# Elixir v1.10.3 Inspect.Algebra View Source

A set of functions for creating and manipulating algebra documents.

This module implements the functionality described in "Strictly Pretty" (2000) by Christian Lindig with small additions, like support for binary nodes and a break mode that maximises use of horizontal space.

    iex> Inspect.Algebra.empty()
    :doc_nil

    iex> "foo"
    "foo"

With the functions in this module, we can concatenate different elements together and render them:

    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.concat(Inspect.Algebra.empty(), "foo")
    iex> Inspect.Algebra.format(doc, 80)
    ["foo"]

The functions `nest/2`, `space/2` and `line/2` help you put the document together into a rigid structure. However, the document algebra gets interesting when using functions like `glue/3` and `group/1`. A glue inserts a break between two documents. A group indicates a document that must fit the current line, otherwise breaks are rendered as new lines. Let's glue two docs together with a break, group it and then render it:

    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.glue("a", " ", "b")
    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.group(doc)
    iex> Inspect.Algebra.format(doc, 80)
    ["a", " ", "b"]

Notice the break was represented as is, because we haven't reached a line limit. Once we do, it is replaced by a newline:

    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.glue(String.duplicate("a", 20), " ", "b")
    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.group(doc)
    iex> Inspect.Algebra.format(doc, 10)
    ["aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa", "\n", "b"]

This module uses the byte size to compute how much space there is left. If your document contains strings, then those need to be wrapped in `string/1`, which then relies on `String.length/1` to precompute the document size.

Finally, this module also contains Elixir related functions, a bit tied to Elixir formatting, such as `to_doc/2`.

## Implementation details

The implementation of `Inspect.Algebra` is based on the Strictly Pretty paper by Lindig which builds on top of previous pretty printing algorithms but is tailored to strict languages, such as Elixir. The core idea in the paper is the use of explicit document groups which are rendered as flat (breaks as spaces) or as break (breaks as newlines).

This implementation provides two types of breaks: `:strict` and `:flex`. When a group does not fit, all strict breaks are treated as newlines. Flex breaks however are re-evaluated on every occurrence and may still be rendered flat. See `break/1` and `flex_break/1` for more information.

This implementation also adds `force_unfit/1` and `next_break_fits/2` which give more control over the document fitting.

# Link to this section Summary

## Types

t()

## Guards

is_doc(doc)

## Functions

break(string \\ " ")

Returns a break document based on the given `string`.

collapse_lines(max)

Collapse any new lines and whitespace following this node, emitting up to `max` new lines.

color(doc, color_key, opts)

Colors a document if the `color_key` has a color in the options.

concat(docs)

Concatenates a list of documents returning a new document.

concat(doc1, doc2)

Concatenates two document entities returning a new document.

container_doc(left, collection, right, inspect_opts, fun, opts \\ [])

Wraps `collection` in `left` and `right` according to limit and contents.

empty()

Returns a document entity used to represent nothingness.

flex_break(string \\ " ")

Returns a flex break document based on the given `string`.

flex_glue(doc1, break_string \\ " ", doc2)

Glues two documents (`doc1` and `doc2`) inserting a `flex_break/1` given by `break_string` between them.

fold_doc(docs, folder_fun)

Folds a list of documents into a document using the given folder function.

force_unfit(doc)

Forces the current group to be unfit.

format(doc, width)

Formats a given document for a given width.

glue(doc1, break_string \\ " ", doc2)

Glues two documents (`doc1` and `doc2`) inserting the given break `break_string` between them.

group(doc, mode \\ :self)

Returns a group containing the specified document `doc`.

line()

A mandatory linebreak.

line(doc1, doc2)

Inserts a mandatory linebreak between two documents.

nest(doc, level, mode \\ :always)

Nests the given document at the given `level`.

next_break_fits(doc, mode \\ :enabled)

Considers the next break as fit.

space(doc1, doc2)

Inserts a mandatory single space between two documents.

string(string)

Creates a document represented by string.

to_doc(term, opts)

Converts an Elixir term to an algebra document according to the `Inspect` protocol.

# Link to this section Types

Link to this type

# t()

View Source

## Specs

    t() ::
      binary()
      | :doc_line
      | :doc_nil
      | doc_break()
      | doc_collapse()
      | doc_color()
      | doc_cons()
      | doc_fits()
      | doc_force()
      | doc_group()
      | doc_nest()
      | doc_string()

# Link to this section Guards

Link to this macro

# is_doc(doc)

View Source (macro)

# Link to this section Functions

Link to this function

# break(string \\ " ")

View Source

## Specs

    break(binary()) :: doc_break()

Returns a break document based on the given `string`.

This break can be rendered as a linebreak or as the given `string`, depending on the `mode` of the chosen layout.

## Examples

Let's create a document by concatenating two strings with a break between them:

    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.concat(["a", Inspect.Algebra.break("\t"), "b"])
    iex> Inspect.Algebra.format(doc, 80)
    ["a", "\t", "b"]

Notice the break was represented with the given string, because we didn't reach a line limit. Once we do, it is replaced by a newline:

    iex> break = Inspect.Algebra.break("\t")
    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.concat([String.duplicate("a", 20), break, "b"])
    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.group(doc)
    iex> Inspect.Algebra.format(doc, 10)
    ["aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa", "\n", "b"]

Link to this function

# collapse_lines(max)

View Source (since 1.6.0)

## Specs

    collapse_lines(pos_integer()) :: doc_collapse()

Collapse any new lines and whitespace following this node, emitting up to `max` new lines.

Link to this function

# color(doc, color_key, opts)

View Source (since 1.4.0)

## Specs

    color(t(), Inspect.Opts.color_key(), Inspect.Opts.t()) :: doc_color()

Colors a document if the `color_key` has a color in the options.

Link to this function

# concat(docs)

View Source

## Specs

    concat([t()]) :: t()

Concatenates a list of documents returning a new document.

## Examples

    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.concat(["a", "b", "c"])
    iex> Inspect.Algebra.format(doc, 80)
    ["a", "b", "c"]

Link to this function

# concat(doc1, doc2)

View Source

## Specs

    concat(t(), t()) :: t()

Concatenates two document entities returning a new document.

## Examples

    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.concat("hello", "world")
    iex> Inspect.Algebra.format(doc, 80)
    ["hello", "world"]

Link to this function

# container_doc(left, collection, right, inspect_opts, fun, opts \\ [])

View Source (since 1.6.0)

## Specs

    container_doc(
      t(),
      [any()],
      t(),
      Inspect.Opts.t(),
      (term(), Inspect.Opts.t() -> t()),
      keyword()
    ) :: t()

Wraps `collection` in `left` and `right` according to limit and contents.

It uses the given `left` and `right` documents as surrounding and the separator document `separator` to separate items in `docs`. If all entries in the collection are simple documents (texts or strings), then this function attempts to put as much as possible on the same line. If they are not simple, only one entry is shown per line if they do not fit.

The limit in the given `inspect_opts` is respected and when reached this function stops processing and outputs `"..."` instead.

## Options

- `:separator` - the separator used between each doc
- `:break` - If `:strict`, always break between each element. If `:flex`, breaks only when necessary. If `:maybe`, chooses `:flex` only if all elements are text-based, otherwise is `:strict`

## Examples

    iex> inspect_opts = %Inspect.Opts{limit: :infinity}
    iex> fun = fn i, _opts -> to_string(i) end
    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.container_doc("[", Enum.to_list(1..5), "]", inspect_opts, fun)
    iex> Inspect.Algebra.format(doc, 5) |> IO.iodata_to_binary()
    "[1,\n 2,\n 3,\n 4,\n 5]"

    iex> inspect_opts = %Inspect.Opts{limit: 3}
    iex> fun = fn i, _opts -> to_string(i) end
    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.container_doc("[", Enum.to_list(1..5), "]", inspect_opts, fun)
    iex> Inspect.Algebra.format(doc, 20) |> IO.iodata_to_binary()
    "[1, 2, 3, ...]"

    iex> inspect_opts = %Inspect.Opts{limit: 3}
    iex> fun = fn i, _opts -> to_string(i) end
    iex> opts = [separator: "!"]
    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.container_doc("[", Enum.to_list(1..5), "]", inspect_opts, fun, opts)
    iex> Inspect.Algebra.format(doc, 20) |> IO.iodata_to_binary()
    "[1! 2! 3! ...]"

Link to this function

# empty()

View Source

## Specs

    empty() :: :doc_nil

Returns a document entity used to represent nothingness.

## Examples

    iex> Inspect.Algebra.empty()
    :doc_nil

Link to this function

# flex_break(string \\ " ")

View Source (since 1.6.0)

## Specs

    flex_break(binary()) :: doc_break()

Returns a flex break document based on the given `string`.

A flex break still causes a group to break, like `break/1`, but it is re-evaluated when the documented is rendered.

For example, take a group document represented as `[1, 2, 3]` where the space after every comma is a break. When the document above does not fit a single line, all breaks are enabled, causing the document to be rendered as:

    [1,
     2,
     3]

However, if flex breaks are used, then each break is re-evaluated when rendered, so the document could be possible rendered as:

    [1, 2,
     3]

Hence the name "flex". they are more flexible when it comes to the document fitting. On the other hand, they are more expensive since each break needs to be re-evaluated.

This function is used by `container_doc/6` and friends to the maximum number of entries on the same line.

Link to this function

# flex_glue(doc1, break_string \\ " ", doc2)

View Source (since 1.6.0)

## Specs

    flex_glue(t(), binary(), t()) :: t()

Glues two documents (`doc1` and `doc2`) inserting a `flex_break/1` given by `break_string` between them.

This function is used by `container_doc/6` and friends to the maximum number of entries on the same line.

Link to this function

# fold_doc(docs, folder_fun)

View Source

## Specs

    fold_doc([t()], (t(), t() -> t())) :: t()

Folds a list of documents into a document using the given folder function.

The list of documents is folded "from the right"; in that, this function is similar to `List.foldr/3`, except that it doesn't expect an initial accumulator and uses the last element of `docs` as the initial accumulator.

## Examples

    iex> docs = ["A", "B", "C"]
    iex> docs =
    ...>   Inspect.Algebra.fold_doc(docs, fn doc, acc ->
    ...>     Inspect.Algebra.concat([doc, "!", acc])
    ...>   end)
    iex> Inspect.Algebra.format(docs, 80)
    ["A", "!", "B", "!", "C"]

Link to this function

# force_unfit(doc)

View Source (since 1.6.0)

## Specs

    force_unfit(t()) :: doc_force()

Forces the current group to be unfit.

Link to this function

# format(doc, width)

View Source

## Specs

    format(t(), non_neg_integer() | :infinity) :: iodata()

Formats a given document for a given width.

Takes the maximum width and a document to print as its arguments and returns an IO data representation of the best layout for the document to fit in the given width.

The document starts flat (without breaks) until a group is found.

## Examples

    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.glue("hello", " ", "world")
    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.group(doc)
    iex> doc |> Inspect.Algebra.format(30) |> IO.iodata_to_binary()
    "hello world"
    iex> doc |> Inspect.Algebra.format(10) |> IO.iodata_to_binary()
    "hello\nworld"

Link to this function

# glue(doc1, break_string \\ " ", doc2)

View Source

## Specs

    glue(t(), binary(), t()) :: t()

Glues two documents (`doc1` and `doc2`) inserting the given break `break_string` between them.

For more information on how the break is inserted, see `break/1`.

## Examples

    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.glue("hello", "world")
    iex> Inspect.Algebra.format(doc, 80)
    ["hello", " ", "world"]

    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.glue("hello", "\t", "world")
    iex> Inspect.Algebra.format(doc, 80)
    ["hello", "\t", "world"]

Link to this function

# group(doc, mode \\ :self)

View Source

## Specs

    group(t(), :self | :inherit) :: doc_group()

Returns a group containing the specified document `doc`.

Documents in a group are attempted to be rendered together to the best of the renderer ability.

The group mode can also be set to `:inherit`, which means it automatically breaks if the parent group has broken too.

## Examples

    iex> doc =
    ...>   Inspect.Algebra.group(
    ...>     Inspect.Algebra.concat(
    ...>       Inspect.Algebra.group(
    ...>         Inspect.Algebra.concat(
    ...>           "Hello,",
    ...>           Inspect.Algebra.concat(
    ...>             Inspect.Algebra.break(),
    ...>             "A"
    ...>           )
    ...>         )
    ...>       ),
    ...>       Inspect.Algebra.concat(
    ...>         Inspect.Algebra.break(),
    ...>         "B"
    ...>       )
    ...>     )
    ...>   )
    iex> Inspect.Algebra.format(doc, 80)
    ["Hello,", " ", "A", " ", "B"]
    iex> Inspect.Algebra.format(doc, 6)
    ["Hello,", "\n", "A", "\n", "B"]

Link to this function

# line()

View Source (since 1.6.0)

## Specs

    line() :: t()

A mandatory linebreak.

A group with linebreaks will fit if all lines in the group fit.

## Examples

    iex> doc =
    ...>   Inspect.Algebra.concat(
    ...>     Inspect.Algebra.concat(
    ...>       "Hughes",
    ...>       Inspect.Algebra.line()
    ...>     ),
    ...>     "Wadler"
    ...>   )
    iex> Inspect.Algebra.format(doc, 80)
    ["Hughes", "\n", "Wadler"]

Link to this function

# line(doc1, doc2)

View Source

## Specs

    line(t(), t()) :: t()

Inserts a mandatory linebreak between two documents.

See `line/0`.

## Examples

    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.line("Hughes", "Wadler")
    iex> Inspect.Algebra.format(doc, 80)
    ["Hughes", "\n", "Wadler"]

Link to this function

# nest(doc, level, mode \\ :always)

View Source

## Specs

    nest(t(), non_neg_integer() | :cursor | :reset, :always | :break) :: doc_nest()

Nests the given document at the given `level`.

If `level` is an integer, that's the indentation appended to line breaks whenever they occur. If the level is `:cursor`, the current position of the "cursor" in the document becomes the nesting. If the level is `:reset`, it is set back to 0.

`mode` can be `:always`, which means nesting always happen, or `:break`, which means nesting only happens inside a group that has been broken.

## Examples

    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.nest(Inspect.Algebra.glue("hello", "world"), 5)
    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.group(doc)
    iex> Inspect.Algebra.format(doc, 5)
    ["hello", "\n     ", "world"]

Link to this function

# next_break_fits(doc, mode \\ :enabled)

View Source (since 1.6.0)

## Specs

    next_break_fits(t(), :enabled | :disabled) :: doc_fits()

Considers the next break as fit.

`mode` can be `:enabled` or `:disabled`. When `:enabled`, it will consider the document as fit as soon as it finds the next break, effectively cancelling the break. It will also ignore any `force_unfit/1` in search of the next break.

When disabled, it behaves as usual and it will ignore any further `next_break_fits/2` instruction.

## Examples

This is used by Elixir's code formatter to avoid breaking code at some specific locations. For example, consider this code:

    some_function_call(%{..., key: value, ...})

Now imagine that this code does not fit its line. The code formatter introduces breaks inside `(` and `)` and inside `%{` and `}`. Therefore the document would break as:

    some_function_call(
      %{
        ...,
        key: value,
        ...
      }
    )

The formatter wraps the algebra document representing the map in `next_break_fits/1` so the code is formatted as:

    some_function_call(%{
      ...,
      key: value,
      ...
    })

Link to this function

# space(doc1, doc2)

View Source

## Specs

    space(t(), t()) :: t()

Inserts a mandatory single space between two documents.

## Examples

    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.space("Hughes", "Wadler")
    iex> Inspect.Algebra.format(doc, 5)
    ["Hughes", " ", "Wadler"]

Link to this function

# string(string)

View Source (since 1.6.0)

## Specs

    string(String.t()) :: doc_string()

Creates a document represented by string.

While `Inspect.Algebra` accepts binaries as documents, those are counted by binary size. On the other hand, `string` documents are measured in terms of graphemes towards the document size.

## Examples

The following document has 10 bytes and therefore it does not format to width 9 without breaks:

    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.glue("olá", " ", "mundo")
    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.group(doc)
    iex> Inspect.Algebra.format(doc, 9)
    ["olá", "\n", "mundo"]

However, if we use `string`, then the string length is used, instead of byte size, correctly fitting:

    iex> string = Inspect.Algebra.string("olá")
    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.glue(string, " ", "mundo")
    iex> doc = Inspect.Algebra.group(doc)
    iex> Inspect.Algebra.format(doc, 9)
    ["olá", " ", "mundo"]

Link to this function

# to_doc(term, opts)

View Source

## Specs

    to_doc(any(), Inspect.Opts.t()) :: t()

Converts an Elixir term to an algebra document according to the `Inspect` protocol.