# erl_format

### C LIBRARY

erl_format

### C LIBRARY SUMMARY

Create and Match Erlang Terms

### DESCRIPTION

This module contains two routines - one general function for creating Erlang terms and one for pattern matching Erlang terms.

### EXPORTS

`ETERM *erl_format(FormatStr, ... )`

Types:

`char *FormatStr;`

This is a general function for creating Erlang terms using a format specifier and a corresponding set of arguments, much in the way `printf()` works.

`FormatStr` is a format specification string. The set of valid format specifiers is as follows:

- ~i - Integer
- ~f - Floating point
- ~a - Atom
- ~s - String
- ~w - Arbitrary Erlang term

For each format specifier that appears in `FormatStr`, there must be a corresponding argument following `FormatStr`. An Erlang term is built according to the `FormatStr` with values and Erlang terms substituted from the corresponding arguments and according to the individual format specifiers. For example:

    erl_format("[{name,~a},{age,~i},{data,~w}]",
               "madonna",
               21,
               erl_format("[{adr,~s,~i}]","E-street",42));

This will create an `(ETERM *)` structure corresponding to the Erlang term: `[{name,madonna},{age,21},{data,[{adr,"E-street",42}]}]`

The function returns an Erlang term, or NULL if `FormatStr` does not describe a valid Erlang term.

`int erl_match(Pattern, Term)`

Types:

`ETERM *Pattern,*Term;`

This function is used to perform pattern matching similar to that done in Erlang. Refer to an Erlang manual for matching rules and more examples.

`Pattern` is an Erlang term, possibly containing unbound variables.

`Term` is an Erlang term that we wish to match against `Pattern`.

`Term` and `Pattern` are compared, and any unbound variables in `Pattern` are bound to corresponding values in `Term`.

If `Term` and `Pattern` can be matched, the function returns a non-zero value and binds any unbound variables in `Pattern`. If `Term` `Pattern` do not match, the function returns 0. For example:

    ETERM *term, *pattern, *pattern2;
    term1    = erl_format("{14,21}");
    term2    = erl_format("{19,19}");
    pattern1 = erl_format("{A,B}");
    pattern2 = erl_format("{F,F}");
    if (erl_match(pattern1, term1)) {
      /* match succeeds:
       * A gets bound to 14,
       * B gets bound to 21
       */
      ...
    }
    if (erl_match(pattern2, term1)) {
      /* match fails because F cannot be
       * bound to two separate values, 14 and 21
       */
      ...
    }
    if (erl_match(pattern2, term2)) {
      /* match succeeds and F gets bound to 19 */
      ...
    }

`erl_var_content()` can be used to retrieve the content of any variables bound as a result of a call to `erl_match()`.

### AUTHORS

T.Törnkvist - support@erlang.ericsson.se

erl_interface 3.5.5.3
Copyright © 1991-2007 Ericsson AB