// Copyright 2013-2014 The Rust Project Developers. See the COPYRIGHT // file at the top-level directory of this distribution and at // http://rust-lang.org/COPYRIGHT. // // Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 or the MIT license // , at your // option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed // except according to those terms. // // ignore-lexer-test FIXME #15679 //! Utilities for formatting and printing strings //! //! This module contains the runtime support for the `format!` syntax extension. //! This macro is implemented in the compiler to emit calls to this module in //! order to format arguments at runtime into strings and streams. //! //! ## Usage //! //! The `format!` macro is intended to be familiar to those coming from C's //! printf/fprintf functions or Python's `str.format` function. In its current //! revision, the `format!` macro returns a `String` type which is the result of //! the formatting. In the future it will also be able to pass in a stream to //! format arguments directly while performing minimal allocations. //! //! Some examples of the `format!` extension are: //! //! ```rust //! # fn main() { //! format!("Hello"); // => "Hello" //! format!("Hello, {}!", "world"); // => "Hello, world!" //! format!("The number is {}", 1i); // => "The number is 1" //! format!("{:?}", (3i, 4i)); // => "(3i, 4i)" //! format!("{value}", value=4i); // => "4" //! format!("{} {}", 1i, 2u); // => "1 2" //! # } //! ``` //! //! From these, you can see that the first argument is a format string. It is //! required by the compiler for this to be a string literal; it cannot be a //! variable passed in (in order to perform validity checking). The compiler //! will then parse the format string and determine if the list of arguments //! provided is suitable to pass to this format string. //! //! ### Positional parameters //! //! Each formatting argument is allowed to specify which value argument it's //! referencing, and if omitted it is assumed to be "the next argument". For //! example, the format string `{} {} {}` would take three parameters, and they //! would be formatted in the same order as they're given. The format string //! `{2} {1} {0}`, however, would format arguments in reverse order. //! //! Things can get a little tricky once you start intermingling the two types of //! positional specifiers. The "next argument" specifier can be thought of as an //! iterator over the argument. Each time a "next argument" specifier is seen, //! the iterator advances. This leads to behavior like this: //! //! ```rust //! format!("{1} {} {0} {}", 1i, 2i); // => "2 1 1 2" //! ``` //! //! The internal iterator over the argument has not been advanced by the time //! the first `{}` is seen, so it prints the first argument. Then upon reaching //! the second `{}`, the iterator has advanced forward to the second argument. //! Essentially, parameters which explicitly name their argument do not affect //! parameters which do not name an argument in terms of positional specifiers. //! //! A format string is required to use all of its arguments, otherwise it is a //! compile-time error. You may refer to the same argument more than once in the //! format string, although it must always be referred to with the same type. //! //! ### Named parameters //! //! Rust itself does not have a Python-like equivalent of named parameters to a //! function, but the `format!` macro is a syntax extension which allows it to //! leverage named parameters. Named parameters are listed at the end of the //! argument list and have the syntax: //! //! ```text //! identifier '=' expression //! ``` //! //! For example, the following `format!` expressions all use named argument: //! //! ```rust //! # fn main() { //! format!("{argument}", argument = "test"); // => "test" //! format!("{name} {}", 1i, name = 2i); // => "2 1" //! format!("{a} {c} {b}", a="a", b='b', c=3i); // => "a 3 b" //! # } //! ``` //! //! It is illegal to put positional parameters (those without names) after //! arguments which have names. Like with positional parameters, it is illegal //! to provide named parameters that are unused by the format string. //! //! ### Argument types //! //! Each argument's type is dictated by the format string. It is a requirement //! that every argument is only ever referred to by one type. For example, this //! is an invalid format string: //! //! ```text //! {0:x} {0:o} //! ``` //! //! This is invalid because the first argument is both referred to as a //! hexadecimal as well as an //! octal. //! //! There are various parameters which do require a particular type, however. //! Namely if the syntax `{:.*}` is used, then the number of characters to print //! precedes the actual object being formatted, and the number of characters //! must have the type `uint`. Although a `uint` can be printed with `{}`, it is //! illegal to reference an argument as such. For example this is another //! invalid format string: //! //! ```text //! {:.*} {0} //! ``` //! //! ### Formatting traits //! //! When requesting that an argument be formatted with a particular type, you //! are actually requesting that an argument ascribes to a particular trait. //! This allows multiple actual types to be formatted via `{:x}` (like `i8` as //! well as `int`). The current mapping of types to traits is: //! //! * *nothing* ⇒ `String` //! * `?` ⇒ `Show` //! * `o` ⇒ `Octal` //! * `x` ⇒ `LowerHex` //! * `X` ⇒ `UpperHex` //! * `p` ⇒ `Pointer` //! * `b` ⇒ `Binary` //! * `e` ⇒ `LowerExp` //! * `E` ⇒ `UpperExp` //! //! What this means is that any type of argument which implements the //! `std::fmt::Binary` trait can then be formatted with `{:b}`. Implementations //! are provided for these traits for a number of primitive types by the //! standard library as well. If no format is specified (as in `{}` or `{:6}`), //! then the format trait used is the `String` trait. //! //! When implementing a format trait for your own type, you will have to //! implement a method of the signature: //! //! ```rust //! # use std::fmt; //! # struct Foo; // our custom type //! # impl fmt::Show for Foo { //! fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result { //! # write!(f, "testing, testing") //! # } } //! ``` //! //! Your type will be passed as `self` by-reference, and then the function //! should emit output into the `f.buf` stream. It is up to each format trait //! implementation to correctly adhere to the requested formatting parameters. //! The values of these parameters will be listed in the fields of the //! `Formatter` struct. In order to help with this, the `Formatter` struct also //! provides some helper methods. //! //! Additionally, the return value of this function is `fmt::Result` which is a //! typedef to `Result<(), IoError>` (also known as `IoResult<()>`). Formatting //! implementations should ensure that they return errors from `write!` //! correctly (propagating errors upward). //! //! An example of implementing the formatting traits would look //! like: //! //! ```rust //! use std::fmt; //! use std::f64; //! use std::num::Float; //! //! #[derive(Show)] //! struct Vector2D { //! x: int, //! y: int, //! } //! //! impl fmt::String for Vector2D { //! fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result { //! // The `f` value implements the `Writer` trait, which is what the //! // write! macro is expecting. Note that this formatting ignores the //! // various flags provided to format strings. //! write!(f, "({}, {})", self.x, self.y) //! } //! } //! //! // Different traits allow different forms of output of a type. The meaning //! // of this format is to print the magnitude of a vector. //! impl fmt::Binary for Vector2D { //! fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result { //! let magnitude = (self.x * self.x + self.y * self.y) as f64; //! let magnitude = magnitude.sqrt(); //! //! // Respect the formatting flags by using the helper method //! // `pad_integral` on the Formatter object. See the method documentation //! // for details, and the function `pad` can be used to pad strings. //! let decimals = f.precision().unwrap_or(3); //! let string = f64::to_str_exact(magnitude, decimals); //! f.pad_integral(true, "", string.as_slice()) //! } //! } //! //! fn main() { //! let myvector = Vector2D { x: 3, y: 4 }; //! //! println!("{}", myvector); // => "(3, 4)" //! println!("{:?}", myvector); // => "Vector2D {x: 3i, y:4i}" //! println!("{:10.3b}", myvector); // => " 5.000" //! } //! ``` //! //! #### fmt::String vs fmt::Show //! //! These two formatting traits have distinct purposes: //! //! - `fmt::String` implementations assert that the type can be faithfully //! represented as a UTF-8 string at all times. It is **not** expected that //! all types implement the `String` trait. //! - `fmt::Show` implementations should be implemented for **all** public types. //! Output will typically represent the internal state as faithfully as possible. //! The purpose of the `Show` trait is to facilitate debugging Rust code. In //! most cases, using `#[deriving(Show)]` is sufficient and recommended. //! //! Some examples of the output from both traits: //! //! ``` //! assert_eq!(format!("{} {:?}", 3i32, 4i32), "3 4i32"); //! assert_eq!(format!("{} {:?}", 'a', 'b'), "a 'b'"); //! assert_eq!(format!("{} {:?}", "foo\n", "bar\n"), "foo\n \"bar\\n\""); //! ``` //! //! ### Related macros //! //! There are a number of related macros in the `format!` family. The ones that //! are currently implemented are: //! //! ```ignore //! format! // described above //! write! // first argument is a &mut io::Writer, the destination //! writeln! // same as write but appends a newline //! print! // the format string is printed to the standard output //! println! // same as print but appends a newline //! format_args! // described below. //! ``` //! //! #### `write!` //! //! This and `writeln` are two macros which are used to emit the format string //! to a specified stream. This is used to prevent intermediate allocations of //! format strings and instead directly write the output. Under the hood, this //! function is actually invoking the `write` function defined in this module. //! Example usage is: //! //! ```rust //! # #![allow(unused_must_use)] //! use std::io; //! //! let mut w = Vec::new(); //! write!(&mut w as &mut io::Writer, "Hello {}!", "world"); //! ``` //! //! #### `print!` //! //! This and `println` emit their output to stdout. Similarly to the `write!` //! macro, the goal of these macros is to avoid intermediate allocations when //! printing output. Example usage is: //! //! ```rust //! print!("Hello {}!", "world"); //! println!("I have a newline {}", "character at the end"); //! ``` //! //! #### `format_args!` //! This is a curious macro which is used to safely pass around //! an opaque object describing the format string. This object //! does not require any heap allocations to create, and it only //! references information on the stack. Under the hood, all of //! the related macros are implemented in terms of this. First //! off, some example usage is: //! //! ``` //! use std::fmt; //! use std::io; //! //! # #[allow(unused_must_use)] //! # fn main() { //! fmt::format(format_args!("this returns {}", "String")); //! //! let some_writer: &mut io::Writer = &mut io::stdout(); //! write!(some_writer, "{}", format_args!("print with a {}", "macro")); //! //! fn my_fmt_fn(args: fmt::Arguments) { //! write!(&mut io::stdout(), "{}", args); //! } //! my_fmt_fn(format_args!("or a {} too", "function")); //! # } //! ``` //! //! The result of the `format_args!` macro is a value of type `fmt::Arguments`. //! This structure can then be passed to the `write` and `format` functions //! inside this module in order to process the format string. //! The goal of this macro is to even further prevent intermediate allocations //! when dealing formatting strings. //! //! For example, a logging library could use the standard formatting syntax, but //! it would internally pass around this structure until it has been determined //! where output should go to. //! //! ## Syntax //! //! The syntax for the formatting language used is drawn from other languages, //! so it should not be too alien. Arguments are formatted with python-like //! syntax, meaning that arguments are surrounded by `{}` instead of the C-like //! `%`. The actual grammar for the formatting syntax is: //! //! ```text //! format_string := [ format ] * //! format := '{' [ argument ] [ ':' format_spec ] '}' //! argument := integer | identifier //! //! format_spec := [[fill]align][sign]['#'][0][width]['.' precision][type] //! fill := character //! align := '<' | '^' | '>' //! sign := '+' | '-' //! width := count //! precision := count | '*' //! type := identifier | '' //! count := parameter | integer //! parameter := integer '$' //! ``` //! //! ## Formatting Parameters //! //! Each argument being formatted can be transformed by a number of formatting //! parameters (corresponding to `format_spec` in the syntax above). These //! parameters affect the string representation of what's being formatted. This //! syntax draws heavily from Python's, so it may seem a bit familiar. //! //! ### Fill/Alignment //! //! The fill character is provided normally in conjunction with the `width` //! parameter. This indicates that if the value being formatted is smaller than //! `width` some extra characters will be printed around it. The extra //! characters are specified by `fill`, and the alignment can be one of two //! options: //! //! * `<` - the argument is left-aligned in `width` columns //! * `^` - the argument is center-aligned in `width` columns //! * `>` - the argument is right-aligned in `width` columns //! //! ### Sign/#/0 //! //! These can all be interpreted as flags for a particular formatter. //! //! * '+' - This is intended for numeric types and indicates that the sign //! should always be printed. Positive signs are never printed by //! default, and the negative sign is only printed by default for the //! `Signed` trait. This flag indicates that the correct sign (+ or -) //! should always be printed. //! * '-' - Currently not used //! * '#' - This flag is indicates that the "alternate" form of printing should //! be used. By default, this only applies to the integer formatting //! traits and performs like: //! * `x` - precedes the argument with a "0x" //! * `X` - precedes the argument with a "0x" //! * `t` - precedes the argument with a "0b" //! * `o` - precedes the argument with a "0o" //! * '0' - This is used to indicate for integer formats that the padding should //! both be done with a `0` character as well as be sign-aware. A format //! like `{:08d}` would yield `00000001` for the integer `1`, while the //! same format would yield `-0000001` for the integer `-1`. Notice that //! the negative version has one fewer zero than the positive version. //! //! ### Width //! //! This is a parameter for the "minimum width" that the format should take up. //! If the value's string does not fill up this many characters, then the //! padding specified by fill/alignment will be used to take up the required //! space. //! //! The default fill/alignment for non-numerics is a space and left-aligned. The //! defaults for numeric formatters is also a space but with right-alignment. If //! the '0' flag is specified for numerics, then the implicit fill character is //! '0'. //! //! The value for the width can also be provided as a `uint` in the list of //! parameters by using the `2$` syntax indicating that the second argument is a //! `uint` specifying the width. //! //! ### Precision //! //! For non-numeric types, this can be considered a "maximum width". If the //! resulting string is longer than this width, then it is truncated down to //! this many characters and only those are emitted. //! //! For integral types, this has no meaning currently. //! //! For floating-point types, this indicates how many digits after the decimal //! point should be printed. //! //! ## Escaping //! //! The literal characters `{` and `}` may be included in a string by preceding //! them with the same character. For example, the `{` character is escaped with //! `{{` and the `}` character is escaped with `}}`. #![unstable] use string; pub use core::fmt::{Formatter, Result, Writer, rt}; pub use core::fmt::{Show, String, Octal, Binary}; pub use core::fmt::{LowerHex, UpperHex, Pointer}; pub use core::fmt::{LowerExp, UpperExp}; pub use core::fmt::Error; pub use core::fmt::{Argument, Arguments, write, radix, Radix, RadixFmt}; #[doc(hidden)] pub use core::fmt::{argument, argumentuint}; /// The format function takes a precompiled format string and a list of /// arguments, to return the resulting formatted string. /// /// # Arguments /// /// * args - a structure of arguments generated via the `format_args!` macro. /// /// # Example /// /// ```rust /// use std::fmt; /// /// let s = fmt::format(format_args!("Hello, {}!", "world")); /// assert_eq!(s, "Hello, world!".to_string()); /// ``` #[unstable = "this is an implementation detail of format! and should not \ be called directly"] pub fn format(args: Arguments) -> string::String { let mut output = string::String::new(); let _ = write!(&mut output, "{}", args); output }