clause can be given as a list
2572 of variables instead of a single variable. The values produced
2573 during loop execution must be lists; the values in the lists are
2574 stored in the corresponding variables.
2577 (loop for (x y) in '((2 3) (4 5) (6 7)) collect (+ x y))
2581 In loop destructuring, if there are more values than variables
2582 the trailing values are ignored, and if there are more variables
2583 than values the trailing variables get the value @code{nil}.
2584 If @code{nil} is used as a variable name, the corresponding
2585 values are ignored. Destructuring may be nested, and dotted
2586 lists of variables like @code{(x . y)} are allowed.
2588 @node Iteration Clauses, Accumulation Clauses, For Clauses, Loop Facility
2589 @subsection Iteration Clauses
2592 Aside from @code{for} clauses, there are several other loop clauses
2593 that control the way the loop operates. They might be used by
2594 themselves, or in conjunction with one or more @code{for} clauses.
2597 @item repeat @var{integer}
2598 This clause simply counts up to the specified number using an
2599 internal temporary variable. The loops
2602 (loop repeat n do ...)
2603 (loop for temp to n do ...)
2607 are identical except that the second one forces you to choose
2608 a name for a variable you aren't actually going to use.
2610 @item while @var{condition}
2611 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition (any Lisp
2612 expression) becomes @code{nil}. For example, the following two
2613 loops are equivalent, except for the implicit @code{nil} block
2614 that surrounds the second one:
2617 (while @var{cond} @var{forms}@dots{})
2618 (loop while @var{cond} do @var{forms}@dots{})
2621 @item until @var{condition}
2622 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition is true,
2623 i.e., non-@code{nil}.
2625 @item always @var{condition}
2626 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition is @code{nil}.
2627 Unlike @code{while}, it stops the loop using @code{return nil} so that
2628 the @code{finally} clauses are not executed. If all the conditions
2629 were non-@code{nil}, the loop returns @code{t}:
2632 (if (loop for size in size-list always (> size 10))
2637 @item never @var{condition}
2638 This clause is like @code{always}, except that the loop returns
2639 @code{t} if any conditions were false, or @code{nil} otherwise.
2641 @item thereis @var{condition}
2642 This clause stops the loop when the specified form is non-@code{nil};
2643 in this case, it returns that non-@code{nil} value. If all the
2644 values were @code{nil}, the loop returns @code{nil}.
2647 @node Accumulation Clauses, Other Clauses, Iteration Clauses, Loop Facility
2648 @subsection Accumulation Clauses
2651 These clauses cause the loop to accumulate information about the
2652 specified Lisp @var{form}. The accumulated result is returned
2653 from the loop unless overridden, say, by a @code{return} clause.
2656 @item collect @var{form}
2657 This clause collects the values of @var{form} into a list. Several
2658 examples of @code{collect} appear elsewhere in this manual.
2660 The word @code{collecting} is a synonym for @code{collect}, and
2661 likewise for the other accumulation clauses.
2663 @item append @var{form}
2664 This clause collects lists of values into a result list using
2667 @item nconc @var{form}
2668 This clause collects lists of values into a result list by
2669 destructively modifying the lists rather than copying them.
2671 @item concat @var{form}
2672 This clause concatenates the values of the specified @var{form}
2673 into a string. (It and the following clause are extensions to
2674 standard Common Lisp.)
2676 @item vconcat @var{form}
2677 This clause concatenates the values of the specified @var{form}
2680 @item count @var{form}
2681 This clause counts the number of times the specified @var{form}
2682 evaluates to a non-@code{nil} value.
2684 @item sum @var{form}
2685 This clause accumulates the sum of the values of the specified
2686 @var{form}, which must evaluate to a number.
2688 @item maximize @var{form}
2689 This clause accumulates the maximum value of the specified @var{form},
2690 which must evaluate to a number. The return value is undefined if
2691 @code{maximize} is executed zero times.
2693 @item minimize @var{form}
2694 This clause accumulates the minimum value of the specified @var{form}.
2697 Accumulation clauses can be followed by @samp{into @var{var}} to
2698 cause the data to be collected into variable @var{var} (which is
2699 automatically @code{let}-bound during the loop) rather than an
2700 unnamed temporary variable. Also, @code{into} accumulations do
2701 not automatically imply a return value. The loop must use some
2702 explicit mechanism, such as @code{finally return}, to return
2703 the accumulated result.
2705 It is valid for several accumulation clauses of the same type to
2706 accumulate into the same place. From Steele:
2709 (loop for name in '(fred sue alice joe june)
2710 for kids in '((bob ken) () () (kris sunshine) ())
2713 @result{} (fred bob ken sue alice joe kris sunshine june)
2716 @node Other Clauses, , Accumulation Clauses, Loop Facility
2717 @subsection Other Clauses
2720 This section describes the remaining loop clauses.
2723 @item with @var{var} = @var{value}
2724 This clause binds a variable to a value around the loop, but
2725 otherwise leaves the variable alone during the loop. The following
2726 loops are basically equivalent:
2729 (loop with x = 17 do ...)
2730 (let ((x 17)) (loop do ...))
2731 (loop for x = 17 then x do ...)
2734 Naturally, the variable @var{var} might be used for some purpose
2735 in the rest of the loop. For example:
2738 (loop for x in my-list with res = nil do (push x res)
2742 This loop inserts the elements of @code{my-list} at the front of
2743 a new list being accumulated in @code{res}, then returns the
2744 list @code{res} at the end of the loop. The effect is similar
2745 to that of a @code{collect} clause, but the list gets reversed
2746 by virtue of the fact that elements are being pushed onto the
2747 front of @code{res} rather than the end.
2749 If you omit the @code{=} term, the variable is initialized to
2750 @code{nil}. (Thus the @samp{= nil} in the above example is
2753 Bindings made by @code{with} are sequential by default, as if
2754 by @code{let*}. Just like @code{for} clauses, @code{with} clauses
2755 can be linked with @code{and} to cause the bindings to be made by
2758 @item if @var{condition} @var{clause}
2759 This clause executes the following loop clause only if the specified
2760 condition is true. The following @var{clause} should be an accumulation,
2761 @code{do}, @code{return}, @code{if}, or @code{unless} clause.
2762 Several clauses may be linked by separating them with @code{and}.
2763 These clauses may be followed by @code{else} and a clause or clauses
2764 to execute if the condition was false. The whole construct may
2765 optionally be followed by the word @code{end} (which may be used to
2766 disambiguate an @code{else} or @code{and} in a nested @code{if}).
2768 The actual non-@code{nil} value of the condition form is available
2769 by the name @code{it} in the ``then'' part. For example:
2772 (setq funny-numbers '(6 13 -1))
2774 (loop for x below 10
2777 and if (memq x funny-numbers) return (cdr it) end
2779 collect x into evens
2780 finally return (vector odds evens))
2781 @result{} [(1 3 5 7 9) (0 2 4 6 8)]
2782 (setq funny-numbers '(6 7 13 -1))
2783 @result{} (6 7 13 -1)
2784 (loop <@r{same thing again}>)
2788 Note the use of @code{and} to put two clauses into the ``then''
2789 part, one of which is itself an @code{if} clause. Note also that
2790 @code{end}, while normally optional, was necessary here to make
2791 it clear that the @code{else} refers to the outermost @code{if}
2792 clause. In the first case, the loop returns a vector of lists
2793 of the odd and even values of @var{x}. In the second case, the
2794 odd number 7 is one of the @code{funny-numbers} so the loop
2795 returns early; the actual returned value is based on the result
2796 of the @code{memq} call.
2798 @item when @var{condition} @var{clause}
2799 This clause is just a synonym for @code{if}.
2801 @item unless @var{condition} @var{clause}
2802 The @code{unless} clause is just like @code{if} except that the
2803 sense of the condition is reversed.
2805 @item named @var{name}
2806 This clause gives a name other than @code{nil} to the implicit
2807 block surrounding the loop. The @var{name} is the symbol to be
2808 used as the block name.
2810 @item initially [do] @var{forms}...
2811 This keyword introduces one or more Lisp forms which will be
2812 executed before the loop itself begins (but after any variables
2813 requested by @code{for} or @code{with} have been bound to their
2814 initial values). @code{initially} clauses can appear anywhere;
2815 if there are several, they are executed in the order they appear
2816 in the loop. The keyword @code{do} is optional.
2818 @item finally [do] @var{forms}...
2819 This introduces Lisp forms which will be executed after the loop
2820 finishes (say, on request of a @code{for} or @code{while}).
2821 @code{initially} and @code{finally} clauses may appear anywhere
2822 in the loop construct, but they are executed (in the specified
2823 order) at the beginning or end, respectively, of the loop.
2825 @item finally return @var{form}
2826 This says that @var{form} should be executed after the loop
2827 is done to obtain a return value. (Without this, or some other
2828 clause like @code{collect} or @code{return}, the loop will simply
2829 return @code{nil}.) Variables bound by @code{for}, @code{with},
2830 or @code{into} will still contain their final values when @var{form}
2833 @item do @var{forms}...
2834 The word @code{do} may be followed by any number of Lisp expressions
2835 which are executed as an implicit @code{progn} in the body of the
2836 loop. Many of the examples in this section illustrate the use of
2839 @item return @var{form}
2840 This clause causes the loop to return immediately. The following
2841 Lisp form is evaluated to give the return value of the @code{loop}
2842 form. The @code{finally} clauses, if any, are not executed.
2843 Of course, @code{return} is generally used inside an @code{if} or
2844 @code{unless}, as its use in a top-level loop clause would mean
2845 the loop would never get to ``loop'' more than once.
2847 The clause @samp{return @var{form}} is equivalent to
2848 @samp{do (return @var{form})} (or @code{return-from} if the loop
2849 was named). The @code{return} clause is implemented a bit more
2850 efficiently, though.
2853 While there is no high-level way to add user extensions to @code{loop}
2854 (comparable to @code{defsetf} for @code{setf}, say), this package
2855 does offer two properties called @code{cl-loop-handler} and
2856 @code{cl-loop-for-handler} which are functions to be called when
2857 a given symbol is encountered as a top-level loop clause or
2858 @code{for} clause, respectively. Consult the source code in
2859 file @file{cl-macs.el} for details.
2861 This package's @code{loop} macro is compatible with that of Common
2862 Lisp, except that a few features are not implemented: @code{loop-finish}
2863 and data-type specifiers. Naturally, the @code{for} clauses which
2864 iterate over keymaps, overlays, intervals, frames, windows, and
2865 buffers are Emacs-specific extensions.
2867 @node Multiple Values, , Loop Facility, Control Structure
2868 @section Multiple Values
2871 Common Lisp functions can return zero or more results. Emacs Lisp
2872 functions, by contrast, always return exactly one result. This
2873 package makes no attempt to emulate Common Lisp multiple return
2874 values; Emacs versions of Common Lisp functions that return more
2875 than one value either return just the first value (as in
2876 @code{compiler-macroexpand}) or return a list of values (as in
2877 @code{get-setf-method}). This package @emph{does} define placeholders
2878 for the Common Lisp functions that work with multiple values, but
2879 in Emacs Lisp these functions simply operate on lists instead.
2880 The @code{values} form, for example, is a synonym for @code{list}
2883 @defspec multiple-value-bind (var@dots{}) values-form forms@dots{}
2884 This form evaluates @var{values-form}, which must return a list of
2885 values. It then binds the @var{var}s to these respective values,
2886 as if by @code{let}, and then executes the body @var{forms}.
2887 If there are more @var{var}s than values, the extra @var{var}s
2888 are bound to @code{nil}. If there are fewer @var{var}s than
2889 values, the excess values are ignored.
2892 @defspec multiple-value-setq (var@dots{}) form
2893 This form evaluates @var{form}, which must return a list of values.
2894 It then sets the @var{var}s to these respective values, as if by
2895 @code{setq}. Extra @var{var}s or values are treated the same as
2896 in @code{multiple-value-bind}.
2899 The older Quiroz package attempted a more faithful (but still
2900 imperfect) emulation of Common Lisp multiple values. The old
2901 method ``usually'' simulated true multiple values quite well,
2902 but under certain circumstances would leave spurious return
2903 values in memory where a later, unrelated @code{multiple-value-bind}
2904 form would see them.
2906 Since a perfect emulation is not feasible in Emacs Lisp, this
2907 package opts to keep it as simple and predictable as possible.
2909 @node Macros, Declarations, Control Structure, Top
2913 This package implements the various Common Lisp features of
2914 @code{defmacro}, such as destructuring, @code{&environment},
2915 and @code{&body}. Top-level @code{&whole} is not implemented
2916 for @code{defmacro} due to technical difficulties.
2917 @xref{Argument Lists}.
2919 Destructuring is made available to the user by way of the
2922 @defspec destructuring-bind arglist expr forms@dots{}
2923 This macro expands to code which executes @var{forms}, with
2924 the variables in @var{arglist} bound to the list of values
2925 returned by @var{expr}. The @var{arglist} can include all
2926 the features allowed for @code{defmacro} argument lists,
2927 including destructuring. (The @code{&environment} keyword
2928 is not allowed.) The macro expansion will signal an error
2929 if @var{expr} returns a list of the wrong number of arguments
2930 or with incorrect keyword arguments.
2933 This package also includes the Common Lisp @code{define-compiler-macro}
2934 facility, which allows you to define compile-time expansions and
2935 optimizations for your functions.
2937 @defspec define-compiler-macro name arglist forms@dots{}
2938 This form is similar to @code{defmacro}, except that it only expands
2939 calls to @var{name} at compile-time; calls processed by the Lisp
2940 interpreter are not expanded, nor are they expanded by the
2941 @code{macroexpand} function.
2943 The argument list may begin with a @code{&whole} keyword and a
2944 variable. This variable is bound to the macro-call form itself,
2945 i.e., to a list of the form @samp{(@var{name} @var{args}@dots{})}.
2946 If the macro expander returns this form unchanged, then the
2947 compiler treats it as a normal function call. This allows
2948 compiler macros to work as optimizers for special cases of a
2949 function, leaving complicated cases alone.
2951 For example, here is a simplified version of a definition that
2952 appears as a standard part of this package:
2955 (define-compiler-macro member* (&whole form a list &rest keys)
2956 (if (and (null keys)
2957 (eq (car-safe a) 'quote)
2958 (not (floatp-safe (cadr a))))
2964 This definition causes @code{(member* @var{a} @var{list})} to change
2965 to a call to the faster @code{memq} in the common case where @var{a}
2966 is a non-floating-point constant; if @var{a} is anything else, or
2967 if there are any keyword arguments in the call, then the original
2968 @code{member*} call is left intact. (The actual compiler macro
2969 for @code{member*} optimizes a number of other cases, including
2970 common @code{:test} predicates.)
2973 @defun compiler-macroexpand form
2974 This function is analogous to @code{macroexpand}, except that it
2975 expands compiler macros rather than regular macros. It returns
2976 @var{form} unchanged if it is not a call to a function for which
2977 a compiler macro has been defined, or if that compiler macro
2978 decided to punt by returning its @code{&whole} argument. Like
2979 @code{macroexpand}, it expands repeatedly until it reaches a form
2980 for which no further expansion is possible.
2983 @xref{Macro Bindings}, for descriptions of the @code{macrolet}
2984 and @code{symbol-macrolet} forms for making ``local'' macro
2987 @node Declarations, Symbols, Macros, Top
2988 @chapter Declarations
2991 Common Lisp includes a complex and powerful ``declaration''
2992 mechanism that allows you to give the compiler special hints
2993 about the types of data that will be stored in particular variables,
2994 and about the ways those variables and functions will be used. This
2995 package defines versions of all the Common Lisp declaration forms:
2996 @code{declare}, @code{locally}, @code{proclaim}, @code{declaim},
2999 Most of the Common Lisp declarations are not currently useful in
3000 Emacs Lisp, as the byte-code system provides little opportunity
3001 to benefit from type information, and @code{special} declarations
3002 are redundant in a fully dynamically-scoped Lisp. A few
3003 declarations are meaningful when the optimizing byte
3004 compiler is being used, however. Under the earlier non-optimizing
3005 compiler, these declarations will effectively be ignored.
3007 @defun proclaim decl-spec
3008 This function records a ``global'' declaration specified by
3009 @var{decl-spec}. Since @code{proclaim} is a function, @var{decl-spec}
3010 is evaluated and thus should normally be quoted.
3013 @defspec declaim decl-specs@dots{}
3014 This macro is like @code{proclaim}, except that it takes any number
3015 of @var{decl-spec} arguments, and the arguments are unevaluated and
3016 unquoted. The @code{declaim} macro also puts an @code{(eval-when
3017 (compile load eval) ...)} around the declarations so that they will
3018 be registered at compile-time as well as at run-time. (This is vital,
3019 since normally the declarations are meant to influence the way the
3020 compiler treats the rest of the file that contains the @code{declaim}
3024 @defspec declare decl-specs@dots{}
3025 This macro is used to make declarations within functions and other
3026 code. Common Lisp allows declarations in various locations, generally
3027 at the beginning of any of the many ``implicit @code{progn}s''
3028 throughout Lisp syntax, such as function bodies, @code{let} bodies,
3029 etc. Currently the only declaration understood by @code{declare}
3033 @defspec locally declarations@dots{} forms@dots{}
3034 In this package, @code{locally} is no different from @code{progn}.
3037 @defspec the type form
3038 Type information provided by @code{the} is ignored in this package;
3039 in other words, @code{(the @var{type} @var{form})} is equivalent
3040 to @var{form}. Future versions of the optimizing byte-compiler may
3041 make use of this information.
3043 For example, @code{mapcar} can map over both lists and arrays. It is
3044 hard for the compiler to expand @code{mapcar} into an in-line loop
3045 unless it knows whether the sequence will be a list or an array ahead
3046 of time. With @code{(mapcar 'car (the vector foo))}, a future
3047 compiler would have enough information to expand the loop in-line.
3048 For now, Emacs Lisp will treat the above code as exactly equivalent
3049 to @code{(mapcar 'car foo)}.
3052 Each @var{decl-spec} in a @code{proclaim}, @code{declaim}, or
3053 @code{declare} should be a list beginning with a symbol that says
3054 what kind of declaration it is. This package currently understands
3055 @code{special}, @code{inline}, @code{notinline}, @code{optimize},
3056 and @code{warn} declarations. (The @code{warn} declaration is an
3057 extension of standard Common Lisp.) Other Common Lisp declarations,
3058 such as @code{type} and @code{ftype}, are silently ignored.
3062 Since all variables in Emacs Lisp are ``special'' (in the Common
3063 Lisp sense), @code{special} declarations are only advisory. They
3064 simply tell the optimizing byte compiler that the specified
3065 variables are intentionally being referred to without being
3066 bound in the body of the function. The compiler normally emits
3067 warnings for such references, since they could be typographical
3068 errors for references to local variables.
3070 The declaration @code{(declare (special @var{var1} @var{var2}))} is
3071 equivalent to @code{(defvar @var{var1}) (defvar @var{var2})} in the
3072 optimizing compiler, or to nothing at all in older compilers (which
3073 do not warn for non-local references).
3075 In top-level contexts, it is generally better to write
3076 @code{(defvar @var{var})} than @code{(declaim (special @var{var}))},
3077 since @code{defvar} makes your intentions clearer. But the older
3078 byte compilers can not handle @code{defvar}s appearing inside of
3079 functions, while @code{(declare (special @var{var}))} takes care
3080 to work correctly with all compilers.
3083 The @code{inline} @var{decl-spec} lists one or more functions
3084 whose bodies should be expanded ``in-line'' into calling functions
3085 whenever the compiler is able to arrange for it. For example,
3086 the Common Lisp function @code{cadr} is declared @code{inline}
3087 by this package so that the form @code{(cadr @var{x})} will
3088 expand directly into @code{(car (cdr @var{x}))} when it is called
3089 in user functions, for a savings of one (relatively expensive)
3092 The following declarations are all equivalent. Note that the
3093 @code{defsubst} form is a convenient way to define a function
3094 and declare it inline all at once.
3097 (declaim (inline foo bar))
3098 (eval-when (compile load eval) (proclaim '(inline foo bar)))
3099 (defsubst foo (...) ...) ; instead of defun
3102 @strong{Please note:} this declaration remains in effect after the
3103 containing source file is done. It is correct to use it to
3104 request that a function you have defined should be inlined,
3105 but it is impolite to use it to request inlining of an external
3108 In Common Lisp, it is possible to use @code{(declare (inline @dots{}))}
3109 before a particular call to a function to cause just that call to
3110 be inlined; the current byte compilers provide no way to implement
3111 this, so @code{(declare (inline @dots{}))} is currently ignored by
3115 The @code{notinline} declaration lists functions which should
3116 not be inlined after all; it cancels a previous @code{inline}
3120 This declaration controls how much optimization is performed by
3121 the compiler. Naturally, it is ignored by the earlier non-optimizing
3124 The word @code{optimize} is followed by any number of lists like
3125 @code{(speed 3)} or @code{(safety 2)}. Common Lisp defines several
3126 optimization ``qualities''; this package ignores all but @code{speed}
3127 and @code{safety}. The value of a quality should be an integer from
3128 0 to 3, with 0 meaning ``unimportant'' and 3 meaning ``very important.''
3129 The default level for both qualities is 1.
3131 In this package, with the optimizing compiler, the
3132 @code{speed} quality is tied to the @code{byte-compile-optimize}
3133 flag, which is set to @code{nil} for @code{(speed 0)} and to
3134 @code{t} for higher settings; and the @code{safety} quality is
3135 tied to the @code{byte-compile-delete-errors} flag, which is
3136 set to @code{t} for @code{(safety 3)} and to @code{nil} for all
3137 lower settings. (The latter flag controls whether the compiler
3138 is allowed to optimize out code whose only side-effect could
3139 be to signal an error, e.g., rewriting @code{(progn foo bar)} to
3140 @code{bar} when it is not known whether @code{foo} will be bound
3143 Note that even compiling with @code{(safety 0)}, the Emacs
3144 byte-code system provides sufficient checking to prevent real
3145 harm from being done. For example, barring serious bugs in
3146 Emacs itself, Emacs will not crash with a segmentation fault
3147 just because of an error in a fully-optimized Lisp program.
3149 The @code{optimize} declaration is normally used in a top-level
3150 @code{proclaim} or @code{declaim} in a file; Common Lisp allows
3151 it to be used with @code{declare} to set the level of optimization
3152 locally for a given form, but this will not work correctly with the
3153 current version of the optimizing compiler. (The @code{declare}
3154 will set the new optimization level, but that level will not
3155 automatically be unset after the enclosing form is done.)
3158 This declaration controls what sorts of warnings are generated
3159 by the byte compiler. Again, only the optimizing compiler
3160 generates warnings. The word @code{warn} is followed by any
3161 number of ``warning qualities,'' similar in form to optimization
3162 qualities. The currently supported warning types are
3163 @code{redefine}, @code{callargs}, @code{unresolved}, and
3164 @code{free-vars}; in the current system, a value of 0 will
3165 disable these warnings and any higher value will enable them.
3166 See the documentation for the optimizing byte compiler for details.
3169 @node Symbols, Numbers, Declarations, Top
3173 This package defines several symbol-related features that were
3174 missing from Emacs Lisp.
3177 * Property Lists:: `get*', `remprop', `getf', `remf'
3178 * Creating Symbols:: `gensym', `gentemp'
3181 @node Property Lists, Creating Symbols, Symbols, Symbols
3182 @section Property Lists
3185 These functions augment the standard Emacs Lisp functions @code{get}
3186 and @code{put} for operating on properties attached to symbols.
3187 There are also functions for working with property lists as
3188 first-class data structures not attached to particular symbols.
3190 @defun get* symbol property &optional default
3191 This function is like @code{get}, except that if the property is
3192 not found, the @var{default} argument provides the return value.
3193 (The Emacs Lisp @code{get} function always uses @code{nil} as
3194 the default; this package's @code{get*} is equivalent to Common
3197 The @code{get*} function is @code{setf}-able; when used in this
3198 fashion, the @var{default} argument is allowed but ignored.
3201 @defun remprop symbol property
3202 This function removes the entry for @var{property} from the property
3203 list of @var{symbol}. It returns a true value if the property was
3204 indeed found and removed, or @code{nil} if there was no such property.
3205 (This function was probably omitted from Emacs originally because,
3206 since @code{get} did not allow a @var{default}, it was very difficult
3207 to distinguish between a missing property and a property whose value
3208 was @code{nil}; thus, setting a property to @code{nil} was close
3209 enough to @code{remprop} for most purposes.)
3212 @defun getf place property &optional default
3213 This function scans the list @var{place} as if it were a property
3214 list, i.e., a list of alternating property names and values. If
3215 an even-numbered element of @var{place} is found which is @code{eq}
3216 to @var{property}, the following odd-numbered element is returned.
3217 Otherwise, @var{default} is returned (or @code{nil} if no default
3223 (get sym prop) @equiv{} (getf (symbol-plist sym) prop)
3226 It is valid to use @code{getf} as a @code{setf} place, in which case
3227 its @var{place} argument must itself be a valid @code{setf} place.
3228 The @var{default} argument, if any, is ignored in this context.
3229 The effect is to change (via @code{setcar}) the value cell in the
3230 list that corresponds to @var{property}, or to cons a new property-value
3231 pair onto the list if the property is not yet present.
3234 (put sym prop val) @equiv{} (setf (getf (symbol-plist sym) prop) val)
3237 The @code{get} and @code{get*} functions are also @code{setf}-able.
3238 The fact that @code{default} is ignored can sometimes be useful:
3241 (incf (get* 'foo 'usage-count 0))
3244 Here, symbol @code{foo}'s @code{usage-count} property is incremented
3245 if it exists, or set to 1 (an incremented 0) otherwise.
3247 When not used as a @code{setf} form, @code{getf} is just a regular
3248 function and its @var{place} argument can actually be any Lisp
3252 @defspec remf place property
3253 This macro removes the property-value pair for @var{property} from
3254 the property list stored at @var{place}, which is any @code{setf}-able
3255 place expression. It returns true if the property was found. Note
3256 that if @var{property} happens to be first on the list, this will
3257 effectively do a @code{(setf @var{place} (cddr @var{place}))},
3258 whereas if it occurs later, this simply uses @code{setcdr} to splice
3259 out the property and value cells.
3266 @node Creating Symbols, , Property Lists, Symbols
3267 @section Creating Symbols
3270 These functions create unique symbols, typically for use as
3271 temporary variables.
3273 @defun gensym &optional x
3274 This function creates a new, uninterned symbol (using @code{make-symbol})
3275 with a unique name. (The name of an uninterned symbol is relevant
3276 only if the symbol is printed.) By default, the name is generated
3277 from an increasing sequence of numbers, @samp{G1000}, @samp{G1001},
3278 @samp{G1002}, etc. If the optional argument @var{x} is a string, that
3279 string is used as a prefix instead of @samp{G}. Uninterned symbols
3280 are used in macro expansions for temporary variables, to ensure that
3281 their names will not conflict with ``real'' variables in the user's
3285 @defvar *gensym-counter*
3286 This variable holds the counter used to generate @code{gensym} names.
3287 It is incremented after each use by @code{gensym}. In Common Lisp
3288 this is initialized with 0, but this package initializes it with a
3289 random (time-dependent) value to avoid trouble when two files that
3290 each used @code{gensym} in their compilation are loaded together.
3291 (Uninterned symbols become interned when the compiler writes them
3292 out to a file and the Emacs loader loads them, so their names have to
3293 be treated a bit more carefully than in Common Lisp where uninterned
3294 symbols remain uninterned after loading.)
3297 @defun gentemp &optional x
3298 This function is like @code{gensym}, except that it produces a new
3299 @emph{interned} symbol. If the symbol that is generated already
3300 exists, the function keeps incrementing the counter and trying
3301 again until a new symbol is generated.
3304 The Quiroz @file{cl.el} package also defined a @code{defkeyword}
3305 form for creating self-quoting keyword symbols. This package
3306 automatically creates all keywords that are called for by
3307 @code{&key} argument specifiers, and discourages the use of
3308 keywords as data unrelated to keyword arguments, so the
3309 @code{defkeyword} form has been discontinued.
3315 @node Numbers, Sequences, Symbols, Top
3319 This section defines a few simple Common Lisp operations on numbers
3320 which were left out of Emacs Lisp.
3323 * Predicates on Numbers:: `plusp', `oddp', `floatp-safe', etc.
3324 * Numerical Functions:: `abs', `floor*', etc.
3325 * Random Numbers:: `random*', `make-random-state'
3326 * Implementation Parameters:: `most-positive-float'
3333 @node Predicates on Numbers, Numerical Functions, Numbers, Numbers
3334 @section Predicates on Numbers
3337 These functions return @code{t} if the specified condition is
3338 true of the numerical argument, or @code{nil} otherwise.
3341 This predicate tests whether @var{number} is positive. It is an
3342 error if the argument is not a number.
3345 @defun minusp number
3346 This predicate tests whether @var{number} is negative. It is an
3347 error if the argument is not a number.
3351 This predicate tests whether @var{integer} is odd. It is an
3352 error if the argument is not an integer.
3355 @defun evenp integer
3356 This predicate tests whether @var{integer} is even. It is an
3357 error if the argument is not an integer.
3360 @defun floatp-safe object
3361 This predicate tests whether @var{object} is a floating-point
3362 number. On systems that support floating-point, this is equivalent
3363 to @code{floatp}. On other systems, this always returns @code{nil}.
3370 @node Numerical Functions, Random Numbers, Predicates on Numbers, Numbers
3371 @section Numerical Functions
3374 These functions perform various arithmetic operations on numbers.
3376 @defun gcd &rest integers
3377 This function returns the Greatest Common Divisor of the arguments.
3378 For one argument, it returns the absolute value of that argument.
3379 For zero arguments, it returns zero.
3382 @defun lcm &rest integers
3383 This function returns the Least Common Multiple of the arguments.
3384 For one argument, it returns the absolute value of that argument.
3385 For zero arguments, it returns one.
3388 @defun isqrt integer
3389 This function computes the ``integer square root'' of its integer
3390 argument, i.e., the greatest integer less than or equal to the true
3391 square root of the argument.
3394 @defun floor* number &optional divisor
3395 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{floor} function.
3396 It is called @code{floor*} to avoid name conflicts with the
3397 simpler @code{floor} function built-in to Emacs.
3399 With one argument, @code{floor*} returns a list of two numbers:
3400 The argument rounded down (toward minus infinity) to an integer,
3401 and the ``remainder'' which would have to be added back to the
3402 first return value to yield the argument again. If the argument
3403 is an integer @var{x}, the result is always the list @code{(@var{x} 0)}.
3404 If the argument is a floating-point number, the first
3405 result is a Lisp integer and the second is a Lisp float between
3406 0 (inclusive) and 1 (exclusive).
3408 With two arguments, @code{floor*} divides @var{number} by
3409 @var{divisor}, and returns the floor of the quotient and the
3410 corresponding remainder as a list of two numbers. If
3411 @code{(floor* @var{x} @var{y})} returns @code{(@var{q} @var{r})},
3412 then @code{@var{q}*@var{y} + @var{r} = @var{x}}, with @var{r}
3413 between 0 (inclusive) and @var{r} (exclusive). Also, note
3414 that @code{(floor* @var{x})} is exactly equivalent to
3415 @code{(floor* @var{x} 1)}.
3417 This function is entirely compatible with Common Lisp's @code{floor}
3418 function, except that it returns the two results in a list since
3419 Emacs Lisp does not support multiple-valued functions.
3422 @defun ceiling* number &optional divisor
3423 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{ceiling} function,
3424 which is analogous to @code{floor} except that it rounds the
3425 argument or quotient of the arguments up toward plus infinity.
3426 The remainder will be between 0 and minus @var{r}.
3429 @defun truncate* number &optional divisor
3430 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{truncate} function,
3431 which is analogous to @code{floor} except that it rounds the
3432 argument or quotient of the arguments toward zero. Thus it is
3433 equivalent to @code{floor*} if the argument or quotient is
3434 positive, or to @code{ceiling*} otherwise. The remainder has
3435 the same sign as @var{number}.
3438 @defun round* number &optional divisor
3439 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{round} function,
3440 which is analogous to @code{floor} except that it rounds the
3441 argument or quotient of the arguments to the nearest integer.
3442 In the case of a tie (the argument or quotient is exactly
3443 halfway between two integers), it rounds to the even integer.
3446 @defun mod* number divisor
3447 This function returns the same value as the second return value
3451 @defun rem* number divisor
3452 This function returns the same value as the second return value
3456 These definitions are compatible with those in the Quiroz
3457 @file{cl.el} package, except that this package appends @samp{*}
3458 to certain function names to avoid conflicts with existing
3459 Emacs functions, and that the mechanism for returning
3460 multiple values is different.
3466 @node Random Numbers, Implementation Parameters, Numerical Functions, Numbers
3467 @section Random Numbers
3470 This package also provides an implementation of the Common Lisp
3471 random number generator. It uses its own additive-congruential
3472 algorithm, which is much more likely to give statistically clean
3473 random numbers than the simple generators supplied by many
3476 @defun random* number &optional state
3477 This function returns a random nonnegative number less than
3478 @var{number}, and of the same type (either integer or floating-point).
3479 The @var{state} argument should be a @code{random-state} object
3480 which holds the state of the random number generator. The
3481 function modifies this state object as a side effect. If
3482 @var{state} is omitted, it defaults to the variable
3483 @code{*random-state*}, which contains a pre-initialized
3484 @code{random-state} object.
3487 @defvar *random-state*
3488 This variable contains the system ``default'' @code{random-state}
3489 object, used for calls to @code{random*} that do not specify an
3490 alternative state object. Since any number of programs in the
3491 Emacs process may be accessing @code{*random-state*} in interleaved
3492 fashion, the sequence generated from this variable will be
3493 irreproducible for all intents and purposes.
3496 @defun make-random-state &optional state
3497 This function creates or copies a @code{random-state} object.
3498 If @var{state} is omitted or @code{nil}, it returns a new copy of
3499 @code{*random-state*}. This is a copy in the sense that future
3500 sequences of calls to @code{(random* @var{n})} and
3501 @code{(random* @var{n} @var{s})} (where @var{s} is the new
3502 random-state object) will return identical sequences of random
3505 If @var{state} is a @code{random-state} object, this function
3506 returns a copy of that object. If @var{state} is @code{t}, this
3507 function returns a new @code{random-state} object seeded from the
3508 date and time. As an extension to Common Lisp, @var{state} may also
3509 be an integer in which case the new object is seeded from that
3510 integer; each different integer seed will result in a completely
3511 different sequence of random numbers.
3513 It is valid to print a @code{random-state} object to a buffer or
3514 file and later read it back with @code{read}. If a program wishes
3515 to use a sequence of pseudo-random numbers which can be reproduced
3516 later for debugging, it can call @code{(make-random-state t)} to
3517 get a new sequence, then print this sequence to a file. When the
3518 program is later rerun, it can read the original run's random-state
3522 @defun random-state-p object
3523 This predicate returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a
3524 @code{random-state} object, or @code{nil} otherwise.
3527 @node Implementation Parameters, , Random Numbers, Numbers
3528 @section Implementation Parameters
3531 This package defines several useful constants having to with numbers.
3533 The following parameters have to do with floating-point numbers.
3534 This package determines their values by exercising the computer's
3535 floating-point arithmetic in various ways. Because this operation
3536 might be slow, the code for initializing them is kept in a separate
3537 function that must be called before the parameters can be used.
3539 @defun cl-float-limits
3540 This function makes sure that the Common Lisp floating-point parameters
3541 like @code{most-positive-float} have been initialized. Until it is
3542 called, these parameters will be @code{nil}. If this version of Emacs
3543 does not support floats, the parameters will remain @code{nil}. If the
3544 parameters have already been initialized, the function returns
3547 The algorithm makes assumptions that will be valid for most modern
3548 machines, but will fail if the machine's arithmetic is extremely
3549 unusual, e.g., decimal.
3552 Since true Common Lisp supports up to four different floating-point
3553 precisions, it has families of constants like
3554 @code{most-positive-single-float}, @code{most-positive-double-float},
3555 @code{most-positive-long-float}, and so on. Emacs has only one
3556 floating-point precision, so this package omits the precision word
3557 from the constants' names.
3559 @defvar most-positive-float
3560 This constant equals the largest value a Lisp float can hold.
3561 For those systems whose arithmetic supports infinities, this is
3562 the largest @emph{finite} value. For IEEE machines, the value
3563 is approximately @code{1.79e+308}.
3566 @defvar most-negative-float
3567 This constant equals the most-negative value a Lisp float can hold.
3568 (It is assumed to be equal to @code{(- most-positive-float)}.)
3571 @defvar least-positive-float
3572 This constant equals the smallest Lisp float value greater than zero.
3573 For IEEE machines, it is about @code{4.94e-324} if denormals are
3574 supported or @code{2.22e-308} if not.
3577 @defvar least-positive-normalized-float
3578 This constant equals the smallest @emph{normalized} Lisp float greater
3579 than zero, i.e., the smallest value for which IEEE denormalization
3580 will not result in a loss of precision. For IEEE machines, this
3581 value is about @code{2.22e-308}. For machines that do not support
3582 the concept of denormalization and gradual underflow, this constant
3583 will always equal @code{least-positive-float}.
3586 @defvar least-negative-float
3587 This constant is the negative counterpart of @code{least-positive-float}.
3590 @defvar least-negative-normalized-float
3591 This constant is the negative counterpart of
3592 @code{least-positive-normalized-float}.
3595 @defvar float-epsilon
3596 This constant is the smallest positive Lisp float that can be added
3597 to 1.0 to produce a distinct value. Adding a smaller number to 1.0
3598 will yield 1.0 again due to roundoff. For IEEE machines, epsilon
3599 is about @code{2.22e-16}.
3602 @defvar float-negative-epsilon
3603 This is the smallest positive value that can be subtracted from
3604 1.0 to produce a distinct value. For IEEE machines, it is about
3612 @node Sequences, Lists, Numbers, Top
3616 Common Lisp defines a number of functions that operate on
3617 @dfn{sequences}, which are either lists, strings, or vectors.
3618 Emacs Lisp includes a few of these, notably @code{elt} and
3619 @code{length}; this package defines most of the rest.
3622 * Sequence Basics:: Arguments shared by all sequence functions
3623 * Mapping over Sequences:: `mapcar*', `mapcan', `map', `every', etc.
3624 * Sequence Functions:: `subseq', `remove*', `substitute', etc.
3625 * Searching Sequences:: `find', `position', `count', `search', etc.
3626 * Sorting Sequences:: `sort*', `stable-sort', `merge'
3629 @node Sequence Basics, Mapping over Sequences, Sequences, Sequences
3630 @section Sequence Basics
3633 Many of the sequence functions take keyword arguments; @pxref{Argument
3634 Lists}. All keyword arguments are optional and, if specified,
3635 may appear in any order.
3637 The @code{:key} argument should be passed either @code{nil}, or a
3638 function of one argument. This key function is used as a filter
3639 through which the elements of the sequence are seen; for example,
3640 @code{(find x y :key 'car)} is similar to @code{(assoc* x y)}:
3641 It searches for an element of the list whose @code{car} equals
3642 @code{x}, rather than for an element which equals @code{x} itself.
3643 If @code{:key} is omitted or @code{nil}, the filter is effectively
3644 the identity function.
3646 The @code{:test} and @code{:test-not} arguments should be either
3647 @code{nil}, or functions of two arguments. The test function is
3648 used to compare two sequence elements, or to compare a search value
3649 with sequence elements. (The two values are passed to the test
3650 function in the same order as the original sequence function
3651 arguments from which they are derived, or, if they both come from
3652 the same sequence, in the same order as they appear in that sequence.)
3653 The @code{:test} argument specifies a function which must return
3654 true (non-@code{nil}) to indicate a match; instead, you may use
3655 @code{:test-not} to give a function which returns @emph{false} to
3656 indicate a match. The default test function is @code{eql}.
3658 Many functions which take @var{item} and @code{:test} or @code{:test-not}
3659 arguments also come in @code{-if} and @code{-if-not} varieties,
3660 where a @var{predicate} function is passed instead of @var{item},
3661 and sequence elements match if the predicate returns true on them
3662 (or false in the case of @code{-if-not}). For example:
3665 (remove* 0 seq :test '=) @equiv{} (remove-if 'zerop seq)
3669 to remove all zeros from sequence @code{seq}.
3671 Some operations can work on a subsequence of the argument sequence;
3672 these function take @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments which
3673 default to zero and the length of the sequence, respectively.
3674 Only elements between @var{start} (inclusive) and @var{end}
3675 (exclusive) are affected by the operation. The @var{end} argument
3676 may be passed @code{nil} to signify the length of the sequence;
3677 otherwise, both @var{start} and @var{end} must be integers, with
3678 @code{0 <= @var{start} <= @var{end} <= (length @var{seq})}.
3679 If the function takes two sequence arguments, the limits are
3680 defined by keywords @code{:start1} and @code{:end1} for the first,
3681 and @code{:start2} and @code{:end2} for the second.
3683 A few functions accept a @code{:from-end} argument, which, if
3684 non-@code{nil}, causes the operation to go from right-to-left
3685 through the sequence instead of left-to-right, and a @code{:count}
3686 argument, which specifies an integer maximum number of elements
3687 to be removed or otherwise processed.
3689 The sequence functions make no guarantees about the order in
3690 which the @code{:test}, @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key} functions
3691 are called on various elements. Therefore, it is a bad idea to depend
3692 on side effects of these functions. For example, @code{:from-end}
3693 may cause the sequence to be scanned actually in reverse, or it may
3694 be scanned forwards but computing a result ``as if'' it were scanned
3695 backwards. (Some functions, like @code{mapcar*} and @code{every},
3696 @emph{do} specify exactly the order in which the function is called
3697 so side effects are perfectly acceptable in those cases.)
3699 Strings may contain ``text properties'' as well
3700 as character data. Except as noted, it is undefined whether or
3701 not text properties are preserved by sequence functions. For
3702 example, @code{(remove* ?A @var{str})} may or may not preserve
3703 the properties of the characters copied from @var{str} into the
3706 @node Mapping over Sequences, Sequence Functions, Sequence Basics, Sequences
3707 @section Mapping over Sequences
3710 These functions ``map'' the function you specify over the elements
3711 of lists or arrays. They are all variations on the theme of the
3712 built-in function @code{mapcar}.
3714 @defun mapcar* function seq &rest more-seqs
3715 This function calls @var{function} on successive parallel sets of
3716 elements from its argument sequences. Given a single @var{seq}
3717 argument it is equivalent to @code{mapcar}; given @var{n} sequences,
3718 it calls the function with the first elements of each of the sequences
3719 as the @var{n} arguments to yield the first element of the result
3720 list, then with the second elements, and so on. The mapping stops as
3721 soon as the shortest sequence runs out. The argument sequences may
3722 be any mixture of lists, strings, and vectors; the return sequence
3725 Common Lisp's @code{mapcar} accepts multiple arguments but works
3726 only on lists; Emacs Lisp's @code{mapcar} accepts a single sequence
3727 argument. This package's @code{mapcar*} works as a compatible
3731 @defun map result-type function seq &rest more-seqs
3732 This function maps @var{function} over the argument sequences,
3733 just like @code{mapcar*}, but it returns a sequence of type
3734 @var{result-type} rather than a list. @var{result-type} must
3735 be one of the following symbols: @code{vector}, @code{string},
3736 @code{list} (in which case the effect is the same as for
3737 @code{mapcar*}), or @code{nil} (in which case the results are
3738 thrown away and @code{map} returns @code{nil}).
3741 @defun maplist function list &rest more-lists
3742 This function calls @var{function} on each of its argument lists,
3743 then on the @code{cdr}s of those lists, and so on, until the
3744 shortest list runs out. The results are returned in the form
3745 of a list. Thus, @code{maplist} is like @code{mapcar*} except
3746 that it passes in the list pointers themselves rather than the
3747 @code{car}s of the advancing pointers.
3750 @defun mapc function seq &rest more-seqs
3751 This function is like @code{mapcar*}, except that the values returned
3752 by @var{function} are ignored and thrown away rather than being
3753 collected into a list. The return value of @code{mapc} is @var{seq},
3754 the first sequence. This function is more general than the Emacs
3755 primitive @code{mapc}.
3758 @defun mapl function list &rest more-lists
3759 This function is like @code{maplist}, except that it throws away
3760 the values returned by @var{function}.
3763 @defun mapcan function seq &rest more-seqs
3764 This function is like @code{mapcar*}, except that it concatenates
3765 the return values (which must be lists) using @code{nconc},
3766 rather than simply collecting them into a list.
3769 @defun mapcon function list &rest more-lists
3770 This function is like @code{maplist}, except that it concatenates
3771 the return values using @code{nconc}.
3774 @defun some predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3775 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of @var{seq}
3776 in turn; if @var{predicate} returns a non-@code{nil} value,
3777 @code{some} returns that value, otherwise it returns @code{nil}.
3778 Given several sequence arguments, it steps through the sequences
3779 in parallel until the shortest one runs out, just as in
3780 @code{mapcar*}. You can rely on the left-to-right order in which
3781 the elements are visited, and on the fact that mapping stops
3782 immediately as soon as @var{predicate} returns non-@code{nil}.
3785 @defun every predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3786 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3787 in turn; it returns @code{nil} as soon as @var{predicate} returns
3788 @code{nil} for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate was true
3792 @defun notany predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3793 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3794 in turn; it returns @code{nil} as soon as @var{predicate} returns
3795 a non-@code{nil} value for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate
3796 was @code{nil} for all elements.
3799 @defun notevery predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3800 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3801 in turn; it returns a non-@code{nil} value as soon as @var{predicate}
3802 returns @code{nil} for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate was
3803 true for all elements.
3806 @defun reduce function seq @t{&key :from-end :start :end :initial-value :key}
3807 This function combines the elements of @var{seq} using an associative
3808 binary operation. Suppose @var{function} is @code{*} and @var{seq} is
3809 the list @code{(2 3 4 5)}. The first two elements of the list are
3810 combined with @code{(* 2 3) = 6}; this is combined with the next
3811 element, @code{(* 6 4) = 24}, and that is combined with the final
3812 element: @code{(* 24 5) = 120}. Note that the @code{*} function happens
3813 to be self-reducing, so that @code{(* 2 3 4 5)} has the same effect as
3814 an explicit call to @code{reduce}.
3816 If @code{:from-end} is true, the reduction is right-associative instead
3817 of left-associative:
3820 (reduce '- '(1 2 3 4))
3821 @equiv{} (- (- (- 1 2) 3) 4) @result{} -8
3822 (reduce '- '(1 2 3 4) :from-end t)
3823 @equiv{} (- 1 (- 2 (- 3 4))) @result{} -2
3826 If @code{:key} is specified, it is a function of one argument which
3827 is called on each of the sequence elements in turn.
3829 If @code{:initial-value} is specified, it is effectively added to the
3830 front (or rear in the case of @code{:from-end}) of the sequence.
3831 The @code{:key} function is @emph{not} applied to the initial value.
3833 If the sequence, including the initial value, has exactly one element
3834 then that element is returned without ever calling @var{function}.
3835 If the sequence is empty (and there is no initial value), then
3836 @var{function} is called with no arguments to obtain the return value.
3839 All of these mapping operations can be expressed conveniently in
3840 terms of the @code{loop} macro. In compiled code, @code{loop} will
3841 be faster since it generates the loop as in-line code with no
3844 @node Sequence Functions, Searching Sequences, Mapping over Sequences, Sequences
3845 @section Sequence Functions
3848 This section describes a number of Common Lisp functions for
3849 operating on sequences.
3851 @defun subseq sequence start &optional end
3852 This function returns a given subsequence of the argument
3853 @var{sequence}, which may be a list, string, or vector.
3854 The indices @var{start} and @var{end} must be in range, and
3855 @var{start} must be no greater than @var{end}. If @var{end}
3856 is omitted, it defaults to the length of the sequence. The
3857 return value is always a copy; it does not share structure
3858 with @var{sequence}.
3860 As an extension to Common Lisp, @var{start} and/or @var{end}
3861 may be negative, in which case they represent a distance back
3862 from the end of the sequence. This is for compatibility with
3863 Emacs' @code{substring} function. Note that @code{subseq} is
3864 the @emph{only} sequence function that allows negative
3865 @var{start} and @var{end}.
3867 You can use @code{setf} on a @code{subseq} form to replace a
3868 specified range of elements with elements from another sequence.
3869 The replacement is done as if by @code{replace}, described below.
3872 @defun concatenate result-type &rest seqs
3873 This function concatenates the argument sequences together to
3874 form a result sequence of type @var{result-type}, one of the
3875 symbols @code{vector}, @code{string}, or @code{list}. The
3876 arguments are always copied, even in cases such as
3877 @code{(concatenate 'list '(1 2 3))} where the result is
3878 identical to an argument.
3881 @defun fill seq item @t{&key :start :end}
3882 This function fills the elements of the sequence (or the specified
3883 part of the sequence) with the value @var{item}.
3886 @defun replace seq1 seq2 @t{&key :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2}
3887 This function copies part of @var{seq2} into part of @var{seq1}.
3888 The sequence @var{seq1} is not stretched or resized; the amount
3889 of data copied is simply the shorter of the source and destination
3890 (sub)sequences. The function returns @var{seq1}.
3892 If @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} are @code{eq}, then the replacement
3893 will work correctly even if the regions indicated by the start
3894 and end arguments overlap. However, if @var{seq1} and @var{seq2}
3895 are lists which share storage but are not @code{eq}, and the
3896 start and end arguments specify overlapping regions, the effect
3900 @defun remove* item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3901 This returns a copy of @var{seq} with all elements matching
3902 @var{item} removed. The result may share storage with or be
3903 @code{eq} to @var{seq} in some circumstances, but the original
3904 @var{seq} will not be modified. The @code{:test}, @code{:test-not},
3905 and @code{:key} arguments define the matching test that is used;
3906 by default, elements @code{eql} to @var{item} are removed. The
3907 @code{:count} argument specifies the maximum number of matching
3908 elements that can be removed (only the leftmost @var{count} matches
3909 are removed). The @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments specify
3910 a region in @var{seq} in which elements will be removed; elements
3911 outside that region are not matched or removed. The @code{:from-end}
3912 argument, if true, says that elements should be deleted from the
3913 end of the sequence rather than the beginning (this matters only
3914 if @var{count} was also specified).
3917 @defun delete* item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3918 This deletes all elements of @var{seq} which match @var{item}.
3919 It is a destructive operation. Since Emacs Lisp does not support
3920 stretchable strings or vectors, this is the same as @code{remove*}
3921 for those sequence types. On lists, @code{remove*} will copy the
3922 list if necessary to preserve the original list, whereas
3923 @code{delete*} will splice out parts of the argument list.
3924 Compare @code{append} and @code{nconc}, which are analogous
3925 non-destructive and destructive list operations in Emacs Lisp.
3929 @findex remove-if-not
3931 @findex delete-if-not
3932 The predicate-oriented functions @code{remove-if}, @code{remove-if-not},
3933 @code{delete-if}, and @code{delete-if-not} are defined similarly.
3935 @defun remove-duplicates seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3936 This function returns a copy of @var{seq} with duplicate elements
3937 removed. Specifically, if two elements from the sequence match
3938 according to the @code{:test}, @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key}
3939 arguments, only the rightmost one is retained. If @code{:from-end}
3940 is true, the leftmost one is retained instead. If @code{:start} or
3941 @code{:end} is specified, only elements within that subsequence are
3942 examined or removed.
3945 @defun delete-duplicates seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3946 This function deletes duplicate elements from @var{seq}. It is
3947 a destructive version of @code{remove-duplicates}.
3950 @defun substitute new old seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3951 This function returns a copy of @var{seq}, with all elements
3952 matching @var{old} replaced with @var{new}. The @code{:count},
3953 @code{:start}, @code{:end}, and @code{:from-end} arguments may be
3954 used to limit the number of substitutions made.
3957 @defun nsubstitute new old seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3958 This is a destructive version of @code{substitute}; it performs
3959 the substitution using @code{setcar} or @code{aset} rather than
3960 by returning a changed copy of the sequence.
3963 @findex substitute-if
3964 @findex substitute-if-not
3965 @findex nsubstitute-if
3966 @findex nsubstitute-if-not
3967 The @code{substitute-if}, @code{substitute-if-not}, @code{nsubstitute-if},
3968 and @code{nsubstitute-if-not} functions are defined similarly. For
3969 these, a @var{predicate} is given in place of the @var{old} argument.
3971 @node Searching Sequences, Sorting Sequences, Sequence Functions, Sequences
3972 @section Searching Sequences
3975 These functions search for elements or subsequences in a sequence.
3976 (See also @code{member*} and @code{assoc*}; @pxref{Lists}.)
3978 @defun find item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3979 This function searches @var{seq} for an element matching @var{item}.
3980 If it finds a match, it returns the matching element. Otherwise,
3981 it returns @code{nil}. It returns the leftmost match, unless
3982 @code{:from-end} is true, in which case it returns the rightmost
3983 match. The @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments may be used to
3984 limit the range of elements that are searched.
3987 @defun position item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3988 This function is like @code{find}, except that it returns the
3989 integer position in the sequence of the matching item rather than
3990 the item itself. The position is relative to the start of the
3991 sequence as a whole, even if @code{:start} is non-zero. The function
3992 returns @code{nil} if no matching element was found.
3995 @defun count item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end}
3996 This function returns the number of elements of @var{seq} which
3997 match @var{item}. The result is always a nonnegative integer.
4003 @findex position-if-not
4005 @findex count-if-not
4006 The @code{find-if}, @code{find-if-not}, @code{position-if},
4007 @code{position-if-not}, @code{count-if}, and @code{count-if-not}
4008 functions are defined similarly.
4010 @defun mismatch seq1 seq2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2 :from-end}
4011 This function compares the specified parts of @var{seq1} and
4012 @var{seq2}. If they are the same length and the corresponding
4013 elements match (according to @code{:test}, @code{:test-not},
4014 and @code{:key}), the function returns @code{nil}. If there is
4015 a mismatch, the function returns the index (relative to @var{seq1})
4016 of the first mismatching element. This will be the leftmost pair of
4017 elements which do not match, or the position at which the shorter of
4018 the two otherwise-matching sequences runs out.
4020 If @code{:from-end} is true, then the elements are compared from right
4021 to left starting at @code{(1- @var{end1})} and @code{(1- @var{end2})}.
4022 If the sequences differ, then one plus the index of the rightmost
4023 difference (relative to @var{seq1}) is returned.
4025 An interesting example is @code{(mismatch str1 str2 :key 'upcase)},
4026 which compares two strings case-insensitively.
4029 @defun search seq1 seq2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key :from-end :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2}
4030 This function searches @var{seq2} for a subsequence that matches
4031 @var{seq1} (or part of it specified by @code{:start1} and
4032 @code{:end1}.) Only matches which fall entirely within the region
4033 defined by @code{:start2} and @code{:end2} will be considered.
4034 The return value is the index of the leftmost element of the
4035 leftmost match, relative to the start of @var{seq2}, or @code{nil}
4036 if no matches were found. If @code{:from-end} is true, the
4037 function finds the @emph{rightmost} matching subsequence.
4040 @node Sorting Sequences, , Searching Sequences, Sequences
4041 @section Sorting Sequences
4043 @defun sort* seq predicate @t{&key :key}
4044 This function sorts @var{seq} into increasing order as determined
4045 by using @var{predicate} to compare pairs of elements. @var{predicate}
4046 should return true (non-@code{nil}) if and only if its first argument
4047 is less than (not equal to) its second argument. For example,
4048 @code{<} and @code{string-lessp} are suitable predicate functions
4049 for sorting numbers and strings, respectively; @code{>} would sort
4050 numbers into decreasing rather than increasing order.
4052 This function differs from Emacs' built-in @code{sort} in that it
4053 can operate on any type of sequence, not just lists. Also, it
4054 accepts a @code{:key} argument which is used to preprocess data
4055 fed to the @var{predicate} function. For example,
4058 (setq data (sort* data 'string-lessp :key 'downcase))
4062 sorts @var{data}, a sequence of strings, into increasing alphabetical
4063 order without regard to case. A @code{:key} function of @code{car}
4064 would be useful for sorting association lists. It should only be a
4065 simple accessor though, it's used heavily in the current
4068 The @code{sort*} function is destructive; it sorts lists by actually
4069 rearranging the @code{cdr} pointers in suitable fashion.
4072 @defun stable-sort seq predicate @t{&key :key}
4073 This function sorts @var{seq} @dfn{stably}, meaning two elements
4074 which are equal in terms of @var{predicate} are guaranteed not to
4075 be rearranged out of their original order by the sort.
4077 In practice, @code{sort*} and @code{stable-sort} are equivalent
4078 in Emacs Lisp because the underlying @code{sort} function is
4079 stable by default. However, this package reserves the right to
4080 use non-stable methods for @code{sort*} in the future.
4083 @defun merge type seq1 seq2 predicate @t{&key :key}
4084 This function merges two sequences @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} by
4085 interleaving their elements. The result sequence, of type @var{type}
4086 (in the sense of @code{concatenate}), has length equal to the sum
4087 of the lengths of the two input sequences. The sequences may be
4088 modified destructively. Order of elements within @var{seq1} and
4089 @var{seq2} is preserved in the interleaving; elements of the two
4090 sequences are compared by @var{predicate} (in the sense of
4091 @code{sort}) and the lesser element goes first in the result.
4092 When elements are equal, those from @var{seq1} precede those from
4093 @var{seq2} in the result. Thus, if @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} are
4094 both sorted according to @var{predicate}, then the result will be
4095 a merged sequence which is (stably) sorted according to
4099 @node Lists, Structures, Sequences, Top
4103 The functions described here operate on lists.
4106 * List Functions:: `caddr', `first', `list*', etc.
4107 * Substitution of Expressions:: `subst', `sublis', etc.
4108 * Lists as Sets:: `member*', `adjoin', `union', etc.
4109 * Association Lists:: `assoc*', `rassoc*', `acons', `pairlis'
4112 @node List Functions, Substitution of Expressions, Lists, Lists
4113 @section List Functions
4116 This section describes a number of simple operations on lists,
4117 i.e., chains of cons cells.
4120 This function is equivalent to @code{(car (cdr (cdr @var{x})))}.
4121 Likewise, this package defines all 28 @code{c@var{xxx}r} functions
4122 where @var{xxx} is up to four @samp{a}s and/or @samp{d}s.
4123 All of these functions are @code{setf}-able, and calls to them
4124 are expanded inline by the byte-compiler for maximum efficiency.
4128 This function is a synonym for @code{(car @var{x})}. Likewise,
4129 the functions @code{second}, @code{third}, @dots{}, through
4130 @code{tenth} return the given element of the list @var{x}.
4134 This function is a synonym for @code{(cdr @var{x})}.
4138 Common Lisp defines this function to act like @code{null}, but
4139 signaling an error if @code{x} is neither a @code{nil} nor a
4140 cons cell. This package simply defines @code{endp} as a synonym
4144 @defun list-length x
4145 This function returns the length of list @var{x}, exactly like
4146 @code{(length @var{x})}, except that if @var{x} is a circular
4147 list (where the cdr-chain forms a loop rather than terminating
4148 with @code{nil}), this function returns @code{nil}. (The regular
4149 @code{length} function would get stuck if given a circular list.)
4152 @defun list* arg &rest others
4153 This function constructs a list of its arguments. The final
4154 argument becomes the @code{cdr} of the last cell constructed.
4155 Thus, @code{(list* @var{a} @var{b} @var{c})} is equivalent to
4156 @code{(cons @var{a} (cons @var{b} @var{c}))}, and
4157 @code{(list* @var{a} @var{b} nil)} is equivalent to
4158 @code{(list @var{a} @var{b})}.
4160 (Note that this function really is called @code{list*} in Common
4161 Lisp; it is not a name invented for this package like @code{member*}
4165 @defun ldiff list sublist
4166 If @var{sublist} is a sublist of @var{list}, i.e., is @code{eq} to
4167 one of the cons cells of @var{list}, then this function returns
4168 a copy of the part of @var{list} up to but not including
4169 @var{sublist}. For example, @code{(ldiff x (cddr x))} returns
4170 the first two elements of the list @code{x}. The result is a
4171 copy; the original @var{list} is not modified. If @var{sublist}
4172 is not a sublist of @var{list}, a copy of the entire @var{list}
4176 @defun copy-list list
4177 This function returns a copy of the list @var{list}. It copies
4178 dotted lists like @code{(1 2 . 3)} correctly.
4181 @defun copy-tree x &optional vecp
4182 This function returns a copy of the tree of cons cells @var{x}.
4183 Unlike @code{copy-sequence} (and its alias @code{copy-list}),
4184 which copies only along the @code{cdr} direction, this function
4185 copies (recursively) along both the @code{car} and the @code{cdr}
4186 directions. If @var{x} is not a cons cell, the function simply
4187 returns @var{x} unchanged. If the optional @var{vecp} argument
4188 is true, this function copies vectors (recursively) as well as
4192 @defun tree-equal x y @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4193 This function compares two trees of cons cells. If @var{x} and
4194 @var{y} are both cons cells, their @code{car}s and @code{cdr}s are
4195 compared recursively. If neither @var{x} nor @var{y} is a cons
4196 cell, they are compared by @code{eql}, or according to the
4197 specified test. The @code{:key} function, if specified, is
4198 applied to the elements of both trees. @xref{Sequences}.
4205 @node Substitution of Expressions, Lists as Sets, List Functions, Lists
4206 @section Substitution of Expressions
4209 These functions substitute elements throughout a tree of cons
4210 cells. (@xref{Sequence Functions}, for the @code{substitute}
4211 function, which works on just the top-level elements of a list.)
4213 @defun subst new old tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4214 This function substitutes occurrences of @var{old} with @var{new}
4215 in @var{tree}, a tree of cons cells. It returns a substituted
4216 tree, which will be a copy except that it may share storage with
4217 the argument @var{tree} in parts where no substitutions occurred.
4218 The original @var{tree} is not modified. This function recurses
4219 on, and compares against @var{old}, both @code{car}s and @code{cdr}s
4220 of the component cons cells. If @var{old} is itself a cons cell,
4221 then matching cells in the tree are substituted as usual without
4222 recursively substituting in that cell. Comparisons with @var{old}
4223 are done according to the specified test (@code{eql} by default).
4224 The @code{:key} function is applied to the elements of the tree
4225 but not to @var{old}.
4228 @defun nsubst new old tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4229 This function is like @code{subst}, except that it works by
4230 destructive modification (by @code{setcar} or @code{setcdr})
4231 rather than copying.
4235 @findex subst-if-not
4237 @findex nsubst-if-not
4238 The @code{subst-if}, @code{subst-if-not}, @code{nsubst-if}, and
4239 @code{nsubst-if-not} functions are defined similarly.
4241 @defun sublis alist tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4242 This function is like @code{subst}, except that it takes an
4243 association list @var{alist} of @var{old}-@var{new} pairs.
4244 Each element of the tree (after applying the @code{:key}
4245 function, if any), is compared with the @code{car}s of
4246 @var{alist}; if it matches, it is replaced by the corresponding
4250 @defun nsublis alist tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4251 This is a destructive version of @code{sublis}.
4254 @node Lists as Sets, Association Lists, Substitution of Expressions, Lists
4255 @section Lists as Sets
4258 These functions perform operations on lists which represent sets
4261 @defun member* item list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4262 This function searches @var{list} for an element matching @var{item}.
4263 If a match is found, it returns the cons cell whose @code{car} was
4264 the matching element. Otherwise, it returns @code{nil}. Elements
4265 are compared by @code{eql} by default; you can use the @code{:test},
4266 @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key} arguments to modify this behavior.
4269 Note that this function's name is suffixed by @samp{*} to avoid
4270 the incompatible @code{member} function defined in Emacs.
4271 (That function uses @code{equal} for comparisons; it is equivalent
4272 to @code{(member* @var{item} @var{list} :test 'equal)}.)
4276 @findex member-if-not
4277 The @code{member-if} and @code{member-if-not} functions
4278 analogously search for elements which satisfy a given predicate.
4280 @defun tailp sublist list
4281 This function returns @code{t} if @var{sublist} is a sublist of
4282 @var{list}, i.e., if @var{sublist} is @code{eql} to @var{list} or to
4283 any of its @code{cdr}s.
4286 @defun adjoin item list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4287 This function conses @var{item} onto the front of @var{list},
4288 like @code{(cons @var{item} @var{list})}, but only if @var{item}
4289 is not already present on the list (as determined by @code{member*}).
4290 If a @code{:key} argument is specified, it is applied to
4291 @var{item} as well as to the elements of @var{list} during
4292 the search, on the reasoning that @var{item} is ``about'' to
4293 become part of the list.
4296 @defun union list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4297 This function combines two lists which represent sets of items,
4298 returning a list that represents the union of those two sets.
4299 The result list will contain all items which appear in @var{list1}
4300 or @var{list2}, and no others. If an item appears in both
4301 @var{list1} and @var{list2} it will be copied only once. If
4302 an item is duplicated in @var{list1} or @var{list2}, it is
4303 undefined whether or not that duplication will survive in the
4304 result list. The order of elements in the result list is also
4308 @defun nunion list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4309 This is a destructive version of @code{union}; rather than copying,
4310 it tries to reuse the storage of the argument lists if possible.
4313 @defun intersection list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4314 This function computes the intersection of the sets represented
4315 by @var{list1} and @var{list2}. It returns the list of items
4316 which appear in both @var{list1} and @var{list2}.
4319 @defun nintersection list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4320 This is a destructive version of @code{intersection}. It
4321 tries to reuse storage of @var{list1} rather than copying.
4322 It does @emph{not} reuse the storage of @var{list2}.
4325 @defun set-difference list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4326 This function computes the ``set difference'' of @var{list1}
4327 and @var{list2}, i.e., the set of elements that appear in
4328 @var{list1} but @emph{not} in @var{list2}.
4331 @defun nset-difference list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4332 This is a destructive @code{set-difference}, which will try
4333 to reuse @var{list1} if possible.
4336 @defun set-exclusive-or list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4337 This function computes the ``set exclusive or'' of @var{list1}
4338 and @var{list2}, i.e., the set of elements that appear in
4339 exactly one of @var{list1} and @var{list2}.
4342 @defun nset-exclusive-or list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4343 This is a destructive @code{set-exclusive-or}, which will try
4344 to reuse @var{list1} and @var{list2} if possible.
4347 @defun subsetp list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4348 This function checks whether @var{list1} represents a subset
4349 of @var{list2}, i.e., whether every element of @var{list1}
4350 also appears in @var{list2}.
4353 @node Association Lists, , Lists as Sets, Lists
4354 @section Association Lists
4357 An @dfn{association list} is a list representing a mapping from
4358 one set of values to another; any list whose elements are cons
4359 cells is an association list.
4361 @defun assoc* item a-list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4362 This function searches the association list @var{a-list} for an
4363 element whose @code{car} matches (in the sense of @code{:test},
4364 @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key}, or by comparison with @code{eql})
4365 a given @var{item}. It returns the matching element, if any,
4366 otherwise @code{nil}. It ignores elements of @var{a-list} which
4367 are not cons cells. (This corresponds to the behavior of
4368 @code{assq} and @code{assoc} in Emacs Lisp; Common Lisp's
4369 @code{assoc} ignores @code{nil}s but considers any other non-cons
4370 elements of @var{a-list} to be an error.)
4373 @defun rassoc* item a-list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
4374 This function searches for an element whose @code{cdr} matches
4375 @var{item}. If @var{a-list} represents a mapping, this applies
4376 the inverse of the mapping to @var{item}.
4380 @findex assoc-if-not
4382 @findex rassoc-if-not
4383 The @code{assoc-if}, @code{assoc-if-not}, @code{rassoc-if},
4384 and @code{rassoc-if-not} functions are defined similarly.
4386 Two simple functions for constructing association lists are:
4388 @defun acons key value alist
4389 This is equivalent to @code{(cons (cons @var{key} @var{value}) @var{alist})}.
4392 @defun pairlis keys values &optional alist
4393 This is equivalent to @code{(nconc (mapcar* 'cons @var{keys} @var{values})
4401 @node Structures, Assertions, Lists, Top
4405 The Common Lisp @dfn{structure} mechanism provides a general way
4406 to define data types similar to C's @code{struct} types. A
4407 structure is a Lisp object containing some number of @dfn{slots},
4408 each of which can hold any Lisp data object. Functions are
4409 provided for accessing and setting the slots, creating or copying
4410 structure objects, and recognizing objects of a particular structure
4413 In true Common Lisp, each structure type is a new type distinct
4414 from all existing Lisp types. Since the underlying Emacs Lisp
4415 system provides no way to create new distinct types, this package
4416 implements structures as vectors (or lists upon request) with a
4417 special ``tag'' symbol to identify them.
4419 @defspec defstruct name slots@dots{}
4420 The @code{defstruct} form defines a new structure type called
4421 @var{name}, with the specified @var{slots}. (The @var{slots}
4422 may begin with a string which documents the structure type.)
4423 In the simplest case, @var{name} and each of the @var{slots}
4424 are symbols. For example,
4427 (defstruct person name age sex)
4431 defines a struct type called @code{person} which contains three
4432 slots. Given a @code{person} object @var{p}, you can access those
4433 slots by calling @code{(person-name @var{p})}, @code{(person-age @var{p})},
4434 and @code{(person-sex @var{p})}. You can also change these slots by
4435 using @code{setf} on any of these place forms:
4438 (incf (person-age birthday-boy))
4441 You can create a new @code{person} by calling @code{make-person},
4442 which takes keyword arguments @code{:name}, @code{:age}, and
4443 @code{:sex} to specify the initial values of these slots in the
4444 new object. (Omitting any of these arguments leaves the corresponding
4445 slot ``undefined,'' according to the Common Lisp standard; in Emacs
4446 Lisp, such uninitialized slots are filled with @code{nil}.)
4448 Given a @code{person}, @code{(copy-person @var{p})} makes a new
4449 object of the same type whose slots are @code{eq} to those of @var{p}.
4451 Given any Lisp object @var{x}, @code{(person-p @var{x})} returns
4452 true if @var{x} looks like a @code{person}, false otherwise. (Again,
4453 in Common Lisp this predicate would be exact; in Emacs Lisp the
4454 best it can do is verify that @var{x} is a vector of the correct
4455 length which starts with the correct tag symbol.)
4457 Accessors like @code{person-name} normally check their arguments
4458 (effectively using @code{person-p}) and signal an error if the
4459 argument is the wrong type. This check is affected by
4460 @code{(optimize (safety @dots{}))} declarations. Safety level 1,
4461 the default, uses a somewhat optimized check that will detect all
4462 incorrect arguments, but may use an uninformative error message
4463 (e.g., ``expected a vector'' instead of ``expected a @code{person}'').
4464 Safety level 0 omits all checks except as provided by the underlying
4465 @code{aref} call; safety levels 2 and 3 do rigorous checking that will
4466 always print a descriptive error message for incorrect inputs.
4467 @xref{Declarations}.
4470 (setq dave (make-person :name "Dave" :sex 'male))
4471 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Dave" nil male]
4472 (setq other (copy-person dave))
4473 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Dave" nil male]
4476 (eq (person-name dave) (person-name other))
4480 (person-p [1 2 3 4])
4484 (person-p '[cl-struct-person counterfeit person object])
4488 In general, @var{name} is either a name symbol or a list of a name
4489 symbol followed by any number of @dfn{struct options}; each @var{slot}
4490 is either a slot symbol or a list of the form @samp{(@var{slot-name}
4491 @var{default-value} @var{slot-options}@dots{})}. The @var{default-value}
4492 is a Lisp form which is evaluated any time an instance of the
4493 structure type is created without specifying that slot's value.
4495 Common Lisp defines several slot options, but the only one
4496 implemented in this package is @code{:read-only}. A non-@code{nil}
4497 value for this option means the slot should not be @code{setf}-able;
4498 the slot's value is determined when the object is created and does
4499 not change afterward.
4503 (name nil :read-only t)
4508 Any slot options other than @code{:read-only} are ignored.
4510 For obscure historical reasons, structure options take a different
4511 form than slot options. A structure option is either a keyword
4512 symbol, or a list beginning with a keyword symbol possibly followed
4513 by arguments. (By contrast, slot options are key-value pairs not
4517 (defstruct (person (:constructor create-person)
4523 The following structure options are recognized.
4528 @advance@leftskip-.5@tableindent
4531 The argument is a symbol whose print name is used as the prefix for
4532 the names of slot accessor functions. The default is the name of
4533 the struct type followed by a hyphen. The option @code{(:conc-name p-)}
4534 would change this prefix to @code{p-}. Specifying @code{nil} as an
4535 argument means no prefix, so that the slot names themselves are used
4536 to name the accessor functions.
4539 In the simple case, this option takes one argument which is an
4540 alternate name to use for the constructor function. The default
4541 is @code{make-@var{name}}, e.g., @code{make-person}. The above
4542 example changes this to @code{create-person}. Specifying @code{nil}
4543 as an argument means that no standard constructor should be
4546 In the full form of this option, the constructor name is followed
4547 by an arbitrary argument list. @xref{Program Structure}, for a
4548 description of the format of Common Lisp argument lists. All
4549 options, such as @code{&rest} and @code{&key}, are supported.
4550 The argument names should match the slot names; each slot is
4551 initialized from the corresponding argument. Slots whose names
4552 do not appear in the argument list are initialized based on the
4553 @var{default-value} in their slot descriptor. Also, @code{&optional}
4554 and @code{&key} arguments which don't specify defaults take their
4555 defaults from the slot descriptor. It is valid to include arguments
4556 which don't correspond to slot names; these are useful if they are
4557 referred to in the defaults for optional, keyword, or @code{&aux}
4558 arguments which @emph{do} correspond to slots.
4560 You can specify any number of full-format @code{:constructor}
4561 options on a structure. The default constructor is still generated
4562 as well unless you disable it with a simple-format @code{:constructor}
4568 (:constructor nil) ; no default constructor
4569 (:constructor new-person (name sex &optional (age 0)))
4570 (:constructor new-hound (&key (name "Rover")
4572 &aux (age (* 7 dog-years))
4577 The first constructor here takes its arguments positionally rather
4578 than by keyword. (In official Common Lisp terminology, constructors
4579 that work By Order of Arguments instead of by keyword are called
4580 ``BOA constructors.'' No, I'm not making this up.) For example,
4581 @code{(new-person "Jane" 'female)} generates a person whose slots
4582 are @code{"Jane"}, 0, and @code{female}, respectively.
4584 The second constructor takes two keyword arguments, @code{:name},
4585 which initializes the @code{name} slot and defaults to @code{"Rover"},
4586 and @code{:dog-years}, which does not itself correspond to a slot
4587 but which is used to initialize the @code{age} slot. The @code{sex}
4588 slot is forced to the symbol @code{canine} with no syntax for
4592 The argument is an alternate name for the copier function for
4593 this type. The default is @code{copy-@var{name}}. @code{nil}
4594 means not to generate a copier function. (In this implementation,
4595 all copier functions are simply synonyms for @code{copy-sequence}.)
4598 The argument is an alternate name for the predicate which recognizes
4599 objects of this type. The default is @code{@var{name}-p}. @code{nil}
4600 means not to generate a predicate function. (If the @code{:type}
4601 option is used without the @code{:named} option, no predicate is
4604 In true Common Lisp, @code{typep} is always able to recognize a
4605 structure object even if @code{:predicate} was used. In this
4606 package, @code{typep} simply looks for a function called
4607 @code{@var{typename}-p}, so it will work for structure types
4608 only if they used the default predicate name.
4611 This option implements a very limited form of C++-style inheritance.
4612 The argument is the name of another structure type previously
4613 created with @code{defstruct}. The effect is to cause the new
4614 structure type to inherit all of the included structure's slots
4615 (plus, of course, any new slots described by this struct's slot
4616 descriptors). The new structure is considered a ``specialization''
4617 of the included one. In fact, the predicate and slot accessors
4618 for the included type will also accept objects of the new type.
4620 If there are extra arguments to the @code{:include} option after
4621 the included-structure name, these options are treated as replacement
4622 slot descriptors for slots in the included structure, possibly with
4623 modified default values. Borrowing an example from Steele:
4626 (defstruct person name (age 0) sex)
4628 (defstruct (astronaut (:include person (age 45)))
4630 (favorite-beverage 'tang))
4633 (setq joe (make-person :name "Joe"))
4634 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Joe" 0 nil]
4635 (setq buzz (make-astronaut :name "Buzz"))
4636 @result{} [cl-struct-astronaut "Buzz" 45 nil nil tang]
4638 (list (person-p joe) (person-p buzz))
4640 (list (astronaut-p joe) (astronaut-p buzz))
4645 (astronaut-name joe)
4646 @result{} error: "astronaut-name accessing a non-astronaut"
4649 Thus, if @code{astronaut} is a specialization of @code{person},
4650 then every @code{astronaut} is also a @code{person} (but not the
4651 other way around). Every @code{astronaut} includes all the slots
4652 of a @code{person}, plus extra slots that are specific to
4653 astronauts. Operations that work on people (like @code{person-name})
4654 work on astronauts just like other people.
4656 @item :print-function
4657 In full Common Lisp, this option allows you to specify a function
4658 which is called to print an instance of the structure type. The
4659 Emacs Lisp system offers no hooks into the Lisp printer which would
4660 allow for such a feature, so this package simply ignores
4661 @code{:print-function}.
4664 The argument should be one of the symbols @code{vector} or @code{list}.
4665 This tells which underlying Lisp data type should be used to implement
4666 the new structure type. Vectors are used by default, but
4667 @code{(:type list)} will cause structure objects to be stored as
4670 The vector representation for structure objects has the advantage
4671 that all structure slots can be accessed quickly, although creating
4672 vectors is a bit slower in Emacs Lisp. Lists are easier to create,
4673 but take a relatively long time accessing the later slots.
4676 This option, which takes no arguments, causes a characteristic ``tag''
4677 symbol to be stored at the front of the structure object. Using
4678 @code{:type} without also using @code{:named} will result in a
4679 structure type stored as plain vectors or lists with no identifying
4682 The default, if you don't specify @code{:type} explicitly, is to
4683 use named vectors. Therefore, @code{:named} is only useful in
4684 conjunction with @code{:type}.
4687 (defstruct (person1) name age sex)
4688 (defstruct (person2 (:type list) :named) name age sex)
4689 (defstruct (person3 (:type list)) name age sex)
4691 (setq p1 (make-person1))
4692 @result{} [cl-struct-person1 nil nil nil]
4693 (setq p2 (make-person2))
4694 @result{} (person2 nil nil nil)
4695 (setq p3 (make-person3))
4696 @result{} (nil nil nil)
4703 @result{} error: function person3-p undefined
4706 Since unnamed structures don't have tags, @code{defstruct} is not
4707 able to make a useful predicate for recognizing them. Also,
4708 accessors like @code{person3-name} will be generated but they
4709 will not be able to do any type checking. The @code{person3-name}
4710 function, for example, will simply be a synonym for @code{car} in
4711 this case. By contrast, @code{person2-name} is able to verify
4712 that its argument is indeed a @code{person2} object before
4715 @item :initial-offset
4716 The argument must be a nonnegative integer. It specifies a
4717 number of slots to be left ``empty'' at the front of the
4718 structure. If the structure is named, the tag appears at the
4719 specified position in the list or vector; otherwise, the first
4720 slot appears at that position. Earlier positions are filled
4721 with @code{nil} by the constructors and ignored otherwise. If
4722 the type @code{:include}s another type, then @code{:initial-offset}
4723 specifies a number of slots to be skipped between the last slot
4724 of the included type and the first new slot.
4728 Except as noted, the @code{defstruct} facility of this package is
4729 entirely compatible with that of Common Lisp.
4735 @node Assertions, Efficiency Concerns, Structures, Top
4736 @chapter Assertions and Errors
4739 This section describes two macros that test @dfn{assertions}, i.e.,
4740 conditions which must be true if the program is operating correctly.
4741 Assertions never add to the behavior of a Lisp program; they simply
4742 make ``sanity checks'' to make sure everything is as it should be.
4744 If the optimization property @code{speed} has been set to 3, and
4745 @code{safety} is less than 3, then the byte-compiler will optimize
4746 away the following assertions. Because assertions might be optimized
4747 away, it is a bad idea for them to include side-effects.
4749 @defspec assert test-form [show-args string args@dots{}]
4750 This form verifies that @var{test-form} is true (i.e., evaluates to
4751 a non-@code{nil} value). If so, it returns @code{nil}. If the test
4752 is not satisfied, @code{assert} signals an error.
4754 A default error message will be supplied which includes @var{test-form}.
4755 You can specify a different error message by including a @var{string}
4756 argument plus optional extra arguments. Those arguments are simply
4757 passed to @code{error} to signal the error.
4759 If the optional second argument @var{show-args} is @code{t} instead
4760 of @code{nil}, then the error message (with or without @var{string})
4761 will also include all non-constant arguments of the top-level
4762 @var{form}. For example:
4765 (assert (> x 10) t "x is too small: %d")
4768 This usage of @var{show-args} is an extension to Common Lisp. In
4769 true Common Lisp, the second argument gives a list of @var{places}
4770 which can be @code{setf}'d by the user before continuing from the
4771 error. Since Emacs Lisp does not support continuable errors, it
4772 makes no sense to specify @var{places}.
4775 @defspec check-type form type [string]
4776 This form verifies that @var{form} evaluates to a value of type
4777 @var{type}. If so, it returns @code{nil}. If not, @code{check-type}
4778 signals a @code{wrong-type-argument} error. The default error message
4779 lists the erroneous value along with @var{type} and @var{form}
4780 themselves. If @var{string} is specified, it is included in the
4781 error message in place of @var{type}. For example:
4784 (check-type x (integer 1 *) "a positive integer")
4787 @xref{Type Predicates}, for a description of the type specifiers
4788 that may be used for @var{type}.
4790 Note that in Common Lisp, the first argument to @code{check-type}
4791 must be a @var{place} suitable for use by @code{setf}, because
4792 @code{check-type} signals a continuable error that allows the
4793 user to modify @var{place}.
4796 The following error-related macro is also defined:
4798 @defspec ignore-errors forms@dots{}
4799 This executes @var{forms} exactly like a @code{progn}, except that
4800 errors are ignored during the @var{forms}. More precisely, if
4801 an error is signaled then @code{ignore-errors} immediately
4802 aborts execution of the @var{forms} and returns @code{nil}.
4803 If the @var{forms} complete successfully, @code{ignore-errors}
4804 returns the result of the last @var{form}.
4807 @node Efficiency Concerns, Common Lisp Compatibility, Assertions, Top
4808 @appendix Efficiency Concerns
4813 Many of the advanced features of this package, such as @code{defun*},
4814 @code{loop}, and @code{setf}, are implemented as Lisp macros. In
4815 byte-compiled code, these complex notations will be expanded into
4816 equivalent Lisp code which is simple and efficient. For example,
4825 are expanded at compile-time to the Lisp forms
4829 (setcar p (cons x (car p)))
4833 which are the most efficient ways of doing these respective operations
4834 in Lisp. Thus, there is no performance penalty for using the more
4835 readable @code{incf} and @code{push} forms in your compiled code.
4837 @emph{Interpreted} code, on the other hand, must expand these macros
4838 every time they are executed. For this reason it is strongly
4839 recommended that code making heavy use of macros be compiled.
4840 (The features labeled ``Special Form'' instead of ``Function'' in
4841 this manual are macros.) A loop using @code{incf} a hundred times
4842 will execute considerably faster if compiled, and will also
4843 garbage-collect less because the macro expansion will not have
4844 to be generated, used, and thrown away a hundred times.
4846 You can find out how a macro expands by using the
4847 @code{cl-prettyexpand} function.
4849 @defun cl-prettyexpand form &optional full
4850 This function takes a single Lisp form as an argument and inserts
4851 a nicely formatted copy of it in the current buffer (which must be
4852 in Lisp mode so that indentation works properly). It also expands
4853 all Lisp macros which appear in the form. The easiest way to use
4854 this function is to go to the @code{*scratch*} buffer and type, say,
4857 (cl-prettyexpand '(loop for x below 10 collect x))
4861 and type @kbd{C-x C-e} immediately after the closing parenthesis;
4869 (setq G1004 (cons x G1004))
4875 will be inserted into the buffer. (The @code{block} macro is
4876 expanded differently in the interpreter and compiler, so
4877 @code{cl-prettyexpand} just leaves it alone. The temporary
4878 variable @code{G1004} was created by @code{gensym}.)
4880 If the optional argument @var{full} is true, then @emph{all}
4881 macros are expanded, including @code{block}, @code{eval-when},
4882 and compiler macros. Expansion is done as if @var{form} were
4883 a top-level form in a file being compiled. For example,
4886 (cl-prettyexpand '(pushnew 'x list))
4887 @print{} (setq list (adjoin 'x list))
4888 (cl-prettyexpand '(pushnew 'x list) t)
4889 @print{} (setq list (if (memq 'x list) list (cons 'x list)))
4890 (cl-prettyexpand '(caddr (member* 'a list)) t)
4891 @print{} (car (cdr (cdr (memq 'a list))))
4894 Note that @code{adjoin}, @code{caddr}, and @code{member*} all
4895 have built-in compiler macros to optimize them in common cases.
4903 @appendixsec Error Checking
4906 Common Lisp compliance has in general not been sacrificed for the
4907 sake of efficiency. A few exceptions have been made for cases
4908 where substantial gains were possible at the expense of marginal
4911 The Common Lisp standard (as embodied in Steele's book) uses the
4912 phrase ``it is an error if'' to indicate a situation which is not
4913 supposed to arise in complying programs; implementations are strongly
4914 encouraged but not required to signal an error in these situations.
4915 This package sometimes omits such error checking in the interest of
4916 compactness and efficiency. For example, @code{do} variable
4917 specifiers are supposed to be lists of one, two, or three forms;
4918 extra forms are ignored by this package rather than signaling a
4919 syntax error. The @code{endp} function is simply a synonym for
4920 @code{null} in this package. Functions taking keyword arguments
4921 will accept an odd number of arguments, treating the trailing
4922 keyword as if it were followed by the value @code{nil}.
4924 Argument lists (as processed by @code{defun*} and friends)
4925 @emph{are} checked rigorously except for the minor point just
4926 mentioned; in particular, keyword arguments are checked for
4927 validity, and @code{&allow-other-keys} and @code{:allow-other-keys}
4928 are fully implemented. Keyword validity checking is slightly
4929 time consuming (though not too bad in byte-compiled code);
4930 you can use @code{&allow-other-keys} to omit this check. Functions
4931 defined in this package such as @code{find} and @code{member*}
4932 do check their keyword arguments for validity.
4939 @appendixsec Optimizing Compiler
4942 Use of the optimizing Emacs compiler is highly recommended; many of the Common
4944 code which can be improved by optimization. In particular,
4945 @code{block}s (whether explicit or implicit in constructs like
4946 @code{defun*} and @code{loop}) carry a fair run-time penalty; the
4947 optimizing compiler removes @code{block}s which are not actually
4948 referenced by @code{return} or @code{return-from} inside the block.
4950 @node Common Lisp Compatibility, Old CL Compatibility, Efficiency Concerns, Top
4951 @appendix Common Lisp Compatibility
4954 Following is a list of all known incompatibilities between this
4955 package and Common Lisp as documented in Steele (2nd edition).
4957 Certain function names, such as @code{member}, @code{assoc}, and
4958 @code{floor}, were already taken by (incompatible) Emacs Lisp
4959 functions; this package appends @samp{*} to the names of its
4960 Common Lisp versions of these functions.
4962 The word @code{defun*} is required instead of @code{defun} in order
4963 to use extended Common Lisp argument lists in a function. Likewise,
4964 @code{defmacro*} and @code{function*} are versions of those forms
4965 which understand full-featured argument lists. The @code{&whole}
4966 keyword does not work in @code{defmacro} argument lists (except
4967 inside recursive argument lists).
4969 The @code{equal} predicate does not distinguish
4970 between IEEE floating-point plus and minus zero. The @code{equalp}
4971 predicate has several differences with Common Lisp; @pxref{Predicates}.
4973 The @code{setf} mechanism is entirely compatible, except that
4974 setf-methods return a list of five values rather than five
4975 values directly. Also, the new ``@code{setf} function'' concept
4976 (typified by @code{(defun (setf foo) @dots{})}) is not implemented.
4978 The @code{do-all-symbols} form is the same as @code{do-symbols}
4979 with no @var{obarray} argument. In Common Lisp, this form would
4980 iterate over all symbols in all packages. Since Emacs obarrays
4981 are not a first-class package mechanism, there is no way for
4982 @code{do-all-symbols} to locate any but the default obarray.
4984 The @code{loop} macro is complete except that @code{loop-finish}
4985 and type specifiers are unimplemented.
4987 The multiple-value return facility treats lists as multiple
4988 values, since Emacs Lisp cannot support multiple return values
4989 directly. The macros will be compatible with Common Lisp if
4990 @code{values} or @code{values-list} is always used to return to
4991 a @code{multiple-value-bind} or other multiple-value receiver;
4992 if @code{values} is used without @code{multiple-value-@dots{}}
4993 or vice-versa the effect will be different from Common Lisp.
4995 Many Common Lisp declarations are ignored, and others match
4996 the Common Lisp standard in concept but not in detail. For
4997 example, local @code{special} declarations, which are purely
4998 advisory in Emacs Lisp, do not rigorously obey the scoping rules
4999 set down in Steele's book.
5001 The variable @code{*gensym-counter*} starts out with a pseudo-random
5002 value rather than with zero. This is to cope with the fact that
5003 generated symbols become interned when they are written to and
5004 loaded back from a file.
5006 The @code{defstruct} facility is compatible, except that structures
5007 are of type @code{:type vector :named} by default rather than some
5008 special, distinct type. Also, the @code{:type} slot option is ignored.
5010 The second argument of @code{check-type} is treated differently.
5012 @node Old CL Compatibility, Porting Common Lisp, Common Lisp Compatibility, Top
5013 @appendix Old CL Compatibility
5016 Following is a list of all known incompatibilities between this package
5017 and the older Quiroz @file{cl.el} package.
5019 This package's emulation of multiple return values in functions is
5020 incompatible with that of the older package. That package attempted
5021 to come as close as possible to true Common Lisp multiple return
5022 values; unfortunately, it could not be 100% reliable and so was prone
5023 to occasional surprises if used freely. This package uses a simpler
5024 method, namely replacing multiple values with lists of values, which
5025 is more predictable though more noticeably different from Common Lisp.
5027 The @code{defkeyword} form and @code{keywordp} function are not
5028 implemented in this package.
5030 The @code{member}, @code{floor}, @code{ceiling}, @code{truncate},
5031 @code{round}, @code{mod}, and @code{rem} functions are suffixed
5032 by @samp{*} in this package to avoid collision with existing
5033 functions in Emacs. The older package simply
5034 redefined these functions, overwriting the built-in meanings and
5035 causing serious portability problems. (Some more
5036 recent versions of the Quiroz package changed the names to
5037 @code{cl-member}, etc.; this package defines the latter names as
5038 aliases for @code{member*}, etc.)
5040 Certain functions in the old package which were buggy or inconsistent
5041 with the Common Lisp standard are incompatible with the conforming
5042 versions in this package. For example, @code{eql} and @code{member}
5043 were synonyms for @code{eq} and @code{memq} in that package, @code{setf}
5044 failed to preserve correct order of evaluation of its arguments, etc.
5046 Finally, unlike the older package, this package is careful to
5047 prefix all of its internal names with @code{cl-}. Except for a
5048 few functions which are explicitly defined as additional features
5049 (such as @code{floatp-safe} and @code{letf}), this package does not
5050 export any non-@samp{cl-} symbols which are not also part of Common
5058 @appendixsec The @code{cl-compat} package
5061 The @dfn{CL} package includes emulations of some features of the
5062 old @file{cl.el}, in the form of a compatibility package
5063 @code{cl-compat}. To use it, put @code{(require 'cl-compat)} in
5066 The old package defined a number of internal routines without
5067 @code{cl-} prefixes or other annotations. Call to these routines
5068 may have crept into existing Lisp code. @code{cl-compat}
5069 provides emulations of the following internal routines:
5070 @code{pair-with-newsyms}, @code{zip-lists}, @code{unzip-lists},
5071 @code{reassemble-arglists}, @code{duplicate-symbols-p},
5074 Some @code{setf} forms translated into calls to internal
5075 functions that user code might call directly. The functions
5076 @code{setnth}, @code{setnthcdr}, and @code{setelt} fall in
5077 this category; they are defined by @code{cl-compat}, but the
5078 best fix is to change to use @code{setf} properly.
5080 The @code{cl-compat} file defines the keyword functions
5081 @code{keywordp}, @code{keyword-of}, and @code{defkeyword},
5082 which are not defined by the new @dfn{CL} package because the
5083 use of keywords as data is discouraged.
5085 The @code{build-klist} mechanism for parsing keyword arguments
5086 is emulated by @code{cl-compat}; the @code{with-keyword-args}
5087 macro is not, however, and in any case it's best to change to
5088 use the more natural keyword argument processing offered by
5091 Multiple return values are treated differently by the two
5092 Common Lisp packages. The old package's method was more
5093 compatible with true Common Lisp, though it used heuristics
5094 that caused it to report spurious multiple return values in
5095 certain cases. The @code{cl-compat} package defines a set
5096 of multiple-value macros that are compatible with the old
5097 CL package; again, they are heuristic in nature, but they
5098 are guaranteed to work in any case where the old package's
5099 macros worked. To avoid name collision with the ``official''
5100 multiple-value facilities, the ones in @code{cl-compat} have
5101 capitalized names: @code{Values}, @code{Values-list},
5102 @code{Multiple-value-bind}, etc.
5104 The functions @code{cl-floor}, @code{cl-ceiling}, @code{cl-truncate},
5105 and @code{cl-round} are defined by @code{cl-compat} to use the
5106 old-style multiple-value mechanism, just as they did in the old
5107 package. The newer @code{floor*} and friends return their two
5108 results in a list rather than as multiple values. Note that
5109 older versions of the old package used the unadorned names
5110 @code{floor}, @code{ceiling}, etc.; @code{cl-compat} cannot use
5111 these names because they conflict with Emacs built-ins.
5113 @node Porting Common Lisp, GNU Free Documentation License, Old CL Compatibility, Top
5114 @appendix Porting Common Lisp
5117 This package is meant to be used as an extension to Emacs Lisp,
5118 not as an Emacs implementation of true Common Lisp. Some of the
5119 remaining differences between Emacs Lisp and Common Lisp make it
5120 difficult to port large Common Lisp applications to Emacs. For
5121 one, some of the features in this package are not fully compliant
5122 with ANSI or Steele; @pxref{Common Lisp Compatibility}. But there
5123 are also quite a few features that this package does not provide
5124 at all. Here are some major omissions that you will want to watch out
5125 for when bringing Common Lisp code into Emacs.
5129 Case-insensitivity. Symbols in Common Lisp are case-insensitive
5130 by default. Some programs refer to a function or variable as
5131 @code{foo} in one place and @code{Foo} or @code{FOO} in another.
5132 Emacs Lisp will treat these as three distinct symbols.
5134 Some Common Lisp code is written entirely in upper case. While Emacs
5135 is happy to let the program's own functions and variables use
5136 this convention, calls to Lisp builtins like @code{if} and
5137 @code{defun} will have to be changed to lower case.
5140 Lexical scoping. In Common Lisp, function arguments and @code{let}
5141 bindings apply only to references physically within their bodies
5142 (or within macro expansions in their bodies). Emacs Lisp, by
5143 contrast, uses @dfn{dynamic scoping} wherein a binding to a
5144 variable is visible even inside functions called from the body.
5146 Variables in Common Lisp can be made dynamically scoped by
5147 declaring them @code{special} or using @code{defvar}. In Emacs
5148 Lisp it is as if all variables were declared @code{special}.
5150 Often you can use code that was written for lexical scoping
5151 even in a dynamically scoped Lisp, but not always. Here is
5152 an example of a Common Lisp code fragment that would fail in
5156 (defun map-odd-elements (func list)
5158 for flag = t then (not flag)
5159 collect (if flag x (funcall func x))))
5161 (defun add-odd-elements (list x)
5162 (map-odd-elements (lambda (a) (+ a x))) list)
5166 In Common Lisp, the two functions' usages of @code{x} are completely
5167 independent. In Emacs Lisp, the binding to @code{x} made by
5168 @code{add-odd-elements} will have been hidden by the binding
5169 in @code{map-odd-elements} by the time the @code{(+ a x)} function
5172 (This package avoids such problems in its own mapping functions
5173 by using names like @code{cl-x} instead of @code{x} internally;
5174 as long as you don't use the @code{cl-} prefix for your own
5175 variables no collision can occur.)
5177 @xref{Lexical Bindings}, for a description of the @code{lexical-let}
5178 form which establishes a Common Lisp-style lexical binding, and some
5179 examples of how it differs from Emacs' regular @code{let}.
5182 Reader macros. Common Lisp includes a second type of macro that
5183 works at the level of individual characters. For example, Common
5184 Lisp implements the quote notation by a reader macro called @code{'},
5185 whereas Emacs Lisp's parser just treats quote as a special case.
5186 Some Lisp packages use reader macros to create special syntaxes
5187 for themselves, which the Emacs parser is incapable of reading.
5190 Other syntactic features. Common Lisp provides a number of
5191 notations beginning with @code{#} that the Emacs Lisp parser
5192 won't understand. For example, @samp{#| ... |#} is an
5193 alternate comment notation, and @samp{#+lucid (foo)} tells
5194 the parser to ignore the @code{(foo)} except in Lucid Common
5198 Packages. In Common Lisp, symbols are divided into @dfn{packages}.
5199 Symbols that are Lisp built-ins are typically stored in one package;
5200 symbols that are vendor extensions are put in another, and each
5201 application program would have a package for its own symbols.
5202 Certain symbols are ``exported'' by a package and others are
5203 internal; certain packages ``use'' or import the exported symbols
5204 of other packages. To access symbols that would not normally be
5205 visible due to this importing and exporting, Common Lisp provides
5206 a syntax like @code{package:symbol} or @code{package::symbol}.
5208 Emacs Lisp has a single namespace for all interned symbols, and
5209 then uses a naming convention of putting a prefix like @code{cl-}
5210 in front of the name. Some Emacs packages adopt the Common Lisp-like
5211 convention of using @code{cl:} or @code{cl::} as the prefix.
5212 However, the Emacs parser does not understand colons and just
5213 treats them as part of the symbol name. Thus, while @code{mapcar}
5214 and @code{lisp:mapcar} may refer to the same symbol in Common
5215 Lisp, they are totally distinct in Emacs Lisp. Common Lisp
5216 programs which refer to a symbol by the full name sometimes
5217 and the short name other times will not port cleanly to Emacs.
5219 Emacs Lisp does have a concept of ``obarrays,'' which are
5220 package-like collections of symbols, but this feature is not
5221 strong enough to be used as a true package mechanism.
5224 The @code{format} function is quite different between Common
5225 Lisp and Emacs Lisp. It takes an additional ``destination''
5226 argument before the format string. A destination of @code{nil}
5227 means to format to a string as in Emacs Lisp; a destination
5228 of @code{t} means to write to the terminal (similar to
5229 @code{message} in Emacs). Also, format control strings are
5230 utterly different; @code{~} is used instead of @code{%} to
5231 introduce format codes, and the set of available codes is
5232 much richer. There are no notations like @code{\n} for
5233 string literals; instead, @code{format} is used with the
5234 ``newline'' format code, @code{~%}. More advanced formatting
5235 codes provide such features as paragraph filling, case
5236 conversion, and even loops and conditionals.
5238 While it would have been possible to implement most of Common
5239 Lisp @code{format} in this package (under the name @code{format*},
5240 of course), it was not deemed worthwhile. It would have required
5241 a huge amount of code to implement even a decent subset of
5242 @code{format*}, yet the functionality it would provide over
5243 Emacs Lisp's @code{format} would rarely be useful.
5246 Vector constants use square brackets in Emacs Lisp, but
5247 @code{#(a b c)} notation in Common Lisp. To further complicate
5248 matters, Emacs has its own @code{#(} notation for
5249 something entirely different---strings with properties.
5252 Characters are distinct from integers in Common Lisp. The notation
5253 for character constants is also different: @code{#\A} in Common Lisp
5254 where Emacs Lisp uses @code{?A}. Also, @code{string=} and
5255 @code{string-equal} are synonyms in Emacs Lisp, whereas the latter is
5256 case-insensitive in Common Lisp.
5259 Data types. Some Common Lisp data types do not exist in Emacs
5260 Lisp. Rational numbers and complex numbers are not present,
5261 nor are large integers (all integers are ``fixnums''). All
5262 arrays are one-dimensional. There are no readtables or pathnames;
5263 streams are a set of existing data types rather than a new data
5264 type of their own. Hash tables, random-states, structures, and
5265 packages (obarrays) are built from Lisp vectors or lists rather
5266 than being distinct types.
5269 The Common Lisp Object System (CLOS) is not implemented,
5270 nor is the Common Lisp Condition System. However, the EIEIO package
5271 from @uref{ftp://ftp.ultranet.com/pub/zappo} does implement some
5275 Common Lisp features that are completely redundant with Emacs
5276 Lisp features of a different name generally have not been
5277 implemented. For example, Common Lisp writes @code{defconstant}
5278 where Emacs Lisp uses @code{defconst}. Similarly, @code{make-list}
5279 takes its arguments in different ways in the two Lisps but does
5280 exactly the same thing, so this package has not bothered to
5281 implement a Common Lisp-style @code{make-list}.
5284 A few more notable Common Lisp features not included in this
5285 package: @code{compiler-let}, @code{tagbody}, @code{prog},
5286 @code{ldb/dpb}, @code{parse-integer}, @code{cerror}.
5289 Recursion. While recursion works in Emacs Lisp just like it
5290 does in Common Lisp, various details of the Emacs Lisp system
5291 and compiler make recursion much less efficient than it is in
5292 most Lisps. Some schools of thought prefer to use recursion
5293 in Lisp over other techniques; they would sum a list of
5294 numbers using something like
5297 (defun sum-list (list)
5299 (+ (car list) (sum-list (cdr list)))
5304 where a more iteratively-minded programmer might write one of
5308 (let ((total 0)) (dolist (x my-list) (incf total x)) total)
5309 (loop for x in my-list sum x)
5312 While this would be mainly a stylistic choice in most Common Lisps,
5313 in Emacs Lisp you should be aware that the iterative forms are
5314 much faster than recursion. Also, Lisp programmers will want to
5315 note that the current Emacs Lisp compiler does not optimize tail
5319 @node GNU Free Documentation License, Function Index, Porting Common Lisp, Top
5320 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
5321 @include doclicense.texi
5323 @node Function Index, Variable Index, GNU Free Documentation License, Top
5324 @unnumbered Function Index
5328 @node Variable Index, , Function Index, Top
5329 @unnumbered Variable Index
5333 @setchapternewpage odd
5338 arch-tag: b61e7200-3bfa-4a70-a9d3-095e152696f8