Name Rascal/Concepts/Enumerators

Synopsis Enumerating values.

Details EquationSolving

Description Enumerators enumerate the values in a given (finite) domain, be it the elements in a list, the substrings of a string, or all the nodes in a tree. Each value that is enumerated is first matched against a pattern before it can possibly contribute to the result of the enumerator. An enumerator yields true as long as it has generated a new value, and false otherwise.

See Enumerator for details.

Examples

int x <- { 1, 3, 5, 7, 11 }
int x <- [ 1 .. 10 ]
/asgStat(Id name, _) <- P

The first two produce the integer elements of a set of integers, respectively, a range of integers. Observe that the left-hand side of an enumerator is a pattern, of which int x is a specific instance. The use of more general patterns is illustrated by the third enumerator that does a deep traversal (as denoted by the descendant operator /) of the complete program P (that is assumed to have a PROGRAM as value) and only yields statements that match the assignment pattern (asgStat). Note the use of an anonymous variable at the EXP position in the pattern.

Let's practice some of these examples.

rascal>int x <- {};
bool: false

The enumerator does not produce any value and returns false.

rascal>int x <- {1, 3, 5, 7, 11 };
bool: true
rascal>x;
|stdin:///|(0,1,<1,0>,<1,1>): Undeclared variable: x

Well, this is a disappointing experience. The generator returned true since it did produce a value. Apparently, we cannot inspect the value of the variable x that was bound.

Another example that results in an error:

rascal>str x <- {1, 3, 5, 7, 11 };
|stdin:///|(22,2,<1,22>,<1,24>): Expected int, but got str

Here, the enumerator produces its first integer value, an attempt is made to assign this to variable x that is declared as string, and an error results.

A more satisfying use is as follows:

rascal>{ x * x | int x <- {1, 3, 5, 7, 11 }};
set[int]: {1,9,49,25,121}

When used inside Comprehensions, or For, Do, or While statement, all values of the generator will be produced and used. The variables that are introduced by a enumerator are local to the construct in which the enumerator is used. Here is a similar example:

rascal>import IO;
ok
rascal>for(int x <- {1, 3, 5, 7, 11 })
>>>>>>>    println("x = <x>");
x = 1
x = 3
x = 5
x = 7
x = 11
list[void]: []

Pitfalls The variables that are bound by an enumerator are local to the statement in which the enumerator is used.

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