<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> <!DOCTYPE chapter SYSTEM "chapter.dtd"> <chapter> <header> <copyright> <year>2001</year><year>2016</year> <holder>Ericsson AB. All Rights Reserved.</holder> </copyright> <legalnotice> Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0 Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the License. </legalnotice> <title>The Abstract Format</title> <prepared>Arndt Jonasson</prepared> <responsible>Kenneth Lundin</responsible> <docno>1</docno> <approved>Jultomten</approved> <checked></checked> <date>00-12-01</date> <rev>A</rev> <file>absform.xml</file> </header> <p></p> <p>This document describes the standard representation of parse trees for Erlang programs as Erlang terms. This representation is known as the <em>abstract format</em>. Functions dealing with such parse trees are <c>compile:forms/[1,2]</c> and functions in the modules <c>epp</c>, <c>erl_eval</c>, <c>erl_lint</c>, <c>erl_pp</c>, <c>erl_parse</c>, and <c>io</c>. They are also used as input and output for parse transforms (see the module <c>compile</c>).</p> <p>We use the function <c>Rep</c> to denote the mapping from an Erlang source construct <c>C</c> to its abstract format representation <c>R</c>, and write <c>R = Rep(C)</c>. </p> <p>The word <c>LINE</c> below represents an integer, and denotes the number of the line in the source file where the construction occurred. Several instances of <c>LINE</c> in the same construction may denote different lines.</p> <p>Since operators are not terms in their own right, when operators are mentioned below, the representation of an operator should be taken to be the atom with a printname consisting of the same characters as the operator. </p> <section> <title>Module Declarations and Forms</title> <p>A module declaration consists of a sequence of forms that are either function declarations or attributes.</p> <list type="bulleted"> <item>If D is a module declaration consisting of the forms <c>F_1</c>, ..., <c>F_k</c>, then Rep(D) = <c>[Rep(F_1), ..., Rep(F_k)]</c>.</item> <item>If F is an attribute <c>-export([Fun_1/A_1, ..., Fun_k/A_k])</c>, then Rep(F) = <c>{attribute,LINE,export,[{Fun_1,A_1}, ..., {Fun_k,A_k}]}</c>.</item> <item>If F is an attribute <c>-import(Mod,[Fun_1/A_1, ..., Fun_k/A_k])</c>, then Rep(F) = <c>{attribute,LINE,import,{Mod,[{Fun_1,A_1}, ..., {Fun_k,A_k}]}}</c>.</item> <item>If F is an attribute <c>-module(Mod)</c>, then Rep(F) = <c>{attribute,LINE,module,Mod}</c>.</item> <item>If F is an attribute <c>-file(File,Line)</c>, then Rep(F) = <c>{attribute,LINE,file,{File,Line}}</c>.</item> <item>If F is a function declaration <c>Name Fc_1 ; ... ; Name Fc_k</c>, where each <c>Fc_i</c> is a function clause with a pattern sequence of the same length <c>Arity</c>, then Rep(F) = <c>{function,LINE,Name,Arity,[Rep(Fc_1), ...,Rep(Fc_k)]}</c>. </item> <item>If F is a function specification <c>-Spec Name Ft_1; ...; Ft_k</c>, where <c>Spec</c> is either the atom <c>spec</c> or the atom <c>callback</c>, and each <c>Ft_i</c> is a possibly constrained function type with an argument sequence of the same length <c>Arity</c>, then Rep(F) = <c>{attribute,Line,Spec,{{Name,Arity},[Rep(Ft_1), ..., Rep(Ft_k)]}}</c>. </item> <item>If F is a function specification <c>-spec Mod:Name Ft_1; ...; Ft_k</c>, where each <c>Ft_i</c> is a possibly constrained function type with an argument sequence of the same length <c>Arity</c>, then Rep(F) = <c>{attribute,Line,spec,{{Mod,Name,Arity},[Rep(Ft_1), ..., Rep(Ft_k)]}}</c>. </item> <item>If F is a record declaration <c>-record(Name,{V_1, ..., V_k})</c>, where each <c>V_i</c> is a record field, then Rep(F) = <c>{attribute,LINE,record,{Name,[Rep(V_1), ..., Rep(V_k)]}}</c>. For Rep(V), see below.</item> <item>If F is a type declaration <c>-Type Name(V_1, ..., V_k) :: T</c>, where <c>Type</c> is either the atom <c>type</c> or the atom <c>opaque</c>, each <c>V_i</c> is a variable, and <c>T</c> is a type, then Rep(F) = <c>{attribute,LINE,Type,{Name,Rep(T),[Rep(V_1), ..., Rep(V_k)]}}</c>. </item> <item>If F is a wild attribute <c>-A(T)</c>, then Rep(F) = <c>{attribute,LINE,A,T}</c>. <br></br></item> </list> <section> <title>Record Fields</title> <p>Each field in a record declaration may have an optional explicit default initializer expression, as well as an optional type.</p> <list type="bulleted"> <item>If V is <c>A</c>, then Rep(V) = <c>{record_field,LINE,Rep(A)}</c>.</item> <item>If V is <c>A = E</c>, where <c>E</c> is an expression, then Rep(V) = <c>{record_field,LINE,Rep(A),Rep(E)}</c>.</item> <item>If V is <c>A :: T</c>, where <c>T</c> is a type, then Rep(V) = <c>{typed_record_field,{record_field,LINE,Rep(A)},Rep(T)}</c>. </item> <item>If V is <c>A = E :: T</c>, where <c>E</c> is an expression and <c>T</c> is a type, then Rep(V) = <c>{typed_record_field,{record_field,LINE,Rep(A),Rep(E)},Rep(T)}</c>. </item> </list> </section> <section> <title>Representation of Parse Errors and End-of-file</title> <p>In addition to the representations of forms, the list that represents a module declaration (as returned by functions in <c>erl_parse</c> and <c>epp</c>) may contain tuples <c>{error,E}</c> and <c>{warning,W}</c>, denoting syntactically incorrect forms and warnings, and <c>{eof,LINE}</c>, denoting an end-of-stream encountered before a complete form had been parsed.</p> </section> </section> <section> <title>Atomic Literals</title> <p>There are five kinds of atomic literals, which are represented in the same way in patterns, expressions and guards:</p> <list type="bulleted"> <item>If L is an atom literal, then Rep(L) = <c>{atom,LINE,L}</c>.</item> <item>If L is a character literal, then Rep(L) = <c>{char,LINE,L}</c>.</item> <item>If L is a float literal, then Rep(L) = <c>{float,LINE,L}</c>.</item> <item>If L is an integer literal, then Rep(L) = <c>{integer,LINE,L}</c>.</item> <item>If L is a string literal consisting of the characters <c>C_1</c>, ..., <c>C_k</c>, then Rep(L) = <c>{string,LINE,[C_1, ..., C_k]}</c>.</item> </list> <p>Note that negative integer and float literals do not occur as such; they are parsed as an application of the unary negation operator.</p> </section> <section> <title>Patterns</title> <p>If Ps is a sequence of patterns <c>P_1, ..., P_k</c>, then Rep(Ps) = <c>[Rep(P_1), ..., Rep(P_k)]</c>. Such sequences occur as the list of arguments to a function or fun.</p> <p>Individual patterns are represented as follows:</p> <list type="bulleted"> <item>If P is an atomic literal <c>L</c>, then Rep(P) = Rep(L).</item> <item>If P is a bit string pattern <c><<P_1:Size_1/TSL_1, ..., P_k:Size_k/TSL_k>></c>, where each <c>Size_i</c> is an expression that can be evaluated to an integer and each <c>TSL_i</c> is a type specificer list, then Rep(P) = <c>{bin,LINE,[{bin_element,LINE,Rep(P_1),Rep(Size_1),Rep(TSL_1)}, ..., {bin_element,LINE,Rep(P_k),Rep(Size_k),Rep(TSL_k)}]}</c>. For Rep(TSL), see below. An omitted <c>Size_i</c> is represented by <c>default</c>. An omitted <c>TSL_i</c> is represented by <c>default</c>.</item> <item>If P is a compound pattern <c>P_1 = P_2</c>, then Rep(P) = <c>{match,LINE,Rep(P_1),Rep(P_2)}</c>.</item> <item>If P is a cons pattern <c>[P_h | P_t]</c>, then Rep(P) = <c>{cons,LINE,Rep(P_h),Rep(P_t)}</c>.</item> <item>If P is a map pattern <c>#{A_1, ..., A_k}</c>, where each <c>A_i</c> is an association <c>P_i_1 := P_i_2</c>, then Rep(P) = <c>{map,LINE,[Rep(A_1), ..., Rep(A_k)]}</c>. For Rep(A), see below.</item> <item>If P is a nil pattern <c>[]</c>, then Rep(P) = <c>{nil,LINE}</c>.</item> <item>If P is an operator pattern <c>P_1 Op P_2</c>, where <c>Op</c> is a binary operator (this is either an occurrence of <c>++</c> applied to a literal string or character list, or an occurrence of an expression that can be evaluated to a number at compile time), then Rep(P) = <c>{op,LINE,Op,Rep(P_1),Rep(P_2)}</c>.</item> <item>If P is an operator pattern <c>Op P_0</c>, where <c>Op</c> is a unary operator (this is an occurrence of an expression that can be evaluated to a number at compile time), then Rep(P) = <c>{op,LINE,Op,Rep(P_0)}</c>.</item> <item>If P is a parenthesized pattern <c>( P_0 )</c>, then Rep(P) = <c>Rep(P_0)</c>, that is, parenthesized patterns cannot be distinguished from their bodies.</item> <item>If P is a record field index pattern <c>#Name.Field</c>, where <c>Field</c> is an atom, then Rep(P) = <c>{record_index,LINE,Name,Rep(Field)}</c>.</item> <item>If P is a record pattern <c>#Name{Field_1=P_1, ..., Field_k=P_k}</c>, where each <c>Field_i</c> is an atom or <c>_</c>, then Rep(P) = <c>{record,LINE,Name,[{record_field,LINE,Rep(Field_1),Rep(P_1)}, ..., {record_field,LINE,Rep(Field_k),Rep(P_k)}]}</c>.</item> <item>If P is a tuple pattern <c>{P_1, ..., P_k}</c>, then Rep(P) = <c>{tuple,LINE,[Rep(P_1), ..., Rep(P_k)]}</c>.</item> <item>If P is a universal pattern <c>_</c>, then Rep(P) = <c>{var,LINE,'_'}</c>.</item> <item>If P is a variable pattern <c>V</c>, then Rep(P) = <c>{var,LINE,A}</c>, where A is an atom with a printname consisting of the same characters as <c>V</c>.</item> </list> <p>Note that every pattern has the same source form as some expression, and is represented the same way as the corresponding expression.</p> </section> <section> <title>Expressions</title> <p>A body B is a nonempty sequence of expressions <c>E_1, ..., E_k</c>, and Rep(B) = <c>[Rep(E_1), ..., Rep(E_k)]</c>.</p> <p>An expression E is one of the following alternatives:</p> <list type="bulleted"> <item>If E is an atomic literal <c>L</c>, then Rep(E) = Rep(L).</item> <item>If E is a bit string comprehension <c><<E_0 || Q_1, ..., Q_k>></c>, where each <c>Q_i</c> is a qualifier, then Rep(E) = <c>{bc,LINE,Rep(E_0),[Rep(Q_1), ..., Rep(Q_k)]}</c>. For Rep(Q), see below.</item> <item>If E is a bit string constructor <c><<E_1:Size_1/TSL_1, ..., E_k:Size_k/TSL_k>></c>, where each <c>Size_i</c> is an expression and each <c>TSL_i</c> is a type specificer list, then Rep(E) = <c>{bin,LINE,[{bin_element,LINE,Rep(E_1),Rep(Size_1),Rep(TSL_1)}, ..., {bin_element,LINE,Rep(E_k),Rep(Size_k),Rep(TSL_k)}]}</c>. For Rep(TSL), see below. An omitted <c>Size_i</c> is represented by <c>default</c>. An omitted <c>TSL_i</c> is represented by <c>default</c>.</item> <item>If E is a block expression <c>begin B end</c>, where <c>B</c> is a body, then Rep(E) = <c>{block,LINE,Rep(B)}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a case expression <c>case E_0 of Cc_1 ; ... ; Cc_k end</c>, where <c>E_0</c> is an expression and each <c>Cc_i</c> is a case clause then Rep(E) = <c>{'case',LINE,Rep(E_0),[Rep(Cc_1), ..., Rep(Cc_k)]}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a catch expression <c>catch E_0</c>, then Rep(E) = <c>{'catch',LINE,Rep(E_0)}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a cons skeleton <c>[E_h | E_t]</c>, then Rep(E) = <c>{cons,LINE,Rep(E_h),Rep(E_t)}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a fun expression <c>fun Name/Arity</c>, then Rep(E) = <c>{'fun',LINE,{function,Name,Arity}}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a fun expression <c>fun Module:Name/Arity</c>, then Rep(E) = <c>{'fun',LINE,{function,Rep(Module),Rep(Name),Rep(Arity)}}</c>. (Before the R15 release: Rep(E) = <c>{'fun',LINE,{function,Module,Name,Arity}}</c>.)</item> <item>If E is a fun expression <c>fun Fc_1 ; ... ; Fc_k end</c>, where each <c>Fc_i</c> is a function clause then Rep(E) = <c>{'fun',LINE,{clauses,[Rep(Fc_1), ..., Rep(Fc_k)]}}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a fun expression <c>fun Name Fc_1 ; ... ; Name Fc_k end</c>, where <c>Name</c> is a variable and each <c>Fc_i</c> is a function clause then Rep(E) = <c>{named_fun,LINE,Name,[Rep(Fc_1), ..., Rep(Fc_k)]}</c>. </item> <item>If E is a function call <c>E_0(E_1, ..., E_k)</c>, then Rep(E) = <c>{call,LINE,Rep(E_0),[Rep(E_1), ..., Rep(E_k)]}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a function call <c>E_m:E_0(E_1, ..., E_k)</c>, then Rep(E) = <c>{call,LINE,{remote,LINE,Rep(E_m),Rep(E_0)},[Rep(E_1), ..., Rep(E_k)]}</c>. </item> <item>If E is an if expression <c>if Ic_1 ; ... ; Ic_k end</c>, where each <c>Ic_i</c> is an if clause then Rep(E) = <c>{'if',LINE,[Rep(Ic_1), ..., Rep(Ic_k)]}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a list comprehension <c>[E_0 || Q_1, ..., Q_k]</c>, where each <c>Q_i</c> is a qualifier, then Rep(E) = <c>{lc,LINE,Rep(E_0),[Rep(Q_1), ..., Rep(Q_k)]}</c>. For Rep(Q), see below.</item> <item>If E is a map creation <c>#{A_1, ..., A_k}</c>, where each <c>A_i</c> is an association <c>E_i_1 => E_i_2</c> or <c>E_i_1 := E_i_2</c>, then Rep(E) = <c>{map,LINE,[Rep(A_1), ..., Rep(A_k)]}</c>. For Rep(A), see below.</item> <item>If E is a map update <c>E_0#{A_1, ..., A_k}</c>, where each <c>A_i</c> is an association <c>E_i_1 => E_i_2</c> or <c>E_i_1 := E_i_2</c>, then Rep(E) = <c>{map,LINE,Rep(E_0),[Rep(A_1), ..., Rep(A_k)]}</c>. For Rep(A), see below.</item> <item>If E is a match operator expression <c>P = E_0</c>, where <c>P</c> is a pattern, then Rep(E) = <c>{match,LINE,Rep(P),Rep(E_0)}</c>.</item> <item>If E is nil, <c>[]</c>, then Rep(E) = <c>{nil,LINE}</c>.</item> <item>If E is an operator expression <c>E_1 Op E_2</c>, where <c>Op</c> is a binary operator other than the match operator <c>=</c>, then Rep(E) = <c>{op,LINE,Op,Rep(E_1),Rep(E_2)}</c>.</item> <item>If E is an operator expression <c>Op E_0</c>, where <c>Op</c> is a unary operator, then Rep(E) = <c>{op,LINE,Op,Rep(E_0)}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a parenthesized expression <c>( E_0 )</c>, then Rep(E) = <c>Rep(E_0)</c>, that is, parenthesized expressions cannot be distinguished from their bodies.</item> <item>If E is a receive expression <c>receive Cc_1 ; ... ; Cc_k end</c>, where each <c>Cc_i</c> is a case clause then Rep(E) = <c>{'receive',LINE,[Rep(Cc_1), ..., Rep(Cc_k)]}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a receive expression <c>receive Cc_1 ; ... ; Cc_k after E_0 -> B_t end</c>, where each <c>Cc_i</c> is a case clause, <c>E_0</c> is an expression and <c>B_t</c> is a body, then Rep(E) = <c>{'receive',LINE,[Rep(Cc_1), ..., Rep(Cc_k)],Rep(E_0),Rep(B_t)}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a record creation <c>#Name{Field_1=E_1, ..., Field_k=E_k}</c>, where each <c>Field_i</c> is an atom or <c>_</c>, then Rep(E) = <c>{record,LINE,Name,[{record_field,LINE,Rep(Field_1),Rep(E_1)}, ..., {record_field,LINE,Rep(Field_k),Rep(E_k)}]}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a record field access <c>E_0#Name.Field</c>, where <c>Field</c> is an atom, then Rep(E) = <c>{record_field,LINE,Rep(E_0),Name,Rep(Field)}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a record field index <c>#Name.Field</c>, where <c>Field</c> is an atom, then Rep(E) = <c>{record_index,LINE,Name,Rep(Field)}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a record update <c>E_0#Name{Field_1=E_1, ..., Field_k=E_k}</c>, where each <c>Field_i</c> is an atom, then Rep(E) = <c>{record,LINE,Rep(E_0),Name,[{record_field,LINE,Rep(Field_1),Rep(E_1)}, ..., {record_field,LINE,Rep(Field_k),Rep(E_k)}]}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a tuple skeleton <c>{E_1, ..., E_k}</c>, then Rep(E) = <c>{tuple,LINE,[Rep(E_1), ..., Rep(E_k)]}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a try expression <c>try B catch Tc_1 ; ... ; Tc_k end</c>, where <c>B</c> is a body and each <c>Tc_i</c> is a catch clause then Rep(E) = <c>{'try',LINE,Rep(B),[],[Rep(Tc_1), ..., Rep(Tc_k)],[]}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a try expression <c>try B of Cc_1 ; ... ; Cc_k catch Tc_1 ; ... ; Tc_n end</c>, where <c>B</c> is a body, each <c>Cc_i</c> is a case clause and each <c>Tc_j</c> is a catch clause then Rep(E) = <c>{'try',LINE,Rep(B),[Rep(Cc_1), ..., Rep(Cc_k)],[Rep(Tc_1), ..., Rep(Tc_n)],[]}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a try expression <c>try B after A end</c>, where <c>B</c> and <c>A</c> are bodies then Rep(E) = <c>{'try',LINE,Rep(B),[],[],Rep(A)}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a try expression <c>try B of Cc_1 ; ... ; Cc_k after A end</c>, where <c>B</c> and <c>A</c> are a bodies and each <c>Cc_i</c> is a case clause then Rep(E) = <c>{'try',LINE,Rep(B),[Rep(Cc_1), ..., Rep(Cc_k)],[],Rep(A)}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a try expression <c>try B catch Tc_1 ; ... ; Tc_k after A end</c>, where <c>B</c> and <c>A</c> are bodies and each <c>Tc_i</c> is a catch clause then Rep(E) = <c>{'try',LINE,Rep(B),[],[Rep(Tc_1), ..., Rep(Tc_k)],Rep(A)}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a try expression <c>try B of Cc_1 ; ... ; Cc_k catch Tc_1 ; ... ; Tc_n after A end</c>, where <c>B</c> and <c>A</c> are a bodies, each <c>Cc_i</c> is a case clause, and each <c>Tc_j</c> is a catch clause then Rep(E) = <c>{'try',LINE,Rep(B),[Rep(Cc_1), ..., Rep(Cc_k)],[Rep(Tc_1), ..., Rep(Tc_n)],Rep(A)}</c>.</item> <item>If E is a variable <c>V</c>, then Rep(E) = <c>{var,LINE,A}</c>, where <c>A</c> is an atom with a printname consisting of the same characters as <c>V</c>.</item> </list> <section> <title>Qualifiers</title> <p>A qualifier Q is one of the following alternatives:</p> <list type="bulleted"> <item>If Q is a filter <c>E</c>, where <c>E</c> is an expression, then Rep(Q) = <c>Rep(E)</c>.</item> <item>If Q is a generator <c>P <- E</c>, where <c>P</c> is a pattern and <c>E</c> is an expression, then Rep(Q) = <c>{generate,LINE,Rep(P),Rep(E)}</c>.</item> <item>If Q is a bit string generator <c>P <= E</c>, where <c>P</c> is a pattern and <c>E</c> is an expression, then Rep(Q) = <c>{b_generate,LINE,Rep(P),Rep(E)}</c>.</item> </list> </section> <section> <title>Bit String Element Type Specifiers</title> <p>A type specifier list TSL for a bit string element is a sequence of type specifiers <c>TS_1 - ... - TS_k</c>, and Rep(TSL) = <c>[Rep(TS_1), ..., Rep(TS_k)]</c>.</p> <list type="bulleted"> <item>If TS is a type specifier <c>A</c>, where <c>A</c> is an atom, then Rep(TS) = <c>A</c>.</item> <item>If TS is a type specifier <c>A:Value</c>, where <c>A</c> is an atom and <c>Value</c> is an integer, then Rep(TS) = <c>{A,Value}</c>.</item> </list> </section> <section> <title>Associations</title> <p>An association A is one of the following alternatives:</p> <list type="bulleted"> <item>If A is an association <c>K => V</c>, then Rep(A) = <c>{map_field_assoc,LINE,Rep(K),Rep(V)}</c>. </item> <item>If A is an association <c>K := V</c>, then Rep(A) = <c>{map_field_exact,LINE,Rep(K),Rep(V)}</c>. </item> </list> </section> </section> <section> <title>Clauses</title> <p>There are function clauses, if clauses, case clauses and catch clauses.</p> <p>A clause <c>C</c> is one of the following alternatives:</p> <list type="bulleted"> <item>If C is a case clause <c>P -> B</c>, where <c>P</c> is a pattern and <c>B</c> is a body, then Rep(C) = <c>{clause,LINE,[Rep(P)],[],Rep(B)}</c>.</item> <item>If C is a case clause <c>P when Gs -> B</c>, where <c>P</c> is a pattern, <c>Gs</c> is a guard sequence and <c>B</c> is a body, then Rep(C) = <c>{clause,LINE,[Rep(P)],Rep(Gs),Rep(B)}</c>.</item> <item>If C is a catch clause <c>P -> B</c>, where <c>P</c> is a pattern and <c>B</c> is a body, then Rep(C) = <c>{clause,LINE,[Rep({throw,P,_})],[],Rep(B)}</c>.</item> <item>If C is a catch clause <c>X : P -> B</c>, where <c>X</c> is an atomic literal or a variable pattern, <c>P</c> is a pattern, and <c>B</c> is a body, then Rep(C) = <c>{clause,LINE,[Rep({X,P,_})],[],Rep(B)}</c>.</item> <item>If C is a catch clause <c>P when Gs -> B</c>, where <c>P</c> is a pattern, <c>Gs</c> is a guard sequence, and <c>B</c> is a body, then Rep(C) = <c>{clause,LINE,[Rep({throw,P,_})],Rep(Gs),Rep(B)}</c>.</item> <item>If C is a catch clause <c>X : P when Gs -> B</c>, where <c>X</c> is an atomic literal or a variable pattern, <c>P</c> is a pattern, <c>Gs</c> is a guard sequence, and <c>B</c> is a body, then Rep(C) = <c>{clause,LINE,[Rep({X,P,_})],Rep(Gs),Rep(B)}</c>.</item> <item>If C is a function clause <c>( Ps ) -> B</c>, where <c>Ps</c> is a pattern sequence and <c>B</c> is a body, then Rep(C) = <c>{clause,LINE,Rep(Ps),[],Rep(B)}</c>.</item> <item>If C is a function clause <c>( Ps ) when Gs -> B</c>, where <c>Ps</c> is a pattern sequence, <c>Gs</c> is a guard sequence and <c>B</c> is a body, then Rep(C) = <c>{clause,LINE,Rep(Ps),Rep(Gs),Rep(B)}</c>.</item> <item>If C is an if clause <c>Gs -> B</c>, where <c>Gs</c> is a guard sequence and <c>B</c> is a body, then Rep(C) = <c>{clause,LINE,[],Rep(Gs),Rep(B)}</c>.</item> </list> </section> <section> <title>Guards</title> <p>A guard sequence Gs is a sequence of guards <c>G_1; ...; G_k</c>, and Rep(Gs) = <c>[Rep(G_1), ..., Rep(G_k)]</c>. If the guard sequence is empty, Rep(Gs) = <c>[]</c>.</p> <p>A guard G is a nonempty sequence of guard tests <c>Gt_1, ..., Gt_k</c>, and Rep(G) = <c>[Rep(Gt_1), ..., Rep(Gt_k)]</c>.</p> <p>A guard test <c>Gt</c> is one of the following alternatives:</p> <list type="bulleted"> <item>If Gt is an atomic literal <c>L</c>, then Rep(Gt) = Rep(L).</item> <item>If Gt is a bit string constructor <c><<Gt_1:Size_1/TSL_1, ..., Gt_k:Size_k/TSL_k>></c>, where each <c>Size_i</c> is a guard test and each <c>TSL_i</c> is a type specificer list, then Rep(Gt) = <c>{bin,LINE,[{bin_element,LINE,Rep(Gt_1),Rep(Size_1),Rep(TSL_1)}, ..., {bin_element,LINE,Rep(Gt_k),Rep(Size_k),Rep(TSL_k)}]}</c>. For Rep(TSL), see above. An omitted <c>Size_i</c> is represented by <c>default</c>. An omitted <c>TSL_i</c> is represented by <c>default</c>.</item> <item>If Gt is a cons skeleton <c>[Gt_h | Gt_t]</c>, then Rep(Gt) = <c>{cons,LINE,Rep(Gt_h),Rep(Gt_t)}</c>.</item> <item>If Gt is a function call <c>A(Gt_1, ..., Gt_k)</c>, where <c>A</c> is an atom, then Rep(Gt) = <c>{call,LINE,Rep(A),[Rep(Gt_1), ..., Rep(Gt_k)]}</c>.</item> <item>If Gt is a function call <c>A_m:A(Gt_1, ..., Gt_k)</c>, where <c>A_m</c> is the atom <c>erlang</c> and <c>A</c> is an atom or an operator, then Rep(Gt) = <c>{call,LINE,{remote,LINE,Rep(A_m),Rep(A)},[Rep(Gt_1), ..., Rep(Gt_k)]}</c>.</item> <item>If Gt is a map creation <c>#{A_1, ..., A_k}</c>, where each <c>A_i</c> is an association <c>Gt_i_1 => Gt_i_2</c> or <c>Gt_i_1 := Gt_i_2</c>, then Rep(Gt) = <c>{map,LINE,[Rep(A_1), ..., Rep(A_k)]}</c>. For Rep(A), see above.</item> <item>If Gt is a map update <c>Gt_0#{A_1, ..., A_k}</c>, where each <c>A_i</c> is an association <c>Gt_i_1 => Gt_i_2</c> or <c>Gt_i_1 := Gt_i_2</c>, then Rep(Gt) = <c>{map,LINE,Rep(Gt_0),[Rep(A_1), ..., Rep(A_k)]}</c>. For Rep(A), see above.</item> <item>If Gt is nil, <c>[]</c>, then Rep(Gt) = <c>{nil,LINE}</c>.</item> <item>If Gt is an operator guard test <c>Gt_1 Op Gt_2</c>, where <c>Op</c> is a binary operator other than the match operator <c>=</c>, then Rep(Gt) = <c>{op,LINE,Op,Rep(Gt_1),Rep(Gt_2)}</c>.</item> <item>If Gt is an operator guard test <c>Op Gt_0</c>, where <c>Op</c> is a unary operator, then Rep(Gt) = <c>{op,LINE,Op,Rep(Gt_0)}</c>.</item> <item>If Gt is a parenthesized guard test <c>( Gt_0 )</c>, then Rep(Gt) = <c>Rep(Gt_0)</c>, that is, parenthesized guard tests cannot be distinguished from their bodies.</item> <item>If Gt is a record creation <c>#Name{Field_1=Gt_1, ..., Field_k=Gt_k}</c>, where each <c>Field_i</c> is an atom or <c>_</c>, then Rep(Gt) = <c>{record,LINE,Name,[{record_field,LINE,Rep(Field_1),Rep(Gt_1)}, ..., {record_field,LINE,Rep(Field_k),Rep(Gt_k)}]}</c>.</item> <item>If Gt is a record field access <c>Gt_0#Name.Field</c>, where <c>Field</c> is an atom, then Rep(Gt) = <c>{record_field,LINE,Rep(Gt_0),Name,Rep(Field)}</c>.</item> <item>If Gt is a record field index <c>#Name.Field</c>, where <c>Field</c> is an atom, then Rep(Gt) = <c>{record_index,LINE,Name,Rep(Field)}</c>.</item> <item>If Gt is a tuple skeleton <c>{Gt_1, ..., Gt_k}</c>, then Rep(Gt) = <c>{tuple,LINE,[Rep(Gt_1), ..., Rep(Gt_k)]}</c>.</item> <item>If Gt is a variable pattern <c>V</c>, then Rep(Gt) = <c>{var,LINE,A}</c>, where A is an atom with a printname consisting of the same characters as <c>V</c>.</item> </list> <p>Note that every guard test has the same source form as some expression, and is represented the same way as the corresponding expression.</p> </section> <section> <title>Types</title> <list type="bulleted"> <item>If T is an annotated type <c>A :: T_0</c>, where <c>A</c> is a variable, then Rep(T) = <c>{ann_type,LINE,[Rep(A),Rep(T_0)]}</c>.</item> <item>If T is an atom or integer literal L, then Rep(T) = Rep(L). </item> <item>If T is a bit string type <c><<_:M,_:_*N>></c>, where <c>M</c> and <c>N</c> are singleton integer types, then Rep(T) = <c>{type,LINE,binary,[Rep(M),Rep(N)]}</c>.</item> <item>If T is the empty list type <c>[]</c>, then Rep(T) = <c>{type,Line,nil,[]}</c>.</item> <item>If T is a fun type <c>fun()</c>, then Rep(T) = <c>{type,LINE,'fun',[]}</c>.</item> <item>If T is a fun type <c>fun((...) -> T_0)</c>, then Rep(T) = <c>{type,LINE,'fun',[{type,LINE,any},Rep(T_0)]}</c>. </item> <item>If T is a fun type <c>fun(Ft)</c>, where <c>Ft</c> is a function type, then Rep(T) = <c>Rep(Ft)</c>. For Rep(Ft), see below.</item> <item>If T is an integer range type <c>L .. H</c>, where <c>L</c> and <c>H</c> are singleton integer types, then Rep(T) = <c>{type,LINE,range,[Rep(L),Rep(H)]}</c>.</item> <item>If T is a map type <c>map()</c>, then Rep(T) = <c>{type,LINE,map,any}</c>.</item> <item>If T is a map type <c>#{A_1, ..., A_k}</c>, where each <c>A_i</c> is an association type, then Rep(T) = <c>{type,LINE,map,[Rep(A_1), ..., Rep(A_k)]}</c>. For Rep(A), see below.</item> <item>If T is an operator type <c>T_1 Op T_2</c>, where <c>Op</c> is a binary operator (this is an occurrence of an expression that can be evaluated to an integer at compile time), then Rep(T) = <c>{op,LINE,Op,Rep(T_1),Rep(T_2)}</c>.</item> <item>If T is an operator type <c>Op T_0</c>, where <c>Op</c> is a unary operator (this is an occurrence of an expression that can be evaluated to an integer at compile time), then Rep(T) = <c>{op,LINE,Op,Rep(T_0)}</c>.</item> <item>If T is <c>( T_0 )</c>, then Rep(T) = <c>Rep(T_0)</c>, that is, parenthesized types cannot be distinguished from their bodies.</item> <item>If T is a predefined (or built-in) type <c>N(T_1, ..., T_k)</c>, then Rep(T) = <c>{type,LINE,N,[Rep(T_1), ..., Rep(T_k)]}</c>.</item> <item>If T is a record type <c>#Name{F_1, ..., F_k}</c>, where each <c>F_i</c> is a record field type, then Rep(T) = <c>{type,LINE,record,[Rep(Name),Rep(F_1), ..., Rep(F_k)]}</c>. For Rep(F), see below.</item> <item>If T is a remote type <c>M:N(T_1, ..., T_k)</c>, then Rep(T) = <c>{remote_type,LINE,[Rep(M),Rep(N),[Rep(T_1), ..., Rep(T_k)]]}</c>. </item> <item>If T is a tuple type <c>tuple()</c>, then Rep(T) = <c>{type,LINE,tuple,any}</c>.</item> <item>If T is a tuple type <c>{T_1, ..., T_k}</c>, then Rep(T) = <c>{type,LINE,tuple,[Rep(T_1), ..., Rep(T_k)]}</c>.</item> <item>If T is a type union <c>T_1 | ... | T_k</c>, then Rep(T) = <c>{type,LINE,union,[Rep(T_1), ..., Rep(T_k)]}</c>.</item> <item>If T is a type variable <c>V</c>, then Rep(T) = <c>{var,LINE,A}</c>, where <c>A</c> is an atom with a printname consisting of the same characters as <c>V</c>. A type variable is any variable except underscore (<c>_</c>).</item> <item>If T is a user-defined type <c>N(T_1, ..., T_k)</c>, then Rep(T) = <c>{user_type,LINE,N,[Rep(T_1), ..., Rep(T_k)]}</c>.</item> </list> <section> <title>Function Types</title> <p>A function type Ft is one of the following alternatives:</p> <list type="bulleted"> <item>If Ft is a constrained function type <c>Ft_1 when Fc</c>, where <c>Ft_1</c> is a function type and <c>Fc</c> is a function constraint, then Rep(T) = <c>{type,LINE,bounded_fun,[Rep(Ft_1),Rep(Fc)]}</c>. For Rep(Fc), see below.</item> <item>If Ft is a function type <c>(T_1, ..., T_n) -> T_0</c>, where each <c>T_i</c> is a type, then Rep(Ft) = <c>{type,LINE,'fun',[{type,LINE,product,[Rep(T_1), ..., Rep(T_n)]},Rep(T_0)]}</c>.</item> </list> </section> <section> <title>Function Constraints</title> <p>A function constraint Fc is a nonempty sequence of constraints <c>C_1, ..., C_k</c>, and Rep(Fc) = <c>[Rep(C_1), ..., Rep(C_k)]</c>.</p> <list type="bulleted"> <item>If C is a constraint <c>is_subtype(V, T)</c> or <c>V :: T</c>, where <c>V</c> is a type variable and <c>T</c> is a type, then Rep(C) = <c>{type,LINE,constraint,[{atom,LINE,is_subtype},[Rep(V),Rep(T)]]}</c>. </item> </list> </section> <section> <title>Association Types</title> <list type="bulleted"> <item>If A is an association type <c>K => V</c>, where <c>K</c> and <c>V</c> are types, then Rep(A) = <c>{type,LINE,map_field_assoc,[Rep(K),Rep(V)]}</c>.</item> <item>If A is an association type <c>K := V</c>, where <c>K</c> and <c>V</c> are types, then Rep(A) = <c>{type,LINE,map_field_exact,[Rep(K),Rep(V)]}</c>.</item> </list> </section> <section> <title>Record Field Types</title> <list type="bulleted"> <item>If F is a record field type <c>Name :: Type</c>, where <c>Type</c> is a type, then Rep(F) = <c>{type,LINE,field_type,[Rep(Name),Rep(Type)]}</c>.</item> </list> </section> </section> <section> <title>The Abstract Format After Preprocessing</title> <p>The compilation option <c>debug_info</c> can be given to the compiler to have the abstract code stored in the <c>abstract_code</c> chunk in the BEAM file (for debugging purposes).</p> <p>In OTP R9C and later, the <c>abstract_code</c> chunk will contain</p> <p><c>{raw_abstract_v1,AbstractCode}</c></p> <p>where <c>AbstractCode</c> is the abstract code as described in this document.</p> <p>In releases of OTP prior to R9C, the abstract code after some more processing was stored in the BEAM file. The first element of the tuple would be either <c>abstract_v1</c> (R7B) or <c>abstract_v2</c> (R8B).</p> </section> </chapter>