--- name: "Data::Util" section: "3pm" platform: "linux" package: "libdata-util-perl" version: "0.67-1+b5" release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)" platforms: ["linux"] url: "https://new.carta.tech/Data::Util" --- # Data::Util(3pm) A selection of utilities for data and data types ## NAME Data::Util - A selection of utilities for data and data types ## VERSION This document describes Data::Util version 0.67 ## SYNOPSIS ``` use Data::Util qw(:validate); sub foo{ # they will die if invalid values are supplied my $sref = scalar_ref(shift); my $aref = array_ref(shift); my $href = hash_ref(shift); my $cref = code_ref(shift); my $gref = glob_ref(shift); my $rx = rx(shift); # regular expression my $obj = instance(shift, 'Foo'); # ... } use Data::Util qw(:check); sub bar{ my $x = shift; if(is_scalar_ref $x){ # $x is an array reference } # ... elsif(is_instance $x, 'Foo'){ # $x is an instance of Foo } # ... } # miscelaneous use Data::Util qw(:all); my $x = anon_scalar(); $x = anon_scalar($x); # OK my $stash = get_stash('Foo'); install_subroutine('Foo', hello => sub{ "Hello!\n" }, goodby => sub{ "Goodby!\n" }, ); print Foo::hello(); # Hello! my($pkg, $name) = get_code_info(\&Foo::hello); # => ('Foo', 'hello') my $fqn = get_code_info(\&Foo::hello); # => 'Foo::hello' my $code = get_code_ref('Foo', 'hello'); # => \&Foo::hello uninstall_subroutine('Foo', qw(hello goodby)); # simple format for errro messages (not the same as Data::Dumper) print neat("Hello!\n"); # => "Hello!\n" print neat(3.14); # => 3.14 print neat(undef); # => undef ``` ## DESCRIPTION This module provides utility functions for data and data types, including functions for subroutines and symbol table hashes (stashes). This module makes for a pure Perl and XS implementation. However, if you want to use the full capacity of it, we recommend you to opt for the XS backend. There are many benchmarks in the *DIST-DIR/benchmark/* directory. ## INTERFACE ### Check functions Check functions are introduced by the `":check"` import tag, which check the argument type and return a bool. These functions also check for overloading magic, e.g. `"${}"` corresponds to a SCALAR reference. - is\_scalar\_ref(value) Checks for a SCALAR reference. - is\_array\_ref(value) Checks for an ARRAY reference. - is\_hash\_ref(value) Checks for a HASH reference. - is\_code\_ref(value) Checks for a CODE reference. - is\_glob\_ref(value) Checks for a GLOB reference. - is\_rx(value) Checks for a regular expression reference generated by the `"qr//"` operator. - is\_instance(value, class) Checks for an instance of *class*. It is equivalent to the following statement: `"Scalar::Util::blessed($value) && $value->isa($class)"`. - is\_invocant(value) Checks for an invocant, i.e. a blessed reference or existent package name. If *value* is a valid class name but does not exist, it will return false. - is\_value(value) Checks whether *value* is a primitive value, i.e. a defined, non-ref, and non-type-glob value. This function has no counterpart for validation. - is\_string(value) Checks whether *value* is a string with non-zero-length contents, equivalent to `"is_value($value) && length($value) > 0"`. This function has no counterpart for validation. - is\_number(value) Checks whether *value* is a number. Here, a **number** means that the perl parser can understand it and that the perl numeric converter (e.g. invoked by `"sprintf '%g', $value"`) doesn't complain about it. It is similar to `Scalar::Util::looks_like_number()` but refuses `"infinity"`, `"not a number"` and `"0 but true"`. Note that `"9**9**9"` makes `"infinity"` and `"9**9**9 - 9**9**9"` makes `"not a number"`. This function has no counterpart for validation. - is\_integer(value) Checks whether *value* is an integer. An **integer** is also a **number**, so this function refuses `"infinity"` and `"not a number"`. See also `is_number()`. This function has no counterpart for validation. ### Validating functions Validating functions are introduced by the `":validate"` tag which checks for the argument and returns the first argument. These are like the `":check"` functions but dies if the argument type is invalid. These functions also checks overloading magic, e.g. `"${}"` for a SCALAR reference. - scalar\_ref(value) Validates a SCALAR reference. - array\_ref(value) Validates an ARRAY reference. - hash\_ref(value) Validates a HASH reference. - code\_ref(value) Validates a CODE reference. - glob\_ref(value) Validates a GLOB reference. - rx(value) Validates a regular expression reference. - instance(value, class) Validates an instance of *class*. - invocant(value) Validates an invocant, i.e. a blessed reference or existent package name. If *value* is a valid class name and the class exists, then it returns the canonical class name, which is logically cleaned up. That is, it runs `"$value =~ s/^::(?:main::)*//;"` before returning it. NOTE: Canonization is done so due to an inconsistency between Perl versions. For instance: ``` package ::Foo; # OK my $x = bless {}, '::Foo'; # OK ref($x)->isa('Foo'); # Fatal ``` The last code snippet causes a fatal error: `"Can't call method "isa" without package or object reference"`. However, `"invocant(ref $x)->isa('Foo')"` is always OK. ### Miscellaneous utilities There are some other utility functions you can import from this module. - **anon\_scalar()** Generates an anonymous scalar reference to `"undef"`. - anon\_scalar(value) Generates an anonymous scalar reference to the copy of *value*. It is equivalent to `"do{ my $tmp = $value; \$tmp; }"`. - neat(value) Returns a neat string that is suitable to display. This is a smart version of `". - get\_stash(invocant) Returns the symbol table hash (also known as **stash**) of *invocant* if the stash exists. - install\_subroutine(package, name =\> subr \[, ...\]) Installs *subr* into *package* as *name*. It is similar to `"do{ no strict 'refs'; *{$package.'::'.$name} = \&subr; }"`. In addition, if *subr* is an anonymous subroutine, it is located into *package* as a named subroutine *&package::name*. For example: ``` install_subroutine($pkg, say => sub{ print @_, "\n" }); install_subroutine($pkg, one => \&_one, two => \&_two, ); # accepts a HASH reference install_subroutine($pkg, { say => sub{ print @_, "\n" }); # ``` To re-install *subr*, use `"no warnings 'redefine'"` directive: ``` no warnings 'redefine'; install_subroutine($package, $name => $subr); ``` - uninstall\_subroutine(package, names...) Uninstalls *names* from *package*. It is similar to `Sub::Delete::delete_sub()`, but uninstall multiple subroutines at a time. If you want to specify deleted subroutines, you can supply `"name => \&subr"` pairs. For example: ``` uninstall_subroutine('Foo', 'hello'); uninstall_subroutine('Foo', hello => \&Bar::hello); uninstall_subroutine($pkg, one => \&_one, two => \&_two, ); # accepts a HASH reference uninstall_subroutine(\$pkg, { hello => \&Bar::hello }); ``` - get\_code\_info(subr) Returns a pair of elements, the package name and the subroutine name of *subr*. It is similar to `Sub::Identify::get_code_info()`, but it returns the fully qualified name in scalar context. - get\_code\_ref(package, name, flag?) Returns *&package::name* if it exists, not touching the symbol in the stash. if *flag* is a string `"-create"`, it returns *&package::name* regardless of its existence. That is, it is equivalent to `"do{ no strict 'refs'; \&{package . '::' . $name} }"`. For example: ``` $code = get_code_ref($pkg, $name); # like *{$pkg.'::'.$name}{CODE} $code = get_code_ref($pkg, $name, -create); # like \&{$pkg.'::'.$name} ``` - curry(subr, args and/or placeholders) Makes *subr* curried and returns the curried subroutine. This is also considered as lightweight closures. See also Data::Util::Curry. - modify\_subroutine(subr, ...) Modifies *subr* with subroutine modifiers and returns the modified subroutine. This is also considered as lightweight closures. *subr* must be a code reference or callable object. Optional arguments: `"before => [subroutine(s)]"` called before *subr*. `"around => [subroutine(s)]"` called around *subr*. `"after => [subroutine(s)]"` called after *subr*. This seems a constructor of modified subroutines and `subroutine_modifier()` is property accessors, but it does not bless the modified subroutines. - subroutine\_modifier(subr) Returns whether *subr* is a modified subroutine. - subroutine\_modifier(modified\_subr, property) Gets *property* from *modified*. Valid properties are: `"before"`, `"around"`, `"after"`. - subroutine\_modifier(modified\_subr, modifier =\> \[subroutine(s)\]) Adds subroutine *modifier* to *modified\_subr*. Valid modifiers are: `"before"`, `"around"`, `"after"`. - mkopt(input, moniker, require\_unique, must\_be) Produces an array of an array reference from *input*. It is compatible with `Data::OptList::mkopt()`. In addition to it, *must\_be* can be a HASH reference with `"name => type"` pairs. For example: ``` my $optlist = mkopt(['foo', bar => [42]], $moniker, $uniq, { bar => 'ARRAY' }); # $optlist == [[foo => undef], [bar => [42]] ``` - mkopt\_hash(input, moniker, must\_be) Produces a hash reference from *input*. It is compatible with `Data::OptList::mkopt_hash()`. In addition to it, *must\_be* can be a HASH reference with `"name => type"` pairs. For example: ``` my $optlist = mkopt(['foo', bar => [42]], $moniker, { bar => 'ARRAY' }); # $optlist == {foo => undef, bar => [42]} ``` ## ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES ### DATA\_UTIL\_PUREPERL If true, `"Data::Util"` uses the pure Perl implementation. ## DEPENDENCIES Perl 5.10 or later. If you have a C compiler, you can use the XS backend. A pure Perl backend/implementation is also made available in case you have no C compiler handy (unlikely!). ## BUGS AND LIMITATIONS No bugs have been reported. Please report any bugs or feature requests to the author. ## SEE ALSO Scalar::Util. overload. Params::Util. Sub::Install. Sub::Identify. Sub::Delete. Sub::Curry. Class::MOP. Class::Method::Modifiers. Data::OptList. Mouse ## AUTHOR Goro Fuji(gfx) \. ## LICENSE AND COPYRIGHT Copyright (c) 2008-2010, Goro Fuji \. All rights reserved. This module is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.