10983 lines
320 KiB
HTML
10983 lines
320 KiB
HTML
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
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<HTML>
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<HEAD>
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<TITLE>Lua 5.3 Reference Manual</TITLE>
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<LINK REL="stylesheet" TYPE="text/css" HREF="lua.css">
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<LINK REL="stylesheet" TYPE="text/css" HREF="manual.css">
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<META HTTP-EQUIV="content-type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
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</HEAD>
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<BODY>
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<H1>
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<A HREF="http://www.lua.org/"><IMG SRC="logo.gif" ALT="Lua"></A>
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Lua 5.3 Reference Manual
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</H1>
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<P>
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by Roberto Ierusalimschy, Luiz Henrique de Figueiredo, Waldemar Celes
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<P>
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<SMALL>
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Copyright © 2015–2018 Lua.org, PUC-Rio.
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Freely available under the terms of the
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<a href="http://www.lua.org/license.html">Lua license</a>.
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</SMALL>
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<DIV CLASS="menubar">
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<A HREF="contents.html#contents">contents</A>
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·
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<A HREF="contents.html#index">index</A>
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·
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<A HREF="http://www.lua.org/manual/">other versions</A>
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</DIV>
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<!-- ====================================================================== -->
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<p>
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<!-- $Id: manual.of,v 1.167.1.2 2018/06/26 15:49:07 roberto Exp $ -->
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<h1>1 – <a name="1">Introduction</a></h1>
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<p>
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Lua is a powerful, efficient, lightweight, embeddable scripting language.
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It supports procedural programming,
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object-oriented programming, functional programming,
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data-driven programming, and data description.
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<p>
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Lua combines simple procedural syntax with powerful data description
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constructs based on associative arrays and extensible semantics.
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Lua is dynamically typed,
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runs by interpreting bytecode with a register-based
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virtual machine,
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and has automatic memory management with
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incremental garbage collection,
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making it ideal for configuration, scripting,
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and rapid prototyping.
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<p>
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Lua is implemented as a library, written in <em>clean C</em>,
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the common subset of Standard C and C++.
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The Lua distribution includes a host program called <code>lua</code>,
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which uses the Lua library to offer a complete,
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standalone Lua interpreter,
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for interactive or batch use.
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Lua is intended to be used both as a powerful, lightweight,
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embeddable scripting language for any program that needs one,
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and as a powerful but lightweight and efficient stand-alone language.
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<p>
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As an extension language, Lua has no notion of a "main" program:
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it works <em>embedded</em> in a host client,
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called the <em>embedding program</em> or simply the <em>host</em>.
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(Frequently, this host is the stand-alone <code>lua</code> program.)
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The host program can invoke functions to execute a piece of Lua code,
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can write and read Lua variables,
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and can register C functions to be called by Lua code.
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Through the use of C functions, Lua can be augmented to cope with
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a wide range of different domains,
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thus creating customized programming languages sharing a syntactical framework.
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<p>
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Lua is free software,
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and is provided as usual with no guarantees,
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as stated in its license.
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The implementation described in this manual is available
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at Lua's official web site, <code>www.lua.org</code>.
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<p>
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Like any other reference manual,
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this document is dry in places.
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For a discussion of the decisions behind the design of Lua,
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see the technical papers available at Lua's web site.
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For a detailed introduction to programming in Lua,
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see Roberto's book, <em>Programming in Lua</em>.
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<h1>2 – <a name="2">Basic Concepts</a></h1>
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<p>
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This section describes the basic concepts of the language.
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<h2>2.1 – <a name="2.1">Values and Types</a></h2>
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<p>
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Lua is a <em>dynamically typed language</em>.
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This means that
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variables do not have types; only values do.
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There are no type definitions in the language.
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All values carry their own type.
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<p>
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All values in Lua are <em>first-class values</em>.
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This means that all values can be stored in variables,
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passed as arguments to other functions, and returned as results.
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<p>
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There are eight basic types in Lua:
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<em>nil</em>, <em>boolean</em>, <em>number</em>,
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<em>string</em>, <em>function</em>, <em>userdata</em>,
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<em>thread</em>, and <em>table</em>.
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The type <em>nil</em> has one single value, <b>nil</b>,
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whose main property is to be different from any other value;
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it usually represents the absence of a useful value.
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The type <em>boolean</em> has two values, <b>false</b> and <b>true</b>.
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Both <b>nil</b> and <b>false</b> make a condition false;
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any other value makes it true.
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The type <em>number</em> represents both
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integer numbers and real (floating-point) numbers.
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The type <em>string</em> represents immutable sequences of bytes.
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Lua is 8-bit clean:
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strings can contain any 8-bit value,
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including embedded zeros ('<code>\0</code>').
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Lua is also encoding-agnostic;
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it makes no assumptions about the contents of a string.
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<p>
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The type <em>number</em> uses two internal representations,
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or two subtypes,
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one called <em>integer</em> and the other called <em>float</em>.
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Lua has explicit rules about when each representation is used,
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but it also converts between them automatically as needed (see <a href="#3.4.3">§3.4.3</a>).
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Therefore,
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the programmer may choose to mostly ignore the difference
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between integers and floats
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or to assume complete control over the representation of each number.
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Standard Lua uses 64-bit integers and double-precision (64-bit) floats,
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but you can also compile Lua so that it
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uses 32-bit integers and/or single-precision (32-bit) floats.
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The option with 32 bits for both integers and floats
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is particularly attractive
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for small machines and embedded systems.
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(See macro <code>LUA_32BITS</code> in file <code>luaconf.h</code>.)
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<p>
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Lua can call (and manipulate) functions written in Lua and
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functions written in C (see <a href="#3.4.10">§3.4.10</a>).
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Both are represented by the type <em>function</em>.
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<p>
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The type <em>userdata</em> is provided to allow arbitrary C data to
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be stored in Lua variables.
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A userdata value represents a block of raw memory.
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There are two kinds of userdata:
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<em>full userdata</em>,
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which is an object with a block of memory managed by Lua,
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and <em>light userdata</em>,
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which is simply a C pointer value.
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Userdata has no predefined operations in Lua,
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except assignment and identity test.
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By using <em>metatables</em>,
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the programmer can define operations for full userdata values
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(see <a href="#2.4">§2.4</a>).
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Userdata values cannot be created or modified in Lua,
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only through the C API.
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This guarantees the integrity of data owned by the host program.
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<p>
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The type <em>thread</em> represents independent threads of execution
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and it is used to implement coroutines (see <a href="#2.6">§2.6</a>).
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Lua threads are not related to operating-system threads.
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Lua supports coroutines on all systems,
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even those that do not support threads natively.
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<p>
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The type <em>table</em> implements associative arrays,
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that is, arrays that can have as indices not only numbers,
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but any Lua value except <b>nil</b> and NaN.
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(<em>Not a Number</em> is a special value used to represent
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undefined or unrepresentable numerical results, such as <code>0/0</code>.)
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Tables can be <em>heterogeneous</em>;
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that is, they can contain values of all types (except <b>nil</b>).
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Any key with value <b>nil</b> is not considered part of the table.
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Conversely, any key that is not part of a table has
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an associated value <b>nil</b>.
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<p>
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Tables are the sole data-structuring mechanism in Lua;
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they can be used to represent ordinary arrays, lists,
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symbol tables, sets, records, graphs, trees, etc.
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To represent records, Lua uses the field name as an index.
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The language supports this representation by
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providing <code>a.name</code> as syntactic sugar for <code>a["name"]</code>.
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There are several convenient ways to create tables in Lua
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(see <a href="#3.4.9">§3.4.9</a>).
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<p>
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Like indices,
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the values of table fields can be of any type.
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In particular,
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because functions are first-class values,
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table fields can contain functions.
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Thus tables can also carry <em>methods</em> (see <a href="#3.4.11">§3.4.11</a>).
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<p>
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The indexing of tables follows
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the definition of raw equality in the language.
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The expressions <code>a[i]</code> and <code>a[j]</code>
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denote the same table element
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if and only if <code>i</code> and <code>j</code> are raw equal
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(that is, equal without metamethods).
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In particular, floats with integral values
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are equal to their respective integers
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(e.g., <code>1.0 == 1</code>).
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To avoid ambiguities,
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any float with integral value used as a key
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is converted to its respective integer.
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For instance, if you write <code>a[2.0] = true</code>,
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the actual key inserted into the table will be the
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integer <code>2</code>.
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(On the other hand,
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2 and "<code>2</code>" are different Lua values and therefore
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denote different table entries.)
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<p>
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Tables, functions, threads, and (full) userdata values are <em>objects</em>:
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variables do not actually <em>contain</em> these values,
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only <em>references</em> to them.
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Assignment, parameter passing, and function returns
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always manipulate references to such values;
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these operations do not imply any kind of copy.
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<p>
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The library function <a href="#pdf-type"><code>type</code></a> returns a string describing the type
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of a given value (see <a href="#6.1">§6.1</a>).
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<h2>2.2 – <a name="2.2">Environments and the Global Environment</a></h2>
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<p>
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As will be discussed in <a href="#3.2">§3.2</a> and <a href="#3.3.3">§3.3.3</a>,
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any reference to a free name
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(that is, a name not bound to any declaration) <code>var</code>
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is syntactically translated to <code>_ENV.var</code>.
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Moreover, every chunk is compiled in the scope of
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an external local variable named <code>_ENV</code> (see <a href="#3.3.2">§3.3.2</a>),
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so <code>_ENV</code> itself is never a free name in a chunk.
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<p>
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Despite the existence of this external <code>_ENV</code> variable and
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the translation of free names,
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<code>_ENV</code> is a completely regular name.
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In particular,
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you can define new variables and parameters with that name.
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Each reference to a free name uses the <code>_ENV</code> that is
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visible at that point in the program,
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following the usual visibility rules of Lua (see <a href="#3.5">§3.5</a>).
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<p>
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Any table used as the value of <code>_ENV</code> is called an <em>environment</em>.
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<p>
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Lua keeps a distinguished environment called the <em>global environment</em>.
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This value is kept at a special index in the C registry (see <a href="#4.5">§4.5</a>).
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In Lua, the global variable <a href="#pdf-_G"><code>_G</code></a> is initialized with this same value.
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(<a href="#pdf-_G"><code>_G</code></a> is never used internally.)
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<p>
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When Lua loads a chunk,
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the default value for its <code>_ENV</code> upvalue
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is the global environment (see <a href="#pdf-load"><code>load</code></a>).
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Therefore, by default,
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free names in Lua code refer to entries in the global environment
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(and, therefore, they are also called <em>global variables</em>).
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Moreover, all standard libraries are loaded in the global environment
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and some functions there operate on that environment.
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You can use <a href="#pdf-load"><code>load</code></a> (or <a href="#pdf-loadfile"><code>loadfile</code></a>)
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to load a chunk with a different environment.
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(In C, you have to load the chunk and then change the value
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of its first upvalue.)
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<h2>2.3 – <a name="2.3">Error Handling</a></h2>
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<p>
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Because Lua is an embedded extension language,
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all Lua actions start from C code in the host program
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calling a function from the Lua library.
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(When you use Lua standalone,
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the <code>lua</code> application is the host program.)
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Whenever an error occurs during
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the compilation or execution of a Lua chunk,
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control returns to the host,
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which can take appropriate measures
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(such as printing an error message).
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<p>
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Lua code can explicitly generate an error by calling the
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<a href="#pdf-error"><code>error</code></a> function.
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If you need to catch errors in Lua,
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you can use <a href="#pdf-pcall"><code>pcall</code></a> or <a href="#pdf-xpcall"><code>xpcall</code></a>
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to call a given function in <em>protected mode</em>.
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<p>
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Whenever there is an error,
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an <em>error object</em> (also called an <em>error message</em>)
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is propagated with information about the error.
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Lua itself only generates errors whose error object is a string,
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but programs may generate errors with
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any value as the error object.
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It is up to the Lua program or its host to handle such error objects.
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<p>
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When you use <a href="#pdf-xpcall"><code>xpcall</code></a> or <a href="#lua_pcall"><code>lua_pcall</code></a>,
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you may give a <em>message handler</em>
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to be called in case of errors.
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This function is called with the original error object
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and returns a new error object.
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It is called before the error unwinds the stack,
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so that it can gather more information about the error,
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for instance by inspecting the stack and creating a stack traceback.
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This message handler is still protected by the protected call;
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so, an error inside the message handler
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will call the message handler again.
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If this loop goes on for too long,
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Lua breaks it and returns an appropriate message.
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(The message handler is called only for regular runtime errors.
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It is not called for memory-allocation errors
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nor for errors while running finalizers.)
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<h2>2.4 – <a name="2.4">Metatables and Metamethods</a></h2>
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<p>
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Every value in Lua can have a <em>metatable</em>.
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This <em>metatable</em> is an ordinary Lua table
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that defines the behavior of the original value
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under certain special operations.
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You can change several aspects of the behavior
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of operations over a value by setting specific fields in its metatable.
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For instance, when a non-numeric value is the operand of an addition,
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Lua checks for a function in the field "<code>__add</code>" of the value's metatable.
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If it finds one,
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Lua calls this function to perform the addition.
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<p>
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The key for each event in a metatable is a string
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with the event name prefixed by two underscores;
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the corresponding values are called <em>metamethods</em>.
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In the previous example, the key is "<code>__add</code>"
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and the metamethod is the function that performs the addition.
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Unless stated otherwise,
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metamethods should be function values.
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<p>
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You can query the metatable of any value
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using the <a href="#pdf-getmetatable"><code>getmetatable</code></a> function.
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Lua queries metamethods in metatables using a raw access (see <a href="#pdf-rawget"><code>rawget</code></a>).
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So, to retrieve the metamethod for event <code>ev</code> in object <code>o</code>,
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Lua does the equivalent to the following code:
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<pre>
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rawget(getmetatable(<em>o</em>) or {}, "__<em>ev</em>")
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</pre>
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<p>
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You can replace the metatable of tables
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using the <a href="#pdf-setmetatable"><code>setmetatable</code></a> function.
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You cannot change the metatable of other types from Lua code
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(except by using the debug library (<a href="#6.10">§6.10</a>));
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you should use the C API for that.
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<p>
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Tables and full userdata have individual metatables
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(although multiple tables and userdata can share their metatables).
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Values of all other types share one single metatable per type;
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that is, there is one single metatable for all numbers,
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one for all strings, etc.
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By default, a value has no metatable,
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but the string library sets a metatable for the string type (see <a href="#6.4">§6.4</a>).
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<p>
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A metatable controls how an object behaves in
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arithmetic operations, bitwise operations,
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order comparisons, concatenation, length operation, calls, and indexing.
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A metatable also can define a function to be called
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when a userdata or a table is garbage collected (<a href="#2.5">§2.5</a>).
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<p>
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For the unary operators (negation, length, and bitwise NOT),
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the metamethod is computed and called with a dummy second operand,
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equal to the first one.
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This extra operand is only to simplify Lua's internals
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(by making these operators behave like a binary operation)
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and may be removed in future versions.
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(For most uses this extra operand is irrelevant.)
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<p>
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A detailed list of events controlled by metatables is given next.
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Each operation is identified by its corresponding key.
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<ul>
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<li><b><code>__add</code>: </b>
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the addition (<code>+</code>) operation.
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If any operand for an addition is not a number
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(nor a string coercible to a number),
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Lua will try to call a metamethod.
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First, Lua will check the first operand (even if it is valid).
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If that operand does not define a metamethod for <code>__add</code>,
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then Lua will check the second operand.
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If Lua can find a metamethod,
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it calls the metamethod with the two operands as arguments,
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and the result of the call
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(adjusted to one value)
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is the result of the operation.
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Otherwise,
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it raises an error.
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</li>
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<li><b><code>__sub</code>: </b>
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the subtraction (<code>-</code>) operation.
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Behavior similar to the addition operation.
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</li>
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<li><b><code>__mul</code>: </b>
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the multiplication (<code>*</code>) operation.
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Behavior similar to the addition operation.
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</li>
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<li><b><code>__div</code>: </b>
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the division (<code>/</code>) operation.
|
|
Behavior similar to the addition operation.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>__mod</code>: </b>
|
|
the modulo (<code>%</code>) operation.
|
|
Behavior similar to the addition operation.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>__pow</code>: </b>
|
|
the exponentiation (<code>^</code>) operation.
|
|
Behavior similar to the addition operation.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>__unm</code>: </b>
|
|
the negation (unary <code>-</code>) operation.
|
|
Behavior similar to the addition operation.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>__idiv</code>: </b>
|
|
the floor division (<code>//</code>) operation.
|
|
Behavior similar to the addition operation.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>__band</code>: </b>
|
|
the bitwise AND (<code>&</code>) operation.
|
|
Behavior similar to the addition operation,
|
|
except that Lua will try a metamethod
|
|
if any operand is neither an integer
|
|
nor a value coercible to an integer (see <a href="#3.4.3">§3.4.3</a>).
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>__bor</code>: </b>
|
|
the bitwise OR (<code>|</code>) operation.
|
|
Behavior similar to the bitwise AND operation.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>__bxor</code>: </b>
|
|
the bitwise exclusive OR (binary <code>~</code>) operation.
|
|
Behavior similar to the bitwise AND operation.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>__bnot</code>: </b>
|
|
the bitwise NOT (unary <code>~</code>) operation.
|
|
Behavior similar to the bitwise AND operation.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>__shl</code>: </b>
|
|
the bitwise left shift (<code><<</code>) operation.
|
|
Behavior similar to the bitwise AND operation.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>__shr</code>: </b>
|
|
the bitwise right shift (<code>>></code>) operation.
|
|
Behavior similar to the bitwise AND operation.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>__concat</code>: </b>
|
|
the concatenation (<code>..</code>) operation.
|
|
Behavior similar to the addition operation,
|
|
except that Lua will try a metamethod
|
|
if any operand is neither a string nor a number
|
|
(which is always coercible to a string).
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>__len</code>: </b>
|
|
the length (<code>#</code>) operation.
|
|
If the object is not a string,
|
|
Lua will try its metamethod.
|
|
If there is a metamethod,
|
|
Lua calls it with the object as argument,
|
|
and the result of the call
|
|
(always adjusted to one value)
|
|
is the result of the operation.
|
|
If there is no metamethod but the object is a table,
|
|
then Lua uses the table length operation (see <a href="#3.4.7">§3.4.7</a>).
|
|
Otherwise, Lua raises an error.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>__eq</code>: </b>
|
|
the equal (<code>==</code>) operation.
|
|
Behavior similar to the addition operation,
|
|
except that Lua will try a metamethod only when the values
|
|
being compared are either both tables or both full userdata
|
|
and they are not primitively equal.
|
|
The result of the call is always converted to a boolean.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>__lt</code>: </b>
|
|
the less than (<code><</code>) operation.
|
|
Behavior similar to the addition operation,
|
|
except that Lua will try a metamethod only when the values
|
|
being compared are neither both numbers nor both strings.
|
|
The result of the call is always converted to a boolean.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>__le</code>: </b>
|
|
the less equal (<code><=</code>) operation.
|
|
Unlike other operations,
|
|
the less-equal operation can use two different events.
|
|
First, Lua looks for the <code>__le</code> metamethod in both operands,
|
|
like in the less than operation.
|
|
If it cannot find such a metamethod,
|
|
then it will try the <code>__lt</code> metamethod,
|
|
assuming that <code>a <= b</code> is equivalent to <code>not (b < a)</code>.
|
|
As with the other comparison operators,
|
|
the result is always a boolean.
|
|
(This use of the <code>__lt</code> event can be removed in future versions;
|
|
it is also slower than a real <code>__le</code> metamethod.)
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>__index</code>: </b>
|
|
The indexing access operation <code>table[key]</code>.
|
|
This event happens when <code>table</code> is not a table or
|
|
when <code>key</code> is not present in <code>table</code>.
|
|
The metamethod is looked up in <code>table</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Despite the name,
|
|
the metamethod for this event can be either a function or a table.
|
|
If it is a function,
|
|
it is called with <code>table</code> and <code>key</code> as arguments,
|
|
and the result of the call
|
|
(adjusted to one value)
|
|
is the result of the operation.
|
|
If it is a table,
|
|
the final result is the result of indexing this table with <code>key</code>.
|
|
(This indexing is regular, not raw,
|
|
and therefore can trigger another metamethod.)
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>__newindex</code>: </b>
|
|
The indexing assignment <code>table[key] = value</code>.
|
|
Like the index event,
|
|
this event happens when <code>table</code> is not a table or
|
|
when <code>key</code> is not present in <code>table</code>.
|
|
The metamethod is looked up in <code>table</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Like with indexing,
|
|
the metamethod for this event can be either a function or a table.
|
|
If it is a function,
|
|
it is called with <code>table</code>, <code>key</code>, and <code>value</code> as arguments.
|
|
If it is a table,
|
|
Lua does an indexing assignment to this table with the same key and value.
|
|
(This assignment is regular, not raw,
|
|
and therefore can trigger another metamethod.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Whenever there is a <code>__newindex</code> metamethod,
|
|
Lua does not perform the primitive assignment.
|
|
(If necessary,
|
|
the metamethod itself can call <a href="#pdf-rawset"><code>rawset</code></a>
|
|
to do the assignment.)
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>__call</code>: </b>
|
|
The call operation <code>func(args)</code>.
|
|
This event happens when Lua tries to call a non-function value
|
|
(that is, <code>func</code> is not a function).
|
|
The metamethod is looked up in <code>func</code>.
|
|
If present,
|
|
the metamethod is called with <code>func</code> as its first argument,
|
|
followed by the arguments of the original call (<code>args</code>).
|
|
All results of the call
|
|
are the result of the operation.
|
|
(This is the only metamethod that allows multiple results.)
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
It is a good practice to add all needed metamethods to a table
|
|
before setting it as a metatable of some object.
|
|
In particular, the <code>__gc</code> metamethod works only when this order
|
|
is followed (see <a href="#2.5.1">§2.5.1</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Because metatables are regular tables,
|
|
they can contain arbitrary fields,
|
|
not only the event names defined above.
|
|
Some functions in the standard library
|
|
(e.g., <a href="#pdf-tostring"><code>tostring</code></a>)
|
|
use other fields in metatables for their own purposes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>2.5 – <a name="2.5">Garbage Collection</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Lua performs automatic memory management.
|
|
This means that
|
|
you do not have to worry about allocating memory for new objects
|
|
or freeing it when the objects are no longer needed.
|
|
Lua manages memory automatically by running
|
|
a <em>garbage collector</em> to collect all <em>dead objects</em>
|
|
(that is, objects that are no longer accessible from Lua).
|
|
All memory used by Lua is subject to automatic management:
|
|
strings, tables, userdata, functions, threads, internal structures, etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Lua implements an incremental mark-and-sweep collector.
|
|
It uses two numbers to control its garbage-collection cycles:
|
|
the <em>garbage-collector pause</em> and
|
|
the <em>garbage-collector step multiplier</em>.
|
|
Both use percentage points as units
|
|
(e.g., a value of 100 means an internal value of 1).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The garbage-collector pause
|
|
controls how long the collector waits before starting a new cycle.
|
|
Larger values make the collector less aggressive.
|
|
Values smaller than 100 mean the collector will not wait to
|
|
start a new cycle.
|
|
A value of 200 means that the collector waits for the total memory in use
|
|
to double before starting a new cycle.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The garbage-collector step multiplier
|
|
controls the relative speed of the collector relative to
|
|
memory allocation.
|
|
Larger values make the collector more aggressive but also increase
|
|
the size of each incremental step.
|
|
You should not use values smaller than 100,
|
|
because they make the collector too slow and
|
|
can result in the collector never finishing a cycle.
|
|
The default is 200,
|
|
which means that the collector runs at "twice"
|
|
the speed of memory allocation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If you set the step multiplier to a very large number
|
|
(larger than 10% of the maximum number of
|
|
bytes that the program may use),
|
|
the collector behaves like a stop-the-world collector.
|
|
If you then set the pause to 200,
|
|
the collector behaves as in old Lua versions,
|
|
doing a complete collection every time Lua doubles its
|
|
memory usage.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
You can change these numbers by calling <a href="#lua_gc"><code>lua_gc</code></a> in C
|
|
or <a href="#pdf-collectgarbage"><code>collectgarbage</code></a> in Lua.
|
|
You can also use these functions to control
|
|
the collector directly (e.g., stop and restart it).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>2.5.1 – <a name="2.5.1">Garbage-Collection Metamethods</a></h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
You can set garbage-collector metamethods for tables
|
|
and, using the C API,
|
|
for full userdata (see <a href="#2.4">§2.4</a>).
|
|
These metamethods are also called <em>finalizers</em>.
|
|
Finalizers allow you to coordinate Lua's garbage collection
|
|
with external resource management
|
|
(such as closing files, network or database connections,
|
|
or freeing your own memory).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
For an object (table or userdata) to be finalized when collected,
|
|
you must <em>mark</em> it for finalization.
|
|
|
|
You mark an object for finalization when you set its metatable
|
|
and the metatable has a field indexed by the string "<code>__gc</code>".
|
|
Note that if you set a metatable without a <code>__gc</code> field
|
|
and later create that field in the metatable,
|
|
the object will not be marked for finalization.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When a marked object becomes garbage,
|
|
it is not collected immediately by the garbage collector.
|
|
Instead, Lua puts it in a list.
|
|
After the collection,
|
|
Lua goes through that list.
|
|
For each object in the list,
|
|
it checks the object's <code>__gc</code> metamethod:
|
|
If it is a function,
|
|
Lua calls it with the object as its single argument;
|
|
if the metamethod is not a function,
|
|
Lua simply ignores it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
At the end of each garbage-collection cycle,
|
|
the finalizers for objects are called in
|
|
the reverse order that the objects were marked for finalization,
|
|
among those collected in that cycle;
|
|
that is, the first finalizer to be called is the one associated
|
|
with the object marked last in the program.
|
|
The execution of each finalizer may occur at any point during
|
|
the execution of the regular code.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Because the object being collected must still be used by the finalizer,
|
|
that object (and other objects accessible only through it)
|
|
must be <em>resurrected</em> by Lua.
|
|
Usually, this resurrection is transient,
|
|
and the object memory is freed in the next garbage-collection cycle.
|
|
However, if the finalizer stores the object in some global place
|
|
(e.g., a global variable),
|
|
then the resurrection is permanent.
|
|
Moreover, if the finalizer marks a finalizing object for finalization again,
|
|
its finalizer will be called again in the next cycle where the
|
|
object is unreachable.
|
|
In any case,
|
|
the object memory is freed only in a GC cycle where
|
|
the object is unreachable and not marked for finalization.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When you close a state (see <a href="#lua_close"><code>lua_close</code></a>),
|
|
Lua calls the finalizers of all objects marked for finalization,
|
|
following the reverse order that they were marked.
|
|
If any finalizer marks objects for collection during that phase,
|
|
these marks have no effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>2.5.2 – <a name="2.5.2">Weak Tables</a></h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A <em>weak table</em> is a table whose elements are
|
|
<em>weak references</em>.
|
|
A weak reference is ignored by the garbage collector.
|
|
In other words,
|
|
if the only references to an object are weak references,
|
|
then the garbage collector will collect that object.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A weak table can have weak keys, weak values, or both.
|
|
A table with weak values allows the collection of its values,
|
|
but prevents the collection of its keys.
|
|
A table with both weak keys and weak values allows the collection of
|
|
both keys and values.
|
|
In any case, if either the key or the value is collected,
|
|
the whole pair is removed from the table.
|
|
The weakness of a table is controlled by the
|
|
<code>__mode</code> field of its metatable.
|
|
If the <code>__mode</code> field is a string containing the character '<code>k</code>',
|
|
the keys in the table are weak.
|
|
If <code>__mode</code> contains '<code>v</code>',
|
|
the values in the table are weak.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A table with weak keys and strong values
|
|
is also called an <em>ephemeron table</em>.
|
|
In an ephemeron table,
|
|
a value is considered reachable only if its key is reachable.
|
|
In particular,
|
|
if the only reference to a key comes through its value,
|
|
the pair is removed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Any change in the weakness of a table may take effect only
|
|
at the next collect cycle.
|
|
In particular, if you change the weakness to a stronger mode,
|
|
Lua may still collect some items from that table
|
|
before the change takes effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Only objects that have an explicit construction
|
|
are removed from weak tables.
|
|
Values, such as numbers and light C functions,
|
|
are not subject to garbage collection,
|
|
and therefore are not removed from weak tables
|
|
(unless their associated values are collected).
|
|
Although strings are subject to garbage collection,
|
|
they do not have an explicit construction,
|
|
and therefore are not removed from weak tables.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Resurrected objects
|
|
(that is, objects being finalized
|
|
and objects accessible only through objects being finalized)
|
|
have a special behavior in weak tables.
|
|
They are removed from weak values before running their finalizers,
|
|
but are removed from weak keys only in the next collection
|
|
after running their finalizers, when such objects are actually freed.
|
|
This behavior allows the finalizer to access properties
|
|
associated with the object through weak tables.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If a weak table is among the resurrected objects in a collection cycle,
|
|
it may not be properly cleared until the next cycle.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>2.6 – <a name="2.6">Coroutines</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Lua supports coroutines,
|
|
also called <em>collaborative multithreading</em>.
|
|
A coroutine in Lua represents an independent thread of execution.
|
|
Unlike threads in multithread systems, however,
|
|
a coroutine only suspends its execution by explicitly calling
|
|
a yield function.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
You create a coroutine by calling <a href="#pdf-coroutine.create"><code>coroutine.create</code></a>.
|
|
Its sole argument is a function
|
|
that is the main function of the coroutine.
|
|
The <code>create</code> function only creates a new coroutine and
|
|
returns a handle to it (an object of type <em>thread</em>);
|
|
it does not start the coroutine.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
You execute a coroutine by calling <a href="#pdf-coroutine.resume"><code>coroutine.resume</code></a>.
|
|
When you first call <a href="#pdf-coroutine.resume"><code>coroutine.resume</code></a>,
|
|
passing as its first argument
|
|
a thread returned by <a href="#pdf-coroutine.create"><code>coroutine.create</code></a>,
|
|
the coroutine starts its execution by
|
|
calling its main function.
|
|
Extra arguments passed to <a href="#pdf-coroutine.resume"><code>coroutine.resume</code></a> are passed
|
|
as arguments to that function.
|
|
After the coroutine starts running,
|
|
it runs until it terminates or <em>yields</em>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A coroutine can terminate its execution in two ways:
|
|
normally, when its main function returns
|
|
(explicitly or implicitly, after the last instruction);
|
|
and abnormally, if there is an unprotected error.
|
|
In case of normal termination,
|
|
<a href="#pdf-coroutine.resume"><code>coroutine.resume</code></a> returns <b>true</b>,
|
|
plus any values returned by the coroutine main function.
|
|
In case of errors, <a href="#pdf-coroutine.resume"><code>coroutine.resume</code></a> returns <b>false</b>
|
|
plus an error object.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A coroutine yields by calling <a href="#pdf-coroutine.yield"><code>coroutine.yield</code></a>.
|
|
When a coroutine yields,
|
|
the corresponding <a href="#pdf-coroutine.resume"><code>coroutine.resume</code></a> returns immediately,
|
|
even if the yield happens inside nested function calls
|
|
(that is, not in the main function,
|
|
but in a function directly or indirectly called by the main function).
|
|
In the case of a yield, <a href="#pdf-coroutine.resume"><code>coroutine.resume</code></a> also returns <b>true</b>,
|
|
plus any values passed to <a href="#pdf-coroutine.yield"><code>coroutine.yield</code></a>.
|
|
The next time you resume the same coroutine,
|
|
it continues its execution from the point where it yielded,
|
|
with the call to <a href="#pdf-coroutine.yield"><code>coroutine.yield</code></a> returning any extra
|
|
arguments passed to <a href="#pdf-coroutine.resume"><code>coroutine.resume</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Like <a href="#pdf-coroutine.create"><code>coroutine.create</code></a>,
|
|
the <a href="#pdf-coroutine.wrap"><code>coroutine.wrap</code></a> function also creates a coroutine,
|
|
but instead of returning the coroutine itself,
|
|
it returns a function that, when called, resumes the coroutine.
|
|
Any arguments passed to this function
|
|
go as extra arguments to <a href="#pdf-coroutine.resume"><code>coroutine.resume</code></a>.
|
|
<a href="#pdf-coroutine.wrap"><code>coroutine.wrap</code></a> returns all the values returned by <a href="#pdf-coroutine.resume"><code>coroutine.resume</code></a>,
|
|
except the first one (the boolean error code).
|
|
Unlike <a href="#pdf-coroutine.resume"><code>coroutine.resume</code></a>,
|
|
<a href="#pdf-coroutine.wrap"><code>coroutine.wrap</code></a> does not catch errors;
|
|
any error is propagated to the caller.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
As an example of how coroutines work,
|
|
consider the following code:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
function foo (a)
|
|
print("foo", a)
|
|
return coroutine.yield(2*a)
|
|
end
|
|
|
|
co = coroutine.create(function (a,b)
|
|
print("co-body", a, b)
|
|
local r = foo(a+1)
|
|
print("co-body", r)
|
|
local r, s = coroutine.yield(a+b, a-b)
|
|
print("co-body", r, s)
|
|
return b, "end"
|
|
end)
|
|
|
|
print("main", coroutine.resume(co, 1, 10))
|
|
print("main", coroutine.resume(co, "r"))
|
|
print("main", coroutine.resume(co, "x", "y"))
|
|
print("main", coroutine.resume(co, "x", "y"))
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
When you run it, it produces the following output:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
co-body 1 10
|
|
foo 2
|
|
main true 4
|
|
co-body r
|
|
main true 11 -9
|
|
co-body x y
|
|
main true 10 end
|
|
main false cannot resume dead coroutine
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
You can also create and manipulate coroutines through the C API:
|
|
see functions <a href="#lua_newthread"><code>lua_newthread</code></a>, <a href="#lua_resume"><code>lua_resume</code></a>,
|
|
and <a href="#lua_yield"><code>lua_yield</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h1>3 – <a name="3">The Language</a></h1>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This section describes the lexis, the syntax, and the semantics of Lua.
|
|
In other words,
|
|
this section describes
|
|
which tokens are valid,
|
|
how they can be combined,
|
|
and what their combinations mean.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Language constructs will be explained using the usual extended BNF notation,
|
|
in which
|
|
{<em>a</em>} means 0 or more <em>a</em>'s, and
|
|
[<em>a</em>] means an optional <em>a</em>.
|
|
Non-terminals are shown like non-terminal,
|
|
keywords are shown like <b>kword</b>,
|
|
and other terminal symbols are shown like ‘<b>=</b>’.
|
|
The complete syntax of Lua can be found in <a href="#9">§9</a>
|
|
at the end of this manual.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>3.1 – <a name="3.1">Lexical Conventions</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Lua is a free-form language.
|
|
It ignores spaces (including new lines) and comments
|
|
between lexical elements (tokens),
|
|
except as delimiters between names and keywords.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<em>Names</em>
|
|
(also called <em>identifiers</em>)
|
|
in Lua can be any string of letters,
|
|
digits, and underscores,
|
|
not beginning with a digit and
|
|
not being a reserved word.
|
|
Identifiers are used to name variables, table fields, and labels.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The following <em>keywords</em> are reserved
|
|
and cannot be used as names:
|
|
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
and break do else elseif end
|
|
false for function goto if in
|
|
local nil not or repeat return
|
|
then true until while
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Lua is a case-sensitive language:
|
|
<code>and</code> is a reserved word, but <code>And</code> and <code>AND</code>
|
|
are two different, valid names.
|
|
As a convention,
|
|
programs should avoid creating
|
|
names that start with an underscore followed by
|
|
one or more uppercase letters (such as <a href="#pdf-_VERSION"><code>_VERSION</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The following strings denote other tokens:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
+ - * / % ^ #
|
|
& ~ | << >> //
|
|
== ~= <= >= < > =
|
|
( ) { } [ ] ::
|
|
; : , . .. ...
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A <em>short literal string</em>
|
|
can be delimited by matching single or double quotes,
|
|
and can contain the following C-like escape sequences:
|
|
'<code>\a</code>' (bell),
|
|
'<code>\b</code>' (backspace),
|
|
'<code>\f</code>' (form feed),
|
|
'<code>\n</code>' (newline),
|
|
'<code>\r</code>' (carriage return),
|
|
'<code>\t</code>' (horizontal tab),
|
|
'<code>\v</code>' (vertical tab),
|
|
'<code>\\</code>' (backslash),
|
|
'<code>\"</code>' (quotation mark [double quote]),
|
|
and '<code>\'</code>' (apostrophe [single quote]).
|
|
A backslash followed by a line break
|
|
results in a newline in the string.
|
|
The escape sequence '<code>\z</code>' skips the following span
|
|
of white-space characters,
|
|
including line breaks;
|
|
it is particularly useful to break and indent a long literal string
|
|
into multiple lines without adding the newlines and spaces
|
|
into the string contents.
|
|
A short literal string cannot contain unescaped line breaks
|
|
nor escapes not forming a valid escape sequence.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
We can specify any byte in a short literal string by its numeric value
|
|
(including embedded zeros).
|
|
This can be done
|
|
with the escape sequence <code>\x<em>XX</em></code>,
|
|
where <em>XX</em> is a sequence of exactly two hexadecimal digits,
|
|
or with the escape sequence <code>\<em>ddd</em></code>,
|
|
where <em>ddd</em> is a sequence of up to three decimal digits.
|
|
(Note that if a decimal escape sequence is to be followed by a digit,
|
|
it must be expressed using exactly three digits.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The UTF-8 encoding of a Unicode character
|
|
can be inserted in a literal string with
|
|
the escape sequence <code>\u{<em>XXX</em>}</code>
|
|
(note the mandatory enclosing brackets),
|
|
where <em>XXX</em> is a sequence of one or more hexadecimal digits
|
|
representing the character code point.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Literal strings can also be defined using a long format
|
|
enclosed by <em>long brackets</em>.
|
|
We define an <em>opening long bracket of level <em>n</em></em> as an opening
|
|
square bracket followed by <em>n</em> equal signs followed by another
|
|
opening square bracket.
|
|
So, an opening long bracket of level 0 is written as <code>[[</code>,
|
|
an opening long bracket of level 1 is written as <code>[=[</code>,
|
|
and so on.
|
|
A <em>closing long bracket</em> is defined similarly;
|
|
for instance,
|
|
a closing long bracket of level 4 is written as <code>]====]</code>.
|
|
A <em>long literal</em> starts with an opening long bracket of any level and
|
|
ends at the first closing long bracket of the same level.
|
|
It can contain any text except a closing bracket of the same level.
|
|
Literals in this bracketed form can run for several lines,
|
|
do not interpret any escape sequences,
|
|
and ignore long brackets of any other level.
|
|
Any kind of end-of-line sequence
|
|
(carriage return, newline, carriage return followed by newline,
|
|
or newline followed by carriage return)
|
|
is converted to a simple newline.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
For convenience,
|
|
when the opening long bracket is immediately followed by a newline,
|
|
the newline is not included in the string.
|
|
As an example, in a system using ASCII
|
|
(in which '<code>a</code>' is coded as 97,
|
|
newline is coded as 10, and '<code>1</code>' is coded as 49),
|
|
the five literal strings below denote the same string:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
a = 'alo\n123"'
|
|
a = "alo\n123\""
|
|
a = '\97lo\10\04923"'
|
|
a = [[alo
|
|
123"]]
|
|
a = [==[
|
|
alo
|
|
123"]==]
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Any byte in a literal string not
|
|
explicitly affected by the previous rules represents itself.
|
|
However, Lua opens files for parsing in text mode,
|
|
and the system file functions may have problems with
|
|
some control characters.
|
|
So, it is safer to represent
|
|
non-text data as a quoted literal with
|
|
explicit escape sequences for the non-text characters.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A <em>numeric constant</em> (or <em>numeral</em>)
|
|
can be written with an optional fractional part
|
|
and an optional decimal exponent,
|
|
marked by a letter '<code>e</code>' or '<code>E</code>'.
|
|
Lua also accepts hexadecimal constants,
|
|
which start with <code>0x</code> or <code>0X</code>.
|
|
Hexadecimal constants also accept an optional fractional part
|
|
plus an optional binary exponent,
|
|
marked by a letter '<code>p</code>' or '<code>P</code>'.
|
|
A numeric constant with a radix point or an exponent
|
|
denotes a float;
|
|
otherwise,
|
|
if its value fits in an integer,
|
|
it denotes an integer.
|
|
Examples of valid integer constants are
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
3 345 0xff 0xBEBADA
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
Examples of valid float constants are
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
3.0 3.1416 314.16e-2 0.31416E1 34e1
|
|
0x0.1E 0xA23p-4 0X1.921FB54442D18P+1
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A <em>comment</em> starts with a double hyphen (<code>--</code>)
|
|
anywhere outside a string.
|
|
If the text immediately after <code>--</code> is not an opening long bracket,
|
|
the comment is a <em>short comment</em>,
|
|
which runs until the end of the line.
|
|
Otherwise, it is a <em>long comment</em>,
|
|
which runs until the corresponding closing long bracket.
|
|
Long comments are frequently used to disable code temporarily.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>3.2 – <a name="3.2">Variables</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Variables are places that store values.
|
|
There are three kinds of variables in Lua:
|
|
global variables, local variables, and table fields.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A single name can denote a global variable or a local variable
|
|
(or a function's formal parameter,
|
|
which is a particular kind of local variable):
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
var ::= Name
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
Name denotes identifiers, as defined in <a href="#3.1">§3.1</a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Any variable name is assumed to be global unless explicitly declared
|
|
as a local (see <a href="#3.3.7">§3.3.7</a>).
|
|
Local variables are <em>lexically scoped</em>:
|
|
local variables can be freely accessed by functions
|
|
defined inside their scope (see <a href="#3.5">§3.5</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Before the first assignment to a variable, its value is <b>nil</b>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Square brackets are used to index a table:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
var ::= prefixexp ‘<b>[</b>’ exp ‘<b>]</b>’
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
The meaning of accesses to table fields can be changed via metatables
|
|
(see <a href="#2.4">§2.4</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The syntax <code>var.Name</code> is just syntactic sugar for
|
|
<code>var["Name"]</code>:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
var ::= prefixexp ‘<b>.</b>’ Name
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
An access to a global variable <code>x</code>
|
|
is equivalent to <code>_ENV.x</code>.
|
|
Due to the way that chunks are compiled,
|
|
<code>_ENV</code> is never a global name (see <a href="#2.2">§2.2</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>3.3 – <a name="3.3">Statements</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Lua supports an almost conventional set of statements,
|
|
similar to those in Pascal or C.
|
|
This set includes
|
|
assignments, control structures, function calls,
|
|
and variable declarations.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>3.3.1 – <a name="3.3.1">Blocks</a></h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A block is a list of statements,
|
|
which are executed sequentially:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
block ::= {stat}
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
Lua has <em>empty statements</em>
|
|
that allow you to separate statements with semicolons,
|
|
start a block with a semicolon
|
|
or write two semicolons in sequence:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
stat ::= ‘<b>;</b>’
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Function calls and assignments
|
|
can start with an open parenthesis.
|
|
This possibility leads to an ambiguity in Lua's grammar.
|
|
Consider the following fragment:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
a = b + c
|
|
(print or io.write)('done')
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
The grammar could see it in two ways:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
a = b + c(print or io.write)('done')
|
|
|
|
a = b + c; (print or io.write)('done')
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
The current parser always sees such constructions
|
|
in the first way,
|
|
interpreting the open parenthesis
|
|
as the start of the arguments to a call.
|
|
To avoid this ambiguity,
|
|
it is a good practice to always precede with a semicolon
|
|
statements that start with a parenthesis:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
;(print or io.write)('done')
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A block can be explicitly delimited to produce a single statement:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
stat ::= <b>do</b> block <b>end</b>
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
Explicit blocks are useful
|
|
to control the scope of variable declarations.
|
|
Explicit blocks are also sometimes used to
|
|
add a <b>return</b> statement in the middle
|
|
of another block (see <a href="#3.3.4">§3.3.4</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>3.3.2 – <a name="3.3.2">Chunks</a></h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The unit of compilation of Lua is called a <em>chunk</em>.
|
|
Syntactically,
|
|
a chunk is simply a block:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
chunk ::= block
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Lua handles a chunk as the body of an anonymous function
|
|
with a variable number of arguments
|
|
(see <a href="#3.4.11">§3.4.11</a>).
|
|
As such, chunks can define local variables,
|
|
receive arguments, and return values.
|
|
Moreover, such anonymous function is compiled as in the
|
|
scope of an external local variable called <code>_ENV</code> (see <a href="#2.2">§2.2</a>).
|
|
The resulting function always has <code>_ENV</code> as its only upvalue,
|
|
even if it does not use that variable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A chunk can be stored in a file or in a string inside the host program.
|
|
To execute a chunk,
|
|
Lua first <em>loads</em> it,
|
|
precompiling the chunk's code into instructions for a virtual machine,
|
|
and then Lua executes the compiled code
|
|
with an interpreter for the virtual machine.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Chunks can also be precompiled into binary form;
|
|
see program <code>luac</code> and function <a href="#pdf-string.dump"><code>string.dump</code></a> for details.
|
|
Programs in source and compiled forms are interchangeable;
|
|
Lua automatically detects the file type and acts accordingly (see <a href="#pdf-load"><code>load</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>3.3.3 – <a name="3.3.3">Assignment</a></h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Lua allows multiple assignments.
|
|
Therefore, the syntax for assignment
|
|
defines a list of variables on the left side
|
|
and a list of expressions on the right side.
|
|
The elements in both lists are separated by commas:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
stat ::= varlist ‘<b>=</b>’ explist
|
|
varlist ::= var {‘<b>,</b>’ var}
|
|
explist ::= exp {‘<b>,</b>’ exp}
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
Expressions are discussed in <a href="#3.4">§3.4</a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Before the assignment,
|
|
the list of values is <em>adjusted</em> to the length of
|
|
the list of variables.
|
|
If there are more values than needed,
|
|
the excess values are thrown away.
|
|
If there are fewer values than needed,
|
|
the list is extended with as many <b>nil</b>'s as needed.
|
|
If the list of expressions ends with a function call,
|
|
then all values returned by that call enter the list of values,
|
|
before the adjustment
|
|
(except when the call is enclosed in parentheses; see <a href="#3.4">§3.4</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The assignment statement first evaluates all its expressions
|
|
and only then the assignments are performed.
|
|
Thus the code
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
i = 3
|
|
i, a[i] = i+1, 20
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
sets <code>a[3]</code> to 20, without affecting <code>a[4]</code>
|
|
because the <code>i</code> in <code>a[i]</code> is evaluated (to 3)
|
|
before it is assigned 4.
|
|
Similarly, the line
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
x, y = y, x
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
exchanges the values of <code>x</code> and <code>y</code>,
|
|
and
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
x, y, z = y, z, x
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
cyclically permutes the values of <code>x</code>, <code>y</code>, and <code>z</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
An assignment to a global name <code>x = val</code>
|
|
is equivalent to the assignment
|
|
<code>_ENV.x = val</code> (see <a href="#2.2">§2.2</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The meaning of assignments to table fields and
|
|
global variables (which are actually table fields, too)
|
|
can be changed via metatables (see <a href="#2.4">§2.4</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>3.3.4 – <a name="3.3.4">Control Structures</a></h3><p>
|
|
The control structures
|
|
<b>if</b>, <b>while</b>, and <b>repeat</b> have the usual meaning and
|
|
familiar syntax:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
stat ::= <b>while</b> exp <b>do</b> block <b>end</b>
|
|
stat ::= <b>repeat</b> block <b>until</b> exp
|
|
stat ::= <b>if</b> exp <b>then</b> block {<b>elseif</b> exp <b>then</b> block} [<b>else</b> block] <b>end</b>
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
Lua also has a <b>for</b> statement, in two flavors (see <a href="#3.3.5">§3.3.5</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The condition expression of a
|
|
control structure can return any value.
|
|
Both <b>false</b> and <b>nil</b> are considered false.
|
|
All values different from <b>nil</b> and <b>false</b> are considered true
|
|
(in particular, the number 0 and the empty string are also true).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
In the <b>repeat</b>–<b>until</b> loop,
|
|
the inner block does not end at the <b>until</b> keyword,
|
|
but only after the condition.
|
|
So, the condition can refer to local variables
|
|
declared inside the loop block.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The <b>goto</b> statement transfers the program control to a label.
|
|
For syntactical reasons,
|
|
labels in Lua are considered statements too:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
stat ::= <b>goto</b> Name
|
|
stat ::= label
|
|
label ::= ‘<b>::</b>’ Name ‘<b>::</b>’
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A label is visible in the entire block where it is defined,
|
|
except
|
|
inside nested blocks where a label with the same name is defined and
|
|
inside nested functions.
|
|
A goto may jump to any visible label as long as it does not
|
|
enter into the scope of a local variable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Labels and empty statements are called <em>void statements</em>,
|
|
as they perform no actions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The <b>break</b> statement terminates the execution of a
|
|
<b>while</b>, <b>repeat</b>, or <b>for</b> loop,
|
|
skipping to the next statement after the loop:
|
|
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
stat ::= <b>break</b>
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
A <b>break</b> ends the innermost enclosing loop.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The <b>return</b> statement is used to return values
|
|
from a function or a chunk
|
|
(which is an anonymous function).
|
|
|
|
Functions can return more than one value,
|
|
so the syntax for the <b>return</b> statement is
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
stat ::= <b>return</b> [explist] [‘<b>;</b>’]
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The <b>return</b> statement can only be written
|
|
as the last statement of a block.
|
|
If it is really necessary to <b>return</b> in the middle of a block,
|
|
then an explicit inner block can be used,
|
|
as in the idiom <code>do return end</code>,
|
|
because now <b>return</b> is the last statement in its (inner) block.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>3.3.5 – <a name="3.3.5">For Statement</a></h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
The <b>for</b> statement has two forms:
|
|
one numerical and one generic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The numerical <b>for</b> loop repeats a block of code while a
|
|
control variable runs through an arithmetic progression.
|
|
It has the following syntax:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
stat ::= <b>for</b> Name ‘<b>=</b>’ exp ‘<b>,</b>’ exp [‘<b>,</b>’ exp] <b>do</b> block <b>end</b>
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
The <em>block</em> is repeated for <em>name</em> starting at the value of
|
|
the first <em>exp</em>, until it passes the second <em>exp</em> by steps of the
|
|
third <em>exp</em>.
|
|
More precisely, a <b>for</b> statement like
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
for v = <em>e1</em>, <em>e2</em>, <em>e3</em> do <em>block</em> end
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
is equivalent to the code:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
do
|
|
local <em>var</em>, <em>limit</em>, <em>step</em> = tonumber(<em>e1</em>), tonumber(<em>e2</em>), tonumber(<em>e3</em>)
|
|
if not (<em>var</em> and <em>limit</em> and <em>step</em>) then error() end
|
|
<em>var</em> = <em>var</em> - <em>step</em>
|
|
while true do
|
|
<em>var</em> = <em>var</em> + <em>step</em>
|
|
if (<em>step</em> >= 0 and <em>var</em> > <em>limit</em>) or (<em>step</em> < 0 and <em>var</em> < <em>limit</em>) then
|
|
break
|
|
end
|
|
local v = <em>var</em>
|
|
<em>block</em>
|
|
end
|
|
end
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Note the following:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
All three control expressions are evaluated only once,
|
|
before the loop starts.
|
|
They must all result in numbers.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
<code><em>var</em></code>, <code><em>limit</em></code>, and <code><em>step</em></code> are invisible variables.
|
|
The names shown here are for explanatory purposes only.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
If the third expression (the step) is absent,
|
|
then a step of 1 is used.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
You can use <b>break</b> and <b>goto</b> to exit a <b>for</b> loop.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
The loop variable <code>v</code> is local to the loop body.
|
|
If you need its value after the loop,
|
|
assign it to another variable before exiting the loop.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The generic <b>for</b> statement works over functions,
|
|
called <em>iterators</em>.
|
|
On each iteration, the iterator function is called to produce a new value,
|
|
stopping when this new value is <b>nil</b>.
|
|
The generic <b>for</b> loop has the following syntax:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
stat ::= <b>for</b> namelist <b>in</b> explist <b>do</b> block <b>end</b>
|
|
namelist ::= Name {‘<b>,</b>’ Name}
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
A <b>for</b> statement like
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
for <em>var_1</em>, ···, <em>var_n</em> in <em>explist</em> do <em>block</em> end
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
is equivalent to the code:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
do
|
|
local <em>f</em>, <em>s</em>, <em>var</em> = <em>explist</em>
|
|
while true do
|
|
local <em>var_1</em>, ···, <em>var_n</em> = <em>f</em>(<em>s</em>, <em>var</em>)
|
|
if <em>var_1</em> == nil then break end
|
|
<em>var</em> = <em>var_1</em>
|
|
<em>block</em>
|
|
end
|
|
end
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
Note the following:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
<code><em>explist</em></code> is evaluated only once.
|
|
Its results are an <em>iterator</em> function,
|
|
a <em>state</em>,
|
|
and an initial value for the first <em>iterator variable</em>.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
<code><em>f</em></code>, <code><em>s</em></code>, and <code><em>var</em></code> are invisible variables.
|
|
The names are here for explanatory purposes only.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
You can use <b>break</b> to exit a <b>for</b> loop.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
The loop variables <code><em>var_i</em></code> are local to the loop;
|
|
you cannot use their values after the <b>for</b> ends.
|
|
If you need these values,
|
|
then assign them to other variables before breaking or exiting the loop.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>3.3.6 – <a name="3.3.6">Function Calls as Statements</a></h3><p>
|
|
To allow possible side-effects,
|
|
function calls can be executed as statements:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
stat ::= functioncall
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
In this case, all returned values are thrown away.
|
|
Function calls are explained in <a href="#3.4.10">§3.4.10</a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>3.3.7 – <a name="3.3.7">Local Declarations</a></h3><p>
|
|
Local variables can be declared anywhere inside a block.
|
|
The declaration can include an initial assignment:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
stat ::= <b>local</b> namelist [‘<b>=</b>’ explist]
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
If present, an initial assignment has the same semantics
|
|
of a multiple assignment (see <a href="#3.3.3">§3.3.3</a>).
|
|
Otherwise, all variables are initialized with <b>nil</b>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A chunk is also a block (see <a href="#3.3.2">§3.3.2</a>),
|
|
and so local variables can be declared in a chunk outside any explicit block.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The visibility rules for local variables are explained in <a href="#3.5">§3.5</a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>3.4 – <a name="3.4">Expressions</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The basic expressions in Lua are the following:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
exp ::= prefixexp
|
|
exp ::= <b>nil</b> | <b>false</b> | <b>true</b>
|
|
exp ::= Numeral
|
|
exp ::= LiteralString
|
|
exp ::= functiondef
|
|
exp ::= tableconstructor
|
|
exp ::= ‘<b>...</b>’
|
|
exp ::= exp binop exp
|
|
exp ::= unop exp
|
|
prefixexp ::= var | functioncall | ‘<b>(</b>’ exp ‘<b>)</b>’
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Numerals and literal strings are explained in <a href="#3.1">§3.1</a>;
|
|
variables are explained in <a href="#3.2">§3.2</a>;
|
|
function definitions are explained in <a href="#3.4.11">§3.4.11</a>;
|
|
function calls are explained in <a href="#3.4.10">§3.4.10</a>;
|
|
table constructors are explained in <a href="#3.4.9">§3.4.9</a>.
|
|
Vararg expressions,
|
|
denoted by three dots ('<code>...</code>'), can only be used when
|
|
directly inside a vararg function;
|
|
they are explained in <a href="#3.4.11">§3.4.11</a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Binary operators comprise arithmetic operators (see <a href="#3.4.1">§3.4.1</a>),
|
|
bitwise operators (see <a href="#3.4.2">§3.4.2</a>),
|
|
relational operators (see <a href="#3.4.4">§3.4.4</a>), logical operators (see <a href="#3.4.5">§3.4.5</a>),
|
|
and the concatenation operator (see <a href="#3.4.6">§3.4.6</a>).
|
|
Unary operators comprise the unary minus (see <a href="#3.4.1">§3.4.1</a>),
|
|
the unary bitwise NOT (see <a href="#3.4.2">§3.4.2</a>),
|
|
the unary logical <b>not</b> (see <a href="#3.4.5">§3.4.5</a>),
|
|
and the unary <em>length operator</em> (see <a href="#3.4.7">§3.4.7</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Both function calls and vararg expressions can result in multiple values.
|
|
If a function call is used as a statement (see <a href="#3.3.6">§3.3.6</a>),
|
|
then its return list is adjusted to zero elements,
|
|
thus discarding all returned values.
|
|
If an expression is used as the last (or the only) element
|
|
of a list of expressions,
|
|
then no adjustment is made
|
|
(unless the expression is enclosed in parentheses).
|
|
In all other contexts,
|
|
Lua adjusts the result list to one element,
|
|
either discarding all values except the first one
|
|
or adding a single <b>nil</b> if there are no values.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Here are some examples:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
f() -- adjusted to 0 results
|
|
g(f(), x) -- f() is adjusted to 1 result
|
|
g(x, f()) -- g gets x plus all results from f()
|
|
a,b,c = f(), x -- f() is adjusted to 1 result (c gets nil)
|
|
a,b = ... -- a gets the first vararg argument, b gets
|
|
-- the second (both a and b can get nil if there
|
|
-- is no corresponding vararg argument)
|
|
|
|
a,b,c = x, f() -- f() is adjusted to 2 results
|
|
a,b,c = f() -- f() is adjusted to 3 results
|
|
return f() -- returns all results from f()
|
|
return ... -- returns all received vararg arguments
|
|
return x,y,f() -- returns x, y, and all results from f()
|
|
{f()} -- creates a list with all results from f()
|
|
{...} -- creates a list with all vararg arguments
|
|
{f(), nil} -- f() is adjusted to 1 result
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Any expression enclosed in parentheses always results in only one value.
|
|
Thus,
|
|
<code>(f(x,y,z))</code> is always a single value,
|
|
even if <code>f</code> returns several values.
|
|
(The value of <code>(f(x,y,z))</code> is the first value returned by <code>f</code>
|
|
or <b>nil</b> if <code>f</code> does not return any values.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>3.4.1 – <a name="3.4.1">Arithmetic Operators</a></h3><p>
|
|
Lua supports the following arithmetic operators:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><b><code>+</code>: </b>addition</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>-</code>: </b>subtraction</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>*</code>: </b>multiplication</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>/</code>: </b>float division</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>//</code>: </b>floor division</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>%</code>: </b>modulo</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>^</code>: </b>exponentiation</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>-</code>: </b>unary minus</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
With the exception of exponentiation and float division,
|
|
the arithmetic operators work as follows:
|
|
If both operands are integers,
|
|
the operation is performed over integers and the result is an integer.
|
|
Otherwise, if both operands are numbers
|
|
or strings that can be converted to
|
|
numbers (see <a href="#3.4.3">§3.4.3</a>),
|
|
then they are converted to floats,
|
|
the operation is performed following the usual rules
|
|
for floating-point arithmetic
|
|
(usually the IEEE 754 standard),
|
|
and the result is a float.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Exponentiation and float division (<code>/</code>)
|
|
always convert their operands to floats
|
|
and the result is always a float.
|
|
Exponentiation uses the ISO C function <code>pow</code>,
|
|
so that it works for non-integer exponents too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Floor division (<code>//</code>) is a division
|
|
that rounds the quotient towards minus infinity,
|
|
that is, the floor of the division of its operands.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Modulo is defined as the remainder of a division
|
|
that rounds the quotient towards minus infinity (floor division).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
In case of overflows in integer arithmetic,
|
|
all operations <em>wrap around</em>,
|
|
according to the usual rules of two-complement arithmetic.
|
|
(In other words,
|
|
they return the unique representable integer
|
|
that is equal modulo <em>2<sup>64</sup></em> to the mathematical result.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>3.4.2 – <a name="3.4.2">Bitwise Operators</a></h3><p>
|
|
Lua supports the following bitwise operators:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><b><code>&</code>: </b>bitwise AND</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>|</code>: </b>bitwise OR</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>~</code>: </b>bitwise exclusive OR</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>>></code>: </b>right shift</li>
|
|
<li><b><code><<</code>: </b>left shift</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>~</code>: </b>unary bitwise NOT</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
All bitwise operations convert its operands to integers
|
|
(see <a href="#3.4.3">§3.4.3</a>),
|
|
operate on all bits of those integers,
|
|
and result in an integer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Both right and left shifts fill the vacant bits with zeros.
|
|
Negative displacements shift to the other direction;
|
|
displacements with absolute values equal to or higher than
|
|
the number of bits in an integer
|
|
result in zero (as all bits are shifted out).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>3.4.3 – <a name="3.4.3">Coercions and Conversions</a></h3><p>
|
|
Lua provides some automatic conversions between some
|
|
types and representations at run time.
|
|
Bitwise operators always convert float operands to integers.
|
|
Exponentiation and float division
|
|
always convert integer operands to floats.
|
|
All other arithmetic operations applied to mixed numbers
|
|
(integers and floats) convert the integer operand to a float;
|
|
this is called the <em>usual rule</em>.
|
|
The C API also converts both integers to floats and
|
|
floats to integers, as needed.
|
|
Moreover, string concatenation accepts numbers as arguments,
|
|
besides strings.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Lua also converts strings to numbers,
|
|
whenever a number is expected.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
In a conversion from integer to float,
|
|
if the integer value has an exact representation as a float,
|
|
that is the result.
|
|
Otherwise,
|
|
the conversion gets the nearest higher or
|
|
the nearest lower representable value.
|
|
This kind of conversion never fails.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The conversion from float to integer
|
|
checks whether the float has an exact representation as an integer
|
|
(that is, the float has an integral value and
|
|
it is in the range of integer representation).
|
|
If it does, that representation is the result.
|
|
Otherwise, the conversion fails.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The conversion from strings to numbers goes as follows:
|
|
First, the string is converted to an integer or a float,
|
|
following its syntax and the rules of the Lua lexer.
|
|
(The string may have also leading and trailing spaces and a sign.)
|
|
Then, the resulting number (float or integer)
|
|
is converted to the type (float or integer) required by the context
|
|
(e.g., the operation that forced the conversion).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
All conversions from strings to numbers
|
|
accept both a dot and the current locale mark
|
|
as the radix character.
|
|
(The Lua lexer, however, accepts only a dot.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The conversion from numbers to strings uses a
|
|
non-specified human-readable format.
|
|
For complete control over how numbers are converted to strings,
|
|
use the <code>format</code> function from the string library
|
|
(see <a href="#pdf-string.format"><code>string.format</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>3.4.4 – <a name="3.4.4">Relational Operators</a></h3><p>
|
|
Lua supports the following relational operators:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><b><code>==</code>: </b>equality</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>~=</code>: </b>inequality</li>
|
|
<li><b><code><</code>: </b>less than</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>></code>: </b>greater than</li>
|
|
<li><b><code><=</code>: </b>less or equal</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>>=</code>: </b>greater or equal</li>
|
|
</ul><p>
|
|
These operators always result in <b>false</b> or <b>true</b>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Equality (<code>==</code>) first compares the type of its operands.
|
|
If the types are different, then the result is <b>false</b>.
|
|
Otherwise, the values of the operands are compared.
|
|
Strings are compared in the obvious way.
|
|
Numbers are equal if they denote the same mathematical value.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Tables, userdata, and threads
|
|
are compared by reference:
|
|
two objects are considered equal only if they are the same object.
|
|
Every time you create a new object
|
|
(a table, userdata, or thread),
|
|
this new object is different from any previously existing object.
|
|
A closure is always equal to itself.
|
|
Closures with any detectable difference
|
|
(different behavior, different definition) are always different.
|
|
Closures created at different times but with no detectable differences
|
|
may be classified as equal or not
|
|
(depending on internal caching details).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
You can change the way that Lua compares tables and userdata
|
|
by using the "eq" metamethod (see <a href="#2.4">§2.4</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Equality comparisons do not convert strings to numbers
|
|
or vice versa.
|
|
Thus, <code>"0"==0</code> evaluates to <b>false</b>,
|
|
and <code>t[0]</code> and <code>t["0"]</code> denote different
|
|
entries in a table.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The operator <code>~=</code> is exactly the negation of equality (<code>==</code>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The order operators work as follows.
|
|
If both arguments are numbers,
|
|
then they are compared according to their mathematical values
|
|
(regardless of their subtypes).
|
|
Otherwise, if both arguments are strings,
|
|
then their values are compared according to the current locale.
|
|
Otherwise, Lua tries to call the "lt" or the "le"
|
|
metamethod (see <a href="#2.4">§2.4</a>).
|
|
A comparison <code>a > b</code> is translated to <code>b < a</code>
|
|
and <code>a >= b</code> is translated to <code>b <= a</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Following the IEEE 754 standard,
|
|
NaN is considered neither smaller than,
|
|
nor equal to, nor greater than any value (including itself).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>3.4.5 – <a name="3.4.5">Logical Operators</a></h3><p>
|
|
The logical operators in Lua are
|
|
<b>and</b>, <b>or</b>, and <b>not</b>.
|
|
Like the control structures (see <a href="#3.3.4">§3.3.4</a>),
|
|
all logical operators consider both <b>false</b> and <b>nil</b> as false
|
|
and anything else as true.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The negation operator <b>not</b> always returns <b>false</b> or <b>true</b>.
|
|
The conjunction operator <b>and</b> returns its first argument
|
|
if this value is <b>false</b> or <b>nil</b>;
|
|
otherwise, <b>and</b> returns its second argument.
|
|
The disjunction operator <b>or</b> returns its first argument
|
|
if this value is different from <b>nil</b> and <b>false</b>;
|
|
otherwise, <b>or</b> returns its second argument.
|
|
Both <b>and</b> and <b>or</b> use short-circuit evaluation;
|
|
that is,
|
|
the second operand is evaluated only if necessary.
|
|
Here are some examples:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
10 or 20 --> 10
|
|
10 or error() --> 10
|
|
nil or "a" --> "a"
|
|
nil and 10 --> nil
|
|
false and error() --> false
|
|
false and nil --> false
|
|
false or nil --> nil
|
|
10 and 20 --> 20
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
(In this manual,
|
|
<code>--></code> indicates the result of the preceding expression.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>3.4.6 – <a name="3.4.6">Concatenation</a></h3><p>
|
|
The string concatenation operator in Lua is
|
|
denoted by two dots ('<code>..</code>').
|
|
If both operands are strings or numbers, then they are converted to
|
|
strings according to the rules described in <a href="#3.4.3">§3.4.3</a>.
|
|
Otherwise, the <code>__concat</code> metamethod is called (see <a href="#2.4">§2.4</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>3.4.7 – <a name="3.4.7">The Length Operator</a></h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The length operator is denoted by the unary prefix operator <code>#</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The length of a string is its number of bytes
|
|
(that is, the usual meaning of string length when each
|
|
character is one byte).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The length operator applied on a table
|
|
returns a border in that table.
|
|
A <em>border</em> in a table <code>t</code> is any natural number
|
|
that satisfies the following condition:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
(border == 0 or t[border] ~= nil) and t[border + 1] == nil
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
In words,
|
|
a border is any (natural) index in a table
|
|
where a non-nil value is followed by a nil value
|
|
(or zero, when index 1 is nil).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A table with exactly one border is called a <em>sequence</em>.
|
|
For instance, the table <code>{10, 20, 30, 40, 50}</code> is a sequence,
|
|
as it has only one border (5).
|
|
The table <code>{10, 20, 30, nil, 50}</code> has two borders (3 and 5),
|
|
and therefore it is not a sequence.
|
|
The table <code>{nil, 20, 30, nil, nil, 60, nil}</code>
|
|
has three borders (0, 3, and 6),
|
|
so it is not a sequence, too.
|
|
The table <code>{}</code> is a sequence with border 0.
|
|
Note that non-natural keys do not interfere
|
|
with whether a table is a sequence.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When <code>t</code> is a sequence,
|
|
<code>#t</code> returns its only border,
|
|
which corresponds to the intuitive notion of the length of the sequence.
|
|
When <code>t</code> is not a sequence,
|
|
<code>#t</code> can return any of its borders.
|
|
(The exact one depends on details of
|
|
the internal representation of the table,
|
|
which in turn can depend on how the table was populated and
|
|
the memory addresses of its non-numeric keys.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The computation of the length of a table
|
|
has a guaranteed worst time of <em>O(log n)</em>,
|
|
where <em>n</em> is the largest natural key in the table.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A program can modify the behavior of the length operator for
|
|
any value but strings through the <code>__len</code> metamethod (see <a href="#2.4">§2.4</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>3.4.8 – <a name="3.4.8">Precedence</a></h3><p>
|
|
Operator precedence in Lua follows the table below,
|
|
from lower to higher priority:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
or
|
|
and
|
|
< > <= >= ~= ==
|
|
|
|
|
~
|
|
&
|
|
<< >>
|
|
..
|
|
+ -
|
|
* / // %
|
|
unary operators (not # - ~)
|
|
^
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
As usual,
|
|
you can use parentheses to change the precedences of an expression.
|
|
The concatenation ('<code>..</code>') and exponentiation ('<code>^</code>')
|
|
operators are right associative.
|
|
All other binary operators are left associative.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>3.4.9 – <a name="3.4.9">Table Constructors</a></h3><p>
|
|
Table constructors are expressions that create tables.
|
|
Every time a constructor is evaluated, a new table is created.
|
|
A constructor can be used to create an empty table
|
|
or to create a table and initialize some of its fields.
|
|
The general syntax for constructors is
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
tableconstructor ::= ‘<b>{</b>’ [fieldlist] ‘<b>}</b>’
|
|
fieldlist ::= field {fieldsep field} [fieldsep]
|
|
field ::= ‘<b>[</b>’ exp ‘<b>]</b>’ ‘<b>=</b>’ exp | Name ‘<b>=</b>’ exp | exp
|
|
fieldsep ::= ‘<b>,</b>’ | ‘<b>;</b>’
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Each field of the form <code>[exp1] = exp2</code> adds to the new table an entry
|
|
with key <code>exp1</code> and value <code>exp2</code>.
|
|
A field of the form <code>name = exp</code> is equivalent to
|
|
<code>["name"] = exp</code>.
|
|
Finally, fields of the form <code>exp</code> are equivalent to
|
|
<code>[i] = exp</code>, where <code>i</code> are consecutive integers
|
|
starting with 1.
|
|
Fields in the other formats do not affect this counting.
|
|
For example,
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
a = { [f(1)] = g; "x", "y"; x = 1, f(x), [30] = 23; 45 }
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
is equivalent to
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
do
|
|
local t = {}
|
|
t[f(1)] = g
|
|
t[1] = "x" -- 1st exp
|
|
t[2] = "y" -- 2nd exp
|
|
t.x = 1 -- t["x"] = 1
|
|
t[3] = f(x) -- 3rd exp
|
|
t[30] = 23
|
|
t[4] = 45 -- 4th exp
|
|
a = t
|
|
end
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The order of the assignments in a constructor is undefined.
|
|
(This order would be relevant only when there are repeated keys.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If the last field in the list has the form <code>exp</code>
|
|
and the expression is a function call or a vararg expression,
|
|
then all values returned by this expression enter the list consecutively
|
|
(see <a href="#3.4.10">§3.4.10</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The field list can have an optional trailing separator,
|
|
as a convenience for machine-generated code.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>3.4.10 – <a name="3.4.10">Function Calls</a></h3><p>
|
|
A function call in Lua has the following syntax:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
functioncall ::= prefixexp args
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
In a function call,
|
|
first prefixexp and args are evaluated.
|
|
If the value of prefixexp has type <em>function</em>,
|
|
then this function is called
|
|
with the given arguments.
|
|
Otherwise, the prefixexp "call" metamethod is called,
|
|
having as first argument the value of prefixexp,
|
|
followed by the original call arguments
|
|
(see <a href="#2.4">§2.4</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The form
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
functioncall ::= prefixexp ‘<b>:</b>’ Name args
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
can be used to call "methods".
|
|
A call <code>v:name(<em>args</em>)</code>
|
|
is syntactic sugar for <code>v.name(v,<em>args</em>)</code>,
|
|
except that <code>v</code> is evaluated only once.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Arguments have the following syntax:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
args ::= ‘<b>(</b>’ [explist] ‘<b>)</b>’
|
|
args ::= tableconstructor
|
|
args ::= LiteralString
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
All argument expressions are evaluated before the call.
|
|
A call of the form <code>f{<em>fields</em>}</code> is
|
|
syntactic sugar for <code>f({<em>fields</em>})</code>;
|
|
that is, the argument list is a single new table.
|
|
A call of the form <code>f'<em>string</em>'</code>
|
|
(or <code>f"<em>string</em>"</code> or <code>f[[<em>string</em>]]</code>)
|
|
is syntactic sugar for <code>f('<em>string</em>')</code>;
|
|
that is, the argument list is a single literal string.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A call of the form <code>return <em>functioncall</em></code> is called
|
|
a <em>tail call</em>.
|
|
Lua implements <em>proper tail calls</em>
|
|
(or <em>proper tail recursion</em>):
|
|
in a tail call,
|
|
the called function reuses the stack entry of the calling function.
|
|
Therefore, there is no limit on the number of nested tail calls that
|
|
a program can execute.
|
|
However, a tail call erases any debug information about the
|
|
calling function.
|
|
Note that a tail call only happens with a particular syntax,
|
|
where the <b>return</b> has one single function call as argument;
|
|
this syntax makes the calling function return exactly
|
|
the returns of the called function.
|
|
So, none of the following examples are tail calls:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
return (f(x)) -- results adjusted to 1
|
|
return 2 * f(x)
|
|
return x, f(x) -- additional results
|
|
f(x); return -- results discarded
|
|
return x or f(x) -- results adjusted to 1
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>3.4.11 – <a name="3.4.11">Function Definitions</a></h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The syntax for function definition is
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
functiondef ::= <b>function</b> funcbody
|
|
funcbody ::= ‘<b>(</b>’ [parlist] ‘<b>)</b>’ block <b>end</b>
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The following syntactic sugar simplifies function definitions:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
stat ::= <b>function</b> funcname funcbody
|
|
stat ::= <b>local</b> <b>function</b> Name funcbody
|
|
funcname ::= Name {‘<b>.</b>’ Name} [‘<b>:</b>’ Name]
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
The statement
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
function f () <em>body</em> end
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
translates to
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
f = function () <em>body</em> end
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
The statement
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
function t.a.b.c.f () <em>body</em> end
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
translates to
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
t.a.b.c.f = function () <em>body</em> end
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
The statement
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
local function f () <em>body</em> end
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
translates to
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
local f; f = function () <em>body</em> end
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
not to
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
local f = function () <em>body</em> end
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
(This only makes a difference when the body of the function
|
|
contains references to <code>f</code>.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A function definition is an executable expression,
|
|
whose value has type <em>function</em>.
|
|
When Lua precompiles a chunk,
|
|
all its function bodies are precompiled too.
|
|
Then, whenever Lua executes the function definition,
|
|
the function is <em>instantiated</em> (or <em>closed</em>).
|
|
This function instance (or <em>closure</em>)
|
|
is the final value of the expression.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Parameters act as local variables that are
|
|
initialized with the argument values:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
parlist ::= namelist [‘<b>,</b>’ ‘<b>...</b>’] | ‘<b>...</b>’
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
When a function is called,
|
|
the list of arguments is adjusted to
|
|
the length of the list of parameters,
|
|
unless the function is a <em>vararg function</em>,
|
|
which is indicated by three dots ('<code>...</code>')
|
|
at the end of its parameter list.
|
|
A vararg function does not adjust its argument list;
|
|
instead, it collects all extra arguments and supplies them
|
|
to the function through a <em>vararg expression</em>,
|
|
which is also written as three dots.
|
|
The value of this expression is a list of all actual extra arguments,
|
|
similar to a function with multiple results.
|
|
If a vararg expression is used inside another expression
|
|
or in the middle of a list of expressions,
|
|
then its return list is adjusted to one element.
|
|
If the expression is used as the last element of a list of expressions,
|
|
then no adjustment is made
|
|
(unless that last expression is enclosed in parentheses).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
As an example, consider the following definitions:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
function f(a, b) end
|
|
function g(a, b, ...) end
|
|
function r() return 1,2,3 end
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
Then, we have the following mapping from arguments to parameters and
|
|
to the vararg expression:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
CALL PARAMETERS
|
|
|
|
f(3) a=3, b=nil
|
|
f(3, 4) a=3, b=4
|
|
f(3, 4, 5) a=3, b=4
|
|
f(r(), 10) a=1, b=10
|
|
f(r()) a=1, b=2
|
|
|
|
g(3) a=3, b=nil, ... --> (nothing)
|
|
g(3, 4) a=3, b=4, ... --> (nothing)
|
|
g(3, 4, 5, 8) a=3, b=4, ... --> 5 8
|
|
g(5, r()) a=5, b=1, ... --> 2 3
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Results are returned using the <b>return</b> statement (see <a href="#3.3.4">§3.3.4</a>).
|
|
If control reaches the end of a function
|
|
without encountering a <b>return</b> statement,
|
|
then the function returns with no results.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
There is a system-dependent limit on the number of values
|
|
that a function may return.
|
|
This limit is guaranteed to be larger than 1000.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The <em>colon</em> syntax
|
|
is used for defining <em>methods</em>,
|
|
that is, functions that have an implicit extra parameter <code>self</code>.
|
|
Thus, the statement
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
function t.a.b.c:f (<em>params</em>) <em>body</em> end
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
is syntactic sugar for
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
t.a.b.c.f = function (self, <em>params</em>) <em>body</em> end
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>3.5 – <a name="3.5">Visibility Rules</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
Lua is a lexically scoped language.
|
|
The scope of a local variable begins at the first statement after
|
|
its declaration and lasts until the last non-void statement
|
|
of the innermost block that includes the declaration.
|
|
Consider the following example:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
x = 10 -- global variable
|
|
do -- new block
|
|
local x = x -- new 'x', with value 10
|
|
print(x) --> 10
|
|
x = x+1
|
|
do -- another block
|
|
local x = x+1 -- another 'x'
|
|
print(x) --> 12
|
|
end
|
|
print(x) --> 11
|
|
end
|
|
print(x) --> 10 (the global one)
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Notice that, in a declaration like <code>local x = x</code>,
|
|
the new <code>x</code> being declared is not in scope yet,
|
|
and so the second <code>x</code> refers to the outside variable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Because of the lexical scoping rules,
|
|
local variables can be freely accessed by functions
|
|
defined inside their scope.
|
|
A local variable used by an inner function is called
|
|
an <em>upvalue</em>, or <em>external local variable</em>,
|
|
inside the inner function.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Notice that each execution of a <b>local</b> statement
|
|
defines new local variables.
|
|
Consider the following example:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
a = {}
|
|
local x = 20
|
|
for i=1,10 do
|
|
local y = 0
|
|
a[i] = function () y=y+1; return x+y end
|
|
end
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
The loop creates ten closures
|
|
(that is, ten instances of the anonymous function).
|
|
Each of these closures uses a different <code>y</code> variable,
|
|
while all of them share the same <code>x</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h1>4 – <a name="4">The Application Program Interface</a></h1>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
This section describes the C API for Lua, that is,
|
|
the set of C functions available to the host program to communicate
|
|
with Lua.
|
|
All API functions and related types and constants
|
|
are declared in the header file <a name="pdf-lua.h"><code>lua.h</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Even when we use the term "function",
|
|
any facility in the API may be provided as a macro instead.
|
|
Except where stated otherwise,
|
|
all such macros use each of their arguments exactly once
|
|
(except for the first argument, which is always a Lua state),
|
|
and so do not generate any hidden side-effects.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
As in most C libraries,
|
|
the Lua API functions do not check their arguments for validity or consistency.
|
|
However, you can change this behavior by compiling Lua
|
|
with the macro <a name="pdf-LUA_USE_APICHECK"><code>LUA_USE_APICHECK</code></a> defined.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The Lua library is fully reentrant:
|
|
it has no global variables.
|
|
It keeps all information it needs in a dynamic structure,
|
|
called the <em>Lua state</em>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Each Lua state has one or more threads,
|
|
which correspond to independent, cooperative lines of execution.
|
|
The type <a href="#lua_State"><code>lua_State</code></a> (despite its name) refers to a thread.
|
|
(Indirectly, through the thread, it also refers to the
|
|
Lua state associated to the thread.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A pointer to a thread must be passed as the first argument to
|
|
every function in the library, except to <a href="#lua_newstate"><code>lua_newstate</code></a>,
|
|
which creates a Lua state from scratch and returns a pointer
|
|
to the <em>main thread</em> in the new state.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>4.1 – <a name="4.1">The Stack</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Lua uses a <em>virtual stack</em> to pass values to and from C.
|
|
Each element in this stack represents a Lua value
|
|
(<b>nil</b>, number, string, etc.).
|
|
Functions in the API can access this stack through the
|
|
Lua state parameter that they receive.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Whenever Lua calls C, the called function gets a new stack,
|
|
which is independent of previous stacks and of stacks of
|
|
C functions that are still active.
|
|
This stack initially contains any arguments to the C function
|
|
and it is where the C function can store temporary
|
|
Lua values and must push its results
|
|
to be returned to the caller (see <a href="#lua_CFunction"><code>lua_CFunction</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
For convenience,
|
|
most query operations in the API do not follow a strict stack discipline.
|
|
Instead, they can refer to any element in the stack
|
|
by using an <em>index</em>:
|
|
A positive index represents an absolute stack position
|
|
(starting at 1);
|
|
a negative index represents an offset relative to the top of the stack.
|
|
More specifically, if the stack has <em>n</em> elements,
|
|
then index 1 represents the first element
|
|
(that is, the element that was pushed onto the stack first)
|
|
and
|
|
index <em>n</em> represents the last element;
|
|
index -1 also represents the last element
|
|
(that is, the element at the top)
|
|
and index <em>-n</em> represents the first element.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>4.2 – <a name="4.2">Stack Size</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When you interact with the Lua API,
|
|
you are responsible for ensuring consistency.
|
|
In particular,
|
|
<em>you are responsible for controlling stack overflow</em>.
|
|
You can use the function <a href="#lua_checkstack"><code>lua_checkstack</code></a>
|
|
to ensure that the stack has enough space for pushing new elements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Whenever Lua calls C,
|
|
it ensures that the stack has space for
|
|
at least <a name="pdf-LUA_MINSTACK"><code>LUA_MINSTACK</code></a> extra slots.
|
|
<code>LUA_MINSTACK</code> is defined as 20,
|
|
so that usually you do not have to worry about stack space
|
|
unless your code has loops pushing elements onto the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When you call a Lua function
|
|
without a fixed number of results (see <a href="#lua_call"><code>lua_call</code></a>),
|
|
Lua ensures that the stack has enough space for all results,
|
|
but it does not ensure any extra space.
|
|
So, before pushing anything in the stack after such a call
|
|
you should use <a href="#lua_checkstack"><code>lua_checkstack</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>4.3 – <a name="4.3">Valid and Acceptable Indices</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Any function in the API that receives stack indices
|
|
works only with <em>valid indices</em> or <em>acceptable indices</em>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A <em>valid index</em> is an index that refers to a
|
|
position that stores a modifiable Lua value.
|
|
It comprises stack indices between 1 and the stack top
|
|
(<code>1 ≤ abs(index) ≤ top</code>)
|
|
|
|
plus <em>pseudo-indices</em>,
|
|
which represent some positions that are accessible to C code
|
|
but that are not in the stack.
|
|
Pseudo-indices are used to access the registry (see <a href="#4.5">§4.5</a>)
|
|
and the upvalues of a C function (see <a href="#4.4">§4.4</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Functions that do not need a specific mutable position,
|
|
but only a value (e.g., query functions),
|
|
can be called with acceptable indices.
|
|
An <em>acceptable index</em> can be any valid index,
|
|
but it also can be any positive index after the stack top
|
|
within the space allocated for the stack,
|
|
that is, indices up to the stack size.
|
|
(Note that 0 is never an acceptable index.)
|
|
Except when noted otherwise,
|
|
functions in the API work with acceptable indices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Acceptable indices serve to avoid extra tests
|
|
against the stack top when querying the stack.
|
|
For instance, a C function can query its third argument
|
|
without the need to first check whether there is a third argument,
|
|
that is, without the need to check whether 3 is a valid index.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
For functions that can be called with acceptable indices,
|
|
any non-valid index is treated as if it
|
|
contains a value of a virtual type <a name="pdf-LUA_TNONE"><code>LUA_TNONE</code></a>,
|
|
which behaves like a nil value.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>4.4 – <a name="4.4">C Closures</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When a C function is created,
|
|
it is possible to associate some values with it,
|
|
thus creating a <em>C closure</em>
|
|
(see <a href="#lua_pushcclosure"><code>lua_pushcclosure</code></a>);
|
|
these values are called <em>upvalues</em> and are
|
|
accessible to the function whenever it is called.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Whenever a C function is called,
|
|
its upvalues are located at specific pseudo-indices.
|
|
These pseudo-indices are produced by the macro
|
|
<a href="#lua_upvalueindex"><code>lua_upvalueindex</code></a>.
|
|
The first upvalue associated with a function is at index
|
|
<code>lua_upvalueindex(1)</code>, and so on.
|
|
Any access to <code>lua_upvalueindex(<em>n</em>)</code>,
|
|
where <em>n</em> is greater than the number of upvalues of the
|
|
current function
|
|
(but not greater than 256,
|
|
which is one plus the maximum number of upvalues in a closure),
|
|
produces an acceptable but invalid index.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>4.5 – <a name="4.5">Registry</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Lua provides a <em>registry</em>,
|
|
a predefined table that can be used by any C code to
|
|
store whatever Lua values it needs to store.
|
|
The registry table is always located at pseudo-index
|
|
<a name="pdf-LUA_REGISTRYINDEX"><code>LUA_REGISTRYINDEX</code></a>.
|
|
Any C library can store data into this table,
|
|
but it must take care to choose keys
|
|
that are different from those used
|
|
by other libraries, to avoid collisions.
|
|
Typically, you should use as key a string containing your library name,
|
|
or a light userdata with the address of a C object in your code,
|
|
or any Lua object created by your code.
|
|
As with variable names,
|
|
string keys starting with an underscore followed by
|
|
uppercase letters are reserved for Lua.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The integer keys in the registry are used
|
|
by the reference mechanism (see <a href="#luaL_ref"><code>luaL_ref</code></a>)
|
|
and by some predefined values.
|
|
Therefore, integer keys must not be used for other purposes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When you create a new Lua state,
|
|
its registry comes with some predefined values.
|
|
These predefined values are indexed with integer keys
|
|
defined as constants in <code>lua.h</code>.
|
|
The following constants are defined:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_RIDX_MAINTHREAD"><code>LUA_RIDX_MAINTHREAD</code></a>: </b> At this index the registry has
|
|
the main thread of the state.
|
|
(The main thread is the one created together with the state.)
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_RIDX_GLOBALS"><code>LUA_RIDX_GLOBALS</code></a>: </b> At this index the registry has
|
|
the global environment.
|
|
</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>4.6 – <a name="4.6">Error Handling in C</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Internally, Lua uses the C <code>longjmp</code> facility to handle errors.
|
|
(Lua will use exceptions if you compile it as C++;
|
|
search for <code>LUAI_THROW</code> in the source code for details.)
|
|
When Lua faces any error
|
|
(such as a memory allocation error or a type error)
|
|
it <em>raises</em> an error;
|
|
that is, it does a long jump.
|
|
A <em>protected environment</em> uses <code>setjmp</code>
|
|
to set a recovery point;
|
|
any error jumps to the most recent active recovery point.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Inside a C function you can raise an error by calling <a href="#lua_error"><code>lua_error</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Most functions in the API can raise an error,
|
|
for instance due to a memory allocation error.
|
|
The documentation for each function indicates whether
|
|
it can raise errors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If an error happens outside any protected environment,
|
|
Lua calls a <em>panic function</em> (see <a href="#lua_atpanic"><code>lua_atpanic</code></a>)
|
|
and then calls <code>abort</code>,
|
|
thus exiting the host application.
|
|
Your panic function can avoid this exit by
|
|
never returning
|
|
(e.g., doing a long jump to your own recovery point outside Lua).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The panic function,
|
|
as its name implies,
|
|
is a mechanism of last resort.
|
|
Programs should avoid it.
|
|
As a general rule,
|
|
when a C function is called by Lua with a Lua state,
|
|
it can do whatever it wants on that Lua state,
|
|
as it should be already protected.
|
|
However,
|
|
when C code operates on other Lua states
|
|
(e.g., a Lua argument to the function,
|
|
a Lua state stored in the registry, or
|
|
the result of <a href="#lua_newthread"><code>lua_newthread</code></a>),
|
|
it should use them only in API calls that cannot raise errors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The panic function runs as if it were a message handler (see <a href="#2.3">§2.3</a>);
|
|
in particular, the error object is at the top of the stack.
|
|
However, there is no guarantee about stack space.
|
|
To push anything on the stack,
|
|
the panic function must first check the available space (see <a href="#4.2">§4.2</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>4.7 – <a name="4.7">Handling Yields in C</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Internally, Lua uses the C <code>longjmp</code> facility to yield a coroutine.
|
|
Therefore, if a C function <code>foo</code> calls an API function
|
|
and this API function yields
|
|
(directly or indirectly by calling another function that yields),
|
|
Lua cannot return to <code>foo</code> any more,
|
|
because the <code>longjmp</code> removes its frame from the C stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
To avoid this kind of problem,
|
|
Lua raises an error whenever it tries to yield across an API call,
|
|
except for three functions:
|
|
<a href="#lua_yieldk"><code>lua_yieldk</code></a>, <a href="#lua_callk"><code>lua_callk</code></a>, and <a href="#lua_pcallk"><code>lua_pcallk</code></a>.
|
|
All those functions receive a <em>continuation function</em>
|
|
(as a parameter named <code>k</code>) to continue execution after a yield.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
We need to set some terminology to explain continuations.
|
|
We have a C function called from Lua which we will call
|
|
the <em>original function</em>.
|
|
This original function then calls one of those three functions in the C API,
|
|
which we will call the <em>callee function</em>,
|
|
that then yields the current thread.
|
|
(This can happen when the callee function is <a href="#lua_yieldk"><code>lua_yieldk</code></a>,
|
|
or when the callee function is either <a href="#lua_callk"><code>lua_callk</code></a> or <a href="#lua_pcallk"><code>lua_pcallk</code></a>
|
|
and the function called by them yields.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Suppose the running thread yields while executing the callee function.
|
|
After the thread resumes,
|
|
it eventually will finish running the callee function.
|
|
However,
|
|
the callee function cannot return to the original function,
|
|
because its frame in the C stack was destroyed by the yield.
|
|
Instead, Lua calls a <em>continuation function</em>,
|
|
which was given as an argument to the callee function.
|
|
As the name implies,
|
|
the continuation function should continue the task
|
|
of the original function.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
As an illustration, consider the following function:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
int original_function (lua_State *L) {
|
|
... /* code 1 */
|
|
status = lua_pcall(L, n, m, h); /* calls Lua */
|
|
... /* code 2 */
|
|
}
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
Now we want to allow
|
|
the Lua code being run by <a href="#lua_pcall"><code>lua_pcall</code></a> to yield.
|
|
First, we can rewrite our function like here:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
int k (lua_State *L, int status, lua_KContext ctx) {
|
|
... /* code 2 */
|
|
}
|
|
|
|
int original_function (lua_State *L) {
|
|
... /* code 1 */
|
|
return k(L, lua_pcall(L, n, m, h), ctx);
|
|
}
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
In the above code,
|
|
the new function <code>k</code> is a
|
|
<em>continuation function</em> (with type <a href="#lua_KFunction"><code>lua_KFunction</code></a>),
|
|
which should do all the work that the original function
|
|
was doing after calling <a href="#lua_pcall"><code>lua_pcall</code></a>.
|
|
Now, we must inform Lua that it must call <code>k</code> if the Lua code
|
|
being executed by <a href="#lua_pcall"><code>lua_pcall</code></a> gets interrupted in some way
|
|
(errors or yielding),
|
|
so we rewrite the code as here,
|
|
replacing <a href="#lua_pcall"><code>lua_pcall</code></a> by <a href="#lua_pcallk"><code>lua_pcallk</code></a>:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
int original_function (lua_State *L) {
|
|
... /* code 1 */
|
|
return k(L, lua_pcallk(L, n, m, h, ctx2, k), ctx1);
|
|
}
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
Note the external, explicit call to the continuation:
|
|
Lua will call the continuation only if needed, that is,
|
|
in case of errors or resuming after a yield.
|
|
If the called function returns normally without ever yielding,
|
|
<a href="#lua_pcallk"><code>lua_pcallk</code></a> (and <a href="#lua_callk"><code>lua_callk</code></a>) will also return normally.
|
|
(Of course, instead of calling the continuation in that case,
|
|
you can do the equivalent work directly inside the original function.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Besides the Lua state,
|
|
the continuation function has two other parameters:
|
|
the final status of the call plus the context value (<code>ctx</code>) that
|
|
was passed originally to <a href="#lua_pcallk"><code>lua_pcallk</code></a>.
|
|
(Lua does not use this context value;
|
|
it only passes this value from the original function to the
|
|
continuation function.)
|
|
For <a href="#lua_pcallk"><code>lua_pcallk</code></a>,
|
|
the status is the same value that would be returned by <a href="#lua_pcallk"><code>lua_pcallk</code></a>,
|
|
except that it is <a href="#pdf-LUA_YIELD"><code>LUA_YIELD</code></a> when being executed after a yield
|
|
(instead of <a href="#pdf-LUA_OK"><code>LUA_OK</code></a>).
|
|
For <a href="#lua_yieldk"><code>lua_yieldk</code></a> and <a href="#lua_callk"><code>lua_callk</code></a>,
|
|
the status is always <a href="#pdf-LUA_YIELD"><code>LUA_YIELD</code></a> when Lua calls the continuation.
|
|
(For these two functions,
|
|
Lua will not call the continuation in case of errors,
|
|
because they do not handle errors.)
|
|
Similarly, when using <a href="#lua_callk"><code>lua_callk</code></a>,
|
|
you should call the continuation function
|
|
with <a href="#pdf-LUA_OK"><code>LUA_OK</code></a> as the status.
|
|
(For <a href="#lua_yieldk"><code>lua_yieldk</code></a>, there is not much point in calling
|
|
directly the continuation function,
|
|
because <a href="#lua_yieldk"><code>lua_yieldk</code></a> usually does not return.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Lua treats the continuation function as if it were the original function.
|
|
The continuation function receives the same Lua stack
|
|
from the original function,
|
|
in the same state it would be if the callee function had returned.
|
|
(For instance,
|
|
after a <a href="#lua_callk"><code>lua_callk</code></a> the function and its arguments are
|
|
removed from the stack and replaced by the results from the call.)
|
|
It also has the same upvalues.
|
|
Whatever it returns is handled by Lua as if it were the return
|
|
of the original function.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>4.8 – <a name="4.8">Functions and Types</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Here we list all functions and types from the C API in
|
|
alphabetical order.
|
|
Each function has an indicator like this:
|
|
<span class="apii">[-o, +p, <em>x</em>]</span>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The first field, <code>o</code>,
|
|
is how many elements the function pops from the stack.
|
|
The second field, <code>p</code>,
|
|
is how many elements the function pushes onto the stack.
|
|
(Any function always pushes its results after popping its arguments.)
|
|
A field in the form <code>x|y</code> means the function can push (or pop)
|
|
<code>x</code> or <code>y</code> elements,
|
|
depending on the situation;
|
|
an interrogation mark '<code>?</code>' means that
|
|
we cannot know how many elements the function pops/pushes
|
|
by looking only at its arguments
|
|
(e.g., they may depend on what is on the stack).
|
|
The third field, <code>x</code>,
|
|
tells whether the function may raise errors:
|
|
'<code>-</code>' means the function never raises any error;
|
|
'<code>m</code>' means the function may raise out-of-memory errors
|
|
and errors running a <code>__gc</code> metamethod;
|
|
'<code>e</code>' means the function may raise any errors
|
|
(it can run arbitrary Lua code,
|
|
either directly or through metamethods);
|
|
'<code>v</code>' means the function may raise an error on purpose.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_absindex"><code>lua_absindex</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_absindex (lua_State *L, int idx);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Converts the acceptable index <code>idx</code>
|
|
into an equivalent absolute index
|
|
(that is, one that does not depend on the stack top).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_Alloc"><code>lua_Alloc</code></a></h3>
|
|
<pre>typedef void * (*lua_Alloc) (void *ud,
|
|
void *ptr,
|
|
size_t osize,
|
|
size_t nsize);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The type of the memory-allocation function used by Lua states.
|
|
The allocator function must provide a
|
|
functionality similar to <code>realloc</code>,
|
|
but not exactly the same.
|
|
Its arguments are
|
|
<code>ud</code>, an opaque pointer passed to <a href="#lua_newstate"><code>lua_newstate</code></a>;
|
|
<code>ptr</code>, a pointer to the block being allocated/reallocated/freed;
|
|
<code>osize</code>, the original size of the block or some code about what
|
|
is being allocated;
|
|
and <code>nsize</code>, the new size of the block.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When <code>ptr</code> is not <code>NULL</code>,
|
|
<code>osize</code> is the size of the block pointed by <code>ptr</code>,
|
|
that is, the size given when it was allocated or reallocated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When <code>ptr</code> is <code>NULL</code>,
|
|
<code>osize</code> encodes the kind of object that Lua is allocating.
|
|
<code>osize</code> is any of
|
|
<a href="#pdf-LUA_TSTRING"><code>LUA_TSTRING</code></a>, <a href="#pdf-LUA_TTABLE"><code>LUA_TTABLE</code></a>, <a href="#pdf-LUA_TFUNCTION"><code>LUA_TFUNCTION</code></a>,
|
|
<a href="#pdf-LUA_TUSERDATA"><code>LUA_TUSERDATA</code></a>, or <a href="#pdf-LUA_TTHREAD"><code>LUA_TTHREAD</code></a> when (and only when)
|
|
Lua is creating a new object of that type.
|
|
When <code>osize</code> is some other value,
|
|
Lua is allocating memory for something else.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Lua assumes the following behavior from the allocator function:
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When <code>nsize</code> is zero,
|
|
the allocator must behave like <code>free</code>
|
|
and return <code>NULL</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When <code>nsize</code> is not zero,
|
|
the allocator must behave like <code>realloc</code>.
|
|
The allocator returns <code>NULL</code>
|
|
if and only if it cannot fulfill the request.
|
|
Lua assumes that the allocator never fails when
|
|
<code>osize >= nsize</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Here is a simple implementation for the allocator function.
|
|
It is used in the auxiliary library by <a href="#luaL_newstate"><code>luaL_newstate</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
static void *l_alloc (void *ud, void *ptr, size_t osize,
|
|
size_t nsize) {
|
|
(void)ud; (void)osize; /* not used */
|
|
if (nsize == 0) {
|
|
free(ptr);
|
|
return NULL;
|
|
}
|
|
else
|
|
return realloc(ptr, nsize);
|
|
}
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
Note that Standard C ensures
|
|
that <code>free(NULL)</code> has no effect and that
|
|
<code>realloc(NULL,size)</code> is equivalent to <code>malloc(size)</code>.
|
|
This code assumes that <code>realloc</code> does not fail when shrinking a block.
|
|
(Although Standard C does not ensure this behavior,
|
|
it seems to be a safe assumption.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_arith"><code>lua_arith</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-(2|1), +1, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_arith (lua_State *L, int op);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Performs an arithmetic or bitwise operation over the two values
|
|
(or one, in the case of negations)
|
|
at the top of the stack,
|
|
with the value at the top being the second operand,
|
|
pops these values, and pushes the result of the operation.
|
|
The function follows the semantics of the corresponding Lua operator
|
|
(that is, it may call metamethods).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The value of <code>op</code> must be one of the following constants:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_OPADD"><code>LUA_OPADD</code></a>: </b> performs addition (<code>+</code>)</li>
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_OPSUB"><code>LUA_OPSUB</code></a>: </b> performs subtraction (<code>-</code>)</li>
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_OPMUL"><code>LUA_OPMUL</code></a>: </b> performs multiplication (<code>*</code>)</li>
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_OPDIV"><code>LUA_OPDIV</code></a>: </b> performs float division (<code>/</code>)</li>
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_OPIDIV"><code>LUA_OPIDIV</code></a>: </b> performs floor division (<code>//</code>)</li>
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_OPMOD"><code>LUA_OPMOD</code></a>: </b> performs modulo (<code>%</code>)</li>
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_OPPOW"><code>LUA_OPPOW</code></a>: </b> performs exponentiation (<code>^</code>)</li>
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_OPUNM"><code>LUA_OPUNM</code></a>: </b> performs mathematical negation (unary <code>-</code>)</li>
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_OPBNOT"><code>LUA_OPBNOT</code></a>: </b> performs bitwise NOT (<code>~</code>)</li>
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_OPBAND"><code>LUA_OPBAND</code></a>: </b> performs bitwise AND (<code>&</code>)</li>
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_OPBOR"><code>LUA_OPBOR</code></a>: </b> performs bitwise OR (<code>|</code>)</li>
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_OPBXOR"><code>LUA_OPBXOR</code></a>: </b> performs bitwise exclusive OR (<code>~</code>)</li>
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_OPSHL"><code>LUA_OPSHL</code></a>: </b> performs left shift (<code><<</code>)</li>
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_OPSHR"><code>LUA_OPSHR</code></a>: </b> performs right shift (<code>>></code>)</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_atpanic"><code>lua_atpanic</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>lua_CFunction lua_atpanic (lua_State *L, lua_CFunction panicf);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Sets a new panic function and returns the old one (see <a href="#4.6">§4.6</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_call"><code>lua_call</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-(nargs+1), +nresults, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_call (lua_State *L, int nargs, int nresults);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Calls a function.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
To call a function you must use the following protocol:
|
|
first, the function to be called is pushed onto the stack;
|
|
then, the arguments to the function are pushed
|
|
in direct order;
|
|
that is, the first argument is pushed first.
|
|
Finally you call <a href="#lua_call"><code>lua_call</code></a>;
|
|
<code>nargs</code> is the number of arguments that you pushed onto the stack.
|
|
All arguments and the function value are popped from the stack
|
|
when the function is called.
|
|
The function results are pushed onto the stack when the function returns.
|
|
The number of results is adjusted to <code>nresults</code>,
|
|
unless <code>nresults</code> is <a name="pdf-LUA_MULTRET"><code>LUA_MULTRET</code></a>.
|
|
In this case, all results from the function are pushed;
|
|
Lua takes care that the returned values fit into the stack space,
|
|
but it does not ensure any extra space in the stack.
|
|
The function results are pushed onto the stack in direct order
|
|
(the first result is pushed first),
|
|
so that after the call the last result is on the top of the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Any error inside the called function is propagated upwards
|
|
(with a <code>longjmp</code>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The following example shows how the host program can do the
|
|
equivalent to this Lua code:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
a = f("how", t.x, 14)
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
Here it is in C:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
lua_getglobal(L, "f"); /* function to be called */
|
|
lua_pushliteral(L, "how"); /* 1st argument */
|
|
lua_getglobal(L, "t"); /* table to be indexed */
|
|
lua_getfield(L, -1, "x"); /* push result of t.x (2nd arg) */
|
|
lua_remove(L, -2); /* remove 't' from the stack */
|
|
lua_pushinteger(L, 14); /* 3rd argument */
|
|
lua_call(L, 3, 1); /* call 'f' with 3 arguments and 1 result */
|
|
lua_setglobal(L, "a"); /* set global 'a' */
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
Note that the code above is <em>balanced</em>:
|
|
at its end, the stack is back to its original configuration.
|
|
This is considered good programming practice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_callk"><code>lua_callk</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-(nargs + 1), +nresults, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_callk (lua_State *L,
|
|
int nargs,
|
|
int nresults,
|
|
lua_KContext ctx,
|
|
lua_KFunction k);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function behaves exactly like <a href="#lua_call"><code>lua_call</code></a>,
|
|
but allows the called function to yield (see <a href="#4.7">§4.7</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_CFunction"><code>lua_CFunction</code></a></h3>
|
|
<pre>typedef int (*lua_CFunction) (lua_State *L);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Type for C functions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
In order to communicate properly with Lua,
|
|
a C function must use the following protocol,
|
|
which defines the way parameters and results are passed:
|
|
a C function receives its arguments from Lua in its stack
|
|
in direct order (the first argument is pushed first).
|
|
So, when the function starts,
|
|
<code>lua_gettop(L)</code> returns the number of arguments received by the function.
|
|
The first argument (if any) is at index 1
|
|
and its last argument is at index <code>lua_gettop(L)</code>.
|
|
To return values to Lua, a C function just pushes them onto the stack,
|
|
in direct order (the first result is pushed first),
|
|
and returns the number of results.
|
|
Any other value in the stack below the results will be properly
|
|
discarded by Lua.
|
|
Like a Lua function, a C function called by Lua can also return
|
|
many results.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
As an example, the following function receives a variable number
|
|
of numeric arguments and returns their average and their sum:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
static int foo (lua_State *L) {
|
|
int n = lua_gettop(L); /* number of arguments */
|
|
lua_Number sum = 0.0;
|
|
int i;
|
|
for (i = 1; i <= n; i++) {
|
|
if (!lua_isnumber(L, i)) {
|
|
lua_pushliteral(L, "incorrect argument");
|
|
lua_error(L);
|
|
}
|
|
sum += lua_tonumber(L, i);
|
|
}
|
|
lua_pushnumber(L, sum/n); /* first result */
|
|
lua_pushnumber(L, sum); /* second result */
|
|
return 2; /* number of results */
|
|
}
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_checkstack"><code>lua_checkstack</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_checkstack (lua_State *L, int n);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Ensures that the stack has space for at least <code>n</code> extra slots
|
|
(that is, that you can safely push up to <code>n</code> values into it).
|
|
It returns false if it cannot fulfill the request,
|
|
either because it would cause the stack
|
|
to be larger than a fixed maximum size
|
|
(typically at least several thousand elements) or
|
|
because it cannot allocate memory for the extra space.
|
|
This function never shrinks the stack;
|
|
if the stack already has space for the extra slots,
|
|
it is left unchanged.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_close"><code>lua_close</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_close (lua_State *L);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Destroys all objects in the given Lua state
|
|
(calling the corresponding garbage-collection metamethods, if any)
|
|
and frees all dynamic memory used by this state.
|
|
In several platforms, you may not need to call this function,
|
|
because all resources are naturally released when the host program ends.
|
|
On the other hand, long-running programs that create multiple states,
|
|
such as daemons or web servers,
|
|
will probably need to close states as soon as they are not needed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_compare"><code>lua_compare</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_compare (lua_State *L, int index1, int index2, int op);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Compares two Lua values.
|
|
Returns 1 if the value at index <code>index1</code> satisfies <code>op</code>
|
|
when compared with the value at index <code>index2</code>,
|
|
following the semantics of the corresponding Lua operator
|
|
(that is, it may call metamethods).
|
|
Otherwise returns 0.
|
|
Also returns 0 if any of the indices is not valid.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The value of <code>op</code> must be one of the following constants:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_OPEQ"><code>LUA_OPEQ</code></a>: </b> compares for equality (<code>==</code>)</li>
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_OPLT"><code>LUA_OPLT</code></a>: </b> compares for less than (<code><</code>)</li>
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_OPLE"><code>LUA_OPLE</code></a>: </b> compares for less or equal (<code><=</code>)</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_concat"><code>lua_concat</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-n, +1, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_concat (lua_State *L, int n);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Concatenates the <code>n</code> values at the top of the stack,
|
|
pops them, and leaves the result at the top.
|
|
If <code>n</code> is 1, the result is the single value on the stack
|
|
(that is, the function does nothing);
|
|
if <code>n</code> is 0, the result is the empty string.
|
|
Concatenation is performed following the usual semantics of Lua
|
|
(see <a href="#3.4.6">§3.4.6</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_copy"><code>lua_copy</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_copy (lua_State *L, int fromidx, int toidx);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Copies the element at index <code>fromidx</code>
|
|
into the valid index <code>toidx</code>,
|
|
replacing the value at that position.
|
|
Values at other positions are not affected.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_createtable"><code>lua_createtable</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_createtable (lua_State *L, int narr, int nrec);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Creates a new empty table and pushes it onto the stack.
|
|
Parameter <code>narr</code> is a hint for how many elements the table
|
|
will have as a sequence;
|
|
parameter <code>nrec</code> is a hint for how many other elements
|
|
the table will have.
|
|
Lua may use these hints to preallocate memory for the new table.
|
|
This preallocation is useful for performance when you know in advance
|
|
how many elements the table will have.
|
|
Otherwise you can use the function <a href="#lua_newtable"><code>lua_newtable</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_dump"><code>lua_dump</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_dump (lua_State *L,
|
|
lua_Writer writer,
|
|
void *data,
|
|
int strip);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Dumps a function as a binary chunk.
|
|
Receives a Lua function on the top of the stack
|
|
and produces a binary chunk that,
|
|
if loaded again,
|
|
results in a function equivalent to the one dumped.
|
|
As it produces parts of the chunk,
|
|
<a href="#lua_dump"><code>lua_dump</code></a> calls function <code>writer</code> (see <a href="#lua_Writer"><code>lua_Writer</code></a>)
|
|
with the given <code>data</code>
|
|
to write them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>strip</code> is true,
|
|
the binary representation may not include all debug information
|
|
about the function,
|
|
to save space.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The value returned is the error code returned by the last
|
|
call to the writer;
|
|
0 means no errors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function does not pop the Lua function from the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_error"><code>lua_error</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-1, +0, <em>v</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_error (lua_State *L);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Generates a Lua error,
|
|
using the value at the top of the stack as the error object.
|
|
This function does a long jump,
|
|
and therefore never returns
|
|
(see <a href="#luaL_error"><code>luaL_error</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_gc"><code>lua_gc</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_gc (lua_State *L, int what, int data);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Controls the garbage collector.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function performs several tasks,
|
|
according to the value of the parameter <code>what</code>:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>LUA_GCSTOP</code>: </b>
|
|
stops the garbage collector.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>LUA_GCRESTART</code>: </b>
|
|
restarts the garbage collector.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>LUA_GCCOLLECT</code>: </b>
|
|
performs a full garbage-collection cycle.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>LUA_GCCOUNT</code>: </b>
|
|
returns the current amount of memory (in Kbytes) in use by Lua.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>LUA_GCCOUNTB</code>: </b>
|
|
returns the remainder of dividing the current amount of bytes of
|
|
memory in use by Lua by 1024.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>LUA_GCSTEP</code>: </b>
|
|
performs an incremental step of garbage collection.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>LUA_GCSETPAUSE</code>: </b>
|
|
sets <code>data</code> as the new value
|
|
for the <em>pause</em> of the collector (see <a href="#2.5">§2.5</a>)
|
|
and returns the previous value of the pause.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>LUA_GCSETSTEPMUL</code>: </b>
|
|
sets <code>data</code> as the new value for the <em>step multiplier</em> of
|
|
the collector (see <a href="#2.5">§2.5</a>)
|
|
and returns the previous value of the step multiplier.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>LUA_GCISRUNNING</code>: </b>
|
|
returns a boolean that tells whether the collector is running
|
|
(i.e., not stopped).
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
For more details about these options,
|
|
see <a href="#pdf-collectgarbage"><code>collectgarbage</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_getallocf"><code>lua_getallocf</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>lua_Alloc lua_getallocf (lua_State *L, void **ud);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the memory-allocation function of a given state.
|
|
If <code>ud</code> is not <code>NULL</code>, Lua stores in <code>*ud</code> the
|
|
opaque pointer given when the memory-allocator function was set.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_getfield"><code>lua_getfield</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_getfield (lua_State *L, int index, const char *k);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes onto the stack the value <code>t[k]</code>,
|
|
where <code>t</code> is the value at the given index.
|
|
As in Lua, this function may trigger a metamethod
|
|
for the "index" event (see <a href="#2.4">§2.4</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the type of the pushed value.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_getextraspace"><code>lua_getextraspace</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void *lua_getextraspace (lua_State *L);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns a pointer to a raw memory area associated with the
|
|
given Lua state.
|
|
The application can use this area for any purpose;
|
|
Lua does not use it for anything.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Each new thread has this area initialized with a copy
|
|
of the area of the main thread.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
By default, this area has the size of a pointer to void,
|
|
but you can recompile Lua with a different size for this area.
|
|
(See <code>LUA_EXTRASPACE</code> in <code>luaconf.h</code>.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_getglobal"><code>lua_getglobal</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_getglobal (lua_State *L, const char *name);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes onto the stack the value of the global <code>name</code>.
|
|
Returns the type of that value.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_geti"><code>lua_geti</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_geti (lua_State *L, int index, lua_Integer i);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes onto the stack the value <code>t[i]</code>,
|
|
where <code>t</code> is the value at the given index.
|
|
As in Lua, this function may trigger a metamethod
|
|
for the "index" event (see <a href="#2.4">§2.4</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the type of the pushed value.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_getmetatable"><code>lua_getmetatable</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +(0|1), –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_getmetatable (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If the value at the given index has a metatable,
|
|
the function pushes that metatable onto the stack and returns 1.
|
|
Otherwise,
|
|
the function returns 0 and pushes nothing on the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_gettable"><code>lua_gettable</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-1, +1, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_gettable (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes onto the stack the value <code>t[k]</code>,
|
|
where <code>t</code> is the value at the given index
|
|
and <code>k</code> is the value at the top of the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function pops the key from the stack,
|
|
pushing the resulting value in its place.
|
|
As in Lua, this function may trigger a metamethod
|
|
for the "index" event (see <a href="#2.4">§2.4</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the type of the pushed value.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_gettop"><code>lua_gettop</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_gettop (lua_State *L);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the index of the top element in the stack.
|
|
Because indices start at 1,
|
|
this result is equal to the number of elements in the stack;
|
|
in particular, 0 means an empty stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_getuservalue"><code>lua_getuservalue</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_getuservalue (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes onto the stack the Lua value associated with the full userdata
|
|
at the given index.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the type of the pushed value.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_insert"><code>lua_insert</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-1, +1, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_insert (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Moves the top element into the given valid index,
|
|
shifting up the elements above this index to open space.
|
|
This function cannot be called with a pseudo-index,
|
|
because a pseudo-index is not an actual stack position.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_Integer"><code>lua_Integer</code></a></h3>
|
|
<pre>typedef ... lua_Integer;</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The type of integers in Lua.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
By default this type is <code>long long</code>,
|
|
(usually a 64-bit two-complement integer),
|
|
but that can be changed to <code>long</code> or <code>int</code>
|
|
(usually a 32-bit two-complement integer).
|
|
(See <code>LUA_INT_TYPE</code> in <code>luaconf.h</code>.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Lua also defines the constants
|
|
<a name="pdf-LUA_MININTEGER"><code>LUA_MININTEGER</code></a> and <a name="pdf-LUA_MAXINTEGER"><code>LUA_MAXINTEGER</code></a>,
|
|
with the minimum and the maximum values that fit in this type.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_isboolean"><code>lua_isboolean</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_isboolean (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns 1 if the value at the given index is a boolean,
|
|
and 0 otherwise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_iscfunction"><code>lua_iscfunction</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_iscfunction (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns 1 if the value at the given index is a C function,
|
|
and 0 otherwise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_isfunction"><code>lua_isfunction</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_isfunction (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns 1 if the value at the given index is a function
|
|
(either C or Lua), and 0 otherwise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_isinteger"><code>lua_isinteger</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_isinteger (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns 1 if the value at the given index is an integer
|
|
(that is, the value is a number and is represented as an integer),
|
|
and 0 otherwise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_islightuserdata"><code>lua_islightuserdata</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_islightuserdata (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns 1 if the value at the given index is a light userdata,
|
|
and 0 otherwise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_isnil"><code>lua_isnil</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_isnil (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns 1 if the value at the given index is <b>nil</b>,
|
|
and 0 otherwise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_isnone"><code>lua_isnone</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_isnone (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns 1 if the given index is not valid,
|
|
and 0 otherwise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_isnoneornil"><code>lua_isnoneornil</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_isnoneornil (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns 1 if the given index is not valid
|
|
or if the value at this index is <b>nil</b>,
|
|
and 0 otherwise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_isnumber"><code>lua_isnumber</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_isnumber (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns 1 if the value at the given index is a number
|
|
or a string convertible to a number,
|
|
and 0 otherwise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_isstring"><code>lua_isstring</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_isstring (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns 1 if the value at the given index is a string
|
|
or a number (which is always convertible to a string),
|
|
and 0 otherwise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_istable"><code>lua_istable</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_istable (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns 1 if the value at the given index is a table,
|
|
and 0 otherwise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_isthread"><code>lua_isthread</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_isthread (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns 1 if the value at the given index is a thread,
|
|
and 0 otherwise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_isuserdata"><code>lua_isuserdata</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_isuserdata (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns 1 if the value at the given index is a userdata
|
|
(either full or light), and 0 otherwise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_isyieldable"><code>lua_isyieldable</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_isyieldable (lua_State *L);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns 1 if the given coroutine can yield,
|
|
and 0 otherwise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_KContext"><code>lua_KContext</code></a></h3>
|
|
<pre>typedef ... lua_KContext;</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The type for continuation-function contexts.
|
|
It must be a numeric type.
|
|
This type is defined as <code>intptr_t</code>
|
|
when <code>intptr_t</code> is available,
|
|
so that it can store pointers too.
|
|
Otherwise, it is defined as <code>ptrdiff_t</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_KFunction"><code>lua_KFunction</code></a></h3>
|
|
<pre>typedef int (*lua_KFunction) (lua_State *L, int status, lua_KContext ctx);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Type for continuation functions (see <a href="#4.7">§4.7</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_len"><code>lua_len</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_len (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the length of the value at the given index.
|
|
It is equivalent to the '<code>#</code>' operator in Lua (see <a href="#3.4.7">§3.4.7</a>) and
|
|
may trigger a metamethod for the "length" event (see <a href="#2.4">§2.4</a>).
|
|
The result is pushed on the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_load"><code>lua_load</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_load (lua_State *L,
|
|
lua_Reader reader,
|
|
void *data,
|
|
const char *chunkname,
|
|
const char *mode);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Loads a Lua chunk without running it.
|
|
If there are no errors,
|
|
<code>lua_load</code> pushes the compiled chunk as a Lua
|
|
function on top of the stack.
|
|
Otherwise, it pushes an error message.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The return values of <code>lua_load</code> are:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><a href="#pdf-LUA_OK"><code>LUA_OK</code></a>: </b> no errors;</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_ERRSYNTAX"><code>LUA_ERRSYNTAX</code></a>: </b>
|
|
syntax error during precompilation;</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><a href="#pdf-LUA_ERRMEM"><code>LUA_ERRMEM</code></a>: </b>
|
|
memory allocation (out-of-memory) error;</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><a href="#pdf-LUA_ERRGCMM"><code>LUA_ERRGCMM</code></a>: </b>
|
|
error while running a <code>__gc</code> metamethod.
|
|
(This error has no relation with the chunk being loaded.
|
|
It is generated by the garbage collector.)
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The <code>lua_load</code> function uses a user-supplied <code>reader</code> function
|
|
to read the chunk (see <a href="#lua_Reader"><code>lua_Reader</code></a>).
|
|
The <code>data</code> argument is an opaque value passed to the reader function.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The <code>chunkname</code> argument gives a name to the chunk,
|
|
which is used for error messages and in debug information (see <a href="#4.9">§4.9</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<code>lua_load</code> automatically detects whether the chunk is text or binary
|
|
and loads it accordingly (see program <code>luac</code>).
|
|
The string <code>mode</code> works as in function <a href="#pdf-load"><code>load</code></a>,
|
|
with the addition that
|
|
a <code>NULL</code> value is equivalent to the string "<code>bt</code>".
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<code>lua_load</code> uses the stack internally,
|
|
so the reader function must always leave the stack
|
|
unmodified when returning.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If the resulting function has upvalues,
|
|
its first upvalue is set to the value of the global environment
|
|
stored at index <code>LUA_RIDX_GLOBALS</code> in the registry (see <a href="#4.5">§4.5</a>).
|
|
When loading main chunks,
|
|
this upvalue will be the <code>_ENV</code> variable (see <a href="#2.2">§2.2</a>).
|
|
Other upvalues are initialized with <b>nil</b>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_newstate"><code>lua_newstate</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>lua_State *lua_newstate (lua_Alloc f, void *ud);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Creates a new thread running in a new, independent state.
|
|
Returns <code>NULL</code> if it cannot create the thread or the state
|
|
(due to lack of memory).
|
|
The argument <code>f</code> is the allocator function;
|
|
Lua does all memory allocation for this state
|
|
through this function (see <a href="#lua_Alloc"><code>lua_Alloc</code></a>).
|
|
The second argument, <code>ud</code>, is an opaque pointer that Lua
|
|
passes to the allocator in every call.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_newtable"><code>lua_newtable</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_newtable (lua_State *L);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Creates a new empty table and pushes it onto the stack.
|
|
It is equivalent to <code>lua_createtable(L, 0, 0)</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_newthread"><code>lua_newthread</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>lua_State *lua_newthread (lua_State *L);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Creates a new thread, pushes it on the stack,
|
|
and returns a pointer to a <a href="#lua_State"><code>lua_State</code></a> that represents this new thread.
|
|
The new thread returned by this function shares with the original thread
|
|
its global environment,
|
|
but has an independent execution stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
There is no explicit function to close or to destroy a thread.
|
|
Threads are subject to garbage collection,
|
|
like any Lua object.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_newuserdata"><code>lua_newuserdata</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void *lua_newuserdata (lua_State *L, size_t size);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function allocates a new block of memory with the given size,
|
|
pushes onto the stack a new full userdata with the block address,
|
|
and returns this address.
|
|
The host program can freely use this memory.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_next"><code>lua_next</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-1, +(2|0), <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_next (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pops a key from the stack,
|
|
and pushes a key–value pair from the table at the given index
|
|
(the "next" pair after the given key).
|
|
If there are no more elements in the table,
|
|
then <a href="#lua_next"><code>lua_next</code></a> returns 0 (and pushes nothing).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A typical traversal looks like this:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
/* table is in the stack at index 't' */
|
|
lua_pushnil(L); /* first key */
|
|
while (lua_next(L, t) != 0) {
|
|
/* uses 'key' (at index -2) and 'value' (at index -1) */
|
|
printf("%s - %s\n",
|
|
lua_typename(L, lua_type(L, -2)),
|
|
lua_typename(L, lua_type(L, -1)));
|
|
/* removes 'value'; keeps 'key' for next iteration */
|
|
lua_pop(L, 1);
|
|
}
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
While traversing a table,
|
|
do not call <a href="#lua_tolstring"><code>lua_tolstring</code></a> directly on a key,
|
|
unless you know that the key is actually a string.
|
|
Recall that <a href="#lua_tolstring"><code>lua_tolstring</code></a> may change
|
|
the value at the given index;
|
|
this confuses the next call to <a href="#lua_next"><code>lua_next</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
See function <a href="#pdf-next"><code>next</code></a> for the caveats of modifying
|
|
the table during its traversal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_Number"><code>lua_Number</code></a></h3>
|
|
<pre>typedef ... lua_Number;</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The type of floats in Lua.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
By default this type is double,
|
|
but that can be changed to a single float or a long double.
|
|
(See <code>LUA_FLOAT_TYPE</code> in <code>luaconf.h</code>.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_numbertointeger"><code>lua_numbertointeger</code></a></h3>
|
|
<pre>int lua_numbertointeger (lua_Number n, lua_Integer *p);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Converts a Lua float to a Lua integer.
|
|
This macro assumes that <code>n</code> has an integral value.
|
|
If that value is within the range of Lua integers,
|
|
it is converted to an integer and assigned to <code>*p</code>.
|
|
The macro results in a boolean indicating whether the
|
|
conversion was successful.
|
|
(Note that this range test can be tricky to do
|
|
correctly without this macro,
|
|
due to roundings.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This macro may evaluate its arguments more than once.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_pcall"><code>lua_pcall</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-(nargs + 1), +(nresults|1), –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_pcall (lua_State *L, int nargs, int nresults, int msgh);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Calls a function in protected mode.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Both <code>nargs</code> and <code>nresults</code> have the same meaning as
|
|
in <a href="#lua_call"><code>lua_call</code></a>.
|
|
If there are no errors during the call,
|
|
<a href="#lua_pcall"><code>lua_pcall</code></a> behaves exactly like <a href="#lua_call"><code>lua_call</code></a>.
|
|
However, if there is any error,
|
|
<a href="#lua_pcall"><code>lua_pcall</code></a> catches it,
|
|
pushes a single value on the stack (the error object),
|
|
and returns an error code.
|
|
Like <a href="#lua_call"><code>lua_call</code></a>,
|
|
<a href="#lua_pcall"><code>lua_pcall</code></a> always removes the function
|
|
and its arguments from the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>msgh</code> is 0,
|
|
then the error object returned on the stack
|
|
is exactly the original error object.
|
|
Otherwise, <code>msgh</code> is the stack index of a
|
|
<em>message handler</em>.
|
|
(This index cannot be a pseudo-index.)
|
|
In case of runtime errors,
|
|
this function will be called with the error object
|
|
and its return value will be the object
|
|
returned on the stack by <a href="#lua_pcall"><code>lua_pcall</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Typically, the message handler is used to add more debug
|
|
information to the error object, such as a stack traceback.
|
|
Such information cannot be gathered after the return of <a href="#lua_pcall"><code>lua_pcall</code></a>,
|
|
since by then the stack has unwound.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The <a href="#lua_pcall"><code>lua_pcall</code></a> function returns one of the following constants
|
|
(defined in <code>lua.h</code>):
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_OK"><code>LUA_OK</code></a> (0): </b>
|
|
success.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_ERRRUN"><code>LUA_ERRRUN</code></a>: </b>
|
|
a runtime error.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_ERRMEM"><code>LUA_ERRMEM</code></a>: </b>
|
|
memory allocation error.
|
|
For such errors, Lua does not call the message handler.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_ERRERR"><code>LUA_ERRERR</code></a>: </b>
|
|
error while running the message handler.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><a name="pdf-LUA_ERRGCMM"><code>LUA_ERRGCMM</code></a>: </b>
|
|
error while running a <code>__gc</code> metamethod.
|
|
For such errors, Lua does not call the message handler
|
|
(as this kind of error typically has no relation
|
|
with the function being called).
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_pcallk"><code>lua_pcallk</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-(nargs + 1), +(nresults|1), –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_pcallk (lua_State *L,
|
|
int nargs,
|
|
int nresults,
|
|
int msgh,
|
|
lua_KContext ctx,
|
|
lua_KFunction k);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function behaves exactly like <a href="#lua_pcall"><code>lua_pcall</code></a>,
|
|
but allows the called function to yield (see <a href="#4.7">§4.7</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_pop"><code>lua_pop</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-n, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_pop (lua_State *L, int n);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pops <code>n</code> elements from the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_pushboolean"><code>lua_pushboolean</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_pushboolean (lua_State *L, int b);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes a boolean value with value <code>b</code> onto the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_pushcclosure"><code>lua_pushcclosure</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-n, +1, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_pushcclosure (lua_State *L, lua_CFunction fn, int n);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes a new C closure onto the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When a C function is created,
|
|
it is possible to associate some values with it,
|
|
thus creating a C closure (see <a href="#4.4">§4.4</a>);
|
|
these values are then accessible to the function whenever it is called.
|
|
To associate values with a C function,
|
|
first these values must be pushed onto the stack
|
|
(when there are multiple values, the first value is pushed first).
|
|
Then <a href="#lua_pushcclosure"><code>lua_pushcclosure</code></a>
|
|
is called to create and push the C function onto the stack,
|
|
with the argument <code>n</code> telling how many values will be
|
|
associated with the function.
|
|
<a href="#lua_pushcclosure"><code>lua_pushcclosure</code></a> also pops these values from the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The maximum value for <code>n</code> is 255.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When <code>n</code> is zero,
|
|
this function creates a <em>light C function</em>,
|
|
which is just a pointer to the C function.
|
|
In that case, it never raises a memory error.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_pushcfunction"><code>lua_pushcfunction</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_pushcfunction (lua_State *L, lua_CFunction f);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes a C function onto the stack.
|
|
This function receives a pointer to a C function
|
|
and pushes onto the stack a Lua value of type <code>function</code> that,
|
|
when called, invokes the corresponding C function.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Any function to be callable by Lua must
|
|
follow the correct protocol to receive its parameters
|
|
and return its results (see <a href="#lua_CFunction"><code>lua_CFunction</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_pushfstring"><code>lua_pushfstring</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>const char *lua_pushfstring (lua_State *L, const char *fmt, ...);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes onto the stack a formatted string
|
|
and returns a pointer to this string.
|
|
It is similar to the ISO C function <code>sprintf</code>,
|
|
but has some important differences:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
You do not have to allocate space for the result:
|
|
the result is a Lua string and Lua takes care of memory allocation
|
|
(and deallocation, through garbage collection).
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
The conversion specifiers are quite restricted.
|
|
There are no flags, widths, or precisions.
|
|
The conversion specifiers can only be
|
|
'<code>%%</code>' (inserts the character '<code>%</code>'),
|
|
'<code>%s</code>' (inserts a zero-terminated string, with no size restrictions),
|
|
'<code>%f</code>' (inserts a <a href="#lua_Number"><code>lua_Number</code></a>),
|
|
'<code>%I</code>' (inserts a <a href="#lua_Integer"><code>lua_Integer</code></a>),
|
|
'<code>%p</code>' (inserts a pointer as a hexadecimal numeral),
|
|
'<code>%d</code>' (inserts an <code>int</code>),
|
|
'<code>%c</code>' (inserts an <code>int</code> as a one-byte character), and
|
|
'<code>%U</code>' (inserts a <code>long int</code> as a UTF-8 byte sequence).
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Unlike other push functions,
|
|
this function checks for the stack space it needs,
|
|
including the slot for its result.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_pushglobaltable"><code>lua_pushglobaltable</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_pushglobaltable (lua_State *L);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes the global environment onto the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_pushinteger"><code>lua_pushinteger</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_pushinteger (lua_State *L, lua_Integer n);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes an integer with value <code>n</code> onto the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_pushlightuserdata"><code>lua_pushlightuserdata</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_pushlightuserdata (lua_State *L, void *p);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes a light userdata onto the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Userdata represent C values in Lua.
|
|
A <em>light userdata</em> represents a pointer, a <code>void*</code>.
|
|
It is a value (like a number):
|
|
you do not create it, it has no individual metatable,
|
|
and it is not collected (as it was never created).
|
|
A light userdata is equal to "any"
|
|
light userdata with the same C address.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_pushliteral"><code>lua_pushliteral</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>const char *lua_pushliteral (lua_State *L, const char *s);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This macro is equivalent to <a href="#lua_pushstring"><code>lua_pushstring</code></a>,
|
|
but should be used only when <code>s</code> is a literal string.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_pushlstring"><code>lua_pushlstring</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>const char *lua_pushlstring (lua_State *L, const char *s, size_t len);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes the string pointed to by <code>s</code> with size <code>len</code>
|
|
onto the stack.
|
|
Lua makes (or reuses) an internal copy of the given string,
|
|
so the memory at <code>s</code> can be freed or reused immediately after
|
|
the function returns.
|
|
The string can contain any binary data,
|
|
including embedded zeros.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns a pointer to the internal copy of the string.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_pushnil"><code>lua_pushnil</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_pushnil (lua_State *L);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes a nil value onto the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_pushnumber"><code>lua_pushnumber</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_pushnumber (lua_State *L, lua_Number n);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes a float with value <code>n</code> onto the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_pushstring"><code>lua_pushstring</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>const char *lua_pushstring (lua_State *L, const char *s);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes the zero-terminated string pointed to by <code>s</code>
|
|
onto the stack.
|
|
Lua makes (or reuses) an internal copy of the given string,
|
|
so the memory at <code>s</code> can be freed or reused immediately after
|
|
the function returns.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns a pointer to the internal copy of the string.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>s</code> is <code>NULL</code>, pushes <b>nil</b> and returns <code>NULL</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_pushthread"><code>lua_pushthread</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_pushthread (lua_State *L);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes the thread represented by <code>L</code> onto the stack.
|
|
Returns 1 if this thread is the main thread of its state.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_pushvalue"><code>lua_pushvalue</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_pushvalue (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes a copy of the element at the given index
|
|
onto the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_pushvfstring"><code>lua_pushvfstring</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>const char *lua_pushvfstring (lua_State *L,
|
|
const char *fmt,
|
|
va_list argp);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Equivalent to <a href="#lua_pushfstring"><code>lua_pushfstring</code></a>, except that it receives a <code>va_list</code>
|
|
instead of a variable number of arguments.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_rawequal"><code>lua_rawequal</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_rawequal (lua_State *L, int index1, int index2);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns 1 if the two values in indices <code>index1</code> and
|
|
<code>index2</code> are primitively equal
|
|
(that is, without calling the <code>__eq</code> metamethod).
|
|
Otherwise returns 0.
|
|
Also returns 0 if any of the indices are not valid.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_rawget"><code>lua_rawget</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-1, +1, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_rawget (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Similar to <a href="#lua_gettable"><code>lua_gettable</code></a>, but does a raw access
|
|
(i.e., without metamethods).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_rawgeti"><code>lua_rawgeti</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_rawgeti (lua_State *L, int index, lua_Integer n);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes onto the stack the value <code>t[n]</code>,
|
|
where <code>t</code> is the table at the given index.
|
|
The access is raw,
|
|
that is, it does not invoke the <code>__index</code> metamethod.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the type of the pushed value.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_rawgetp"><code>lua_rawgetp</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_rawgetp (lua_State *L, int index, const void *p);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes onto the stack the value <code>t[k]</code>,
|
|
where <code>t</code> is the table at the given index and
|
|
<code>k</code> is the pointer <code>p</code> represented as a light userdata.
|
|
The access is raw;
|
|
that is, it does not invoke the <code>__index</code> metamethod.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the type of the pushed value.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_rawlen"><code>lua_rawlen</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>size_t lua_rawlen (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the raw "length" of the value at the given index:
|
|
for strings, this is the string length;
|
|
for tables, this is the result of the length operator ('<code>#</code>')
|
|
with no metamethods;
|
|
for userdata, this is the size of the block of memory allocated
|
|
for the userdata;
|
|
for other values, it is 0.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_rawset"><code>lua_rawset</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-2, +0, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_rawset (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Similar to <a href="#lua_settable"><code>lua_settable</code></a>, but does a raw assignment
|
|
(i.e., without metamethods).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_rawseti"><code>lua_rawseti</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-1, +0, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_rawseti (lua_State *L, int index, lua_Integer i);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Does the equivalent of <code>t[i] = v</code>,
|
|
where <code>t</code> is the table at the given index
|
|
and <code>v</code> is the value at the top of the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function pops the value from the stack.
|
|
The assignment is raw,
|
|
that is, it does not invoke the <code>__newindex</code> metamethod.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_rawsetp"><code>lua_rawsetp</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-1, +0, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_rawsetp (lua_State *L, int index, const void *p);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Does the equivalent of <code>t[p] = v</code>,
|
|
where <code>t</code> is the table at the given index,
|
|
<code>p</code> is encoded as a light userdata,
|
|
and <code>v</code> is the value at the top of the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function pops the value from the stack.
|
|
The assignment is raw,
|
|
that is, it does not invoke <code>__newindex</code> metamethod.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_Reader"><code>lua_Reader</code></a></h3>
|
|
<pre>typedef const char * (*lua_Reader) (lua_State *L,
|
|
void *data,
|
|
size_t *size);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The reader function used by <a href="#lua_load"><code>lua_load</code></a>.
|
|
Every time it needs another piece of the chunk,
|
|
<a href="#lua_load"><code>lua_load</code></a> calls the reader,
|
|
passing along its <code>data</code> parameter.
|
|
The reader must return a pointer to a block of memory
|
|
with a new piece of the chunk
|
|
and set <code>size</code> to the block size.
|
|
The block must exist until the reader function is called again.
|
|
To signal the end of the chunk,
|
|
the reader must return <code>NULL</code> or set <code>size</code> to zero.
|
|
The reader function may return pieces of any size greater than zero.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_register"><code>lua_register</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_register (lua_State *L, const char *name, lua_CFunction f);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Sets the C function <code>f</code> as the new value of global <code>name</code>.
|
|
It is defined as a macro:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
#define lua_register(L,n,f) \
|
|
(lua_pushcfunction(L, f), lua_setglobal(L, n))
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_remove"><code>lua_remove</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-1, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_remove (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Removes the element at the given valid index,
|
|
shifting down the elements above this index to fill the gap.
|
|
This function cannot be called with a pseudo-index,
|
|
because a pseudo-index is not an actual stack position.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_replace"><code>lua_replace</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-1, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_replace (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Moves the top element into the given valid index
|
|
without shifting any element
|
|
(therefore replacing the value at that given index),
|
|
and then pops the top element.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_resume"><code>lua_resume</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-?, +?, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_resume (lua_State *L, lua_State *from, int nargs);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Starts and resumes a coroutine in the given thread <code>L</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
To start a coroutine,
|
|
you push onto the thread stack the main function plus any arguments;
|
|
then you call <a href="#lua_resume"><code>lua_resume</code></a>,
|
|
with <code>nargs</code> being the number of arguments.
|
|
This call returns when the coroutine suspends or finishes its execution.
|
|
When it returns, the stack contains all values passed to <a href="#lua_yield"><code>lua_yield</code></a>,
|
|
or all values returned by the body function.
|
|
<a href="#lua_resume"><code>lua_resume</code></a> returns
|
|
<a href="#pdf-LUA_YIELD"><code>LUA_YIELD</code></a> if the coroutine yields,
|
|
<a href="#pdf-LUA_OK"><code>LUA_OK</code></a> if the coroutine finishes its execution
|
|
without errors,
|
|
or an error code in case of errors (see <a href="#lua_pcall"><code>lua_pcall</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
In case of errors,
|
|
the stack is not unwound,
|
|
so you can use the debug API over it.
|
|
The error object is on the top of the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
To resume a coroutine,
|
|
you remove any results from the last <a href="#lua_yield"><code>lua_yield</code></a>,
|
|
put on its stack only the values to
|
|
be passed as results from <code>yield</code>,
|
|
and then call <a href="#lua_resume"><code>lua_resume</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The parameter <code>from</code> represents the coroutine that is resuming <code>L</code>.
|
|
If there is no such coroutine,
|
|
this parameter can be <code>NULL</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_rotate"><code>lua_rotate</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_rotate (lua_State *L, int idx, int n);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Rotates the stack elements between the valid index <code>idx</code>
|
|
and the top of the stack.
|
|
The elements are rotated <code>n</code> positions in the direction of the top,
|
|
for a positive <code>n</code>,
|
|
or <code>-n</code> positions in the direction of the bottom,
|
|
for a negative <code>n</code>.
|
|
The absolute value of <code>n</code> must not be greater than the size
|
|
of the slice being rotated.
|
|
This function cannot be called with a pseudo-index,
|
|
because a pseudo-index is not an actual stack position.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_setallocf"><code>lua_setallocf</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_setallocf (lua_State *L, lua_Alloc f, void *ud);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Changes the allocator function of a given state to <code>f</code>
|
|
with user data <code>ud</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_setfield"><code>lua_setfield</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-1, +0, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_setfield (lua_State *L, int index, const char *k);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Does the equivalent to <code>t[k] = v</code>,
|
|
where <code>t</code> is the value at the given index
|
|
and <code>v</code> is the value at the top of the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function pops the value from the stack.
|
|
As in Lua, this function may trigger a metamethod
|
|
for the "newindex" event (see <a href="#2.4">§2.4</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_setglobal"><code>lua_setglobal</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-1, +0, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_setglobal (lua_State *L, const char *name);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pops a value from the stack and
|
|
sets it as the new value of global <code>name</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_seti"><code>lua_seti</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-1, +0, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_seti (lua_State *L, int index, lua_Integer n);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Does the equivalent to <code>t[n] = v</code>,
|
|
where <code>t</code> is the value at the given index
|
|
and <code>v</code> is the value at the top of the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function pops the value from the stack.
|
|
As in Lua, this function may trigger a metamethod
|
|
for the "newindex" event (see <a href="#2.4">§2.4</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_setmetatable"><code>lua_setmetatable</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-1, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_setmetatable (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pops a table from the stack and
|
|
sets it as the new metatable for the value at the given index.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_settable"><code>lua_settable</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-2, +0, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_settable (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Does the equivalent to <code>t[k] = v</code>,
|
|
where <code>t</code> is the value at the given index,
|
|
<code>v</code> is the value at the top of the stack,
|
|
and <code>k</code> is the value just below the top.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function pops both the key and the value from the stack.
|
|
As in Lua, this function may trigger a metamethod
|
|
for the "newindex" event (see <a href="#2.4">§2.4</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_settop"><code>lua_settop</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-?, +?, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_settop (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Accepts any index, or 0,
|
|
and sets the stack top to this index.
|
|
If the new top is larger than the old one,
|
|
then the new elements are filled with <b>nil</b>.
|
|
If <code>index</code> is 0, then all stack elements are removed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_setuservalue"><code>lua_setuservalue</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-1, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_setuservalue (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pops a value from the stack and sets it as
|
|
the new value associated to the full userdata at the given index.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_State"><code>lua_State</code></a></h3>
|
|
<pre>typedef struct lua_State lua_State;</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
An opaque structure that points to a thread and indirectly
|
|
(through the thread) to the whole state of a Lua interpreter.
|
|
The Lua library is fully reentrant:
|
|
it has no global variables.
|
|
All information about a state is accessible through this structure.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A pointer to this structure must be passed as the first argument to
|
|
every function in the library, except to <a href="#lua_newstate"><code>lua_newstate</code></a>,
|
|
which creates a Lua state from scratch.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_status"><code>lua_status</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_status (lua_State *L);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the status of the thread <code>L</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The status can be 0 (<a href="#pdf-LUA_OK"><code>LUA_OK</code></a>) for a normal thread,
|
|
an error code if the thread finished the execution
|
|
of a <a href="#lua_resume"><code>lua_resume</code></a> with an error,
|
|
or <a name="pdf-LUA_YIELD"><code>LUA_YIELD</code></a> if the thread is suspended.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
You can only call functions in threads with status <a href="#pdf-LUA_OK"><code>LUA_OK</code></a>.
|
|
You can resume threads with status <a href="#pdf-LUA_OK"><code>LUA_OK</code></a>
|
|
(to start a new coroutine) or <a href="#pdf-LUA_YIELD"><code>LUA_YIELD</code></a>
|
|
(to resume a coroutine).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_stringtonumber"><code>lua_stringtonumber</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>size_t lua_stringtonumber (lua_State *L, const char *s);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Converts the zero-terminated string <code>s</code> to a number,
|
|
pushes that number into the stack,
|
|
and returns the total size of the string,
|
|
that is, its length plus one.
|
|
The conversion can result in an integer or a float,
|
|
according to the lexical conventions of Lua (see <a href="#3.1">§3.1</a>).
|
|
The string may have leading and trailing spaces and a sign.
|
|
If the string is not a valid numeral,
|
|
returns 0 and pushes nothing.
|
|
(Note that the result can be used as a boolean,
|
|
true if the conversion succeeds.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_toboolean"><code>lua_toboolean</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_toboolean (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Converts the Lua value at the given index to a C boolean
|
|
value (0 or 1).
|
|
Like all tests in Lua,
|
|
<a href="#lua_toboolean"><code>lua_toboolean</code></a> returns true for any Lua value
|
|
different from <b>false</b> and <b>nil</b>;
|
|
otherwise it returns false.
|
|
(If you want to accept only actual boolean values,
|
|
use <a href="#lua_isboolean"><code>lua_isboolean</code></a> to test the value's type.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_tocfunction"><code>lua_tocfunction</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>lua_CFunction lua_tocfunction (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Converts a value at the given index to a C function.
|
|
That value must be a C function;
|
|
otherwise, returns <code>NULL</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_tointeger"><code>lua_tointeger</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>lua_Integer lua_tointeger (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Equivalent to <a href="#lua_tointegerx"><code>lua_tointegerx</code></a> with <code>isnum</code> equal to <code>NULL</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_tointegerx"><code>lua_tointegerx</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>lua_Integer lua_tointegerx (lua_State *L, int index, int *isnum);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Converts the Lua value at the given index
|
|
to the signed integral type <a href="#lua_Integer"><code>lua_Integer</code></a>.
|
|
The Lua value must be an integer,
|
|
or a number or string convertible to an integer (see <a href="#3.4.3">§3.4.3</a>);
|
|
otherwise, <code>lua_tointegerx</code> returns 0.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>isnum</code> is not <code>NULL</code>,
|
|
its referent is assigned a boolean value that
|
|
indicates whether the operation succeeded.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_tolstring"><code>lua_tolstring</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>const char *lua_tolstring (lua_State *L, int index, size_t *len);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Converts the Lua value at the given index to a C string.
|
|
If <code>len</code> is not <code>NULL</code>,
|
|
it sets <code>*len</code> with the string length.
|
|
The Lua value must be a string or a number;
|
|
otherwise, the function returns <code>NULL</code>.
|
|
If the value is a number,
|
|
then <code>lua_tolstring</code> also
|
|
<em>changes the actual value in the stack to a string</em>.
|
|
(This change confuses <a href="#lua_next"><code>lua_next</code></a>
|
|
when <code>lua_tolstring</code> is applied to keys during a table traversal.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<code>lua_tolstring</code> returns a pointer
|
|
to a string inside the Lua state.
|
|
This string always has a zero ('<code>\0</code>')
|
|
after its last character (as in C),
|
|
but can contain other zeros in its body.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Because Lua has garbage collection,
|
|
there is no guarantee that the pointer returned by <code>lua_tolstring</code>
|
|
will be valid after the corresponding Lua value is removed from the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_tonumber"><code>lua_tonumber</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>lua_Number lua_tonumber (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Equivalent to <a href="#lua_tonumberx"><code>lua_tonumberx</code></a> with <code>isnum</code> equal to <code>NULL</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_tonumberx"><code>lua_tonumberx</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>lua_Number lua_tonumberx (lua_State *L, int index, int *isnum);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Converts the Lua value at the given index
|
|
to the C type <a href="#lua_Number"><code>lua_Number</code></a> (see <a href="#lua_Number"><code>lua_Number</code></a>).
|
|
The Lua value must be a number or a string convertible to a number
|
|
(see <a href="#3.4.3">§3.4.3</a>);
|
|
otherwise, <a href="#lua_tonumberx"><code>lua_tonumberx</code></a> returns 0.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>isnum</code> is not <code>NULL</code>,
|
|
its referent is assigned a boolean value that
|
|
indicates whether the operation succeeded.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_topointer"><code>lua_topointer</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>const void *lua_topointer (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Converts the value at the given index to a generic
|
|
C pointer (<code>void*</code>).
|
|
The value can be a userdata, a table, a thread, or a function;
|
|
otherwise, <code>lua_topointer</code> returns <code>NULL</code>.
|
|
Different objects will give different pointers.
|
|
There is no way to convert the pointer back to its original value.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Typically this function is used only for hashing and debug information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_tostring"><code>lua_tostring</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>const char *lua_tostring (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Equivalent to <a href="#lua_tolstring"><code>lua_tolstring</code></a> with <code>len</code> equal to <code>NULL</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_tothread"><code>lua_tothread</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>lua_State *lua_tothread (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Converts the value at the given index to a Lua thread
|
|
(represented as <code>lua_State*</code>).
|
|
This value must be a thread;
|
|
otherwise, the function returns <code>NULL</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_touserdata"><code>lua_touserdata</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void *lua_touserdata (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If the value at the given index is a full userdata,
|
|
returns its block address.
|
|
If the value is a light userdata,
|
|
returns its pointer.
|
|
Otherwise, returns <code>NULL</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_type"><code>lua_type</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_type (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the type of the value in the given valid index,
|
|
or <code>LUA_TNONE</code> for a non-valid (but acceptable) index.
|
|
The types returned by <a href="#lua_type"><code>lua_type</code></a> are coded by the following constants
|
|
defined in <code>lua.h</code>:
|
|
<a name="pdf-LUA_TNIL"><code>LUA_TNIL</code></a> (0),
|
|
<a name="pdf-LUA_TNUMBER"><code>LUA_TNUMBER</code></a>,
|
|
<a name="pdf-LUA_TBOOLEAN"><code>LUA_TBOOLEAN</code></a>,
|
|
<a name="pdf-LUA_TSTRING"><code>LUA_TSTRING</code></a>,
|
|
<a name="pdf-LUA_TTABLE"><code>LUA_TTABLE</code></a>,
|
|
<a name="pdf-LUA_TFUNCTION"><code>LUA_TFUNCTION</code></a>,
|
|
<a name="pdf-LUA_TUSERDATA"><code>LUA_TUSERDATA</code></a>,
|
|
<a name="pdf-LUA_TTHREAD"><code>LUA_TTHREAD</code></a>,
|
|
and
|
|
<a name="pdf-LUA_TLIGHTUSERDATA"><code>LUA_TLIGHTUSERDATA</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_typename"><code>lua_typename</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>const char *lua_typename (lua_State *L, int tp);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the name of the type encoded by the value <code>tp</code>,
|
|
which must be one the values returned by <a href="#lua_type"><code>lua_type</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_Unsigned"><code>lua_Unsigned</code></a></h3>
|
|
<pre>typedef ... lua_Unsigned;</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The unsigned version of <a href="#lua_Integer"><code>lua_Integer</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_upvalueindex"><code>lua_upvalueindex</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_upvalueindex (int i);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the pseudo-index that represents the <code>i</code>-th upvalue of
|
|
the running function (see <a href="#4.4">§4.4</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_version"><code>lua_version</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>const lua_Number *lua_version (lua_State *L);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the address of the version number
|
|
(a C static variable)
|
|
stored in the Lua core.
|
|
When called with a valid <a href="#lua_State"><code>lua_State</code></a>,
|
|
returns the address of the version used to create that state.
|
|
When called with <code>NULL</code>,
|
|
returns the address of the version running the call.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_Writer"><code>lua_Writer</code></a></h3>
|
|
<pre>typedef int (*lua_Writer) (lua_State *L,
|
|
const void* p,
|
|
size_t sz,
|
|
void* ud);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The type of the writer function used by <a href="#lua_dump"><code>lua_dump</code></a>.
|
|
Every time it produces another piece of chunk,
|
|
<a href="#lua_dump"><code>lua_dump</code></a> calls the writer,
|
|
passing along the buffer to be written (<code>p</code>),
|
|
its size (<code>sz</code>),
|
|
and the <code>data</code> parameter supplied to <a href="#lua_dump"><code>lua_dump</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The writer returns an error code:
|
|
0 means no errors;
|
|
any other value means an error and stops <a href="#lua_dump"><code>lua_dump</code></a> from
|
|
calling the writer again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_xmove"><code>lua_xmove</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-?, +?, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_xmove (lua_State *from, lua_State *to, int n);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Exchange values between different threads of the same state.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function pops <code>n</code> values from the stack <code>from</code>,
|
|
and pushes them onto the stack <code>to</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_yield"><code>lua_yield</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-?, +?, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_yield (lua_State *L, int nresults);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function is equivalent to <a href="#lua_yieldk"><code>lua_yieldk</code></a>,
|
|
but it has no continuation (see <a href="#4.7">§4.7</a>).
|
|
Therefore, when the thread resumes,
|
|
it continues the function that called
|
|
the function calling <code>lua_yield</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_yieldk"><code>lua_yieldk</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-?, +?, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_yieldk (lua_State *L,
|
|
int nresults,
|
|
lua_KContext ctx,
|
|
lua_KFunction k);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Yields a coroutine (thread).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When a C function calls <a href="#lua_yieldk"><code>lua_yieldk</code></a>,
|
|
the running coroutine suspends its execution,
|
|
and the call to <a href="#lua_resume"><code>lua_resume</code></a> that started this coroutine returns.
|
|
The parameter <code>nresults</code> is the number of values from the stack
|
|
that will be passed as results to <a href="#lua_resume"><code>lua_resume</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When the coroutine is resumed again,
|
|
Lua calls the given continuation function <code>k</code> to continue
|
|
the execution of the C function that yielded (see <a href="#4.7">§4.7</a>).
|
|
This continuation function receives the same stack
|
|
from the previous function,
|
|
with the <code>n</code> results removed and
|
|
replaced by the arguments passed to <a href="#lua_resume"><code>lua_resume</code></a>.
|
|
Moreover,
|
|
the continuation function receives the value <code>ctx</code>
|
|
that was passed to <a href="#lua_yieldk"><code>lua_yieldk</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Usually, this function does not return;
|
|
when the coroutine eventually resumes,
|
|
it continues executing the continuation function.
|
|
However, there is one special case,
|
|
which is when this function is called
|
|
from inside a line or a count hook (see <a href="#4.9">§4.9</a>).
|
|
In that case, <code>lua_yieldk</code> should be called with no continuation
|
|
(probably in the form of <a href="#lua_yield"><code>lua_yield</code></a>) and no results,
|
|
and the hook should return immediately after the call.
|
|
Lua will yield and,
|
|
when the coroutine resumes again,
|
|
it will continue the normal execution
|
|
of the (Lua) function that triggered the hook.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function can raise an error if it is called from a thread
|
|
with a pending C call with no continuation function,
|
|
or it is called from a thread that is not running inside a resume
|
|
(e.g., the main thread).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>4.9 – <a name="4.9">The Debug Interface</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Lua has no built-in debugging facilities.
|
|
Instead, it offers a special interface
|
|
by means of functions and <em>hooks</em>.
|
|
This interface allows the construction of different
|
|
kinds of debuggers, profilers, and other tools
|
|
that need "inside information" from the interpreter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_Debug"><code>lua_Debug</code></a></h3>
|
|
<pre>typedef struct lua_Debug {
|
|
int event;
|
|
const char *name; /* (n) */
|
|
const char *namewhat; /* (n) */
|
|
const char *what; /* (S) */
|
|
const char *source; /* (S) */
|
|
int currentline; /* (l) */
|
|
int linedefined; /* (S) */
|
|
int lastlinedefined; /* (S) */
|
|
unsigned char nups; /* (u) number of upvalues */
|
|
unsigned char nparams; /* (u) number of parameters */
|
|
char isvararg; /* (u) */
|
|
char istailcall; /* (t) */
|
|
char short_src[LUA_IDSIZE]; /* (S) */
|
|
/* private part */
|
|
<em>other fields</em>
|
|
} lua_Debug;</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A structure used to carry different pieces of
|
|
information about a function or an activation record.
|
|
<a href="#lua_getstack"><code>lua_getstack</code></a> fills only the private part
|
|
of this structure, for later use.
|
|
To fill the other fields of <a href="#lua_Debug"><code>lua_Debug</code></a> with useful information,
|
|
call <a href="#lua_getinfo"><code>lua_getinfo</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The fields of <a href="#lua_Debug"><code>lua_Debug</code></a> have the following meaning:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>source</code>: </b>
|
|
the name of the chunk that created the function.
|
|
If <code>source</code> starts with a '<code>@</code>',
|
|
it means that the function was defined in a file where
|
|
the file name follows the '<code>@</code>'.
|
|
If <code>source</code> starts with a '<code>=</code>',
|
|
the remainder of its contents describe the source in a user-dependent manner.
|
|
Otherwise,
|
|
the function was defined in a string where
|
|
<code>source</code> is that string.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>short_src</code>: </b>
|
|
a "printable" version of <code>source</code>, to be used in error messages.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>linedefined</code>: </b>
|
|
the line number where the definition of the function starts.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>lastlinedefined</code>: </b>
|
|
the line number where the definition of the function ends.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>what</code>: </b>
|
|
the string <code>"Lua"</code> if the function is a Lua function,
|
|
<code>"C"</code> if it is a C function,
|
|
<code>"main"</code> if it is the main part of a chunk.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>currentline</code>: </b>
|
|
the current line where the given function is executing.
|
|
When no line information is available,
|
|
<code>currentline</code> is set to -1.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>name</code>: </b>
|
|
a reasonable name for the given function.
|
|
Because functions in Lua are first-class values,
|
|
they do not have a fixed name:
|
|
some functions can be the value of multiple global variables,
|
|
while others can be stored only in a table field.
|
|
The <code>lua_getinfo</code> function checks how the function was
|
|
called to find a suitable name.
|
|
If it cannot find a name,
|
|
then <code>name</code> is set to <code>NULL</code>.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>namewhat</code>: </b>
|
|
explains the <code>name</code> field.
|
|
The value of <code>namewhat</code> can be
|
|
<code>"global"</code>, <code>"local"</code>, <code>"method"</code>,
|
|
<code>"field"</code>, <code>"upvalue"</code>, or <code>""</code> (the empty string),
|
|
according to how the function was called.
|
|
(Lua uses the empty string when no other option seems to apply.)
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>istailcall</code>: </b>
|
|
true if this function invocation was called by a tail call.
|
|
In this case, the caller of this level is not in the stack.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>nups</code>: </b>
|
|
the number of upvalues of the function.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>nparams</code>: </b>
|
|
the number of fixed parameters of the function
|
|
(always 0 for C functions).
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>isvararg</code>: </b>
|
|
true if the function is a vararg function
|
|
(always true for C functions).
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_gethook"><code>lua_gethook</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>lua_Hook lua_gethook (lua_State *L);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the current hook function.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_gethookcount"><code>lua_gethookcount</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_gethookcount (lua_State *L);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the current hook count.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_gethookmask"><code>lua_gethookmask</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_gethookmask (lua_State *L);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the current hook mask.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_getinfo"><code>lua_getinfo</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-(0|1), +(0|1|2), <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_getinfo (lua_State *L, const char *what, lua_Debug *ar);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Gets information about a specific function or function invocation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
To get information about a function invocation,
|
|
the parameter <code>ar</code> must be a valid activation record that was
|
|
filled by a previous call to <a href="#lua_getstack"><code>lua_getstack</code></a> or
|
|
given as argument to a hook (see <a href="#lua_Hook"><code>lua_Hook</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
To get information about a function, you push it onto the stack
|
|
and start the <code>what</code> string with the character '<code>></code>'.
|
|
(In that case,
|
|
<code>lua_getinfo</code> pops the function from the top of the stack.)
|
|
For instance, to know in which line a function <code>f</code> was defined,
|
|
you can write the following code:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
lua_Debug ar;
|
|
lua_getglobal(L, "f"); /* get global 'f' */
|
|
lua_getinfo(L, ">S", &ar);
|
|
printf("%d\n", ar.linedefined);
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Each character in the string <code>what</code>
|
|
selects some fields of the structure <code>ar</code> to be filled or
|
|
a value to be pushed on the stack:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>'<code>n</code>': </b> fills in the field <code>name</code> and <code>namewhat</code>;
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>'<code>S</code>': </b>
|
|
fills in the fields <code>source</code>, <code>short_src</code>,
|
|
<code>linedefined</code>, <code>lastlinedefined</code>, and <code>what</code>;
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>'<code>l</code>': </b> fills in the field <code>currentline</code>;
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>'<code>t</code>': </b> fills in the field <code>istailcall</code>;
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>'<code>u</code>': </b> fills in the fields
|
|
<code>nups</code>, <code>nparams</code>, and <code>isvararg</code>;
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>'<code>f</code>': </b>
|
|
pushes onto the stack the function that is
|
|
running at the given level;
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>'<code>L</code>': </b>
|
|
pushes onto the stack a table whose indices are the
|
|
numbers of the lines that are valid on the function.
|
|
(A <em>valid line</em> is a line with some associated code,
|
|
that is, a line where you can put a break point.
|
|
Non-valid lines include empty lines and comments.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If this option is given together with option '<code>f</code>',
|
|
its table is pushed after the function.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function returns 0 on error
|
|
(for instance, an invalid option in <code>what</code>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_getlocal"><code>lua_getlocal</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +(0|1), –]</span>
|
|
<pre>const char *lua_getlocal (lua_State *L, const lua_Debug *ar, int n);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Gets information about a local variable of
|
|
a given activation record or a given function.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
In the first case,
|
|
the parameter <code>ar</code> must be a valid activation record that was
|
|
filled by a previous call to <a href="#lua_getstack"><code>lua_getstack</code></a> or
|
|
given as argument to a hook (see <a href="#lua_Hook"><code>lua_Hook</code></a>).
|
|
The index <code>n</code> selects which local variable to inspect;
|
|
see <a href="#pdf-debug.getlocal"><code>debug.getlocal</code></a> for details about variable indices
|
|
and names.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<a href="#lua_getlocal"><code>lua_getlocal</code></a> pushes the variable's value onto the stack
|
|
and returns its name.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
In the second case, <code>ar</code> must be <code>NULL</code> and the function
|
|
to be inspected must be at the top of the stack.
|
|
In this case, only parameters of Lua functions are visible
|
|
(as there is no information about what variables are active)
|
|
and no values are pushed onto the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns <code>NULL</code> (and pushes nothing)
|
|
when the index is greater than
|
|
the number of active local variables.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_getstack"><code>lua_getstack</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int lua_getstack (lua_State *L, int level, lua_Debug *ar);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Gets information about the interpreter runtime stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function fills parts of a <a href="#lua_Debug"><code>lua_Debug</code></a> structure with
|
|
an identification of the <em>activation record</em>
|
|
of the function executing at a given level.
|
|
Level 0 is the current running function,
|
|
whereas level <em>n+1</em> is the function that has called level <em>n</em>
|
|
(except for tail calls, which do not count on the stack).
|
|
When there are no errors, <a href="#lua_getstack"><code>lua_getstack</code></a> returns 1;
|
|
when called with a level greater than the stack depth,
|
|
it returns 0.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_getupvalue"><code>lua_getupvalue</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +(0|1), –]</span>
|
|
<pre>const char *lua_getupvalue (lua_State *L, int funcindex, int n);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Gets information about the <code>n</code>-th upvalue
|
|
of the closure at index <code>funcindex</code>.
|
|
It pushes the upvalue's value onto the stack
|
|
and returns its name.
|
|
Returns <code>NULL</code> (and pushes nothing)
|
|
when the index <code>n</code> is greater than the number of upvalues.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
For C functions, this function uses the empty string <code>""</code>
|
|
as a name for all upvalues.
|
|
(For Lua functions,
|
|
upvalues are the external local variables that the function uses,
|
|
and that are consequently included in its closure.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Upvalues have no particular order,
|
|
as they are active through the whole function.
|
|
They are numbered in an arbitrary order.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_Hook"><code>lua_Hook</code></a></h3>
|
|
<pre>typedef void (*lua_Hook) (lua_State *L, lua_Debug *ar);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Type for debugging hook functions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Whenever a hook is called, its <code>ar</code> argument has its field
|
|
<code>event</code> set to the specific event that triggered the hook.
|
|
Lua identifies these events with the following constants:
|
|
<a name="pdf-LUA_HOOKCALL"><code>LUA_HOOKCALL</code></a>, <a name="pdf-LUA_HOOKRET"><code>LUA_HOOKRET</code></a>,
|
|
<a name="pdf-LUA_HOOKTAILCALL"><code>LUA_HOOKTAILCALL</code></a>, <a name="pdf-LUA_HOOKLINE"><code>LUA_HOOKLINE</code></a>,
|
|
and <a name="pdf-LUA_HOOKCOUNT"><code>LUA_HOOKCOUNT</code></a>.
|
|
Moreover, for line events, the field <code>currentline</code> is also set.
|
|
To get the value of any other field in <code>ar</code>,
|
|
the hook must call <a href="#lua_getinfo"><code>lua_getinfo</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
For call events, <code>event</code> can be <code>LUA_HOOKCALL</code>,
|
|
the normal value, or <code>LUA_HOOKTAILCALL</code>, for a tail call;
|
|
in this case, there will be no corresponding return event.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
While Lua is running a hook, it disables other calls to hooks.
|
|
Therefore, if a hook calls back Lua to execute a function or a chunk,
|
|
this execution occurs without any calls to hooks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Hook functions cannot have continuations,
|
|
that is, they cannot call <a href="#lua_yieldk"><code>lua_yieldk</code></a>,
|
|
<a href="#lua_pcallk"><code>lua_pcallk</code></a>, or <a href="#lua_callk"><code>lua_callk</code></a> with a non-null <code>k</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Hook functions can yield under the following conditions:
|
|
Only count and line events can yield;
|
|
to yield, a hook function must finish its execution
|
|
calling <a href="#lua_yield"><code>lua_yield</code></a> with <code>nresults</code> equal to zero
|
|
(that is, with no values).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_sethook"><code>lua_sethook</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_sethook (lua_State *L, lua_Hook f, int mask, int count);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Sets the debugging hook function.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Argument <code>f</code> is the hook function.
|
|
<code>mask</code> specifies on which events the hook will be called:
|
|
it is formed by a bitwise OR of the constants
|
|
<a name="pdf-LUA_MASKCALL"><code>LUA_MASKCALL</code></a>,
|
|
<a name="pdf-LUA_MASKRET"><code>LUA_MASKRET</code></a>,
|
|
<a name="pdf-LUA_MASKLINE"><code>LUA_MASKLINE</code></a>,
|
|
and <a name="pdf-LUA_MASKCOUNT"><code>LUA_MASKCOUNT</code></a>.
|
|
The <code>count</code> argument is only meaningful when the mask
|
|
includes <code>LUA_MASKCOUNT</code>.
|
|
For each event, the hook is called as explained below:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>The call hook: </b> is called when the interpreter calls a function.
|
|
The hook is called just after Lua enters the new function,
|
|
before the function gets its arguments.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>The return hook: </b> is called when the interpreter returns from a function.
|
|
The hook is called just before Lua leaves the function.
|
|
There is no standard way to access the values
|
|
to be returned by the function.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>The line hook: </b> is called when the interpreter is about to
|
|
start the execution of a new line of code,
|
|
or when it jumps back in the code (even to the same line).
|
|
(This event only happens while Lua is executing a Lua function.)
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>The count hook: </b> is called after the interpreter executes every
|
|
<code>count</code> instructions.
|
|
(This event only happens while Lua is executing a Lua function.)
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A hook is disabled by setting <code>mask</code> to zero.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_setlocal"><code>lua_setlocal</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-(0|1), +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>const char *lua_setlocal (lua_State *L, const lua_Debug *ar, int n);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Sets the value of a local variable of a given activation record.
|
|
It assigns the value at the top of the stack
|
|
to the variable and returns its name.
|
|
It also pops the value from the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns <code>NULL</code> (and pops nothing)
|
|
when the index is greater than
|
|
the number of active local variables.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Parameters <code>ar</code> and <code>n</code> are as in function <a href="#lua_getlocal"><code>lua_getlocal</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_setupvalue"><code>lua_setupvalue</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-(0|1), +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>const char *lua_setupvalue (lua_State *L, int funcindex, int n);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Sets the value of a closure's upvalue.
|
|
It assigns the value at the top of the stack
|
|
to the upvalue and returns its name.
|
|
It also pops the value from the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns <code>NULL</code> (and pops nothing)
|
|
when the index <code>n</code> is greater than the number of upvalues.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Parameters <code>funcindex</code> and <code>n</code> are as in function <a href="#lua_getupvalue"><code>lua_getupvalue</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_upvalueid"><code>lua_upvalueid</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void *lua_upvalueid (lua_State *L, int funcindex, int n);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns a unique identifier for the upvalue numbered <code>n</code>
|
|
from the closure at index <code>funcindex</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
These unique identifiers allow a program to check whether different
|
|
closures share upvalues.
|
|
Lua closures that share an upvalue
|
|
(that is, that access a same external local variable)
|
|
will return identical ids for those upvalue indices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Parameters <code>funcindex</code> and <code>n</code> are as in function <a href="#lua_getupvalue"><code>lua_getupvalue</code></a>,
|
|
but <code>n</code> cannot be greater than the number of upvalues.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="lua_upvaluejoin"><code>lua_upvaluejoin</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void lua_upvaluejoin (lua_State *L, int funcindex1, int n1,
|
|
int funcindex2, int n2);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Make the <code>n1</code>-th upvalue of the Lua closure at index <code>funcindex1</code>
|
|
refer to the <code>n2</code>-th upvalue of the Lua closure at index <code>funcindex2</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h1>5 – <a name="5">The Auxiliary Library</a></h1>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
The <em>auxiliary library</em> provides several convenient functions
|
|
to interface C with Lua.
|
|
While the basic API provides the primitive functions for all
|
|
interactions between C and Lua,
|
|
the auxiliary library provides higher-level functions for some
|
|
common tasks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
All functions and types from the auxiliary library
|
|
are defined in header file <code>lauxlib.h</code> and
|
|
have a prefix <code>luaL_</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
All functions in the auxiliary library are built on
|
|
top of the basic API,
|
|
and so they provide nothing that cannot be done with that API.
|
|
Nevertheless, the use of the auxiliary library ensures
|
|
more consistency to your code.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Several functions in the auxiliary library use internally some
|
|
extra stack slots.
|
|
When a function in the auxiliary library uses less than five slots,
|
|
it does not check the stack size;
|
|
it simply assumes that there are enough slots.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Several functions in the auxiliary library are used to
|
|
check C function arguments.
|
|
Because the error message is formatted for arguments
|
|
(e.g., "<code>bad argument #1</code>"),
|
|
you should not use these functions for other stack values.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Functions called <code>luaL_check*</code>
|
|
always raise an error if the check is not satisfied.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>5.1 – <a name="5.1">Functions and Types</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Here we list all functions and types from the auxiliary library
|
|
in alphabetical order.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_addchar"><code>luaL_addchar</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-?, +?, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_addchar (luaL_Buffer *B, char c);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Adds the byte <code>c</code> to the buffer <code>B</code>
|
|
(see <a href="#luaL_Buffer"><code>luaL_Buffer</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_addlstring"><code>luaL_addlstring</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-?, +?, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_addlstring (luaL_Buffer *B, const char *s, size_t l);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Adds the string pointed to by <code>s</code> with length <code>l</code> to
|
|
the buffer <code>B</code>
|
|
(see <a href="#luaL_Buffer"><code>luaL_Buffer</code></a>).
|
|
The string can contain embedded zeros.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_addsize"><code>luaL_addsize</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-?, +?, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_addsize (luaL_Buffer *B, size_t n);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Adds to the buffer <code>B</code> (see <a href="#luaL_Buffer"><code>luaL_Buffer</code></a>)
|
|
a string of length <code>n</code> previously copied to the
|
|
buffer area (see <a href="#luaL_prepbuffer"><code>luaL_prepbuffer</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_addstring"><code>luaL_addstring</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-?, +?, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_addstring (luaL_Buffer *B, const char *s);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Adds the zero-terminated string pointed to by <code>s</code>
|
|
to the buffer <code>B</code>
|
|
(see <a href="#luaL_Buffer"><code>luaL_Buffer</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_addvalue"><code>luaL_addvalue</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-1, +?, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_addvalue (luaL_Buffer *B);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Adds the value at the top of the stack
|
|
to the buffer <code>B</code>
|
|
(see <a href="#luaL_Buffer"><code>luaL_Buffer</code></a>).
|
|
Pops the value.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This is the only function on string buffers that can (and must)
|
|
be called with an extra element on the stack,
|
|
which is the value to be added to the buffer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_argcheck"><code>luaL_argcheck</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>v</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_argcheck (lua_State *L,
|
|
int cond,
|
|
int arg,
|
|
const char *extramsg);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Checks whether <code>cond</code> is true.
|
|
If it is not, raises an error with a standard message (see <a href="#luaL_argerror"><code>luaL_argerror</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_argerror"><code>luaL_argerror</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>v</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int luaL_argerror (lua_State *L, int arg, const char *extramsg);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Raises an error reporting a problem with argument <code>arg</code>
|
|
of the C function that called it,
|
|
using a standard message
|
|
that includes <code>extramsg</code> as a comment:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
bad argument #<em>arg</em> to '<em>funcname</em>' (<em>extramsg</em>)
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
This function never returns.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_Buffer"><code>luaL_Buffer</code></a></h3>
|
|
<pre>typedef struct luaL_Buffer luaL_Buffer;</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Type for a <em>string buffer</em>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A string buffer allows C code to build Lua strings piecemeal.
|
|
Its pattern of use is as follows:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li>First declare a variable <code>b</code> of type <a href="#luaL_Buffer"><code>luaL_Buffer</code></a>.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>Then initialize it with a call <code>luaL_buffinit(L, &b)</code>.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
Then add string pieces to the buffer calling any of
|
|
the <code>luaL_add*</code> functions.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
Finish by calling <code>luaL_pushresult(&b)</code>.
|
|
This call leaves the final string on the top of the stack.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If you know beforehand the total size of the resulting string,
|
|
you can use the buffer like this:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li>First declare a variable <code>b</code> of type <a href="#luaL_Buffer"><code>luaL_Buffer</code></a>.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>Then initialize it and preallocate a space of
|
|
size <code>sz</code> with a call <code>luaL_buffinitsize(L, &b, sz)</code>.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>Then copy the string into that space.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
Finish by calling <code>luaL_pushresultsize(&b, sz)</code>,
|
|
where <code>sz</code> is the total size of the resulting string
|
|
copied into that space.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
During its normal operation,
|
|
a string buffer uses a variable number of stack slots.
|
|
So, while using a buffer, you cannot assume that you know where
|
|
the top of the stack is.
|
|
You can use the stack between successive calls to buffer operations
|
|
as long as that use is balanced;
|
|
that is,
|
|
when you call a buffer operation,
|
|
the stack is at the same level
|
|
it was immediately after the previous buffer operation.
|
|
(The only exception to this rule is <a href="#luaL_addvalue"><code>luaL_addvalue</code></a>.)
|
|
After calling <a href="#luaL_pushresult"><code>luaL_pushresult</code></a> the stack is back to its
|
|
level when the buffer was initialized,
|
|
plus the final string on its top.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_buffinit"><code>luaL_buffinit</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_buffinit (lua_State *L, luaL_Buffer *B);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Initializes a buffer <code>B</code>.
|
|
This function does not allocate any space;
|
|
the buffer must be declared as a variable
|
|
(see <a href="#luaL_Buffer"><code>luaL_Buffer</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_buffinitsize"><code>luaL_buffinitsize</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-?, +?, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>char *luaL_buffinitsize (lua_State *L, luaL_Buffer *B, size_t sz);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Equivalent to the sequence
|
|
<a href="#luaL_buffinit"><code>luaL_buffinit</code></a>, <a href="#luaL_prepbuffsize"><code>luaL_prepbuffsize</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_callmeta"><code>luaL_callmeta</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +(0|1), <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int luaL_callmeta (lua_State *L, int obj, const char *e);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Calls a metamethod.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If the object at index <code>obj</code> has a metatable and this
|
|
metatable has a field <code>e</code>,
|
|
this function calls this field passing the object as its only argument.
|
|
In this case this function returns true and pushes onto the
|
|
stack the value returned by the call.
|
|
If there is no metatable or no metamethod,
|
|
this function returns false (without pushing any value on the stack).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_checkany"><code>luaL_checkany</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>v</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_checkany (lua_State *L, int arg);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Checks whether the function has an argument
|
|
of any type (including <b>nil</b>) at position <code>arg</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_checkinteger"><code>luaL_checkinteger</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>v</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>lua_Integer luaL_checkinteger (lua_State *L, int arg);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Checks whether the function argument <code>arg</code> is an integer
|
|
(or can be converted to an integer)
|
|
and returns this integer cast to a <a href="#lua_Integer"><code>lua_Integer</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_checklstring"><code>luaL_checklstring</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>v</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>const char *luaL_checklstring (lua_State *L, int arg, size_t *l);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Checks whether the function argument <code>arg</code> is a string
|
|
and returns this string;
|
|
if <code>l</code> is not <code>NULL</code> fills <code>*l</code>
|
|
with the string's length.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function uses <a href="#lua_tolstring"><code>lua_tolstring</code></a> to get its result,
|
|
so all conversions and caveats of that function apply here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_checknumber"><code>luaL_checknumber</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>v</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>lua_Number luaL_checknumber (lua_State *L, int arg);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Checks whether the function argument <code>arg</code> is a number
|
|
and returns this number.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_checkoption"><code>luaL_checkoption</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>v</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int luaL_checkoption (lua_State *L,
|
|
int arg,
|
|
const char *def,
|
|
const char *const lst[]);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Checks whether the function argument <code>arg</code> is a string and
|
|
searches for this string in the array <code>lst</code>
|
|
(which must be NULL-terminated).
|
|
Returns the index in the array where the string was found.
|
|
Raises an error if the argument is not a string or
|
|
if the string cannot be found.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>def</code> is not <code>NULL</code>,
|
|
the function uses <code>def</code> as a default value when
|
|
there is no argument <code>arg</code> or when this argument is <b>nil</b>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This is a useful function for mapping strings to C enums.
|
|
(The usual convention in Lua libraries is
|
|
to use strings instead of numbers to select options.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_checkstack"><code>luaL_checkstack</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>v</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_checkstack (lua_State *L, int sz, const char *msg);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Grows the stack size to <code>top + sz</code> elements,
|
|
raising an error if the stack cannot grow to that size.
|
|
<code>msg</code> is an additional text to go into the error message
|
|
(or <code>NULL</code> for no additional text).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_checkstring"><code>luaL_checkstring</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>v</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>const char *luaL_checkstring (lua_State *L, int arg);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Checks whether the function argument <code>arg</code> is a string
|
|
and returns this string.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function uses <a href="#lua_tolstring"><code>lua_tolstring</code></a> to get its result,
|
|
so all conversions and caveats of that function apply here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_checktype"><code>luaL_checktype</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>v</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_checktype (lua_State *L, int arg, int t);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Checks whether the function argument <code>arg</code> has type <code>t</code>.
|
|
See <a href="#lua_type"><code>lua_type</code></a> for the encoding of types for <code>t</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_checkudata"><code>luaL_checkudata</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>v</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void *luaL_checkudata (lua_State *L, int arg, const char *tname);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Checks whether the function argument <code>arg</code> is a userdata
|
|
of the type <code>tname</code> (see <a href="#luaL_newmetatable"><code>luaL_newmetatable</code></a>) and
|
|
returns the userdata address (see <a href="#lua_touserdata"><code>lua_touserdata</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_checkversion"><code>luaL_checkversion</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>v</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_checkversion (lua_State *L);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Checks whether the core running the call,
|
|
the core that created the Lua state,
|
|
and the code making the call are all using the same version of Lua.
|
|
Also checks whether the core running the call
|
|
and the core that created the Lua state
|
|
are using the same address space.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_dofile"><code>luaL_dofile</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +?, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int luaL_dofile (lua_State *L, const char *filename);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Loads and runs the given file.
|
|
It is defined as the following macro:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
(luaL_loadfile(L, filename) || lua_pcall(L, 0, LUA_MULTRET, 0))
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
It returns false if there are no errors
|
|
or true in case of errors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_dostring"><code>luaL_dostring</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +?, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int luaL_dostring (lua_State *L, const char *str);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Loads and runs the given string.
|
|
It is defined as the following macro:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
(luaL_loadstring(L, str) || lua_pcall(L, 0, LUA_MULTRET, 0))
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
It returns false if there are no errors
|
|
or true in case of errors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_error"><code>luaL_error</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>v</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int luaL_error (lua_State *L, const char *fmt, ...);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Raises an error.
|
|
The error message format is given by <code>fmt</code>
|
|
plus any extra arguments,
|
|
following the same rules of <a href="#lua_pushfstring"><code>lua_pushfstring</code></a>.
|
|
It also adds at the beginning of the message the file name and
|
|
the line number where the error occurred,
|
|
if this information is available.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function never returns,
|
|
but it is an idiom to use it in C functions
|
|
as <code>return luaL_error(<em>args</em>)</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_execresult"><code>luaL_execresult</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +3, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int luaL_execresult (lua_State *L, int stat);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function produces the return values for
|
|
process-related functions in the standard library
|
|
(<a href="#pdf-os.execute"><code>os.execute</code></a> and <a href="#pdf-io.close"><code>io.close</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_fileresult"><code>luaL_fileresult</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +(1|3), <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int luaL_fileresult (lua_State *L, int stat, const char *fname);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function produces the return values for
|
|
file-related functions in the standard library
|
|
(<a href="#pdf-io.open"><code>io.open</code></a>, <a href="#pdf-os.rename"><code>os.rename</code></a>, <a href="#pdf-file:seek"><code>file:seek</code></a>, etc.).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_getmetafield"><code>luaL_getmetafield</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +(0|1), <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int luaL_getmetafield (lua_State *L, int obj, const char *e);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes onto the stack the field <code>e</code> from the metatable
|
|
of the object at index <code>obj</code> and returns the type of the pushed value.
|
|
If the object does not have a metatable,
|
|
or if the metatable does not have this field,
|
|
pushes nothing and returns <code>LUA_TNIL</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_getmetatable"><code>luaL_getmetatable</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int luaL_getmetatable (lua_State *L, const char *tname);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes onto the stack the metatable associated with name <code>tname</code>
|
|
in the registry (see <a href="#luaL_newmetatable"><code>luaL_newmetatable</code></a>)
|
|
(<b>nil</b> if there is no metatable associated with that name).
|
|
Returns the type of the pushed value.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_getsubtable"><code>luaL_getsubtable</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int luaL_getsubtable (lua_State *L, int idx, const char *fname);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Ensures that the value <code>t[fname]</code>,
|
|
where <code>t</code> is the value at index <code>idx</code>,
|
|
is a table,
|
|
and pushes that table onto the stack.
|
|
Returns true if it finds a previous table there
|
|
and false if it creates a new table.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_gsub"><code>luaL_gsub</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>const char *luaL_gsub (lua_State *L,
|
|
const char *s,
|
|
const char *p,
|
|
const char *r);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Creates a copy of string <code>s</code> by replacing
|
|
any occurrence of the string <code>p</code>
|
|
with the string <code>r</code>.
|
|
Pushes the resulting string on the stack and returns it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_len"><code>luaL_len</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>lua_Integer luaL_len (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the "length" of the value at the given index
|
|
as a number;
|
|
it is equivalent to the '<code>#</code>' operator in Lua (see <a href="#3.4.7">§3.4.7</a>).
|
|
Raises an error if the result of the operation is not an integer.
|
|
(This case only can happen through metamethods.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_loadbuffer"><code>luaL_loadbuffer</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int luaL_loadbuffer (lua_State *L,
|
|
const char *buff,
|
|
size_t sz,
|
|
const char *name);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Equivalent to <a href="#luaL_loadbufferx"><code>luaL_loadbufferx</code></a> with <code>mode</code> equal to <code>NULL</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_loadbufferx"><code>luaL_loadbufferx</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int luaL_loadbufferx (lua_State *L,
|
|
const char *buff,
|
|
size_t sz,
|
|
const char *name,
|
|
const char *mode);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Loads a buffer as a Lua chunk.
|
|
This function uses <a href="#lua_load"><code>lua_load</code></a> to load the chunk in the
|
|
buffer pointed to by <code>buff</code> with size <code>sz</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function returns the same results as <a href="#lua_load"><code>lua_load</code></a>.
|
|
<code>name</code> is the chunk name,
|
|
used for debug information and error messages.
|
|
The string <code>mode</code> works as in function <a href="#lua_load"><code>lua_load</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_loadfile"><code>luaL_loadfile</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int luaL_loadfile (lua_State *L, const char *filename);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Equivalent to <a href="#luaL_loadfilex"><code>luaL_loadfilex</code></a> with <code>mode</code> equal to <code>NULL</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_loadfilex"><code>luaL_loadfilex</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int luaL_loadfilex (lua_State *L, const char *filename,
|
|
const char *mode);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Loads a file as a Lua chunk.
|
|
This function uses <a href="#lua_load"><code>lua_load</code></a> to load the chunk in the file
|
|
named <code>filename</code>.
|
|
If <code>filename</code> is <code>NULL</code>,
|
|
then it loads from the standard input.
|
|
The first line in the file is ignored if it starts with a <code>#</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The string <code>mode</code> works as in function <a href="#lua_load"><code>lua_load</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function returns the same results as <a href="#lua_load"><code>lua_load</code></a>,
|
|
but it has an extra error code <a name="pdf-LUA_ERRFILE"><code>LUA_ERRFILE</code></a>
|
|
for file-related errors
|
|
(e.g., it cannot open or read the file).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
As <a href="#lua_load"><code>lua_load</code></a>, this function only loads the chunk;
|
|
it does not run it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_loadstring"><code>luaL_loadstring</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>int luaL_loadstring (lua_State *L, const char *s);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Loads a string as a Lua chunk.
|
|
This function uses <a href="#lua_load"><code>lua_load</code></a> to load the chunk in
|
|
the zero-terminated string <code>s</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function returns the same results as <a href="#lua_load"><code>lua_load</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Also as <a href="#lua_load"><code>lua_load</code></a>, this function only loads the chunk;
|
|
it does not run it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_newlib"><code>luaL_newlib</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_newlib (lua_State *L, const luaL_Reg l[]);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Creates a new table and registers there
|
|
the functions in list <code>l</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
It is implemented as the following macro:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
(luaL_newlibtable(L,l), luaL_setfuncs(L,l,0))
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
The array <code>l</code> must be the actual array,
|
|
not a pointer to it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_newlibtable"><code>luaL_newlibtable</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_newlibtable (lua_State *L, const luaL_Reg l[]);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Creates a new table with a size optimized
|
|
to store all entries in the array <code>l</code>
|
|
(but does not actually store them).
|
|
It is intended to be used in conjunction with <a href="#luaL_setfuncs"><code>luaL_setfuncs</code></a>
|
|
(see <a href="#luaL_newlib"><code>luaL_newlib</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
It is implemented as a macro.
|
|
The array <code>l</code> must be the actual array,
|
|
not a pointer to it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_newmetatable"><code>luaL_newmetatable</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int luaL_newmetatable (lua_State *L, const char *tname);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If the registry already has the key <code>tname</code>,
|
|
returns 0.
|
|
Otherwise,
|
|
creates a new table to be used as a metatable for userdata,
|
|
adds to this new table the pair <code>__name = tname</code>,
|
|
adds to the registry the pair <code>[tname] = new table</code>,
|
|
and returns 1.
|
|
(The entry <code>__name</code> is used by some error-reporting functions.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
In both cases pushes onto the stack the final value associated
|
|
with <code>tname</code> in the registry.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_newstate"><code>luaL_newstate</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>lua_State *luaL_newstate (void);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Creates a new Lua state.
|
|
It calls <a href="#lua_newstate"><code>lua_newstate</code></a> with an
|
|
allocator based on the standard C <code>realloc</code> function
|
|
and then sets a panic function (see <a href="#4.6">§4.6</a>) that prints
|
|
an error message to the standard error output in case of fatal
|
|
errors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the new state,
|
|
or <code>NULL</code> if there is a memory allocation error.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_openlibs"><code>luaL_openlibs</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_openlibs (lua_State *L);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Opens all standard Lua libraries into the given state.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_opt"><code>luaL_opt</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>T luaL_opt (L, func, arg, dflt);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This macro is defined as follows:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
(lua_isnoneornil(L,(arg)) ? (dflt) : func(L,(arg)))
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
In words, if the argument <code>arg</code> is nil or absent,
|
|
the macro results in the default <code>dflt</code>.
|
|
Otherwise, it results in the result of calling <code>func</code>
|
|
with the state <code>L</code> and the argument index <code>arg</code> as
|
|
arguments.
|
|
Note that it evaluates the expression <code>dflt</code> only if needed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_optinteger"><code>luaL_optinteger</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>v</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>lua_Integer luaL_optinteger (lua_State *L,
|
|
int arg,
|
|
lua_Integer d);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If the function argument <code>arg</code> is an integer
|
|
(or convertible to an integer),
|
|
returns this integer.
|
|
If this argument is absent or is <b>nil</b>,
|
|
returns <code>d</code>.
|
|
Otherwise, raises an error.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_optlstring"><code>luaL_optlstring</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>v</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>const char *luaL_optlstring (lua_State *L,
|
|
int arg,
|
|
const char *d,
|
|
size_t *l);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If the function argument <code>arg</code> is a string,
|
|
returns this string.
|
|
If this argument is absent or is <b>nil</b>,
|
|
returns <code>d</code>.
|
|
Otherwise, raises an error.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>l</code> is not <code>NULL</code>,
|
|
fills the position <code>*l</code> with the result's length.
|
|
If the result is <code>NULL</code>
|
|
(only possible when returning <code>d</code> and <code>d == NULL</code>),
|
|
its length is considered zero.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function uses <a href="#lua_tolstring"><code>lua_tolstring</code></a> to get its result,
|
|
so all conversions and caveats of that function apply here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_optnumber"><code>luaL_optnumber</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>v</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>lua_Number luaL_optnumber (lua_State *L, int arg, lua_Number d);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If the function argument <code>arg</code> is a number,
|
|
returns this number.
|
|
If this argument is absent or is <b>nil</b>,
|
|
returns <code>d</code>.
|
|
Otherwise, raises an error.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_optstring"><code>luaL_optstring</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>v</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>const char *luaL_optstring (lua_State *L,
|
|
int arg,
|
|
const char *d);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If the function argument <code>arg</code> is a string,
|
|
returns this string.
|
|
If this argument is absent or is <b>nil</b>,
|
|
returns <code>d</code>.
|
|
Otherwise, raises an error.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_prepbuffer"><code>luaL_prepbuffer</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-?, +?, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>char *luaL_prepbuffer (luaL_Buffer *B);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Equivalent to <a href="#luaL_prepbuffsize"><code>luaL_prepbuffsize</code></a>
|
|
with the predefined size <a name="pdf-LUAL_BUFFERSIZE"><code>LUAL_BUFFERSIZE</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_prepbuffsize"><code>luaL_prepbuffsize</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-?, +?, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>char *luaL_prepbuffsize (luaL_Buffer *B, size_t sz);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns an address to a space of size <code>sz</code>
|
|
where you can copy a string to be added to buffer <code>B</code>
|
|
(see <a href="#luaL_Buffer"><code>luaL_Buffer</code></a>).
|
|
After copying the string into this space you must call
|
|
<a href="#luaL_addsize"><code>luaL_addsize</code></a> with the size of the string to actually add
|
|
it to the buffer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_pushresult"><code>luaL_pushresult</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-?, +1, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_pushresult (luaL_Buffer *B);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Finishes the use of buffer <code>B</code> leaving the final string on
|
|
the top of the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_pushresultsize"><code>luaL_pushresultsize</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-?, +1, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_pushresultsize (luaL_Buffer *B, size_t sz);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Equivalent to the sequence <a href="#luaL_addsize"><code>luaL_addsize</code></a>, <a href="#luaL_pushresult"><code>luaL_pushresult</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_ref"><code>luaL_ref</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-1, +0, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>int luaL_ref (lua_State *L, int t);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Creates and returns a <em>reference</em>,
|
|
in the table at index <code>t</code>,
|
|
for the object at the top of the stack (and pops the object).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A reference is a unique integer key.
|
|
As long as you do not manually add integer keys into table <code>t</code>,
|
|
<a href="#luaL_ref"><code>luaL_ref</code></a> ensures the uniqueness of the key it returns.
|
|
You can retrieve an object referred by reference <code>r</code>
|
|
by calling <code>lua_rawgeti(L, t, r)</code>.
|
|
Function <a href="#luaL_unref"><code>luaL_unref</code></a> frees a reference and its associated object.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If the object at the top of the stack is <b>nil</b>,
|
|
<a href="#luaL_ref"><code>luaL_ref</code></a> returns the constant <a name="pdf-LUA_REFNIL"><code>LUA_REFNIL</code></a>.
|
|
The constant <a name="pdf-LUA_NOREF"><code>LUA_NOREF</code></a> is guaranteed to be different
|
|
from any reference returned by <a href="#luaL_ref"><code>luaL_ref</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_Reg"><code>luaL_Reg</code></a></h3>
|
|
<pre>typedef struct luaL_Reg {
|
|
const char *name;
|
|
lua_CFunction func;
|
|
} luaL_Reg;</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Type for arrays of functions to be registered by
|
|
<a href="#luaL_setfuncs"><code>luaL_setfuncs</code></a>.
|
|
<code>name</code> is the function name and <code>func</code> is a pointer to
|
|
the function.
|
|
Any array of <a href="#luaL_Reg"><code>luaL_Reg</code></a> must end with a sentinel entry
|
|
in which both <code>name</code> and <code>func</code> are <code>NULL</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_requiref"><code>luaL_requiref</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_requiref (lua_State *L, const char *modname,
|
|
lua_CFunction openf, int glb);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>modname</code> is not already present in <a href="#pdf-package.loaded"><code>package.loaded</code></a>,
|
|
calls function <code>openf</code> with string <code>modname</code> as an argument
|
|
and sets the call result in <code>package.loaded[modname]</code>,
|
|
as if that function has been called through <a href="#pdf-require"><code>require</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>glb</code> is true,
|
|
also stores the module into global <code>modname</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Leaves a copy of the module on the stack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_setfuncs"><code>luaL_setfuncs</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-nup, +0, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_setfuncs (lua_State *L, const luaL_Reg *l, int nup);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Registers all functions in the array <code>l</code>
|
|
(see <a href="#luaL_Reg"><code>luaL_Reg</code></a>) into the table on the top of the stack
|
|
(below optional upvalues, see next).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When <code>nup</code> is not zero,
|
|
all functions are created sharing <code>nup</code> upvalues,
|
|
which must be previously pushed on the stack
|
|
on top of the library table.
|
|
These values are popped from the stack after the registration.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_setmetatable"><code>luaL_setmetatable</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_setmetatable (lua_State *L, const char *tname);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Sets the metatable of the object at the top of the stack
|
|
as the metatable associated with name <code>tname</code>
|
|
in the registry (see <a href="#luaL_newmetatable"><code>luaL_newmetatable</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_Stream"><code>luaL_Stream</code></a></h3>
|
|
<pre>typedef struct luaL_Stream {
|
|
FILE *f;
|
|
lua_CFunction closef;
|
|
} luaL_Stream;</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The standard representation for file handles,
|
|
which is used by the standard I/O library.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A file handle is implemented as a full userdata,
|
|
with a metatable called <code>LUA_FILEHANDLE</code>
|
|
(where <code>LUA_FILEHANDLE</code> is a macro with the actual metatable's name).
|
|
The metatable is created by the I/O library
|
|
(see <a href="#luaL_newmetatable"><code>luaL_newmetatable</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This userdata must start with the structure <code>luaL_Stream</code>;
|
|
it can contain other data after this initial structure.
|
|
Field <code>f</code> points to the corresponding C stream
|
|
(or it can be <code>NULL</code> to indicate an incompletely created handle).
|
|
Field <code>closef</code> points to a Lua function
|
|
that will be called to close the stream
|
|
when the handle is closed or collected;
|
|
this function receives the file handle as its sole argument and
|
|
must return either <b>true</b> (in case of success)
|
|
or <b>nil</b> plus an error message (in case of error).
|
|
Once Lua calls this field,
|
|
it changes the field value to <code>NULL</code>
|
|
to signal that the handle is closed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_testudata"><code>luaL_testudata</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void *luaL_testudata (lua_State *L, int arg, const char *tname);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function works like <a href="#luaL_checkudata"><code>luaL_checkudata</code></a>,
|
|
except that, when the test fails,
|
|
it returns <code>NULL</code> instead of raising an error.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_tolstring"><code>luaL_tolstring</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>e</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>const char *luaL_tolstring (lua_State *L, int idx, size_t *len);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Converts any Lua value at the given index to a C string
|
|
in a reasonable format.
|
|
The resulting string is pushed onto the stack and also
|
|
returned by the function.
|
|
If <code>len</code> is not <code>NULL</code>,
|
|
the function also sets <code>*len</code> with the string length.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If the value has a metatable with a <code>__tostring</code> field,
|
|
then <code>luaL_tolstring</code> calls the corresponding metamethod
|
|
with the value as argument,
|
|
and uses the result of the call as its result.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_traceback"><code>luaL_traceback</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_traceback (lua_State *L, lua_State *L1, const char *msg,
|
|
int level);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Creates and pushes a traceback of the stack <code>L1</code>.
|
|
If <code>msg</code> is not <code>NULL</code> it is appended
|
|
at the beginning of the traceback.
|
|
The <code>level</code> parameter tells at which level
|
|
to start the traceback.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_typename"><code>luaL_typename</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>const char *luaL_typename (lua_State *L, int index);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the name of the type of the value at the given index.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_unref"><code>luaL_unref</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +0, –]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_unref (lua_State *L, int t, int ref);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Releases reference <code>ref</code> from the table at index <code>t</code>
|
|
(see <a href="#luaL_ref"><code>luaL_ref</code></a>).
|
|
The entry is removed from the table,
|
|
so that the referred object can be collected.
|
|
The reference <code>ref</code> is also freed to be used again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>ref</code> is <a href="#pdf-LUA_NOREF"><code>LUA_NOREF</code></a> or <a href="#pdf-LUA_REFNIL"><code>LUA_REFNIL</code></a>,
|
|
<a href="#luaL_unref"><code>luaL_unref</code></a> does nothing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="luaL_where"><code>luaL_where</code></a></h3><p>
|
|
<span class="apii">[-0, +1, <em>m</em>]</span>
|
|
<pre>void luaL_where (lua_State *L, int lvl);</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Pushes onto the stack a string identifying the current position
|
|
of the control at level <code>lvl</code> in the call stack.
|
|
Typically this string has the following format:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
<em>chunkname</em>:<em>currentline</em>:
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
Level 0 is the running function,
|
|
level 1 is the function that called the running function,
|
|
etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function is used to build a prefix for error messages.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h1>6 – <a name="6">Standard Libraries</a></h1>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The standard Lua libraries provide useful functions
|
|
that are implemented directly through the C API.
|
|
Some of these functions provide essential services to the language
|
|
(e.g., <a href="#pdf-type"><code>type</code></a> and <a href="#pdf-getmetatable"><code>getmetatable</code></a>);
|
|
others provide access to "outside" services (e.g., I/O);
|
|
and others could be implemented in Lua itself,
|
|
but are quite useful or have critical performance requirements that
|
|
deserve an implementation in C (e.g., <a href="#pdf-table.sort"><code>table.sort</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
All libraries are implemented through the official C API
|
|
and are provided as separate C modules.
|
|
Currently, Lua has the following standard libraries:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li>basic library (<a href="#6.1">§6.1</a>);</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>coroutine library (<a href="#6.2">§6.2</a>);</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>package library (<a href="#6.3">§6.3</a>);</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>string manipulation (<a href="#6.4">§6.4</a>);</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>basic UTF-8 support (<a href="#6.5">§6.5</a>);</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>table manipulation (<a href="#6.6">§6.6</a>);</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>mathematical functions (<a href="#6.7">§6.7</a>) (sin, log, etc.);</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>input and output (<a href="#6.8">§6.8</a>);</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>operating system facilities (<a href="#6.9">§6.9</a>);</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>debug facilities (<a href="#6.10">§6.10</a>).</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul><p>
|
|
Except for the basic and the package libraries,
|
|
each library provides all its functions as fields of a global table
|
|
or as methods of its objects.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
To have access to these libraries,
|
|
the C host program should call the <a href="#luaL_openlibs"><code>luaL_openlibs</code></a> function,
|
|
which opens all standard libraries.
|
|
Alternatively,
|
|
the host program can open them individually by using
|
|
<a href="#luaL_requiref"><code>luaL_requiref</code></a> to call
|
|
<a name="pdf-luaopen_base"><code>luaopen_base</code></a> (for the basic library),
|
|
<a name="pdf-luaopen_package"><code>luaopen_package</code></a> (for the package library),
|
|
<a name="pdf-luaopen_coroutine"><code>luaopen_coroutine</code></a> (for the coroutine library),
|
|
<a name="pdf-luaopen_string"><code>luaopen_string</code></a> (for the string library),
|
|
<a name="pdf-luaopen_utf8"><code>luaopen_utf8</code></a> (for the UTF8 library),
|
|
<a name="pdf-luaopen_table"><code>luaopen_table</code></a> (for the table library),
|
|
<a name="pdf-luaopen_math"><code>luaopen_math</code></a> (for the mathematical library),
|
|
<a name="pdf-luaopen_io"><code>luaopen_io</code></a> (for the I/O library),
|
|
<a name="pdf-luaopen_os"><code>luaopen_os</code></a> (for the operating system library),
|
|
and <a name="pdf-luaopen_debug"><code>luaopen_debug</code></a> (for the debug library).
|
|
These functions are declared in <a name="pdf-lualib.h"><code>lualib.h</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>6.1 – <a name="6.1">Basic Functions</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The basic library provides core functions to Lua.
|
|
If you do not include this library in your application,
|
|
you should check carefully whether you need to provide
|
|
implementations for some of its facilities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-assert"><code>assert (v [, message])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Calls <a href="#pdf-error"><code>error</code></a> if
|
|
the value of its argument <code>v</code> is false (i.e., <b>nil</b> or <b>false</b>);
|
|
otherwise, returns all its arguments.
|
|
In case of error,
|
|
<code>message</code> is the error object;
|
|
when absent, it defaults to "<code>assertion failed!</code>"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-collectgarbage"><code>collectgarbage ([opt [, arg]])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function is a generic interface to the garbage collector.
|
|
It performs different functions according to its first argument, <code>opt</code>:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>"<code>collect</code>": </b>
|
|
performs a full garbage-collection cycle.
|
|
This is the default option.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>"<code>stop</code>": </b>
|
|
stops automatic execution of the garbage collector.
|
|
The collector will run only when explicitly invoked,
|
|
until a call to restart it.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>"<code>restart</code>": </b>
|
|
restarts automatic execution of the garbage collector.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>"<code>count</code>": </b>
|
|
returns the total memory in use by Lua in Kbytes.
|
|
The value has a fractional part,
|
|
so that it multiplied by 1024
|
|
gives the exact number of bytes in use by Lua
|
|
(except for overflows).
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>"<code>step</code>": </b>
|
|
performs a garbage-collection step.
|
|
The step "size" is controlled by <code>arg</code>.
|
|
With a zero value,
|
|
the collector will perform one basic (indivisible) step.
|
|
For non-zero values,
|
|
the collector will perform as if that amount of memory
|
|
(in KBytes) had been allocated by Lua.
|
|
Returns <b>true</b> if the step finished a collection cycle.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>"<code>setpause</code>": </b>
|
|
sets <code>arg</code> as the new value for the <em>pause</em> of
|
|
the collector (see <a href="#2.5">§2.5</a>).
|
|
Returns the previous value for <em>pause</em>.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>"<code>setstepmul</code>": </b>
|
|
sets <code>arg</code> as the new value for the <em>step multiplier</em> of
|
|
the collector (see <a href="#2.5">§2.5</a>).
|
|
Returns the previous value for <em>step</em>.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>"<code>isrunning</code>": </b>
|
|
returns a boolean that tells whether the collector is running
|
|
(i.e., not stopped).
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-dofile"><code>dofile ([filename])</code></a></h3>
|
|
Opens the named file and executes its contents as a Lua chunk.
|
|
When called without arguments,
|
|
<code>dofile</code> executes the contents of the standard input (<code>stdin</code>).
|
|
Returns all values returned by the chunk.
|
|
In case of errors, <code>dofile</code> propagates the error
|
|
to its caller (that is, <code>dofile</code> does not run in protected mode).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-error"><code>error (message [, level])</code></a></h3>
|
|
Terminates the last protected function called
|
|
and returns <code>message</code> as the error object.
|
|
Function <code>error</code> never returns.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Usually, <code>error</code> adds some information about the error position
|
|
at the beginning of the message, if the message is a string.
|
|
The <code>level</code> argument specifies how to get the error position.
|
|
With level 1 (the default), the error position is where the
|
|
<code>error</code> function was called.
|
|
Level 2 points the error to where the function
|
|
that called <code>error</code> was called; and so on.
|
|
Passing a level 0 avoids the addition of error position information
|
|
to the message.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-_G"><code>_G</code></a></h3>
|
|
A global variable (not a function) that
|
|
holds the global environment (see <a href="#2.2">§2.2</a>).
|
|
Lua itself does not use this variable;
|
|
changing its value does not affect any environment,
|
|
nor vice versa.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-getmetatable"><code>getmetatable (object)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>object</code> does not have a metatable, returns <b>nil</b>.
|
|
Otherwise,
|
|
if the object's metatable has a <code>__metatable</code> field,
|
|
returns the associated value.
|
|
Otherwise, returns the metatable of the given object.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-ipairs"><code>ipairs (t)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns three values (an iterator function, the table <code>t</code>, and 0)
|
|
so that the construction
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
for i,v in ipairs(t) do <em>body</em> end
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
will iterate over the key–value pairs
|
|
(<code>1,t[1]</code>), (<code>2,t[2]</code>), ...,
|
|
up to the first nil value.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-load"><code>load (chunk [, chunkname [, mode [, env]]])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Loads a chunk.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>chunk</code> is a string, the chunk is this string.
|
|
If <code>chunk</code> is a function,
|
|
<code>load</code> calls it repeatedly to get the chunk pieces.
|
|
Each call to <code>chunk</code> must return a string that concatenates
|
|
with previous results.
|
|
A return of an empty string, <b>nil</b>, or no value signals the end of the chunk.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If there are no syntactic errors,
|
|
returns the compiled chunk as a function;
|
|
otherwise, returns <b>nil</b> plus the error message.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If the resulting function has upvalues,
|
|
the first upvalue is set to the value of <code>env</code>,
|
|
if that parameter is given,
|
|
or to the value of the global environment.
|
|
Other upvalues are initialized with <b>nil</b>.
|
|
(When you load a main chunk,
|
|
the resulting function will always have exactly one upvalue,
|
|
the <code>_ENV</code> variable (see <a href="#2.2">§2.2</a>).
|
|
However,
|
|
when you load a binary chunk created from a function (see <a href="#pdf-string.dump"><code>string.dump</code></a>),
|
|
the resulting function can have an arbitrary number of upvalues.)
|
|
All upvalues are fresh, that is,
|
|
they are not shared with any other function.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<code>chunkname</code> is used as the name of the chunk for error messages
|
|
and debug information (see <a href="#4.9">§4.9</a>).
|
|
When absent,
|
|
it defaults to <code>chunk</code>, if <code>chunk</code> is a string,
|
|
or to "<code>=(load)</code>" otherwise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The string <code>mode</code> controls whether the chunk can be text or binary
|
|
(that is, a precompiled chunk).
|
|
It may be the string "<code>b</code>" (only binary chunks),
|
|
"<code>t</code>" (only text chunks),
|
|
or "<code>bt</code>" (both binary and text).
|
|
The default is "<code>bt</code>".
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Lua does not check the consistency of binary chunks.
|
|
Maliciously crafted binary chunks can crash
|
|
the interpreter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-loadfile"><code>loadfile ([filename [, mode [, env]]])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Similar to <a href="#pdf-load"><code>load</code></a>,
|
|
but gets the chunk from file <code>filename</code>
|
|
or from the standard input,
|
|
if no file name is given.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-next"><code>next (table [, index])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Allows a program to traverse all fields of a table.
|
|
Its first argument is a table and its second argument
|
|
is an index in this table.
|
|
<code>next</code> returns the next index of the table
|
|
and its associated value.
|
|
When called with <b>nil</b> as its second argument,
|
|
<code>next</code> returns an initial index
|
|
and its associated value.
|
|
When called with the last index,
|
|
or with <b>nil</b> in an empty table,
|
|
<code>next</code> returns <b>nil</b>.
|
|
If the second argument is absent, then it is interpreted as <b>nil</b>.
|
|
In particular,
|
|
you can use <code>next(t)</code> to check whether a table is empty.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The order in which the indices are enumerated is not specified,
|
|
<em>even for numeric indices</em>.
|
|
(To traverse a table in numerical order,
|
|
use a numerical <b>for</b>.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The behavior of <code>next</code> is undefined if,
|
|
during the traversal,
|
|
you assign any value to a non-existent field in the table.
|
|
You may however modify existing fields.
|
|
In particular, you may clear existing fields.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-pairs"><code>pairs (t)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>t</code> has a metamethod <code>__pairs</code>,
|
|
calls it with <code>t</code> as argument and returns the first three
|
|
results from the call.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Otherwise,
|
|
returns three values: the <a href="#pdf-next"><code>next</code></a> function, the table <code>t</code>, and <b>nil</b>,
|
|
so that the construction
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
for k,v in pairs(t) do <em>body</em> end
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
will iterate over all key–value pairs of table <code>t</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
See function <a href="#pdf-next"><code>next</code></a> for the caveats of modifying
|
|
the table during its traversal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-pcall"><code>pcall (f [, arg1, ···])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Calls function <code>f</code> with
|
|
the given arguments in <em>protected mode</em>.
|
|
This means that any error inside <code>f</code> is not propagated;
|
|
instead, <code>pcall</code> catches the error
|
|
and returns a status code.
|
|
Its first result is the status code (a boolean),
|
|
which is true if the call succeeds without errors.
|
|
In such case, <code>pcall</code> also returns all results from the call,
|
|
after this first result.
|
|
In case of any error, <code>pcall</code> returns <b>false</b> plus the error message.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-print"><code>print (···)</code></a></h3>
|
|
Receives any number of arguments
|
|
and prints their values to <code>stdout</code>,
|
|
using the <a href="#pdf-tostring"><code>tostring</code></a> function to convert each argument to a string.
|
|
<code>print</code> is not intended for formatted output,
|
|
but only as a quick way to show a value,
|
|
for instance for debugging.
|
|
For complete control over the output,
|
|
use <a href="#pdf-string.format"><code>string.format</code></a> and <a href="#pdf-io.write"><code>io.write</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-rawequal"><code>rawequal (v1, v2)</code></a></h3>
|
|
Checks whether <code>v1</code> is equal to <code>v2</code>,
|
|
without invoking the <code>__eq</code> metamethod.
|
|
Returns a boolean.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-rawget"><code>rawget (table, index)</code></a></h3>
|
|
Gets the real value of <code>table[index]</code>,
|
|
without invoking the <code>__index</code> metamethod.
|
|
<code>table</code> must be a table;
|
|
<code>index</code> may be any value.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-rawlen"><code>rawlen (v)</code></a></h3>
|
|
Returns the length of the object <code>v</code>,
|
|
which must be a table or a string,
|
|
without invoking the <code>__len</code> metamethod.
|
|
Returns an integer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-rawset"><code>rawset (table, index, value)</code></a></h3>
|
|
Sets the real value of <code>table[index]</code> to <code>value</code>,
|
|
without invoking the <code>__newindex</code> metamethod.
|
|
<code>table</code> must be a table,
|
|
<code>index</code> any value different from <b>nil</b> and NaN,
|
|
and <code>value</code> any Lua value.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function returns <code>table</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-select"><code>select (index, ···)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>index</code> is a number,
|
|
returns all arguments after argument number <code>index</code>;
|
|
a negative number indexes from the end (-1 is the last argument).
|
|
Otherwise, <code>index</code> must be the string <code>"#"</code>,
|
|
and <code>select</code> returns the total number of extra arguments it received.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-setmetatable"><code>setmetatable (table, metatable)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Sets the metatable for the given table.
|
|
(To change the metatable of other types from Lua code,
|
|
you must use the debug library (<a href="#6.10">§6.10</a>).)
|
|
If <code>metatable</code> is <b>nil</b>,
|
|
removes the metatable of the given table.
|
|
If the original metatable has a <code>__metatable</code> field,
|
|
raises an error.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function returns <code>table</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-tonumber"><code>tonumber (e [, base])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When called with no <code>base</code>,
|
|
<code>tonumber</code> tries to convert its argument to a number.
|
|
If the argument is already a number or
|
|
a string convertible to a number,
|
|
then <code>tonumber</code> returns this number;
|
|
otherwise, it returns <b>nil</b>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The conversion of strings can result in integers or floats,
|
|
according to the lexical conventions of Lua (see <a href="#3.1">§3.1</a>).
|
|
(The string may have leading and trailing spaces and a sign.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When called with <code>base</code>,
|
|
then <code>e</code> must be a string to be interpreted as
|
|
an integer numeral in that base.
|
|
The base may be any integer between 2 and 36, inclusive.
|
|
In bases above 10, the letter '<code>A</code>' (in either upper or lower case)
|
|
represents 10, '<code>B</code>' represents 11, and so forth,
|
|
with '<code>Z</code>' representing 35.
|
|
If the string <code>e</code> is not a valid numeral in the given base,
|
|
the function returns <b>nil</b>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-tostring"><code>tostring (v)</code></a></h3>
|
|
Receives a value of any type and
|
|
converts it to a string in a human-readable format.
|
|
(For complete control of how numbers are converted,
|
|
use <a href="#pdf-string.format"><code>string.format</code></a>.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If the metatable of <code>v</code> has a <code>__tostring</code> field,
|
|
then <code>tostring</code> calls the corresponding value
|
|
with <code>v</code> as argument,
|
|
and uses the result of the call as its result.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-type"><code>type (v)</code></a></h3>
|
|
Returns the type of its only argument, coded as a string.
|
|
The possible results of this function are
|
|
"<code>nil</code>" (a string, not the value <b>nil</b>),
|
|
"<code>number</code>",
|
|
"<code>string</code>",
|
|
"<code>boolean</code>",
|
|
"<code>table</code>",
|
|
"<code>function</code>",
|
|
"<code>thread</code>",
|
|
and "<code>userdata</code>".
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-_VERSION"><code>_VERSION</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A global variable (not a function) that
|
|
holds a string containing the running Lua version.
|
|
The current value of this variable is "<code>Lua 5.3</code>".
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-xpcall"><code>xpcall (f, msgh [, arg1, ···])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function is similar to <a href="#pdf-pcall"><code>pcall</code></a>,
|
|
except that it sets a new message handler <code>msgh</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>6.2 – <a name="6.2">Coroutine Manipulation</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This library comprises the operations to manipulate coroutines,
|
|
which come inside the table <a name="pdf-coroutine"><code>coroutine</code></a>.
|
|
See <a href="#2.6">§2.6</a> for a general description of coroutines.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-coroutine.create"><code>coroutine.create (f)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Creates a new coroutine, with body <code>f</code>.
|
|
<code>f</code> must be a function.
|
|
Returns this new coroutine,
|
|
an object with type <code>"thread"</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-coroutine.isyieldable"><code>coroutine.isyieldable ()</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns true when the running coroutine can yield.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A running coroutine is yieldable if it is not the main thread and
|
|
it is not inside a non-yieldable C function.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-coroutine.resume"><code>coroutine.resume (co [, val1, ···])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Starts or continues the execution of coroutine <code>co</code>.
|
|
The first time you resume a coroutine,
|
|
it starts running its body.
|
|
The values <code>val1</code>, ... are passed
|
|
as the arguments to the body function.
|
|
If the coroutine has yielded,
|
|
<code>resume</code> restarts it;
|
|
the values <code>val1</code>, ... are passed
|
|
as the results from the yield.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If the coroutine runs without any errors,
|
|
<code>resume</code> returns <b>true</b> plus any values passed to <code>yield</code>
|
|
(when the coroutine yields) or any values returned by the body function
|
|
(when the coroutine terminates).
|
|
If there is any error,
|
|
<code>resume</code> returns <b>false</b> plus the error message.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-coroutine.running"><code>coroutine.running ()</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the running coroutine plus a boolean,
|
|
true when the running coroutine is the main one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-coroutine.status"><code>coroutine.status (co)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the status of coroutine <code>co</code>, as a string:
|
|
<code>"running"</code>,
|
|
if the coroutine is running (that is, it called <code>status</code>);
|
|
<code>"suspended"</code>, if the coroutine is suspended in a call to <code>yield</code>,
|
|
or if it has not started running yet;
|
|
<code>"normal"</code> if the coroutine is active but not running
|
|
(that is, it has resumed another coroutine);
|
|
and <code>"dead"</code> if the coroutine has finished its body function,
|
|
or if it has stopped with an error.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-coroutine.wrap"><code>coroutine.wrap (f)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Creates a new coroutine, with body <code>f</code>.
|
|
<code>f</code> must be a function.
|
|
Returns a function that resumes the coroutine each time it is called.
|
|
Any arguments passed to the function behave as the
|
|
extra arguments to <code>resume</code>.
|
|
Returns the same values returned by <code>resume</code>,
|
|
except the first boolean.
|
|
In case of error, propagates the error.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-coroutine.yield"><code>coroutine.yield (···)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Suspends the execution of the calling coroutine.
|
|
Any arguments to <code>yield</code> are passed as extra results to <code>resume</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>6.3 – <a name="6.3">Modules</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The package library provides basic
|
|
facilities for loading modules in Lua.
|
|
It exports one function directly in the global environment:
|
|
<a href="#pdf-require"><code>require</code></a>.
|
|
Everything else is exported in a table <a name="pdf-package"><code>package</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-require"><code>require (modname)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Loads the given module.
|
|
The function starts by looking into the <a href="#pdf-package.loaded"><code>package.loaded</code></a> table
|
|
to determine whether <code>modname</code> is already loaded.
|
|
If it is, then <code>require</code> returns the value stored
|
|
at <code>package.loaded[modname]</code>.
|
|
Otherwise, it tries to find a <em>loader</em> for the module.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
To find a loader,
|
|
<code>require</code> is guided by the <a href="#pdf-package.searchers"><code>package.searchers</code></a> sequence.
|
|
By changing this sequence,
|
|
we can change how <code>require</code> looks for a module.
|
|
The following explanation is based on the default configuration
|
|
for <a href="#pdf-package.searchers"><code>package.searchers</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
First <code>require</code> queries <code>package.preload[modname]</code>.
|
|
If it has a value,
|
|
this value (which must be a function) is the loader.
|
|
Otherwise <code>require</code> searches for a Lua loader using the
|
|
path stored in <a href="#pdf-package.path"><code>package.path</code></a>.
|
|
If that also fails, it searches for a C loader using the
|
|
path stored in <a href="#pdf-package.cpath"><code>package.cpath</code></a>.
|
|
If that also fails,
|
|
it tries an <em>all-in-one</em> loader (see <a href="#pdf-package.searchers"><code>package.searchers</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Once a loader is found,
|
|
<code>require</code> calls the loader with two arguments:
|
|
<code>modname</code> and an extra value dependent on how it got the loader.
|
|
(If the loader came from a file,
|
|
this extra value is the file name.)
|
|
If the loader returns any non-nil value,
|
|
<code>require</code> assigns the returned value to <code>package.loaded[modname]</code>.
|
|
If the loader does not return a non-nil value and
|
|
has not assigned any value to <code>package.loaded[modname]</code>,
|
|
then <code>require</code> assigns <b>true</b> to this entry.
|
|
In any case, <code>require</code> returns the
|
|
final value of <code>package.loaded[modname]</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If there is any error loading or running the module,
|
|
or if it cannot find any loader for the module,
|
|
then <code>require</code> raises an error.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-package.config"><code>package.config</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A string describing some compile-time configurations for packages.
|
|
This string is a sequence of lines:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li>The first line is the directory separator string.
|
|
Default is '<code>\</code>' for Windows and '<code>/</code>' for all other systems.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>The second line is the character that separates templates in a path.
|
|
Default is '<code>;</code>'.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>The third line is the string that marks the
|
|
substitution points in a template.
|
|
Default is '<code>?</code>'.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>The fourth line is a string that, in a path in Windows,
|
|
is replaced by the executable's directory.
|
|
Default is '<code>!</code>'.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>The fifth line is a mark to ignore all text after it
|
|
when building the <code>luaopen_</code> function name.
|
|
Default is '<code>-</code>'.</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-package.cpath"><code>package.cpath</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The path used by <a href="#pdf-require"><code>require</code></a> to search for a C loader.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Lua initializes the C path <a href="#pdf-package.cpath"><code>package.cpath</code></a> in the same way
|
|
it initializes the Lua path <a href="#pdf-package.path"><code>package.path</code></a>,
|
|
using the environment variable <a name="pdf-LUA_CPATH_5_3"><code>LUA_CPATH_5_3</code></a>,
|
|
or the environment variable <a name="pdf-LUA_CPATH"><code>LUA_CPATH</code></a>,
|
|
or a default path defined in <code>luaconf.h</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-package.loaded"><code>package.loaded</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A table used by <a href="#pdf-require"><code>require</code></a> to control which
|
|
modules are already loaded.
|
|
When you require a module <code>modname</code> and
|
|
<code>package.loaded[modname]</code> is not false,
|
|
<a href="#pdf-require"><code>require</code></a> simply returns the value stored there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This variable is only a reference to the real table;
|
|
assignments to this variable do not change the
|
|
table used by <a href="#pdf-require"><code>require</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-package.loadlib"><code>package.loadlib (libname, funcname)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Dynamically links the host program with the C library <code>libname</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>funcname</code> is "<code>*</code>",
|
|
then it only links with the library,
|
|
making the symbols exported by the library
|
|
available to other dynamically linked libraries.
|
|
Otherwise,
|
|
it looks for a function <code>funcname</code> inside the library
|
|
and returns this function as a C function.
|
|
So, <code>funcname</code> must follow the <a href="#lua_CFunction"><code>lua_CFunction</code></a> prototype
|
|
(see <a href="#lua_CFunction"><code>lua_CFunction</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This is a low-level function.
|
|
It completely bypasses the package and module system.
|
|
Unlike <a href="#pdf-require"><code>require</code></a>,
|
|
it does not perform any path searching and
|
|
does not automatically adds extensions.
|
|
<code>libname</code> must be the complete file name of the C library,
|
|
including if necessary a path and an extension.
|
|
<code>funcname</code> must be the exact name exported by the C library
|
|
(which may depend on the C compiler and linker used).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function is not supported by Standard C.
|
|
As such, it is only available on some platforms
|
|
(Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Solaris, BSD,
|
|
plus other Unix systems that support the <code>dlfcn</code> standard).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-package.path"><code>package.path</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The path used by <a href="#pdf-require"><code>require</code></a> to search for a Lua loader.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
At start-up, Lua initializes this variable with
|
|
the value of the environment variable <a name="pdf-LUA_PATH_5_3"><code>LUA_PATH_5_3</code></a> or
|
|
the environment variable <a name="pdf-LUA_PATH"><code>LUA_PATH</code></a> or
|
|
with a default path defined in <code>luaconf.h</code>,
|
|
if those environment variables are not defined.
|
|
Any "<code>;;</code>" in the value of the environment variable
|
|
is replaced by the default path.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-package.preload"><code>package.preload</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A table to store loaders for specific modules
|
|
(see <a href="#pdf-require"><code>require</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This variable is only a reference to the real table;
|
|
assignments to this variable do not change the
|
|
table used by <a href="#pdf-require"><code>require</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-package.searchers"><code>package.searchers</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A table used by <a href="#pdf-require"><code>require</code></a> to control how to load modules.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Each entry in this table is a <em>searcher function</em>.
|
|
When looking for a module,
|
|
<a href="#pdf-require"><code>require</code></a> calls each of these searchers in ascending order,
|
|
with the module name (the argument given to <a href="#pdf-require"><code>require</code></a>) as its
|
|
sole parameter.
|
|
The function can return another function (the module <em>loader</em>)
|
|
plus an extra value that will be passed to that loader,
|
|
or a string explaining why it did not find that module
|
|
(or <b>nil</b> if it has nothing to say).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Lua initializes this table with four searcher functions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The first searcher simply looks for a loader in the
|
|
<a href="#pdf-package.preload"><code>package.preload</code></a> table.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The second searcher looks for a loader as a Lua library,
|
|
using the path stored at <a href="#pdf-package.path"><code>package.path</code></a>.
|
|
The search is done as described in function <a href="#pdf-package.searchpath"><code>package.searchpath</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The third searcher looks for a loader as a C library,
|
|
using the path given by the variable <a href="#pdf-package.cpath"><code>package.cpath</code></a>.
|
|
Again,
|
|
the search is done as described in function <a href="#pdf-package.searchpath"><code>package.searchpath</code></a>.
|
|
For instance,
|
|
if the C path is the string
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
"./?.so;./?.dll;/usr/local/?/init.so"
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
the searcher for module <code>foo</code>
|
|
will try to open the files <code>./foo.so</code>, <code>./foo.dll</code>,
|
|
and <code>/usr/local/foo/init.so</code>, in that order.
|
|
Once it finds a C library,
|
|
this searcher first uses a dynamic link facility to link the
|
|
application with the library.
|
|
Then it tries to find a C function inside the library to
|
|
be used as the loader.
|
|
The name of this C function is the string "<code>luaopen_</code>"
|
|
concatenated with a copy of the module name where each dot
|
|
is replaced by an underscore.
|
|
Moreover, if the module name has a hyphen,
|
|
its suffix after (and including) the first hyphen is removed.
|
|
For instance, if the module name is <code>a.b.c-v2.1</code>,
|
|
the function name will be <code>luaopen_a_b_c</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The fourth searcher tries an <em>all-in-one loader</em>.
|
|
It searches the C path for a library for
|
|
the root name of the given module.
|
|
For instance, when requiring <code>a.b.c</code>,
|
|
it will search for a C library for <code>a</code>.
|
|
If found, it looks into it for an open function for
|
|
the submodule;
|
|
in our example, that would be <code>luaopen_a_b_c</code>.
|
|
With this facility, a package can pack several C submodules
|
|
into one single library,
|
|
with each submodule keeping its original open function.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
All searchers except the first one (preload) return as the extra value
|
|
the file name where the module was found,
|
|
as returned by <a href="#pdf-package.searchpath"><code>package.searchpath</code></a>.
|
|
The first searcher returns no extra value.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-package.searchpath"><code>package.searchpath (name, path [, sep [, rep]])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Searches for the given <code>name</code> in the given <code>path</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A path is a string containing a sequence of
|
|
<em>templates</em> separated by semicolons.
|
|
For each template,
|
|
the function replaces each interrogation mark (if any)
|
|
in the template with a copy of <code>name</code>
|
|
wherein all occurrences of <code>sep</code>
|
|
(a dot, by default)
|
|
were replaced by <code>rep</code>
|
|
(the system's directory separator, by default),
|
|
and then tries to open the resulting file name.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
For instance, if the path is the string
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
"./?.lua;./?.lc;/usr/local/?/init.lua"
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
the search for the name <code>foo.a</code>
|
|
will try to open the files
|
|
<code>./foo/a.lua</code>, <code>./foo/a.lc</code>, and
|
|
<code>/usr/local/foo/a/init.lua</code>, in that order.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the resulting name of the first file that it can
|
|
open in read mode (after closing the file),
|
|
or <b>nil</b> plus an error message if none succeeds.
|
|
(This error message lists all file names it tried to open.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>6.4 – <a name="6.4">String Manipulation</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This library provides generic functions for string manipulation,
|
|
such as finding and extracting substrings, and pattern matching.
|
|
When indexing a string in Lua, the first character is at position 1
|
|
(not at 0, as in C).
|
|
Indices are allowed to be negative and are interpreted as indexing backwards,
|
|
from the end of the string.
|
|
Thus, the last character is at position -1, and so on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The string library provides all its functions inside the table
|
|
<a name="pdf-string"><code>string</code></a>.
|
|
It also sets a metatable for strings
|
|
where the <code>__index</code> field points to the <code>string</code> table.
|
|
Therefore, you can use the string functions in object-oriented style.
|
|
For instance, <code>string.byte(s,i)</code>
|
|
can be written as <code>s:byte(i)</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The string library assumes one-byte character encodings.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-string.byte"><code>string.byte (s [, i [, j]])</code></a></h3>
|
|
Returns the internal numeric codes of the characters <code>s[i]</code>,
|
|
<code>s[i+1]</code>, ..., <code>s[j]</code>.
|
|
The default value for <code>i</code> is 1;
|
|
the default value for <code>j</code> is <code>i</code>.
|
|
These indices are corrected
|
|
following the same rules of function <a href="#pdf-string.sub"><code>string.sub</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Numeric codes are not necessarily portable across platforms.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-string.char"><code>string.char (···)</code></a></h3>
|
|
Receives zero or more integers.
|
|
Returns a string with length equal to the number of arguments,
|
|
in which each character has the internal numeric code equal
|
|
to its corresponding argument.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Numeric codes are not necessarily portable across platforms.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-string.dump"><code>string.dump (function [, strip])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns a string containing a binary representation
|
|
(a <em>binary chunk</em>)
|
|
of the given function,
|
|
so that a later <a href="#pdf-load"><code>load</code></a> on this string returns
|
|
a copy of the function (but with new upvalues).
|
|
If <code>strip</code> is a true value,
|
|
the binary representation may not include all debug information
|
|
about the function,
|
|
to save space.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Functions with upvalues have only their number of upvalues saved.
|
|
When (re)loaded,
|
|
those upvalues receive fresh instances containing <b>nil</b>.
|
|
(You can use the debug library to serialize
|
|
and reload the upvalues of a function
|
|
in a way adequate to your needs.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-string.find"><code>string.find (s, pattern [, init [, plain]])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Looks for the first match of
|
|
<code>pattern</code> (see <a href="#6.4.1">§6.4.1</a>) in the string <code>s</code>.
|
|
If it finds a match, then <code>find</code> returns the indices of <code>s</code>
|
|
where this occurrence starts and ends;
|
|
otherwise, it returns <b>nil</b>.
|
|
A third, optional numeric argument <code>init</code> specifies
|
|
where to start the search;
|
|
its default value is 1 and can be negative.
|
|
A value of <b>true</b> as a fourth, optional argument <code>plain</code>
|
|
turns off the pattern matching facilities,
|
|
so the function does a plain "find substring" operation,
|
|
with no characters in <code>pattern</code> being considered magic.
|
|
Note that if <code>plain</code> is given, then <code>init</code> must be given as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If the pattern has captures,
|
|
then in a successful match
|
|
the captured values are also returned,
|
|
after the two indices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-string.format"><code>string.format (formatstring, ···)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns a formatted version of its variable number of arguments
|
|
following the description given in its first argument (which must be a string).
|
|
The format string follows the same rules as the ISO C function <code>sprintf</code>.
|
|
The only differences are that the options/modifiers
|
|
<code>*</code>, <code>h</code>, <code>L</code>, <code>l</code>, <code>n</code>,
|
|
and <code>p</code> are not supported
|
|
and that there is an extra option, <code>q</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The <code>q</code> option formats a string between double quotes,
|
|
using escape sequences when necessary to ensure that
|
|
it can safely be read back by the Lua interpreter.
|
|
For instance, the call
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
string.format('%q', 'a string with "quotes" and \n new line')
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
may produce the string:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
"a string with \"quotes\" and \
|
|
new line"
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Options
|
|
<code>A</code>, <code>a</code>, <code>E</code>, <code>e</code>, <code>f</code>,
|
|
<code>G</code>, and <code>g</code> all expect a number as argument.
|
|
Options <code>c</code>, <code>d</code>,
|
|
<code>i</code>, <code>o</code>, <code>u</code>, <code>X</code>, and <code>x</code>
|
|
expect an integer.
|
|
When Lua is compiled with a C89 compiler,
|
|
options <code>A</code> and <code>a</code> (hexadecimal floats)
|
|
do not support any modifier (flags, width, length).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Option <code>s</code> expects a string;
|
|
if its argument is not a string,
|
|
it is converted to one following the same rules of <a href="#pdf-tostring"><code>tostring</code></a>.
|
|
If the option has any modifier (flags, width, length),
|
|
the string argument should not contain embedded zeros.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-string.gmatch"><code>string.gmatch (s, pattern)</code></a></h3>
|
|
Returns an iterator function that,
|
|
each time it is called,
|
|
returns the next captures from <code>pattern</code> (see <a href="#6.4.1">§6.4.1</a>)
|
|
over the string <code>s</code>.
|
|
If <code>pattern</code> specifies no captures,
|
|
then the whole match is produced in each call.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
As an example, the following loop
|
|
will iterate over all the words from string <code>s</code>,
|
|
printing one per line:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
s = "hello world from Lua"
|
|
for w in string.gmatch(s, "%a+") do
|
|
print(w)
|
|
end
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
The next example collects all pairs <code>key=value</code> from the
|
|
given string into a table:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
t = {}
|
|
s = "from=world, to=Lua"
|
|
for k, v in string.gmatch(s, "(%w+)=(%w+)") do
|
|
t[k] = v
|
|
end
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
For this function, a caret '<code>^</code>' at the start of a pattern does not
|
|
work as an anchor, as this would prevent the iteration.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-string.gsub"><code>string.gsub (s, pattern, repl [, n])</code></a></h3>
|
|
Returns a copy of <code>s</code>
|
|
in which all (or the first <code>n</code>, if given)
|
|
occurrences of the <code>pattern</code> (see <a href="#6.4.1">§6.4.1</a>) have been
|
|
replaced by a replacement string specified by <code>repl</code>,
|
|
which can be a string, a table, or a function.
|
|
<code>gsub</code> also returns, as its second value,
|
|
the total number of matches that occurred.
|
|
The name <code>gsub</code> comes from <em>Global SUBstitution</em>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>repl</code> is a string, then its value is used for replacement.
|
|
The character <code>%</code> works as an escape character:
|
|
any sequence in <code>repl</code> of the form <code>%<em>d</em></code>,
|
|
with <em>d</em> between 1 and 9,
|
|
stands for the value of the <em>d</em>-th captured substring.
|
|
The sequence <code>%0</code> stands for the whole match.
|
|
The sequence <code>%%</code> stands for a single <code>%</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>repl</code> is a table, then the table is queried for every match,
|
|
using the first capture as the key.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>repl</code> is a function, then this function is called every time a
|
|
match occurs, with all captured substrings passed as arguments,
|
|
in order.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
In any case,
|
|
if the pattern specifies no captures,
|
|
then it behaves as if the whole pattern was inside a capture.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If the value returned by the table query or by the function call
|
|
is a string or a number,
|
|
then it is used as the replacement string;
|
|
otherwise, if it is <b>false</b> or <b>nil</b>,
|
|
then there is no replacement
|
|
(that is, the original match is kept in the string).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Here are some examples:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
x = string.gsub("hello world", "(%w+)", "%1 %1")
|
|
--> x="hello hello world world"
|
|
|
|
x = string.gsub("hello world", "%w+", "%0 %0", 1)
|
|
--> x="hello hello world"
|
|
|
|
x = string.gsub("hello world from Lua", "(%w+)%s*(%w+)", "%2 %1")
|
|
--> x="world hello Lua from"
|
|
|
|
x = string.gsub("home = $HOME, user = $USER", "%$(%w+)", os.getenv)
|
|
--> x="home = /home/roberto, user = roberto"
|
|
|
|
x = string.gsub("4+5 = $return 4+5$", "%$(.-)%$", function (s)
|
|
return load(s)()
|
|
end)
|
|
--> x="4+5 = 9"
|
|
|
|
local t = {name="lua", version="5.3"}
|
|
x = string.gsub("$name-$version.tar.gz", "%$(%w+)", t)
|
|
--> x="lua-5.3.tar.gz"
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-string.len"><code>string.len (s)</code></a></h3>
|
|
Receives a string and returns its length.
|
|
The empty string <code>""</code> has length 0.
|
|
Embedded zeros are counted,
|
|
so <code>"a\000bc\000"</code> has length 5.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-string.lower"><code>string.lower (s)</code></a></h3>
|
|
Receives a string and returns a copy of this string with all
|
|
uppercase letters changed to lowercase.
|
|
All other characters are left unchanged.
|
|
The definition of what an uppercase letter is depends on the current locale.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-string.match"><code>string.match (s, pattern [, init])</code></a></h3>
|
|
Looks for the first <em>match</em> of
|
|
<code>pattern</code> (see <a href="#6.4.1">§6.4.1</a>) in the string <code>s</code>.
|
|
If it finds one, then <code>match</code> returns
|
|
the captures from the pattern;
|
|
otherwise it returns <b>nil</b>.
|
|
If <code>pattern</code> specifies no captures,
|
|
then the whole match is returned.
|
|
A third, optional numeric argument <code>init</code> specifies
|
|
where to start the search;
|
|
its default value is 1 and can be negative.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-string.pack"><code>string.pack (fmt, v1, v2, ···)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns a binary string containing the values <code>v1</code>, <code>v2</code>, etc.
|
|
packed (that is, serialized in binary form)
|
|
according to the format string <code>fmt</code> (see <a href="#6.4.2">§6.4.2</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-string.packsize"><code>string.packsize (fmt)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the size of a string resulting from <a href="#pdf-string.pack"><code>string.pack</code></a>
|
|
with the given format.
|
|
The format string cannot have the variable-length options
|
|
'<code>s</code>' or '<code>z</code>' (see <a href="#6.4.2">§6.4.2</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-string.rep"><code>string.rep (s, n [, sep])</code></a></h3>
|
|
Returns a string that is the concatenation of <code>n</code> copies of
|
|
the string <code>s</code> separated by the string <code>sep</code>.
|
|
The default value for <code>sep</code> is the empty string
|
|
(that is, no separator).
|
|
Returns the empty string if <code>n</code> is not positive.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
(Note that it is very easy to exhaust the memory of your machine
|
|
with a single call to this function.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-string.reverse"><code>string.reverse (s)</code></a></h3>
|
|
Returns a string that is the string <code>s</code> reversed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-string.sub"><code>string.sub (s, i [, j])</code></a></h3>
|
|
Returns the substring of <code>s</code> that
|
|
starts at <code>i</code> and continues until <code>j</code>;
|
|
<code>i</code> and <code>j</code> can be negative.
|
|
If <code>j</code> is absent, then it is assumed to be equal to -1
|
|
(which is the same as the string length).
|
|
In particular,
|
|
the call <code>string.sub(s,1,j)</code> returns a prefix of <code>s</code>
|
|
with length <code>j</code>,
|
|
and <code>string.sub(s, -i)</code> (for a positive <code>i</code>)
|
|
returns a suffix of <code>s</code>
|
|
with length <code>i</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If, after the translation of negative indices,
|
|
<code>i</code> is less than 1,
|
|
it is corrected to 1.
|
|
If <code>j</code> is greater than the string length,
|
|
it is corrected to that length.
|
|
If, after these corrections,
|
|
<code>i</code> is greater than <code>j</code>,
|
|
the function returns the empty string.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-string.unpack"><code>string.unpack (fmt, s [, pos])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the values packed in string <code>s</code> (see <a href="#pdf-string.pack"><code>string.pack</code></a>)
|
|
according to the format string <code>fmt</code> (see <a href="#6.4.2">§6.4.2</a>).
|
|
An optional <code>pos</code> marks where
|
|
to start reading in <code>s</code> (default is 1).
|
|
After the read values,
|
|
this function also returns the index of the first unread byte in <code>s</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-string.upper"><code>string.upper (s)</code></a></h3>
|
|
Receives a string and returns a copy of this string with all
|
|
lowercase letters changed to uppercase.
|
|
All other characters are left unchanged.
|
|
The definition of what a lowercase letter is depends on the current locale.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>6.4.1 – <a name="6.4.1">Patterns</a></h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Patterns in Lua are described by regular strings,
|
|
which are interpreted as patterns by the pattern-matching functions
|
|
<a href="#pdf-string.find"><code>string.find</code></a>,
|
|
<a href="#pdf-string.gmatch"><code>string.gmatch</code></a>,
|
|
<a href="#pdf-string.gsub"><code>string.gsub</code></a>,
|
|
and <a href="#pdf-string.match"><code>string.match</code></a>.
|
|
This section describes the syntax and the meaning
|
|
(that is, what they match) of these strings.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h4>Character Class:</h4><p>
|
|
A <em>character class</em> is used to represent a set of characters.
|
|
The following combinations are allowed in describing a character class:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><em>x</em>: </b>
|
|
(where <em>x</em> is not one of the <em>magic characters</em>
|
|
<code>^$()%.[]*+-?</code>)
|
|
represents the character <em>x</em> itself.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>.</code>: </b> (a dot) represents all characters.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>%a</code>: </b> represents all letters.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>%c</code>: </b> represents all control characters.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>%d</code>: </b> represents all digits.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>%g</code>: </b> represents all printable characters except space.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>%l</code>: </b> represents all lowercase letters.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>%p</code>: </b> represents all punctuation characters.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>%s</code>: </b> represents all space characters.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>%u</code>: </b> represents all uppercase letters.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>%w</code>: </b> represents all alphanumeric characters.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>%x</code>: </b> represents all hexadecimal digits.</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>%<em>x</em></code>: </b> (where <em>x</em> is any non-alphanumeric character)
|
|
represents the character <em>x</em>.
|
|
This is the standard way to escape the magic characters.
|
|
Any non-alphanumeric character
|
|
(including all punctuation characters, even the non-magical)
|
|
can be preceded by a '<code>%</code>'
|
|
when used to represent itself in a pattern.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>[<em>set</em>]</code>: </b>
|
|
represents the class which is the union of all
|
|
characters in <em>set</em>.
|
|
A range of characters can be specified by
|
|
separating the end characters of the range,
|
|
in ascending order, with a '<code>-</code>'.
|
|
All classes <code>%</code><em>x</em> described above can also be used as
|
|
components in <em>set</em>.
|
|
All other characters in <em>set</em> represent themselves.
|
|
For example, <code>[%w_]</code> (or <code>[_%w]</code>)
|
|
represents all alphanumeric characters plus the underscore,
|
|
<code>[0-7]</code> represents the octal digits,
|
|
and <code>[0-7%l%-]</code> represents the octal digits plus
|
|
the lowercase letters plus the '<code>-</code>' character.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
You can put a closing square bracket in a set
|
|
by positioning it as the first character in the set.
|
|
You can put a hyphen in a set
|
|
by positioning it as the first or the last character in the set.
|
|
(You can also use an escape for both cases.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The interaction between ranges and classes is not defined.
|
|
Therefore, patterns like <code>[%a-z]</code> or <code>[a-%%]</code>
|
|
have no meaning.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><code>[^<em>set</em>]</code>: </b>
|
|
represents the complement of <em>set</em>,
|
|
where <em>set</em> is interpreted as above.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul><p>
|
|
For all classes represented by single letters (<code>%a</code>, <code>%c</code>, etc.),
|
|
the corresponding uppercase letter represents the complement of the class.
|
|
For instance, <code>%S</code> represents all non-space characters.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The definitions of letter, space, and other character groups
|
|
depend on the current locale.
|
|
In particular, the class <code>[a-z]</code> may not be equivalent to <code>%l</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h4>Pattern Item:</h4><p>
|
|
A <em>pattern item</em> can be
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
a single character class,
|
|
which matches any single character in the class;
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
a single character class followed by '<code>*</code>',
|
|
which matches zero or more repetitions of characters in the class.
|
|
These repetition items will always match the longest possible sequence;
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
a single character class followed by '<code>+</code>',
|
|
which matches one or more repetitions of characters in the class.
|
|
These repetition items will always match the longest possible sequence;
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
a single character class followed by '<code>-</code>',
|
|
which also matches zero or more repetitions of characters in the class.
|
|
Unlike '<code>*</code>',
|
|
these repetition items will always match the shortest possible sequence;
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
a single character class followed by '<code>?</code>',
|
|
which matches zero or one occurrence of a character in the class.
|
|
It always matches one occurrence if possible;
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
<code>%<em>n</em></code>, for <em>n</em> between 1 and 9;
|
|
such item matches a substring equal to the <em>n</em>-th captured string
|
|
(see below);
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
<code>%b<em>xy</em></code>, where <em>x</em> and <em>y</em> are two distinct characters;
|
|
such item matches strings that start with <em>x</em>, end with <em>y</em>,
|
|
and where the <em>x</em> and <em>y</em> are <em>balanced</em>.
|
|
This means that, if one reads the string from left to right,
|
|
counting <em>+1</em> for an <em>x</em> and <em>-1</em> for a <em>y</em>,
|
|
the ending <em>y</em> is the first <em>y</em> where the count reaches 0.
|
|
For instance, the item <code>%b()</code> matches expressions with
|
|
balanced parentheses.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
<code>%f[<em>set</em>]</code>, a <em>frontier pattern</em>;
|
|
such item matches an empty string at any position such that
|
|
the next character belongs to <em>set</em>
|
|
and the previous character does not belong to <em>set</em>.
|
|
The set <em>set</em> is interpreted as previously described.
|
|
The beginning and the end of the subject are handled as if
|
|
they were the character '<code>\0</code>'.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h4>Pattern:</h4><p>
|
|
A <em>pattern</em> is a sequence of pattern items.
|
|
A caret '<code>^</code>' at the beginning of a pattern anchors the match at the
|
|
beginning of the subject string.
|
|
A '<code>$</code>' at the end of a pattern anchors the match at the
|
|
end of the subject string.
|
|
At other positions,
|
|
'<code>^</code>' and '<code>$</code>' have no special meaning and represent themselves.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h4>Captures:</h4><p>
|
|
A pattern can contain sub-patterns enclosed in parentheses;
|
|
they describe <em>captures</em>.
|
|
When a match succeeds, the substrings of the subject string
|
|
that match captures are stored (<em>captured</em>) for future use.
|
|
Captures are numbered according to their left parentheses.
|
|
For instance, in the pattern <code>"(a*(.)%w(%s*))"</code>,
|
|
the part of the string matching <code>"a*(.)%w(%s*)"</code> is
|
|
stored as the first capture (and therefore has number 1);
|
|
the character matching "<code>.</code>" is captured with number 2,
|
|
and the part matching "<code>%s*</code>" has number 3.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
As a special case, the empty capture <code>()</code> captures
|
|
the current string position (a number).
|
|
For instance, if we apply the pattern <code>"()aa()"</code> on the
|
|
string <code>"flaaap"</code>, there will be two captures: 3 and 5.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>6.4.2 – <a name="6.4.2">Format Strings for Pack and Unpack</a></h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The first argument to <a href="#pdf-string.pack"><code>string.pack</code></a>,
|
|
<a href="#pdf-string.packsize"><code>string.packsize</code></a>, and <a href="#pdf-string.unpack"><code>string.unpack</code></a>
|
|
is a format string,
|
|
which describes the layout of the structure being created or read.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A format string is a sequence of conversion options.
|
|
The conversion options are as follows:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><b><code><</code>: </b>sets little endian</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>></code>: </b>sets big endian</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>=</code>: </b>sets native endian</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>![<em>n</em>]</code>: </b>sets maximum alignment to <code>n</code>
|
|
(default is native alignment)</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>b</code>: </b>a signed byte (<code>char</code>)</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>B</code>: </b>an unsigned byte (<code>char</code>)</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>h</code>: </b>a signed <code>short</code> (native size)</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>H</code>: </b>an unsigned <code>short</code> (native size)</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>l</code>: </b>a signed <code>long</code> (native size)</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>L</code>: </b>an unsigned <code>long</code> (native size)</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>j</code>: </b>a <code>lua_Integer</code></li>
|
|
<li><b><code>J</code>: </b>a <code>lua_Unsigned</code></li>
|
|
<li><b><code>T</code>: </b>a <code>size_t</code> (native size)</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>i[<em>n</em>]</code>: </b>a signed <code>int</code> with <code>n</code> bytes
|
|
(default is native size)</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>I[<em>n</em>]</code>: </b>an unsigned <code>int</code> with <code>n</code> bytes
|
|
(default is native size)</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>f</code>: </b>a <code>float</code> (native size)</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>d</code>: </b>a <code>double</code> (native size)</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>n</code>: </b>a <code>lua_Number</code></li>
|
|
<li><b><code>c<em>n</em></code>: </b>a fixed-sized string with <code>n</code> bytes</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>z</code>: </b>a zero-terminated string</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>s[<em>n</em>]</code>: </b>a string preceded by its length
|
|
coded as an unsigned integer with <code>n</code> bytes
|
|
(default is a <code>size_t</code>)</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>x</code>: </b>one byte of padding</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>X<em>op</em></code>: </b>an empty item that aligns
|
|
according to option <code>op</code>
|
|
(which is otherwise ignored)</li>
|
|
<li><b>'<code> </code>': </b>(empty space) ignored</li>
|
|
</ul><p>
|
|
(A "<code>[<em>n</em>]</code>" means an optional integral numeral.)
|
|
Except for padding, spaces, and configurations
|
|
(options "<code>xX <=>!</code>"),
|
|
each option corresponds to an argument (in <a href="#pdf-string.pack"><code>string.pack</code></a>)
|
|
or a result (in <a href="#pdf-string.unpack"><code>string.unpack</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
For options "<code>!<em>n</em></code>", "<code>s<em>n</em></code>", "<code>i<em>n</em></code>", and "<code>I<em>n</em></code>",
|
|
<code>n</code> can be any integer between 1 and 16.
|
|
All integral options check overflows;
|
|
<a href="#pdf-string.pack"><code>string.pack</code></a> checks whether the given value fits in the given size;
|
|
<a href="#pdf-string.unpack"><code>string.unpack</code></a> checks whether the read value fits in a Lua integer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Any format string starts as if prefixed by "<code>!1=</code>",
|
|
that is,
|
|
with maximum alignment of 1 (no alignment)
|
|
and native endianness.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Alignment works as follows:
|
|
For each option,
|
|
the format gets extra padding until the data starts
|
|
at an offset that is a multiple of the minimum between the
|
|
option size and the maximum alignment;
|
|
this minimum must be a power of 2.
|
|
Options "<code>c</code>" and "<code>z</code>" are not aligned;
|
|
option "<code>s</code>" follows the alignment of its starting integer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
All padding is filled with zeros by <a href="#pdf-string.pack"><code>string.pack</code></a>
|
|
(and ignored by <a href="#pdf-string.unpack"><code>string.unpack</code></a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>6.5 – <a name="6.5">UTF-8 Support</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This library provides basic support for UTF-8 encoding.
|
|
It provides all its functions inside the table <a name="pdf-utf8"><code>utf8</code></a>.
|
|
This library does not provide any support for Unicode other
|
|
than the handling of the encoding.
|
|
Any operation that needs the meaning of a character,
|
|
such as character classification, is outside its scope.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Unless stated otherwise,
|
|
all functions that expect a byte position as a parameter
|
|
assume that the given position is either the start of a byte sequence
|
|
or one plus the length of the subject string.
|
|
As in the string library,
|
|
negative indices count from the end of the string.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-utf8.char"><code>utf8.char (···)</code></a></h3>
|
|
Receives zero or more integers,
|
|
converts each one to its corresponding UTF-8 byte sequence
|
|
and returns a string with the concatenation of all these sequences.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-utf8.charpattern"><code>utf8.charpattern</code></a></h3>
|
|
The pattern (a string, not a function) "<code>[\0-\x7F\xC2-\xF4][\x80-\xBF]*</code>"
|
|
(see <a href="#6.4.1">§6.4.1</a>),
|
|
which matches exactly one UTF-8 byte sequence,
|
|
assuming that the subject is a valid UTF-8 string.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-utf8.codes"><code>utf8.codes (s)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns values so that the construction
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
for p, c in utf8.codes(s) do <em>body</em> end
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
will iterate over all characters in string <code>s</code>,
|
|
with <code>p</code> being the position (in bytes) and <code>c</code> the code point
|
|
of each character.
|
|
It raises an error if it meets any invalid byte sequence.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-utf8.codepoint"><code>utf8.codepoint (s [, i [, j]])</code></a></h3>
|
|
Returns the codepoints (as integers) from all characters in <code>s</code>
|
|
that start between byte position <code>i</code> and <code>j</code> (both included).
|
|
The default for <code>i</code> is 1 and for <code>j</code> is <code>i</code>.
|
|
It raises an error if it meets any invalid byte sequence.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-utf8.len"><code>utf8.len (s [, i [, j]])</code></a></h3>
|
|
Returns the number of UTF-8 characters in string <code>s</code>
|
|
that start between positions <code>i</code> and <code>j</code> (both inclusive).
|
|
The default for <code>i</code> is 1 and for <code>j</code> is -1.
|
|
If it finds any invalid byte sequence,
|
|
returns a false value plus the position of the first invalid byte.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-utf8.offset"><code>utf8.offset (s, n [, i])</code></a></h3>
|
|
Returns the position (in bytes) where the encoding of the
|
|
<code>n</code>-th character of <code>s</code>
|
|
(counting from position <code>i</code>) starts.
|
|
A negative <code>n</code> gets characters before position <code>i</code>.
|
|
The default for <code>i</code> is 1 when <code>n</code> is non-negative
|
|
and <code>#s + 1</code> otherwise,
|
|
so that <code>utf8.offset(s, -n)</code> gets the offset of the
|
|
<code>n</code>-th character from the end of the string.
|
|
If the specified character is neither in the subject
|
|
nor right after its end,
|
|
the function returns <b>nil</b>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
As a special case,
|
|
when <code>n</code> is 0 the function returns the start of the encoding
|
|
of the character that contains the <code>i</code>-th byte of <code>s</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function assumes that <code>s</code> is a valid UTF-8 string.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>6.6 – <a name="6.6">Table Manipulation</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This library provides generic functions for table manipulation.
|
|
It provides all its functions inside the table <a name="pdf-table"><code>table</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Remember that, whenever an operation needs the length of a table,
|
|
all caveats about the length operator apply (see <a href="#3.4.7">§3.4.7</a>).
|
|
All functions ignore non-numeric keys
|
|
in the tables given as arguments.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-table.concat"><code>table.concat (list [, sep [, i [, j]]])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Given a list where all elements are strings or numbers,
|
|
returns the string <code>list[i]..sep..list[i+1] ··· sep..list[j]</code>.
|
|
The default value for <code>sep</code> is the empty string,
|
|
the default for <code>i</code> is 1,
|
|
and the default for <code>j</code> is <code>#list</code>.
|
|
If <code>i</code> is greater than <code>j</code>, returns the empty string.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-table.insert"><code>table.insert (list, [pos,] value)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Inserts element <code>value</code> at position <code>pos</code> in <code>list</code>,
|
|
shifting up the elements
|
|
<code>list[pos], list[pos+1], ···, list[#list]</code>.
|
|
The default value for <code>pos</code> is <code>#list+1</code>,
|
|
so that a call <code>table.insert(t,x)</code> inserts <code>x</code> at the end
|
|
of list <code>t</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-table.move"><code>table.move (a1, f, e, t [,a2])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Moves elements from table <code>a1</code> to table <code>a2</code>,
|
|
performing the equivalent to the following
|
|
multiple assignment:
|
|
<code>a2[t],··· = a1[f],···,a1[e]</code>.
|
|
The default for <code>a2</code> is <code>a1</code>.
|
|
The destination range can overlap with the source range.
|
|
The number of elements to be moved must fit in a Lua integer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the destination table <code>a2</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-table.pack"><code>table.pack (···)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns a new table with all arguments stored into keys 1, 2, etc.
|
|
and with a field "<code>n</code>" with the total number of arguments.
|
|
Note that the resulting table may not be a sequence.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-table.remove"><code>table.remove (list [, pos])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Removes from <code>list</code> the element at position <code>pos</code>,
|
|
returning the value of the removed element.
|
|
When <code>pos</code> is an integer between 1 and <code>#list</code>,
|
|
it shifts down the elements
|
|
<code>list[pos+1], list[pos+2], ···, list[#list]</code>
|
|
and erases element <code>list[#list]</code>;
|
|
The index <code>pos</code> can also be 0 when <code>#list</code> is 0,
|
|
or <code>#list + 1</code>;
|
|
in those cases, the function erases the element <code>list[pos]</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The default value for <code>pos</code> is <code>#list</code>,
|
|
so that a call <code>table.remove(l)</code> removes the last element
|
|
of list <code>l</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-table.sort"><code>table.sort (list [, comp])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Sorts list elements in a given order, <em>in-place</em>,
|
|
from <code>list[1]</code> to <code>list[#list]</code>.
|
|
If <code>comp</code> is given,
|
|
then it must be a function that receives two list elements
|
|
and returns true when the first element must come
|
|
before the second in the final order
|
|
(so that, after the sort,
|
|
<code>i < j</code> implies <code>not comp(list[j],list[i])</code>).
|
|
If <code>comp</code> is not given,
|
|
then the standard Lua operator <code><</code> is used instead.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Note that the <code>comp</code> function must define
|
|
a strict partial order over the elements in the list;
|
|
that is, it must be asymmetric and transitive.
|
|
Otherwise, no valid sort may be possible.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The sort algorithm is not stable:
|
|
elements considered equal by the given order
|
|
may have their relative positions changed by the sort.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-table.unpack"><code>table.unpack (list [, i [, j]])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the elements from the given list.
|
|
This function is equivalent to
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
return list[i], list[i+1], ···, list[j]
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
By default, <code>i</code> is 1 and <code>j</code> is <code>#list</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>6.7 – <a name="6.7">Mathematical Functions</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This library provides basic mathematical functions.
|
|
It provides all its functions and constants inside the table <a name="pdf-math"><code>math</code></a>.
|
|
Functions with the annotation "<code>integer/float</code>" give
|
|
integer results for integer arguments
|
|
and float results for float (or mixed) arguments.
|
|
Rounding functions
|
|
(<a href="#pdf-math.ceil"><code>math.ceil</code></a>, <a href="#pdf-math.floor"><code>math.floor</code></a>, and <a href="#pdf-math.modf"><code>math.modf</code></a>)
|
|
return an integer when the result fits in the range of an integer,
|
|
or a float otherwise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.abs"><code>math.abs (x)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the absolute value of <code>x</code>. (integer/float)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.acos"><code>math.acos (x)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the arc cosine of <code>x</code> (in radians).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.asin"><code>math.asin (x)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the arc sine of <code>x</code> (in radians).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.atan"><code>math.atan (y [, x])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
Returns the arc tangent of <code>y/x</code> (in radians),
|
|
but uses the signs of both arguments to find the
|
|
quadrant of the result.
|
|
(It also handles correctly the case of <code>x</code> being zero.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The default value for <code>x</code> is 1,
|
|
so that the call <code>math.atan(y)</code>
|
|
returns the arc tangent of <code>y</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.ceil"><code>math.ceil (x)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the smallest integral value larger than or equal to <code>x</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.cos"><code>math.cos (x)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the cosine of <code>x</code> (assumed to be in radians).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.deg"><code>math.deg (x)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Converts the angle <code>x</code> from radians to degrees.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.exp"><code>math.exp (x)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the value <em>e<sup>x</sup></em>
|
|
(where <code>e</code> is the base of natural logarithms).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.floor"><code>math.floor (x)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the largest integral value smaller than or equal to <code>x</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.fmod"><code>math.fmod (x, y)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the remainder of the division of <code>x</code> by <code>y</code>
|
|
that rounds the quotient towards zero. (integer/float)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.huge"><code>math.huge</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The float value <code>HUGE_VAL</code>,
|
|
a value larger than any other numeric value.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.log"><code>math.log (x [, base])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the logarithm of <code>x</code> in the given base.
|
|
The default for <code>base</code> is <em>e</em>
|
|
(so that the function returns the natural logarithm of <code>x</code>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.max"><code>math.max (x, ···)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the argument with the maximum value,
|
|
according to the Lua operator <code><</code>. (integer/float)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.maxinteger"><code>math.maxinteger</code></a></h3>
|
|
An integer with the maximum value for an integer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.min"><code>math.min (x, ···)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the argument with the minimum value,
|
|
according to the Lua operator <code><</code>. (integer/float)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.mininteger"><code>math.mininteger</code></a></h3>
|
|
An integer with the minimum value for an integer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.modf"><code>math.modf (x)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the integral part of <code>x</code> and the fractional part of <code>x</code>.
|
|
Its second result is always a float.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.pi"><code>math.pi</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The value of <em>π</em>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.rad"><code>math.rad (x)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Converts the angle <code>x</code> from degrees to radians.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.random"><code>math.random ([m [, n]])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When called without arguments,
|
|
returns a pseudo-random float with uniform distribution
|
|
in the range <em>[0,1)</em>.
|
|
When called with two integers <code>m</code> and <code>n</code>,
|
|
<code>math.random</code> returns a pseudo-random integer
|
|
with uniform distribution in the range <em>[m, n]</em>.
|
|
(The value <em>n-m</em> cannot be negative and must fit in a Lua integer.)
|
|
The call <code>math.random(n)</code> is equivalent to <code>math.random(1,n)</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function is an interface to the underling
|
|
pseudo-random generator function provided by C.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.randomseed"><code>math.randomseed (x)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Sets <code>x</code> as the "seed"
|
|
for the pseudo-random generator:
|
|
equal seeds produce equal sequences of numbers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.sin"><code>math.sin (x)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the sine of <code>x</code> (assumed to be in radians).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.sqrt"><code>math.sqrt (x)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the square root of <code>x</code>.
|
|
(You can also use the expression <code>x^0.5</code> to compute this value.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.tan"><code>math.tan (x)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the tangent of <code>x</code> (assumed to be in radians).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.tointeger"><code>math.tointeger (x)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If the value <code>x</code> is convertible to an integer,
|
|
returns that integer.
|
|
Otherwise, returns <b>nil</b>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.type"><code>math.type (x)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns "<code>integer</code>" if <code>x</code> is an integer,
|
|
"<code>float</code>" if it is a float,
|
|
or <b>nil</b> if <code>x</code> is not a number.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-math.ult"><code>math.ult (m, n)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns a boolean,
|
|
true if and only if integer <code>m</code> is below integer <code>n</code> when
|
|
they are compared as unsigned integers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>6.8 – <a name="6.8">Input and Output Facilities</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The I/O library provides two different styles for file manipulation.
|
|
The first one uses implicit file handles;
|
|
that is, there are operations to set a default input file and a
|
|
default output file,
|
|
and all input/output operations are over these default files.
|
|
The second style uses explicit file handles.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When using implicit file handles,
|
|
all operations are supplied by table <a name="pdf-io"><code>io</code></a>.
|
|
When using explicit file handles,
|
|
the operation <a href="#pdf-io.open"><code>io.open</code></a> returns a file handle
|
|
and then all operations are supplied as methods of the file handle.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The table <code>io</code> also provides
|
|
three predefined file handles with their usual meanings from C:
|
|
<a name="pdf-io.stdin"><code>io.stdin</code></a>, <a name="pdf-io.stdout"><code>io.stdout</code></a>, and <a name="pdf-io.stderr"><code>io.stderr</code></a>.
|
|
The I/O library never closes these files.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Unless otherwise stated,
|
|
all I/O functions return <b>nil</b> on failure
|
|
(plus an error message as a second result and
|
|
a system-dependent error code as a third result)
|
|
and some value different from <b>nil</b> on success.
|
|
In non-POSIX systems,
|
|
the computation of the error message and error code
|
|
in case of errors
|
|
may be not thread safe,
|
|
because they rely on the global C variable <code>errno</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-io.close"><code>io.close ([file])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Equivalent to <code>file:close()</code>.
|
|
Without a <code>file</code>, closes the default output file.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-io.flush"><code>io.flush ()</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Equivalent to <code>io.output():flush()</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-io.input"><code>io.input ([file])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When called with a file name, it opens the named file (in text mode),
|
|
and sets its handle as the default input file.
|
|
When called with a file handle,
|
|
it simply sets this file handle as the default input file.
|
|
When called without arguments,
|
|
it returns the current default input file.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
In case of errors this function raises the error,
|
|
instead of returning an error code.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-io.lines"><code>io.lines ([filename, ···])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Opens the given file name in read mode
|
|
and returns an iterator function that
|
|
works like <code>file:lines(···)</code> over the opened file.
|
|
When the iterator function detects the end of file,
|
|
it returns no values (to finish the loop) and automatically closes the file.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The call <code>io.lines()</code> (with no file name) is equivalent
|
|
to <code>io.input():lines("*l")</code>;
|
|
that is, it iterates over the lines of the default input file.
|
|
In this case, the iterator does not close the file when the loop ends.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
In case of errors this function raises the error,
|
|
instead of returning an error code.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-io.open"><code>io.open (filename [, mode])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function opens a file,
|
|
in the mode specified in the string <code>mode</code>.
|
|
In case of success,
|
|
it returns a new file handle.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The <code>mode</code> string can be any of the following:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><b>"<code>r</code>": </b> read mode (the default);</li>
|
|
<li><b>"<code>w</code>": </b> write mode;</li>
|
|
<li><b>"<code>a</code>": </b> append mode;</li>
|
|
<li><b>"<code>r+</code>": </b> update mode, all previous data is preserved;</li>
|
|
<li><b>"<code>w+</code>": </b> update mode, all previous data is erased;</li>
|
|
<li><b>"<code>a+</code>": </b> append update mode, previous data is preserved,
|
|
writing is only allowed at the end of file.</li>
|
|
</ul><p>
|
|
The <code>mode</code> string can also have a '<code>b</code>' at the end,
|
|
which is needed in some systems to open the file in binary mode.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-io.output"><code>io.output ([file])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Similar to <a href="#pdf-io.input"><code>io.input</code></a>, but operates over the default output file.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-io.popen"><code>io.popen (prog [, mode])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function is system dependent and is not available
|
|
on all platforms.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Starts program <code>prog</code> in a separated process and returns
|
|
a file handle that you can use to read data from this program
|
|
(if <code>mode</code> is <code>"r"</code>, the default)
|
|
or to write data to this program
|
|
(if <code>mode</code> is <code>"w"</code>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-io.read"><code>io.read (···)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Equivalent to <code>io.input():read(···)</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-io.tmpfile"><code>io.tmpfile ()</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
In case of success,
|
|
returns a handle for a temporary file.
|
|
This file is opened in update mode
|
|
and it is automatically removed when the program ends.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-io.type"><code>io.type (obj)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Checks whether <code>obj</code> is a valid file handle.
|
|
Returns the string <code>"file"</code> if <code>obj</code> is an open file handle,
|
|
<code>"closed file"</code> if <code>obj</code> is a closed file handle,
|
|
or <b>nil</b> if <code>obj</code> is not a file handle.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-io.write"><code>io.write (···)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Equivalent to <code>io.output():write(···)</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-file:close"><code>file:close ()</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Closes <code>file</code>.
|
|
Note that files are automatically closed when
|
|
their handles are garbage collected,
|
|
but that takes an unpredictable amount of time to happen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When closing a file handle created with <a href="#pdf-io.popen"><code>io.popen</code></a>,
|
|
<a href="#pdf-file:close"><code>file:close</code></a> returns the same values
|
|
returned by <a href="#pdf-os.execute"><code>os.execute</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-file:flush"><code>file:flush ()</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Saves any written data to <code>file</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-file:lines"><code>file:lines (···)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns an iterator function that,
|
|
each time it is called,
|
|
reads the file according to the given formats.
|
|
When no format is given,
|
|
uses "<code>l</code>" as a default.
|
|
As an example, the construction
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
for c in file:lines(1) do <em>body</em> end
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
will iterate over all characters of the file,
|
|
starting at the current position.
|
|
Unlike <a href="#pdf-io.lines"><code>io.lines</code></a>, this function does not close the file
|
|
when the loop ends.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
In case of errors this function raises the error,
|
|
instead of returning an error code.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-file:read"><code>file:read (···)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Reads the file <code>file</code>,
|
|
according to the given formats, which specify what to read.
|
|
For each format,
|
|
the function returns a string or a number with the characters read,
|
|
or <b>nil</b> if it cannot read data with the specified format.
|
|
(In this latter case,
|
|
the function does not read subsequent formats.)
|
|
When called without formats,
|
|
it uses a default format that reads the next line
|
|
(see below).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The available formats are
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>"<code>n</code>": </b>
|
|
reads a numeral and returns it as a float or an integer,
|
|
following the lexical conventions of Lua.
|
|
(The numeral may have leading spaces and a sign.)
|
|
This format always reads the longest input sequence that
|
|
is a valid prefix for a numeral;
|
|
if that prefix does not form a valid numeral
|
|
(e.g., an empty string, "<code>0x</code>", or "<code>3.4e-</code>"),
|
|
it is discarded and the function returns <b>nil</b>.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>"<code>a</code>": </b>
|
|
reads the whole file, starting at the current position.
|
|
On end of file, it returns the empty string.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>"<code>l</code>": </b>
|
|
reads the next line skipping the end of line,
|
|
returning <b>nil</b> on end of file.
|
|
This is the default format.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>"<code>L</code>": </b>
|
|
reads the next line keeping the end-of-line character (if present),
|
|
returning <b>nil</b> on end of file.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b><em>number</em>: </b>
|
|
reads a string with up to this number of bytes,
|
|
returning <b>nil</b> on end of file.
|
|
If <code>number</code> is zero,
|
|
it reads nothing and returns an empty string,
|
|
or <b>nil</b> on end of file.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul><p>
|
|
The formats "<code>l</code>" and "<code>L</code>" should be used only for text files.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-file:seek"><code>file:seek ([whence [, offset]])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Sets and gets the file position,
|
|
measured from the beginning of the file,
|
|
to the position given by <code>offset</code> plus a base
|
|
specified by the string <code>whence</code>, as follows:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><b>"<code>set</code>": </b> base is position 0 (beginning of the file);</li>
|
|
<li><b>"<code>cur</code>": </b> base is current position;</li>
|
|
<li><b>"<code>end</code>": </b> base is end of file;</li>
|
|
</ul><p>
|
|
In case of success, <code>seek</code> returns the final file position,
|
|
measured in bytes from the beginning of the file.
|
|
If <code>seek</code> fails, it returns <b>nil</b>,
|
|
plus a string describing the error.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The default value for <code>whence</code> is <code>"cur"</code>,
|
|
and for <code>offset</code> is 0.
|
|
Therefore, the call <code>file:seek()</code> returns the current
|
|
file position, without changing it;
|
|
the call <code>file:seek("set")</code> sets the position to the
|
|
beginning of the file (and returns 0);
|
|
and the call <code>file:seek("end")</code> sets the position to the
|
|
end of the file, and returns its size.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-file:setvbuf"><code>file:setvbuf (mode [, size])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Sets the buffering mode for an output file.
|
|
There are three available modes:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>"<code>no</code>": </b>
|
|
no buffering; the result of any output operation appears immediately.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>"<code>full</code>": </b>
|
|
full buffering; output operation is performed only
|
|
when the buffer is full or when
|
|
you explicitly <code>flush</code> the file (see <a href="#pdf-io.flush"><code>io.flush</code></a>).
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>"<code>line</code>": </b>
|
|
line buffering; output is buffered until a newline is output
|
|
or there is any input from some special files
|
|
(such as a terminal device).
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul><p>
|
|
For the last two cases, <code>size</code>
|
|
specifies the size of the buffer, in bytes.
|
|
The default is an appropriate size.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-file:write"><code>file:write (···)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Writes the value of each of its arguments to <code>file</code>.
|
|
The arguments must be strings or numbers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
In case of success, this function returns <code>file</code>.
|
|
Otherwise it returns <b>nil</b> plus a string describing the error.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>6.9 – <a name="6.9">Operating System Facilities</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This library is implemented through table <a name="pdf-os"><code>os</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-os.clock"><code>os.clock ()</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns an approximation of the amount in seconds of CPU time
|
|
used by the program.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-os.date"><code>os.date ([format [, time]])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns a string or a table containing date and time,
|
|
formatted according to the given string <code>format</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If the <code>time</code> argument is present,
|
|
this is the time to be formatted
|
|
(see the <a href="#pdf-os.time"><code>os.time</code></a> function for a description of this value).
|
|
Otherwise, <code>date</code> formats the current time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>format</code> starts with '<code>!</code>',
|
|
then the date is formatted in Coordinated Universal Time.
|
|
After this optional character,
|
|
if <code>format</code> is the string "<code>*t</code>",
|
|
then <code>date</code> returns a table with the following fields:
|
|
<code>year</code>, <code>month</code> (1–12), <code>day</code> (1–31),
|
|
<code>hour</code> (0–23), <code>min</code> (0–59), <code>sec</code> (0–61),
|
|
<code>wday</code> (weekday, 1–7, Sunday is 1),
|
|
<code>yday</code> (day of the year, 1–366),
|
|
and <code>isdst</code> (daylight saving flag, a boolean).
|
|
This last field may be absent
|
|
if the information is not available.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>format</code> is not "<code>*t</code>",
|
|
then <code>date</code> returns the date as a string,
|
|
formatted according to the same rules as the ISO C function <code>strftime</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When called without arguments,
|
|
<code>date</code> returns a reasonable date and time representation that depends on
|
|
the host system and on the current locale.
|
|
(More specifically, <code>os.date()</code> is equivalent to <code>os.date("%c")</code>.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
In non-POSIX systems,
|
|
this function may be not thread safe
|
|
because of its reliance on C function <code>gmtime</code> and C function <code>localtime</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-os.difftime"><code>os.difftime (t2, t1)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the difference, in seconds,
|
|
from time <code>t1</code> to time <code>t2</code>
|
|
(where the times are values returned by <a href="#pdf-os.time"><code>os.time</code></a>).
|
|
In POSIX, Windows, and some other systems,
|
|
this value is exactly <code>t2</code><em>-</em><code>t1</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-os.execute"><code>os.execute ([command])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function is equivalent to the ISO C function <code>system</code>.
|
|
It passes <code>command</code> to be executed by an operating system shell.
|
|
Its first result is <b>true</b>
|
|
if the command terminated successfully,
|
|
or <b>nil</b> otherwise.
|
|
After this first result
|
|
the function returns a string plus a number,
|
|
as follows:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>"<code>exit</code>": </b>
|
|
the command terminated normally;
|
|
the following number is the exit status of the command.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li><b>"<code>signal</code>": </b>
|
|
the command was terminated by a signal;
|
|
the following number is the signal that terminated the command.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When called without a <code>command</code>,
|
|
<code>os.execute</code> returns a boolean that is true if a shell is available.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-os.exit"><code>os.exit ([code [, close]])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Calls the ISO C function <code>exit</code> to terminate the host program.
|
|
If <code>code</code> is <b>true</b>,
|
|
the returned status is <code>EXIT_SUCCESS</code>;
|
|
if <code>code</code> is <b>false</b>,
|
|
the returned status is <code>EXIT_FAILURE</code>;
|
|
if <code>code</code> is a number,
|
|
the returned status is this number.
|
|
The default value for <code>code</code> is <b>true</b>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If the optional second argument <code>close</code> is true,
|
|
closes the Lua state before exiting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-os.getenv"><code>os.getenv (varname)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the value of the process environment variable <code>varname</code>,
|
|
or <b>nil</b> if the variable is not defined.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-os.remove"><code>os.remove (filename)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Deletes the file (or empty directory, on POSIX systems)
|
|
with the given name.
|
|
If this function fails, it returns <b>nil</b>,
|
|
plus a string describing the error and the error code.
|
|
Otherwise, it returns true.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-os.rename"><code>os.rename (oldname, newname)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Renames the file or directory named <code>oldname</code> to <code>newname</code>.
|
|
If this function fails, it returns <b>nil</b>,
|
|
plus a string describing the error and the error code.
|
|
Otherwise, it returns true.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-os.setlocale"><code>os.setlocale (locale [, category])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Sets the current locale of the program.
|
|
<code>locale</code> is a system-dependent string specifying a locale;
|
|
<code>category</code> is an optional string describing which category to change:
|
|
<code>"all"</code>, <code>"collate"</code>, <code>"ctype"</code>,
|
|
<code>"monetary"</code>, <code>"numeric"</code>, or <code>"time"</code>;
|
|
the default category is <code>"all"</code>.
|
|
The function returns the name of the new locale,
|
|
or <b>nil</b> if the request cannot be honored.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>locale</code> is the empty string,
|
|
the current locale is set to an implementation-defined native locale.
|
|
If <code>locale</code> is the string "<code>C</code>",
|
|
the current locale is set to the standard C locale.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When called with <b>nil</b> as the first argument,
|
|
this function only returns the name of the current locale
|
|
for the given category.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function may be not thread safe
|
|
because of its reliance on C function <code>setlocale</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-os.time"><code>os.time ([table])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the current time when called without arguments,
|
|
or a time representing the local date and time specified by the given table.
|
|
This table must have fields <code>year</code>, <code>month</code>, and <code>day</code>,
|
|
and may have fields
|
|
<code>hour</code> (default is 12),
|
|
<code>min</code> (default is 0),
|
|
<code>sec</code> (default is 0),
|
|
and <code>isdst</code> (default is <b>nil</b>).
|
|
Other fields are ignored.
|
|
For a description of these fields, see the <a href="#pdf-os.date"><code>os.date</code></a> function.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The values in these fields do not need to be inside their valid ranges.
|
|
For instance, if <code>sec</code> is -10,
|
|
it means -10 seconds from the time specified by the other fields;
|
|
if <code>hour</code> is 1000,
|
|
it means +1000 hours from the time specified by the other fields.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The returned value is a number, whose meaning depends on your system.
|
|
In POSIX, Windows, and some other systems,
|
|
this number counts the number
|
|
of seconds since some given start time (the "epoch").
|
|
In other systems, the meaning is not specified,
|
|
and the number returned by <code>time</code> can be used only as an argument to
|
|
<a href="#pdf-os.date"><code>os.date</code></a> and <a href="#pdf-os.difftime"><code>os.difftime</code></a>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-os.tmpname"><code>os.tmpname ()</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns a string with a file name that can
|
|
be used for a temporary file.
|
|
The file must be explicitly opened before its use
|
|
and explicitly removed when no longer needed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
In POSIX systems,
|
|
this function also creates a file with that name,
|
|
to avoid security risks.
|
|
(Someone else might create the file with wrong permissions
|
|
in the time between getting the name and creating the file.)
|
|
You still have to open the file to use it
|
|
and to remove it (even if you do not use it).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When possible,
|
|
you may prefer to use <a href="#pdf-io.tmpfile"><code>io.tmpfile</code></a>,
|
|
which automatically removes the file when the program ends.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>6.10 – <a name="6.10">The Debug Library</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This library provides
|
|
the functionality of the debug interface (<a href="#4.9">§4.9</a>) to Lua programs.
|
|
You should exert care when using this library.
|
|
Several of its functions
|
|
violate basic assumptions about Lua code
|
|
(e.g., that variables local to a function
|
|
cannot be accessed from outside;
|
|
that userdata metatables cannot be changed by Lua code;
|
|
that Lua programs do not crash)
|
|
and therefore can compromise otherwise secure code.
|
|
Moreover, some functions in this library may be slow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
All functions in this library are provided
|
|
inside the <a name="pdf-debug"><code>debug</code></a> table.
|
|
All functions that operate over a thread
|
|
have an optional first argument which is the
|
|
thread to operate over.
|
|
The default is always the current thread.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-debug.debug"><code>debug.debug ()</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Enters an interactive mode with the user,
|
|
running each string that the user enters.
|
|
Using simple commands and other debug facilities,
|
|
the user can inspect global and local variables,
|
|
change their values, evaluate expressions, and so on.
|
|
A line containing only the word <code>cont</code> finishes this function,
|
|
so that the caller continues its execution.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Note that commands for <code>debug.debug</code> are not lexically nested
|
|
within any function and so have no direct access to local variables.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-debug.gethook"><code>debug.gethook ([thread])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the current hook settings of the thread, as three values:
|
|
the current hook function, the current hook mask,
|
|
and the current hook count
|
|
(as set by the <a href="#pdf-debug.sethook"><code>debug.sethook</code></a> function).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-debug.getinfo"><code>debug.getinfo ([thread,] f [, what])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns a table with information about a function.
|
|
You can give the function directly
|
|
or you can give a number as the value of <code>f</code>,
|
|
which means the function running at level <code>f</code> of the call stack
|
|
of the given thread:
|
|
level 0 is the current function (<code>getinfo</code> itself);
|
|
level 1 is the function that called <code>getinfo</code>
|
|
(except for tail calls, which do not count on the stack);
|
|
and so on.
|
|
If <code>f</code> is a number larger than the number of active functions,
|
|
then <code>getinfo</code> returns <b>nil</b>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The returned table can contain all the fields returned by <a href="#lua_getinfo"><code>lua_getinfo</code></a>,
|
|
with the string <code>what</code> describing which fields to fill in.
|
|
The default for <code>what</code> is to get all information available,
|
|
except the table of valid lines.
|
|
If present,
|
|
the option '<code>f</code>'
|
|
adds a field named <code>func</code> with the function itself.
|
|
If present,
|
|
the option '<code>L</code>'
|
|
adds a field named <code>activelines</code> with the table of
|
|
valid lines.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
For instance, the expression <code>debug.getinfo(1,"n").name</code> returns
|
|
a name for the current function,
|
|
if a reasonable name can be found,
|
|
and the expression <code>debug.getinfo(print)</code>
|
|
returns a table with all available information
|
|
about the <a href="#pdf-print"><code>print</code></a> function.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-debug.getlocal"><code>debug.getlocal ([thread,] f, local)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function returns the name and the value of the local variable
|
|
with index <code>local</code> of the function at level <code>f</code> of the stack.
|
|
This function accesses not only explicit local variables,
|
|
but also parameters, temporaries, etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The first parameter or local variable has index 1, and so on,
|
|
following the order that they are declared in the code,
|
|
counting only the variables that are active
|
|
in the current scope of the function.
|
|
Negative indices refer to vararg arguments;
|
|
-1 is the first vararg argument.
|
|
The function returns <b>nil</b> if there is no variable with the given index,
|
|
and raises an error when called with a level out of range.
|
|
(You can call <a href="#pdf-debug.getinfo"><code>debug.getinfo</code></a> to check whether the level is valid.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Variable names starting with '<code>(</code>' (open parenthesis)
|
|
represent variables with no known names
|
|
(internal variables such as loop control variables,
|
|
and variables from chunks saved without debug information).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The parameter <code>f</code> may also be a function.
|
|
In that case, <code>getlocal</code> returns only the name of function parameters.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-debug.getmetatable"><code>debug.getmetatable (value)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the metatable of the given <code>value</code>
|
|
or <b>nil</b> if it does not have a metatable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-debug.getregistry"><code>debug.getregistry ()</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the registry table (see <a href="#4.5">§4.5</a>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-debug.getupvalue"><code>debug.getupvalue (f, up)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function returns the name and the value of the upvalue
|
|
with index <code>up</code> of the function <code>f</code>.
|
|
The function returns <b>nil</b> if there is no upvalue with the given index.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Variable names starting with '<code>(</code>' (open parenthesis)
|
|
represent variables with no known names
|
|
(variables from chunks saved without debug information).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-debug.getuservalue"><code>debug.getuservalue (u)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns the Lua value associated to <code>u</code>.
|
|
If <code>u</code> is not a full userdata,
|
|
returns <b>nil</b>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-debug.sethook"><code>debug.sethook ([thread,] hook, mask [, count])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Sets the given function as a hook.
|
|
The string <code>mask</code> and the number <code>count</code> describe
|
|
when the hook will be called.
|
|
The string mask may have any combination of the following characters,
|
|
with the given meaning:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><b>'<code>c</code>': </b> the hook is called every time Lua calls a function;</li>
|
|
<li><b>'<code>r</code>': </b> the hook is called every time Lua returns from a function;</li>
|
|
<li><b>'<code>l</code>': </b> the hook is called every time Lua enters a new line of code.</li>
|
|
</ul><p>
|
|
Moreover,
|
|
with a <code>count</code> different from zero,
|
|
the hook is called also after every <code>count</code> instructions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When called without arguments,
|
|
<a href="#pdf-debug.sethook"><code>debug.sethook</code></a> turns off the hook.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When the hook is called, its first argument is a string
|
|
describing the event that has triggered its call:
|
|
<code>"call"</code> (or <code>"tail call"</code>),
|
|
<code>"return"</code>,
|
|
<code>"line"</code>, and <code>"count"</code>.
|
|
For line events,
|
|
the hook also gets the new line number as its second parameter.
|
|
Inside a hook,
|
|
you can call <code>getinfo</code> with level 2 to get more information about
|
|
the running function
|
|
(level 0 is the <code>getinfo</code> function,
|
|
and level 1 is the hook function).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-debug.setlocal"><code>debug.setlocal ([thread,] level, local, value)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function assigns the value <code>value</code> to the local variable
|
|
with index <code>local</code> of the function at level <code>level</code> of the stack.
|
|
The function returns <b>nil</b> if there is no local
|
|
variable with the given index,
|
|
and raises an error when called with a <code>level</code> out of range.
|
|
(You can call <code>getinfo</code> to check whether the level is valid.)
|
|
Otherwise, it returns the name of the local variable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
See <a href="#pdf-debug.getlocal"><code>debug.getlocal</code></a> for more information about
|
|
variable indices and names.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-debug.setmetatable"><code>debug.setmetatable (value, table)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Sets the metatable for the given <code>value</code> to the given <code>table</code>
|
|
(which can be <b>nil</b>).
|
|
Returns <code>value</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-debug.setupvalue"><code>debug.setupvalue (f, up, value)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This function assigns the value <code>value</code> to the upvalue
|
|
with index <code>up</code> of the function <code>f</code>.
|
|
The function returns <b>nil</b> if there is no upvalue
|
|
with the given index.
|
|
Otherwise, it returns the name of the upvalue.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-debug.setuservalue"><code>debug.setuservalue (udata, value)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Sets the given <code>value</code> as
|
|
the Lua value associated to the given <code>udata</code>.
|
|
<code>udata</code> must be a full userdata.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns <code>udata</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-debug.traceback"><code>debug.traceback ([thread,] [message [, level]])</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If <code>message</code> is present but is neither a string nor <b>nil</b>,
|
|
this function returns <code>message</code> without further processing.
|
|
Otherwise,
|
|
it returns a string with a traceback of the call stack.
|
|
The optional <code>message</code> string is appended
|
|
at the beginning of the traceback.
|
|
An optional <code>level</code> number tells at which level
|
|
to start the traceback
|
|
(default is 1, the function calling <code>traceback</code>).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-debug.upvalueid"><code>debug.upvalueid (f, n)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Returns a unique identifier (as a light userdata)
|
|
for the upvalue numbered <code>n</code>
|
|
from the given function.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
These unique identifiers allow a program to check whether different
|
|
closures share upvalues.
|
|
Lua closures that share an upvalue
|
|
(that is, that access a same external local variable)
|
|
will return identical ids for those upvalue indices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<hr><h3><a name="pdf-debug.upvaluejoin"><code>debug.upvaluejoin (f1, n1, f2, n2)</code></a></h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Make the <code>n1</code>-th upvalue of the Lua closure <code>f1</code>
|
|
refer to the <code>n2</code>-th upvalue of the Lua closure <code>f2</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h1>7 – <a name="7">Lua Standalone</a></h1>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Although Lua has been designed as an extension language,
|
|
to be embedded in a host C program,
|
|
it is also frequently used as a standalone language.
|
|
An interpreter for Lua as a standalone language,
|
|
called simply <code>lua</code>,
|
|
is provided with the standard distribution.
|
|
The standalone interpreter includes
|
|
all standard libraries, including the debug library.
|
|
Its usage is:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
lua [options] [script [args]]
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
The options are:
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><b><code>-e <em>stat</em></code>: </b> executes string <em>stat</em>;</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>-l <em>mod</em></code>: </b> "requires" <em>mod</em> and assigns the
|
|
result to global @<em>mod</em>;</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>-i</code>: </b> enters interactive mode after running <em>script</em>;</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>-v</code>: </b> prints version information;</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>-E</code>: </b> ignores environment variables;</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>--</code>: </b> stops handling options;</li>
|
|
<li><b><code>-</code>: </b> executes <code>stdin</code> as a file and stops handling options.</li>
|
|
</ul><p>
|
|
After handling its options, <code>lua</code> runs the given <em>script</em>.
|
|
When called without arguments,
|
|
<code>lua</code> behaves as <code>lua -v -i</code>
|
|
when the standard input (<code>stdin</code>) is a terminal,
|
|
and as <code>lua -</code> otherwise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When called without option <code>-E</code>,
|
|
the interpreter checks for an environment variable <a name="pdf-LUA_INIT_5_3"><code>LUA_INIT_5_3</code></a>
|
|
(or <a name="pdf-LUA_INIT"><code>LUA_INIT</code></a> if the versioned name is not defined)
|
|
before running any argument.
|
|
If the variable content has the format <code>@<em>filename</em></code>,
|
|
then <code>lua</code> executes the file.
|
|
Otherwise, <code>lua</code> executes the string itself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When called with option <code>-E</code>,
|
|
besides ignoring <code>LUA_INIT</code>,
|
|
Lua also ignores
|
|
the values of <code>LUA_PATH</code> and <code>LUA_CPATH</code>,
|
|
setting the values of
|
|
<a href="#pdf-package.path"><code>package.path</code></a> and <a href="#pdf-package.cpath"><code>package.cpath</code></a>
|
|
with the default paths defined in <code>luaconf.h</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
All options are handled in order, except <code>-i</code> and <code>-E</code>.
|
|
For instance, an invocation like
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
$ lua -e'a=1' -e 'print(a)' script.lua
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
will first set <code>a</code> to 1, then print the value of <code>a</code>,
|
|
and finally run the file <code>script.lua</code> with no arguments.
|
|
(Here <code>$</code> is the shell prompt. Your prompt may be different.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Before running any code,
|
|
<code>lua</code> collects all command-line arguments
|
|
in a global table called <code>arg</code>.
|
|
The script name goes to index 0,
|
|
the first argument after the script name goes to index 1,
|
|
and so on.
|
|
Any arguments before the script name
|
|
(that is, the interpreter name plus its options)
|
|
go to negative indices.
|
|
For instance, in the call
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
$ lua -la b.lua t1 t2
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
the table is like this:
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
arg = { [-2] = "lua", [-1] = "-la",
|
|
[0] = "b.lua",
|
|
[1] = "t1", [2] = "t2" }
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
If there is no script in the call,
|
|
the interpreter name goes to index 0,
|
|
followed by the other arguments.
|
|
For instance, the call
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
$ lua -e "print(arg[1])"
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
will print "<code>-e</code>".
|
|
If there is a script,
|
|
the script is called with arguments
|
|
<code>arg[1]</code>, ···, <code>arg[#arg]</code>.
|
|
(Like all chunks in Lua,
|
|
the script is compiled as a vararg function.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
In interactive mode,
|
|
Lua repeatedly prompts and waits for a line.
|
|
After reading a line,
|
|
Lua first try to interpret the line as an expression.
|
|
If it succeeds, it prints its value.
|
|
Otherwise, it interprets the line as a statement.
|
|
If you write an incomplete statement,
|
|
the interpreter waits for its completion
|
|
by issuing a different prompt.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If the global variable <a name="pdf-_PROMPT"><code>_PROMPT</code></a> contains a string,
|
|
then its value is used as the prompt.
|
|
Similarly, if the global variable <a name="pdf-_PROMPT2"><code>_PROMPT2</code></a> contains a string,
|
|
its value is used as the secondary prompt
|
|
(issued during incomplete statements).
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
In case of unprotected errors in the script,
|
|
the interpreter reports the error to the standard error stream.
|
|
If the error object is not a string but
|
|
has a metamethod <code>__tostring</code>,
|
|
the interpreter calls this metamethod to produce the final message.
|
|
Otherwise, the interpreter converts the error object to a string
|
|
and adds a stack traceback to it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
When finishing normally,
|
|
the interpreter closes its main Lua state
|
|
(see <a href="#lua_close"><code>lua_close</code></a>).
|
|
The script can avoid this step by
|
|
calling <a href="#pdf-os.exit"><code>os.exit</code></a> to terminate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
To allow the use of Lua as a
|
|
script interpreter in Unix systems,
|
|
the standalone interpreter skips
|
|
the first line of a chunk if it starts with <code>#</code>.
|
|
Therefore, Lua scripts can be made into executable programs
|
|
by using <code>chmod +x</code> and the <code>#!</code> form,
|
|
as in
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
#!/usr/local/bin/lua
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
(Of course,
|
|
the location of the Lua interpreter may be different in your machine.
|
|
If <code>lua</code> is in your <code>PATH</code>,
|
|
then
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
#!/usr/bin/env lua
|
|
</pre><p>
|
|
is a more portable solution.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h1>8 – <a name="8">Incompatibilities with the Previous Version</a></h1>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Here we list the incompatibilities that you may find when moving a program
|
|
from Lua 5.2 to Lua 5.3.
|
|
You can avoid some incompatibilities by compiling Lua with
|
|
appropriate options (see file <code>luaconf.h</code>).
|
|
However,
|
|
all these compatibility options will be removed in the future.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Lua versions can always change the C API in ways that
|
|
do not imply source-code changes in a program,
|
|
such as the numeric values for constants
|
|
or the implementation of functions as macros.
|
|
Therefore,
|
|
you should not assume that binaries are compatible between
|
|
different Lua versions.
|
|
Always recompile clients of the Lua API when
|
|
using a new version.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Similarly, Lua versions can always change the internal representation
|
|
of precompiled chunks;
|
|
precompiled chunks are not compatible between different Lua versions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The standard paths in the official distribution may
|
|
change between versions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>8.1 – <a name="8.1">Changes in the Language</a></h2>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
The main difference between Lua 5.2 and Lua 5.3 is the
|
|
introduction of an integer subtype for numbers.
|
|
Although this change should not affect "normal" computations,
|
|
some computations
|
|
(mainly those that involve some kind of overflow)
|
|
can give different results.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
You can fix these differences by forcing a number to be a float
|
|
(in Lua 5.2 all numbers were float),
|
|
in particular writing constants with an ending <code>.0</code>
|
|
or using <code>x = x + 0.0</code> to convert a variable.
|
|
(This recommendation is only for a quick fix
|
|
for an occasional incompatibility;
|
|
it is not a general guideline for good programming.
|
|
For good programming,
|
|
use floats where you need floats
|
|
and integers where you need integers.)
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
The conversion of a float to a string now adds a <code>.0</code> suffix
|
|
to the result if it looks like an integer.
|
|
(For instance, the float 2.0 will be printed as <code>2.0</code>,
|
|
not as <code>2</code>.)
|
|
You should always use an explicit format
|
|
when you need a specific format for numbers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
(Formally this is not an incompatibility,
|
|
because Lua does not specify how numbers are formatted as strings,
|
|
but some programs assumed a specific format.)
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
The generational mode for the garbage collector was removed.
|
|
(It was an experimental feature in Lua 5.2.)
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>8.2 – <a name="8.2">Changes in the Libraries</a></h2>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
The <code>bit32</code> library has been deprecated.
|
|
It is easy to require a compatible external library or,
|
|
better yet, to replace its functions with appropriate bitwise operations.
|
|
(Keep in mind that <code>bit32</code> operates on 32-bit integers,
|
|
while the bitwise operators in Lua 5.3 operate on Lua integers,
|
|
which by default have 64 bits.)
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
The Table library now respects metamethods
|
|
for setting and getting elements.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
The <a href="#pdf-ipairs"><code>ipairs</code></a> iterator now respects metamethods and
|
|
its <code>__ipairs</code> metamethod has been deprecated.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
Option names in <a href="#pdf-io.read"><code>io.read</code></a> do not have a starting '<code>*</code>' anymore.
|
|
For compatibility, Lua will continue to accept (and ignore) this character.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
The following functions were deprecated in the mathematical library:
|
|
<code>atan2</code>, <code>cosh</code>, <code>sinh</code>, <code>tanh</code>, <code>pow</code>,
|
|
<code>frexp</code>, and <code>ldexp</code>.
|
|
You can replace <code>math.pow(x,y)</code> with <code>x^y</code>;
|
|
you can replace <code>math.atan2</code> with <code>math.atan</code>,
|
|
which now accepts one or two arguments;
|
|
you can replace <code>math.ldexp(x,exp)</code> with <code>x * 2.0^exp</code>.
|
|
For the other operations,
|
|
you can either use an external library or
|
|
implement them in Lua.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
The searcher for C loaders used by <a href="#pdf-require"><code>require</code></a>
|
|
changed the way it handles versioned names.
|
|
Now, the version should come after the module name
|
|
(as is usual in most other tools).
|
|
For compatibility, that searcher still tries the old format
|
|
if it cannot find an open function according to the new style.
|
|
(Lua 5.2 already worked that way,
|
|
but it did not document the change.)
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
The call <code>collectgarbage("count")</code> now returns only one result.
|
|
(You can compute that second result from the fractional part
|
|
of the first result.)
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>8.3 – <a name="8.3">Changes in the API</a></h2>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
Continuation functions now receive as arguments what they needed
|
|
to get through <code>lua_getctx</code>,
|
|
so <code>lua_getctx</code> has been removed.
|
|
Adapt your code accordingly.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
Function <a href="#lua_dump"><code>lua_dump</code></a> has an extra parameter, <code>strip</code>.
|
|
Use 0 as the value of this parameter to get the old behavior.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
Functions to inject/project unsigned integers
|
|
(<code>lua_pushunsigned</code>, <code>lua_tounsigned</code>, <code>lua_tounsignedx</code>,
|
|
<code>luaL_checkunsigned</code>, <code>luaL_optunsigned</code>)
|
|
were deprecated.
|
|
Use their signed equivalents with a type cast.
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
Macros to project non-default integer types
|
|
(<code>luaL_checkint</code>, <code>luaL_optint</code>, <code>luaL_checklong</code>, <code>luaL_optlong</code>)
|
|
were deprecated.
|
|
Use their equivalent over <a href="#lua_Integer"><code>lua_Integer</code></a> with a type cast
|
|
(or, when possible, use <a href="#lua_Integer"><code>lua_Integer</code></a> in your code).
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h1>9 – <a name="9">The Complete Syntax of Lua</a></h1>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Here is the complete syntax of Lua in extended BNF.
|
|
As usual in extended BNF,
|
|
{A} means 0 or more As,
|
|
and [A] means an optional A.
|
|
(For operator precedences, see <a href="#3.4.8">§3.4.8</a>;
|
|
for a description of the terminals
|
|
Name, Numeral,
|
|
and LiteralString, see <a href="#3.1">§3.1</a>.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
|
|
chunk ::= block
|
|
|
|
block ::= {stat} [retstat]
|
|
|
|
stat ::= ‘<b>;</b>’ |
|
|
varlist ‘<b>=</b>’ explist |
|
|
functioncall |
|
|
label |
|
|
<b>break</b> |
|
|
<b>goto</b> Name |
|
|
<b>do</b> block <b>end</b> |
|
|
<b>while</b> exp <b>do</b> block <b>end</b> |
|
|
<b>repeat</b> block <b>until</b> exp |
|
|
<b>if</b> exp <b>then</b> block {<b>elseif</b> exp <b>then</b> block} [<b>else</b> block] <b>end</b> |
|
|
<b>for</b> Name ‘<b>=</b>’ exp ‘<b>,</b>’ exp [‘<b>,</b>’ exp] <b>do</b> block <b>end</b> |
|
|
<b>for</b> namelist <b>in</b> explist <b>do</b> block <b>end</b> |
|
|
<b>function</b> funcname funcbody |
|
|
<b>local</b> <b>function</b> Name funcbody |
|
|
<b>local</b> namelist [‘<b>=</b>’ explist]
|
|
|
|
retstat ::= <b>return</b> [explist] [‘<b>;</b>’]
|
|
|
|
label ::= ‘<b>::</b>’ Name ‘<b>::</b>’
|
|
|
|
funcname ::= Name {‘<b>.</b>’ Name} [‘<b>:</b>’ Name]
|
|
|
|
varlist ::= var {‘<b>,</b>’ var}
|
|
|
|
var ::= Name | prefixexp ‘<b>[</b>’ exp ‘<b>]</b>’ | prefixexp ‘<b>.</b>’ Name
|
|
|
|
namelist ::= Name {‘<b>,</b>’ Name}
|
|
|
|
explist ::= exp {‘<b>,</b>’ exp}
|
|
|
|
exp ::= <b>nil</b> | <b>false</b> | <b>true</b> | Numeral | LiteralString | ‘<b>...</b>’ | functiondef |
|
|
prefixexp | tableconstructor | exp binop exp | unop exp
|
|
|
|
prefixexp ::= var | functioncall | ‘<b>(</b>’ exp ‘<b>)</b>’
|
|
|
|
functioncall ::= prefixexp args | prefixexp ‘<b>:</b>’ Name args
|
|
|
|
args ::= ‘<b>(</b>’ [explist] ‘<b>)</b>’ | tableconstructor | LiteralString
|
|
|
|
functiondef ::= <b>function</b> funcbody
|
|
|
|
funcbody ::= ‘<b>(</b>’ [parlist] ‘<b>)</b>’ block <b>end</b>
|
|
|
|
parlist ::= namelist [‘<b>,</b>’ ‘<b>...</b>’] | ‘<b>...</b>’
|
|
|
|
tableconstructor ::= ‘<b>{</b>’ [fieldlist] ‘<b>}</b>’
|
|
|
|
fieldlist ::= field {fieldsep field} [fieldsep]
|
|
|
|
field ::= ‘<b>[</b>’ exp ‘<b>]</b>’ ‘<b>=</b>’ exp | Name ‘<b>=</b>’ exp | exp
|
|
|
|
fieldsep ::= ‘<b>,</b>’ | ‘<b>;</b>’
|
|
|
|
binop ::= ‘<b>+</b>’ | ‘<b>-</b>’ | ‘<b>*</b>’ | ‘<b>/</b>’ | ‘<b>//</b>’ | ‘<b>^</b>’ | ‘<b>%</b>’ |
|
|
‘<b>&</b>’ | ‘<b>~</b>’ | ‘<b>|</b>’ | ‘<b>>></b>’ | ‘<b><<</b>’ | ‘<b>..</b>’ |
|
|
‘<b><</b>’ | ‘<b><=</b>’ | ‘<b>></b>’ | ‘<b>>=</b>’ | ‘<b>==</b>’ | ‘<b>~=</b>’ |
|
|
<b>and</b> | <b>or</b>
|
|
|
|
unop ::= ‘<b>-</b>’ | <b>not</b> | ‘<b>#</b>’ | ‘<b>~</b>’
|
|
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P CLASS="footer">
|
|
Last update:
|
|
Tue Jun 26 13:16:37 -03 2018
|
|
</P>
|
|
<!--
|
|
Last change: revised for Lua 5.3.5
|
|
-->
|
|
|
|
</body></html>
|
|
|