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% $Id: manual.tex,v 1.61 2002/08/13 20:00:51 roberto Exp roberto $
%{[(
\documentclass[11pt,twoside]{article}
\usepackage{fullpage}
\usepackage{bnf}
\usepackage{graphicx}
% no need for subscripts...
\catcode`\_=12
%\newcommand{\See}[1]{Section~\ref{#1}}
\newcommand{\See}[1]{\S\ref{#1}}
%\newcommand{\see}[1]{(see~\See{#1} on page \pageref{#1})}
\newcommand{\see}[1]{(see~\See{#1})}
\newcommand{\seepage}[1]{(see page~\pageref{#1})}
\newcommand{\M}[1]{{\rm\emph{#1}}}
\newcommand{\T}[1]{{\tt #1}}
\newcommand{\Math}[1]{$#1$}
\newcommand{\nil}{{\bf nil}}
\newcommand{\False}{{\bf false}}
\newcommand{\True}{{\bf true}}
%\def\tecgraf{{\sf TeC\kern-.21em\lower.7ex\hbox{Graf}}}
\def\tecgraf{{\sf Tecgraf}}
\newcommand{\Index}[1]{#1\index{#1@{\lowercase{#1}}}}
\newcommand{\IndexVerb}[1]{\T{#1}\index{#1@{\tt #1}}}
\newcommand{\IndexEmph}[1]{\emph{#1}\index{#1@{\lowercase{#1}}}}
\newcommand{\IndexTM}[1]{\index{#1 event@{``#1'' event}}\index{tag method!#1}}
\newcommand{\Def}[1]{\emph{#1}\index{#1}}
\newcommand{\IndexAPI}[1]{\T{#1}\DefAPI{#1}}
\newcommand{\IndexLIB}[1]{\T{#1}\DefLIB{#1}}
\newcommand{\DefLIB}[1]{\index{#1@{\tt #1}}}
\newcommand{\DefAPI}[1]{\index{C API!#1@{\tt #1}}}
\newcommand{\IndexKW}[1]{\index{keywords!#1@{\tt #1}}}
\newcommand{\ff}{$\bullet$\ }
\newcommand{\Version}{5.0 (alpha)}
% changes to bnf.sty by LHF
\renewcommand{\Or}{$|$ }
\renewcommand{\rep}[1]{{\rm\{}\,#1\,{\rm\}}}
\renewcommand{\opt}[1]{{\rm [}\,#1\,{\,\rm]}}
\renewcommand{\ter}[1]{{\rm`{\tt#1}'}}
\newcommand{\Nter}[1]{{\tt#1}}
\newcommand{\NOTE}{\par\medskip\noindent\emph{NOTE}: }
\makeindex
\begin{document}
%{===============================================================
\thispagestyle{empty}
\pagestyle{empty}
{
\parindent=0pt
\vglue1.5in
{\LARGE\bf
The Programming Language Lua}
\hfill
\vskip4pt \hrule height 4pt width \hsize \vskip4pt
\hfill
Reference Manual for Lua version \Version
\\
\null
\hfill
Last revised on \today
\\
\vfill
\centering
\includegraphics[width=0.7\textwidth]{nolabel.ps}
\vfill
\vskip4pt \hrule height 2pt width \hsize
}
\newpage
\begin{quotation}
\parskip=10pt
\parindent=0pt
\footnotesize
\null\vfill
\noindent
Copyright \copyright\ 2002 Tecgraf, PUC-Rio. All rights reserved.
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge,
to any person obtaining a copy of this software
and associated documentation files (the "Software"),
to deal in the Software without restriction,
including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify,
merge, publish, distribute, sublicense,
and/or sell copies of the Software,
and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so,
subject to the following conditions:
The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be
included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.
IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE
FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY,
WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE,
ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE
OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
Copies of this manual can be obtained at
Lua's official web site,
\verb|www.lua.org|.
\bigskip
The Lua logo was designed by A. Nakonechny.
Copyright \copyright\ 1998. All rights reserved.
\end{quotation}
%}===============================================================
\newpage
\title{\Large\bf Reference Manual of the Programming Language Lua \Version}
\author{%
Roberto Ierusalimschy\qquad
Luiz Henrique de Figueiredo\qquad
Waldemar Celes
\vspace{1.0ex}\\
\smallskip
\small\tt lua@tecgraf.puc-rio.br
\vspace{2.0ex}\\
%MCC 08/95 ---
\tecgraf\ --- Computer Science Department --- PUC-Rio
}
%\date{{\small \tt\$Date: 2002/08/13 20:00:51 $ $}}
\maketitle
\pagestyle{plain}
\pagenumbering{roman}
\begin{abstract}
\noindent
Lua is a powerful, light-weight programming language
designed for extending applications.
Lua is also frequently used as a general-purpose, stand-alone language.
Lua combines simple procedural syntax
(similar to Pascal)
with
powerful data description constructs
based on associative arrays and extensible semantics.
Lua is
dynamically typed,
interpreted from opcodes,
and has automatic memory management with garbage collection,
making it ideal for
configuration,
scripting,
and
rapid prototyping.
This document describes version \Version\ of the Lua programming language
and the Application Program Interface (API)
that allows interaction between Lua programs and their host C~programs.
\end{abstract}
\def\abstractname{Resumo}
\begin{abstract}
\noindent
Lua \'e uma linguagem de programa\c{c}\~ao
poderosa e leve,
projetada para estender aplica\c{c}\~oes.
Lua tamb\'em \'e frequentemente usada como uma linguagem de prop\'osito geral.
Lua combina programa\c{c}\~ao procedural
(com sintaxe semelhante \`a de Pascal)
com
poderosas constru\c{c}\~oes para descri\c{c}\~ao de dados,
baseadas em tabelas associativas e sem\^antica extens\'\i vel.
Lua \'e
tipada dinamicamente,
interpretada a partir de \emph{opcodes},
e tem gerenciamento autom\'atico de mem\'oria com coleta de lixo.
Essas caracter\'{\i}sticas fazem de Lua uma linguagem ideal para
configura\c{c}\~ao,
automa\c{c}\~ao (\emph{scripting})
e prototipagem r\'apida.
Este documento descreve a vers\~ao \Version\ da linguagem de
programa\c{c}\~ao Lua e a Interface de Programa\c{c}\~ao (API) que permite
a intera\c{c}\~ao entre programas Lua e programas C~hospedeiros.
\end{abstract}
\newpage
\null
\newpage
\tableofcontents
\newpage
\setcounter{page}{1}
\pagestyle{plain}
\pagenumbering{arabic}
%------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\section{Introduction}
Lua is an extension programming language designed to support
general procedural programming with data description
facilities.
Lua is intended to be used as a powerful, light-weight
configuration language for any program that needs one.
Lua is implemented as a library, written in C.
Being an extension language, Lua has no notion of a ``main'' program:
it only works \emph{embedded} in a host client,
called the \emph{embedding program} or simply the \emph{host}.
This host program can invoke functions to execute a piece of Lua code,
can write and read Lua variables,
and can register C~functions to be called by Lua code.
Through the use of C~functions, Lua can be augmented to cope with
a wide range of different domains,
thus creating customized programming languages sharing a syntactical framework.
Lua is free software,
and is provided as usual with no guarantees,
as stated in its copyright notice.
The implementation described in this manual is available
at Lua's official web site, \verb|www.lua.org|.
Like any other reference manual,
this document is dry in places.
For a discussion of the decisions behind the design of Lua,
see the papers below,
which are available at Lua's web site.
\begin{itemize}
\item
R.~Ierusalimschy, L.~H.~de Figueiredo, and W.~Celes.
Lua---an extensible extension language.
\emph{Software: Practice \& Experience} {\bf 26} \#6 (1996) 635--652.
\item
L.~H.~de Figueiredo, R.~Ierusalimschy, and W.~Celes.
The design and implementation of a language for extending applications.
\emph{Proceedings of XXI Brazilian Seminar on Software and Hardware} (1994) 273--283.
\item
L.~H.~de Figueiredo, R.~Ierusalimschy, and W.~Celes.
Lua: an extensible embedded language.
\emph{Dr. Dobb's Journal} {\bf 21} \#12 (Dec 1996) 26--33.
\item
R.~Ierusalimschy, L.~H.~de Figueiredo, and W.~Celes.
The evolution of an extension language: a history of Lua,
\emph{Proceedings of V Brazilian Symposium on Programming Languages} (2001) B-14--B-28.
\end{itemize}
Lua means ``moon'' in Portuguese.
%------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\section{Lua Concepts}\label{concepts}
This section describes the main concepts of Lua as a language.
The syntax and semantics of Lua are described in \See{language}.
The discussion below is not purely conceptual;
it includes references to the C~API \see{API},
because Lua is designed to be embedded in host programs.
It also includes references to the standard libraries \see{libraries}.
\subsection{Environment and Chunks}
All statements in Lua are executed in a \Def{global environment}.
This environment is initialized with a call from the embedding program to
\verb|lua_open| and
persists until a call to \verb|lua_close|
or the end of the embedding program.
If necessary,
the host programmer can create multiple independent global
environments, and freely switch between them \see{mangstate}.
The unit of execution of Lua is called a \Def{chunk}.
A chunk is simply a sequence of statements.
Statements are described in \See{stats}.
A chunk may be stored in a file or in a string inside the host program.
When a chunk is executed, first it is pre-compiled into opcodes for
a virtual machine,
and then the compiled statements are executed
by an interpreter for the virtual machine.
All modifications a chunk effects on the global environment persist
after the chunk ends.
Chunks may also be pre-compiled into binary form and stored in files;
see program \IndexVerb{luac} for details.
Text files with chunks and their binary pre-compiled forms
are interchangeable;
Lua automatically detects the file type and acts accordingly.
\index{pre-compilation}
\subsection{Table of Globals} \label{global-table}
????
\subsection{\Index{Values and Types}} \label{TypesSec}
Lua is a \emph{dynamically typed language}.
That means that
variables do not have types; only values do.
There are no type definitions in the language.
All values carry their own type.
There are seven \Index{basic types} in Lua:
\Def{nil}, \Def{boolean}, \Def{number},
\Def{string}, \Def{function}, \Def{userdata}, and \Def{table}.
\emph{Nil} is the type of the value \nil,
whose main property is to be different from any other value;
usually it represents the absence of a useful value.
\emph{Boolean} is the type of the values \False{} and \True.
In Lua, both \nil{} and \False{} make a condition fails,
and any other value makes it succeeds.
\emph{Number} represents real (double-precision floating-point) numbers.
\emph{String} represents arrays of characters.
\index{eight-bit clean}
Lua is 8-bit clean,
and so strings may contain any 8-bit character,
including embedded zeros (\verb|'\0'|) \see{lexical}.
Functions are \emph{first-class values} in Lua.
That means that functions can be stored in variables,
passed as arguments to other functions, and returned as results.
Lua can call (and manipulate) functions written in Lua and
functions written in C
\see{functioncall}.
The type \emph{userdata} is provided to allow the store of
arbitrary C data in Lua variables.
This type corresponds to a block of raw memory
and has no pre-defined operations in Lua,
except assignment and identity test.
However, by using \emph{metatables},
the programmer can define operations for userdata values
\see{metatable}.
Userdata values cannot be created or modified in Lua,
only through the C~API.
This guarantees the integrity of data owned by the host program.
The type \emph{table} implements \Index{associative arrays},
that is, \Index{arrays} that can be indexed not only with numbers,
but with any value (except \nil).
Moreover,
tables can be \emph{heterogeneous},
that is, they can contain values of all types.
Tables are the sole data structuring mechanism in Lua;
they may be used not only to represent ordinary arrays,
but also symbol tables, sets, records, graphs, trees, etc.
To represent \Index{records}, Lua uses the field name as an index.
The language supports this representation by
providing \verb|a.name| as syntactic sugar for \verb|a["name"]|.
There are several convenient ways to create tables in Lua
\see{tableconstructor}.
Like indices, the value of a table field can be of any type.
In particular,
because functions are first class values,
table fields may contain functions.
So, tables may also carry \emph{methods} \see{func-def}.
Tables, functions, and userdata values are \emph{objects}:
variables do not actually \emph{contain} these values,
only \emph{references} to them.
Assignment, parameter passing, and returns from functions
always manipulate references to these values,
and do not imply any kind of copy.
The library function \verb|type| returns a string describing the type
of a given value \see{pdf-type}.
\subsubsection{Metatables}
Each table or userdata object in Lua may have a \Index{metatable}.
You can change several aspects of the behavior
of an object by setting specific fields in its metatable.
For instance, when an object is the operand of an addition,
Lua checks for a function in the field \verb|"__add"| in its metatable.
If it finds one,
Lua calls that function to perform the addition.
We call the keys in a metatable \Index{events},
and the values \Index{metamethods}.
In the previous example, \verb|"add"| is the event,
and the metamethod is the function that performs the addition.
A metatable controls how an object behaves in arithmetic operations,
order comparisons, concatenation, and indexing.
A metatable can also defines a function to be called when a userdata
is garbage collected.
\See{metatable} gives a detailed description of which events you
can control with metatables.
You can query and change the metatable of an object
through the \verb|setmetatable| and \verb|getmetatable|
functions \see{pdf-getmetatable}.
\subsection{Coercion} \label{coercion}
Lua provides automatic conversion between
string and number values at run time.
Any arithmetic operation applied to a string tries to convert
that string to a number, following the usual rules.
Conversely, whenever a number is used when a string is expected,
the number is converted to a string, in a reasonable format.
The format is chosen so that
a conversion from number to string then back to number
reproduces the original number \emph{exactly}.
For complete control of how numbers are converted to strings,
use the \verb|format| function \see{format}.
\subsection{Variables}
There are two kinds of variables in Lua:
global variables
and local variables.
Variables are assumed to be global unless explicitly declared local
\see{localvar}.
Before the first assignment, the value of a variable is \nil.
All global variables live as fields in ordinary Lua tables.
Usually, globals live in a table called \Index{table of globals}.
However, a function can individually change its global table,
so that all global variables in that function will refer to that table.
This mechanism allows the creation of \Index{namespaces} and other
modularization facilities.
\Index{Local variables} are lexically scoped.
Therefore, local variables can be freely accessed by functions
defined inside their scope \see{visibility}.
\subsection{Garbage Collection}\label{GC}
Lua does automatic memory management.
That means that
you do not have to worry about allocating memory for new objects
and freeing it when the objects are no longer needed.
Lua manages memory automatically by running
a \Index{garbage collector} from time to time
and
collecting all dead objects
(all objects that are no longer accessible from Lua).
All objects in Lua are subject to automatic management:
tables, userdata, functions, and strings.
Using the C~API,
you can set garbage-collector metamethods for userdata \see{metatable}.
When it is about to free a userdata,
Lua calls the metamethod associated with event \verb|gc| in the
userdata's metatable.
Using such facility, you can coordinate Lua's garbage collection
with external resource management
(such as closing files, network or database connections,
or freeing your own memory).
Lua uses two numbers to control its garbage-collection cycles.
One number counts how many bytes of dynamic memory Lua is using,
and the other is a threshold.
When the number of bytes crosses the threshold,
Lua runs the garbage collector,
which reclaims the memory of all dead objects.
The byte counter is corrected,
and then the threshold is reset to twice the value of the byte counter.
Through the C~API, you can query those numbers,
and change the threshold \see{GC-API}.
Setting the threshold to zero actually forces an immediate
garbage-collection cycle,
while setting it to a huge number effectively stops the garbage collector.
Using Lua code you have a more limited control over garbage-collection cycles,
through the functions \verb|gcinfo| and \verb|collectgarbage|
\see{predefined}.
\subsubsection{Weak Tables}\label{weak-table}
A \IndexEmph{weak table} is a table whose elements are
\IndexEmph{weak references}.
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.
A weak table can have weak keys, weak values, or both.
A table with weak keys allows the collection of its keys,
but prevents the collection of its values.
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 set with the \verb|setmode| function.
%------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\section{The Language}\label{language}
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.
\subsection{Lexical Conventions} \label{lexical}
\IndexEmph{Identifiers} in Lua can be any string of letters,
digits, and underscores,
not beginning with a digit.
This coincides with the definition of identifiers in most languages.
(The definition of letter depends on the current locale:
any character considered alphabetic by the current locale
can be used in an identifier.)
The following \IndexEmph{keywords} are reserved,
and cannot be used as identifiers:
\index{reserved words}
\begin{verbatim}
and break do else elseif
end false for function global
if in local nil not
or repeat return then true
until while
\end{verbatim}
Lua is a case-sensitive language:
\T{and} is a reserved word, but \T{And} and \T{\'and}
(if the locale permits) are two different, valid identifiers.
As a convention, identifiers starting with an underscore followed by
uppercase letters (such as \verb|_VERSION|)
are reserved for internal variables.
The following strings denote other \Index{tokens}:
\begin{verbatim}
+ - * / ^ %
~= <= >= < > == =
( ) { } [ ]
; : , . .. ...
\end{verbatim}
\IndexEmph{Literal strings}
can be delimited by matching single or double quotes,
and can contain the C-like escape sequences
`\verb|\a|' (bell),
`\verb|\b|' (backspace),
`\verb|\f|' (form feed),
`\verb|\n|' (newline),
`\verb|\r|' (carriage return),
`\verb|\t|' (horizontal tab),
`\verb|\v|' (vertical tab),
`\verb|\\|' (backslash),
`\verb|\"|' (double quote),
`\verb|\'|' (single quote),
and `\verb|\|\emph{newline}' (that is, a backslash followed by a real newline,
which results in a newline in the string).
A character in a string may also be specified by its numerical value,
through the escape sequence `\verb|\|\emph{ddd}',
where \emph{ddd} is a sequence of up to three \emph{decimal} digits.
Strings in Lua may contain any 8-bit value, including embedded zeros,
which can be specified as `\verb|\0|'.
Literal strings can also be delimited by matching \verb|[[| $\ldots$ \verb|]]|.
Literals in this bracketed form may run for several lines,
may contain nested \verb|[[| $\ldots$ \verb|]]| pairs,
and do not interpret escape sequences.
For convenience,
when the opening \verb|[[| is immediately followed by a newline,
the newline is not included in the string. % ]]
That form is specially convenient for
writing strings that contain program pieces or
other quoted strings.
As an example, in a system using ASCII
(in which `\verb|a|' is coded as~97,
newline is coded as~10, and `\verb|1|' is coded as~49),
the four literals below denote the same string:
\begin{verbatim}
(1) "alo\n123\""
(2) '\97lo\10\04923"'
(3) [[alo
123"]]
(4) [[
alo
123"]]
\end{verbatim}
\IndexEmph{Numerical constants} may be written with an optional decimal part
and an optional decimal exponent.
Examples of valid numerical constants are
\begin{verbatim}
3 3.0 3.1416 314.16e-2 0.31416E1
\end{verbatim}
\IndexEmph{Comments} start anywhere outside a string with a
double hyphen (\verb|--|);
If the text after \verb|--| is different from \verb|[[|,
the comment is a short comment,
that runs until the end of the line.
Otherwise, it is a long comment,
that runs until the corresponding \verb|]]|.
Long comments may run for several lines,
and may contain nested \verb|[[| $\ldots$ \verb|]]| pairs.
For convenience,
the first line of a chunk is skipped if it starts with \verb|#|.
This facility allows the use of Lua as a script interpreter
in Unix systems \see{lua-sa}.
\subsection{Variables}\label{variables}
Variables are places that store values.
%In Lua, variables are given by simple identifiers or by table fields.
A single name can denote a global variable, a local variable,
or a formal parameter in a function
(formal parameters are just local variables):
\begin{Produc}
\produc{var}{\Nter{Name}}
\end{Produc}%
Square brackets are used to index a table:
\begin{Produc}
\produc{var}{prefixexp \ter{[} exp \ter{]}}
\end{Produc}%
The first expression should result in a table value,
and the second expression identifies a specific entry inside that table.
The syntax \verb|var.NAME| is just syntactic sugar for
\verb|var["NAME"]|:
\begin{Produc}
\produc{var}{prefixexp \ter{.} \Nter{Name}}
\end{Produc}%
The expression denoting the table to be indexed has a restricted syntax;
\See{expressions} for details.
The meaning of assignments and evaluations of global and
indexed variables can be changed via metatables.
An assignment to a global variable \verb|x = val|
is equivalent to the assignment
\verb|_glob.x = val|,
where \verb|_glob| is the table of globals of the running function
(\see{global-table} for a discussion about the table of globals).
An assignment to an indexed variable \verb|t[i] = val| is equivalent to
\verb|settable_event(t,i,val)|.
An access to a global variable \verb|x|
is equivalent to \verb|_glob.x|
(again, \see{global-table} for a discussion about \verb|_glob|).
An access to an indexed variable \verb|t[i]| is equivalent to
a call \verb|gettable_event(t,i)|.
See \See{metatable} for a complete description of the
\verb|settable_event| and \verb|gettable_event| functions.
(These functions are not defined in Lua.
We use them here only for explanatory purposes.)
\subsection{Statements}\label{stats}
Lua supports an almost conventional set of \Index{statements},
similar to those in Pascal or C.
The conventional commands include
assignment, control structures, and procedure calls.
Non-conventional commands include table constructors
and variable declarations.
\subsubsection{Chunks}\label{chunks}
The unit of execution of Lua is called a \Def{chunk}.
A chunk is simply a sequence of statements,
which are executed sequentially.
Each statement can be optionally followed by a semicolon:
\begin{Produc}
\produc{chunk}{\rep{stat \opt{\ter{;}}}}
\end{Produc}%
\subsubsection{Blocks}
A \Index{block} is a list of statements;
syntactically, a block is equal to a chunk:
\begin{Produc}
\produc{block}{chunk}
\end{Produc}%
A block may be explicitly delimited to produce a single statement:
\begin{Produc}
\produc{stat}{\rwd{do} block \rwd{end}}
\end{Produc}%
\IndexKW{do}
Explicit blocks are useful
to control the scope of variable declarations.
Explicit blocks are also sometimes used to
add a \rwd{return} or \rwd{break} statement in the middle
of another block \see{control}.
\subsubsection{\Index{Assignment}} \label{assignment}
Lua allows \Index{multiple assignment}.
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:
\begin{Produc}
\produc{stat}{varlist1 \ter{=} explist1}
\produc{varlist1}{var \rep{\ter{,} var}}
\produc{explist1}{exp \rep{\ter{,} exp}}
\end{Produc}%
Expressions are discussed in \See{expressions}.
Before the assignment,
the list of values is \emph{adjusted} to the length of
the list of variables.\index{adjustment}
If there are more values than needed,
the excess values are thrown away.
If there are less values than needed,
the list is extended with as many \nil's as needed.
If the list of expressions ends with a function call,
then all values returned by that function call enter in the list of values,
before the adjust
(except when the call is enclosed in parentheses; see \See{expressions}).
The assignment statement first evaluates all its expressions,
and only then makes the assignments.
So, the code
\begin{verbatim}
i = 3
i, a[i] = i+1, 20
\end{verbatim}
sets \verb|a[3]| to 20, without affecting \verb|a[4]|
because the \verb|i| in \verb|a[i]| is evaluated
before it is assigned 4.
Similarly, the line
\begin{verbatim}
x, y = y, x
\end{verbatim}
exchanges the values of \verb|x| and \verb|y|.
\subsubsection{Control Structures}\label{control}
The control structures
\rwd{if}, \rwd{while}, and \rwd{repeat} have the usual meaning and
familiar syntax:
\index{while-do statement}\IndexKW{while}
\index{repeat-until statement}\IndexKW{repeat}\IndexKW{until}
\index{if-then-else statement}\IndexKW{if}\IndexKW{else}\IndexKW{elseif}
\begin{Produc}
\produc{stat}{\rwd{while} exp \rwd{do} block \rwd{end}}
\produc{stat}{\rwd{repeat} block \rwd{until} exp}
\produc{stat}{\rwd{if} exp \rwd{then} block
\rep{\rwd{elseif} exp \rwd{then} block}
\opt{\rwd{else} block} \rwd{end}}
\end{Produc}%
Lua also has a \rwd{for} statement, in two flavors \see{for}.
The \Index{condition expression} \M{exp} of a
control structure may return any value.
All values different from \nil{} and \False{} are considered true
(in particular, the number 0 and the empty string are also true);
both \False{} and \nil{} are considered false.
The \rwd{return} statement is used to return values
from a function or from a chunk.\IndexKW{return}
\label{return}%
\index{return statement}%
Functions and chunks may return more than one value,
and so the syntax for the \rwd{return} statement is
\begin{Produc}
\produc{stat}{\rwd{return} \opt{explist1}}
\end{Produc}%
The \rwd{break} statement can be used to terminate the execution of a
\rwd{while}, \rwd{repeat}, or \rwd{for} loop,
skipping to the next statement after the loop:\IndexKW{break}
\index{break statement}
\begin{Produc}
\produc{stat}{\rwd{break}}
\end{Produc}%
A \rwd{break} ends the innermost enclosing loop.
\NOTE
For syntactic reasons, \rwd{return} and \rwd{break}
statements can only be written as the \emph{last} statement of a block.
If it is really necessary to \rwd{return} or \rwd{break} in the
middle of a block,
then an explicit inner block can used,
as in the idioms
`\verb|do return end|' and
`\verb|do break end|',
because now \rwd{return} and \rwd{break} are the last statements in
their (inner) blocks.
In practice,
those idioms are only used during debugging.
(For instance, a line `\verb|do return end|' can be added at the
beginning of a chunk for syntax checking only.)
\subsubsection{For Statement} \label{for}\index{for statement}
The \rwd{for} statement has two forms,
one for numbers and one generic.
\IndexKW{for}\IndexKW{in}
The numerical \rwd{for} loop repeats a block of code while a
control variable runs through an arithmetic progression.
It has the following syntax:
\begin{Produc}
\produc{stat}{\rwd{for} \Nter{Name} \ter{=} exp \ter{,} exp \opt{\ter{,} exp}
\rwd{do} block \rwd{end}}
\end{Produc}%
The \emph{block} is repeated for \emph{name} starting at the value of
the first \emph{exp}, until it reaches the second \emph{exp} by steps of the
third \emph{exp}.
More precisely, a \rwd{for} statement like
\begin{verbatim}
for var = e1, e2, e3 do block end
\end{verbatim}
is equivalent to the code:
\begin{verbatim}
do
local var, _limit, _step = tonumber(e1), tonumber(e2), tonumber(e3)
if not (var and _limit and _step) then error() end
while (_step>0 and var<=_limit) or (_step<=0 and var>=_limit) do
block
var = var+_step
end
end
\end{verbatim}
Note the following:
\begin{itemize}\itemsep=0pt
\item Both the limit and the step are evaluated only once,
before the loop starts.
\item \verb|_limit| and \verb|_step| are invisible variables.
The names are here for explanatory purposes only.
\item The behavior is \emph{undefined} if you assign to \verb|var| inside
the block.
\item If the third expression (the step) is absent, then a step of~1 is used.
\item You can use \rwd{break} to exit a \rwd{for} loop.
\item The loop variable \verb|var| is local to the statement;
you cannot use its value after the \rwd{for} ends or is broken.
If you need the value of the loop variable \verb|var|,
then assign it to another variable before breaking or exiting the loop.
\end{itemize}
The generic \rwd{for} statement works over functions,
called \Index{generators}.
It calls its generator to produce a new value for each iteration,
stopping when the new value is \nil.
It has the following syntax:
\begin{Produc}
\produc{stat}{\rwd{for} \Nter{Name} \rep{\ter{,} \Nter{Name}} \rwd{in} explist1
\rwd{do} block \rwd{end}}
\end{Produc}%
A \rwd{for} statement like
\begin{verbatim}
for var_1, ..., var_n in explist do block end
\end{verbatim}
is equivalent to the code:
\begin{verbatim}
do
local _f, _s, var_1 = explist
while 1 do
local var_2, ..., var_n
var_1, ..., var_n = _f(_s, var_1)
if var_1 == nil then break end
block
end
end
\end{verbatim}
Note the following:
\begin{itemize}\itemsep=0pt
\item \verb|explist| is evaluated only once.
Its results are a ``generator'' function,
a ``state'', and an initial value for the ``iterator variable''.
\item \verb|_f| and \verb|_s| are invisible variables.
The names are here for explanatory purposes only.
\item The behavior is \emph{undefined} if you assign to any
\verb|var_i| inside the block.
\item You can use \rwd{break} to exit a \rwd{for} loop.
\item The loop variables \verb|var_i| are local to the statement;
you cannot use their values after the \rwd{for} ends.
If you need these values,
then assign them to other variables before breaking or exiting the loop.
\end{itemize}
\subsubsection{Function Calls as Statements} \label{funcstat}
Because of possible side-effects,
function calls can be executed as statements:
\begin{Produc}
\produc{stat}{functioncall}
\end{Produc}%
In this case, all returned values are thrown away.
Function calls are explained in \See{functioncall}.
\subsubsection{Local Declarations} \label{localvar}
\Index{Local variables} may be declared anywhere inside a block.
The declaration may include an initial assignment:\IndexKW{local}
\begin{Produc}
\produc{stat}{\rwd{local} namelist \opt{\ter{=} explist1}}
\produc{namelist}{\Nter{Name} \rep{\ter{,} \Nter{Name}}}
\end{Produc}%
If present, an initial assignment has the same semantics
of a multiple assignment \see{assignment}.
Otherwise, all variables are initialized with \nil.
A chunk is also a block \see{chunks},
and so local variables can be declared outside any explicit block.
Such local variables die when the chunk ends.
Visibility rules for local variables are explained in \See{visibility}.
\subsection{\Index{Expressions}}\label{expressions}
%\subsubsection{\Index{Basic Expressions}}
The basic expressions in Lua are the following:
\begin{Produc}
\produc{exp}{prefixexp}
\produc{exp}{\rwd{nil} \Or \rwd{false} \Or \rwd{true}}
\produc{exp}{Number}
\produc{exp}{Literal}
\produc{exp}{function}
\produc{exp}{tableconstructor}
\produc{prefixexp}{var \Or functioncall \Or \ter{(} exp \ter{)}}
\end{Produc}%
\IndexKW{nil}\IndexKW{false}\IndexKW{true}
An expression enclosed in parentheses always results in only one value.
Thus,
\verb|(f(x,y,z))| is always a single value,
even if \verb|f| returns several values.
(The value of \verb|(f(x,y,z))| is the first value returned by \verb|f|
or \nil{} if \verb|f| does not return any values.)
\emph{Numbers} and \emph{literal strings} are explained in \See{lexical};
variables are explained in \See{variables};
function definitions are explained in \See{func-def};
function calls are explained in \See{functioncall};
table constructors are explained in \See{tableconstructor}.
Expressions can also be built with arithmetic operators, relational operators,
and logical operadors, all of which are explained below.
\subsubsection{Arithmetic Operators}
Lua supports the usual \Index{arithmetic operators}:
the binary \verb|+| (addition),
\verb|-| (subtraction), \verb|*| (multiplication),
\verb|/| (division), and \verb|^| (exponentiation);
and unary \verb|-| (negation).
If the operands are numbers, or strings that can be converted to
numbers \see{coercion},
then all operations except exponentiation have the usual meaning,
while exponentiation calls a global function \verb|pow|; ??
otherwise, an appropriate metamethod is called \see{metatable}.
The standard mathematical library defines function \verb|pow|,
giving the expected meaning to \Index{exponentiation}
\see{mathlib}.
\subsubsection{Relational Operators}\label{rel-ops}
The \Index{relational operators} in Lua are
\begin{verbatim}
== ~= < > <= >=
\end{verbatim}
These operators always result in \False{} or \True.
Equality (\verb|==|) first compares the type of its operands.
If the types are different, then the result is \False.
Otherwise, the values of the operands are compared.
Numbers and strings are compared in the usual way.
Tables, userdata, and functions are compared \emph{by reference},
that is,
two tables are considered equal only if they are the \emph{same} table.
%% TODO eq metamethod
Every time you create a new table (or userdata, or function),
this new value is different from any previously existing value.
\NOTE
The conversion rules of \See{coercion}
\emph{do not} apply to equality comparisons.
Thus, \verb|"0"==0| evaluates to \emph{false},
and \verb|t[0]| and \verb|t["0"]| denote different
entries in a table.
\medskip
The operator \verb|~=| is exactly the negation of equality (\verb|==|).
The order operators work as follows.
If both arguments are numbers, then they are compared as such.
Otherwise, if both arguments are strings,
then their values are compared according to the current locale.
Otherwise, the ``lt'' or the ``le'' metamethod is called \see{metatable}.
\subsubsection{Logical Operators}
The \Index{logical operators} in Lua are
\index{and}\index{or}\index{not}
\begin{verbatim}
and or not
\end{verbatim}
Like the control structures \see{control},
all logical operators consider both \False{} and \nil{} as false
and anything else as true.
\IndexKW{and}\IndexKW{or}\IndexKW{not}
The operator \rwd{not} always return \False{} or \True.
The conjunction operator \rwd{and} returns its first argument
if its value is \False{} or \nil;
otherwise, \rwd{and} returns its second argument.
The disjunction operator \rwd{or} returns its first argument
if it is different from \nil and \False;
otherwise, \rwd{or} returns its second argument.
Both \rwd{and} and \rwd{or} use \Index{short-cut evaluation},
that is,
the second operand is evaluated only if necessary.
For example,
\begin{verbatim}
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
\end{verbatim}
\subsubsection{Concatenation} \label{concat}
The string \Index{concatenation} operator in Lua is
denoted by two dots (`\verb|..|').
If both operands are strings or numbers, then they are converted to
strings according to the rules mentioned in \See{coercion}.
Otherwise, the ``concat'' metamethod is called \see{metatable}.
\subsubsection{Precedence}
\Index{Operator precedence} in Lua follows the table below,
from lower to higher priority:
\begin{verbatim}
or
and
< > <= >= ~= ==
..
+ -
* /
not - (unary)
^
\end{verbatim}
All binary operators are left associative,
except for \verb|^| (exponentiation),
which is right associative.
\NOTE
The pre-compiler may rearrange the order of evaluation of
associative operators,
and may exchange the operands of commutative operators,
as long as these optimizations do not change normal results.
However, these optimizations may change some results
if you define non-associative (or non-commutative)
metamethods for those operators.
\subsubsection{Table Constructors} \label{tableconstructor}
Table \Index{constructors} are expressions that create tables;
every time a constructor is evaluated, a new table is created.
Constructors can be used to create empty tables,
or to create a table and initialize some of its fields.
The general syntax for constructors is
\begin{Produc}
\produc{tableconstructor}{\ter{\{} \opt{fieldlist} \ter{\}}}
\produc{fieldlist}{field \rep{fieldsep field} \opt{fieldsep}}
\produc{field}{\ter{[} exp \ter{]} \ter{=} exp \Or
\Nter{Name} \ter{=} exp \Or exp}
\produc{fieldsep}{\ter{,} \Or \ter{;}}
\end{Produc}%
Each field of the form \verb|[exp1] = exp2| adds to the new table an entry
with key \verb|exp1| and value \verb|exp2|.
A field of the form \verb|name = exp| is equivalent to
\verb|["name"] = exp|.
Finally, fields of the form \verb|exp| are equivalent to
\verb|[i] = exp|, where \verb|i| are consecutive numerical integers,
starting with 1.
Fields in the other formats do not affect this counting.
For example,
\begin{verbatim}
a = {[f(1)] = g; "x", "y"; x = 1, f(x), [30] = 23; 45}
\end{verbatim}
is equivalent to
\begin{verbatim}
do
local temp = {}
temp[f(1)] = g
temp[1] = "x" -- 1st exp
temp[2] = "y" -- 2nd exp
temp.x = 1 -- temp["x"] = 1
temp[3] = f(x) -- 3rd exp
temp[30] = 23
temp[4] = 45 -- 4th exp
a = temp
end
\end{verbatim}
If the last expression in the list is a function call,
then all values returned by the call enter the list consecutively
\see{functioncall}.
If you want to avoid this,
enclose the function call in parentheses.
The field list may have an optional trailing separator,
as a convenience for machine-generated code.
\subsubsection{Function Calls} \label{functioncall}
A \Index{function call} in Lua has the following syntax:
\begin{Produc}
\produc{functioncall}{prefixexp args}
\end{Produc}%
In a function call,
first \M{prefixexp} and \M{args} are evaluated.
If the value of \M{prefixexp} has type \emph{function},
then that function is called,
with the given arguments.
Otherwise, its ``call'' metamethod is called,
having as first parameter the value of \M{prefixexp},
followed by the original call arguments
\see{metatable}.
The form
\begin{Produc}
\produc{functioncall}{prefixexp \ter{:} \Nter{name} args}
\end{Produc}%
can be used to call ``methods''.
A call \verb|v:name(...)|
is syntactic sugar for \verb|v.name(v, ...)|,
except that \verb|v| is evaluated only once.
Arguments have the following syntax:
\begin{Produc}
\produc{args}{\ter{(} \opt{explist1} \ter{)}}
\produc{args}{tableconstructor}
\produc{args}{Literal}
\end{Produc}%
All argument expressions are evaluated before the call.
A call of the form \verb|f{...}| is syntactic sugar for
\verb|f({...})|, that is,
the argument list is a single new table.
A call of the form \verb|f'...'|
(or \verb|f"..."| or \verb|f[[...]]|) is syntactic sugar for
\verb|f('...')|, that is,
the argument list is a single literal string.
Because a function can return any number of results
\see{return},
the number of results must be adjusted before they are used.
If the function is called as a statement \see{funcstat},
then its return list is adjusted to~0 elements,
thus discarding all returned values.
If the function is called inside another expression,
or in the middle of a list of expressions,
then its return list is adjusted to~1 element,
thus discarding all returned values but the first one.
If the function is called as the last element of a list of expressions,
then no adjustment is made
(unless the call is enclosed in parentheses).
Here are some examples:
\begin{verbatim}
f() -- adjusted to 0 results
g(f(), x) -- f() is adjusted to 1 result
g(x, f()) -- g gets x plus all values returned by f()
a,b,c = f(), x -- f() is adjusted to 1 result (and c gets nil)
a,b,c = x, f() -- f() is adjusted to 2
a,b,c = f() -- f() is adjusted to 3
return f() -- returns all values returned by f()
return x,y,f() -- returns x, y, and all values returned by f()
{f()} -- creates a list with all values returned by f()
{f(), nil} -- f() is adjusted to 1 result
\end{verbatim}
If you enclose a function call in parentheses,
then it is adjusted to return exactly one value:
\begin{verbatim}
return x,y,(f()) -- returns x, y, and the first value from f()
{(f())} -- creates a table with exactly one element
\end{verbatim}
As an exception to the format-free syntax of Lua,
you cannot put a line break before the \verb|(| in a function call.
That restriction avoids some ambiguities in the language.
If you write
\begin{verbatim}
a = f
(g).x(a)
\end{verbatim}
Lua would read that as \verb|a = f(g).x(a)|.
So, if you want two statements, you must add a semi-colon between them.
If you actually want to call \verb|f|,
you must remove the line break before \verb|(g)|.
\subsubsection{\Index{Function Definitions}} \label{func-def}
The syntax for function definition is\IndexKW{function}
\begin{Produc}
\produc{function}{\rwd{function} funcbody}
\produc{funcbody}{\ter{(} \opt{parlist1} \ter{)} block \rwd{end}}
\end{Produc}%
The following syntactic sugar simplifies function definitions:
\begin{Produc}
\produc{stat}{\rwd{function} funcname funcbody}
\produc{stat}{\rwd{local} \rwd{function} \Nter{name} funcbody}
\produc{funcname}{\Nter{name} \rep{\ter{.} \Nter{name}} \opt{\ter{:} \Nter{name}}}
\end{Produc}%
The statement
\begin{verbatim}
function f () ... end
\end{verbatim}
translates to
\begin{verbatim}
f = function () ... end
\end{verbatim}
The statement
\begin{verbatim}
function t.a.b.c.f () ... end
\end{verbatim}
translates to
\begin{verbatim}
t.a.b.c.f = function () ... end
\end{verbatim}
The statement
\begin{verbatim}
local function f () ... end
\end{verbatim}
translates to
\begin{verbatim}
local f; f = function () ... end
\end{verbatim}
A function definition is an executable expression,
whose value has type \emph{function}.
When Lua pre-compiles a chunk,
all its function bodies are pre-compiled too.
Then, whenever Lua executes the function definition,
the function is \emph{instantiated} (or \emph{closed}).
This function instance (or \emph{closure})
is the final value of the expression.
Different instances of the same function
may refer to different non-local variables \see{visibility}
and may have different tables of globals \see{global-table}.
Parameters act as local variables,
initialized with the argument values:
\begin{Produc}
\produc{parlist1}{namelist \opt{\ter{,} \ter{\ldots}}}
\produc{parlist1}{\ter{\ldots}}
\end{Produc}%
\label{vararg}%
When a function is called,
the list of \Index{arguments} is adjusted to
the length of the list of parameters,
unless the function is a \Def{vararg function},
which is
indicated by three dots (`\verb|...|') at the end of its parameter list.
A vararg function does not adjust its argument list;
instead, it collects all extra arguments into an implicit parameter,
called \IndexLIB{arg}.
The value of \verb|arg| is a table,
with a field~\verb|n| whose value is the number of extra arguments,
and the extra arguments at positions 1,~2,~\ldots,~\verb|n|.
As an example, consider the following definitions:
\begin{verbatim}
function f(a, b) end
function g(a, b, ...) end
function r() return 1,2,3 end
\end{verbatim}
Then, we have the following mapping from arguments to parameters:
\begin{verbatim}
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, arg={n=0}
g(3, 4) a=3, b=4, arg={n=0}
g(3, 4, 5, 8) a=3, b=4, arg={5, 8; n=2}
g(5, r()) a=5, b=1, arg={2, 3; n=2}
\end{verbatim}
Results are returned using the \rwd{return} statement \see{return}.
If control reaches the end of a function
without encountering a \rwd{return} statement,
then the function returns with no results.
The \emph{colon} syntax
is used for defining \IndexEmph{methods},
that is, functions that have an implicit extra parameter \IndexVerb{self}.
Thus, the statement
\begin{verbatim}
function t.a.b.c:f (...) ... end
\end{verbatim}
is syntactic sugar for
\begin{verbatim}
t.a.b.c.f = function (self, ...) ... end
\end{verbatim}
\subsection{Visibility Rules} \label{visibility}
\index{visibility}
Lua is a lexically scoped language.
The scope of variables begins at the first statement \emph{after}
their declaration and lasts until the end of the innermost block that
includes the declaration.
For instance:
\begin{verbatim}
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)
\end{verbatim}
Notice that, in a declaration like \verb|local x = x|,
the new \verb|x| being declared is not in scope yet,
so the second \verb|x| refers to the ``outside'' variable.
Because of those \Index{lexical scoping} rules,
local variables can be freely accessed by functions
defined inside their scope.
For instance:
\begin{verbatim}
local counter = 0
function inc (x)
counter = counter + x
return counter
end
\end{verbatim}
Notice that each execution of a \rwd{local} statement
``creates'' new local variables.
Consider the following example:
\begin{verbatim}
a = {}
local x = 20
for i=1,10 do
local y = 0
a[i] = function () y=y+1; return x+y end
end
\end{verbatim}
In that code,
each function uses a different \verb|y| variable,
while all of them share the same \verb|x|.
\subsection{Error Handling} \label{error}
Because Lua is an extension language,
all Lua actions start from C~code in the host program
calling a function from the Lua library \see{pcall}.
Whenever an error occurs during Lua compilation or execution,
control returns to C,
which can take appropriate measures
(such as to print an error message).
Lua code can explicitly generate an error by calling the
function \verb|error| \see{pdf-error}.
If you need to catch errors in Lua,
you can use the \verb|pcall| function \see{pdf-pcall}.
\subsection{Metatables} \label{metatable}
Every table and userdata value in Lua may have a \emph{metatable}.
This \IndexEmph{metatable} is a table that defines the behavior of
the original table and userdata under some operations.
You can query and change the metatable of an object with
functions \verb|setmetatable| and \verb|getmetatable| \see{pdf-getmetatable}.
For each of those operations Lua associates a specific key,
called an \emph{event}.
When Lua performs one of those operations over a table or a userdata,
if checks whether that object has a metatable with the corresponding event.
If so, the value associated with that key (the \IndexEmph{metamethod})
controls how Lua will perform the operation.
Metatables control the operations listed next.
Each operation is identified by its corresponding name.
The key for each operation is a string with its name prefixed by
two underscores;
for instance, the key for operation ``add'' is the
string \verb|"__add"|.
The semantics of these operations is better explained by a Lua function
describing how the interpreter executes that operation.
%Each function shows how a handler is called,
%its arguments (that is, its signature),
%its results,
%and the default behavior in the absence of a handler.
The code shown here in Lua is only illustrative;
the real behavior is hard coded in the interpreter,
and it is much more efficient than this simulation.
All functions used in these descriptions
(\verb|rawget|, \verb|tonumber|, etc.)
are described in \See{predefined}.
\begin{description}
\item[``add'':]\IndexTM{add}
the \verb|+| operation.
The function \verb|getbinhandler| below defines how Lua chooses a handler
for a binary operation.
First, Lua tries the first operand.
If its type does not define a handler for the operation,
then Lua tries the second operand.
\begin{verbatim}
function getbinhandler (op1, op2, event)
return metatable(op1)[event] or metatable(op2)[event]
end
\end{verbatim}
Using that function,
the behavior of the ``add'' operation is
\begin{verbatim}
function add_event (op1, op2)
local o1, o2 = tonumber(op1), tonumber(op2)
if o1 and o2 then -- both operands are numeric
return o1+o2 -- '+' here is the primitive 'add'
else -- at least one of the operands is not numeric
local h = getbinhandler(op1, op2, "__add")
if h then
-- call the handler with both operands
return h(op1, op2)
else -- no handler available: default behavior
error("unexpected type at arithmetic operation")
end
end
end
\end{verbatim}
\item[``sub'':]\IndexTM{sub}
the \verb|-| operation.
Behavior similar to the ``add'' operation.
\item[``mul'':]\IndexTM{mul}
the \verb|*| operation.
Behavior similar to the ``add'' operation.
\item[``div'':]\IndexTM{div}
the \verb|/| operation.
Behavior similar to the ``add'' operation.
\item[``pow'':]\IndexTM{pow}
the \verb|^| operation (exponentiation) operation.
\begin{verbatim} ??
function pow_event (op1, op2)
local h = getbinhandler(op1, op2, "__pow") ???
if h then
-- call the handler with both operands
return h(op1, op2)
else -- no handler available: default behavior
error("unexpected type at arithmetic operation")
end
end
\end{verbatim}
\item[``unm'':]\IndexTM{unm}
the unary \verb|-| operation.
\begin{verbatim}
function unm_event (op)
local o = tonumber(op)
if o then -- operand is numeric
return -o -- '-' here is the primitive 'unm'
else -- the operand is not numeric.
-- Try to get a handler from the operand;
local h = metatable(op).__unm
if h then
-- call the handler with the operand and nil
return h(op, nil)
else -- no handler available: default behavior
error("unexpected type at arithmetic operation")
end
end
end
\end{verbatim}
\item[``lt'':]\IndexTM{lt}
the \verb|<| operation.
\begin{verbatim}
function lt_event (op1, op2)
if type(op1) == "number" and type(op2) == "number" then
return op1 < op2 -- numeric comparison
elseif type(op1) == "string" and type(op2) == "string" then
return op1 < op2 -- lexicographic comparison
else
local h = getbinhandler(op1, op2, "__lt")
if h then
return h(op1, op2)
else
error("unexpected type at comparison");
end
end
end
\end{verbatim}
\verb|a>b| is equivalent to \verb|b<a|.
\item[``le'':]\IndexTM{lt}
the \verb|<=| operation.
\begin{verbatim}
function lt_event (op1, op2)
if type(op1) == "number" and type(op2) == "number" then
return op1 < op2 -- numeric comparison
elseif type(op1) == "string" and type(op2) == "string" then
return op1 < op2 -- lexicographic comparison
else
local h = getbinhandler(op1, op2, "__le")
if h then
return h(op1, op2)
else
h = getbinhandler(op1, op2, "__lt")
if h then
return not h(op2, op1)
else
error("unexpected type at comparison");
end
end
end
end
\end{verbatim}
\verb|a>=b| is equivalent to \verb|b<=a|.
Notice that, in the absence of a ``le'' metamethod,
Lua tries the ``lt'', assuming that \verb|a<=b| is
equivalent to \verb|not (b<a)|.
\item[``concat'':]\IndexTM{concatenation}
the \verb|..| (concatenation) operation.
\begin{verbatim}
function concat_event (op1, op2)
if (type(op1) == "string" or type(op1) == "number") and
(type(op2) == "string" or type(op2) == "number") then
return op1..op2 -- primitive string concatenation
else
local h = getbinhandler(op1, op2, "__concat")
if h then
return h(op1, op2)
else
error("unexpected type for concatenation")
end
end
end
\end{verbatim}
\item[``index'':]\IndexTM{index}
This handler is called when Lua tries to retrieve the value of an index
not present in a table.
See the ``gettable'' operation for its semantics.
\item[``gettable'':]\IndexTM{gettable}
called whenever Lua accesses an indexed variable.
\begin{verbatim}
function gettable_event (table, key)
local h
if type(table) == "table" then
local v = rawget(table, key)
if v ~= nil then return v end
h = metatable(table).__index
if h == nil then return nil end
else
h = metatable(table).__gettable
if h == nil then
error("indexed expression not a table");
end
end
if type(h) == "function" then
return h(table, key) -- call the handler
else return h[key] -- or repeat operation with it
end
\end{verbatim}
\item[``newindex'':]\IndexTM{index}
This handler is called when Lua tries to insert the value of an index
not present in a table.
See the ``settable'' operation for its semantics.
\item[``settable'':]\IndexTM{settable}
called when Lua assigns to an indexed variable.
\begin{verbatim}
function settable_event (table, key, value)
local h
if type(table) == "table" then
local v = rawget(table, key)
if v ~= nil then rawset(table, key, value); return end
h = metatable(table).__newindex
if h == nil then rawset(table, key, value); return end
else
h = metatable(table).__settable
if h == nil then
error("indexed expression not a table");
end
end
if type(h) == "function" then
return h(table, key,value) -- call the handler
else h[key] = value -- or repeat operation with it
end
\end{verbatim}
\item[``call'':]\IndexTM{call}
called when Lua calls a value.
\begin{verbatim}
function function_event (func, ...)
if type(func) == "function" then
return func(unpack(arg)) -- regular call
else
local h = metatable(func).__call
if h then
tinsert(arg, 1, func)
return h(unpack(arg))
else
error("call expression not a function")
end
end
end
\end{verbatim}
\end{description}
\subsubsection{Metatables and Garbage collection}
Metatables may also define \IndexEmph{finalizer} methods
for userdata values.
For each userdata to be collected,
Lua does the equivalent of the following function:
\begin{verbatim}
function gc_event (obj)
local h = metatable(obj).__gc
if h then
h(obj)
end
end
\end{verbatim}
In a garbage-collection cycle,
the finalizers for userdata are called in \emph{reverse}
order of their creation,
that is, the first finalizer to be called is the one associated
with the last userdata created in the program
(among those to be collected in the same cycle).
%------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\section{The Application Program Interface}\label{API}
\index{C API}
This section describes the 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 \verb|lua.h|.
\NOTE
Even when we use the term ``function'',
any facility in the API may be provided as a \emph{macro} instead.
All such macros use each of its arguments exactly once
(except for the first argument, which is always a Lua state),
and so do not generate hidden side-effects.
\subsection{States} \label{mangstate}
The Lua library is fully reentrant:
it has no global variables.
\index{state}
The whole state of the Lua interpreter
(global variables, stack, tag methods, etc.)\
is stored in a dynamically allocated structure of type \verb|lua_State|;
\DefAPI{lua_State}
this state must be passed as the first argument to
every function in the library (except \verb|lua_open| below).
Before calling any API function,
you must create a state by calling
\begin{verbatim}
lua_State *lua_open (void);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_open}
To release a state created with \verb|lua_open|, call
\begin{verbatim}
void lua_close (lua_State *L);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_close}
This function destroys all objects in the given Lua environment
(calling the corresponding garbage-collection metamethods, if any)
and frees all dynamic memory used by that state.
Usually, you do not need to call this function,
because all resources are naturally released when your program ends.
On the other hand,
long-running programs ---
like a daemon or a web server ---
might need to release states as soon as they are not needed,
to avoid growing too large.
With the exception of \verb|lua_open|,
all functions in the Lua API need a state as their first argument.
\subsection{Threads}
Lua offers a partial support for multiple threads of execution.
If you have a C~library that offers multi-threading,
then Lua can cooperate with it to implement the equivalent facility in Lua.
Also, Lua implements its own coroutine system on top of threads.
The following function creates a new ``thread'' in Lua:
\begin{verbatim}
lua_State *lua_newthread (lua_State *L);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_newthread}
The new state returned by this function shares with the original state
all global environment (such as tables, tag methods, etc.),
but has an independent run-time stack.
(The use of these multiple stacks must be ``syncronized'' with C.
How to explain that? TO BE WRITTEN.)
Each thread has an independent table for global variables.
When you create a thread, this table is the same as that of the given state,
but you can change each one independently.
You destroy threads with \DefAPI{lua_closethread}
\begin{verbatim}
void lua_closethread (lua_State *L, lua_State *thread);
\end{verbatim}
You cannot close the sole (or last) thread of a state.
Instead, you must close the state itself.
\subsection{The Stack and Indices}
Lua uses a virtual \emph{stack} to pass values to and from C.
Each element in this stack represents a Lua value
(\nil, number, string, etc.).
Each C invocation has its own stack.
Whenever Lua calls C, the called function gets a new stack,
which is independent of previous stacks or of stacks of still
active C functions.
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 \emph{index}:
A positive index represents an \emph{absolute} stack position
(starting at~1);
a negative index represents an \emph{offset} from the top of the stack.
More specifically, if the stack has \M{n} elements,
then index~1 represents the first element
(that is, the element that was pushed onto the stack first),
and
index~\M{n} represents the last element;
index~\Math{-1} also represents the last element
(that is, the element at the top),
and index \Math{-n} represents the first element.
We say that an index is \emph{valid}
if it lies between~1 and the stack top
(that is, if \verb|1 <= abs(index) <= top|).
\index{stack index} \index{valid index}
At any time, you can get the index of the top element by calling
\begin{verbatim}
int lua_gettop (lua_State *L);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_gettop}
Because indices start at~1,
the result of \verb|lua_gettop| is equal to the number of elements in the stack
(and so 0~means an empty stack).
When you interact with Lua API,
\emph{you are responsible for controlling stack overflow}.
The function
\begin{verbatim}
int lua_checkstack (lua_State *L, int extra);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_checkstack}
grows the stack size to \verb|top + extra| elements;
it returns false if it cannot grow the stack to that size.
This function never shrinks the stack;
if the stack is already bigger than the new size,
it is left unchanged.
Whenever Lua calls C, \DefAPI{LUA_MINSTACK}
it ensures that \verb|lua_checkstack(L, LUA_MINSTACK)| is true,
that is,
at least \verb|LUA_MINSTACK| positions are still available.
\verb|LUA_MINSTACK| is defined in \verb|lua.h| as 20,
so that usually you do not have to worry about stack space
unless your code has loops pushing elements onto the stack.
Most query functions accept as indices any value inside the
available stack space, that is, indices up to the maximum stack size
you (or Lua) have set through \verb|lua_checkstack|.
Such indices are called \emph{acceptable indices}.
More formally, we define an \IndexEmph{acceptable index}
as follows:
\begin{verbatim}
(index < 0 && abs(index) <= top) || (index > 0 && index <= top + stackspace)
\end{verbatim}
Note that 0 is never an acceptable index.
Unless otherwise noticed,
any function that accepts valid indices can also be called with
\Index{pseudo-indices},
which represent some Lua values that are accessible to the C~code
but are not in the stack.
Pseudo-indices are used to access the table of globals \see{globals},
the registry, and the upvalues of a C function \see{c-closure}.
\subsection{Stack Manipulation}
The API offers the following functions for basic stack manipulation:
\begin{verbatim}
void lua_settop (lua_State *L, int index);
void lua_pushvalue (lua_State *L, int index);
void lua_remove (lua_State *L, int index);
void lua_insert (lua_State *L, int index);
void lua_replace (lua_State *L, int index);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_settop}\DefAPI{lua_pushvalue}
\DefAPI{lua_remove}\DefAPI{lua_insert}\DefAPI{lua_replace}
\verb|lua_settop| accepts any acceptable index,
or 0,
and sets the stack top to that index.
If the new top is larger than the old one,
then the new elements are filled with \nil.
If \verb|index| is 0, then all stack elements are removed.
A useful macro defined in the \verb|lua.h| is
\begin{verbatim}
#define lua_pop(L,n) lua_settop(L, -(n)-1)
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_pop}
which pops \verb|n| elements from the stack.
\verb|lua_pushvalue| pushes onto the stack a copy of the element
at the given index.
\verb|lua_remove| removes the element at the given position,
shifting down the elements above that position to fill the gap.
\verb|lua_insert| moves the top element into the given position,
shifting up the elements above that position to open space.
\verb|lua_replace| moves the top element into the given position,
without shifting any element (therefore replacing the value at
the given position).
These functions accept only valid indices.
(Obviously, you cannot call \verb|lua_remove| or \verb|lua_insert| with
pseudo-indices, as they do not represent a stack position.)
As an example, if the stack starts as \verb|10 20 30 40 50*|
(from bottom to top; the \verb|*| marks the top),
then
\begin{verbatim}
lua_pushvalue(L, 3) --> 10 20 30 40 50 30*
lua_pushvalue(L, -1) --> 10 20 30 40 50 30 30*
lua_remove(L, -3) --> 10 20 30 40 30 30*
lua_remove(L, 6) --> 10 20 30 40 30*
lua_insert(L, 1) --> 30 10 20 30 40*
lua_insert(L, -1) --> 30 10 20 30 40* (no effect)
lua_replace(L, 2) --> 30 40 20 30*
lua_settop(L, -3) --> 30 40 20*
lua_settop(L, 6) --> 30 40 20 nil nil nil*
\end{verbatim}
\subsection{Querying the Stack}
To check the type of a stack element,
the following functions are available:
\begin{verbatim}
int lua_type (lua_State *L, int index);
int lua_isnil (lua_State *L, int index);
int lua_isboolean (lua_State *L, int index);
int lua_isnumber (lua_State *L, int index);
int lua_isstring (lua_State *L, int index);
int lua_istable (lua_State *L, int index);
int lua_isfunction (lua_State *L, int index);
int lua_iscfunction (lua_State *L, int index);
int lua_isuserdata (lua_State *L, int index);
int lua_isdataval (lua_State *L, int index);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_type}
\DefAPI{lua_isnil}\DefAPI{lua_isnumber}\DefAPI{lua_isstring}
\DefAPI{lua_istable}\DefAPI{lua_isboolean}
\DefAPI{lua_isfunction}\DefAPI{lua_iscfunction}
\DefAPI{lua_isuserdata}\DefAPI{lua_isdataval}
These functions can be called with any acceptable index.
\verb|lua_type| returns the type of a value in the stack,
or \verb|LUA_TNONE| for a non-valid index
(that is, if that stack position is ``empty'').
The types are coded by the following constants
defined in \verb|lua.h|:
\verb|LUA_TNIL|,
\verb|LUA_TNUMBER|,
\verb|LUA_TBOOLEAN|,
\verb|LUA_TSTRING|,
\verb|LUA_TTABLE|,
\verb|LUA_TFUNCTION|,
\verb|LUA_TUSERDATA|,
\verb|LUA_TLIGHTUSERDATA|.
The following function translates such constants to a type name:
\begin{verbatim}
const char *lua_typename (lua_State *L, int type);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_typename}
The \verb|lua_is*| functions return~1 if the object is compatible
with the given type, and 0 otherwise.
\verb|lua_isboolean| is an exception to this rule,
and it succeeds only for boolean values
(otherwise it would be useless,
as any value is compatible with a boolean).
They always return 0 for a non-valid index.
\verb|lua_isnumber| accepts numbers and numerical strings,
\verb|lua_isstring| accepts strings and numbers \see{coercion},
and \verb|lua_isfunction| accepts both Lua functions and C~functions.
To distinguish between Lua functions and C~functions,
you should use \verb|lua_iscfunction|.
To distinguish between numbers and numerical strings,
you can use \verb|lua_type|.
The API also has functions to compare two values in the stack:
\begin{verbatim}
int lua_equal (lua_State *L, int index1, int index2);
int lua_lessthan (lua_State *L, int index1, int index2);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_equal} \DefAPI{lua_lessthan}
These functions are equivalent to their counterparts in Lua \see{rel-ops}.
Both functions return 0 if any of the indices are non-valid.
\subsection{Getting Values from the Stack}\label{lua-to}
To translate a value in the stack to a specific C~type,
you can use the following conversion functions:
\begin{verbatim}
int lua_toboolean (lua_State *L, int index);
lua_Number lua_tonumber (lua_State *L, int index);
const char *lua_tostring (lua_State *L, int index);
size_t lua_strlen (lua_State *L, int index);
lua_CFunction lua_tocfunction (lua_State *L, int index);
void *lua_touserdata (lua_State *L, int index);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_tonumber}\DefAPI{lua_tostring}\DefAPI{lua_strlen}
\DefAPI{lua_tocfunction}\DefAPI{lua_touserdata}\DefAPI{lua_toboolean}
These functions can be called with any acceptable index.
When called with a non-valid index,
they act as if the given value had an incorrect type.
\verb|lua_toboolean| converts the Lua value at the given index
to a C ``boolean'' value (that is, 0 or 1).
Like all tests in Lua, it returns 1 for any Lua value different from
\False{} and \nil;
otherwise it returns 0.
It also returns 0 when called with a non-valid index.
(If you want to accept only real boolean values,
use \verb|lua_isboolean| to test the type of the value.)
\verb|lua_tonumber| converts the Lua value at the given index
to a number (by default, \verb|lua_Number| is \verb|double|).
\DefAPI{lua_Number}
The Lua value must be a number or a string convertible to number
\see{coercion}; otherwise, \verb|lua_tonumber| returns~0.
\verb|lua_tostring| converts the Lua value at the given index to a string
(\verb|const char*|).
The Lua value must be a string or a number;
otherwise, the function returns \verb|NULL|.
If the value is a number,
then \verb|lua_tostring| also
\emph{changes the actual value in the stack to a string}.
(This change confuses \verb|lua_next|
when \verb|lua_tostring| is applied to keys.)
\verb|lua_tostring| returns a fully aligned pointer
to a string inside the Lua environment.
This string always has a zero (\verb|'\0'|)
after its last character (as in~C),
but may contain other zeros in its body.
If you do not know whether a string may contain zeros,
you can use \verb|lua_strlen| to get its actual length.
Because Lua has garbage collection,
there is no guarantee that the pointer returned by \verb|lua_tostring|
will be valid after the corresponding value is removed from the stack.
So, if you need the string after the current function returns,
then you should duplicate it (or put it into the registry \see{registry}).
\verb|lua_tocfunction| converts a value in the stack to a C~function.
This value must be a C~function;
otherwise, \verb|lua_tocfunction| returns \verb|NULL|.
The type \verb|lua_CFunction| is explained in \See{LuacallC}.
\verb|lua_touserdata| is explained in \See{userdata}.
\subsection{Pushing Values onto the Stack}
The API has the following functions to
push C~values onto the stack:
\begin{verbatim}
void lua_pushboolean (lua_State *L, int b);
void lua_pushnumber (lua_State *L, lua_Number n);
void lua_pushlstring (lua_State *L, const char *s, size_t len);
void lua_pushstring (lua_State *L, const char *s);
void lua_pushnil (lua_State *L);
void lua_pushcfunction (lua_State *L, lua_CFunction f);
void lua_pushlightuserdata (lua_State *L, void *p);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_pushnumber}\DefAPI{lua_pushlstring}\DefAPI{lua_pushstring}
\DefAPI{lua_pushcfunction}\DefAPI{lua_pushlightuserdata}\DefAPI{lua_pushboolean}
\DefAPI{lua_pushnil}\label{pushing}
These functions receive a C~value,
convert it to a corresponding Lua value,
and push the result onto the stack.
In particular, \verb|lua_pushlstring| and \verb|lua_pushstring|
make an internal copy of the given string.
\verb|lua_pushstring| can only be used to push proper C~strings
(that is, strings that end with a zero and do not contain embedded zeros);
otherwise, you should use the more general \verb|lua_pushlstring|,
which accepts an explicit size.
You can also push ``formatted'' strings:
\begin{verbatim}
const char *lua_pushfstring (lua_State *L, const char *fmt, ...);
const char *lua_pushvfstring (lua_State *L, const char *fmt,
va_list argp);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_pushfstring}\DefAPI{lua_pushvfstring}
Both functions push onto the stack a formatted string,
and return a pointer to that string.
These functions are similar to \verb|sprintf| and \verb|vsprintf|,
but with some important differences:
\begin{itemize}
\item You do not have to allocate the space for the result;
the result is a Lua string, and Lua takes care of memory allocation
(and deallocation, later).
\item The conversion specifiers are quite restricted.
There are no flags, widths, or precisions.
The conversion specifiers can be simply
\verb|%%| (inserts a \verb|%| in the string),
\verb|%s| (inserts a zero-terminated string, with no size restrictions),
\verb|%f| (inserts a \verb|lua_Number|),
\verb|%d| (inserts an \verb|int|),
\verb|%c| (inserts an \verb|int| as a character).
\end{itemize}
\subsection{Controlling Garbage Collection}\label{GC-API}
Lua uses two numbers to control its garbage collection:
the \emph{count} and the \emph{threshold} \see{GC}.
The first counts the ammount of memory in use by Lua;
when the count reaches the threshold,
Lua runs its garbage collector.
After the collection, the count is updated,
and the threshold is set to twice the count value.
You can access the current values of these two numbers through the
following functions:
\begin{verbatim}
int lua_getgccount (lua_State *L);
int lua_getgcthreshold (lua_State *L);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_getgcthreshold} \DefAPI{lua_getgccount}
Both return their respective values in Kbytes.
You can change the threshold value with
\begin{verbatim}
void lua_setgcthreshold (lua_State *L, int newthreshold);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_setgcthreshold}
Again, the \verb|newthreshold| value is given in Kbytes.
When you call this function,
Lua sets the new threshold and checks it against the byte counter.
If the new threshold is smaller than the byte counter,
then Lua immediately runs the garbage collector.
In particular
\verb|lua_setgcthreshold(L,0)| forces a garbage collectiion.
After the collection,
a new threshold is set according to the previous rule.
%% TODO do we need a new way to do that??
% If you want to change the adaptive behavior of the garbage collector,
% you can use the garbage-collection tag method for \nil{} %
% to set your own threshold
% (the tag method is called after Lua resets the threshold).
\subsection{Userdata}\label{userdata}
Userdata represents C values in Lua.
Lua supports two types of userdata:
\Def{full userdata} and \Def{light userdata}.
A full userdata represents a block of memory.
It is an object (like a table):
You must create it, it can have its own metatable,
you can detect when it is being collected.
A full userdata is only equal to itself.
A light userdata represents a pointer.
It is a value (like a number):
You do not create it, it has no metatables,
it is not collected (as it was never created).
A light userdata is equal to ``any''
light userdata with the same address.
In Lua code, there is no way to test whether a userdata is full or light;
both have type \verb|userdata|.
In C code, \verb|lua_type| returns \verb|LUA_TUSERDATA| for full userdata,
and \verb|LUA_LIGHTUSERDATA| for light userdata.
You can create new full userdata with the following function:
\begin{verbatim}
void *lua_newuserdata (lua_State *L, size_t size);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_newuserdata}
It allocates a new block of memory with the given size,
pushes on the stack a new userdata with the block address,
and returns this address.
To push a light userdata into the stack you use
\verb|lua_pushlightuserdata| \see{pushing}.
\verb|lua_touserdata| \see{lua-to} retrieves the value of a userdata.
When applied on a full userdata, it returns the address of its block;
when applied on a light userdata, it returns its pointer;
when applied on a non-userdata value, it returns \verb|NULL|.
When Lua collects a full userdata,
it calls its \verb|gc| metamethod, if any,
and then it frees its corresponding memory.
\subsection{Metatables}
The following functions allow you do manipulate the metatables
of an object:
\begin{verbatim}
int lua_getmetatable (lua_State *L, int objindex);
int lua_setmetatable (lua_State *L, int objindex);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_getmetatable}\DefAPI{lua_setmetatable}
Both get at \verb|objindex| a valid index for an object.
\verb|lua_getmetatable| pushes on the stack the metatable of that object;
\verb|lua_setmetatable| sets the table on the top of the stack as the
new metatable for that object (and pops the table).
If the object does not have a metatable,
\verb|lua_getmetatable| returns 0, and pushes nothing on the stack.
\verb|lua_setmetatable| returns 0 when it cannot
set the metatable of the given object
(that is, when the object is not a userdata nor a table);
even then it pops the table from the stack.
\subsection{Loading Lua Chunks}
You can load a Lua chunk with
\begin{verbatim}
typedef const char * (*lua_Chunkreader)
(lua_State *L, void *data, size_t *size);
int lua_load (lua_State *L, lua_Chunkreader reader, void *data,
const char *chunkname);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{Chunkreader}\DefAPI{lua_load}
\verb|lua_load| uses the \emph{reader} to read the chunk.
Everytime it needs another piece of the chunk,
it calls the reader,
passing along its \verb|data| parameter.
The reader must return a pointer to a block of memory
with a new part of the chunk,
and set \verb|size| to the block size.
To signal the end of the chunk, the reader must return \verb|NULL|.
The reader function may return pieces of any size greater than zero.
In the current implementation,
the reader function cannot call any Lua function;
to ensure that, it always receives \verb|NULL| as the Lua state.
\verb|lua_load| automatically detects whether the chunk is text or binary,
and loads it accordingly (see program \IndexVerb{luac}).
The return values of \verb|lua_load| are:
\begin{itemize}
\item 0 --- no errors;
\item \IndexAPI{LUA_ERRSYNTAX} ---
syntax error during pre-compilation.
\item \IndexAPI{LUA_ERRMEM} ---
memory allocation error.
\end{itemize}
If there are no errors,
the compiled chunk is pushed as a Lua function on top of the stack.
Otherwise, an error message is pushed.
The \emph{chunkname} is used for error messages
and debug information \see{debugI}.
See the auxiliar library (\verb|lauxlib|)
for examples of how to use \verb|lua_load|,
and for some ready-to-use functions to load chunks
from files and from strings.
\subsection{Manipulating Tables}
Tables are created by calling
the function
\begin{verbatim}
void lua_newtable (lua_State *L);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_newtable}
This function creates a new, empty table and pushes it onto the stack.
To read a value from a table that resides somewhere in the stack,
call
\begin{verbatim}
void lua_gettable (lua_State *L, int index);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_gettable}
where \verb|index| points to the table.
\verb|lua_gettable| pops a key from the stack
and returns (on the stack) the contents of the table at that key.
The table is left where it was in the stack;
this is convenient for getting multiple values from a table.
As in Lua, this function may trigger a metamethod
for the ``gettable'' or ``index'' events \see{metatable}.
To get the real value of any table key,
without invoking any metamethod,
use the \emph{raw} version:
\begin{verbatim}
void lua_rawget (lua_State *L, int index);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_rawget}
To store a value into a table that resides somewhere in the stack,
you push the key and the value onto the stack
(in this order),
and then call
\begin{verbatim}
void lua_settable (lua_State *L, int index);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_settable}
where \verb|index| points to the table.
\verb|lua_settable| pops from the stack both the key and the value.
The table is left where it was in the stack;
this is convenient for setting multiple values in a table.
As in Lua, this operation may trigger a metamethod
for the ``settable'' or ``newindex'' events.
To set the real value of any table index,
without invoking any metamethod,
use the \emph{raw} version:
\begin{verbatim}
void lua_rawset (lua_State *L, int index);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_rawset}
You can traverse a table with the function
\begin{verbatim}
int lua_next (lua_State *L, int index);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_next}
where \verb|index| points to the table to be traversed.
The function pops a key from the stack,
and pushes a key-value pair from the table
(the ``next'' pair after the given key).
If there are no more elements, then \verb|lua_next| returns 0
(and pushes nothing).
Use a \nil{} key to signal the start of a traversal.
A typical traversal looks like this:
\begin{verbatim}
/* table is in the stack at index `t' */
lua_pushnil(L); /* first key */
while (lua_next(L, t) != 0) {
/* `key' is 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)));
lua_pop(L, 1); /* removes `value'; keeps `key' for next iteration */
}
\end{verbatim}
NOTE:
While traversing a table,
do not call \verb|lua_tostring| on a key,
unless you know the key is actually a string.
Recall that \verb|lua_tostring| \emph{changes} the value at the given index;
this confuses the next call to \verb|lua_next|.
\subsection{Manipulating Global Variables} \label{globals}
All global variables are kept in an ordinary Lua table.
This table is always at pseudo-index \IndexAPI{LUA_GLOBALSINDEX}.
To access and change the value of global variables,
you can use regular table operations over the global table.
For instance, to access the value of a global variable, do
\begin{verbatim}
lua_pushstring(L, varname);
lua_gettable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX);
\end{verbatim}
You can change the global table of a Lua thread using \verb|lua_replace|.
\subsection{Using Tables as Arrays}
The API has functions that help to use Lua tables as arrays,
that is,
tables indexed by numbers only:
\begin{verbatim}
void lua_rawgeti (lua_State *L, int index, int n);
void lua_rawseti (lua_State *L, int index, int n);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_rawgeti}
\DefAPI{lua_rawseti}
\verb|lua_rawgeti| pushes the value of the \M{n}-th element of the table
at stack position \verb|index|.
\verb|lua_rawseti| sets the value of the \M{n}-th element of the table
at stack position \verb|index| to the value at the top of the stack,
removing this value from the stack.
\subsection{Calling Functions}
Functions defined in Lua
and C~functions registered in Lua
can be called from the host program.
This is done using the following protocol:
First, the function to be called is pushed onto the stack;
then, the arguments to the function are pushed
in \emph{direct order}, that is, the first argument is pushed first.
Finally, the function is called using
\begin{verbatim}
void lua_call (lua_State *L, int nargs, int nresults);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_call}
\verb|nargs| is the number of arguments that you pushed onto the stack.
All arguments and the function value are popped from the stack,
and the function results are pushed.
The number of results are adjusted to \verb|nresults|,
unless \verb|nresults| is \IndexAPI{LUA_MULTRET}.
In that case, \emph{all} results from the function are pushed.
Lua takes care that the returned values fit into the stack space.
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.
The following example shows how the host program may do the
equivalent to the Lua code:
\begin{verbatim}
a = f("how", t.x, 14)
\end{verbatim}
Here it is in~C:
\begin{verbatim}
lua_pushstring(L, "t");
lua_gettable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX); /* global `t' (for later use) */
lua_pushstring(L, "a"); /* var name */
lua_pushstring(L, "f"); /* function name */
lua_gettable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX); /* function to be called */
lua_pushstring(L, "how"); /* 1st argument */
lua_pushstring(L, "x"); /* push the string "x" */
lua_gettable(L, -5); /* push result of t.x (2nd arg) */
lua_pushnumber(L, 14); /* 3rd argument */
lua_call(L, 3, 1); /* call function with 3 arguments and 1 result */
lua_settable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX); /* set global variable `a' */
lua_pop(L, 1); /* remove `t' from the stack */
\end{verbatim}
Notice that the code above is ``balanced'':
at its end, the stack is back to its original configuration.
This is considered good programming practice.
(We did this example using only the raw functions provided by Lua's API,
to show all the details.
Usually programmers use several macros and auxiliar functions that
provide higher level access to Lua.)
\subsection{Protected Calls}\label{pcall}
When you call a function with \verb|lua_call|,
any error inside the called function is propagated upwards
(with a \verb|longjmp|).
If you need to handle errors,
then you should use \verb|lua_pcall|:
\begin{verbatim}
int lua_pcall (lua_State *L, int nargs, int nresults, int errfunc);
\end{verbatim}
Both \verb|nargs| and \verb|nresults| have the same meaning as
in \verb|lua_call|.
If there are no errors during the call,
\verb|lua_pcall| behaves exactly like \verb|lua_call|.
Like \verb|lua_call|,
\verb|lua_pcall| always removes the function
and its arguments from the stack.
However, if there is any error,
\verb|lua_pcall| catches it,
pushes a single value at the stack (the error message),
and returns an error code.
If \verb|errfunc| is 0,
then the error message returned is exactly the original error message.
Otherwise, \verb|errfunc| gives the stack index for an
\emph{error handler function}.
(In the current implementation, that index cannot be a pseudo-index.)
In case of runtime errors,
that function will be called with the error message,
and its return value will be the message returned by \verb|lua_pcall|.
Typically, the error handler function is used to add more debug
information to the error message, such as a stack traceback.
Such information cannot be gathered after the return of \verb|lua_pcall|,
since by then the stack has unwound.
The \verb|lua_pcall| function returns 0 in case of success,
or one of the following error codes
(defined in \verb|lua.h|):
\begin{itemize}
\item \IndexAPI{LUA_ERRRUN} --- a runtime error.
\item \IndexAPI{LUA_ERRMEM} --- memory allocation error.
For such errors, Lua does not call the error handler function.
\item \IndexAPI{LUA_ERRERR} ---
error while running the error handler function.
\end{itemize}
\medskip
>>>>
%% TODO: mover essas 2 para algum lugar melhor.
Some special Lua functions have their own C~interfaces.
The host program can generate a Lua error calling the function
\begin{verbatim}
void lua_error (lua_State *L, const char *message);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_error}
This function never returns.
If \verb|lua_error| is called from a C~function that has been called from Lua,
then the corresponding Lua execution terminates,
as if an error had occurred inside Lua code.
Otherwise, the whole host program terminates with a call to
\verb|exit(EXIT_FAILURE)|.
Before terminating execution,
the \verb|message| is passed to the error handler function,
\verb|_ERRORMESSAGE| \see{error}.
If \verb|message| is \verb|NULL|,
then \verb|_ERRORMESSAGE| is not called.
The function
\begin{verbatim}
void lua_concat (lua_State *L, int n);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_concat}
concatenates the \verb|n| values at the top of the stack,
pops them, and leaves the result at the top.
If \verb|n| is 1, the result is that single string
(that is, the function does nothing);
if \verb|n| is 0, the result is the empty string.
Concatenation is done following the usual semantics of Lua
\see{concat}.
\subsection{Defining C Functions} \label{LuacallC}
Lua can be extended with functions written in~C.
These functions must be of type \verb|lua_CFunction|,
which is defined as
\begin{verbatim}
typedef int (*lua_CFunction) (lua_State *L);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_CFunction}
A C~function receives a Lua environment and returns an integer,
the number of values it has returned to Lua.
In order to communicate properly with Lua,
a C~function must follow the following protocol,
which defines the way parameters and results are passed:
A C~function receives its arguments from Lua in the stack,
in direct order (the first argument is pushed first).
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.
Like a Lua function, a C~function called by Lua can also return
many results.
As an example, the following function receives a variable number
of numerical arguments and returns their average and sum:
\begin{verbatim}
static int foo (lua_State *L) {
int n = lua_gettop(L); /* number of arguments */
lua_Number sum = 0;
int i;
for (i = 1; i <= n; i++) {
if (!lua_isnumber(L, i)) {
lua_pushstring(L, "incorrect argument to function `average'");
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 */
}
\end{verbatim}
To register a C~function to Lua,
there is the following convenience macro:
\begin{verbatim}
#define lua_register(L,n,f) \
(lua_pushstring(L, n), \
lua_pushcfunction(L, f), \
lua_settable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX))
/* const char *n; */
/* lua_CFunction f; */
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_register}
which receives the name the function will have in Lua,
and a pointer to the function.
Thus,
the C~function `\verb|foo|' above may be registered in Lua as `\verb|average|'
by calling
\begin{verbatim}
lua_register(L, "average", foo);
\end{verbatim}
\subsection{Defining C Closures} \label{c-closure}
When a C~function is created,
it is possible to associate some values to it,
thus creating a \IndexEmph{C~closure};
these values are then accessible to the function whenever it is called.
To associate values to a C~function,
first these values should be pushed onto the stack
(when there are multiple values, the first value is pushed first).
Then the function
\begin{verbatim}
void lua_pushcclosure (lua_State *L, lua_CFunction fn, int n);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_pushcclosure}
is used to push the C~function onto the stack,
with the argument \verb|n| telling how many values should be
associated with the function
(\verb|lua_pushcclosure| also pops these values from the stack);
in fact, the macro \verb|lua_pushcfunction| is defined as
\verb|lua_pushcclosure| with \verb|n| set to 0.
Then, whenever the C~function is called,
those values are located at specific pseudo-indices.
Those pseudo-indices are produced by a macro \IndexAPI{lua_upvalueindex}.
The first value associated with a function is at position
\verb|lua_upvalueindex(1)|, and so on.
For examples of C~functions and closures, see files
\verb|lbaselib.c|, \verb|liolib.c|, \verb|lmathlib.c|, and \verb|lstrlib.c|
in the official Lua distribution.
\subsubsection*{Registry} \label{registry}
Lua provides a pre-defined table that can be used by any C~code to
store whatever Lua value it needs to store,
especially if the C~code needs to keep that Lua value
outside the life span of a C~function.
This table is always located at pseudo-index
\IndexAPI{LUA_REGISTRYINDEX}.
Any C~library can store data into this table,
as long as it chooses keys different from other libraries.
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.
The integer keys in the registry are used by the reference mechanism,
implemented by the auxiliar library,
and therefore should not be used by other purposes.
%------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\section{The Debug Interface} \label{debugI}
Lua has no built-in debugging facilities.
Instead, it offers a special interface,
by means of functions and \emph{hooks},
which allows the construction of different
kinds of debuggers, profilers, and other tools
that need ``inside information'' from the interpreter.
\subsection{Stack and Function Information}
The main function to get information about the interpreter stack is
\begin{verbatim}
int lua_getstack (lua_State *L, int level, lua_Debug *ar);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_getstack}
This function fills parts of a \verb|lua_Debug| structure with
an identification of the \emph{activation record}
of the function executing at a given level.
Level~0 is the current running function,
whereas level \Math{n+1} is the function that has called level \Math{n}.
Usually, \verb|lua_getstack| returns 1;
when called with a level greater than the stack depth,
it returns 0.
The structure \verb|lua_Debug| is used to carry different pieces of
information about an active function:
\begin{verbatim}
typedef struct lua_Debug {
lua_Hookevent event;
const char *name; /* (n) */
const char *namewhat; /* (n) `global', `local', `field', `method' */
const char *what; /* (S) `Lua' function, `C' function, Lua `main' */
const char *source; /* (S) */
int currentline; /* (l) */
int nups; /* (u) number of upvalues */
int linedefined; /* (S) */
char short_src[LUA_IDSIZE]; /* (S) */
/* private part */
...
} lua_Debug;
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_Debug}
\verb|lua_getstack| fills only the private part
of this structure, for future use.
To fill the other fields of \verb|lua_Debug| with useful information,
call
\begin{verbatim}
int lua_getinfo (lua_State *L, const char *what, lua_Debug *ar);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_getinfo}
This function returns 0 on error
(for instance, an invalid option in \verb|what|).
Each character in the string \verb|what|
selects some fields of \verb|ar| to be filled,
as indicated by the letter in parentheses in the definition of \verb|lua_Debug|
above:
`\verb|S|' fills in the fields \verb|source|, \verb|linedefined|,
and \verb|what|;
`\verb|l|' fills in the field \verb|currentline|, etc.
Moreover, `\verb|f|' pushes onto the stack the function that is
running at the given level.
To get information about a function that is not active (that is,
it is not in the stack),
you push the function onto the stack,
and start the \verb|what| string with the character `\verb|>|'.
For instance, to know in which line a function \verb|f| was defined,
you can write
\begin{verbatim}
lua_Debug ar;
lua_pushstring(L, "f");
lua_gettable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX); /* get global `f' */
lua_getinfo(L, ">S", &ar);
printf("%d\n", ar.linedefined);
\end{verbatim}
The fields of \verb|lua_Debug| have the following meaning:
\begin{description}\leftskip=20pt
\item[source]
If the function was defined in a string,
then \verb|source| is that string;
if the function was defined in a file,
then \verb|source| starts with a \verb|@| followed by the file name.
\item[short\_src]
A ``printable'' version of \verb|source|, to be used in error messages.
\item[linedefined]
the line number where the definition of the function starts.
\item[what] the string \verb|"Lua"| if this is a Lua function,
\verb|"C"| if this is a C~function,
or \verb|"main"| if this is the main part of a chunk.
\item[currentline]
the current line where the given function is executing.
When no line information is available,
\verb|currentline| is set to \Math{-1}.
\item[name]
a reasonable name for the given function.
Because functions in Lua are first class values,
they do not have a fixed name:
Some functions may be the value of many global variables,
while others may be stored only in a table field.
The \verb|lua_getinfo| function checks how the function was
called or whether it is the value of a global variable to
find a suitable name.
If it cannot find a name,
then \verb|name| is set to \verb|NULL|.
\item[namewhat]
Explains the previous field.
It can be \verb|"global"|, \verb|"local"|, \verb|"method"|,
\verb|"field"|, or \verb|""| (the empty string),
according to how the function was called.
(Lua uses the empty string when no other option seems to apply.)
\item[nups]
Number of upvalues of the function.
\end{description}
\subsection{Manipulating Local Variables}
For the manipulation of local variables,
\verb|luadebug.h| uses indices:
The first parameter or local variable has index~1, and so on,
until the last active local variable.
The following functions allow the manipulation of the
local variables of a given activation record:
\begin{verbatim}
const char *lua_getlocal (lua_State *L, const lua_Debug *ar, int n);
const char *lua_setlocal (lua_State *L, const lua_Debug *ar, int n);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_getlocal}\DefAPI{lua_setlocal}
The parameter \verb|ar| must be a valid activation record,
filled by a previous call to \verb|lua_getstack| or
given as argument to a hook \see{sub-hooks}.
\verb|lua_getlocal| gets the index \verb|n| of a local variable,
pushes its value onto the stack,
and returns its name.
\verb|lua_setlocal| assigns the value at the top of the stack
to the variable and returns its name.
Both functions return \verb|NULL| on failure,
that is
when the index is greater than
the number of active local variables.
As an example, the following function lists the names of all
local variables for a function at a given level of the stack:
\begin{verbatim}
int listvars (lua_State *L, int level) {
lua_Debug ar;
int i = 1;
const char *name;
if (lua_getstack(L, level, &ar) == 0)
return 0; /* failure: no such level in the stack */
while ((name = lua_getlocal(L, &ar, i++)) != NULL) {
printf("%s\n", name);
lua_pop(L, 1); /* remove variable value */
}
return 1;
}
\end{verbatim}
\subsection{Hooks}\label{sub-hooks}
The Lua interpreter offers a mechanism of hooks:
user-defined C functions that are called during the program execution.
A hook may be called in four different events:
a \emph{call} event, when Lua calls a function;
a \emph{return} event, when Lua returns from a function;
a \emph{line} event, when Lua starts executing a new line of code;
and a \emph{count} event, that happens every ``count'' instructions.
Lua identifies them with the following enumeration:
\begin{verbatim}
typedef enum lua_Hookevent {
LUA_HOOKCALL, LUA_HOOKRET, LUA_HOOKLINE, LUA_HOOKCOUNT
} lua_Hookevent;
\end{verbatim}
A hook has type \verb|lua_Hook|, defined as follows:
\begin{verbatim}
typedef void (*lua_Hook) (lua_State *L, lua_Debug *ar);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_Hook}
You can set the hook with the following function:
\begin{verbatim}
int lua_sethook (lua_State *L, lua_Hook func, unsigned long mask);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_sethook}
\verb|func| is the hook,
and \verb|mask| specifies at which events it will be called.
It is formed by a disjunction of the constants
\verb|LUA_MASKCALL|,
\verb|LUA_MASKRET|,
\verb|LUA_MASKLINE|,
plus the macro \verb|LUA_MASKCOUNT(count)|.
%TODO explicar melhor...
A hook is disabled with the mask zero.
You can get the current hook and the current mask with the next functions:
\begin{verbatim}
lua_Hook lua_gethook (lua_State *L);
unsigned long lua_gethookmask (lua_State *L);
\end{verbatim}
\DefAPI{lua_gethook}\DefAPI{lua_gethookmask}
You can get the count inside a mask with the macro \verb|lua_getmaskcount|.
Whenever a hook is called, its \verb|ar| argument has its field
\verb|event| set to the specific event that triggered the hook.
Moreover, for line events, the field \verb|currentline| is also set.
For the value of any other field, the hook must call \verb|lua_getinfo|.
While Lua is running a hook, it disables other calls to hooks.
Therefore, if a hook calls Lua to execute a function or a chunk,
this execution ocurrs without any calls to hooks.
%------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\section{Standard Libraries}\label{libraries}
The standard libraries provide useful functions
that are implemented directly through the standard C~API.
Some of these functions provide essential services to the language
(e.g. \verb|type| and \verb|getmetatable|);
others provide access to ``outside'' servides (e.g. I/O);
and others could be implemented in Lua itself,
but are quite useful or have critical performance to
deserve an implementation in C (e.g. \verb|sort|).
All libraries are implemented through the official C API,
and are provided as separate C~modules.
Currently, Lua has the following standard libraries:
\begin{itemize}
\item basic library;
\item string manipulation;
\item table manipulation;
\item mathematical functions (sin, log, etc.);
\item input and output;
\item operating system facilities;
\item debug facilities.
\end{itemize}
Except for the basic library,
each library provides all its functions as fields of a global table
or as methods of its objects.
To have access to these libraries,
the C~host program must call the functions
\verb|lua_baselibopen|,
\verb|lua_strlibopen|,
\verb|lua_tablibopen|,
\verb|lua_mathlibopen|,
and \verb|lua_iolibopen|, which are declared in \verb|lualib.h|.
\DefAPI{lua_baselibopen}
\DefAPI{lua_strlibopen}
\DefAPI{lua_tablibopen}
\DefAPI{lua_mathlibopen}
\DefAPI{lua_iolibopen}
\subsection{Basic Functions} \label{predefined}
The basic library provides some core functions to Lua.
If you do not include this library in your application,
you should check carefully whether you need to provide some alternative
implementation for some facilities.
The basic library also defines a global variable \IndexAPI{_VERSION}
with a string containing the current interpreter version.
The current content of this string is {\tt "Lua \Version"}.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{assert (v [, message])}}\DefLIB{assert}
Issues an \emph{``assertion failed!''} error
when its argument \verb|v| is \nil;
otherwise, returns this argument.
This function is equivalent to the following Lua function:
\begin{verbatim}
function assert (v, m)
if not v then
error(m or "assertion failed!")
end
return v
end
\end{verbatim}
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{collectgarbage ([limit])}}\DefLIB{collectgarbage}
Sets the garbage-collection threshold for the given limit
(in Kbytes), and checks it against the byte counter.
If the new threshold is smaller than the byte counter,
then Lua immediately runs the garbage collector \see{GC}.
If \verb|limit| is absent, it defaults to zero
(thus forcing a garbage-collection cycle).
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{dofile (filename)}}\DefLIB{dofile}
Receives a file name,
opens the named file, and executes its contents as a Lua chunk.
When called without arguments,
\verb|dofile| executes the contents of the standard input (\verb|stdin|).
Returns any value returned by the chunk.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{error ([message])}}\DefLIB{error}\label{pdf-error}
Terminates the last protected function called,
and returns \verb|message| as the error message.
Function \verb|error| never returns.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{getglobals (function)}}\DefLIB{getglobals}
Returns the current table of globals in use by the function.
\verb|function| can be a Lua function or a number,
meaning the function at that stack level:
Level 1 is the function calling \verb|getglobals|.
If the given function is not a Lua function,
returns the ``global'' table of globals.
The default for \verb|function| is 1.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{getmetatable (object)}}
\DefLIB{getmetatable}\label{pdf-getmetatable}
Returns the metatable of the given object.
If the object does not have a metatable, returns \nil.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{getmode (table)}}\DefLIB{getmode}
Returns the weak mode of a table, as a string.
Valid values for this string are \verb|""| for regular (non-weak) tables,
\verb|"k"| for weak keys, \verb|"v"| for weak values,
and \verb|"kv"| for both.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{gcinfo ()}}\DefLIB{gcinfo}
Returns the number of Kbytes of dynamic memory Lua is using,
and (as a second result) the
current garbage collector threshold (also in Kbytes).
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{ipairs (t)}}\DefLIB{ipairs}
Returns the table \verb|t| and a generator function
so that the construction
\begin{verbatim}
for i,v in ipairs(t) do ... end
\end{verbatim}
will iterate over the pairs \verb|1, t[1]|, \verb|2, t[2]|, \ldots,
up to the first nil value of the table.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{loadfile (filename)}}\DefLIB{loadfile}
Loads a file as a Lua chunk.
If there is no errors,
returns the compiled chunk as a function;
otherwise, returns \nil{} plus an error message.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{loadstring (string [, chunkname])}}\DefLIB{loadstring}
Loads a string as a Lua chunk.
If there is no errors,
returns the compiled chunk as a function;
otherwise, returns \nil{} plus an error message.
The optional parameter \verb|chunkname|
is the ``name of the chunk'',
used in error messages and debug information.
To load and run a given string, use the idiom
\begin{verbatim}
assert(loadstring(s))()
\end{verbatim}
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{next (table, [index])}}\DefLIB{next}
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.
\verb|next| returns the next index of the table and the
value associated with the index.
When called with \nil{} as its second argument,
\verb|next| returns the first index
of the table and its associated value.
When called with the last index,
or with \nil{} in an empty table,
\verb|next| returns \nil.
If the second argument is absent, then it is interpreted as \nil.
Lua has no declaration of fields;
semantically, there is no difference between a
field not present in a table or a field with value \nil.
Therefore, \verb|next| only considers fields with non-\nil{} values.
The order in which the indices are enumerated is not specified,
\emph{even for numeric indices}
(to traverse a table in numeric order,
use a numerical \rwd{for} or the function \verb|ipairs|).
The behavior of \verb|next| is \emph{undefined} if you change
the table during the traversal.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{pairs (t)}}\DefLIB{pairs}
Returns the table \verb|t| and the function \verb|next|,
so that the construction
\begin{verbatim}
for k,v in pairs(t) do ... end
\end{verbatim}
will iterate over all pairs of key--value of table \verb|t|.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{pcall (func, arg1, arg2, ...)}}\DefLIB{pcall}
\label{pdf-pcall}
Calls function \verb|func| with
the given arguments in protected mode.
Its first result is a boolean, true if the call succeeds without errors.
In such case, \verb|pcall| also returns all results from the call,
after this first result.
In case of any error, \verb|pcall| returns false plus the error message.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{print (e1, e2, ...)}}\DefLIB{print}
Receives any number of arguments,
and prints their values in \verb|stdout|,
using the strings returned by \verb|tostring|.
This function is not intended for formatted output,
but only as a quick way to show a value,
typically for debugging.
For formatted output, see \verb|format| \see{format}.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{rawget (table, index)}}\DefLIB{rawget}
Gets the real value of \verb|table[index]|,
without invoking any tag method.
\verb|table| must be a table;
\verb|index| is any value different from \nil.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{rawset (table, index, value)}}\DefLIB{rawset}
Sets the real value of \verb|table[index]| to \verb|value|,
without invoking any tag method.
\verb|table| must be a table;
\verb|index| is any value different from \nil;
and \verb|value| is any Lua value.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{require (packagename)}}\DefLIB{require}
Loads the given package.
The function starts by looking into the table \IndexVerb{_LOADED}
whether \verb|packagename| is already loaded.
If it is, then \verb|require| is done.
Otherwise, it searches a path looking for a file to load.
If the global variable \IndexVerb{LUA_PATH} is a string,
this string is the path.
Otherwise, \verb|require| tries the environment variable \verb|LUA_PATH|.
In the last resort, it uses a predefined path.
The path is a sequence of \emph{templates} separated by semicolons.
For each template, \verb|require| will change an eventual interrogation
mark in the template to \verb|packagename|,
and then will try to load the resulting file name.
So, for instance, if the path is
\begin{verbatim}
"./?.lua;./?.lc;/usr/local/?/init.lua;/lasttry"
\end{verbatim}
a \verb|require "mod"| will try to load the files
\verb|./mod.lua|,
\verb|./mod.lc|,
\verb|/usr/local/mod/init.lua|,
and \verb|/lasttry|, in that order.
The function stops the search as soon as it can load a file,
and then it runs the file.
If there is any error loading or running the file,
or if it cannot find any file in the path,
then \verb|require| signals an error.
Otherwise, it marks in table \verb|_LOADED|
that the package is loaded, and returns.
While running a packaged file,
\verb|require| defines the global variable \IndexVerb{_REQUIREDNAME}
with the package name.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{setglobals (function, table)}}\DefLIB{setglobals}
Sets the current table of globals to be used by the given function.
\verb|function| can be a Lua function or a number,
meaning the function at that stack level:
Level 1 is the function calling \verb|setglobals|.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{setmetatable (table, metatable)}}\DefLIB{setmetatable}
Sets the metatable for the given table.
(You cannot change the metatable of a userdata from Lua.)
If \verb|metatable| is \nil, removes the metatable of the given table.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{setmode (table, mode)}}\DefLIB{setmode}
Set the weak mode of a table.
The new mode is described by the \verb|mode| string.
Valid values for this string are \verb|""| for regular (non-weak) tables,
\verb|"k"| for weak keys, \verb|"v"| for weak values,
and \verb|"kv"| for both.
This function returns its first argument (\verb|table|).
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{tonumber (e [, base])}}\DefLIB{tonumber}
Tries to convert its argument to a number.
If the argument is already a number or a string convertible
to a number, then \verb|tonumber| returns that number;
otherwise, it returns \nil.
An optional argument specifies the base to interpret the numeral.
The base may be any integer between 2 and 36, inclusive.
In bases above~10, the letter `A' (in either upper or lower case)
represents~10, `B' represents~11, and so forth, with `Z' representing 35.
In base 10 (the default), the number may have a decimal part,
as well as an optional exponent part \see{coercion}.
In other bases, only unsigned integers are accepted.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{tostring (e)}}\DefLIB{tostring}
Receives an argument of any type and
converts it to a string in a reasonable format.
For complete control of how numbers are converted,
use \verb|format| \see{format}.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{type (v)}}\DefLIB{type}\label{pdf-type}
Returns the type of its only argument, coded as a string.
The possible results of this function are
\verb|"nil"| (a string, not the value \nil),
\verb|"number"|,
\verb|"string"|,
\verb|"table"|,
\verb|"function"|,
and \verb|"userdata"|.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{unpack (list)}}\DefLIB{unpack}
Returns all elements from the given list.
This function is equivalent to
\begin{verbatim}
return list[1], list[2], ..., list[n]
\end{verbatim}
except that the above code can be valid only for a fixed \M{n}.
The number \M{n} of returned values
is either the value of \verb|list.n|, if it is a number,
or one less the index of the first absent (\nil) value.
\subsection{String Manipulation}
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 \Math{-1}, and so on.
The string library provides all its functions inside the table
\IndexLIB{string}.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{string.byte (s [, i])}}\DefLIB{string.byte}
Returns the internal numerical code of the \M{i}-th character of \verb|s|.
If \verb|i| is absent, then it is assumed to be~1.
\verb|i| may be negative.
\NOTE
Numerical codes are not necessarily portable across platforms.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{string.char (i1, i2, \ldots)}}\DefLIB{string.char}
Receives 0 or more integers.
Returns a string with length equal to the number of arguments,
in which each character has the internal numerical code equal
to its correspondent argument.
\NOTE
Numerical codes are not necessarily portable across platforms.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{string.find (s, pattern [, init [, plain]])}}
\DefLIB{string.find}
Looks for the first \emph{match} of
\verb|pattern| in the string \verb|s|.
If it finds one, then \verb|find| returns the indices of \verb|s|
where this occurrence starts and ends;
otherwise, it returns \nil.
If the pattern specifies captures (see \verb|string.gsub| below),
the captured strings are returned as extra results.
A third, optional numerical argument \verb|init| specifies
where to start the search;
its default value is~1, and may be negative.
A value of \True{} as a fourth, optional argument \verb|plain|
turns off the pattern matching facilities,
so the function does a plain ``find substring'' operation,
with no characters in \verb|pattern| being considered ``magic''.
Note that if \verb|plain| is given, then \verb|init| must be given too.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{string.len (s)}}\DefLIB{string.len}
Receives a string and returns its length.
The empty string \verb|""| has length 0.
Embedded zeros are counted,
and so \verb|"a\000b\000c"| has length 5.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{string.lower (s)}}\DefLIB{string.lower}
Receives a string and returns a copy of that string with all
uppercase letters changed to lowercase.
All other characters are left unchanged.
The definition of what is an uppercase letter depends on the current locale.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{string.rep (s, n)}}\DefLIB{string.rep}
Returns a string that is the concatenation of \verb|n| copies of
the string \verb|s|.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{string.sub (s, i [, j])}}\DefLIB{string.sub}
Returns another string, which is a substring of \verb|s|,
starting at \verb|i| and running until \verb|j|;
\verb|i| and \verb|j| may be negative.
If \verb|j| is absent, then it is assumed to be equal to \Math{-1}
(which is the same as the string length).
In particular,
the call \verb|string.sub(s,1,j)| returns a prefix of \verb|s|
with length \verb|j|,
and the call \verb|string.sub(s, -i)| returns a suffix of \verb|s|
with length \verb|i|.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{string.upper (s)}}\DefLIB{string.upper}
Receives a string and returns a copy of that string with all
lowercase letters changed to uppercase.
All other characters are left unchanged.
The definition of what is a lowercase letter depends on the current locale.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{string.format (formatstring, e1, e2, \ldots)}}
\DefLIB{string.format}\label{format}
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 \verb|printf| family of
standard C~functions.
The only differences are that the options/modifiers
\verb|*|, \verb|l|, \verb|L|, \verb|n|, \verb|p|,
and \verb|h| are not supported,
and there is an extra option, \verb|q|.
The \verb|q| option formats a string in a form suitable to be safely read
back by the Lua interpreter:
The string is written between double quotes,
and all double quotes, returns, and backslashes in the string
are correctly escaped when written.
For instance, the call
\begin{verbatim}
string.format('%q', 'a string with "quotes" and \n new line')
\end{verbatim}
will produce the string:
\begin{verbatim}
"a string with \"quotes\" and \
new line"
\end{verbatim}
The options \verb|c|, \verb|d|, \verb|E|, \verb|e|, \verb|f|,
\verb|g|, \verb|G|, \verb|i|, \verb|o|, \verb|u|, \verb|X|, and \verb|x| all
expect a number as argument,
whereas \verb|q| and \verb|s| expect a string.
The \verb|*| modifier can be simulated by building
the appropriate format string.
For example, \verb|"%*g"| can be simulated with
\verb|"%"..width.."g"|.
\NOTE
String values to be formatted with
\verb|%s| cannot contain embedded zeros.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{string.gfind (s, pat)}}
% TODO
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{string.gsub (s, pat, repl [, n])}}
\DefLIB{string.gsub}
Returns a copy of \verb|s|
in which all occurrences of the pattern \verb|pat| have been
replaced by a replacement string specified by \verb|repl|.
\verb|gsub| also returns, as a second value,
the total number of substitutions made.
If \verb|repl| is a string, then its value is used for replacement.
Any sequence in \verb|repl| of the form \verb|%|\M{n},
with \M{n} between 1 and 9,
stands for the value of the \M{n}-th captured substring.
If \verb|repl| is a function, then this function is called every time a
match occurs, with all captured substrings passed as arguments,
in order (see below);
if the pattern specifies no captures,
then the whole match is passed as a sole argument.
If the value returned by this function is a string,
then it is used as the replacement string;
otherwise, the replacement string is the empty string.
The last, optional parameter \verb|n| limits
the maximum number of substitutions to occur.
For instance, when \verb|n| is 1 only the first occurrence of
\verb|pat| is replaced.
Here are some examples:
\begin{verbatim}
x = gsub("hello world", "(%w+)", "%1 %1")
--> x="hello hello world world"
x = gsub("hello world", "(%w+)", "%1 %1", 1)
--> x="hello hello world"
x = gsub("hello world from Lua", "(%w+)%s*(%w+)", "%2 %1")
--> x="world hello Lua from"
x = gsub("home = $HOME, user = $USER", "%$(%w+)", getenv)
--> x="home = /home/roberto, user = roberto" (for instance)
x = gsub("4+5 = $return 4+5$", "%$(.-)%$", dostring)
--> x="4+5 = 9"
local t = {name="Lua", version="4.1"}
x = gsub("$name - $version", "%$(%w+)", function (v) return t[v] end)
--> x="Lua - 4.1"
\end{verbatim}
\subsubsection*{Patterns} \label{pm}
\paragraph{Character Class:}
a \Def{character class} is used to represent a set of characters.
The following combinations are allowed in describing a character class:
\begin{description}\leftskip=20pt
\item[\emph{x}] (where \emph{x} is not one of the magic characters
\verb|^$()%.[]*+-?|)
--- represents the character \emph{x} itself.
\item[\T{.}] --- (a dot) represents all characters.
\item[\T{\%a}] --- represents all letters.
\item[\T{\%c}] --- represents all control characters.
\item[\T{\%d}] --- represents all digits.
\item[\T{\%l}] --- represents all lowercase letters.
\item[\T{\%p}] --- represents all punctuation characters.
\item[\T{\%s}] --- represents all space characters.
\item[\T{\%u}] --- represents all uppercase letters.
\item[\T{\%w}] --- represents all alphanumeric characters.
\item[\T{\%x}] --- represents all hexadecimal digits.
\item[\T{\%z}] --- represents the character with representation 0.
\item[\T{\%\M{x}}] (where \M{x} is any non-alphanumeric character) ---
represents the character \M{x}.
This is the standard way to escape the magic characters.
We recommend that any punctuation character (even the non magic)
should be preceded by a \verb|%|
when used to represent itself in a pattern.
\item[\T{[\M{set}]}] ---
represents the class which is the union of all
characters in \M{set}.
A range of characters may be specified by
separating the end characters of the range with a \verb|-|.
All classes \verb|%|\emph{x} described above may also be used as
components in \M{set}.
All other characters in \M{set} represent themselves.
For example, \verb|[%w_]| (or \verb|[_%w]|)
represents all alphanumeric characters plus the underscore,
\verb|[0-7]| represents the octal digits,
and \verb|[0-7%l%-]| represents the octal digits plus
the lowercase letters plus the \verb|-| character.
The interaction between ranges and classes is not defined.
Therefore, patterns like \verb|[%a-z]| or \verb|[a-%%]|
have no meaning.
\item[\T{[\^\null\M{set}]}] ---
represents the complement of \M{set},
where \M{set} is interpreted as above.
\end{description}
For all classes represented by single letters (\verb|%a|, \verb|%c|, \ldots),
the corresponding uppercase letter represents the complement of the class.
For instance, \verb|%S| represents all non-space characters.
The definitions of letter, space, etc.\ depend on the current locale.
In particular, the class \verb|[a-z]| may not be equivalent to \verb|%l|.
The second form should be preferred for portability.
\paragraph{Pattern Item:}
a \Def{pattern item} may be
\begin{itemize}
\item
a single character class,
which matches any single character in the class;
\item
a single character class followed by \verb|*|,
which matches 0 or more repetitions of characters in the class.
These repetition items will always match the longest possible sequence;
\item
a single character class followed by \verb|+|,
which matches 1 or more repetitions of characters in the class.
These repetition items will always match the longest possible sequence;
\item
a single character class followed by \verb|-|,
which also matches 0 or more repetitions of characters in the class.
Unlike \verb|*|,
these repetition items will always match the \emph{shortest} possible sequence;
\item
a single character class followed by \verb|?|,
which matches 0 or 1 occurrence of a character in the class;
\item
\T{\%\M{n}}, for \M{n} between 1 and 9;
such item matches a substring equal to the \M{n}-th captured string
(see below);
\item
\T{\%b\M{xy}}, where \M{x} and \M{y} are two distinct characters;
such item matches strings that start with~\M{x}, end with~\M{y},
and where the \M{x} and \M{y} are \emph{balanced}.
This means that, if one reads the string from left to right,
counting \Math{+1} for an \M{x} and \Math{-1} for a \M{y},
the ending \M{y} is the first \M{y} where the count reaches 0.
For instance, the item \verb|%b()| matches expressions with
balanced parentheses.
\end{itemize}
\paragraph{Pattern:}
a \Def{pattern} is a sequence of pattern items.
A \verb|^| at the beginning of a pattern anchors the match at the
beginning of the subject string.
A \verb|$| at the end of a pattern anchors the match at the
end of the subject string.
At other positions,
\verb|^| and \verb|$| have no special meaning and represent themselves.
\paragraph{Captures:}
A pattern may contain sub-patterns enclosed in parentheses;
they describe \Def{captures}.
When a match succeeds, the substrings of the subject string
that match captures are stored (\emph{captured}) for future use.
Captures are numbered according to their left parentheses.
For instance, in the pattern \verb|"(a*(.)%w(%s*))"|,
the part of the string matching \verb|"a*(.)%w(%s*)"| is
stored as the first capture (and therefore has number~1);
the character matching \verb|.| is captured with number~2,
and the part matching \verb|%s*| has number~3.
\NOTE
A pattern cannot contain embedded zeros. Use \verb|%z| instead.
\subsection{Table Manipulation}
This library provides generic functions for table manipulation,
It provides all its functions inside the table \IndexLIB{table}.
Most functions in the table library library assume that the table
represents an array or a list.
For those functions, an important concept is the \emph{size} of the array.
There are three ways to specify that size:
\begin{itemize}
\item the field \verb|"n"| ---
When the table has a field \verb|"n"| with a numerical value,
that value is assumed as its size.
\item \verb|setn| ---
You can call the \verb|table.setn| function to explicitly set
the size of a table.
\item implicit size ---
Otherwise, the size of the object is one less the first integer index
with a \nil{} value.
\end{itemize}
For more details, see the descriptions of the \verb|table.getn| and
\verb|table.setn| functions.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{table.foreach (table, func)}}\DefLIB{table.foreach}
Executes the given \verb|func| over all elements of \verb|table|.
For each element, \verb|func| is called with the index and
respective value as arguments.
If \verb|func| returns a non-\nil{} value,
then the loop is broken, and this value is returned
as the final value of \verb|foreach|.
The behavior of \verb|foreach| is \emph{undefined} if you change
the table \verb|t| during the traversal.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{table.foreachi (table, func)}}\DefLIB{table.foreachi}
Executes the given \verb|func| over the
numerical indices of \verb|table|.
For each index, \verb|func| is called with the index and
respective value as arguments.
Indices are visited in sequential order,
from~1 to \verb|n|,
where \verb|n| is the size of the table \see{getn}.
If \verb|func| returns a non-\nil{} value,
then the loop is broken, and this value is returned
as the final value of \verb|foreachi|.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{table.getn (table)}}\DefLIB{table.getn}\label{getn}
Returns the ``size'' of a table, when seen as a list.
If the table has an \verb|n| field with a numeric value,
this value is the ``size'' of the table.
Otherwise, if there was a previous call to
\verb|table.getn| or to \verb|table.setn| over this table,
the respective value is returned.
Otherwise, the ``size'' is one less the first integer index with
a \nil{} value.
Notice that the last option happens only once for a table.
If you call \verb|table.getn| again over the same table,
it will return the same previous result,
even if the table has been modified.
The only way to change the value of \verb|table.getn| is by calling
\verb|table.setn| or assigning to field \verb|"n"| in the table.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{table.sort (table [, comp])}}\DefLIB{table.sort}
Sorts table elements in a given order, \emph{in-place},
from \verb|table[1]| to \verb|table[n]|,
where \verb|n| is the size of the table \see{getn}.
If \verb|comp| is given,
then it must be a function that receives two table elements,
and returns true
when the first is less than the second
(so that \verb|not comp(a[i+1],a[i])| will be true after the sort).
If \verb|comp| is not given,
then the standard Lua operator \verb|<| is used instead.
The sort algorithm is \emph{not} stable
(that is, elements considered equal by the given order
may have their relative positions changed by the sort).
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{table.insert (table, [pos,] value)}}\DefLIB{table.insert}
Inserts element \verb|value| at position \verb|pos| in \verb|table|,
shifting other elements up to open space, if necessary.
The default value for \verb|pos| is \verb|n+1|,
where \verb|n| is the size of the table \see{getn},
so that a call \verb|table.insert(t,x)| inserts \verb|x| at the end
of table \verb|t|.
This function also updates the size of the table,
calling \verb|table.setn(table, n+1)|.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{table.remove (table [, pos])}}\DefLIB{table.remove}
Removes from \verb|table| the element at position \verb|pos|,
shifting other elements down to close the space, if necessary.
Returns the value of the removed element.
The default value for \verb|pos| is \verb|n|,
where \verb|n| is the size of the table \see{getn},
so that a call \verb|tremove(t)| removes the last element
of table \verb|t|.
This function also updates the size of the table,
calling \verb|table.setn(table, n-1)|.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{table.setn (table, n)}}\DefLIB{table.setn}
Updates the ``size'' of a table.
If the table has a field \verb|"n"| with a numerical value,
that value is changed to the given \verb|n|.
Otherwise, it updates an internal state of the \verb|table| library
so that subsequent calls to \verb|table.getn(table)| return \verb|n|.
\subsection{Mathematical Functions} \label{mathlib}
This library is an interface to most functions of the standard C~math library.
(Some have slightly different names.)
It provides all its functions inside the table \DefLIB{math}.
In addition,
it registers a ??tag method for the binary exponentiation operator \verb|^|
that returns \Math{x^y} when applied to numbers \verb|x^y|.
The library provides the following functions:
\DefLIB{math.abs}\DefLIB{math.acos}\DefLIB{math.asin}\DefLIB{math.atan}
\DefLIB{math.atan2}\DefLIB{math.ceil}\DefLIB{math.cos}
\DefLIB{math.def}\DefLIB{math.exp}
\DefLIB{math.floor}\DefLIB{math.log}\DefLIB{math.log10}
\DefLIB{math.max}\DefLIB{math.min}
\DefLIB{math.mod}\DefLIB{math.rad}\DefLIB{math.sin}
\DefLIB{math.sqrt}\DefLIB{math.tan}
\DefLIB{math.frexp}\DefLIB{math.ldexp}\DefLIB{math.random}
\DefLIB{math.randomseed}
\begin{verbatim}
math.abs math.acos math.asin math.atan math.atan2
math.ceil math.cos math.deg math.exp math.floor
math.log math.log10 math.max math.min math.mod
math.rad math.sin math.sqrt math.tan math.frexp
math.ldexp math.random math.randomseed
\end{verbatim}
plus a variable \IndexLIB{math.pi}.
Most of them
are only interfaces to the homonymous functions in the C~library.
The functions \verb|math.deg| and \verb|math.rad| convert
between radians and degrees.
The function \verb|math.max| returns the maximum
value of its numeric arguments.
Similarly, \verb|math.min| computes the minimum.
Both can be used with 1, 2, or more arguments.
The functions \verb|math.random| and \verb|math.randomseed|
are interfaces to the simple random generator functions
\verb|rand| and \verb|srand|, provided by ANSI~C.
(No guarantees can be given for their statistical properties.)
When called without arguments,
\verb|math.random| returns a pseudo-random real number
in the range \Math{[0,1)}. %]
When called with a number \Math{n},
\verb|math.random| returns a pseudo-random integer in the range \Math{[1,n]}.
When called with two arguments, \Math{l} and \Math{u},
\verb|math.random| returns a pseudo-random integer in the range \Math{[l,u]}.
\subsection{Input and Output Facilities} \label{libio}
The I/O library provides two different styles for file manipulation.
The first one uses implicit file descriptors;
that is, there are operations to set a default input file and a
default output file,
and all input/output operations are over those default files.
The second style uses explicit file descriptors.
When using implicit file descriptors,
all operations are supplied by table \IndexLIB{io}.
When using explicit file descriptors,
the operation \IndexLIB{io.open} returns a file descriptor,
and then all operations are supplied as methods by the file descriptor.
Moreover, the table \verb|io| also provides
three predefined file descriptors:
\IndexLIB{io.stdin}, \IndexLIB{io.stdout}, and \IndexLIB{io.stderr},
with their usual meaning from C.
A file handle is a userdata containing the file stream (\verb|FILE*|),
with a distinctive metatable created by the I/O library.
Unless otherwise stated,
all I/O functions return \nil{} on failure
(plus an error message as a second result)
and some value different from \nil{} on success.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{io.close ([handle])}}\DefLIB{io.close}
Equivalent to \verb|handle:close()|.
Without a \verb|handle|, closes the default output file.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{io.flush ()}}\DefLIB{io.flush}
Equivalent to \verb|fh:flush| over the default output file.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{io.input ([file])}}\DefLIB{io.input}
When called with a file name, it opens the named file (in text mode),
and sets its handle as the default input file
(and returns nothing).
When called with a file handle,
it simply sets that file handle as the default input file.
When called without parameters,
it returns the current default input file.
In case of errors this function raises the error,
instead of returning an error code.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{io.open (filename, mode)}}\DefLIB{io.open}
This function opens a file,
in the mode specified in the string \verb|mode|.
It returns a new file handle,
or, in case of errors, \nil{} plus an error message.
The \verb|mode| string can be any of the following:
\begin{description}\leftskip=20pt
\item[``r''] read mode;
\item[``w''] write mode;
\item[``a''] append mode;
\item[``r+''] update mode, all previous data is preserved;
\item[``w+''] update mode, all previous data is erased;
\item[``a+''] append update mode, previous data is preserved,
writing is only allowed at the end of file.
\end{description}
The \verb|mode| string may also have a \verb|b| at the end,
which is needed in some systems to open the file in binary mode.
This string is exactly what is used in the standard~C function \verb|fopen|.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{io.output ([file])}}\DefLIB{io.output}
Similar to \verb|io.input|, but operates over the default output file.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{io.read (format1, ...)}}\DefLIB{io.read}
Equivalent to \verb|fh:read| over the default input file.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{io.tmpfile ()}}\DefLIB{io.tmpfile}
Returns a handle for a temporary file.
This file is open in read/write mode,
and it is automatically removed when the program ends.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{io.write (value1, ...)}}\DefLIB{io.write}
Equivalent to \verb|fh:write| over the default output file.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{fh:close ([handle])}}\DefLIB{fh:close}
Closes the file \verb|fh|.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{fh:flush ()}}\DefLIB{fh:flush}
Saves any written data to the file \verb|fh|.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{fh:read (format1, ...)}}\DefLIB{fh:read}
Reads the file \verb|fh|,
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 \nil{} if it cannot read data with the specified format.
When called without formats,
it uses a default format that reads the entire next line
(see below).
The available formats are
\begin{description}\leftskip=20pt
\item[``*n''] reads a number;
this is the only format that returns a number instead of a string.
\item[``*a''] reads the whole file, starting at the current position.
On end of file, it returns the empty string.
\item[``*l''] reads the next line (skipping the end of line),
returning \nil{} on end of file.
This is the default format.
\item[\emph{number}] reads a string with up to that number of characters,
or \nil{} on end of file.
If number is zero,
it reads nothing and returns an empty string,
or \nil{} on end of file.
\end{description}
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{fh:seek ([whence] [, offset])}}\DefLIB{fh:seek}
Sets and gets the file position,
measured in bytes from the beginning of the file,
to the position given by \verb|offset| plus a base
specified by the string \verb|whence|, as follows:
\begin{description}\leftskip=20pt
\item[``set''] base is position 0 (beginning of the file);
\item[``cur''] base is current position;
\item[``end''] base is end of file;
\end{description}
In case of success, function \verb|seek| returns the final file position,
measured in bytes from the beginning of the file.
If this function fails, it returns \nil,
plus a string describing the error.
The default value for \verb|whence| is \verb|"cur"|,
and for \verb|offset| is 0.
Therefore, the call \verb|file:seek()| returns the current
file position, without changing it;
the call \verb|file:seek("set")| sets the position to the
beginning of the file (and returns 0);
and the call \verb|file:seek("end")| sets the position to the
end of the file, and returns its size.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{fh:write (value1, ...)}}\DefLIB{fh:write}
Writes the value of each of its arguments to
the filehandle \verb|fh|.
The arguments must be strings or numbers.
To write other values,
use \verb|tostring| or \verb|format| before \verb|write|.
If this function fails, it returns \nil,
plus a string describing the error.
\subsection{Operating System Facilities} \label{libiosys}
This library is implemented through table \IndexLIB{os}.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{os.clock ()}}\DefLIB{os.clock}
Returns an approximation of the amount of CPU time
used by the program, in seconds.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{os.date ([format [, time]])}}\DefLIB{os.date}
Returns a string or a table containing date and time,
formatted according to the given string \verb|format|.
If the \verb|time| argument is present,
this is the time to be formatted
(see the \verb|time| function for a description of this value).
Otherwise, \verb|date| formats the current time.
If \verb|format| starts with \verb|!|,
then the date is formatted in Coordinated Universal Time.
After that optional character,
if \verb|format| is \verb|*t|,
then \verb|date| returns a table with the following fields:
\verb|year| (four digits), \verb|month| (1--12), \verb|day| (1--31),
\verb|hour| (0--23), \verb|min| (0--59), \verb|sec| (0--61),
\verb|wday| (weekday, Sunday is 1),
\verb|yday| (day of the year),
and \verb|isdst| (daylight saving flag, a boolean).
If format is not \verb|*t|,
then \verb|date| returns the date as a string,
formatted according with the same rules as the C~function \verb|strftime|.
When called without arguments,
\verb|date| returns a reasonable date and time representation that depends on
the host system and on the current locale
(that is, \verb|os.date()| is equivalent to \verb|os.date("%c")|).
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{os.difftime (t1, t2)}}\DefLIB{os.difftime}
Returns the number of seconds from time \verb|t1| to time \verb|t2|.
In Posix, Windows, and some other systems,
this value is exactly \verb|t1|\Math{-}\verb|t2|.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{os.execute (command)}}\DefLIB{os.execute}
This function is equivalent to the C~function \verb|system|.
It passes \verb|command| to be executed by an operating system shell.
It returns a status code, which is system-dependent.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{os.exit ([code])}}\DefLIB{os.exit}
Calls the C~function \verb|exit|,
with an optional \verb|code|,
to terminate the host program.
The default value for \verb|code| is the success code.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{os.getenv (varname)}}\DefLIB{os.getenv}
Returns the value of the process environment variable \verb|varname|,
or \nil{} if the variable is not defined.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{os.remove (filename)}}\DefLIB{os.remove}
Deletes the file with the given name.
If this function fails, it returns \nil,
plus a string describing the error.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{os.rename (name1, name2)}}\DefLIB{os.rename}
Renames file named \verb|name1| to \verb|name2|.
If this function fails, it returns \nil,
plus a string describing the error.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{os.setlocale (locale [, category])}}\DefLIB{os.setlocale}
This function is an interface to the C~function \verb|setlocale|.
\verb|locale| is a string specifying a locale;
\verb|category| is an optional string describing which category to change:
\verb|"all"|, \verb|"collate"|, \verb|"ctype"|,
\verb|"monetary"|, \verb|"numeric"|, or \verb|"time"|;
the default category is \verb|"all"|.
The function returns the name of the new locale,
or \nil{} if the request cannot be honored.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{os.time ([table])}}\DefLIB{os.time}
Returns the current time when called without arguments,
or a time representing the date and time specified by the given table.
This table must have fields \verb|year|, \verb|month|, and \verb|day|,
and may have fields \verb|hour|, \verb|min|, \verb|sec|, and \verb|isdst|
(for a description of these fields, see the \verb|os.date| function).
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 bt \verb|time| can be used only as an argument to
\verb|date| and \verb|difftime|.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{os.tmpname ()}}\DefLIB{os.tmpname}
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 removed when no longer needed.
This function is equivalent to the \verb|tmpnam| C~function,
and many people (and even some compilers!) advise against its use,
because between the time you call the function
and the time you open the file,
it is possible for another process
to create a file with the same name.
\subsection{The Reflexive Debug Interface}
The library \verb|ldblib| provides
the functionality of the debug interface to Lua programs.
You should exert great care when using this library.
The functions provided here should be used exclusively for debugging
and similar tasks, such as profiling.
Please resist the temptation to use them as a
usual programming tool:
They can be very slow.
Moreover, \verb|setlocal| and \verb|getlocal|
violate the privacy of local variables,
and therefore can compromise some (otherwise) secure code.
All functions in this library are provided
inside a \IndexVerb{debug} table.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{debug.getinfo (function, [what])}}\DefLIB{debug.getinfo}
This function returns a table with information about a function.
You can give the function directly,
or you can give a number as the value of \verb|function|,
which means the function running at level \verb|function| of the stack:
Level 0 is the current function (\verb|getinfo| itself);
level 1 is the function that called \verb|getinfo|;
and so on.
If \verb|function| is a number larger than the number of active functions,
then \verb|getinfo| returns \nil.
The returned table contains all the fields returned by \verb|lua_getinfo|,
with the string \verb|what| describing what to get.
The default for \verb|what| is to get all information available.
If present,
the option \verb|f|
adds a field named \verb|func| with the function itself.
For instance, the expression \verb|getinfo(1,"n").name| returns
the name of the current function, if a reasonable name can be found,
and \verb|getinfo(print)| returns a table with all available information
about the \verb|print| function.
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{debug.getlocal (level, local)}}\DefLIB{debug.getlocal}
This function returns the name and the value of the local variable
with index \verb|local| of the function at level \verb|level| of the stack.
(The first parameter or local variable has index~1, and so on,
until the last active local variable.)
The function returns \nil{} if there is no local
variable with the given index,
and raises an error when called with a \verb|level| out of range.
(You can call \verb|getinfo| to check whether the level is valid.)
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{debug.setlocal (level, local, value)}}
\DefLIB{debug.setlocal}
This function assigns the value \verb|value| to the local variable
with index \verb|local| of the function at level \verb|level| of the stack.
The function returns \nil{} if there is no local
variable with the given index,
and raises an error when called with a \verb|level| out of range.
(You can call \verb|getinfo| to check whether the level is valid.)
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{debug.sethook (hook, mask [, count])}}
\DefLIB{debug.sethook}
Sets the given function as a hook.
The string \verb|mask| and the number \verb|count| describe
when the hook will be called.
The string mask may have the following characteres,
with the given meaning:
\begin{description}
\item[{\tt "c"}] The hook is called every time Lua calls a function;
\item[{\tt "r"}] The hook is called every time Lua returns from a function;
\item[{\tt "l"}] The hook is called every time Lua enters a new line of code.
\end{description}
With a \verb|count| different from zero,
the hook is called after every \verb|count| instructions.
When called without arguments,
the \verb|debug.sethook| function turns off the hook.
When the hook is called, its first parameter is always a string
describing the event that triggered its call:
\verb|"call"|, \verb|"return"|, \verb|"line"|, and \verb|"count"|.
Moreover, for line events,
it also gets as its second parameter the new line number.
Inside a hook,
you can call \verb|getinfo| with level 2 to get more information about
the running function
(level~0 is the \verb|getinfo| function,
and level~1 is the hook function).
\subsubsection*{\ff \T{debug.gethook ()}}\DefLIB{debug.gethook}
Returns the current hook settings, as three values:
the current hook function, the current hook mask,
and the current hook count (as set by the \verb|debug.sethook| function).
%------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\section{\Index{Lua Stand-alone}} \label{lua-sa}
Although Lua has been designed as an extension language,
to be embedded in a host C~program,
it is also frequently used as a stand-alone language.
An interpreter for Lua as a stand-alone language,
called simply \verb|lua|,
is provided with the standard distribution.
The stand-alone interpreter includes
all standard libraries plus the reflexive debug interface.
Its usage is:
\begin{verbatim}
lua [options] [prog [args]]
\end{verbatim}
The options are:
\begin{description}\leftskip=20pt
\item[\T{-} ] executes \verb|stdin| as a file;
\item[\T{-e} \rm\emph{stat}] executes string \emph{stat};
\item[\T{-l} \rm\emph{file}] executes file \emph{file};
\item[\T{-i}] enters interactive mode after running \emph{prog};
\item[\T{-v}] prints version information;
\item[\T{--}] stop handling options.
\end{description}
After handling its options, \verb|lua| runs the given \emph{prog},
passing to it the given \emph{args}.
When called without arguments,
\verb|lua| behaves as \verb|lua -v -i| when \verb|stdin| is a terminal,
and as \verb|lua -| otherwise.
Before running any argument,
the intepreter checks for an environment variable \IndexVerb{LUA_INIT}.
If its format is \verb|@|\emph{filename},
then lua executes the file.
Otherwise, lua executes the string itself.
All options are handled in order, except \verb|-i|.
For instance, an invocation like
\begin{verbatim}
$ lua -e'a=1' -e 'print(a)' prog.lua
\end{verbatim}
will first set \verb|a| to 1, then print \verb|a|,
and finally run the file \verb|prog.lua|.
(Here, \verb|$| is the shell prompt. Your prompt may be different.)
Before starting to run the program,
\verb|lua| collects all arguments in the command line
in a global table called \verb|arg|.
The program name is stored in index 0,
the first argument after the program goes to index 1,
and so on.
The field \verb|n| gets the number of arguments after the program name.
Any arguments before the program name
(that is, the interpreter name plus the options)
go to negative indices.
For instance, in the call
\begin{verbatim}
$ lua -la.lua b.lua t1 t2
\end{verbatim}
the interpreter first runs the file \T{a.lua},
then creates a table
\begin{verbatim}
arg = { [-2] = "lua", [-1] = "-la.lua", [0] = "b.lua",
[1] = "t1", [2] = "t2"; n = 2 }
\end{verbatim}
and finally runs the file \T{b.lua}.
In interactive mode,
if you write an incomplete statement,
the interpreter waits for its completion.
If the global variable \IndexVerb{_PROMPT} is defined as a string,
then its value is used as the prompt.
Therefore, the prompt can be changed directly on the command line:
\begin{verbatim}
$ lua -e"_PROMPT='myprompt> '" -i
\end{verbatim}
(the first pair of quotes is for the shell,
the second is for Lua),
or in any Lua programs by assigning to \verb|_PROMPT|.
Note the use of \verb|-i| to enter interactive mode; otherwise,
the program would end just after the assignment to \verb|_PROMPT|.
In Unix systems, Lua scripts can be made into executable programs
by using \verb|chmod +x| and the~\verb|#!| form,
as in \verb|#!/usr/local/bin/lua|.
(Of course,
the location of the Lua interpreter may be different in your machine.
If \verb|lua| is in your \verb|PATH|,
then a more portable solution is \verb|#!/usr/bin/env lua|.)
%------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\section*{Acknowledgments}
The Lua team is grateful to \tecgraf{} for its continued support to Lua.
We thank everyone at \tecgraf{},
specially the head of the group, Marcelo Gattass.
At the risk of omitting several names,
we also thank the following individuals for supporting,
contributing to, and spreading the word about Lua:
Alan Watson.
Andr\'e Clinio,
Andr\'e Costa,
Antonio Scuri,
Bret Mogilefsky,
Cameron Laird,
Carlos Cassino,
Carlos Henrique Levy,
Claudio Terra,
David Jeske,
Edgar Toernig,
Erik Hougaard,
Jim Mathies,
John Belmonte,
John Passaniti,
John Roll,
Jon Erickson,
Jon Kleiser,
Mark Ian Barlow,
Nick Trout,
Noemi Rodriguez,
Norman Ramsey,
Philippe Lhost,
Renata Ratton,
Renato Borges,
Renato Cerqueira,
Reuben Thomas,
Stephan Herrmann,
Steve Dekorte,
Thatcher Ulrich,
Tom\'as Gorham,
Vincent Penquerc'h,
Thank you!
\appendix
\section*{Incompatibilities with Previous Versions}
\addcontentsline{toc}{section}{Incompatibilities with Previous Versions}
\subsection*{Incompatibilities with \Index{version 4.0}}
\subsubsection*{Changes in the Language}
\begin{itemize}
\item
Function calls written between parentheses result in exactly one value.
\item
A function call as the last expression in a list constructor
(like \verb|{a,b,f()}|) has all its return values inserted in the list.
\item
The precedence of \rwd{or} is smaller than the precedence of \rwd{and}.
\item
\rwd{in} is a reserved word.
\item
The old construction \verb|for k,v in t|, where \verb|t| is a table,
is deprecated (although it is still supported).
Use \verb|for k,v in pairs(t)| instead.
\item
When a literal string of the form \verb|[[...]]| starts with a newline,
this newline is ignored.
\item Old pre-compiled code is obsolete, and must be re-compiled.
\end{itemize}
\subsubsection*{Changes in the Libraries}
\begin{itemize}
\item
Most library functions now are defined inside tables.
There is a compatibility script (\verb|compat.lua|) that
redefine most of them as global names.
\item
In the math library, angles are expressed in radians.
With the compatibility script (\verb|compat.lua|),
functions still work in degrees.
\item
The \verb|call| function is deprecated.
Use \verb|f(unpack(tab))| instead of \verb|call(f, tab)|
for unprotected calls,
or the new \verb|pcall| function for protected calls.
\item
\verb|dofile| do not handle errors, but simply propagate them.
\item
The \verb|read| option \verb|*w| is obsolete.
\item
The \verb|format| option \verb|%n$| is obsolete.
\end{itemize}
\subsubsection*{Changes in the API}
\begin{itemize}
\item
Userdata!!
\end{itemize}
%{===============================================================
\newpage
\section*{The Complete Syntax of Lua} \label{BNF}
\addcontentsline{toc}{section}{The Complete Syntax of Lua}
The notation used here is the usual extended BNF,
in which
\rep{\emph{a}}~means 0 or more \emph{a}'s, and
\opt{\emph{a}}~means an optional \emph{a}.
Non-terminals are shown in \emph{italics},
keywords are shown in {\bf bold},
and other terminal symbols are shown in {\tt typewriter} font,
enclosed in single quotes.
\renewenvironment{Produc}{\vspace{0.8ex}\par\noindent\hspace{3ex}\it\begin{tabular}{rrl}}{\end{tabular}\vspace{0.8ex}\par\noindent}
\renewcommand{\OrNL}{\\ & \Or & }
%\newcommand{\Nter}[1]{{\rm{\tt#1}}}
%\newcommand{\Nter}[1]{\ter{#1}}
\index{grammar}
\begin{Produc}
\produc{chunk}{\rep{stat \opt{\ter{;}}}}
\produc{block}{chunk}
\produc{stat}{%
varlist1 \ter{=} explist1
\OrNL functioncall
\OrNL \rwd{do} block \rwd{end}
\OrNL \rwd{while} exp \rwd{do} block \rwd{end}
\OrNL \rwd{repeat} block \rwd{until} exp
\OrNL \rwd{if} exp \rwd{then} block
\rep{\rwd{elseif} exp \rwd{then} block}
\opt{\rwd{else} block} \rwd{end}
\OrNL \rwd{return} \opt{explist1}
\OrNL \rwd{break}
\OrNL \rwd{for} \Nter{Name} \ter{=} exp \ter{,} exp \opt{\ter{,} exp}
\rwd{do} block \rwd{end}
\OrNL \rwd{for} \Nter{Name} \rep{\ter{,} \Nter{Name}} \rwd{in} explist1
\rwd{do} block \rwd{end}
\OrNL \rwd{function} funcname funcbody
\OrNL \rwd{local} \rwd{function} \Nter{Name} funcbody
\OrNL \rwd{local} namelist \opt{init}
}
\produc{funcname}{\Nter{Name} \rep{\ter{.} \Nter{Name}}
\opt{\ter{:} \Nter{Name}}}
\produc{varlist1}{var \rep{\ter{,} var}}
\produc{var}{%
\Nter{Name}
\Or prefixexp \ter{[} exp \ter{]}
\Or prefixexp \ter{.} \Nter{Name}
}
\produc{namelist}{\Nter{Name} \rep{\ter{,} \Nter{Name}}}
\produc{init}{\ter{=} explist1}
\produc{explist1}{\rep{exp \ter{,}} exp}
\produc{exp}{%
\rwd{nil}
\rwd{false}
\rwd{true}
\Or \Nter{Number}
\OrNL \Nter{Literal}
\Or function
\Or prefixexp
\OrNL tableconstructor
\Or exp binop exp
\Or unop exp
}
\produc{prefixexp}{var \Or functioncall \Or \ter{(} exp \ter{)}}
\produc{functioncall}{%
prefixexp args
\Or prefixexp \ter{:} \Nter{Name} args
}
\produc{args}{%
\ter{(} \opt{explist1} \ter{)}
\Or tableconstructor
\Or \Nter{Literal}
}
\produc{function}{\rwd{function} funcbody}
\produc{funcbody}{\ter{(} \opt{parlist1} \ter{)} block \rwd{end}}
\produc{parlist1}{%
\Nter{Name} \rep{\ter{,} \Nter{Name}} \opt{\ter{,} \ter{\ldots}}
\Or \ter{\ldots}
}
\produc{tableconstructor}{\ter{\{} \opt{fieldlist} \ter{\}}}
\produc{fieldlist}{field \rep{fieldsep field} \opt{fieldsep}}
\produc{field}{\ter{[} exp \ter{]} \ter{=} exp \Or name \ter{=} exp \Or exp}
\produc{fieldsep}{\ter{,} \Or \ter{;}}
\produc{binop}{\ter{+} \Or \ter{-} \Or \ter{*} \Or \ter{/} \Or \ter{\^{ }} \Or
\ter{..} \Or \ter{<} \Or \ter{<=} \Or \ter{>} \Or \ter{>=}
\Or \ter{==} \Or \ter{\~{ }=} \OrNL \rwd{and} \Or \rwd{or}}
\produc{unop}{\ter{-} \Or \rwd{not}}
\end{Produc}
%}===============================================================
% Index
\newpage
\addcontentsline{toc}{section}{Index}
\input{manual.id}
\end{document}
%)]}