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The Abstract Format
Arndt Jonasson
Kenneth Lundin
1
Jultomten
00-12-01
A
absform.xml
This document describes the standard representation of parse trees for Erlang
programs as Erlang terms. This representation is known as the abstract format.
Functions dealing with such parse trees are compile:forms/[1,2]
and functions in the modules
epp,
erl_eval,
erl_lint,
erl_pp,
erl_parse,
and
io.
They are also used as input and output for parse transforms (see the module
compile).
We use the function Rep to denote the mapping from an Erlang source
construct C to its abstract format representation R, and write
R = Rep(C).
The word LINE below represents an integer, and denotes the
number of the line in the source file where the construction occurred.
Several instances of LINE in the same construction may denote
different lines.
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.
Module Declarations and Forms
A module declaration consists of a sequence of forms that are either
function declarations or attributes.
- If D is a module declaration consisting of the forms
F_1, ..., F_k, then
Rep(D) = [Rep(F_1), ..., Rep(F_k)].
- If F is an attribute -module(Mod), then
Rep(F) = {attribute,LINE,module,Mod}.
- If F is an attribute -behavior(Behavior), then
Rep(F) = {attribute,LINE,behavior,Behavior}.
- If F is an attribute -behaviour(Behaviour), then
Rep(F) = {attribute,LINE,behaviour,Behaviour}.
- If F is an attribute -export([Fun_1/A_1, ..., Fun_k/A_k]), then
Rep(F) = {attribute,LINE,export,[{Fun_1,A_1}, ..., {Fun_k,A_k}]}.
- If F is an attribute -import(Mod,[Fun_1/A_1, ..., Fun_k/A_k]), then
Rep(F) = {attribute,LINE,import,{Mod,[{Fun_1,A_1}, ..., {Fun_k,A_k}]}}.
- If F is an attribute -export_type([Type_1/A_1, ..., Type_k/A_k]), then
Rep(F) = {attribute,LINE,export_type,[{Type_1,A_1}, ..., {Type_k,A_k}]}.
- If F is an attribute -compile(Options), then
Rep(F) = {attribute,LINE,compile,Options}.
- If F is an attribute -file(File,Line), then
Rep(F) = {attribute,LINE,file,{File,Line}}.
- If F is a record declaration
-record(Name,{V_1, ..., V_k}), then Rep(F) =
{attribute,LINE,record,{Name,[Rep(V_1), ..., Rep(V_k)]}}.
For Rep(V), see below.
- If F is a type declaration
-Type Name(V_1, ..., V_k) :: T, where
Type is either the atom type or the atom opaque,
each V_i is a variable, and T is a type, then Rep(F) =
{attribute,LINE,Type,{Name,Rep(T),[Rep(V_1), ..., Rep(V_k)]}}.
- If F is a function specification
-Spec Name Ft_1; ...; Ft_k,
where Spec is either the atom spec or the atom
callback, and each Ft_i is a possibly constrained
function type with an argument sequence of the same length
Arity, then Rep(F) =
{attribute,Line,Spec,{{Name,Arity},[Rep(Ft_1), ..., Rep(Ft_k)]}}.
- If F is a function specification
-spec Mod:Name Ft_1; ...; Ft_k,
where each Ft_i is a possibly constrained
function type with an argument sequence of the same length
Arity, then Rep(F) =
{attribute,Line,spec,{{Mod,Name,Arity},[Rep(Ft_1), ..., Rep(Ft_k)]}}.
- If F is a wild attribute -A(T), then
Rep(F) = {attribute,LINE,A,T}.
- If F is a function declaration
Name Fc_1 ; ... ; Name Fc_k,
where each Fc_i is a function clause with a
pattern sequence of the same length Arity, then
Rep(F) = {function,LINE,Name,Arity,[Rep(Fc_1), ...,Rep(Fc_k)]}.
Record Fields
Each field in a record declaration may have an optional
explicit default initializer expression, as well as an
optional type.
- If V is A, then
Rep(V) = {record_field,LINE,Rep(A)}.
- If V is A = E,
where E is an expression, then
Rep(V) = {record_field,LINE,Rep(A),Rep(E)}.
- If V is A :: T, where T is a
type and it does not contain
undefined syntactically, then Rep(V) =
{typed_record_field,{record_field,LINE,Rep(A)},Rep(undefined | T)}.
- If V is A :: T, where T is a type, then Rep(V) =
{typed_record_field,{record_field,LINE,Rep(A)},Rep(T)}.
- If V is A = E :: T, where
E is an expression and T is a type, then Rep(V) =
{typed_record_field,{record_field,LINE,Rep(A),Rep(E)},Rep(T)}.
Representation of Parse Errors and End-of-file
In addition to the representations of forms, the list that represents
a module declaration (as returned by functions in erl_parse and
epp) may contain tuples {error,E} and
{warning,W}, denoting syntactically incorrect forms and
warnings, and {eof,LINE}, denoting an end-of-stream
encountered before a complete form had been parsed.
Atomic Literals
There are five kinds of atomic literals, which are represented in the
same way in patterns, expressions and guards:
- If L is an integer or character literal, then
Rep(L) = {integer,LINE,L}.
- If L is a float literal, then
Rep(L) = {float,LINE,L}.
- If L is a string literal consisting of the characters
C_1, ..., C_k, then
Rep(L) = {string,LINE,[C_1, ..., C_k]}.
- If L is an atom literal, then
Rep(L) = {atom,LINE,L}.
Note that negative integer and float literals do not occur as such; they are
parsed as an application of the unary negation operator.
Patterns
If Ps is a sequence of patterns P_1, ..., P_k, then
Rep(Ps) = [Rep(P_1), ..., Rep(P_k)]. Such sequences occur as the
list of arguments to a function or fun.
Individual patterns are represented as follows:
- If P is an atomic literal L, then Rep(P) = Rep(L).
- If P is a compound pattern P_1 = P_2, then
Rep(P) = {match,LINE,Rep(P_1),Rep(P_2)}.
- If P is a variable pattern V, then
Rep(P) = {var,LINE,A},
where A is an atom with a printname consisting of the same characters as
V.
- If P is a universal pattern _, then
Rep(P) = {var,LINE,'_'}.
- If P is a tuple pattern {P_1, ..., P_k}, then
Rep(P) = {tuple,LINE,[Rep(P_1), ..., Rep(P_k)]}.
- If P is a nil pattern [], then
Rep(P) = {nil,LINE}.
- If P is a cons pattern [P_h | P_t], then
Rep(P) = {cons,LINE,Rep(P_h),Rep(P_t)}.
- If E is a binary pattern <<P_1:Size_1/TSL_1, ..., P_k:Size_k/TSL_k>>, then
Rep(E) = {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)}]}.
For Rep(TSL), see below.
An omitted Size is represented by default. An omitted TSL
(type specifier list) is represented by default.
- If P is P_1 Op P_2, where Op is a binary operator (this
is either an occurrence of ++ 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) = {op,LINE,Op,Rep(P_1),Rep(P_2)}.
- If P is Op P_0, where Op is a unary operator (this is an
occurrence of an expression that can be evaluated to a number at compile
time), then Rep(P) = {op,LINE,Op,Rep(P_0)}.
- If P is a record pattern #Name{Field_1=P_1, ..., Field_k=P_k},
then Rep(P) =
{record,LINE,Name,[{record_field,LINE,Rep(Field_1),Rep(P_1)}, ..., {record_field,LINE,Rep(Field_k),Rep(P_k)}]}.
- If P is #Name.Field, then
Rep(P) = {record_index,LINE,Name,Rep(Field)}.
- If P is ( P_0 ), then
Rep(P) = Rep(P_0),
that is, patterns cannot be distinguished from their bodies.
Note that every pattern has the same source form as some expression, and is
represented the same way as the corresponding expression.
Expressions
A body B is a sequence of expressions E_1, ..., E_k, and
Rep(B) = [Rep(E_1), ..., Rep(E_k)].
An expression E is one of the following alternatives:
- If P is an atomic literal L, then Rep(P) = Rep(L).
- If E is P = E_0, then
Rep(E) = {match,LINE,Rep(P),Rep(E_0)}.
- If E is a variable V, then Rep(E) = {var,LINE,A},
where A is an atom with a printname consisting of the same
characters as V.
- If E is a tuple skeleton {E_1, ..., E_k}, then
Rep(E) = {tuple,LINE,[Rep(E_1), ..., Rep(E_k)]}.
- If E is [], then
Rep(E) = {nil,LINE}.
- If E is a cons skeleton [E_h | E_t], then
Rep(E) = {cons,LINE,Rep(E_h),Rep(E_t)}.
- If E is a binary constructor <<V_1:Size_1/TSL_1, ..., V_k:Size_k/TSL_k>>, then Rep(E) =
{bin,LINE,[{bin_element,LINE,Rep(V_1),Rep(Size_1),Rep(TSL_1)}, ..., {bin_element,LINE,Rep(V_k),Rep(Size_k),Rep(TSL_k)}]}.
For Rep(TSL), see below.
An omitted Size is represented by default. An omitted TSL
(type specifier list) is represented by default.
- If E is E_1 Op E_2, where Op is a binary operator,
then Rep(E) = {op,LINE,Op,Rep(E_1),Rep(E_2)}.
- If E is Op E_0, where Op is a unary operator, then
Rep(E) = {op,LINE,Op,Rep(E_0)}.
- If E is #Name{Field_1=E_1, ..., Field_k=E_k},
then Rep(E) =
{record,LINE,Name,[{record_field,LINE,Rep(Field_1),Rep(E_1)}, ..., {record_field,LINE,Rep(Field_k),Rep(E_k)}]}.
- If E is E_0#Name{Field_1=E_1, ..., Field_k=E_k}, then
Rep(E) =
{record,LINE,Rep(E_0),Name,[{record_field,LINE,Rep(Field_1),Rep(E_1)}, ..., {record_field,LINE,Rep(Field_k),Rep(E_k)}]}.
- If E is #Name.Field, then
Rep(E) = {record_index,LINE,Name,Rep(Field)}.
- If E is E_0#Name.Field, then
Rep(E) = {record_field,LINE,Rep(E_0),Name,Rep(Field)}.
- If E is #{W_1, ..., W_k} where each
W_i is a map assoc or exact field, then Rep(E) =
{map,LINE,[Rep(W_1), ..., Rep(W_k)]}. For Rep(W), see
below.
- If E is E_0#{W_1, ..., W_k} where
W_i is a map assoc or exact field, then Rep(E) =
{map,LINE,Rep(E_0),[Rep(W_1), ..., Rep(W_k)]}.
For Rep(W), see below.
- If E is catch E_0, then
Rep(E) = {'catch',LINE,Rep(E_0)}.
- If E is E_0(E_1, ..., E_k), then
Rep(E) = {call,LINE,Rep(E_0),[Rep(E_1), ..., Rep(E_k)]}.
- If E is E_m:E_0(E_1, ..., E_k), then Rep(E) =
{call,LINE,{remote,LINE,Rep(E_m),Rep(E_0)},[Rep(E_1), ..., Rep(E_k)]}.
- If E is a list comprehension [E_0 || W_1, ..., W_k],
where each W_i is a generator or a filter, then Rep(E) =
{lc,LINE,Rep(E_0),[Rep(W_1), ..., Rep(W_k)]}. For Rep(W), see
below.
- If E is a binary comprehension
<<E_0 || W_1, ..., W_k>>,
where each W_i is a generator or a filter, then
Rep(E) = {bc,LINE,Rep(E_0),[Rep(W_1), ..., Rep(W_k)]}.
For Rep(W), see below.
- If E is begin B end, where B is a body, then
Rep(E) = {block,LINE,Rep(B)}.
- If E is if Ic_1 ; ... ; Ic_k end,
where each Ic_i is an if clause then Rep(E) =
{'if',LINE,[Rep(Ic_1), ..., Rep(Ic_k)]}.
- If E is case E_0 of Cc_1 ; ... ; Cc_k end,
where E_0 is an expression and each Cc_i is a
case clause then Rep(E) =
{'case',LINE,Rep(E_0),[Rep(Cc_1), ..., Rep(Cc_k)]}.
- If E is try B catch Tc_1 ; ... ; Tc_k end,
where B is a body and each Tc_i is a catch clause then
Rep(E) =
{'try',LINE,Rep(B),[],[Rep(Tc_1), ..., Rep(Tc_k)],[]}.
- If E is try B of Cc_1 ; ... ; Cc_k catch Tc_1 ; ... ; Tc_n end,
where B is a body,
each Cc_i is a case clause and
each Tc_j is a catch clause then Rep(E) =
{'try',LINE,Rep(B),[Rep(Cc_1), ..., Rep(Cc_k)],[Rep(Tc_1), ..., Rep(Tc_n)],[]}.
- If E is try B after A end,
where B and A are bodies then Rep(E) =
{'try',LINE,Rep(B),[],[],Rep(A)}.
- If E is try B of Cc_1 ; ... ; Cc_k after A end,
where B and A are a bodies and
each Cc_i is a case clause then Rep(E) =
{'try',LINE,Rep(B),[Rep(Cc_1), ..., Rep(Cc_k)],[],Rep(A)}.
- If E is try B catch Tc_1 ; ... ; Tc_k after A end,
where B and A are bodies and
each Tc_i is a catch clause then Rep(E) =
{'try',LINE,Rep(B),[],[Rep(Tc_1), ..., Rep(Tc_k)],Rep(A)}.
- If E is try B of Cc_1 ; ... ; Cc_k catch Tc_1 ; ... ; Tc_n after A end,
where B and A are a bodies,
each Cc_i is a case clause and
each Tc_j is a catch clause then
Rep(E) =
{'try',LINE,Rep(B),[Rep(Cc_1), ..., Rep(Cc_k)],[Rep(Tc_1), ..., Rep(Tc_n)],Rep(A)}.
- If E is receive Cc_1 ; ... ; Cc_k end,
where each Cc_i is a case clause then Rep(E) =
{'receive',LINE,[Rep(Cc_1), ..., Rep(Cc_k)]}.
- If E is receive Cc_1 ; ... ; Cc_k after E_0 -> B_t end,
where each Cc_i is a case clause,
E_0 is an expression and B_t is a body, then Rep(E) =
{'receive',LINE,[Rep(Cc_1), ..., Rep(Cc_k)],Rep(E_0),Rep(B_t)}.
- If E is fun Name / Arity, then
Rep(E) = {'fun',LINE,{function,Name,Arity}}.
- If E is fun Module:Name/Arity, then Rep(E) =
{'fun',LINE,{function,Rep(Module),Rep(Name),Rep(Arity)}}.
(Before the R15 release: Rep(E) =
{'fun',LINE,{function,Module,Name,Arity}}.)
- If E is fun Fc_1 ; ... ; Fc_k end
where each Fc_i is a function clause then Rep(E) =
{'fun',LINE,{clauses,[Rep(Fc_1), ..., Rep(Fc_k)]}}.
- If E is fun Name Fc_1 ; ... ; Name Fc_k end
where Name is a variable and each
Fc_i is a function clause then Rep(E) =
{named_fun,LINE,Name,[Rep(Fc_1), ..., Rep(Fc_k)]}.
- If E is ( E_0 ), then
Rep(E) = Rep(E_0), that is, parenthesized
expressions cannot be distinguished from their bodies.
Generators and Filters
When W is a generator or a filter (in the body of a list or
binary comprehension), then:
- If W is a generator P <- E, where P is
a pattern and E is an expression, then
Rep(W) = {generate,LINE,Rep(P),Rep(E)}.
- If W is a generator P <= E, where P is
a pattern and E is an expression, then
Rep(W) = {b_generate,LINE,Rep(P),Rep(E)}.
- If W is a filter E, which is an expression, then
Rep(W) = Rep(E).
Binary Element Type Specifiers
A type specifier list TSL for a binary element is a sequence of type
specifiers TS_1 - ... - TS_k.
Rep(TSL) = [Rep(TS_1), ..., Rep(TS_k)].
When TS is a type specifier for a binary element, then:
- If TS is an atom A, then Rep(TS) = A.
- If TS is a couple A:Value where A is an atom
and Value is an integer, then Rep(TS) =
{A,Value}.
Map Assoc and Exact Fields
When W is an assoc or exact field (in the body of a map), then:
- If W is an assoc field K => V, where
K and V are both expressions,
then Rep(W) = {map_field_assoc,LINE,Rep(K),Rep(V)}.
- If W is an exact field K := V, where
K and V are both expressions,
then Rep(W) = {map_field_exact,LINE,Rep(K),Rep(V)}.
Clauses
There are function clauses, if clauses, case clauses
and catch clauses.
A clause C is one of the following alternatives:
- If C is a function clause ( Ps ) -> B
where Ps is a pattern sequence and B is a body, then
Rep(C) = {clause,LINE,Rep(Ps),[],Rep(B)}.
- If C is a function clause ( Ps ) when Gs -> B
where Ps is a pattern sequence,
Gs is a guard sequence and B is a body, then
Rep(C) = {clause,LINE,Rep(Ps),Rep(Gs),Rep(B)}.
- If C is an if clause Gs -> B
where Gs is a guard sequence and B is a body, then
Rep(C) = {clause,LINE,[],Rep(Gs),Rep(B)}.
- If C is a case clause P -> B
where P is a pattern and B is a body, then
Rep(C) = {clause,LINE,[Rep(P)],[],Rep(B)}.
- If C is a case clause P when Gs -> B
where P is a pattern,
Gs is a guard sequence and B is a body, then
Rep(C) = {clause,LINE,[Rep(P)],Rep(Gs),Rep(B)}.
- If C is a catch clause P -> B
where P is a pattern and B is a body, then
Rep(C) = {clause,LINE,[Rep({throw,P,_})],[],Rep(B)}.
- If C is a catch clause X : P -> B
where X is an atomic literal or a variable pattern,
P is a pattern and B is a body, then
Rep(C) = {clause,LINE,[Rep({X,P,_})],[],Rep(B)}.
- If C is a catch clause P when Gs -> B
where P is a pattern, Gs is a guard sequence
and B is a body, then
Rep(C) = {clause,LINE,[Rep({throw,P,_})],Rep(Gs),Rep(B)}.
- If C is a catch clause X : P when Gs -> B
where X is an atomic literal or a variable pattern,
P is a pattern, Gs is a guard sequence
and B is a body, then
Rep(C) = {clause,LINE,[Rep({X,P,_})],Rep(Gs),Rep(B)}.
Guards
A guard sequence Gs is a sequence of guards G_1; ...; G_k, and
Rep(Gs) = [Rep(G_1), ..., Rep(G_k)]. If the guard sequence is
empty, Rep(Gs) = [].
A guard G is a nonempty sequence of guard tests
Gt_1, ..., Gt_k, and Rep(G) =
[Rep(Gt_1), ..., Rep(Gt_k)].
A guard test Gt is one of the following alternatives:
- If Gt is an atomic literal L, then Rep(Gt) = Rep(L).
- If Gt is a variable pattern V, then
Rep(Gt) = {var,LINE,A}, where A is an atom with
a printname consisting of the same characters as V.
- If Gt is a tuple skeleton {Gt_1, ..., Gt_k}, then
Rep(Gt) = {tuple,LINE,[Rep(Gt_1), ..., Rep(Gt_k)]}.
- If Gt is [], then Rep(Gt) = {nil,LINE}.
- If Gt is a cons skeleton [Gt_h | Gt_t], then
Rep(Gt) = {cons,LINE,Rep(Gt_h),Rep(Gt_t)}.
- If Gt is a binary constructor
<<Gt_1:Size_1/TSL_1, ..., Gt_k:Size_k/TSL_k>>, then
Rep(Gt) = {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)}]}.
For Rep(TSL), see above.
An omitted Size is represented by default.
An omitted TSL (type specifier list) is represented
by default.
- If Gt is Gt_1 Op Gt_2, where Op
is a binary operator, then Rep(Gt) =
{op,LINE,Op,Rep(Gt_1),Rep(Gt_2)}.
- If Gt is Op Gt_0, where Op is a unary operator, then
Rep(Gt) = {op,LINE,Op,Rep(Gt_0)}.
- If Gt is #Name{Field_1=Gt_1, ..., Field_k=Gt_k}, then
Rep(E) =
{record,LINE,Name,[{record_field,LINE,Rep(Field_1),Rep(Gt_1)}, ..., {record_field,LINE,Rep(Field_k),Rep(Gt_k)}]}.
- If Gt is #Name.Field, then
Rep(Gt) = {record_index,LINE,Name,Rep(Field)}.
- If Gt is Gt_0#Name.Field, then
Rep(Gt) = {record_field,LINE,Rep(Gt_0),Name,Rep(Field)}.
- If Gt is A(Gt_1, ..., Gt_k), where A is an atom, then
Rep(Gt) = {call,LINE,Rep(A),[Rep(Gt_1), ..., Rep(Gt_k)]}.
- If Gt is A_m:A(Gt_1, ..., Gt_k), where A_m is
the atom erlang and A is an atom or an operator, then
Rep(Gt) = {call,LINE,{remote,LINE,Rep(A_m),Rep(A)},[Rep(Gt_1), ..., Rep(Gt_k)]}.
- If Gt is {A_m,A}(Gt_1, ..., Gt_k), where A_m is
the atom erlang and A is an atom or an operator, then
Rep(Gt) = {call,LINE,Rep({A_m,A}),[Rep(Gt_1), ..., Rep(Gt_k)]}.
- If Gt is ( Gt_0 ), then
Rep(Gt) = Rep(Gt_0), that is, parenthesized
guard tests cannot be distinguished from their bodies.
Note that every guard test has the same source form as some expression,
and is represented the same way as the corresponding expression.
Types
- If T is an annotated type Anno :: Type,
where Anno is a variable and
Type is a type, then Rep(T) =
{ann_type,LINE,[Rep(Anno),Rep(Type)]}.
- If T is an atom or integer literal L, then Rep(T) = Rep(L).
- If T is L Op R,
where Op is a binary operator and L and R
are types (this is an occurrence of an expression that can be
evaluated to an integer at compile time), then
Rep(T) = {op,LINE,Op,Rep(L),Rep(R)}.
- If T is Op A, where Op is a
unary operator and A is a type (this is an occurrence of
an expression that can be evaluated to an integer at compile time),
then Rep(T) = {op,LINE,Op,Rep(A)}.
- If T is a bitstring type <<_:M,_:_*N>>,
where M and N are singleton integer types, then Rep(T) =
{type,LINE,binary,[Rep(M),Rep(N)]}.
- If T is the empty list type [], then Rep(T) =
{type,Line,nil,[]}.
- If T is a fun type fun(), then Rep(T) =
{type,LINE,'fun',[]}.
- If T is a fun type fun((...) -> B),
where B is a type, then
Rep(T) = {type,LINE,'fun',[{type,LINE,any},Rep(B)]}.
- If T is a fun type fun(Ft), where
Ft is a function type,
then Rep(T) = Rep(Ft).
- If T is an integer range type L .. H,
where L and H are singleton integer types, then
Rep(T) = {type,LINE,range,[Rep(L),Rep(H)]}.
- If T is a map type map(), then Rep(T) =
{type,LINE,map,any}.
- If T is a map type #{P_1, ..., P_k}, where each
P_i is a map pair type, then Rep(T) =
{type,LINE,map,[Rep(P_1), ..., Rep(P_k)]}.
- If T is a map pair type K => V, where
K and V are types, then Rep(T) =
{type,LINE,map_field_assoc,[Rep(K),Rep(V)]}.
- If T is a predefined (or built-in) type N(A_1, ..., A_k),
where each A_i is a type, then Rep(T) =
{type,LINE,N,[Rep(A_1), ..., Rep(A_k)]}.
- If T is a record type #Name{F_1, ..., F_k},
where each F_i is a record field type, then Rep(T) =
{type,LINE,record,[Rep(Name),Rep(F_1), ..., Rep(F_k)]}.
- If T is a record field type Name :: Type,
where Type is a type, then Rep(T) =
{type,LINE,field_type,[Rep(Name),Rep(Type)]}.
- If T is a remote type M:N(A_1, ..., A_k), where
each A_i is a type, then Rep(T) =
{remote_type,LINE,[Rep(M),Rep(N),[Rep(A_1), ..., Rep(A_k)]]}.
- If T is a tuple type tuple(), then Rep(T) =
{type,LINE,tuple,any}.
- If T is a tuple type {A_1, ..., A_k}, where
each A_i is a type, then Rep(T) =
{type,LINE,tuple,[Rep(A_1), ..., Rep(A_k)]}.
- If T is a type union T_1 | ... | T_k,
where each T_i is a type, then Rep(T) =
{type,LINE,union,[Rep(T_1), ..., Rep(T_k)]}.
- If T is a type variable V, then Rep(T) =
{var,LINE,A}, where A is an atom with a printname
consisting of the same characters as V. A type variable
is any variable except underscore (_).
- If T is a user-defined type N(A_1, ..., A_k),
where each A_i is a type, then Rep(T) =
{user_type,LINE,N,[Rep(A_1), ..., Rep(A_k)]}.
- If T is ( T_0 ), then Rep(T) = Rep(T_0),
that is, parenthesized types cannot be distinguished from their
bodies.
Function Types
- If Ft is a constrained function type Ft_1 when Fc,
where Ft_1 is a function type and
Fc is a function constraint, then Rep(T) =
{type,LINE,bounded_fun,[Rep(Ft_1),Rep(Fc)]}.
- If Ft is a function type (A_1, ..., A_n) -> B,
where each A_i and B are types, then
Rep(Ft) = {type,LINE,'fun',[{type,LINE,product,[Rep(A_1),
..., Rep(A_n)]},Rep(B)]}.
Function Constraints
A function constraint Fc is a nonempty sequence of constraints
C_1, ..., C_k, and
Rep(Fc) = [Rep(C_1), ..., Rep(C_k)].
- If C is a constraint is_subtype(V, T) or V :: T,
where V is a type variable and T is a type, then
Rep(C) = {type,LINE,constraint,[{atom,LINE,is_subtype},[Rep(V),Rep(T)]]}.
The Abstract Format After Preprocessing
The compilation option debug_info can be given to the
compiler to have the abstract code stored in
the abstract_code chunk in the BEAM file
(for debugging purposes).
In OTP R9C and later, the abstract_code chunk will
contain
{raw_abstract_v1,AbstractCode}
where AbstractCode is the abstract code as described
in this document.
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 abstract_v1 (R7B) or abstract_v2
(R8B).