1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @setfilename ../../info/cl
3 @settitle Common Lisp Extensions
7 This file documents the GNU Emacs Common Lisp emulation package.
9 Copyright @copyright{} 1993, 2001-2012 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 1.3 or
14 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
15 Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU Manual'',
16 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the license
17 is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.
19 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have the freedom to copy and
20 modify this GNU manual. Buying copies from the FSF supports it in
21 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
25 @dircategory Emacs lisp libraries
27 * CL: (cl). Partial Common Lisp support for Emacs Lisp.
34 @center @titlefont{Common Lisp Extensions}
36 @center For GNU Emacs Lisp
38 @center as distributed with Emacs @value{EMACSVER}
40 @center Dave Gillespie
41 @center daveg@@synaptics.com
43 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
51 @top GNU Emacs Common Lisp Emulation
57 * Overview:: Basics, usage, etc.
58 * Program Structure:: Arglists, @code{cl-eval-when}, @code{defalias}.
59 * Predicates:: @code{cl-typep} and @code{cl-equalp}.
60 * Control Structure:: @code{cl-do}, @code{cl-loop}, etc.
61 * Macros:: Destructuring, @code{cl-define-compiler-macro}.
62 * Declarations:: @code{cl-proclaim}, @code{cl-declare}, etc.
63 * Symbols:: Property lists, @code{cl-gensym}.
64 * Numbers:: Predicates, functions, random numbers.
65 * Sequences:: Mapping, functions, searching, sorting.
66 * Lists:: @code{cl-caddr}, @code{cl-sublis}, @code{cl-member}, @code{cl-assoc}, etc.
67 * Structures:: @code{cl-defstruct}.
68 * Assertions:: @code{cl-check-type}, @code{cl-assert}.
70 * Efficiency Concerns:: Hints and techniques.
71 * Common Lisp Compatibility:: All known differences with Steele.
72 * Porting Common Lisp:: Hints for porting Common Lisp code.
73 * Obsolete Features:: Obsolete features.
75 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation.
84 This document describes a set of Emacs Lisp facilities borrowed from
85 Common Lisp. All the facilities are described here in detail. While
86 this document does not assume any prior knowledge of Common Lisp, it
87 does assume a basic familiarity with Emacs Lisp.
89 Common Lisp is a huge language, and Common Lisp systems tend to be
90 massive and extremely complex. Emacs Lisp, by contrast, is rather
91 minimalist in the choice of Lisp features it offers the programmer.
92 As Emacs Lisp programmers have grown in number, and the applications
93 they write have grown more ambitious, it has become clear that Emacs
94 Lisp could benefit from many of the conveniences of Common Lisp.
96 The @code{CL} package adds a number of Common Lisp functions and
97 control structures to Emacs Lisp. While not a 100% complete
98 implementation of Common Lisp, @code{CL} adds enough functionality
99 to make Emacs Lisp programming significantly more convenient.
101 Some Common Lisp features have been omitted from this package
106 Some features are too complex or bulky relative to their benefit
107 to Emacs Lisp programmers. CLOS and Common Lisp streams are fine
108 examples of this group.
111 Other features cannot be implemented without modification to the
112 Emacs Lisp interpreter itself, such as multiple return values,
113 case-insensitive symbols, and complex numbers.
114 The @code{CL} package generally makes no attempt to emulate these
119 This package was originally written by Dave Gillespie,
120 @file{daveg@@synaptics.com}, as a total rewrite of an earlier 1986
121 @file{cl.el} package by Cesar Quiroz. Care has been taken to ensure
122 that each function is defined efficiently, concisely, and with minimal
123 impact on the rest of the Emacs environment. Stefan Monnier added the
124 file @file{cl-lib.el} and rationalized the namespace for Emacs 24.3.
127 * Usage:: How to use the CL package.
128 * Organization:: The package's component files.
129 * Naming Conventions:: Notes on CL function names.
136 The @code{CL} package is distributed with Emacs, so there is no need
137 to install any additional files in order to start using it. Lisp code
138 that uses features from the @code{CL} package should simply include at
146 You may wish to add such a statement to your init file, if you
147 make frequent use of CL features.
150 @section Organization
153 The Common Lisp package is organized into four main files:
157 This is the main file, which contains basic functions
158 and information about the package. This file is relatively compact.
161 This file contains the larger, more complex or unusual functions.
162 It is kept separate so that packages which only want to use Common
163 Lisp fundamentals like the @code{cl-incf} function won't need to pay
164 the overhead of loading the more advanced functions.
167 This file contains most of the advanced functions for operating
168 on sequences or lists, such as @code{cl-delete-if} and @code{cl-assoc}.
171 This file contains the features that are macros instead of functions.
172 Macros expand when the caller is compiled, not when it is run, so the
173 macros generally only need to be present when the byte-compiler is
174 running (or when the macros are used in uncompiled code). Most of the
175 macros of this package are isolated in @file{cl-macs.el} so that they
176 won't take up memory unless you are compiling.
179 The file @file{cl-lib.el} includes all necessary @code{autoload}
180 commands for the functions and macros in the other three files.
181 All you have to do is @code{(require 'cl-lib)}, and @file{cl-lib.el}
182 will take care of pulling in the other files when they are
185 There is another file, @file{cl.el}, which was the main entry point to
186 the CL package prior to Emacs 24.3. Nowadays, it is replaced by
187 @file{cl-lib.el}. The two provide the same features (in most cases),
188 but use different function names (in fact, @file{cl.el} mainly just
189 defines aliases to the @file{cl-lib.el} definitions). Where
190 @file{cl-lib.el} defines a function called, for example,
191 @code{cl-incf}, @file{cl.el} uses the same name but without the
192 @samp{cl-} prefix, e.g. @code{incf} in this example. There are a few
193 exceptions to this. First, functions such as @code{cl-defun} where
194 the unprefixed version was already used for a standard Emacs Lisp
195 function. In such cases, the @file{cl.el} version adds a @samp{*}
196 suffix, e.g. @code{defun*}. Second, there are some obsolete features
197 that are only implemented in @file{cl.el}, not in @file{cl-lib.el},
198 because they are replaced by other standard Emacs Lisp features.
199 Finally, in a very few cases the old @file{cl.el} versions do not
200 behave in exactly the same way as the @file{cl-lib.el} versions.
201 @xref{Obsolete Features}.
202 @c There is also cl-mapc, which was called cl-mapc even before cl-lib.el.
203 @c But not autoloaded, so maybe not much used?
205 Since the old @file{cl.el} does not use a clean namespace, Emacs has a
206 policy that packages distributed with Emacs must not load @code{cl} at
207 run time. (It is ok for them to load @code{cl} at @emph{compile}
208 time, with @code{eval-when-compile}, and use the macros it provides.)
209 There is no such restriction on the use of @code{cl-lib}. New code
210 should use @code{cl-lib} rather than @code{cl}.
212 There is one more file, @file{cl-compat.el}, which defines some
213 routines from the older Quiroz CL package that are not otherwise
214 present in the new package. This file is obsolete and should not be
217 @node Naming Conventions
218 @section Naming Conventions
221 Except where noted, all functions defined by this package have the
222 same calling conventions as their Common Lisp counterparts, and
223 names that are those of Common Lisp plus a @samp{cl-} prefix.
225 Internal function and variable names in the package are prefixed
226 by @code{cl--}. Here is a complete list of functions prefixed by
227 @code{cl-} that were not taken from Common Lisp:
230 cl-callf cl-callf2 cl-defsubst
231 cl-floatp-safe cl-letf cl-letf*
234 The following simple functions and macros are defined in @file{cl-lib.el};
235 they do not cause other components like @file{cl-extra} to be loaded.
238 cl-floatp-safe cl-endp
239 cl-evenp cl-oddp cl-plusp cl-minusp
240 cl-caaar .. cl-cddddr
241 cl-list* cl-ldiff cl-rest cl-first .. cl-tenth
242 cl-copy-list cl-subst cl-mapcar [2]
243 cl-adjoin [3] cl-acons cl-pairlis
244 cl-pushnew [3,4] cl-incf [4] cl-decf [4]
245 cl-proclaim cl-declaim
249 [2] Only for one sequence argument or two list arguments.
252 [3] Only if @code{:test} is @code{eq}, @code{equal}, or unspecified,
253 and @code{:key} is not used.
256 [4] Only when @var{place} is a plain variable name.
258 @node Program Structure
259 @chapter Program Structure
262 This section describes features of the @code{CL} package that have to
263 do with programs as a whole: advanced argument lists for functions,
264 and the @code{cl-eval-when} construct.
267 * Argument Lists:: @code{&key}, @code{&aux}, @code{cl-defun}, @code{cl-defmacro}.
268 * Time of Evaluation:: The @code{cl-eval-when} construct.
272 @section Argument Lists
275 Emacs Lisp's notation for argument lists of functions is a subset of
276 the Common Lisp notation. As well as the familiar @code{&optional}
277 and @code{&rest} markers, Common Lisp allows you to specify default
278 values for optional arguments, and it provides the additional markers
279 @code{&key} and @code{&aux}.
281 Since argument parsing is built-in to Emacs, there is no way for
282 this package to implement Common Lisp argument lists seamlessly.
283 Instead, this package defines alternates for several Lisp forms
284 which you must use if you need Common Lisp argument lists.
286 @defmac cl-defun name arglist body...
287 This form is identical to the regular @code{defun} form, except
288 that @var{arglist} is allowed to be a full Common Lisp argument
289 list. Also, the function body is enclosed in an implicit block
290 called @var{name}; @pxref{Blocks and Exits}.
293 @defmac cl-defsubst name arglist body...
294 This is just like @code{cl-defun}, except that the function that
295 is defined is automatically proclaimed @code{inline}, i.e.,
296 calls to it may be expanded into in-line code by the byte compiler.
297 This is analogous to the @code{defsubst} form;
298 @code{cl-defsubst} uses a different method (compiler macros) which
299 works in all versions of Emacs, and also generates somewhat more
300 efficient inline expansions. In particular, @code{cl-defsubst}
301 arranges for the processing of keyword arguments, default values,
302 etc., to be done at compile-time whenever possible.
305 @defmac cl-defmacro name arglist body...
306 This is identical to the regular @code{defmacro} form,
307 except that @var{arglist} is allowed to be a full Common Lisp
308 argument list. The @code{&environment} keyword is supported as
309 described in Steele. The @code{&whole} keyword is supported only
310 within destructured lists (see below); top-level @code{&whole}
311 cannot be implemented with the current Emacs Lisp interpreter.
312 The macro expander body is enclosed in an implicit block called
316 @defmac cl-function symbol-or-lambda
317 This is identical to the regular @code{function} form,
318 except that if the argument is a @code{lambda} form then that
319 form may use a full Common Lisp argument list.
322 Also, all forms (such as @code{cl-flet} and @code{cl-labels}) defined
323 in this package that include @var{arglist}s in their syntax allow
324 full Common Lisp argument lists.
326 Note that it is @emph{not} necessary to use @code{cl-defun} in
327 order to have access to most @code{CL} features in your function.
328 These features are always present; @code{cl-defun}'s only
329 difference from @code{defun} is its more flexible argument
330 lists and its implicit block.
332 The full form of a Common Lisp argument list is
336 &optional (@var{var} @var{initform} @var{svar})...
338 &key ((@var{keyword} @var{var}) @var{initform} @var{svar})...
339 &aux (@var{var} @var{initform})...)
342 Each of the five argument list sections is optional. The @var{svar},
343 @var{initform}, and @var{keyword} parts are optional; if they are
344 omitted, then @samp{(@var{var})} may be written simply @samp{@var{var}}.
346 The first section consists of zero or more @dfn{required} arguments.
347 These arguments must always be specified in a call to the function;
348 there is no difference between Emacs Lisp and Common Lisp as far as
349 required arguments are concerned.
351 The second section consists of @dfn{optional} arguments. These
352 arguments may be specified in the function call; if they are not,
353 @var{initform} specifies the default value used for the argument.
354 (No @var{initform} means to use @code{nil} as the default.) The
355 @var{initform} is evaluated with the bindings for the preceding
356 arguments already established; @code{(a &optional (b (1+ a)))}
357 matches one or two arguments, with the second argument defaulting
358 to one plus the first argument. If the @var{svar} is specified,
359 it is an auxiliary variable which is bound to @code{t} if the optional
360 argument was specified, or to @code{nil} if the argument was omitted.
361 If you don't use an @var{svar}, then there will be no way for your
362 function to tell whether it was called with no argument, or with
363 the default value passed explicitly as an argument.
365 The third section consists of a single @dfn{rest} argument. If
366 more arguments were passed to the function than are accounted for
367 by the required and optional arguments, those extra arguments are
368 collected into a list and bound to the ``rest'' argument variable.
369 Common Lisp's @code{&rest} is equivalent to that of Emacs Lisp.
370 Common Lisp accepts @code{&body} as a synonym for @code{&rest} in
371 macro contexts; this package accepts it all the time.
373 The fourth section consists of @dfn{keyword} arguments. These
374 are optional arguments which are specified by name rather than
375 positionally in the argument list. For example,
378 (cl-defun foo (a &optional b &key c d (e 17)))
382 defines a function which may be called with one, two, or more
383 arguments. The first two arguments are bound to @code{a} and
384 @code{b} in the usual way. The remaining arguments must be
385 pairs of the form @code{:c}, @code{:d}, or @code{:e} followed
386 by the value to be bound to the corresponding argument variable.
387 (Symbols whose names begin with a colon are called @dfn{keywords},
388 and they are self-quoting in the same way as @code{nil} and
391 For example, the call @code{(foo 1 2 :d 3 :c 4)} sets the five
392 arguments to 1, 2, 4, 3, and 17, respectively. If the same keyword
393 appears more than once in the function call, the first occurrence
394 takes precedence over the later ones. Note that it is not possible
395 to specify keyword arguments without specifying the optional
396 argument @code{b} as well, since @code{(foo 1 :c 2)} would bind
397 @code{b} to the keyword @code{:c}, then signal an error because
398 @code{2} is not a valid keyword.
400 You can also explicitly specify the keyword argument; it need not be
401 simply the variable name prefixed with a colon. For example,
404 (cl-defun bar (&key (a 1) ((baz b) 4)))
409 specifies a keyword @code{:a} that sets the variable @code{a} with
410 default value 1, as well as a keyword @code{baz} that sets the
411 variable @code{b} with default value 4. In this case, because
412 @code{baz} is not self-quoting, you must quote it explicitly in the
413 function call, like this:
419 Ordinarily, it is an error to pass an unrecognized keyword to
420 a function, e.g., @code{(foo 1 2 :c 3 :goober 4)}. You can ask
421 Lisp to ignore unrecognized keywords, either by adding the
422 marker @code{&allow-other-keys} after the keyword section
423 of the argument list, or by specifying an @code{:allow-other-keys}
424 argument in the call whose value is non-@code{nil}. If the
425 function uses both @code{&rest} and @code{&key} at the same time,
426 the ``rest'' argument is bound to the keyword list as it appears
427 in the call. For example:
430 (cl-defun find-thing (thing &rest rest &key need &allow-other-keys)
431 (or (apply 'cl-member thing thing-list :allow-other-keys t rest)
432 (if need (error "Thing not found"))))
436 This function takes a @code{:need} keyword argument, but also
437 accepts other keyword arguments which are passed on to the
438 @code{cl-member} function. @code{allow-other-keys} is used to
439 keep both @code{find-thing} and @code{cl-member} from complaining
440 about each others' keywords in the arguments.
442 The fifth section of the argument list consists of @dfn{auxiliary
443 variables}. These are not really arguments at all, but simply
444 variables which are bound to @code{nil} or to the specified
445 @var{initforms} during execution of the function. There is no
446 difference between the following two functions, except for a
447 matter of stylistic taste:
450 (cl-defun foo (a b &aux (c (+ a b)) d)
458 Argument lists support @dfn{destructuring}. In Common Lisp,
459 destructuring is only allowed with @code{defmacro}; this package
460 allows it with @code{cl-defun} and other argument lists as well.
461 In destructuring, any argument variable (@var{var} in the above
462 diagram) can be replaced by a list of variables, or more generally,
463 a recursive argument list. The corresponding argument value must
464 be a list whose elements match this recursive argument list.
468 (cl-defmacro dolist ((var listform &optional resultform)
473 This says that the first argument of @code{dolist} must be a list
474 of two or three items; if there are other arguments as well as this
475 list, they are stored in @code{body}. All features allowed in
476 regular argument lists are allowed in these recursive argument lists.
477 In addition, the clause @samp{&whole @var{var}} is allowed at the
478 front of a recursive argument list. It binds @var{var} to the
479 whole list being matched; thus @code{(&whole all a b)} matches
480 a list of two things, with @code{a} bound to the first thing,
481 @code{b} bound to the second thing, and @code{all} bound to the
482 list itself. (Common Lisp allows @code{&whole} in top-level
483 @code{defmacro} argument lists as well, but Emacs Lisp does not
486 One last feature of destructuring is that the argument list may be
487 dotted, so that the argument list @code{(a b . c)} is functionally
488 equivalent to @code{(a b &rest c)}.
490 If the optimization quality @code{safety} is set to 0
491 (@pxref{Declarations}), error checking for wrong number of
492 arguments and invalid keyword arguments is disabled. By default,
493 argument lists are rigorously checked.
495 @node Time of Evaluation
496 @section Time of Evaluation
499 Normally, the byte-compiler does not actually execute the forms in
500 a file it compiles. For example, if a file contains @code{(setq foo t)},
501 the act of compiling it will not actually set @code{foo} to @code{t}.
502 This is true even if the @code{setq} was a top-level form (i.e., not
503 enclosed in a @code{defun} or other form). Sometimes, though, you
504 would like to have certain top-level forms evaluated at compile-time.
505 For example, the compiler effectively evaluates @code{defmacro} forms
506 at compile-time so that later parts of the file can refer to the
507 macros that are defined.
509 @defmac cl-eval-when (situations...) forms...
510 This form controls when the body @var{forms} are evaluated.
511 The @var{situations} list may contain any set of the symbols
512 @code{compile}, @code{load}, and @code{eval} (or their long-winded
513 ANSI equivalents, @code{:compile-toplevel}, @code{:load-toplevel},
514 and @code{:execute}).
516 The @code{cl-eval-when} form is handled differently depending on
517 whether or not it is being compiled as a top-level form.
518 Specifically, it gets special treatment if it is being compiled
519 by a command such as @code{byte-compile-file} which compiles files
520 or buffers of code, and it appears either literally at the
521 top level of the file or inside a top-level @code{progn}.
523 For compiled top-level @code{cl-eval-when}s, the body @var{forms} are
524 executed at compile-time if @code{compile} is in the @var{situations}
525 list, and the @var{forms} are written out to the file (to be executed
526 at load-time) if @code{load} is in the @var{situations} list.
528 For non-compiled-top-level forms, only the @code{eval} situation is
529 relevant. (This includes forms executed by the interpreter, forms
530 compiled with @code{byte-compile} rather than @code{byte-compile-file},
531 and non-top-level forms.) The @code{cl-eval-when} acts like a
532 @code{progn} if @code{eval} is specified, and like @code{nil}
533 (ignoring the body @var{forms}) if not.
535 The rules become more subtle when @code{cl-eval-when}s are nested;
536 consult Steele (second edition) for the gruesome details (and
537 some gruesome examples).
539 Some simple examples:
542 ;; Top-level forms in foo.el:
543 (cl-eval-when (compile) (setq foo1 'bar))
544 (cl-eval-when (load) (setq foo2 'bar))
545 (cl-eval-when (compile load) (setq foo3 'bar))
546 (cl-eval-when (eval) (setq foo4 'bar))
547 (cl-eval-when (eval compile) (setq foo5 'bar))
548 (cl-eval-when (eval load) (setq foo6 'bar))
549 (cl-eval-when (eval compile load) (setq foo7 'bar))
552 When @file{foo.el} is compiled, these variables will be set during
553 the compilation itself:
556 foo1 foo3 foo5 foo7 ; `compile'
559 When @file{foo.elc} is loaded, these variables will be set:
562 foo2 foo3 foo6 foo7 ; `load'
565 And if @file{foo.el} is loaded uncompiled, these variables will
569 foo4 foo5 foo6 foo7 ; `eval'
572 If these seven @code{cl-eval-when}s had been, say, inside a @code{defun},
573 then the first three would have been equivalent to @code{nil} and the
574 last four would have been equivalent to the corresponding @code{setq}s.
576 Note that @code{(cl-eval-when (load eval) @dots{})} is equivalent
577 to @code{(progn @dots{})} in all contexts. The compiler treats
578 certain top-level forms, like @code{defmacro} (sort-of) and
579 @code{require}, as if they were wrapped in @code{(cl-eval-when
580 (compile load eval) @dots{})}.
583 Emacs includes two special forms related to @code{cl-eval-when}.
584 One of these, @code{eval-when-compile}, is not quite equivalent to
585 any @code{cl-eval-when} construct and is described below.
587 The other form, @code{(eval-and-compile @dots{})}, is exactly
588 equivalent to @samp{(cl-eval-when (compile load eval) @dots{})} and
589 so is not itself defined by this package.
591 @defmac eval-when-compile forms...
592 The @var{forms} are evaluated at compile-time; at execution time,
593 this form acts like a quoted constant of the resulting value. Used
594 at top-level, @code{eval-when-compile} is just like @samp{eval-when
595 (compile eval)}. In other contexts, @code{eval-when-compile}
596 allows code to be evaluated once at compile-time for efficiency
599 This form is similar to the @samp{#.} syntax of true Common Lisp.
602 @defmac cl-load-time-value form
603 The @var{form} is evaluated at load-time; at execution time,
604 this form acts like a quoted constant of the resulting value.
606 Early Common Lisp had a @samp{#,} syntax that was similar to
607 this, but ANSI Common Lisp replaced it with @code{load-time-value}
608 and gave it more well-defined semantics.
610 In a compiled file, @code{cl-load-time-value} arranges for @var{form}
611 to be evaluated when the @file{.elc} file is loaded and then used
612 as if it were a quoted constant. In code compiled by
613 @code{byte-compile} rather than @code{byte-compile-file}, the
614 effect is identical to @code{eval-when-compile}. In uncompiled
615 code, both @code{eval-when-compile} and @code{cl-load-time-value}
616 act exactly like @code{progn}.
620 (insert "This function was executed on: "
621 (current-time-string)
623 (eval-when-compile (current-time-string))
624 ;; or '#.(current-time-string) in real Common Lisp
626 (cl-load-time-value (current-time-string))))
630 Byte-compiled, the above defun will result in the following code
631 (or its compiled equivalent, of course) in the @file{.elc} file:
634 (setq --temp-- (current-time-string))
636 (insert "This function was executed on: "
637 (current-time-string)
639 '"Wed Jun 23 18:33:43 1993"
649 This section describes functions for testing whether various
650 facts are true or false.
653 * Type Predicates:: @code{cl-typep}, @code{cl-deftype}, and @code{cl-coerce}.
654 * Equality Predicates:: @code{cl-equalp}.
657 @node Type Predicates
658 @section Type Predicates
660 @defun cl-typep object type
661 Check if @var{object} is of type @var{type}, where @var{type} is a
662 (quoted) type name of the sort used by Common Lisp. For example,
663 @code{(cl-typep foo 'integer)} is equivalent to @code{(integerp foo)}.
666 The @var{type} argument to the above function is either a symbol
667 or a list beginning with a symbol.
671 If the type name is a symbol, Emacs appends @samp{-p} to the
672 symbol name to form the name of a predicate function for testing
673 the type. (Built-in predicates whose names end in @samp{p} rather
674 than @samp{-p} are used when appropriate.)
677 The type symbol @code{t} stands for the union of all types.
678 @code{(cl-typep @var{object} t)} is always true. Likewise, the
679 type symbol @code{nil} stands for nothing at all, and
680 @code{(cl-typep @var{object} nil)} is always false.
683 The type symbol @code{null} represents the symbol @code{nil}.
684 Thus @code{(cl-typep @var{object} 'null)} is equivalent to
685 @code{(null @var{object})}.
688 The type symbol @code{atom} represents all objects that are not cons
689 cells. Thus @code{(cl-typep @var{object} 'atom)} is equivalent to
690 @code{(atom @var{object})}.
693 The type symbol @code{real} is a synonym for @code{number}, and
694 @code{fixnum} is a synonym for @code{integer}.
697 The type symbols @code{character} and @code{string-char} match
698 integers in the range from 0 to 255.
701 The type symbol @code{float} uses the @code{cl-floatp-safe} predicate
702 defined by this package rather than @code{floatp}, so it will work
703 correctly even in Emacs versions without floating-point support.
706 The type list @code{(integer @var{low} @var{high})} represents all
707 integers between @var{low} and @var{high}, inclusive. Either bound
708 may be a list of a single integer to specify an exclusive limit,
709 or a @code{*} to specify no limit. The type @code{(integer * *)}
710 is thus equivalent to @code{integer}.
713 Likewise, lists beginning with @code{float}, @code{real}, or
714 @code{number} represent numbers of that type falling in a particular
718 Lists beginning with @code{and}, @code{or}, and @code{not} form
719 combinations of types. For example, @code{(or integer (float 0 *))}
720 represents all objects that are integers or non-negative floats.
723 Lists beginning with @code{member} or @code{cl-member} represent
724 objects @code{eql} to any of the following values. For example,
725 @code{(member 1 2 3 4)} is equivalent to @code{(integer 1 4)},
726 and @code{(member nil)} is equivalent to @code{null}.
729 Lists of the form @code{(satisfies @var{predicate})} represent
730 all objects for which @var{predicate} returns true when called
731 with that object as an argument.
734 The following function and macro (not technically predicates) are
735 related to @code{cl-typep}.
737 @defun cl-coerce object type
738 This function attempts to convert @var{object} to the specified
739 @var{type}. If @var{object} is already of that type as determined by
740 @code{cl-typep}, it is simply returned. Otherwise, certain types of
741 conversions will be made: If @var{type} is any sequence type
742 (@code{string}, @code{list}, etc.) then @var{object} will be
743 converted to that type if possible. If @var{type} is
744 @code{character}, then strings of length one and symbols with
745 one-character names can be coerced. If @var{type} is @code{float},
746 then integers can be coerced in versions of Emacs that support
747 floats. In all other circumstances, @code{cl-coerce} signals an
751 @defmac cl-deftype name arglist forms...
752 This macro defines a new type called @var{name}. It is similar
753 to @code{defmacro} in many ways; when @var{name} is encountered
754 as a type name, the body @var{forms} are evaluated and should
755 return a type specifier that is equivalent to the type. The
756 @var{arglist} is a Common Lisp argument list of the sort accepted
757 by @code{cl-defmacro}. The type specifier @samp{(@var{name} @var{args}...)}
758 is expanded by calling the expander with those arguments; the type
759 symbol @samp{@var{name}} is expanded by calling the expander with
760 no arguments. The @var{arglist} is processed the same as for
761 @code{cl-defmacro} except that optional arguments without explicit
762 defaults use @code{*} instead of @code{nil} as the ``default''
763 default. Some examples:
766 (cl-deftype null () '(satisfies null)) ; predefined
767 (cl-deftype list () '(or null cons)) ; predefined
768 (cl-deftype unsigned-byte (&optional bits)
769 (list 'integer 0 (if (eq bits '*) bits (1- (lsh 1 bits)))))
770 (unsigned-byte 8) @equiv{} (integer 0 255)
771 (unsigned-byte) @equiv{} (integer 0 *)
772 unsigned-byte @equiv{} (integer 0 *)
776 The last example shows how the Common Lisp @code{unsigned-byte}
777 type specifier could be implemented if desired; this package does
778 not implement @code{unsigned-byte} by default.
781 The @code{cl-typecase} and @code{cl-check-type} macros also use type
782 names. @xref{Conditionals}. @xref{Assertions}. The @code{cl-map},
783 @code{cl-concatenate}, and @code{cl-merge} functions take type-name
784 arguments to specify the type of sequence to return. @xref{Sequences}.
786 @node Equality Predicates
787 @section Equality Predicates
790 This package defines the Common Lisp predicate @code{cl-equalp}.
793 This function is a more flexible version of @code{equal}. In
794 particular, it compares strings case-insensitively, and it compares
795 numbers without regard to type (so that @code{(cl-equalp 3 3.0)} is
796 true). Vectors and conses are compared recursively. All other
797 objects are compared as if by @code{equal}.
799 This function differs from Common Lisp @code{equalp} in several
800 respects. First, Common Lisp's @code{equalp} also compares
801 @emph{characters} case-insensitively, which would be impractical
802 in this package since Emacs does not distinguish between integers
803 and characters. In keeping with the idea that strings are less
804 vector-like in Emacs Lisp, this package's @code{cl-equalp} also will
805 not compare strings against vectors of integers.
808 Also note that the Common Lisp functions @code{member} and @code{assoc}
809 use @code{eql} to compare elements, whereas Emacs Lisp follows the
810 MacLisp tradition and uses @code{equal} for these two functions.
811 In Emacs, use @code{memq} (or @code{cl-member}) and @code{assq} (or
812 @code{cl-assoc}) to get functions which use @code{eql} for comparisons.
814 @node Control Structure
815 @chapter Control Structure
818 The features described in the following sections implement
819 various advanced control structures, including extensions to the
820 standard @code{setf} facility, and a number of looping and conditional
824 * Assignment:: The @code{cl-psetq} form.
825 * Generalized Variables:: Extensions to generalized variables.
826 * Variable Bindings:: @code{cl-progv}, @code{cl-flet}, @code{cl-macrolet}.
827 * Conditionals:: @code{cl-case}, @code{cl-typecase}.
828 * Blocks and Exits:: @code{cl-block}, @code{cl-return}, @code{cl-return-from}.
829 * Iteration:: @code{cl-do}, @code{cl-dotimes}, @code{cl-dolist}, @code{cl-do-symbols}.
830 * Loop Facility:: The Common Lisp @code{cl-loop} macro.
831 * Multiple Values:: @code{cl-values}, @code{cl-multiple-value-bind}, etc.
838 The @code{cl-psetq} form is just like @code{setq}, except that multiple
839 assignments are done in parallel rather than sequentially.
841 @defmac cl-psetq [symbol form]@dots{}
842 This special form (actually a macro) is used to assign to several
843 variables simultaneously. Given only one @var{symbol} and @var{form},
844 it has the same effect as @code{setq}. Given several @var{symbol}
845 and @var{form} pairs, it evaluates all the @var{form}s in advance
846 and then stores the corresponding variables afterwards.
850 (setq x (+ x y) y (* x y))
853 y ; @r{@code{y} was computed after @code{x} was set.}
856 (cl-psetq x (+ x y) y (* x y))
859 y ; @r{@code{y} was computed before @code{x} was set.}
863 The simplest use of @code{cl-psetq} is @code{(cl-psetq x y y x)}, which
864 exchanges the values of two variables. (The @code{cl-rotatef} form
865 provides an even more convenient way to swap two variables;
866 @pxref{Modify Macros}.)
868 @code{cl-psetq} always returns @code{nil}.
871 @node Generalized Variables
872 @section Generalized Variables
874 A @dfn{generalized variable} or @dfn{place form} is one of the many
875 places in Lisp memory where values can be stored. The simplest place
876 form is a regular Lisp variable. But the cars and cdrs of lists,
877 elements of arrays, properties of symbols, and many other locations
878 are also places where Lisp values are stored. For basic information,
879 @pxref{Generalized Variables,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
880 This package provides several additional features related to
881 generalized variables.
884 * Setf Extensions:: Additional @code{setf} places.
885 * Modify Macros:: @code{cl-incf}, @code{cl-rotatef}, @code{cl-letf}, @code{cl-callf}, etc.
888 @node Setf Extensions
889 @subsection Setf Extensions
891 Several standard (e.g. @code{car}) and Emacs-specific
892 (e.g. @code{window-point}) Lisp functions are @code{setf}-able by default.
893 This package defines @code{setf} handlers for several additional functions:
897 Functions from @code{CL} itself:
899 cl-caaar .. cl-cddddr cl-first .. cl-tenth
900 cl-rest cl-get cl-getf cl-subseq
904 Note that for @code{cl-getf} (as for @code{nthcdr}), the list argument
905 of the function must itself be a valid @var{place} form.
908 General Emacs Lisp functions:
910 buffer-file-name getenv
911 buffer-modified-p global-key-binding
912 buffer-name local-key-binding
914 buffer-substring mark-marker
915 current-buffer marker-position
916 current-case-table mouse-position
918 current-global-map point-marker
919 current-input-mode point-max
920 current-local-map point-min
921 current-window-configuration read-mouse-position
922 default-file-modes screen-height
923 documentation-property screen-width
924 face-background selected-window
925 face-background-pixmap selected-screen
926 face-font selected-frame
927 face-foreground standard-case-table
928 face-underline-p syntax-table
929 file-modes visited-file-modtime
930 frame-height window-height
931 frame-parameters window-width
932 frame-visible-p x-get-secondary-selection
933 frame-width x-get-selection
937 Most of these have directly corresponding ``set'' functions, like
938 @code{use-local-map} for @code{current-local-map}, or @code{goto-char}
939 for @code{point}. A few, like @code{point-min}, expand to longer
940 sequences of code when they are used with @code{setf}
941 (@code{(narrow-to-region x (point-max))} in this case).
944 A call of the form @code{(substring @var{subplace} @var{n} [@var{m}])},
945 where @var{subplace} is itself a valid generalized variable whose
946 current value is a string, and where the value stored is also a
947 string. The new string is spliced into the specified part of the
948 destination string. For example:
951 (setq a (list "hello" "world"))
952 @result{} ("hello" "world")
955 (substring (cadr a) 2 4)
957 (setf (substring (cadr a) 2 4) "o")
962 @result{} ("hello" "wood")
965 The generalized variable @code{buffer-substring}, listed above,
966 also works in this way by replacing a portion of the current buffer.
968 @c FIXME? Also `eq'? (see cl-lib.el)
970 @c Currently commented out in cl.el.
973 A call of the form @code{(apply '@var{func} @dots{})} or
974 @code{(apply (function @var{func}) @dots{})}, where @var{func}
975 is a @code{setf}-able function whose store function is ``suitable''
976 in the sense described in Steele's book; since none of the standard
977 Emacs place functions are suitable in this sense, this feature is
978 only interesting when used with places you define yourself with
979 @code{define-setf-method} or the long form of @code{defsetf}.
980 @xref{Obsolete Setf Customization}.
984 A macro call, in which case the macro is expanded and @code{setf}
985 is applied to the resulting form.
988 Any form for which a @code{defsetf} or @code{define-setf-method}
989 has been made. @xref{Obsolete Setf Customization}.
992 @c FIXME should this be in lispref? It seems self-evident.
993 @c Contrast with the cl-incf example later on.
994 @c Here it really only serves as a contrast to wrong-order.
995 The @code{setf} macro takes care to evaluate all subforms in
996 the proper left-to-right order; for example,
999 (setf (aref vec (cl-incf i)) i)
1003 looks like it will evaluate @code{(cl-incf i)} exactly once, before the
1004 following access to @code{i}; the @code{setf} expander will insert
1005 temporary variables as necessary to ensure that it does in fact work
1006 this way no matter what setf-method is defined for @code{aref}.
1007 (In this case, @code{aset} would be used and no such steps would
1008 be necessary since @code{aset} takes its arguments in a convenient
1011 However, if the @var{place} form is a macro which explicitly
1012 evaluates its arguments in an unusual order, this unusual order
1013 will be preserved. Adapting an example from Steele, given
1016 (defmacro wrong-order (x y) (list 'aref y x))
1020 the form @code{(setf (wrong-order @var{a} @var{b}) 17)} will
1021 evaluate @var{b} first, then @var{a}, just as in an actual call
1022 to @code{wrong-order}.
1025 @subsection Modify Macros
1028 This package defines a number of macros that operate on generalized
1029 variables. Many are interesting and useful even when the @var{place}
1030 is just a variable name.
1032 @defmac cl-psetf [place form]@dots{}
1033 This macro is to @code{setf} what @code{cl-psetq} is to @code{setq}:
1034 When several @var{place}s and @var{form}s are involved, the
1035 assignments take place in parallel rather than sequentially.
1036 Specifically, all subforms are evaluated from left to right, then
1037 all the assignments are done (in an undefined order).
1040 @defmac cl-incf place &optional x
1041 This macro increments the number stored in @var{place} by one, or
1042 by @var{x} if specified. The incremented value is returned. For
1043 example, @code{(cl-incf i)} is equivalent to @code{(setq i (1+ i))}, and
1044 @code{(cl-incf (car x) 2)} is equivalent to @code{(setcar x (+ (car x) 2))}.
1046 As with @code{setf}, care is taken to preserve the ``apparent'' order
1047 of evaluation. For example,
1050 (cl-incf (aref vec (cl-incf i)))
1054 appears to increment @code{i} once, then increment the element of
1055 @code{vec} addressed by @code{i}; this is indeed exactly what it
1056 does, which means the above form is @emph{not} equivalent to the
1057 ``obvious'' expansion,
1060 (setf (aref vec (cl-incf i))
1061 (1+ (aref vec (cl-incf i)))) ; wrong!
1065 but rather to something more like
1068 (let ((temp (cl-incf i)))
1069 (setf (aref vec temp) (1+ (aref vec temp))))
1073 Again, all of this is taken care of automatically by @code{cl-incf} and
1074 the other generalized-variable macros.
1076 As a more Emacs-specific example of @code{cl-incf}, the expression
1077 @code{(cl-incf (point) @var{n})} is essentially equivalent to
1078 @code{(forward-char @var{n})}.
1081 @defmac cl-decf place &optional x
1082 This macro decrements the number stored in @var{place} by one, or
1083 by @var{x} if specified.
1086 @defmac cl-pushnew x place @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
1087 This macro inserts @var{x} at the front of the list stored in
1088 @var{place}, but only if @var{x} was not @code{eql} to any
1089 existing element of the list. The optional keyword arguments
1090 are interpreted in the same way as for @code{cl-adjoin}.
1091 @xref{Lists as Sets}.
1094 @defmac cl-shiftf place@dots{} newvalue
1095 This macro shifts the @var{place}s left by one, shifting in the
1096 value of @var{newvalue} (which may be any Lisp expression, not just
1097 a generalized variable), and returning the value shifted out of
1098 the first @var{place}. Thus, @code{(cl-shiftf @var{a} @var{b} @var{c}
1099 @var{d})} is equivalent to
1104 (cl-psetf @var{a} @var{b}
1110 except that the subforms of @var{a}, @var{b}, and @var{c} are actually
1111 evaluated only once each and in the apparent order.
1114 @defmac cl-rotatef place@dots{}
1115 This macro rotates the @var{place}s left by one in circular fashion.
1116 Thus, @code{(cl-rotatef @var{a} @var{b} @var{c} @var{d})} is equivalent to
1119 (cl-psetf @var{a} @var{b}
1126 except for the evaluation of subforms. @code{cl-rotatef} always
1127 returns @code{nil}. Note that @code{(cl-rotatef @var{a} @var{b})}
1128 conveniently exchanges @var{a} and @var{b}.
1131 The following macros were invented for this package; they have no
1132 analogues in Common Lisp.
1134 @defmac cl-letf (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1135 This macro is analogous to @code{let}, but for generalized variables
1136 rather than just symbols. Each @var{binding} should be of the form
1137 @code{(@var{place} @var{value})}; the original contents of the
1138 @var{place}s are saved, the @var{value}s are stored in them, and
1139 then the body @var{form}s are executed. Afterwards, the @var{places}
1140 are set back to their original saved contents. This cleanup happens
1141 even if the @var{form}s exit irregularly due to a @code{throw} or an
1147 (cl-letf (((point) (point-min))
1153 moves point in the current buffer to the beginning of the buffer,
1154 and also binds @code{a} to 17 (as if by a normal @code{let}, since
1155 @code{a} is just a regular variable). After the body exits, @code{a}
1156 is set back to its original value and point is moved back to its
1159 Note that @code{cl-letf} on @code{(point)} is not quite like a
1160 @code{save-excursion}, as the latter effectively saves a marker
1161 which tracks insertions and deletions in the buffer. Actually,
1162 a @code{cl-letf} of @code{(point-marker)} is much closer to this
1163 behavior. (@code{point} and @code{point-marker} are equivalent
1164 as @code{setf} places; each will accept either an integer or a
1165 marker as the stored value.)
1167 Since generalized variables look like lists, @code{let}'s shorthand
1168 of using @samp{foo} for @samp{(foo nil)} as a @var{binding} would
1169 be ambiguous in @code{cl-letf} and is not allowed.
1171 However, a @var{binding} specifier may be a one-element list
1172 @samp{(@var{place})}, which is similar to @samp{(@var{place}
1173 @var{place})}. In other words, the @var{place} is not disturbed
1174 on entry to the body, and the only effect of the @code{cl-letf} is
1175 to restore the original value of @var{place} afterwards.
1176 @c I suspect this may no longer be true; either way it's
1177 @c implementation detail and so not essential to document.
1179 (The redundant access-and-store suggested by the @code{(@var{place}
1180 @var{place})} example does not actually occur.)
1183 Note that in this case, and in fact almost every case, @var{place}
1184 must have a well-defined value outside the @code{cl-letf} body.
1185 There is essentially only one exception to this, which is @var{place}
1186 a plain variable with a specified @var{value} (such as @code{(a 17)}
1187 in the above example).
1188 @c See http://debbugs.gnu.org/12758
1189 @c Some or all of this was true for cl.el, but not for cl-lib.el.
1191 The only exceptions are plain variables and calls to
1192 @code{symbol-value} and @code{symbol-function}. If the symbol is not
1193 bound on entry, it is simply made unbound by @code{makunbound} or
1194 @code{fmakunbound} on exit.
1198 @defmac cl-letf* (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1199 This macro is to @code{cl-letf} what @code{let*} is to @code{let}:
1200 It does the bindings in sequential rather than parallel order.
1203 @defmac cl-callf @var{function} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{}
1204 This is the ``generic'' modify macro. It calls @var{function},
1205 which should be an unquoted function name, macro name, or lambda.
1206 It passes @var{place} and @var{args} as arguments, and assigns the
1207 result back to @var{place}. For example, @code{(cl-incf @var{place}
1208 @var{n})} is the same as @code{(cl-callf + @var{place} @var{n})}.
1212 (cl-callf abs my-number)
1213 (cl-callf concat (buffer-name) "<" (number-to-string n) ">")
1214 (cl-callf cl-union happy-people (list joe bob) :test 'same-person)
1217 Note again that @code{cl-callf} is an extension to standard Common Lisp.
1220 @defmac cl-callf2 @var{function} @var{arg1} @var{place} @var{args}@dots{}
1221 This macro is like @code{cl-callf}, except that @var{place} is
1222 the @emph{second} argument of @var{function} rather than the
1223 first. For example, @code{(push @var{x} @var{place})} is
1224 equivalent to @code{(cl-callf2 cons @var{x} @var{place})}.
1227 The @code{cl-callf} and @code{cl-callf2} macros serve as building
1228 blocks for other macros like @code{cl-incf}, and @code{cl-pushnew}.
1229 The @code{cl-letf} and @code{cl-letf*} macros are used in the processing
1230 of symbol macros; @pxref{Macro Bindings}.
1233 @node Variable Bindings
1234 @section Variable Bindings
1237 These Lisp forms make bindings to variables and function names,
1238 analogous to Lisp's built-in @code{let} form.
1240 @xref{Modify Macros}, for the @code{cl-letf} and @code{cl-letf*} forms which
1241 are also related to variable bindings.
1244 * Dynamic Bindings:: The @code{cl-progv} form.
1245 * Function Bindings:: @code{cl-flet} and @code{cl-labels}.
1246 * Macro Bindings:: @code{cl-macrolet} and @code{cl-symbol-macrolet}.
1249 @node Dynamic Bindings
1250 @subsection Dynamic Bindings
1253 The standard @code{let} form binds variables whose names are known
1254 at compile-time. The @code{cl-progv} form provides an easy way to
1255 bind variables whose names are computed at run-time.
1257 @defmac cl-progv symbols values forms@dots{}
1258 This form establishes @code{let}-style variable bindings on a
1259 set of variables computed at run-time. The expressions
1260 @var{symbols} and @var{values} are evaluated, and must return lists
1261 of symbols and values, respectively. The symbols are bound to the
1262 corresponding values for the duration of the body @var{form}s.
1263 If @var{values} is shorter than @var{symbols}, the last few symbols
1264 are bound to @code{nil}.
1265 If @var{symbols} is shorter than @var{values}, the excess values
1269 @node Function Bindings
1270 @subsection Function Bindings
1273 These forms make @code{let}-like bindings to functions instead
1276 @defmac cl-flet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1277 This form establishes @code{let}-style bindings on the function
1278 cells of symbols rather than on the value cells. Each @var{binding}
1279 must be a list of the form @samp{(@var{name} @var{arglist}
1280 @var{forms}@dots{})}, which defines a function exactly as if
1281 it were a @code{cl-defun} form. The function @var{name} is defined
1282 accordingly for the duration of the body of the @code{cl-flet}; then
1283 the old function definition, or lack thereof, is restored.
1285 You can use @code{cl-flet} to disable or modify the behavior of a
1286 function in a temporary fashion. This will even work on Emacs
1287 primitives, although note that some calls to primitive functions
1288 internal to Emacs are made without going through the symbol's
1289 function cell, and so will not be affected by @code{cl-flet}. For
1293 (cl-flet ((message (&rest args) (push args saved-msgs)))
1297 This code attempts to replace the built-in function @code{message}
1298 with a function that simply saves the messages in a list rather
1299 than displaying them. The original definition of @code{message}
1300 will be restored after @code{do-something} exits. This code will
1301 work fine on messages generated by other Lisp code, but messages
1302 generated directly inside Emacs will not be caught since they make
1303 direct C-language calls to the message routines rather than going
1304 through the Lisp @code{message} function.
1306 Functions defined by @code{cl-flet} may use the full Common Lisp
1307 argument notation supported by @code{cl-defun}; also, the function
1308 body is enclosed in an implicit block as if by @code{cl-defun}.
1309 @xref{Program Structure}.
1312 @defmac cl-labels (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1313 The @code{cl-labels} form is like @code{cl-flet}, except that
1314 the function bindings can be recursive. The scoping is lexical,
1315 but you can only capture functions in closures if
1316 @code{lexical-binding} is non-@code{nil}.
1317 @xref{Closures,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}, and
1318 @ref{Using Lexical Binding,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
1320 Lexical scoping means that all references to the named
1321 functions must appear physically within the body of the
1322 @code{cl-labels} form. References may appear both in the body
1323 @var{forms} of @code{cl-labels} itself, and in the bodies of
1324 the functions themselves. Thus, @code{cl-labels} can define
1325 local recursive functions, or mutually-recursive sets of functions.
1327 A ``reference'' to a function name is either a call to that
1328 function, or a use of its name quoted by @code{quote} or
1329 @code{function} to be passed on to, say, @code{mapcar}.
1332 @node Macro Bindings
1333 @subsection Macro Bindings
1336 These forms create local macros and ``symbol macros''.
1338 @defmac cl-macrolet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1339 This form is analogous to @code{cl-flet}, but for macros instead of
1340 functions. Each @var{binding} is a list of the same form as the
1341 arguments to @code{cl-defmacro} (i.e., a macro name, argument list,
1342 and macro-expander forms). The macro is defined accordingly for
1343 use within the body of the @code{cl-macrolet}.
1345 @c FIXME this should be modified to say ``even when lexical-binding
1346 @c is code{nil}'', but is that true? The doc of cl-macrolet just
1347 @c refers us to cl-flet, which refers to cl-labels, which says that it
1348 @c behaves differently according to whether l-b is true or not.
1349 Because of the nature of macros, @code{cl-macrolet} is lexically
1350 scoped even in Emacs Lisp: The @code{cl-macrolet} binding will
1351 affect only calls that appear physically within the body
1352 @var{forms}, possibly after expansion of other macros in the
1356 @defmac cl-symbol-macrolet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
1357 This form creates @dfn{symbol macros}, which are macros that look
1358 like variable references rather than function calls. Each
1359 @var{binding} is a list @samp{(@var{var} @var{expansion})};
1360 any reference to @var{var} within the body @var{forms} is
1361 replaced by @var{expansion}.
1365 (cl-symbol-macrolet ((foo (car bar)))
1371 A @code{setq} of a symbol macro is treated the same as a @code{setf}.
1372 I.e., @code{(setq foo 4)} in the above would be equivalent to
1373 @code{(setf foo 4)}, which in turn expands to @code{(setf (car bar) 4)}.
1375 Likewise, a @code{let} or @code{let*} binding a symbol macro is
1376 treated like a @code{cl-letf} or @code{cl-letf*}. This differs from true
1377 @c FIXME does it work like this in Emacs with lexical-binding = t?
1378 Common Lisp, where the rules of lexical scoping cause a @code{let}
1379 binding to shadow a @code{cl-symbol-macrolet} binding. In this package,
1381 only @code{lexical-let} and @code{lexical-let*} will shadow a symbol
1384 There is no analogue of @code{defmacro} for symbol macros; all symbol
1385 macros are local. A typical use of @code{cl-symbol-macrolet} is in the
1386 expansion of another macro:
1389 (cl-defmacro my-dolist ((x list) &rest body)
1390 (let ((var (gensym)))
1391 (list 'cl-loop 'for var 'on list 'do
1392 (cl-list* 'cl-symbol-macrolet
1393 (list (list x (list 'car var)))
1396 (setq mylist '(1 2 3 4))
1397 (my-dolist (x mylist) (cl-incf x))
1403 In this example, the @code{my-dolist} macro is similar to @code{dolist}
1404 (@pxref{Iteration}) except that the variable @code{x} becomes a true
1405 reference onto the elements of the list. The @code{my-dolist} call
1406 shown here expands to
1409 (cl-loop for G1234 on mylist do
1410 (cl-symbol-macrolet ((x (car G1234)))
1415 which in turn expands to
1418 (cl-loop for G1234 on mylist do (cl-incf (car G1234)))
1421 @xref{Loop Facility}, for a description of the @code{cl-loop} macro.
1422 This package defines a nonstandard @code{in-ref} loop clause that
1423 works much like @code{my-dolist}.
1427 @section Conditionals
1430 These conditional forms augment Emacs Lisp's simple @code{if},
1431 @code{and}, @code{or}, and @code{cond} forms.
1433 @defmac cl-case keyform clause@dots{}
1434 This macro evaluates @var{keyform}, then compares it with the key
1435 values listed in the various @var{clause}s. Whichever clause matches
1436 the key is executed; comparison is done by @code{eql}. If no clause
1437 matches, the @code{cl-case} form returns @code{nil}. The clauses are
1441 (@var{keylist} @var{body-forms}@dots{})
1445 where @var{keylist} is a list of key values. If there is exactly
1446 one value, and it is not a cons cell or the symbol @code{nil} or
1447 @code{t}, then it can be used by itself as a @var{keylist} without
1448 being enclosed in a list. All key values in the @code{cl-case} form
1449 must be distinct. The final clauses may use @code{t} in place of
1450 a @var{keylist} to indicate a default clause that should be taken
1451 if none of the other clauses match. (The symbol @code{otherwise}
1452 is also recognized in place of @code{t}. To make a clause that
1453 matches the actual symbol @code{t}, @code{nil}, or @code{otherwise},
1454 enclose the symbol in a list.)
1456 For example, this expression reads a keystroke, then does one of
1457 four things depending on whether it is an @samp{a}, a @samp{b},
1458 a @key{RET} or @kbd{C-j}, or anything else.
1461 (cl-case (read-char)
1464 ((?\r ?\n) (do-ret-thing))
1465 (t (do-other-thing)))
1469 @defmac cl-ecase keyform clause@dots{}
1470 This macro is just like @code{cl-case}, except that if the key does
1471 not match any of the clauses, an error is signaled rather than
1472 simply returning @code{nil}.
1475 @defmac cl-typecase keyform clause@dots{}
1476 This macro is a version of @code{cl-case} that checks for types
1477 rather than values. Each @var{clause} is of the form
1478 @samp{(@var{type} @var{body}...)}. @xref{Type Predicates},
1479 for a description of type specifiers. For example,
1483 (integer (munch-integer x))
1484 (float (munch-float x))
1485 (string (munch-integer (string-to-int x)))
1486 (t (munch-anything x)))
1489 The type specifier @code{t} matches any type of object; the word
1490 @code{otherwise} is also allowed. To make one clause match any of
1491 several types, use an @code{(or ...)} type specifier.
1494 @defmac cl-etypecase keyform clause@dots{}
1495 This macro is just like @code{cl-typecase}, except that if the key does
1496 not match any of the clauses, an error is signaled rather than
1497 simply returning @code{nil}.
1500 @node Blocks and Exits
1501 @section Blocks and Exits
1504 Common Lisp @dfn{blocks} provide a non-local exit mechanism very
1505 similar to @code{catch} and @code{throw}, but lexically rather than
1506 dynamically scoped. This package actually implements @code{cl-block}
1507 in terms of @code{catch}; however, the lexical scoping allows the
1508 optimizing byte-compiler to omit the costly @code{catch} step if the
1509 body of the block does not actually @code{cl-return-from} the block.
1511 @defmac cl-block name forms@dots{}
1512 The @var{forms} are evaluated as if by a @code{progn}. However,
1513 if any of the @var{forms} execute @code{(cl-return-from @var{name})},
1514 they will jump out and return directly from the @code{cl-block} form.
1515 The @code{cl-block} returns the result of the last @var{form} unless
1516 a @code{cl-return-from} occurs.
1518 The @code{cl-block}/@code{cl-return-from} mechanism is quite similar to
1519 the @code{catch}/@code{throw} mechanism. The main differences are
1520 that block @var{name}s are unevaluated symbols, rather than forms
1521 (such as quoted symbols) which evaluate to a tag at run-time; and
1522 also that blocks are lexically scoped whereas @code{catch}/@code{throw}
1523 are dynamically scoped. This means that functions called from the
1524 body of a @code{catch} can also @code{throw} to the @code{catch},
1525 but the @code{cl-return-from} referring to a block name must appear
1526 physically within the @var{forms} that make up the body of the block.
1527 They may not appear within other called functions, although they may
1528 appear within macro expansions or @code{lambda}s in the body. Block
1529 names and @code{catch} names form independent name-spaces.
1531 In true Common Lisp, @code{defun} and @code{defmacro} surround
1532 the function or expander bodies with implicit blocks with the
1533 same name as the function or macro. This does not occur in Emacs
1534 Lisp, but this package provides @code{cl-defun} and @code{cl-defmacro}
1535 forms which do create the implicit block.
1537 The Common Lisp looping constructs defined by this package,
1538 such as @code{cl-loop} and @code{cl-dolist}, also create implicit blocks
1539 just as in Common Lisp.
1541 Because they are implemented in terms of Emacs Lisp @code{catch}
1542 and @code{throw}, blocks have the same overhead as actual
1543 @code{catch} constructs (roughly two function calls). However,
1544 the optimizing byte compiler will optimize away the @code{catch}
1546 not in fact contain any @code{cl-return} or @code{cl-return-from} calls
1547 that jump to it. This means that @code{cl-do} loops and @code{cl-defun}
1548 functions which don't use @code{cl-return} don't pay the overhead to
1552 @defmac cl-return-from name [result]
1553 This macro returns from the block named @var{name}, which must be
1554 an (unevaluated) symbol. If a @var{result} form is specified, it
1555 is evaluated to produce the result returned from the @code{block}.
1556 Otherwise, @code{nil} is returned.
1559 @defmac cl-return [result]
1560 This macro is exactly like @code{(cl-return-from nil @var{result})}.
1561 Common Lisp loops like @code{cl-do} and @code{cl-dolist} implicitly enclose
1562 themselves in @code{nil} blocks.
1569 The macros described here provide more sophisticated, high-level
1570 looping constructs to complement Emacs Lisp's basic @code{while}
1573 @defmac cl-loop forms@dots{}
1574 The @code{CL} package supports both the simple, old-style meaning of
1575 @code{loop} and the extremely powerful and flexible feature known as
1576 the @dfn{Loop Facility} or @dfn{Loop Macro}. This more advanced
1577 facility is discussed in the following section; @pxref{Loop Facility}.
1578 The simple form of @code{loop} is described here.
1580 If @code{cl-loop} is followed by zero or more Lisp expressions,
1581 then @code{(cl-loop @var{exprs}@dots{})} simply creates an infinite
1582 loop executing the expressions over and over. The loop is
1583 enclosed in an implicit @code{nil} block. Thus,
1586 (cl-loop (foo) (if (no-more) (return 72)) (bar))
1590 is exactly equivalent to
1593 (cl-block nil (while t (foo) (if (no-more) (return 72)) (bar)))
1596 If any of the expressions are plain symbols, the loop is instead
1597 interpreted as a Loop Macro specification as described later.
1598 (This is not a restriction in practice, since a plain symbol
1599 in the above notation would simply access and throw away the
1600 value of a variable.)
1603 @defmac cl-do (spec@dots{}) (end-test [result@dots{}]) forms@dots{}
1604 This macro creates a general iterative loop. Each @var{spec} is
1608 (@var{var} [@var{init} [@var{step}]])
1611 The loop works as follows: First, each @var{var} is bound to the
1612 associated @var{init} value as if by a @code{let} form. Then, in
1613 each iteration of the loop, the @var{end-test} is evaluated; if
1614 true, the loop is finished. Otherwise, the body @var{forms} are
1615 evaluated, then each @var{var} is set to the associated @var{step}
1616 expression (as if by a @code{cl-psetq} form) and the next iteration
1617 begins. Once the @var{end-test} becomes true, the @var{result}
1618 forms are evaluated (with the @var{var}s still bound to their
1619 values) to produce the result returned by @code{cl-do}.
1621 The entire @code{cl-do} loop is enclosed in an implicit @code{nil}
1622 block, so that you can use @code{(cl-return)} to break out of the
1625 If there are no @var{result} forms, the loop returns @code{nil}.
1626 If a given @var{var} has no @var{step} form, it is bound to its
1627 @var{init} value but not otherwise modified during the @code{cl-do}
1628 loop (unless the code explicitly modifies it); this case is just
1629 a shorthand for putting a @code{(let ((@var{var} @var{init})) @dots{})}
1630 around the loop. If @var{init} is also omitted it defaults to
1631 @code{nil}, and in this case a plain @samp{@var{var}} can be used
1632 in place of @samp{(@var{var})}, again following the analogy with
1635 This example (from Steele) illustrates a loop which applies the
1636 function @code{f} to successive pairs of values from the lists
1637 @code{foo} and @code{bar}; it is equivalent to the call
1638 @code{(cl-mapcar 'f foo bar)}. Note that this loop has no body
1639 @var{forms} at all, performing all its work as side effects of
1640 the rest of the loop.
1643 (cl-do ((x foo (cdr x))
1645 (z nil (cons (f (car x) (car y)) z)))
1646 ((or (null x) (null y))
1651 @defmac cl-do* (spec@dots{}) (end-test [result@dots{}]) forms@dots{}
1652 This is to @code{cl-do} what @code{let*} is to @code{let}. In
1653 particular, the initial values are bound as if by @code{let*}
1654 rather than @code{let}, and the steps are assigned as if by
1655 @code{setq} rather than @code{cl-psetq}.
1657 Here is another way to write the above loop:
1660 (cl-do* ((xp foo (cdr xp))
1662 (x (car xp) (car xp))
1663 (y (car yp) (car yp))
1665 ((or (null xp) (null yp))
1671 @defmac cl-dolist (var list [result]) forms@dots{}
1672 This is a more specialized loop which iterates across the elements
1673 of a list. @var{list} should evaluate to a list; the body @var{forms}
1674 are executed with @var{var} bound to each element of the list in
1675 turn. Finally, the @var{result} form (or @code{nil}) is evaluated
1676 with @var{var} bound to @code{nil} to produce the result returned by
1677 the loop. Unlike with Emacs's built in @code{dolist}, the loop is
1678 surrounded by an implicit @code{nil} block.
1681 @defmac cl-dotimes (var count [result]) forms@dots{}
1682 This is a more specialized loop which iterates a specified number
1683 of times. The body is executed with @var{var} bound to the integers
1684 from zero (inclusive) to @var{count} (exclusive), in turn. Then
1685 the @code{result} form is evaluated with @var{var} bound to the total
1686 number of iterations that were done (i.e., @code{(max 0 @var{count})})
1687 to get the return value for the loop form. Unlike with Emacs's built in
1688 @code{dolist}, the loop is surrounded by an implicit @code{nil} block.
1691 @defmac cl-do-symbols (var [obarray [result]]) forms@dots{}
1692 This loop iterates over all interned symbols. If @var{obarray}
1693 is specified and is not @code{nil}, it loops over all symbols in
1694 that obarray. For each symbol, the body @var{forms} are evaluated
1695 with @var{var} bound to that symbol. The symbols are visited in
1696 an unspecified order. Afterward the @var{result} form, if any,
1697 is evaluated (with @var{var} bound to @code{nil}) to get the return
1698 value. The loop is surrounded by an implicit @code{nil} block.
1701 @defmac cl-do-all-symbols (var [result]) forms@dots{}
1702 This is identical to @code{cl-do-symbols} except that the @var{obarray}
1703 argument is omitted; it always iterates over the default obarray.
1706 @xref{Mapping over Sequences}, for some more functions for
1707 iterating over vectors or lists.
1710 @section Loop Facility
1713 A common complaint with Lisp's traditional looping constructs is
1714 that they are either too simple and limited, such as Common Lisp's
1715 @code{dotimes} or Emacs Lisp's @code{while}, or too unreadable and
1716 obscure, like Common Lisp's @code{do} loop.
1718 To remedy this, recent versions of Common Lisp have added a new
1719 construct called the ``Loop Facility'' or ``@code{loop} macro'',
1720 with an easy-to-use but very powerful and expressive syntax.
1723 * Loop Basics:: @code{cl-loop} macro, basic clause structure.
1724 * Loop Examples:: Working examples of @code{cl-loop} macro.
1725 * For Clauses:: Clauses introduced by @code{for} or @code{as}.
1726 * Iteration Clauses:: @code{repeat}, @code{while}, @code{thereis}, etc.
1727 * Accumulation Clauses:: @code{collect}, @code{sum}, @code{maximize}, etc.
1728 * Other Clauses:: @code{with}, @code{if}, @code{initially}, @code{finally}.
1732 @subsection Loop Basics
1735 The @code{cl-loop} macro essentially creates a mini-language within
1736 Lisp that is specially tailored for describing loops. While this
1737 language is a little strange-looking by the standards of regular Lisp,
1738 it turns out to be very easy to learn and well-suited to its purpose.
1740 Since @code{cl-loop} is a macro, all parsing of the loop language
1741 takes place at byte-compile time; compiled @code{cl-loop}s are just
1742 as efficient as the equivalent @code{while} loops written longhand.
1744 @defmac cl-loop clauses@dots{}
1745 A loop construct consists of a series of @var{clause}s, each
1746 introduced by a symbol like @code{for} or @code{do}. Clauses
1747 are simply strung together in the argument list of @code{cl-loop},
1748 with minimal extra parentheses. The various types of clauses
1749 specify initializations, such as the binding of temporary
1750 variables, actions to be taken in the loop, stepping actions,
1753 Common Lisp specifies a certain general order of clauses in a
1757 (cl-loop @var{name-clause}
1758 @var{var-clauses}@dots{}
1759 @var{action-clauses}@dots{})
1762 The @var{name-clause} optionally gives a name to the implicit
1763 block that surrounds the loop. By default, the implicit block
1764 is named @code{nil}. The @var{var-clauses} specify what
1765 variables should be bound during the loop, and how they should
1766 be modified or iterated throughout the course of the loop. The
1767 @var{action-clauses} are things to be done during the loop, such
1768 as computing, collecting, and returning values.
1770 The Emacs version of the @code{cl-loop} macro is less restrictive about
1771 the order of clauses, but things will behave most predictably if
1772 you put the variable-binding clauses @code{with}, @code{for}, and
1773 @code{repeat} before the action clauses. As in Common Lisp,
1774 @code{initially} and @code{finally} clauses can go anywhere.
1776 Loops generally return @code{nil} by default, but you can cause
1777 them to return a value by using an accumulation clause like
1778 @code{collect}, an end-test clause like @code{always}, or an
1779 explicit @code{return} clause to jump out of the implicit block.
1780 (Because the loop body is enclosed in an implicit block, you can
1781 also use regular Lisp @code{cl-return} or @code{cl-return-from} to
1782 break out of the loop.)
1785 The following sections give some examples of the Loop Macro in
1786 action, and describe the particular loop clauses in great detail.
1787 Consult the second edition of Steele's @dfn{Common Lisp, the Language},
1788 for additional discussion and examples of the @code{loop} macro.
1791 @subsection Loop Examples
1794 Before listing the full set of clauses that are allowed, let's
1795 look at a few example loops just to get a feel for the @code{cl-loop}
1799 (cl-loop for buf in (buffer-list)
1800 collect (buffer-file-name buf))
1804 This loop iterates over all Emacs buffers, using the list
1805 returned by @code{buffer-list}. For each buffer @var{buf},
1806 it calls @code{buffer-file-name} and collects the results into
1807 a list, which is then returned from the @code{cl-loop} construct.
1808 The result is a list of the file names of all the buffers in
1809 Emacs's memory. The words @code{for}, @code{in}, and @code{collect}
1810 are reserved words in the @code{cl-loop} language.
1813 (cl-loop repeat 20 do (insert "Yowsa\n"))
1817 This loop inserts the phrase ``Yowsa'' twenty times in the
1821 (cl-loop until (eobp) do (munch-line) (forward-line 1))
1825 This loop calls @code{munch-line} on every line until the end
1826 of the buffer. If point is already at the end of the buffer,
1827 the loop exits immediately.
1830 (cl-loop do (munch-line) until (eobp) do (forward-line 1))
1834 This loop is similar to the above one, except that @code{munch-line}
1835 is always called at least once.
1838 (cl-loop for x from 1 to 100
1841 finally return (list x (= y 729)))
1845 This more complicated loop searches for a number @code{x} whose
1846 square is 729. For safety's sake it only examines @code{x}
1847 values up to 100; dropping the phrase @samp{to 100} would
1848 cause the loop to count upwards with no limit. The second
1849 @code{for} clause defines @code{y} to be the square of @code{x}
1850 within the loop; the expression after the @code{=} sign is
1851 reevaluated each time through the loop. The @code{until}
1852 clause gives a condition for terminating the loop, and the
1853 @code{finally} clause says what to do when the loop finishes.
1854 (This particular example was written less concisely than it
1855 could have been, just for the sake of illustration.)
1857 Note that even though this loop contains three clauses (two
1858 @code{for}s and an @code{until}) that would have been enough to
1859 define loops all by themselves, it still creates a single loop
1860 rather than some sort of triple-nested loop. You must explicitly
1861 nest your @code{cl-loop} constructs if you want nested loops.
1864 @subsection For Clauses
1867 Most loops are governed by one or more @code{for} clauses.
1868 A @code{for} clause simultaneously describes variables to be
1869 bound, how those variables are to be stepped during the loop,
1870 and usually an end condition based on those variables.
1872 The word @code{as} is a synonym for the word @code{for}. This
1873 word is followed by a variable name, then a word like @code{from}
1874 or @code{across} that describes the kind of iteration desired.
1875 In Common Lisp, the phrase @code{being the} sometimes precedes
1876 the type of iteration; in this package both @code{being} and
1877 @code{the} are optional. The word @code{each} is a synonym
1878 for @code{the}, and the word that follows it may be singular
1879 or plural: @samp{for x being the elements of y} or
1880 @samp{for x being each element of y}. Which form you use
1881 is purely a matter of style.
1883 The variable is bound around the loop as if by @code{let}:
1887 (cl-loop for i from 1 to 10 do (do-something-with i))
1893 @item for @var{var} from @var{expr1} to @var{expr2} by @var{expr3}
1894 This type of @code{for} clause creates a counting loop. Each of
1895 the three sub-terms is optional, though there must be at least one
1896 term so that the clause is marked as a counting clause.
1898 The three expressions are the starting value, the ending value, and
1899 the step value, respectively, of the variable. The loop counts
1900 upwards by default (@var{expr3} must be positive), from @var{expr1}
1901 to @var{expr2} inclusively. If you omit the @code{from} term, the
1902 loop counts from zero; if you omit the @code{to} term, the loop
1903 counts forever without stopping (unless stopped by some other
1904 loop clause, of course); if you omit the @code{by} term, the loop
1905 counts in steps of one.
1907 You can replace the word @code{from} with @code{upfrom} or
1908 @code{downfrom} to indicate the direction of the loop. Likewise,
1909 you can replace @code{to} with @code{upto} or @code{downto}.
1910 For example, @samp{for x from 5 downto 1} executes five times
1911 with @code{x} taking on the integers from 5 down to 1 in turn.
1912 Also, you can replace @code{to} with @code{below} or @code{above},
1913 which are like @code{upto} and @code{downto} respectively except
1914 that they are exclusive rather than inclusive limits:
1917 (cl-loop for x to 10 collect x)
1918 @result{} (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10)
1919 (cl-loop for x below 10 collect x)
1920 @result{} (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9)
1923 The @code{by} value is always positive, even for downward-counting
1924 loops. Some sort of @code{from} value is required for downward
1925 loops; @samp{for x downto 5} is not a valid loop clause all by
1928 @item for @var{var} in @var{list} by @var{function}
1929 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the elements of @var{list},
1930 in turn. If you specify the @code{by} term, then @var{function}
1931 is used to traverse the list instead of @code{cdr}; it must be a
1932 function taking one argument. For example:
1935 (cl-loop for x in '(1 2 3 4 5 6) collect (* x x))
1936 @result{} (1 4 9 16 25 36)
1937 (cl-loop for x in '(1 2 3 4 5 6) by 'cddr collect (* x x))
1941 @item for @var{var} on @var{list} by @var{function}
1942 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the cons cells of @var{list}.
1945 (cl-loop for x on '(1 2 3 4) collect x)
1946 @result{} ((1 2 3 4) (2 3 4) (3 4) (4))
1949 With @code{by}, there is no real reason that the @code{on} expression
1950 must be a list. For example:
1953 (cl-loop for x on first-animal by 'next-animal collect x)
1957 where @code{(next-animal x)} takes an ``animal'' @var{x} and returns
1958 the next in the (assumed) sequence of animals, or @code{nil} if
1959 @var{x} was the last animal in the sequence.
1961 @item for @var{var} in-ref @var{list} by @var{function}
1962 This is like a regular @code{in} clause, but @var{var} becomes
1963 a @code{setf}-able ``reference'' onto the elements of the list
1964 rather than just a temporary variable. For example,
1967 (cl-loop for x in-ref my-list do (cl-incf x))
1971 increments every element of @code{my-list} in place. This clause
1972 is an extension to standard Common Lisp.
1974 @item for @var{var} across @var{array}
1975 This clause iterates @var{var} over all the elements of @var{array},
1976 which may be a vector or a string.
1979 (cl-loop for x across "aeiou"
1980 do (use-vowel (char-to-string x)))
1983 @item for @var{var} across-ref @var{array}
1984 This clause iterates over an array, with @var{var} a @code{setf}-able
1985 reference onto the elements; see @code{in-ref} above.
1987 @item for @var{var} being the elements of @var{sequence}
1988 This clause iterates over the elements of @var{sequence}, which may
1989 be a list, vector, or string. Since the type must be determined
1990 at run-time, this is somewhat less efficient than @code{in} or
1991 @code{across}. The clause may be followed by the additional term
1992 @samp{using (index @var{var2})} to cause @var{var2} to be bound to
1993 the successive indices (starting at 0) of the elements.
1995 This clause type is taken from older versions of the @code{loop} macro,
1996 and is not present in modern Common Lisp. The @samp{using (sequence ...)}
1997 term of the older macros is not supported.
1999 @item for @var{var} being the elements of-ref @var{sequence}
2000 This clause iterates over a sequence, with @var{var} a @code{setf}-able
2001 reference onto the elements; see @code{in-ref} above.
2003 @item for @var{var} being the symbols [of @var{obarray}]
2004 This clause iterates over symbols, either over all interned symbols
2005 or over all symbols in @var{obarray}. The loop is executed with
2006 @var{var} bound to each symbol in turn. The symbols are visited in
2007 an unspecified order.
2012 (cl-loop for sym being the symbols
2014 when (string-match "^map" (symbol-name sym))
2019 returns a list of all the functions whose names begin with @samp{map}.
2021 The Common Lisp words @code{external-symbols} and @code{present-symbols}
2022 are also recognized but are equivalent to @code{symbols} in Emacs Lisp.
2024 Due to a minor implementation restriction, it will not work to have
2025 more than one @code{for} clause iterating over symbols, hash tables,
2026 keymaps, overlays, or intervals in a given @code{cl-loop}. Fortunately,
2027 it would rarely if ever be useful to do so. It @emph{is} valid to mix
2028 one of these types of clauses with other clauses like @code{for ... to}
2031 @item for @var{var} being the hash-keys of @var{hash-table}
2032 @itemx for @var{var} being the hash-values of @var{hash-table}
2033 This clause iterates over the entries in @var{hash-table} with
2034 @var{var} bound to each key, or value. A @samp{using} clause can bind
2035 a second variable to the opposite part.
2038 (cl-loop for k being the hash-keys of h
2039 using (hash-values v)
2041 (message "key %S -> value %S" k v))
2044 @item for @var{var} being the key-codes of @var{keymap}
2045 @itemx for @var{var} being the key-bindings of @var{keymap}
2046 This clause iterates over the entries in @var{keymap}.
2047 The iteration does not enter nested keymaps but does enter inherited
2049 A @code{using} clause can access both the codes and the bindings
2053 (cl-loop for c being the key-codes of (current-local-map)
2054 using (key-bindings b)
2056 (message "key %S -> binding %S" c b))
2060 @item for @var{var} being the key-seqs of @var{keymap}
2061 This clause iterates over all key sequences defined by @var{keymap}
2062 and its nested keymaps, where @var{var} takes on values which are
2063 vectors. The strings or vectors
2064 are reused for each iteration, so you must copy them if you wish to keep
2065 them permanently. You can add a @samp{using (key-bindings ...)}
2066 clause to get the command bindings as well.
2068 @item for @var{var} being the overlays [of @var{buffer}] @dots{}
2069 This clause iterates over the ``overlays'' of a buffer
2070 (the clause @code{extents} is synonymous
2071 with @code{overlays}). If the @code{of} term is omitted, the current
2073 This clause also accepts optional @samp{from @var{pos}} and
2074 @samp{to @var{pos}} terms, limiting the clause to overlays which
2075 overlap the specified region.
2077 @item for @var{var} being the intervals [of @var{buffer}] @dots{}
2078 This clause iterates over all intervals of a buffer with constant
2079 text properties. The variable @var{var} will be bound to conses
2080 of start and end positions, where one start position is always equal
2081 to the previous end position. The clause allows @code{of},
2082 @code{from}, @code{to}, and @code{property} terms, where the latter
2083 term restricts the search to just the specified property. The
2084 @code{of} term may specify either a buffer or a string.
2086 @item for @var{var} being the frames
2087 This clause iterates over all Emacs frames. The clause @code{screens} is
2088 a synonym for @code{frames}. The frames are visited in
2089 @code{next-frame} order starting from @code{selected-frame}.
2091 @item for @var{var} being the windows [of @var{frame}]
2092 This clause iterates over the windows (in the Emacs sense) of
2093 the current frame, or of the specified @var{frame}. It visits windows
2094 in @code{next-window} order starting from @code{selected-window}
2095 (or @code{frame-selected-window} if you specify @var{frame}).
2096 This clause treats the minibuffer window in the same way as
2097 @code{next-window} does. For greater flexibility, consider using
2098 @code{walk-windows} instead.
2100 @item for @var{var} being the buffers
2101 This clause iterates over all buffers in Emacs. It is equivalent
2102 to @samp{for @var{var} in (buffer-list)}.
2104 @item for @var{var} = @var{expr1} then @var{expr2}
2105 This clause does a general iteration. The first time through
2106 the loop, @var{var} will be bound to @var{expr1}. On the second
2107 and successive iterations it will be set by evaluating @var{expr2}
2108 (which may refer to the old value of @var{var}). For example,
2109 these two loops are effectively the same:
2112 (cl-loop for x on my-list by 'cddr do ...)
2113 (cl-loop for x = my-list then (cddr x) while x do ...)
2116 Note that this type of @code{for} clause does not imply any sort
2117 of terminating condition; the above example combines it with a
2118 @code{while} clause to tell when to end the loop.
2120 If you omit the @code{then} term, @var{expr1} is used both for
2121 the initial setting and for successive settings:
2124 (cl-loop for x = (random) when (> x 0) return x)
2128 This loop keeps taking random numbers from the @code{(random)}
2129 function until it gets a positive one, which it then returns.
2132 If you include several @code{for} clauses in a row, they are
2133 treated sequentially (as if by @code{let*} and @code{setq}).
2134 You can instead use the word @code{and} to link the clauses,
2135 in which case they are processed in parallel (as if by @code{let}
2136 and @code{cl-psetq}).
2139 (cl-loop for x below 5 for y = nil then x collect (list x y))
2140 @result{} ((0 nil) (1 1) (2 2) (3 3) (4 4))
2141 (cl-loop for x below 5 and y = nil then x collect (list x y))
2142 @result{} ((0 nil) (1 0) (2 1) (3 2) (4 3))
2146 In the first loop, @code{y} is set based on the value of @code{x}
2147 that was just set by the previous clause; in the second loop,
2148 @code{x} and @code{y} are set simultaneously so @code{y} is set
2149 based on the value of @code{x} left over from the previous time
2152 Another feature of the @code{cl-loop} macro is @dfn{destructuring},
2153 similar in concept to the destructuring provided by @code{defmacro}.
2154 The @var{var} part of any @code{for} clause can be given as a list
2155 of variables instead of a single variable. The values produced
2156 during loop execution must be lists; the values in the lists are
2157 stored in the corresponding variables.
2160 (cl-loop for (x y) in '((2 3) (4 5) (6 7)) collect (+ x y))
2164 In loop destructuring, if there are more values than variables
2165 the trailing values are ignored, and if there are more variables
2166 than values the trailing variables get the value @code{nil}.
2167 If @code{nil} is used as a variable name, the corresponding
2168 values are ignored. Destructuring may be nested, and dotted
2169 lists of variables like @code{(x . y)} are allowed, so for example
2173 (cl-loop for (key . value) in '((a . 1) (b . 2))
2178 @node Iteration Clauses
2179 @subsection Iteration Clauses
2182 Aside from @code{for} clauses, there are several other loop clauses
2183 that control the way the loop operates. They might be used by
2184 themselves, or in conjunction with one or more @code{for} clauses.
2187 @item repeat @var{integer}
2188 This clause simply counts up to the specified number using an
2189 internal temporary variable. The loops
2192 (cl-loop repeat (1+ n) do ...)
2193 (cl-loop for temp to n do ...)
2197 are identical except that the second one forces you to choose
2198 a name for a variable you aren't actually going to use.
2200 @item while @var{condition}
2201 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition (any Lisp
2202 expression) becomes @code{nil}. For example, the following two
2203 loops are equivalent, except for the implicit @code{nil} block
2204 that surrounds the second one:
2207 (while @var{cond} @var{forms}@dots{})
2208 (cl-loop while @var{cond} do @var{forms}@dots{})
2211 @item until @var{condition}
2212 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition is true,
2213 i.e., non-@code{nil}.
2215 @item always @var{condition}
2216 This clause stops the loop when the specified condition is @code{nil}.
2217 Unlike @code{while}, it stops the loop using @code{return nil} so that
2218 the @code{finally} clauses are not executed. If all the conditions
2219 were non-@code{nil}, the loop returns @code{t}:
2222 (if (cl-loop for size in size-list always (> size 10))
2227 @item never @var{condition}
2228 This clause is like @code{always}, except that the loop returns
2229 @code{t} if any conditions were false, or @code{nil} otherwise.
2231 @item thereis @var{condition}
2232 This clause stops the loop when the specified form is non-@code{nil};
2233 in this case, it returns that non-@code{nil} value. If all the
2234 values were @code{nil}, the loop returns @code{nil}.
2237 @node Accumulation Clauses
2238 @subsection Accumulation Clauses
2241 These clauses cause the loop to accumulate information about the
2242 specified Lisp @var{form}. The accumulated result is returned
2243 from the loop unless overridden, say, by a @code{return} clause.
2246 @item collect @var{form}
2247 This clause collects the values of @var{form} into a list. Several
2248 examples of @code{collect} appear elsewhere in this manual.
2250 The word @code{collecting} is a synonym for @code{collect}, and
2251 likewise for the other accumulation clauses.
2253 @item append @var{form}
2254 This clause collects lists of values into a result list using
2257 @item nconc @var{form}
2258 This clause collects lists of values into a result list by
2259 destructively modifying the lists rather than copying them.
2261 @item concat @var{form}
2262 This clause concatenates the values of the specified @var{form}
2263 into a string. (It and the following clause are extensions to
2264 standard Common Lisp.)
2266 @item vconcat @var{form}
2267 This clause concatenates the values of the specified @var{form}
2270 @item count @var{form}
2271 This clause counts the number of times the specified @var{form}
2272 evaluates to a non-@code{nil} value.
2274 @item sum @var{form}
2275 This clause accumulates the sum of the values of the specified
2276 @var{form}, which must evaluate to a number.
2278 @item maximize @var{form}
2279 This clause accumulates the maximum value of the specified @var{form},
2280 which must evaluate to a number. The return value is undefined if
2281 @code{maximize} is executed zero times.
2283 @item minimize @var{form}
2284 This clause accumulates the minimum value of the specified @var{form}.
2287 Accumulation clauses can be followed by @samp{into @var{var}} to
2288 cause the data to be collected into variable @var{var} (which is
2289 automatically @code{let}-bound during the loop) rather than an
2290 unnamed temporary variable. Also, @code{into} accumulations do
2291 not automatically imply a return value. The loop must use some
2292 explicit mechanism, such as @code{finally return}, to return
2293 the accumulated result.
2295 It is valid for several accumulation clauses of the same type to
2296 accumulate into the same place. From Steele:
2299 (cl-loop for name in '(fred sue alice joe june)
2300 for kids in '((bob ken) () () (kris sunshine) ())
2303 @result{} (fred bob ken sue alice joe kris sunshine june)
2307 @subsection Other Clauses
2310 This section describes the remaining loop clauses.
2313 @item with @var{var} = @var{value}
2314 This clause binds a variable to a value around the loop, but
2315 otherwise leaves the variable alone during the loop. The following
2316 loops are basically equivalent:
2319 (cl-loop with x = 17 do ...)
2320 (let ((x 17)) (cl-loop do ...))
2321 (cl-loop for x = 17 then x do ...)
2324 Naturally, the variable @var{var} might be used for some purpose
2325 in the rest of the loop. For example:
2328 (cl-loop for x in my-list with res = nil do (push x res)
2332 This loop inserts the elements of @code{my-list} at the front of
2333 a new list being accumulated in @code{res}, then returns the
2334 list @code{res} at the end of the loop. The effect is similar
2335 to that of a @code{collect} clause, but the list gets reversed
2336 by virtue of the fact that elements are being pushed onto the
2337 front of @code{res} rather than the end.
2339 If you omit the @code{=} term, the variable is initialized to
2340 @code{nil}. (Thus the @samp{= nil} in the above example is
2343 Bindings made by @code{with} are sequential by default, as if
2344 by @code{let*}. Just like @code{for} clauses, @code{with} clauses
2345 can be linked with @code{and} to cause the bindings to be made by
2348 @item if @var{condition} @var{clause}
2349 This clause executes the following loop clause only if the specified
2350 condition is true. The following @var{clause} should be an accumulation,
2351 @code{do}, @code{return}, @code{if}, or @code{unless} clause.
2352 Several clauses may be linked by separating them with @code{and}.
2353 These clauses may be followed by @code{else} and a clause or clauses
2354 to execute if the condition was false. The whole construct may
2355 optionally be followed by the word @code{end} (which may be used to
2356 disambiguate an @code{else} or @code{and} in a nested @code{if}).
2358 The actual non-@code{nil} value of the condition form is available
2359 by the name @code{it} in the ``then'' part. For example:
2362 (setq funny-numbers '(6 13 -1))
2364 (cl-loop for x below 10
2367 and if (memq x funny-numbers) return (cdr it) end
2369 collect x into evens
2370 finally return (vector odds evens))
2371 @result{} [(1 3 5 7 9) (0 2 4 6 8)]
2372 (setq funny-numbers '(6 7 13 -1))
2373 @result{} (6 7 13 -1)
2374 (cl-loop <@r{same thing again}>)
2378 Note the use of @code{and} to put two clauses into the ``then''
2379 part, one of which is itself an @code{if} clause. Note also that
2380 @code{end}, while normally optional, was necessary here to make
2381 it clear that the @code{else} refers to the outermost @code{if}
2382 clause. In the first case, the loop returns a vector of lists
2383 of the odd and even values of @var{x}. In the second case, the
2384 odd number 7 is one of the @code{funny-numbers} so the loop
2385 returns early; the actual returned value is based on the result
2386 of the @code{memq} call.
2388 @item when @var{condition} @var{clause}
2389 This clause is just a synonym for @code{if}.
2391 @item unless @var{condition} @var{clause}
2392 The @code{unless} clause is just like @code{if} except that the
2393 sense of the condition is reversed.
2395 @item named @var{name}
2396 This clause gives a name other than @code{nil} to the implicit
2397 block surrounding the loop. The @var{name} is the symbol to be
2398 used as the block name.
2400 @item initially [do] @var{forms}...
2401 This keyword introduces one or more Lisp forms which will be
2402 executed before the loop itself begins (but after any variables
2403 requested by @code{for} or @code{with} have been bound to their
2404 initial values). @code{initially} clauses can appear anywhere;
2405 if there are several, they are executed in the order they appear
2406 in the loop. The keyword @code{do} is optional.
2408 @item finally [do] @var{forms}...
2409 This introduces Lisp forms which will be executed after the loop
2410 finishes (say, on request of a @code{for} or @code{while}).
2411 @code{initially} and @code{finally} clauses may appear anywhere
2412 in the loop construct, but they are executed (in the specified
2413 order) at the beginning or end, respectively, of the loop.
2415 @item finally return @var{form}
2416 This says that @var{form} should be executed after the loop
2417 is done to obtain a return value. (Without this, or some other
2418 clause like @code{collect} or @code{return}, the loop will simply
2419 return @code{nil}.) Variables bound by @code{for}, @code{with},
2420 or @code{into} will still contain their final values when @var{form}
2423 @item do @var{forms}...
2424 The word @code{do} may be followed by any number of Lisp expressions
2425 which are executed as an implicit @code{progn} in the body of the
2426 loop. Many of the examples in this section illustrate the use of
2429 @item return @var{form}
2430 This clause causes the loop to return immediately. The following
2431 Lisp form is evaluated to give the return value of the @code{loop}
2432 form. The @code{finally} clauses, if any, are not executed.
2433 Of course, @code{return} is generally used inside an @code{if} or
2434 @code{unless}, as its use in a top-level loop clause would mean
2435 the loop would never get to ``loop'' more than once.
2437 The clause @samp{return @var{form}} is equivalent to
2438 @c FIXME cl-do, cl-return?
2439 @samp{do (return @var{form})} (or @code{return-from} if the loop
2440 was named). The @code{return} clause is implemented a bit more
2441 efficiently, though.
2444 While there is no high-level way to add user extensions to @code{cl-loop},
2445 this package does offer two properties called @code{cl-loop-handler}
2446 and @code{cl-loop-for-handler} which are functions to be called when a
2447 given symbol is encountered as a top-level loop clause or @code{for}
2448 clause, respectively. Consult the source code in file
2449 @file{cl-macs.el} for details.
2451 This package's @code{cl-loop} macro is compatible with that of Common
2452 Lisp, except that a few features are not implemented: @code{loop-finish}
2453 and data-type specifiers. Naturally, the @code{for} clauses which
2454 iterate over keymaps, overlays, intervals, frames, windows, and
2455 buffers are Emacs-specific extensions.
2457 @node Multiple Values
2458 @section Multiple Values
2461 Common Lisp functions can return zero or more results. Emacs Lisp
2462 functions, by contrast, always return exactly one result. This
2463 package makes no attempt to emulate Common Lisp multiple return
2464 values; Emacs versions of Common Lisp functions that return more
2465 than one value either return just the first value (as in
2466 @code{cl-compiler-macroexpand}) or return a list of values.
2467 This package @emph{does} define placeholders
2468 for the Common Lisp functions that work with multiple values, but
2469 in Emacs Lisp these functions simply operate on lists instead.
2470 The @code{cl-values} form, for example, is a synonym for @code{list}
2473 @defmac cl-multiple-value-bind (var@dots{}) values-form forms@dots{}
2474 This form evaluates @var{values-form}, which must return a list of
2475 values. It then binds the @var{var}s to these respective values,
2476 as if by @code{let}, and then executes the body @var{forms}.
2477 If there are more @var{var}s than values, the extra @var{var}s
2478 are bound to @code{nil}. If there are fewer @var{var}s than
2479 values, the excess values are ignored.
2482 @defmac cl-multiple-value-setq (var@dots{}) form
2483 This form evaluates @var{form}, which must return a list of values.
2484 It then sets the @var{var}s to these respective values, as if by
2485 @code{setq}. Extra @var{var}s or values are treated the same as
2486 in @code{cl-multiple-value-bind}.
2489 Since a perfect emulation is not feasible in Emacs Lisp, this
2490 package opts to keep it as simple and predictable as possible.
2496 This package implements the various Common Lisp features of
2497 @code{defmacro}, such as destructuring, @code{&environment},
2498 and @code{&body}. Top-level @code{&whole} is not implemented
2499 for @code{defmacro} due to technical difficulties.
2500 @xref{Argument Lists}.
2502 Destructuring is made available to the user by way of the
2505 @defmac cl-destructuring-bind arglist expr forms@dots{}
2506 This macro expands to code which executes @var{forms}, with
2507 the variables in @var{arglist} bound to the list of values
2508 returned by @var{expr}. The @var{arglist} can include all
2509 the features allowed for @code{defmacro} argument lists,
2510 including destructuring. (The @code{&environment} keyword
2511 is not allowed.) The macro expansion will signal an error
2512 if @var{expr} returns a list of the wrong number of arguments
2513 or with incorrect keyword arguments.
2516 This package also includes the Common Lisp @code{cl-define-compiler-macro}
2517 facility, which allows you to define compile-time expansions and
2518 optimizations for your functions.
2520 @defmac cl-define-compiler-macro name arglist forms@dots{}
2521 This form is similar to @code{defmacro}, except that it only expands
2522 calls to @var{name} at compile-time; calls processed by the Lisp
2523 interpreter are not expanded, nor are they expanded by the
2524 @code{macroexpand} function.
2526 The argument list may begin with a @code{&whole} keyword and a
2527 variable. This variable is bound to the macro-call form itself,
2528 i.e., to a list of the form @samp{(@var{name} @var{args}@dots{})}.
2529 If the macro expander returns this form unchanged, then the
2530 compiler treats it as a normal function call. This allows
2531 compiler macros to work as optimizers for special cases of a
2532 function, leaving complicated cases alone.
2534 For example, here is a simplified version of a definition that
2535 appears as a standard part of this package:
2538 (cl-define-compiler-macro cl-member (&whole form a list &rest keys)
2539 (if (and (null keys)
2540 (eq (car-safe a) 'quote)
2541 (not (floatp-safe (cadr a))))
2547 This definition causes @code{(cl-member @var{a} @var{list})} to change
2548 to a call to the faster @code{memq} in the common case where @var{a}
2549 is a non-floating-point constant; if @var{a} is anything else, or
2550 if there are any keyword arguments in the call, then the original
2551 @code{cl-member} call is left intact. (The actual compiler macro
2552 for @code{cl-member} optimizes a number of other cases, including
2553 common @code{:test} predicates.)
2556 @defun cl-compiler-macroexpand form
2557 This function is analogous to @code{macroexpand}, except that it
2558 expands compiler macros rather than regular macros. It returns
2559 @var{form} unchanged if it is not a call to a function for which
2560 a compiler macro has been defined, or if that compiler macro
2561 decided to punt by returning its @code{&whole} argument. Like
2562 @code{macroexpand}, it expands repeatedly until it reaches a form
2563 for which no further expansion is possible.
2566 @xref{Macro Bindings}, for descriptions of the @code{cl-macrolet}
2567 and @code{cl-symbol-macrolet} forms for making ``local'' macro
2571 @chapter Declarations
2574 Common Lisp includes a complex and powerful ``declaration''
2575 mechanism that allows you to give the compiler special hints
2576 about the types of data that will be stored in particular variables,
2577 and about the ways those variables and functions will be used. This
2578 package defines versions of all the Common Lisp declaration forms:
2579 @code{cl-declare}, @code{cl-locally}, @code{cl-proclaim}, @code{cl-declaim},
2582 Most of the Common Lisp declarations are not currently useful in
2583 Emacs Lisp, as the byte-code system provides little opportunity
2584 to benefit from type information, and @code{special} declarations
2585 are redundant in a fully dynamically-scoped Lisp. A few
2586 declarations are meaningful when the optimizing byte
2587 compiler is being used, however. Under the earlier non-optimizing
2588 compiler, these declarations will effectively be ignored.
2590 @defun cl-proclaim decl-spec
2591 This function records a ``global'' declaration specified by
2592 @var{decl-spec}. Since @code{cl-proclaim} is a function, @var{decl-spec}
2593 is evaluated and thus should normally be quoted.
2596 @defmac cl-declaim decl-specs@dots{}
2597 This macro is like @code{cl-proclaim}, except that it takes any number
2598 of @var{decl-spec} arguments, and the arguments are unevaluated and
2599 unquoted. The @code{cl-declaim} macro also puts an @code{(cl-eval-when
2600 (compile load eval) ...)} around the declarations so that they will
2601 be registered at compile-time as well as at run-time. (This is vital,
2602 since normally the declarations are meant to influence the way the
2603 compiler treats the rest of the file that contains the @code{cl-declaim}
2607 @defmac cl-declare decl-specs@dots{}
2608 This macro is used to make declarations within functions and other
2609 code. Common Lisp allows declarations in various locations, generally
2610 at the beginning of any of the many ``implicit @code{progn}s''
2611 throughout Lisp syntax, such as function bodies, @code{let} bodies,
2612 etc. Currently the only declaration understood by @code{cl-declare}
2616 @defmac cl-locally declarations@dots{} forms@dots{}
2617 In this package, @code{cl-locally} is no different from @code{progn}.
2620 @defmac cl-the type form
2621 Type information provided by @code{cl-the} is ignored in this package;
2622 in other words, @code{(cl-the @var{type} @var{form})} is equivalent
2623 to @var{form}. Future versions of the optimizing byte-compiler may
2624 make use of this information.
2626 For example, @code{mapcar} can map over both lists and arrays. It is
2627 hard for the compiler to expand @code{mapcar} into an in-line loop
2628 unless it knows whether the sequence will be a list or an array ahead
2629 of time. With @code{(mapcar 'car (cl-the vector foo))}, a future
2630 compiler would have enough information to expand the loop in-line.
2631 For now, Emacs Lisp will treat the above code as exactly equivalent
2632 to @code{(mapcar 'car foo)}.
2635 Each @var{decl-spec} in a @code{cl-proclaim}, @code{cl-declaim}, or
2636 @code{cl-declare} should be a list beginning with a symbol that says
2637 what kind of declaration it is. This package currently understands
2638 @code{special}, @code{inline}, @code{notinline}, @code{optimize},
2639 and @code{warn} declarations. (The @code{warn} declaration is an
2640 extension of standard Common Lisp.) Other Common Lisp declarations,
2641 such as @code{type} and @code{ftype}, are silently ignored.
2645 Since all variables in Emacs Lisp are ``special'' (in the Common
2646 Lisp sense), @code{special} declarations are only advisory. They
2647 simply tell the optimizing byte compiler that the specified
2648 variables are intentionally being referred to without being
2649 bound in the body of the function. The compiler normally emits
2650 warnings for such references, since they could be typographical
2651 errors for references to local variables.
2653 The declaration @code{(cl-declare (special @var{var1} @var{var2}))} is
2654 equivalent to @code{(defvar @var{var1}) (defvar @var{var2})} in the
2655 optimizing compiler, or to nothing at all in older compilers (which
2656 do not warn for non-local references).
2658 In top-level contexts, it is generally better to write
2659 @code{(defvar @var{var})} than @code{(cl-declaim (special @var{var}))},
2660 since @code{defvar} makes your intentions clearer. But the older
2661 byte compilers can not handle @code{defvar}s appearing inside of
2662 functions, while @code{(cl-declare (special @var{var}))} takes care
2663 to work correctly with all compilers.
2666 The @code{inline} @var{decl-spec} lists one or more functions
2667 whose bodies should be expanded ``in-line'' into calling functions
2668 whenever the compiler is able to arrange for it. For example,
2669 the Common Lisp function @code{cadr} is declared @code{inline}
2670 by this package so that the form @code{(cadr @var{x})} will
2671 expand directly into @code{(car (cdr @var{x}))} when it is called
2672 in user functions, for a savings of one (relatively expensive)
2675 The following declarations are all equivalent. Note that the
2676 @code{defsubst} form is a convenient way to define a function
2677 and declare it inline all at once.
2680 (cl-declaim (inline foo bar))
2681 (cl-eval-when (compile load eval)
2682 (cl-proclaim '(inline foo bar)))
2683 (defsubst foo (...) ...) ; instead of defun
2686 @strong{Please note:} this declaration remains in effect after the
2687 containing source file is done. It is correct to use it to
2688 request that a function you have defined should be inlined,
2689 but it is impolite to use it to request inlining of an external
2692 In Common Lisp, it is possible to use @code{(cl-declare (inline @dots{}))}
2693 before a particular call to a function to cause just that call to
2694 be inlined; the current byte compilers provide no way to implement
2695 this, so @code{(cl-declare (inline @dots{}))} is currently ignored by
2699 The @code{notinline} declaration lists functions which should
2700 not be inlined after all; it cancels a previous @code{inline}
2704 This declaration controls how much optimization is performed by
2705 the compiler. Naturally, it is ignored by the earlier non-optimizing
2708 The word @code{optimize} is followed by any number of lists like
2709 @code{(speed 3)} or @code{(safety 2)}. Common Lisp defines several
2710 optimization ``qualities''; this package ignores all but @code{speed}
2711 and @code{safety}. The value of a quality should be an integer from
2712 0 to 3, with 0 meaning ``unimportant'' and 3 meaning ``very important''.
2713 The default level for both qualities is 1.
2715 In this package, with the optimizing compiler, the
2716 @code{speed} quality is tied to the @code{byte-optimize}
2717 flag, which is set to @code{nil} for @code{(speed 0)} and to
2718 @code{t} for higher settings; and the @code{safety} quality is
2719 tied to the @code{byte-compile-delete-errors} flag, which is
2720 set to @code{nil} for @code{(safety 3)} and to @code{t} for all
2721 lower settings. (The latter flag controls whether the compiler
2722 is allowed to optimize out code whose only side-effect could
2723 be to signal an error, e.g., rewriting @code{(progn foo bar)} to
2724 @code{bar} when it is not known whether @code{foo} will be bound
2727 Note that even compiling with @code{(safety 0)}, the Emacs
2728 byte-code system provides sufficient checking to prevent real
2729 harm from being done. For example, barring serious bugs in
2730 Emacs itself, Emacs will not crash with a segmentation fault
2731 just because of an error in a fully-optimized Lisp program.
2733 The @code{optimize} declaration is normally used in a top-level
2734 @code{cl-proclaim} or @code{cl-declaim} in a file; Common Lisp allows
2735 it to be used with @code{cl-declare} to set the level of optimization
2736 locally for a given form, but this will not work correctly with the
2737 current version of the optimizing compiler. (The @code{cl-declare}
2738 will set the new optimization level, but that level will not
2739 automatically be unset after the enclosing form is done.)
2742 This declaration controls what sorts of warnings are generated
2743 by the byte compiler. Again, only the optimizing compiler
2744 generates warnings. The word @code{warn} is followed by any
2745 number of ``warning qualities'', similar in form to optimization
2746 qualities. The currently supported warning types are
2747 @code{redefine}, @code{callargs}, @code{unresolved}, and
2748 @code{free-vars}; in the current system, a value of 0 will
2749 disable these warnings and any higher value will enable them.
2750 See the documentation for the optimizing byte compiler for details.
2757 This package defines several symbol-related features that were
2758 missing from Emacs Lisp.
2761 * Property Lists:: @code{cl-get}, @code{cl-remprop}, @code{cl-getf}, @code{cl-remf}.
2762 * Creating Symbols:: @code{cl-gensym}, @code{cl-gentemp}.
2765 @node Property Lists
2766 @section Property Lists
2769 These functions augment the standard Emacs Lisp functions @code{get}
2770 and @code{put} for operating on properties attached to symbols.
2771 There are also functions for working with property lists as
2772 first-class data structures not attached to particular symbols.
2774 @defun cl-get symbol property &optional default
2775 This function is like @code{get}, except that if the property is
2776 not found, the @var{default} argument provides the return value.
2777 (The Emacs Lisp @code{get} function always uses @code{nil} as
2778 the default; this package's @code{cl-get} is equivalent to Common
2781 The @code{cl-get} function is @code{setf}-able; when used in this
2782 fashion, the @var{default} argument is allowed but ignored.
2785 @defun cl-remprop symbol property
2786 This function removes the entry for @var{property} from the property
2787 list of @var{symbol}. It returns a true value if the property was
2788 indeed found and removed, or @code{nil} if there was no such property.
2789 (This function was probably omitted from Emacs originally because,
2790 since @code{get} did not allow a @var{default}, it was very difficult
2791 to distinguish between a missing property and a property whose value
2792 was @code{nil}; thus, setting a property to @code{nil} was close
2793 enough to @code{cl-remprop} for most purposes.)
2796 @defun cl-getf place property &optional default
2797 This function scans the list @var{place} as if it were a property
2798 list, i.e., a list of alternating property names and values. If
2799 an even-numbered element of @var{place} is found which is @code{eq}
2800 to @var{property}, the following odd-numbered element is returned.
2801 Otherwise, @var{default} is returned (or @code{nil} if no default
2807 (get sym prop) @equiv{} (cl-getf (symbol-plist sym) prop)
2810 It is valid to use @code{cl-getf} as a @code{setf} place, in which case
2811 its @var{place} argument must itself be a valid @code{setf} place.
2812 The @var{default} argument, if any, is ignored in this context.
2813 The effect is to change (via @code{setcar}) the value cell in the
2814 list that corresponds to @var{property}, or to cons a new property-value
2815 pair onto the list if the property is not yet present.
2818 (put sym prop val) @equiv{} (setf (cl-getf (symbol-plist sym) prop) val)
2821 The @code{get} and @code{cl-get} functions are also @code{setf}-able.
2822 The fact that @code{default} is ignored can sometimes be useful:
2825 (cl-incf (cl-get 'foo 'usage-count 0))
2828 Here, symbol @code{foo}'s @code{usage-count} property is incremented
2829 if it exists, or set to 1 (an incremented 0) otherwise.
2831 When not used as a @code{setf} form, @code{cl-getf} is just a regular
2832 function and its @var{place} argument can actually be any Lisp
2836 @defmac cl-remf place property
2837 This macro removes the property-value pair for @var{property} from
2838 the property list stored at @var{place}, which is any @code{setf}-able
2839 place expression. It returns true if the property was found. Note
2840 that if @var{property} happens to be first on the list, this will
2841 effectively do a @code{(setf @var{place} (cddr @var{place}))},
2842 whereas if it occurs later, this simply uses @code{setcdr} to splice
2843 out the property and value cells.
2846 @node Creating Symbols
2847 @section Creating Symbols
2850 These functions create unique symbols, typically for use as
2851 temporary variables.
2853 @defun cl-gensym &optional x
2854 This function creates a new, uninterned symbol (using @code{make-symbol})
2855 with a unique name. (The name of an uninterned symbol is relevant
2856 only if the symbol is printed.) By default, the name is generated
2857 from an increasing sequence of numbers, @samp{G1000}, @samp{G1001},
2858 @samp{G1002}, etc. If the optional argument @var{x} is a string, that
2859 string is used as a prefix instead of @samp{G}. Uninterned symbols
2860 are used in macro expansions for temporary variables, to ensure that
2861 their names will not conflict with ``real'' variables in the user's
2865 @defvar cl--gensym-counter
2866 This variable holds the counter used to generate @code{cl-gensym} names.
2867 It is incremented after each use by @code{cl-gensym}. In Common Lisp
2868 this is initialized with 0, but this package initializes it with a
2869 random (time-dependent) value to avoid trouble when two files that
2870 each used @code{cl-gensym} in their compilation are loaded together.
2871 (Uninterned symbols become interned when the compiler writes them
2872 out to a file and the Emacs loader loads them, so their names have to
2873 be treated a bit more carefully than in Common Lisp where uninterned
2874 symbols remain uninterned after loading.)
2877 @defun cl-gentemp &optional x
2878 This function is like @code{cl-gensym}, except that it produces a new
2879 @emph{interned} symbol. If the symbol that is generated already
2880 exists, the function keeps incrementing the counter and trying
2881 again until a new symbol is generated.
2884 This package automatically creates all keywords that are called for by
2885 @code{&key} argument specifiers, and discourages the use of keywords
2886 as data unrelated to keyword arguments, so the related function
2887 @code{defkeyword} (to create self-quoting keyword symbols) is not
2894 This section defines a few simple Common Lisp operations on numbers
2895 which were left out of Emacs Lisp.
2898 * Predicates on Numbers:: @code{cl-plusp}, @code{cl-oddp}, @code{cl-floatp-safe}, etc.
2899 * Numerical Functions:: @code{abs}, @code{cl-floor}, etc.
2900 * Random Numbers:: @code{cl-random}, @code{cl-make-random-state}.
2901 * Implementation Parameters:: @code{cl-most-positive-float}.
2904 @node Predicates on Numbers
2905 @section Predicates on Numbers
2908 These functions return @code{t} if the specified condition is
2909 true of the numerical argument, or @code{nil} otherwise.
2911 @defun cl-plusp number
2912 This predicate tests whether @var{number} is positive. It is an
2913 error if the argument is not a number.
2916 @defun cl-minusp number
2917 This predicate tests whether @var{number} is negative. It is an
2918 error if the argument is not a number.
2921 @defun cl-oddp integer
2922 This predicate tests whether @var{integer} is odd. It is an
2923 error if the argument is not an integer.
2926 @defun cl-evenp integer
2927 This predicate tests whether @var{integer} is even. It is an
2928 error if the argument is not an integer.
2931 @defun cl-floatp-safe object
2932 This predicate tests whether @var{object} is a floating-point
2933 number. On systems that support floating-point, this is equivalent
2934 to @code{floatp}. On other systems, this always returns @code{nil}.
2937 @node Numerical Functions
2938 @section Numerical Functions
2941 These functions perform various arithmetic operations on numbers.
2943 @defun cl-gcd &rest integers
2944 This function returns the Greatest Common Divisor of the arguments.
2945 For one argument, it returns the absolute value of that argument.
2946 For zero arguments, it returns zero.
2949 @defun cl-lcm &rest integers
2950 This function returns the Least Common Multiple of the arguments.
2951 For one argument, it returns the absolute value of that argument.
2952 For zero arguments, it returns one.
2955 @defun cl-isqrt integer
2956 This function computes the ``integer square root'' of its integer
2957 argument, i.e., the greatest integer less than or equal to the true
2958 square root of the argument.
2961 @defun cl-floor number &optional divisor
2962 With one argument, @code{cl-floor} returns a list of two numbers:
2963 The argument rounded down (toward minus infinity) to an integer,
2964 and the ``remainder'' which would have to be added back to the
2965 first return value to yield the argument again. If the argument
2966 is an integer @var{x}, the result is always the list @code{(@var{x} 0)}.
2967 If the argument is a floating-point number, the first
2968 result is a Lisp integer and the second is a Lisp float between
2969 0 (inclusive) and 1 (exclusive).
2971 With two arguments, @code{cl-floor} divides @var{number} by
2972 @var{divisor}, and returns the floor of the quotient and the
2973 corresponding remainder as a list of two numbers. If
2974 @code{(cl-floor @var{x} @var{y})} returns @code{(@var{q} @var{r})},
2975 then @code{@var{q}*@var{y} + @var{r} = @var{x}}, with @var{r}
2976 between 0 (inclusive) and @var{r} (exclusive). Also, note
2977 that @code{(cl-floor @var{x})} is exactly equivalent to
2978 @code{(cl-floor @var{x} 1)}.
2980 This function is entirely compatible with Common Lisp's @code{floor}
2981 function, except that it returns the two results in a list since
2982 Emacs Lisp does not support multiple-valued functions.
2985 @defun cl-ceiling number &optional divisor
2986 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{ceiling} function,
2987 which is analogous to @code{floor} except that it rounds the
2988 argument or quotient of the arguments up toward plus infinity.
2989 The remainder will be between 0 and minus @var{r}.
2992 @defun cl-truncate number &optional divisor
2993 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{truncate} function,
2994 which is analogous to @code{floor} except that it rounds the
2995 argument or quotient of the arguments toward zero. Thus it is
2996 equivalent to @code{cl-floor} if the argument or quotient is
2997 positive, or to @code{cl-ceiling} otherwise. The remainder has
2998 the same sign as @var{number}.
3001 @defun cl-round number &optional divisor
3002 This function implements the Common Lisp @code{round} function,
3003 which is analogous to @code{floor} except that it rounds the
3004 argument or quotient of the arguments to the nearest integer.
3005 In the case of a tie (the argument or quotient is exactly
3006 halfway between two integers), it rounds to the even integer.
3009 @defun cl-mod number divisor
3010 This function returns the same value as the second return value
3014 @defun cl-rem number divisor
3015 This function returns the same value as the second return value
3016 of @code{cl-truncate}.
3019 @node Random Numbers
3020 @section Random Numbers
3023 This package also provides an implementation of the Common Lisp
3024 random number generator. It uses its own additive-congruential
3025 algorithm, which is much more likely to give statistically clean
3026 random numbers than the simple generators supplied by many
3029 @defun cl-random number &optional state
3030 This function returns a random nonnegative number less than
3031 @var{number}, and of the same type (either integer or floating-point).
3032 The @var{state} argument should be a @code{random-state} object
3033 which holds the state of the random number generator. The
3034 function modifies this state object as a side effect. If
3035 @var{state} is omitted, it defaults to the variable
3036 @code{cl--random-state}, which contains a pre-initialized
3037 @code{random-state} object.
3040 @defvar cl--random-state
3041 This variable contains the system ``default'' @code{random-state}
3042 object, used for calls to @code{cl-random} that do not specify an
3043 alternative state object. Since any number of programs in the
3044 Emacs process may be accessing @code{cl--random-state} in interleaved
3045 fashion, the sequence generated from this variable will be
3046 irreproducible for all intents and purposes.
3049 @defun cl-make-random-state &optional state
3050 This function creates or copies a @code{random-state} object.
3051 If @var{state} is omitted or @code{nil}, it returns a new copy of
3052 @code{cl--random-state}. This is a copy in the sense that future
3053 sequences of calls to @code{(cl-random @var{n})} and
3054 @code{(cl-random @var{n} @var{s})} (where @var{s} is the new
3055 random-state object) will return identical sequences of random
3058 If @var{state} is a @code{random-state} object, this function
3059 returns a copy of that object. If @var{state} is @code{t}, this
3060 function returns a new @code{random-state} object seeded from the
3061 date and time. As an extension to Common Lisp, @var{state} may also
3062 be an integer in which case the new object is seeded from that
3063 integer; each different integer seed will result in a completely
3064 different sequence of random numbers.
3066 It is valid to print a @code{random-state} object to a buffer or
3067 file and later read it back with @code{read}. If a program wishes
3068 to use a sequence of pseudo-random numbers which can be reproduced
3069 later for debugging, it can call @code{(cl-make-random-state t)} to
3070 get a new sequence, then print this sequence to a file. When the
3071 program is later rerun, it can read the original run's random-state
3075 @defun cl-random-state-p object
3076 This predicate returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a
3077 @code{random-state} object, or @code{nil} otherwise.
3080 @node Implementation Parameters
3081 @section Implementation Parameters
3084 This package defines several useful constants having to with numbers.
3086 The following parameters have to do with floating-point numbers.
3087 This package determines their values by exercising the computer's
3088 floating-point arithmetic in various ways. Because this operation
3089 might be slow, the code for initializing them is kept in a separate
3090 function that must be called before the parameters can be used.
3092 @defun cl-float-limits
3093 This function makes sure that the Common Lisp floating-point parameters
3094 like @code{cl-most-positive-float} have been initialized. Until it is
3095 called, these parameters will be @code{nil}. If this version of Emacs
3096 does not support floats, the parameters will remain @code{nil}. If the
3097 parameters have already been initialized, the function returns
3100 The algorithm makes assumptions that will be valid for most modern
3101 machines, but will fail if the machine's arithmetic is extremely
3102 unusual, e.g., decimal.
3105 Since true Common Lisp supports up to four different floating-point
3106 precisions, it has families of constants like
3107 @code{most-positive-single-float}, @code{most-positive-double-float},
3108 @code{most-positive-long-float}, and so on. Emacs has only one
3109 floating-point precision, so this package omits the precision word
3110 from the constants' names.
3112 @defvar cl-most-positive-float
3113 This constant equals the largest value a Lisp float can hold.
3114 For those systems whose arithmetic supports infinities, this is
3115 the largest @emph{finite} value. For IEEE machines, the value
3116 is approximately @code{1.79e+308}.
3119 @defvar cl-most-negative-float
3120 This constant equals the most-negative value a Lisp float can hold.
3121 (It is assumed to be equal to @code{(- cl-most-positive-float)}.)
3124 @defvar cl-least-positive-float
3125 This constant equals the smallest Lisp float value greater than zero.
3126 For IEEE machines, it is about @code{4.94e-324} if denormals are
3127 supported or @code{2.22e-308} if not.
3130 @defvar cl-least-positive-normalized-float
3131 This constant equals the smallest @emph{normalized} Lisp float greater
3132 than zero, i.e., the smallest value for which IEEE denormalization
3133 will not result in a loss of precision. For IEEE machines, this
3134 value is about @code{2.22e-308}. For machines that do not support
3135 the concept of denormalization and gradual underflow, this constant
3136 will always equal @code{cl-least-positive-float}.
3139 @defvar cl-least-negative-float
3140 This constant is the negative counterpart of @code{cl-least-positive-float}.
3143 @defvar cl-least-negative-normalized-float
3144 This constant is the negative counterpart of
3145 @code{cl-least-positive-normalized-float}.
3148 @defvar cl-float-epsilon
3149 This constant is the smallest positive Lisp float that can be added
3150 to 1.0 to produce a distinct value. Adding a smaller number to 1.0
3151 will yield 1.0 again due to roundoff. For IEEE machines, epsilon
3152 is about @code{2.22e-16}.
3155 @defvar cl-float-negative-epsilon
3156 This is the smallest positive value that can be subtracted from
3157 1.0 to produce a distinct value. For IEEE machines, it is about
3165 Common Lisp defines a number of functions that operate on
3166 @dfn{sequences}, which are either lists, strings, or vectors.
3167 Emacs Lisp includes a few of these, notably @code{elt} and
3168 @code{length}; this package defines most of the rest.
3171 * Sequence Basics:: Arguments shared by all sequence functions.
3172 * Mapping over Sequences:: @code{cl-mapcar}, @code{cl-mapcan}, @code{cl-map}, @code{cl-every}, etc.
3173 * Sequence Functions:: @code{cl-subseq}, @code{cl-remove}, @code{cl-substitute}, etc.
3174 * Searching Sequences:: @code{cl-find}, @code{cl-position}, @code{cl-count}, @code{cl-search}, etc.
3175 * Sorting Sequences:: @code{cl-sort}, @code{cl-stable-sort}, @code{cl-merge}.
3178 @node Sequence Basics
3179 @section Sequence Basics
3182 Many of the sequence functions take keyword arguments; @pxref{Argument
3183 Lists}. All keyword arguments are optional and, if specified,
3184 may appear in any order.
3186 The @code{:key} argument should be passed either @code{nil}, or a
3187 function of one argument. This key function is used as a filter
3188 through which the elements of the sequence are seen; for example,
3189 @code{(cl-find x y :key 'car)} is similar to @code{(cl-assoc x y)}:
3190 It searches for an element of the list whose @code{car} equals
3191 @code{x}, rather than for an element which equals @code{x} itself.
3192 If @code{:key} is omitted or @code{nil}, the filter is effectively
3193 the identity function.
3195 The @code{:test} and @code{:test-not} arguments should be either
3196 @code{nil}, or functions of two arguments. The test function is
3197 used to compare two sequence elements, or to compare a search value
3198 with sequence elements. (The two values are passed to the test
3199 function in the same order as the original sequence function
3200 arguments from which they are derived, or, if they both come from
3201 the same sequence, in the same order as they appear in that sequence.)
3202 The @code{:test} argument specifies a function which must return
3203 true (non-@code{nil}) to indicate a match; instead, you may use
3204 @code{:test-not} to give a function which returns @emph{false} to
3205 indicate a match. The default test function is @code{eql}.
3207 Many functions which take @var{item} and @code{:test} or @code{:test-not}
3208 arguments also come in @code{-if} and @code{-if-not} varieties,
3209 where a @var{predicate} function is passed instead of @var{item},
3210 and sequence elements match if the predicate returns true on them
3211 (or false in the case of @code{-if-not}). For example:
3214 (cl-remove 0 seq :test '=) @equiv{} (cl-remove-if 'zerop seq)
3218 to remove all zeros from sequence @code{seq}.
3220 Some operations can work on a subsequence of the argument sequence;
3221 these function take @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments which
3222 default to zero and the length of the sequence, respectively.
3223 Only elements between @var{start} (inclusive) and @var{end}
3224 (exclusive) are affected by the operation. The @var{end} argument
3225 may be passed @code{nil} to signify the length of the sequence;
3226 otherwise, both @var{start} and @var{end} must be integers, with
3227 @code{0 <= @var{start} <= @var{end} <= (length @var{seq})}.
3228 If the function takes two sequence arguments, the limits are
3229 defined by keywords @code{:start1} and @code{:end1} for the first,
3230 and @code{:start2} and @code{:end2} for the second.
3232 A few functions accept a @code{:from-end} argument, which, if
3233 non-@code{nil}, causes the operation to go from right-to-left
3234 through the sequence instead of left-to-right, and a @code{:count}
3235 argument, which specifies an integer maximum number of elements
3236 to be removed or otherwise processed.
3238 The sequence functions make no guarantees about the order in
3239 which the @code{:test}, @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key} functions
3240 are called on various elements. Therefore, it is a bad idea to depend
3241 on side effects of these functions. For example, @code{:from-end}
3242 may cause the sequence to be scanned actually in reverse, or it may
3243 be scanned forwards but computing a result ``as if'' it were scanned
3244 backwards. (Some functions, like @code{cl-mapcar} and @code{cl-every},
3245 @emph{do} specify exactly the order in which the function is called
3246 so side effects are perfectly acceptable in those cases.)
3248 Strings may contain ``text properties'' as well
3249 as character data. Except as noted, it is undefined whether or
3250 not text properties are preserved by sequence functions. For
3251 example, @code{(cl-remove ?A @var{str})} may or may not preserve
3252 the properties of the characters copied from @var{str} into the
3255 @node Mapping over Sequences
3256 @section Mapping over Sequences
3259 These functions ``map'' the function you specify over the elements
3260 of lists or arrays. They are all variations on the theme of the
3261 built-in function @code{mapcar}.
3263 @defun cl-mapcar function seq &rest more-seqs
3264 This function calls @var{function} on successive parallel sets of
3265 elements from its argument sequences. Given a single @var{seq}
3266 argument it is equivalent to @code{mapcar}; given @var{n} sequences,
3267 it calls the function with the first elements of each of the sequences
3268 as the @var{n} arguments to yield the first element of the result
3269 list, then with the second elements, and so on. The mapping stops as
3270 soon as the shortest sequence runs out. The argument sequences may
3271 be any mixture of lists, strings, and vectors; the return sequence
3274 Common Lisp's @code{mapcar} accepts multiple arguments but works
3275 only on lists; Emacs Lisp's @code{mapcar} accepts a single sequence
3276 argument. This package's @code{cl-mapcar} works as a compatible
3280 @defun cl-map result-type function seq &rest more-seqs
3281 This function maps @var{function} over the argument sequences,
3282 just like @code{cl-mapcar}, but it returns a sequence of type
3283 @var{result-type} rather than a list. @var{result-type} must
3284 be one of the following symbols: @code{vector}, @code{string},
3285 @code{list} (in which case the effect is the same as for
3286 @code{cl-mapcar}), or @code{nil} (in which case the results are
3287 thrown away and @code{cl-map} returns @code{nil}).
3290 @defun cl-maplist function list &rest more-lists
3291 This function calls @var{function} on each of its argument lists,
3292 then on the @code{cdr}s of those lists, and so on, until the
3293 shortest list runs out. The results are returned in the form
3294 of a list. Thus, @code{cl-maplist} is like @code{cl-mapcar} except
3295 that it passes in the list pointers themselves rather than the
3296 @code{car}s of the advancing pointers.
3299 @defun cl-mapc function seq &rest more-seqs
3300 This function is like @code{cl-mapcar}, except that the values returned
3301 by @var{function} are ignored and thrown away rather than being
3302 collected into a list. The return value of @code{cl-mapc} is @var{seq},
3303 the first sequence. This function is more general than the Emacs
3304 primitive @code{mapc}. (Note that this function is called
3305 @code{cl-mapc} even in @file{cl.el}, rather than @code{mapc*} as you
3307 @c http://debbugs.gnu.org/6575
3310 @defun cl-mapl function list &rest more-lists
3311 This function is like @code{cl-maplist}, except that it throws away
3312 the values returned by @var{function}.
3315 @defun cl-mapcan function seq &rest more-seqs
3316 This function is like @code{cl-mapcar}, except that it concatenates
3317 the return values (which must be lists) using @code{nconc},
3318 rather than simply collecting them into a list.
3321 @defun cl-mapcon function list &rest more-lists
3322 This function is like @code{cl-maplist}, except that it concatenates
3323 the return values using @code{nconc}.
3326 @defun cl-some predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3327 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of @var{seq}
3328 in turn; if @var{predicate} returns a non-@code{nil} value,
3329 @code{some} returns that value, otherwise it returns @code{nil}.
3330 Given several sequence arguments, it steps through the sequences
3331 in parallel until the shortest one runs out, just as in
3332 @code{cl-mapcar}. You can rely on the left-to-right order in which
3333 the elements are visited, and on the fact that mapping stops
3334 immediately as soon as @var{predicate} returns non-@code{nil}.
3337 @defun cl-every predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3338 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3339 in turn; it returns @code{nil} as soon as @var{predicate} returns
3340 @code{nil} for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate was true
3344 @defun cl-notany predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3345 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3346 in turn; it returns @code{nil} as soon as @var{predicate} returns
3347 a non-@code{nil} value for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate
3348 was @code{nil} for all elements.
3351 @defun cl-notevery predicate seq &rest more-seqs
3352 This function calls @var{predicate} on each element of the sequence(s)
3353 in turn; it returns a non-@code{nil} value as soon as @var{predicate}
3354 returns @code{nil} for any element, or @code{t} if the predicate was
3355 true for all elements.
3358 @defun cl-reduce function seq @t{&key :from-end :start :end :initial-value :key}
3359 This function combines the elements of @var{seq} using an associative
3360 binary operation. Suppose @var{function} is @code{*} and @var{seq} is
3361 the list @code{(2 3 4 5)}. The first two elements of the list are
3362 combined with @code{(* 2 3) = 6}; this is combined with the next
3363 element, @code{(* 6 4) = 24}, and that is combined with the final
3364 element: @code{(* 24 5) = 120}. Note that the @code{*} function happens
3365 to be self-reducing, so that @code{(* 2 3 4 5)} has the same effect as
3366 an explicit call to @code{cl-reduce}.
3368 If @code{:from-end} is true, the reduction is right-associative instead
3369 of left-associative:
3372 (cl-reduce '- '(1 2 3 4))
3373 @equiv{} (- (- (- 1 2) 3) 4) @result{} -8
3374 (cl-reduce '- '(1 2 3 4) :from-end t)
3375 @equiv{} (- 1 (- 2 (- 3 4))) @result{} -2
3378 If @code{:key} is specified, it is a function of one argument which
3379 is called on each of the sequence elements in turn.
3381 If @code{:initial-value} is specified, it is effectively added to the
3382 front (or rear in the case of @code{:from-end}) of the sequence.
3383 The @code{:key} function is @emph{not} applied to the initial value.
3385 If the sequence, including the initial value, has exactly one element
3386 then that element is returned without ever calling @var{function}.
3387 If the sequence is empty (and there is no initial value), then
3388 @var{function} is called with no arguments to obtain the return value.
3391 All of these mapping operations can be expressed conveniently in
3392 terms of the @code{cl-loop} macro. In compiled code, @code{cl-loop} will
3393 be faster since it generates the loop as in-line code with no
3396 @node Sequence Functions
3397 @section Sequence Functions
3400 This section describes a number of Common Lisp functions for
3401 operating on sequences.
3403 @defun cl-subseq sequence start &optional end
3404 This function returns a given subsequence of the argument
3405 @var{sequence}, which may be a list, string, or vector.
3406 The indices @var{start} and @var{end} must be in range, and
3407 @var{start} must be no greater than @var{end}. If @var{end}
3408 is omitted, it defaults to the length of the sequence. The
3409 return value is always a copy; it does not share structure
3410 with @var{sequence}.
3412 As an extension to Common Lisp, @var{start} and/or @var{end}
3413 may be negative, in which case they represent a distance back
3414 from the end of the sequence. This is for compatibility with
3415 Emacs's @code{substring} function. Note that @code{cl-subseq} is
3416 the @emph{only} sequence function that allows negative
3417 @var{start} and @var{end}.
3419 You can use @code{setf} on a @code{cl-subseq} form to replace a
3420 specified range of elements with elements from another sequence.
3421 The replacement is done as if by @code{cl-replace}, described below.
3424 @defun cl-concatenate result-type &rest seqs
3425 This function concatenates the argument sequences together to
3426 form a result sequence of type @var{result-type}, one of the
3427 symbols @code{vector}, @code{string}, or @code{list}. The
3428 arguments are always copied, even in cases such as
3429 @code{(cl-concatenate 'list '(1 2 3))} where the result is
3430 identical to an argument.
3433 @defun cl-fill seq item @t{&key :start :end}
3434 This function fills the elements of the sequence (or the specified
3435 part of the sequence) with the value @var{item}.
3438 @defun cl-replace seq1 seq2 @t{&key :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2}
3439 This function copies part of @var{seq2} into part of @var{seq1}.
3440 The sequence @var{seq1} is not stretched or resized; the amount
3441 of data copied is simply the shorter of the source and destination
3442 (sub)sequences. The function returns @var{seq1}.
3444 If @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} are @code{eq}, then the replacement
3445 will work correctly even if the regions indicated by the start
3446 and end arguments overlap. However, if @var{seq1} and @var{seq2}
3447 are lists which share storage but are not @code{eq}, and the
3448 start and end arguments specify overlapping regions, the effect
3452 @defun cl-remove item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3453 This returns a copy of @var{seq} with all elements matching
3454 @var{item} removed. The result may share storage with or be
3455 @code{eq} to @var{seq} in some circumstances, but the original
3456 @var{seq} will not be modified. The @code{:test}, @code{:test-not},
3457 and @code{:key} arguments define the matching test that is used;
3458 by default, elements @code{eql} to @var{item} are removed. The
3459 @code{:count} argument specifies the maximum number of matching
3460 elements that can be removed (only the leftmost @var{count} matches
3461 are removed). The @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments specify
3462 a region in @var{seq} in which elements will be removed; elements
3463 outside that region are not matched or removed. The @code{:from-end}
3464 argument, if true, says that elements should be deleted from the
3465 end of the sequence rather than the beginning (this matters only
3466 if @var{count} was also specified).
3469 @defun cl-delete item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3470 This deletes all elements of @var{seq} which match @var{item}.
3471 It is a destructive operation. Since Emacs Lisp does not support
3472 stretchable strings or vectors, this is the same as @code{cl-remove}
3473 for those sequence types. On lists, @code{cl-remove} will copy the
3474 list if necessary to preserve the original list, whereas
3475 @code{cl-delete} will splice out parts of the argument list.
3476 Compare @code{append} and @code{nconc}, which are analogous
3477 non-destructive and destructive list operations in Emacs Lisp.
3480 @findex cl-remove-if
3481 @findex cl-remove-if-not
3482 @findex cl-delete-if
3483 @findex cl-delete-if-not
3484 The predicate-oriented functions @code{cl-remove-if}, @code{cl-remove-if-not},
3485 @code{cl-delete-if}, and @code{cl-delete-if-not} are defined similarly.
3487 @defun cl-remove-duplicates seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3488 This function returns a copy of @var{seq} with duplicate elements
3489 removed. Specifically, if two elements from the sequence match
3490 according to the @code{:test}, @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key}
3491 arguments, only the rightmost one is retained. If @code{:from-end}
3492 is true, the leftmost one is retained instead. If @code{:start} or
3493 @code{:end} is specified, only elements within that subsequence are
3494 examined or removed.
3497 @defun cl-delete-duplicates seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3498 This function deletes duplicate elements from @var{seq}. It is
3499 a destructive version of @code{cl-remove-duplicates}.
3502 @defun cl-substitute new old seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3503 This function returns a copy of @var{seq}, with all elements
3504 matching @var{old} replaced with @var{new}. The @code{:count},
3505 @code{:start}, @code{:end}, and @code{:from-end} arguments may be
3506 used to limit the number of substitutions made.
3509 @defun cl-nsubstitute new old seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :count :start :end :from-end}
3510 This is a destructive version of @code{cl-substitute}; it performs
3511 the substitution using @code{setcar} or @code{aset} rather than
3512 by returning a changed copy of the sequence.
3515 @findex cl-substitute-if
3516 @findex cl-substitute-if-not
3517 @findex cl-nsubstitute-if
3518 @findex cl-nsubstitute-if-not
3519 The functions @code{cl-substitute-if}, @code{cl-substitute-if-not},
3520 @code{cl-nsubstitute-if}, and @code{cl-nsubstitute-if-not} are defined
3521 similarly. For these, a @var{predicate} is given in place of the
3524 @node Searching Sequences
3525 @section Searching Sequences
3528 These functions search for elements or subsequences in a sequence.
3529 (See also @code{cl-member} and @code{cl-assoc}; @pxref{Lists}.)
3531 @defun cl-find item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3532 This function searches @var{seq} for an element matching @var{item}.
3533 If it finds a match, it returns the matching element. Otherwise,
3534 it returns @code{nil}. It returns the leftmost match, unless
3535 @code{:from-end} is true, in which case it returns the rightmost
3536 match. The @code{:start} and @code{:end} arguments may be used to
3537 limit the range of elements that are searched.
3540 @defun cl-position item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end :from-end}
3541 This function is like @code{cl-find}, except that it returns the
3542 integer position in the sequence of the matching item rather than
3543 the item itself. The position is relative to the start of the
3544 sequence as a whole, even if @code{:start} is non-zero. The function
3545 returns @code{nil} if no matching element was found.
3548 @defun cl-count item seq @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start :end}
3549 This function returns the number of elements of @var{seq} which
3550 match @var{item}. The result is always a nonnegative integer.
3554 @findex cl-find-if-not
3555 @findex cl-position-if
3556 @findex cl-position-if-not
3558 @findex cl-count-if-not
3559 The @code{cl-find-if}, @code{cl-find-if-not}, @code{cl-position-if},
3560 @code{cl-position-if-not}, @code{cl-count-if}, and @code{cl-count-if-not}
3561 functions are defined similarly.
3563 @defun cl-mismatch seq1 seq2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2 :from-end}
3564 This function compares the specified parts of @var{seq1} and
3565 @var{seq2}. If they are the same length and the corresponding
3566 elements match (according to @code{:test}, @code{:test-not},
3567 and @code{:key}), the function returns @code{nil}. If there is
3568 a mismatch, the function returns the index (relative to @var{seq1})
3569 of the first mismatching element. This will be the leftmost pair of
3570 elements which do not match, or the position at which the shorter of
3571 the two otherwise-matching sequences runs out.
3573 If @code{:from-end} is true, then the elements are compared from right
3574 to left starting at @code{(1- @var{end1})} and @code{(1- @var{end2})}.
3575 If the sequences differ, then one plus the index of the rightmost
3576 difference (relative to @var{seq1}) is returned.
3578 An interesting example is @code{(cl-mismatch str1 str2 :key 'upcase)},
3579 which compares two strings case-insensitively.
3582 @defun cl-search seq1 seq2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key :from-end :start1 :end1 :start2 :end2}
3583 This function searches @var{seq2} for a subsequence that matches
3584 @var{seq1} (or part of it specified by @code{:start1} and
3585 @code{:end1}.) Only matches which fall entirely within the region
3586 defined by @code{:start2} and @code{:end2} will be considered.
3587 The return value is the index of the leftmost element of the
3588 leftmost match, relative to the start of @var{seq2}, or @code{nil}
3589 if no matches were found. If @code{:from-end} is true, the
3590 function finds the @emph{rightmost} matching subsequence.
3593 @node Sorting Sequences
3594 @section Sorting Sequences
3596 @defun clsort seq predicate @t{&key :key}
3597 This function sorts @var{seq} into increasing order as determined
3598 by using @var{predicate} to compare pairs of elements. @var{predicate}
3599 should return true (non-@code{nil}) if and only if its first argument
3600 is less than (not equal to) its second argument. For example,
3601 @code{<} and @code{string-lessp} are suitable predicate functions
3602 for sorting numbers and strings, respectively; @code{>} would sort
3603 numbers into decreasing rather than increasing order.
3605 This function differs from Emacs's built-in @code{sort} in that it
3606 can operate on any type of sequence, not just lists. Also, it
3607 accepts a @code{:key} argument which is used to preprocess data
3608 fed to the @var{predicate} function. For example,
3611 (setq data (cl-sort data 'string-lessp :key 'downcase))
3615 sorts @var{data}, a sequence of strings, into increasing alphabetical
3616 order without regard to case. A @code{:key} function of @code{car}
3617 would be useful for sorting association lists. It should only be a
3618 simple accessor though, it's used heavily in the current
3621 The @code{cl-sort} function is destructive; it sorts lists by actually
3622 rearranging the @code{cdr} pointers in suitable fashion.
3625 @defun cl-stable-sort seq predicate @t{&key :key}
3626 This function sorts @var{seq} @dfn{stably}, meaning two elements
3627 which are equal in terms of @var{predicate} are guaranteed not to
3628 be rearranged out of their original order by the sort.
3630 In practice, @code{cl-sort} and @code{cl-stable-sort} are equivalent
3631 in Emacs Lisp because the underlying @code{sort} function is
3632 stable by default. However, this package reserves the right to
3633 use non-stable methods for @code{cl-sort} in the future.
3636 @defun cl-merge type seq1 seq2 predicate @t{&key :key}
3637 This function merges two sequences @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} by
3638 interleaving their elements. The result sequence, of type @var{type}
3639 (in the sense of @code{cl-concatenate}), has length equal to the sum
3640 of the lengths of the two input sequences. The sequences may be
3641 modified destructively. Order of elements within @var{seq1} and
3642 @var{seq2} is preserved in the interleaving; elements of the two
3643 sequences are compared by @var{predicate} (in the sense of
3644 @code{sort}) and the lesser element goes first in the result.
3645 When elements are equal, those from @var{seq1} precede those from
3646 @var{seq2} in the result. Thus, if @var{seq1} and @var{seq2} are
3647 both sorted according to @var{predicate}, then the result will be
3648 a merged sequence which is (stably) sorted according to
3656 The functions described here operate on lists.
3659 * List Functions:: @code{cl-caddr}, @code{cl-first}, @code{cl-list*}, etc.
3660 * Substitution of Expressions:: @code{cl-subst}, @code{cl-sublis}, etc.
3661 * Lists as Sets:: @code{cl-member}, @code{cl-adjoin}, @code{cl-union}, etc.
3662 * Association Lists:: @code{cl-assoc}, @code{cl-rassoc}, @code{cl-acons}, @code{cl-pairlis}.
3665 @node List Functions
3666 @section List Functions
3669 This section describes a number of simple operations on lists,
3670 i.e., chains of cons cells.
3673 This function is equivalent to @code{(car (cdr (cdr @var{x})))}.
3674 Likewise, this package defines all 28 @code{c@var{xxx}r} functions
3675 where @var{xxx} is up to four @samp{a}s and/or @samp{d}s.
3676 All of these functions are @code{setf}-able, and calls to them
3677 are expanded inline by the byte-compiler for maximum efficiency.
3681 This function is a synonym for @code{(car @var{x})}. Likewise,
3682 the functions @code{cl-second}, @code{cl-third}, @dots{}, through
3683 @code{cl-tenth} return the given element of the list @var{x}.
3687 This function is a synonym for @code{(cdr @var{x})}.
3691 Common Lisp defines this function to act like @code{null}, but
3692 signaling an error if @code{x} is neither a @code{nil} nor a
3693 cons cell. This package simply defines @code{cl-endp} as a synonym
3697 @defun cl-list-length x
3698 This function returns the length of list @var{x}, exactly like
3699 @code{(length @var{x})}, except that if @var{x} is a circular
3700 list (where the cdr-chain forms a loop rather than terminating
3701 with @code{nil}), this function returns @code{nil}. (The regular
3702 @code{length} function would get stuck if given a circular list.)
3705 @defun cl-list* arg &rest others
3706 This function constructs a list of its arguments. The final
3707 argument becomes the @code{cdr} of the last cell constructed.
3708 Thus, @code{(cl-list* @var{a} @var{b} @var{c})} is equivalent to
3709 @code{(cons @var{a} (cons @var{b} @var{c}))}, and
3710 @code{(cl-list* @var{a} @var{b} nil)} is equivalent to
3711 @code{(list @var{a} @var{b})}.
3714 @defun cl-ldiff list sublist
3715 If @var{sublist} is a sublist of @var{list}, i.e., is @code{eq} to
3716 one of the cons cells of @var{list}, then this function returns
3717 a copy of the part of @var{list} up to but not including
3718 @var{sublist}. For example, @code{(cl-ldiff x (cddr x))} returns
3719 the first two elements of the list @code{x}. The result is a
3720 copy; the original @var{list} is not modified. If @var{sublist}
3721 is not a sublist of @var{list}, a copy of the entire @var{list}
3725 @defun cl-copy-list list
3726 This function returns a copy of the list @var{list}. It copies
3727 dotted lists like @code{(1 2 . 3)} correctly.
3730 @defun copy-tree x &optional vecp
3731 This function returns a copy of the tree of cons cells @var{x}.
3732 @c FIXME? cl-copy-list is not an alias of copy-sequence.
3733 Unlike @code{copy-sequence} (and its alias @code{cl-copy-list}),
3734 which copies only along the @code{cdr} direction, this function
3735 copies (recursively) along both the @code{car} and the @code{cdr}
3736 directions. If @var{x} is not a cons cell, the function simply
3737 returns @var{x} unchanged. If the optional @var{vecp} argument
3738 is true, this function copies vectors (recursively) as well as
3742 @defun cl-tree-equal x y @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3743 This function compares two trees of cons cells. If @var{x} and
3744 @var{y} are both cons cells, their @code{car}s and @code{cdr}s are
3745 compared recursively. If neither @var{x} nor @var{y} is a cons
3746 cell, they are compared by @code{eql}, or according to the
3747 specified test. The @code{:key} function, if specified, is
3748 applied to the elements of both trees. @xref{Sequences}.
3751 @node Substitution of Expressions
3752 @section Substitution of Expressions
3755 These functions substitute elements throughout a tree of cons
3756 cells. (@xref{Sequence Functions}, for the @code{cl-substitute}
3757 function, which works on just the top-level elements of a list.)
3759 @defun cl-subst new old tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3760 This function substitutes occurrences of @var{old} with @var{new}
3761 in @var{tree}, a tree of cons cells. It returns a substituted
3762 tree, which will be a copy except that it may share storage with
3763 the argument @var{tree} in parts where no substitutions occurred.
3764 The original @var{tree} is not modified. This function recurses
3765 on, and compares against @var{old}, both @code{car}s and @code{cdr}s
3766 of the component cons cells. If @var{old} is itself a cons cell,
3767 then matching cells in the tree are substituted as usual without
3768 recursively substituting in that cell. Comparisons with @var{old}
3769 are done according to the specified test (@code{eql} by default).
3770 The @code{:key} function is applied to the elements of the tree
3771 but not to @var{old}.
3774 @defun cl-nsubst new old tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3775 This function is like @code{cl-subst}, except that it works by
3776 destructive modification (by @code{setcar} or @code{setcdr})
3777 rather than copying.
3781 @findex cl-subst-if-not
3782 @findex cl-nsubst-if
3783 @findex cl-nsubst-if-not
3784 The @code{cl-subst-if}, @code{cl-subst-if-not}, @code{cl-nsubst-if}, and
3785 @code{cl-nsubst-if-not} functions are defined similarly.
3787 @defun cl-sublis alist tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3788 This function is like @code{cl-subst}, except that it takes an
3789 association list @var{alist} of @var{old}-@var{new} pairs.
3790 Each element of the tree (after applying the @code{:key}
3791 function, if any), is compared with the @code{car}s of
3792 @var{alist}; if it matches, it is replaced by the corresponding
3796 @defun cl-nsublis alist tree @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3797 This is a destructive version of @code{cl-sublis}.
3801 @section Lists as Sets
3804 These functions perform operations on lists which represent sets
3807 @defun cl-member item list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3808 This function searches @var{list} for an element matching @var{item}.
3809 If a match is found, it returns the cons cell whose @code{car} was
3810 the matching element. Otherwise, it returns @code{nil}. Elements
3811 are compared by @code{eql} by default; you can use the @code{:test},
3812 @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key} arguments to modify this behavior.
3815 The standard Emacs lisp function @code{member} uses @code{equal} for
3816 comparisons; it is equivalent to @code{(cl-member @var{item} @var{list}
3820 @findex cl-member-if
3821 @findex cl-member-if-not
3822 The @code{cl-member-if} and @code{cl-member-if-not} functions
3823 analogously search for elements which satisfy a given predicate.
3825 @defun cl-tailp sublist list
3826 This function returns @code{t} if @var{sublist} is a sublist of
3827 @var{list}, i.e., if @var{sublist} is @code{eql} to @var{list} or to
3828 any of its @code{cdr}s.
3831 @defun cl-adjoin item list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3832 This function conses @var{item} onto the front of @var{list},
3833 like @code{(cons @var{item} @var{list})}, but only if @var{item}
3834 is not already present on the list (as determined by @code{cl-member}).
3835 If a @code{:key} argument is specified, it is applied to
3836 @var{item} as well as to the elements of @var{list} during
3837 the search, on the reasoning that @var{item} is ``about'' to
3838 become part of the list.
3841 @defun cl-union list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3842 This function combines two lists which represent sets of items,
3843 returning a list that represents the union of those two sets.
3844 The result list will contain all items which appear in @var{list1}
3845 or @var{list2}, and no others. If an item appears in both
3846 @var{list1} and @var{list2} it will be copied only once. If
3847 an item is duplicated in @var{list1} or @var{list2}, it is
3848 undefined whether or not that duplication will survive in the
3849 result list. The order of elements in the result list is also
3853 @defun cl-nunion list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3854 This is a destructive version of @code{cl-union}; rather than copying,
3855 it tries to reuse the storage of the argument lists if possible.
3858 @defun cl-intersection list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3859 This function computes the intersection of the sets represented
3860 by @var{list1} and @var{list2}. It returns the list of items
3861 which appear in both @var{list1} and @var{list2}.
3864 @defun cl-nintersection list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3865 This is a destructive version of @code{cl-intersection}. It
3866 tries to reuse storage of @var{list1} rather than copying.
3867 It does @emph{not} reuse the storage of @var{list2}.
3870 @defun cl-set-difference list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3871 This function computes the ``set difference'' of @var{list1}
3872 and @var{list2}, i.e., the set of elements that appear in
3873 @var{list1} but @emph{not} in @var{list2}.
3876 @defun cl-nset-difference list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3877 This is a destructive @code{cl-set-difference}, which will try
3878 to reuse @var{list1} if possible.
3881 @defun cl-set-exclusive-or list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3882 This function computes the ``set exclusive or'' of @var{list1}
3883 and @var{list2}, i.e., the set of elements that appear in
3884 exactly one of @var{list1} and @var{list2}.
3887 @defun cl-nset-exclusive-or list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3888 This is a destructive @code{cl-set-exclusive-or}, which will try
3889 to reuse @var{list1} and @var{list2} if possible.
3892 @defun cl-subsetp list1 list2 @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3893 This function checks whether @var{list1} represents a subset
3894 of @var{list2}, i.e., whether every element of @var{list1}
3895 also appears in @var{list2}.
3898 @node Association Lists
3899 @section Association Lists
3902 An @dfn{association list} is a list representing a mapping from
3903 one set of values to another; any list whose elements are cons
3904 cells is an association list.
3906 @defun cl-assoc item a-list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3907 This function searches the association list @var{a-list} for an
3908 element whose @code{car} matches (in the sense of @code{:test},
3909 @code{:test-not}, and @code{:key}, or by comparison with @code{eql})
3910 a given @var{item}. It returns the matching element, if any,
3911 otherwise @code{nil}. It ignores elements of @var{a-list} which
3912 are not cons cells. (This corresponds to the behavior of
3913 @code{assq} and @code{assoc} in Emacs Lisp; Common Lisp's
3914 @code{assoc} ignores @code{nil}s but considers any other non-cons
3915 elements of @var{a-list} to be an error.)
3918 @defun cl-rassoc item a-list @t{&key :test :test-not :key}
3919 This function searches for an element whose @code{cdr} matches
3920 @var{item}. If @var{a-list} represents a mapping, this applies
3921 the inverse of the mapping to @var{item}.
3925 @findex cl-assoc-if-not
3926 @findex cl-rassoc-if
3927 @findex cl-rassoc-if-not
3928 The @code{cl-assoc-if}, @code{cl-assoc-if-not}, @code{cl-rassoc-if},
3929 and @code{cl-rassoc-if-not} functions are defined similarly.
3931 Two simple functions for constructing association lists are:
3933 @defun cl-acons key value alist
3934 This is equivalent to @code{(cons (cons @var{key} @var{value}) @var{alist})}.
3937 @defun cl-pairlis keys values &optional alist
3938 This is equivalent to @code{(nconc (cl-mapcar 'cons @var{keys} @var{values})
3946 The Common Lisp @dfn{structure} mechanism provides a general way
3947 to define data types similar to C's @code{struct} types. A
3948 structure is a Lisp object containing some number of @dfn{slots},
3949 each of which can hold any Lisp data object. Functions are
3950 provided for accessing and setting the slots, creating or copying
3951 structure objects, and recognizing objects of a particular structure
3954 In true Common Lisp, each structure type is a new type distinct
3955 from all existing Lisp types. Since the underlying Emacs Lisp
3956 system provides no way to create new distinct types, this package
3957 implements structures as vectors (or lists upon request) with a
3958 special ``tag'' symbol to identify them.
3960 @defmac cl-defstruct name slots@dots{}
3961 The @code{cl-defstruct} form defines a new structure type called
3962 @var{name}, with the specified @var{slots}. (The @var{slots}
3963 may begin with a string which documents the structure type.)
3964 In the simplest case, @var{name} and each of the @var{slots}
3965 are symbols. For example,
3968 (cl-defstruct person name age sex)
3972 defines a struct type called @code{person} which contains three
3973 slots. Given a @code{person} object @var{p}, you can access those
3974 slots by calling @code{(person-name @var{p})}, @code{(person-age @var{p})},
3975 and @code{(person-sex @var{p})}. You can also change these slots by
3976 using @code{setf} on any of these place forms:
3979 (cl-incf (person-age birthday-boy))
3982 You can create a new @code{person} by calling @code{make-person},
3983 which takes keyword arguments @code{:name}, @code{:age}, and
3984 @code{:sex} to specify the initial values of these slots in the
3985 new object. (Omitting any of these arguments leaves the corresponding
3986 slot ``undefined'', according to the Common Lisp standard; in Emacs
3987 Lisp, such uninitialized slots are filled with @code{nil}.)
3989 Given a @code{person}, @code{(copy-person @var{p})} makes a new
3990 object of the same type whose slots are @code{eq} to those of @var{p}.
3992 Given any Lisp object @var{x}, @code{(person-p @var{x})} returns
3993 true if @var{x} looks like a @code{person}, false otherwise. (Again,
3994 in Common Lisp this predicate would be exact; in Emacs Lisp the
3995 best it can do is verify that @var{x} is a vector of the correct
3996 length which starts with the correct tag symbol.)
3998 Accessors like @code{person-name} normally check their arguments
3999 (effectively using @code{person-p}) and signal an error if the
4000 argument is the wrong type. This check is affected by
4001 @code{(optimize (safety @dots{}))} declarations. Safety level 1,
4002 the default, uses a somewhat optimized check that will detect all
4003 incorrect arguments, but may use an uninformative error message
4004 (e.g., ``expected a vector'' instead of ``expected a @code{person}'').
4005 Safety level 0 omits all checks except as provided by the underlying
4006 @code{aref} call; safety levels 2 and 3 do rigorous checking that will
4007 always print a descriptive error message for incorrect inputs.
4008 @xref{Declarations}.
4011 (setq dave (make-person :name "Dave" :sex 'male))
4012 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Dave" nil male]
4013 (setq other (copy-person dave))
4014 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Dave" nil male]
4017 (eq (person-name dave) (person-name other))
4021 (person-p [1 2 3 4])
4025 (person-p '[cl-struct-person counterfeit person object])
4029 In general, @var{name} is either a name symbol or a list of a name
4030 symbol followed by any number of @dfn{struct options}; each @var{slot}
4031 is either a slot symbol or a list of the form @samp{(@var{slot-name}
4032 @var{default-value} @var{slot-options}@dots{})}. The @var{default-value}
4033 is a Lisp form which is evaluated any time an instance of the
4034 structure type is created without specifying that slot's value.
4036 Common Lisp defines several slot options, but the only one
4037 implemented in this package is @code{:read-only}. A non-@code{nil}
4038 value for this option means the slot should not be @code{setf}-able;
4039 the slot's value is determined when the object is created and does
4040 not change afterward.
4043 (cl-defstruct person
4044 (name nil :read-only t)
4049 Any slot options other than @code{:read-only} are ignored.
4051 For obscure historical reasons, structure options take a different
4052 form than slot options. A structure option is either a keyword
4053 symbol, or a list beginning with a keyword symbol possibly followed
4054 by arguments. (By contrast, slot options are key-value pairs not
4058 (cl-defstruct (person (:constructor create-person)
4064 The following structure options are recognized.
4068 The argument is a symbol whose print name is used as the prefix for
4069 the names of slot accessor functions. The default is the name of
4070 the struct type followed by a hyphen. The option @code{(:conc-name p-)}
4071 would change this prefix to @code{p-}. Specifying @code{nil} as an
4072 argument means no prefix, so that the slot names themselves are used
4073 to name the accessor functions.
4076 In the simple case, this option takes one argument which is an
4077 alternate name to use for the constructor function. The default
4078 is @code{make-@var{name}}, e.g., @code{make-person}. The above
4079 example changes this to @code{create-person}. Specifying @code{nil}
4080 as an argument means that no standard constructor should be
4083 In the full form of this option, the constructor name is followed
4084 by an arbitrary argument list. @xref{Program Structure}, for a
4085 description of the format of Common Lisp argument lists. All
4086 options, such as @code{&rest} and @code{&key}, are supported.
4087 The argument names should match the slot names; each slot is
4088 initialized from the corresponding argument. Slots whose names
4089 do not appear in the argument list are initialized based on the
4090 @var{default-value} in their slot descriptor. Also, @code{&optional}
4091 and @code{&key} arguments which don't specify defaults take their
4092 defaults from the slot descriptor. It is valid to include arguments
4093 which don't correspond to slot names; these are useful if they are
4094 referred to in the defaults for optional, keyword, or @code{&aux}
4095 arguments which @emph{do} correspond to slots.
4097 You can specify any number of full-format @code{:constructor}
4098 options on a structure. The default constructor is still generated
4099 as well unless you disable it with a simple-format @code{:constructor}
4105 (:constructor nil) ; no default constructor
4106 (:constructor new-person
4107 (name sex &optional (age 0)))
4108 (:constructor new-hound (&key (name "Rover")
4110 &aux (age (* 7 dog-years))
4115 The first constructor here takes its arguments positionally rather
4116 than by keyword. (In official Common Lisp terminology, constructors
4117 that work By Order of Arguments instead of by keyword are called
4118 ``BOA constructors''. No, I'm not making this up.) For example,
4119 @code{(new-person "Jane" 'female)} generates a person whose slots
4120 are @code{"Jane"}, 0, and @code{female}, respectively.
4122 The second constructor takes two keyword arguments, @code{:name},
4123 which initializes the @code{name} slot and defaults to @code{"Rover"},
4124 and @code{:dog-years}, which does not itself correspond to a slot
4125 but which is used to initialize the @code{age} slot. The @code{sex}
4126 slot is forced to the symbol @code{canine} with no syntax for
4130 The argument is an alternate name for the copier function for
4131 this type. The default is @code{copy-@var{name}}. @code{nil}
4132 means not to generate a copier function. (In this implementation,
4133 all copier functions are simply synonyms for @code{copy-sequence}.)
4136 The argument is an alternate name for the predicate which recognizes
4137 objects of this type. The default is @code{@var{name}-p}. @code{nil}
4138 means not to generate a predicate function. (If the @code{:type}
4139 option is used without the @code{:named} option, no predicate is
4142 In true Common Lisp, @code{typep} is always able to recognize a
4143 structure object even if @code{:predicate} was used. In this
4144 package, @code{cl-typep} simply looks for a function called
4145 @code{@var{typename}-p}, so it will work for structure types
4146 only if they used the default predicate name.
4149 This option implements a very limited form of C++-style inheritance.
4150 The argument is the name of another structure type previously
4151 created with @code{cl-defstruct}. The effect is to cause the new
4152 structure type to inherit all of the included structure's slots
4153 (plus, of course, any new slots described by this struct's slot
4154 descriptors). The new structure is considered a ``specialization''
4155 of the included one. In fact, the predicate and slot accessors
4156 for the included type will also accept objects of the new type.
4158 If there are extra arguments to the @code{:include} option after
4159 the included-structure name, these options are treated as replacement
4160 slot descriptors for slots in the included structure, possibly with
4161 modified default values. Borrowing an example from Steele:
4164 (cl-defstruct person name (age 0) sex)
4166 (cl-defstruct (astronaut (:include person (age 45)))
4168 (favorite-beverage 'tang))
4171 (setq joe (make-person :name "Joe"))
4172 @result{} [cl-struct-person "Joe" 0 nil]
4173 (setq buzz (make-astronaut :name "Buzz"))
4174 @result{} [cl-struct-astronaut "Buzz" 45 nil nil tang]
4176 (list (person-p joe) (person-p buzz))
4178 (list (astronaut-p joe) (astronaut-p buzz))
4183 (astronaut-name joe)
4184 @result{} error: "astronaut-name accessing a non-astronaut"
4187 Thus, if @code{astronaut} is a specialization of @code{person},
4188 then every @code{astronaut} is also a @code{person} (but not the
4189 other way around). Every @code{astronaut} includes all the slots
4190 of a @code{person}, plus extra slots that are specific to
4191 astronauts. Operations that work on people (like @code{person-name})
4192 work on astronauts just like other people.
4194 @item :print-function
4195 In full Common Lisp, this option allows you to specify a function
4196 which is called to print an instance of the structure type. The
4197 Emacs Lisp system offers no hooks into the Lisp printer which would
4198 allow for such a feature, so this package simply ignores
4199 @code{:print-function}.
4202 The argument should be one of the symbols @code{vector} or @code{list}.
4203 This tells which underlying Lisp data type should be used to implement
4204 the new structure type. Vectors are used by default, but
4205 @code{(:type list)} will cause structure objects to be stored as
4208 The vector representation for structure objects has the advantage
4209 that all structure slots can be accessed quickly, although creating
4210 vectors is a bit slower in Emacs Lisp. Lists are easier to create,
4211 but take a relatively long time accessing the later slots.
4214 This option, which takes no arguments, causes a characteristic ``tag''
4215 symbol to be stored at the front of the structure object. Using
4216 @code{:type} without also using @code{:named} will result in a
4217 structure type stored as plain vectors or lists with no identifying
4220 The default, if you don't specify @code{:type} explicitly, is to
4221 use named vectors. Therefore, @code{:named} is only useful in
4222 conjunction with @code{:type}.
4225 (cl-defstruct (person1) name age sex)
4226 (cl-defstruct (person2 (:type list) :named) name age sex)
4227 (cl-defstruct (person3 (:type list)) name age sex)
4229 (setq p1 (make-person1))
4230 @result{} [cl-struct-person1 nil nil nil]
4231 (setq p2 (make-person2))
4232 @result{} (person2 nil nil nil)
4233 (setq p3 (make-person3))
4234 @result{} (nil nil nil)
4241 @result{} error: function person3-p undefined
4244 Since unnamed structures don't have tags, @code{cl-defstruct} is not
4245 able to make a useful predicate for recognizing them. Also,
4246 accessors like @code{person3-name} will be generated but they
4247 will not be able to do any type checking. The @code{person3-name}
4248 function, for example, will simply be a synonym for @code{car} in
4249 this case. By contrast, @code{person2-name} is able to verify
4250 that its argument is indeed a @code{person2} object before
4253 @item :initial-offset
4254 The argument must be a nonnegative integer. It specifies a
4255 number of slots to be left ``empty'' at the front of the
4256 structure. If the structure is named, the tag appears at the
4257 specified position in the list or vector; otherwise, the first
4258 slot appears at that position. Earlier positions are filled
4259 with @code{nil} by the constructors and ignored otherwise. If
4260 the type @code{:include}s another type, then @code{:initial-offset}
4261 specifies a number of slots to be skipped between the last slot
4262 of the included type and the first new slot.
4266 Except as noted, the @code{cl-defstruct} facility of this package is
4267 entirely compatible with that of Common Lisp.
4270 @chapter Assertions and Errors
4273 This section describes two macros that test @dfn{assertions}, i.e.,
4274 conditions which must be true if the program is operating correctly.
4275 Assertions never add to the behavior of a Lisp program; they simply
4276 make ``sanity checks'' to make sure everything is as it should be.
4278 If the optimization property @code{speed} has been set to 3, and
4279 @code{safety} is less than 3, then the byte-compiler will optimize
4280 away the following assertions. Because assertions might be optimized
4281 away, it is a bad idea for them to include side-effects.
4283 @defmac cl-assert test-form [show-args string args@dots{}]
4284 This form verifies that @var{test-form} is true (i.e., evaluates to
4285 a non-@code{nil} value). If so, it returns @code{nil}. If the test
4286 is not satisfied, @code{cl-assert} signals an error.
4288 A default error message will be supplied which includes @var{test-form}.
4289 You can specify a different error message by including a @var{string}
4290 argument plus optional extra arguments. Those arguments are simply
4291 passed to @code{error} to signal the error.
4293 If the optional second argument @var{show-args} is @code{t} instead
4294 of @code{nil}, then the error message (with or without @var{string})
4295 will also include all non-constant arguments of the top-level
4296 @var{form}. For example:
4299 (cl-assert (> x 10) t "x is too small: %d")
4302 This usage of @var{show-args} is an extension to Common Lisp. In
4303 true Common Lisp, the second argument gives a list of @var{places}
4304 which can be @code{setf}'d by the user before continuing from the
4305 error. Since Emacs Lisp does not support continuable errors, it
4306 makes no sense to specify @var{places}.
4309 @defmac cl-check-type form type [string]
4310 This form verifies that @var{form} evaluates to a value of type
4311 @var{type}. If so, it returns @code{nil}. If not, @code{cl-check-type}
4312 signals a @code{wrong-type-argument} error. The default error message
4313 lists the erroneous value along with @var{type} and @var{form}
4314 themselves. If @var{string} is specified, it is included in the
4315 error message in place of @var{type}. For example:
4318 (cl-check-type x (integer 1 *) "a positive integer")
4321 @xref{Type Predicates}, for a description of the type specifiers
4322 that may be used for @var{type}.
4324 Note that in Common Lisp, the first argument to @code{check-type}
4325 must be a @var{place} suitable for use by @code{setf}, because
4326 @code{check-type} signals a continuable error that allows the
4327 user to modify @var{place}.
4330 @node Efficiency Concerns
4331 @appendix Efficiency Concerns
4336 Many of the advanced features of this package, such as @code{cl-defun},
4337 @code{cl-loop}, etc., are implemented as Lisp macros. In
4338 byte-compiled code, these complex notations will be expanded into
4339 equivalent Lisp code which is simple and efficient. For example,
4347 is expanded at compile-time to the Lisp form
4354 which is the most efficient ways of doing this operation
4355 in Lisp. Thus, there is no performance penalty for using the more
4356 readable @code{cl-incf} form in your compiled code.
4358 @emph{Interpreted} code, on the other hand, must expand these macros
4359 every time they are executed. For this reason it is strongly
4360 recommended that code making heavy use of macros be compiled.
4361 A loop using @code{cl-incf} a hundred times will execute considerably
4362 faster if compiled, and will also garbage-collect less because the
4363 macro expansion will not have to be generated, used, and thrown away a
4366 You can find out how a macro expands by using the
4367 @code{cl-prettyexpand} function.
4369 @defun cl-prettyexpand form &optional full
4370 This function takes a single Lisp form as an argument and inserts
4371 a nicely formatted copy of it in the current buffer (which must be
4372 in Lisp mode so that indentation works properly). It also expands
4373 all Lisp macros which appear in the form. The easiest way to use
4374 this function is to go to the @file{*scratch*} buffer and type, say,
4377 (cl-prettyexpand '(cl-loop for x below 10 collect x))
4381 and type @kbd{C-x C-e} immediately after the closing parenthesis;
4389 (setq G1004 (cons x G1004))
4395 will be inserted into the buffer. (The @code{cl-block} macro is
4396 expanded differently in the interpreter and compiler, so
4397 @code{cl-prettyexpand} just leaves it alone. The temporary
4398 variable @code{G1004} was created by @code{cl-gensym}.)
4400 If the optional argument @var{full} is true, then @emph{all}
4401 macros are expanded, including @code{cl-block}, @code{cl-eval-when},
4402 and compiler macros. Expansion is done as if @var{form} were
4403 a top-level form in a file being compiled. For example,
4406 (cl-prettyexpand '(cl-pushnew 'x list))
4407 @print{} (setq list (cl-adjoin 'x list))
4408 (cl-prettyexpand '(cl-pushnew 'x list) t)
4409 @print{} (setq list (if (memq 'x list) list (cons 'x list)))
4410 (cl-prettyexpand '(caddr (cl-member 'a list)) t)
4411 @print{} (car (cdr (cdr (memq 'a list))))
4414 Note that @code{cl-adjoin}, @code{cl-caddr}, and @code{cl-member} all
4415 have built-in compiler macros to optimize them in common cases.
4423 @appendixsec Error Checking
4426 Common Lisp compliance has in general not been sacrificed for the
4427 sake of efficiency. A few exceptions have been made for cases
4428 where substantial gains were possible at the expense of marginal
4431 The Common Lisp standard (as embodied in Steele's book) uses the
4432 phrase ``it is an error if'' to indicate a situation which is not
4433 supposed to arise in complying programs; implementations are strongly
4434 encouraged but not required to signal an error in these situations.
4435 This package sometimes omits such error checking in the interest of
4436 compactness and efficiency. For example, @code{cl-do} variable
4437 specifiers are supposed to be lists of one, two, or three forms;
4438 extra forms are ignored by this package rather than signaling a
4439 syntax error. The @code{cl-endp} function is simply a synonym for
4440 @code{null} in this package. Functions taking keyword arguments
4441 will accept an odd number of arguments, treating the trailing
4442 keyword as if it were followed by the value @code{nil}.
4444 Argument lists (as processed by @code{cl-defun} and friends)
4445 @emph{are} checked rigorously except for the minor point just
4446 mentioned; in particular, keyword arguments are checked for
4447 validity, and @code{&allow-other-keys} and @code{:allow-other-keys}
4448 are fully implemented. Keyword validity checking is slightly
4449 time consuming (though not too bad in byte-compiled code);
4450 you can use @code{&allow-other-keys} to omit this check. Functions
4451 defined in this package such as @code{cl-find} and @code{cl-member}
4452 do check their keyword arguments for validity.
4459 @appendixsec Optimizing Compiler
4462 Use of the optimizing Emacs compiler is highly recommended; many of the Common
4464 code which can be improved by optimization. In particular,
4465 @code{cl-block}s (whether explicit or implicit in constructs like
4466 @code{cl-defun} and @code{cl-loop}) carry a fair run-time penalty; the
4467 optimizing compiler removes @code{cl-block}s which are not actually
4468 referenced by @code{cl-return} or @code{cl-return-from} inside the block.
4470 @node Common Lisp Compatibility
4471 @appendix Common Lisp Compatibility
4474 Following is a list of all known incompatibilities between this
4475 package and Common Lisp as documented in Steele (2nd edition).
4477 The word @code{cl-defun} is required instead of @code{defun} in order
4478 to use extended Common Lisp argument lists in a function. Likewise,
4479 @code{cl-defmacro} and @code{cl-function} are versions of those forms
4480 which understand full-featured argument lists. The @code{&whole}
4481 keyword does not work in @code{defmacro} argument lists (except
4482 inside recursive argument lists).
4484 The @code{equal} predicate does not distinguish
4485 between IEEE floating-point plus and minus zero. The @code{cl-equalp}
4486 predicate has several differences with Common Lisp; @pxref{Predicates}.
4488 @c FIXME no longer provided by cl.
4489 The @code{setf} mechanism is entirely compatible, except that
4490 setf-methods return a list of five values rather than five
4491 values directly. Also, the new ``@code{setf} function'' concept
4492 (typified by @code{(defun (setf foo) @dots{})}) is not implemented.
4494 The @code{cl-do-all-symbols} form is the same as @code{cl-do-symbols}
4495 with no @var{obarray} argument. In Common Lisp, this form would
4496 iterate over all symbols in all packages. Since Emacs obarrays
4497 are not a first-class package mechanism, there is no way for
4498 @code{cl-do-all-symbols} to locate any but the default obarray.
4500 The @code{cl-loop} macro is complete except that @code{loop-finish}
4501 and type specifiers are unimplemented.
4503 The multiple-value return facility treats lists as multiple
4504 values, since Emacs Lisp cannot support multiple return values
4505 directly. The macros will be compatible with Common Lisp if
4506 @code{cl-values} or @code{cl-values-list} is always used to return to
4507 a @code{cl-multiple-value-bind} or other multiple-value receiver;
4508 if @code{cl-values} is used without @code{cl-multiple-value-@dots{}}
4509 or vice-versa the effect will be different from Common Lisp.
4511 Many Common Lisp declarations are ignored, and others match
4512 the Common Lisp standard in concept but not in detail. For
4513 example, local @code{special} declarations, which are purely
4514 advisory in Emacs Lisp, do not rigorously obey the scoping rules
4515 set down in Steele's book.
4517 The variable @code{cl--gensym-counter} starts out with a pseudo-random
4518 value rather than with zero. This is to cope with the fact that
4519 generated symbols become interned when they are written to and
4520 loaded back from a file.
4522 The @code{cl-defstruct} facility is compatible, except that structures
4523 are of type @code{:type vector :named} by default rather than some
4524 special, distinct type. Also, the @code{:type} slot option is ignored.
4526 The second argument of @code{cl-check-type} is treated differently.
4528 @node Porting Common Lisp
4529 @appendix Porting Common Lisp
4532 This package is meant to be used as an extension to Emacs Lisp,
4533 not as an Emacs implementation of true Common Lisp. Some of the
4534 remaining differences between Emacs Lisp and Common Lisp make it
4535 difficult to port large Common Lisp applications to Emacs. For
4536 one, some of the features in this package are not fully compliant
4537 with ANSI or Steele; @pxref{Common Lisp Compatibility}. But there
4538 are also quite a few features that this package does not provide
4539 at all. Here are some major omissions that you will want to watch out
4540 for when bringing Common Lisp code into Emacs.
4544 Case-insensitivity. Symbols in Common Lisp are case-insensitive
4545 by default. Some programs refer to a function or variable as
4546 @code{foo} in one place and @code{Foo} or @code{FOO} in another.
4547 Emacs Lisp will treat these as three distinct symbols.
4549 Some Common Lisp code is written entirely in upper case. While Emacs
4550 is happy to let the program's own functions and variables use
4551 this convention, calls to Lisp builtins like @code{if} and
4552 @code{defun} will have to be changed to lower case.
4555 Lexical scoping. In Common Lisp, function arguments and @code{let}
4556 bindings apply only to references physically within their bodies (or
4557 within macro expansions in their bodies). Traditionally, Emacs Lisp
4558 uses @dfn{dynamic scoping} wherein a binding to a variable is visible
4559 even inside functions called from the body.
4560 @xref{Dynamic Binding,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
4561 Lexical binding is available since Emacs 24.1, so be sure to set
4562 @code{lexical-binding} to @code{t} if you need to emulate this aspect
4563 of Common Lisp. @xref{Lexical Binding,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
4565 Here is an example of a Common Lisp code fragment that would fail in
4566 Emacs Lisp if @code{lexical-binding} were set to @code{nil}:
4569 (defun map-odd-elements (func list)
4571 for flag = t then (not flag)
4572 collect (if flag x (funcall func x))))
4574 (defun add-odd-elements (list x)
4575 (map-odd-elements (lambda (a) (+ a x)) list))
4579 With lexical binding, the two functions' usages of @code{x} are
4580 completely independent. With dynamic binding, the binding to @code{x}
4581 made by @code{add-odd-elements} will have been hidden by the binding
4582 in @code{map-odd-elements} by the time the @code{(+ a x)} function is
4585 Internally, this package uses lexical binding so that such problems do
4586 not occur. @xref{Obsolete Lexical Binding}, for a description of the obsolete
4587 @code{lexical-let} form that emulates a Common Lisp-style lexical
4588 binding when dynamic binding is in use.
4591 Reader macros. Common Lisp includes a second type of macro that
4592 works at the level of individual characters. For example, Common
4593 Lisp implements the quote notation by a reader macro called @code{'},
4594 whereas Emacs Lisp's parser just treats quote as a special case.
4595 Some Lisp packages use reader macros to create special syntaxes
4596 for themselves, which the Emacs parser is incapable of reading.
4599 Other syntactic features. Common Lisp provides a number of
4600 notations beginning with @code{#} that the Emacs Lisp parser
4601 won't understand. For example, @samp{#| ... |#} is an
4602 alternate comment notation, and @samp{#+lucid (foo)} tells
4603 the parser to ignore the @code{(foo)} except in Lucid Common
4607 Packages. In Common Lisp, symbols are divided into @dfn{packages}.
4608 Symbols that are Lisp built-ins are typically stored in one package;
4609 symbols that are vendor extensions are put in another, and each
4610 application program would have a package for its own symbols.
4611 Certain symbols are ``exported'' by a package and others are
4612 internal; certain packages ``use'' or import the exported symbols
4613 of other packages. To access symbols that would not normally be
4614 visible due to this importing and exporting, Common Lisp provides
4615 a syntax like @code{package:symbol} or @code{package::symbol}.
4617 Emacs Lisp has a single namespace for all interned symbols, and
4618 then uses a naming convention of putting a prefix like @code{cl-}
4619 in front of the name. Some Emacs packages adopt the Common Lisp-like
4620 convention of using @code{cl:} or @code{cl::} as the prefix.
4621 However, the Emacs parser does not understand colons and just
4622 treats them as part of the symbol name. Thus, while @code{mapcar}
4623 and @code{lisp:mapcar} may refer to the same symbol in Common
4624 Lisp, they are totally distinct in Emacs Lisp. Common Lisp
4625 programs which refer to a symbol by the full name sometimes
4626 and the short name other times will not port cleanly to Emacs.
4628 Emacs Lisp does have a concept of ``obarrays'', which are
4629 package-like collections of symbols, but this feature is not
4630 strong enough to be used as a true package mechanism.
4633 The @code{format} function is quite different between Common
4634 Lisp and Emacs Lisp. It takes an additional ``destination''
4635 argument before the format string. A destination of @code{nil}
4636 means to format to a string as in Emacs Lisp; a destination
4637 of @code{t} means to write to the terminal (similar to
4638 @code{message} in Emacs). Also, format control strings are
4639 utterly different; @code{~} is used instead of @code{%} to
4640 introduce format codes, and the set of available codes is
4641 much richer. There are no notations like @code{\n} for
4642 string literals; instead, @code{format} is used with the
4643 ``newline'' format code, @code{~%}. More advanced formatting
4644 codes provide such features as paragraph filling, case
4645 conversion, and even loops and conditionals.
4647 While it would have been possible to implement most of Common
4648 Lisp @code{format} in this package (under the name @code{cl-format},
4649 of course), it was not deemed worthwhile. It would have required
4650 a huge amount of code to implement even a decent subset of
4651 @code{cl-format}, yet the functionality it would provide over
4652 Emacs Lisp's @code{format} would rarely be useful.
4655 Vector constants use square brackets in Emacs Lisp, but
4656 @code{#(a b c)} notation in Common Lisp. To further complicate
4657 matters, Emacs has its own @code{#(} notation for
4658 something entirely different---strings with properties.
4661 Characters are distinct from integers in Common Lisp. The notation
4662 for character constants is also different: @code{#\A} in Common Lisp
4663 where Emacs Lisp uses @code{?A}. Also, @code{string=} and
4664 @code{string-equal} are synonyms in Emacs Lisp, whereas the latter is
4665 case-insensitive in Common Lisp.
4668 Data types. Some Common Lisp data types do not exist in Emacs
4669 Lisp. Rational numbers and complex numbers are not present,
4670 nor are large integers (all integers are ``fixnums''). All
4671 arrays are one-dimensional. There are no readtables or pathnames;
4672 streams are a set of existing data types rather than a new data
4673 type of their own. Hash tables, random-states, structures, and
4674 packages (obarrays) are built from Lisp vectors or lists rather
4675 than being distinct types.
4678 The Common Lisp Object System (CLOS) is not implemented,
4679 nor is the Common Lisp Condition System. However, the EIEIO package
4680 (@pxref{Top, , Introduction, eieio, EIEIO}) does implement some
4684 Common Lisp features that are completely redundant with Emacs
4685 Lisp features of a different name generally have not been
4686 implemented. For example, Common Lisp writes @code{defconstant}
4687 where Emacs Lisp uses @code{defconst}. Similarly, @code{make-list}
4688 takes its arguments in different ways in the two Lisps but does
4689 exactly the same thing, so this package has not bothered to
4690 implement a Common Lisp-style @code{make-list}.
4693 A few more notable Common Lisp features not included in this
4694 package: @code{compiler-let}, @code{tagbody}, @code{prog},
4695 @code{ldb/dpb}, @code{parse-integer}, @code{cerror}.
4698 Recursion. While recursion works in Emacs Lisp just like it
4699 does in Common Lisp, various details of the Emacs Lisp system
4700 and compiler make recursion much less efficient than it is in
4701 most Lisps. Some schools of thought prefer to use recursion
4702 in Lisp over other techniques; they would sum a list of
4703 numbers using something like
4706 (defun sum-list (list)
4708 (+ (car list) (sum-list (cdr list)))
4713 where a more iteratively-minded programmer might write one of
4717 (let ((total 0)) (dolist (x my-list) (cl-incf total x)) total)
4718 (cl-loop for x in my-list sum x)
4721 While this would be mainly a stylistic choice in most Common Lisps,
4722 in Emacs Lisp you should be aware that the iterative forms are
4723 much faster than recursion. Also, Lisp programmers will want to
4724 note that the current Emacs Lisp compiler does not optimize tail
4728 @node Obsolete Features
4729 @appendix Obsolete Features
4731 This section describes some features of the package that are obsolete
4732 and should not be used in new code. They are either only provided by
4733 the old @file{cl.el} entry point, not by the newer @file{cl-lib.el};
4734 or where versions with a @samp{cl-} prefix do exist they do not behave
4735 in exactly the same way.
4738 * Obsolete Lexical Binding:: An approximation of lexical binding.
4739 * Obsolete Macros:: Obsolete macros.
4740 * Obsolete Setf Customization:: Obsolete ways to customize setf.
4743 @node Obsolete Lexical Binding
4744 @appendixsec Obsolete Lexical Binding
4746 The following macros are extensions to Common Lisp, where all bindings
4747 are lexical unless declared otherwise. These features are likewise
4748 obsolete since the introduction of true lexical binding in Emacs 24.1.
4750 @defmac lexical-let (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
4751 This form is exactly like @code{let} except that the bindings it
4752 establishes are purely lexical.
4755 @c FIXME remove this and refer to elisp manual.
4756 @c Maybe merge some stuff from here to there?
4758 Lexical bindings are similar to local variables in a language like C:
4759 Only the code physically within the body of the @code{lexical-let}
4760 (after macro expansion) may refer to the bound variables.
4764 (defun foo (b) (+ a b))
4765 (let ((a 2)) (foo a))
4767 (lexical-let ((a 2)) (foo a))
4772 In this example, a regular @code{let} binding of @code{a} actually
4773 makes a temporary change to the global variable @code{a}, so @code{foo}
4774 is able to see the binding of @code{a} to 2. But @code{lexical-let}
4775 actually creates a distinct local variable @code{a} for use within its
4776 body, without any effect on the global variable of the same name.
4778 The most important use of lexical bindings is to create @dfn{closures}.
4779 A closure is a function object that refers to an outside lexical
4780 variable (@pxref{Closures,,,elisp,GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}).
4784 (defun make-adder (n)
4785 (lexical-let ((n n))
4786 (function (lambda (m) (+ n m)))))
4787 (setq add17 (make-adder 17))
4793 The call @code{(make-adder 17)} returns a function object which adds
4794 17 to its argument. If @code{let} had been used instead of
4795 @code{lexical-let}, the function object would have referred to the
4796 global @code{n}, which would have been bound to 17 only during the
4797 call to @code{make-adder} itself.
4800 (defun make-counter ()
4801 (lexical-let ((n 0))
4802 (cl-function (lambda (&optional (m 1)) (cl-incf n m)))))
4803 (setq count-1 (make-counter))
4806 (funcall count-1 14)
4808 (setq count-2 (make-counter))
4818 Here we see that each call to @code{make-counter} creates a distinct
4819 local variable @code{n}, which serves as a private counter for the
4820 function object that is returned.
4822 Closed-over lexical variables persist until the last reference to
4823 them goes away, just like all other Lisp objects. For example,
4824 @code{count-2} refers to a function object which refers to an
4825 instance of the variable @code{n}; this is the only reference
4826 to that variable, so after @code{(setq count-2 nil)} the garbage
4827 collector would be able to delete this instance of @code{n}.
4828 Of course, if a @code{lexical-let} does not actually create any
4829 closures, then the lexical variables are free as soon as the
4830 @code{lexical-let} returns.
4832 Many closures are used only during the extent of the bindings they
4833 refer to; these are known as ``downward funargs'' in Lisp parlance.
4834 When a closure is used in this way, regular Emacs Lisp dynamic
4835 bindings suffice and will be more efficient than @code{lexical-let}
4839 (defun add-to-list (x list)
4840 (mapcar (lambda (y) (+ x y))) list)
4841 (add-to-list 7 '(1 2 5))
4846 Since this lambda is only used while @code{x} is still bound,
4847 it is not necessary to make a true closure out of it.
4849 You can use @code{defun} or @code{flet} inside a @code{lexical-let}
4850 to create a named closure. If several closures are created in the
4851 body of a single @code{lexical-let}, they all close over the same
4852 instance of the lexical variable.
4854 @defmac lexical-let* (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
4855 This form is just like @code{lexical-let}, except that the bindings
4856 are made sequentially in the manner of @code{let*}.
4859 @node Obsolete Macros
4860 @appendixsec Obsolete Macros
4862 The following macros are obsolete, and are replaced by versions with
4863 a @samp{cl-} prefix that do not behave in exactly the same way.
4864 Consequently, the @file{cl.el} versions are not simply aliases to the
4865 @file{cl-lib.el} versions.
4867 @defmac flet (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
4868 This macro is replaced by @code{cl-flet} (@pxref{Function Bindings}),
4869 which behaves the same way as Common Lisp's @code{flet}.
4870 This @code{flet} takes the same arguments as @code{cl-flet}, but does
4871 not behave in precisely the same way.
4873 While @code{flet} in Common Lisp establishes a lexical function
4874 binding, this @code{flet} makes a dynamic binding (it dates from a
4875 time before Emacs had lexical binding). The result is
4876 that @code{flet} affects indirect calls to a function as well as calls
4877 directly inside the @code{flet} form itself.
4880 Note that many primitives (e.g. @code{+}) have special byte-compile
4881 handling. Attempts to redefine such functions using @code{flet} will
4882 fail if byte-compiled.
4884 @c In such cases, use @code{labels} instead.
4887 @defmac labels (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
4888 This macro is replaced by @code{cl-labels} (@pxref{Function Bindings}),
4889 which behaves the same way as Common Lisp's @code{labels}.
4890 This @code{labels} takes the same arguments as @code{cl-labels}, but
4891 does not behave in precisely the same way.
4893 This version of @code{labels} uses the obsolete @code{lexical-let}
4894 form (@pxref{Obsolete Lexical Binding}), rather than the true
4895 lexical binding that @code{cl-labels} uses.
4898 @defmac letf (bindings@dots{}) forms@dots{}
4899 This macro is almost exactly the same as @code{cl-letf}, which
4900 replaces it (@pxref{Modify Macros}). The only difference is in
4901 details that relate to some deprecated usage of @code{symbol-function}
4905 @node Obsolete Setf Customization
4906 @appendixsec Obsolete Ways to Customize Setf
4908 Common Lisp defines three macros, @code{define-modify-macro},
4909 @code{defsetf}, and @code{define-setf-method}, that allow the
4910 user to extend generalized variables in various ways.
4911 In Emacs, these are obsolete, replaced by various features of
4912 @file{gv.el} in Emacs 24.3.
4915 @defmac define-modify-macro name arglist function [doc-string]
4916 This macro defines a ``read-modify-write'' macro similar to
4917 @code{cl-incf} and @code{cl-decf}. The macro @var{name} is defined
4918 to take a @var{place} argument followed by additional arguments
4919 described by @var{arglist}. The call
4922 (@var{name} @var{place} @var{args}...)
4929 (cl-callf @var{func} @var{place} @var{args}...)
4933 which in turn is roughly equivalent to
4936 (setf @var{place} (@var{func} @var{place} @var{args}...))
4942 (define-modify-macro cl-incf (&optional (n 1)) +)
4943 (define-modify-macro cl-concatf (&rest args) concat)
4946 Note that @code{&key} is not allowed in @var{arglist}, but
4947 @code{&rest} is sufficient to pass keywords on to the function.
4949 Most of the modify macros defined by Common Lisp do not exactly
4950 follow the pattern of @code{define-modify-macro}. For example,
4951 @code{push} takes its arguments in the wrong order, and @code{pop}
4952 is completely irregular. You can define these macros ``by hand''
4953 using @code{get-setf-method}, or consult the source
4954 to see how to use the internal @code{setf} building blocks.
4957 @defmac defsetf access-fn update-fn
4958 This is the simpler of two @code{defsetf} forms. Where
4959 @var{access-fn} is the name of a function which accesses a place,
4960 this declares @var{update-fn} to be the corresponding store
4961 function. From now on,
4964 (setf (@var{access-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3}) @var{value})
4971 (@var{update-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3} @var{value})
4975 The @var{update-fn} is required to be either a true function, or
4976 a macro which evaluates its arguments in a function-like way. Also,
4977 the @var{update-fn} is expected to return @var{value} as its result.
4978 Otherwise, the above expansion would not obey the rules for the way
4979 @code{setf} is supposed to behave.
4981 As a special (non-Common-Lisp) extension, a third argument of @code{t}
4982 to @code{defsetf} says that the @code{update-fn}'s return value is
4983 not suitable, so that the above @code{setf} should be expanded to
4987 (let ((temp @var{value}))
4988 (@var{update-fn} @var{arg1} @var{arg2} @var{arg3} temp)
4992 Some examples of the use of @code{defsetf}, drawn from the standard
4993 suite of setf methods, are:
4996 (defsetf car setcar)
4997 (defsetf symbol-value set)
4998 (defsetf buffer-name rename-buffer t)
5002 @defmac defsetf access-fn arglist (store-var) forms@dots{}
5003 This is the second, more complex, form of @code{defsetf}. It is
5004 rather like @code{defmacro} except for the additional @var{store-var}
5005 argument. The @var{forms} should return a Lisp form which stores
5006 the value of @var{store-var} into the generalized variable formed
5007 by a call to @var{access-fn} with arguments described by @var{arglist}.
5008 The @var{forms} may begin with a string which documents the @code{setf}
5009 method (analogous to the doc string that appears at the front of a
5012 For example, the simple form of @code{defsetf} is shorthand for
5015 (defsetf @var{access-fn} (&rest args) (store)
5016 (append '(@var{update-fn}) args (list store)))
5019 The Lisp form that is returned can access the arguments from
5020 @var{arglist} and @var{store-var} in an unrestricted fashion;
5021 macros like @code{setf} and @code{cl-incf} which invoke this
5022 setf-method will insert temporary variables as needed to make
5023 sure the apparent order of evaluation is preserved.
5025 Another example drawn from the standard package:
5028 (defsetf nth (n x) (store)
5029 (list 'setcar (list 'nthcdr n x) store))
5033 @defmac define-setf-method access-fn arglist forms@dots{}
5034 This is the most general way to create new place forms. When
5035 a @code{setf} to @var{access-fn} with arguments described by
5036 @var{arglist} is expanded, the @var{forms} are evaluated and
5037 must return a list of five items:
5041 A list of @dfn{temporary variables}.
5044 A list of @dfn{value forms} corresponding to the temporary variables
5045 above. The temporary variables will be bound to these value forms
5046 as the first step of any operation on the generalized variable.
5049 A list of exactly one @dfn{store variable} (generally obtained
5050 from a call to @code{gensym}).
5053 A Lisp form which stores the contents of the store variable into
5054 the generalized variable, assuming the temporaries have been
5055 bound as described above.
5058 A Lisp form which accesses the contents of the generalized variable,
5059 assuming the temporaries have been bound.
5062 This is exactly like the Common Lisp macro of the same name,
5063 except that the method returns a list of five values rather
5064 than the five values themselves, since Emacs Lisp does not
5065 support Common Lisp's notion of multiple return values.
5067 Once again, the @var{forms} may begin with a documentation string.
5069 A setf-method should be maximally conservative with regard to
5070 temporary variables. In the setf-methods generated by
5071 @code{defsetf}, the second return value is simply the list of
5072 arguments in the place form, and the first return value is a
5073 list of a corresponding number of temporary variables generated
5074 by @code{cl-gensym}. Macros like @code{setf} and @code{cl-incf} which
5075 use this setf-method will optimize away most temporaries that
5076 turn out to be unnecessary, so there is little reason for the
5077 setf-method itself to optimize.
5080 @defun get-setf-method place &optional env
5081 This function returns the setf-method for @var{place}, by
5082 invoking the definition previously recorded by @code{defsetf}
5083 or @code{define-setf-method}. The result is a list of five
5084 values as described above. You can use this function to build
5085 your own @code{cl-incf}-like modify macros. (Actually, it is
5087 better to use the internal functions @code{cl-setf-do-modify}
5088 and @code{cl-setf-do-store}, which are a bit easier to use and
5089 which also do a number of optimizations; consult the source
5090 code for the @code{cl-incf} function for a simple example.)
5092 The argument @var{env} specifies the ``environment'' to be
5093 passed on to @code{macroexpand} if @code{get-setf-method} should
5094 need to expand a macro in @var{place}. It should come from
5095 an @code{&environment} argument to the macro or setf-method
5096 that called @code{get-setf-method}.
5098 See also the source code for the setf-method for
5099 @c Also @code{apply}, but that is commented out.
5100 @code{substring}, which works by calling @code{get-setf-method} on a
5101 simpler case, then massaging the result.
5104 Modern Common Lisp defines a second, independent way to specify
5105 the @code{setf} behavior of a function, namely ``@code{setf}
5106 functions'' whose names are lists @code{(setf @var{name})}
5107 rather than symbols. For example, @code{(defun (setf foo) @dots{})}
5108 defines the function that is used when @code{setf} is applied to
5109 @code{foo}. This package does not currently support @code{setf}
5110 functions. In particular, it is a compile-time error to use
5111 @code{setf} on a form which has not already been @code{defsetf}'d
5112 or otherwise declared; in newer Common Lisps, this would not be
5113 an error since the function @code{(setf @var{func})} might be
5117 @node GNU Free Documentation License
5118 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
5119 @include doclicense.texi
5121 @node Function Index
5122 @unnumbered Function Index
5126 @node Variable Index
5127 @unnumbered Variable Index