NAME assign - Destructuring Assignment Syntax in Perl SYNOPSIS This code: use assign -0; my {$foo, bar => [ $first, @rest, $last ]} = $self->data; works the same as this code: my $_temp1 = $self->data; my $foo = $_temp1->{foo}; my $_temp2 = $_temp1->{bar}; my $first = shift @$temp2; my $last = pop @$temp2; my @rest = @$temp2; DESCRIPTION This module enables a destructuring assignment syntax for Perl. Instead of assigning a value to a variable, you can now assign to a data structure (array-ref or hash-ref) that specifies how to unpack a data structure into all the variables you need. When you use this module you can put array-refs or hash-refs in places where you would put a variable that will be assigned to. The contents of these refs act as instructions for what variables to create and which parts of the target to take the assignment values from. There are many useful combinations, which are documented below. The destructuring refs can be nested, allowing you to extract all the values you want from a complex data structure in a single statement. STATUS This module is very new and experimental. The hope is that this may one day become a pragma module or possibly even part of the Perl language's syntax. To preserve backwards compatability for early adopters, the module currently requires you to use assign -0;. When the module becomes stable and vetted, it will become simply use assign;. DESTRUCTURING FORMS The best way to explain this module is by example. All the forms below have been implemented and should work as described for this version of the module. Here we go... * my [$foo, $bar] = $array_ref; Define 2 my variables and assign the array-ref values in order. If there are less values on the RHS, the variables will be undefined. If there are more, they will be ignored. The RHS can be a variable or any expression as long as its value is an array-ref. * my [$foo, $bar] = (111, 222); ERROR If the LHS is an array-ref the RHS must also be an array-ref. If the LHS is a hash-ref the RHS must also be a hash-ref. * our [$foo, $bar] = $array_ref; Define our variables and assign the array-ref values. * local [$foo, $bar] = $array_ref; Define local variables and assign the array-ref values. * my $foo; our $bar; [$foo, $bar] = $array_ref; Assign the array-ref values to 2 pre-defined variables. TO DO There are many more forms that are intended to work, and many more cases we haven't thought of yet. Pretty much any place in Perl where a variable can be assigned to should also allow a structure to be assigned to. Here's the current list of things intended to be added soon: my ( $x1, $x2 ); [ $x1, $x2 ] = $d; # Unpack into pre-defined vars my [ $x1, $x2=42 ] = $d; # Set a default variable my [ $x1, @xs ] = $d; # Set remaining into an array my [ $x1, @xs, $x2 ] $d; # Set all but first and last into array my [ _, $x2, _, $x4 ] = $d; # Use _ ignore an array element my [ $x1, $_ ] = $d; # $_ actually sets $_ my [ $first, [], $last ] = $d; # Ignore middle my [ 25, $x26, $x27 ] = $d; # Use a number to ignore muliple my [ $x1, $x2, -25 ] = $d; # Take -27 and -26 my [ @a, @b, @c ] = $d; # Evenly distribute values over multiple arrays my [ @a, @_, @_ ] = $d; # Take every third element (0, 3, 6, ...) my [ @a, @19 ] = $d; # Take every 19th element # Hash destructuring: my { $k1, $k2 } = $d; # Unpack a hash ref my { $k1, $k2 } = %d; # Unpack a hash my { k1 => $x, $k2 } = $d; # Use a var name different than key my { k1 => $x=111, $k2=222 } = $d; # Set default values my { $key => $val } = $d; # Unpack a single pair hash my { @key => @val } = $d; # Unpack all keys and values (unzip) my [ @key => @val ] = $d; # Unpack all keys and values *sorted* my { @keys } = $d; # Key array of all keys my [ @keys ] = $d; # Key array of all keys *sorted* (RHS must be hashref) my { @keys => _ } = $d; # Same as above my [ @keys => _ ] = $d; # Same as above but *sorted* my { _ => @vals } = $d; # Get array of all values my { 'a-key', 'b.key' } = $d; # Short for { 'a-key' => $a_key, 'b.key' => $b_key } my { 'foo bar' } = $d; # Short for { "foo bar" => $foo_bar } # Nested destructuring: my { k1 => { $k2, $k3 }} = $d; # Unpack nested hash (no $k1) my { $k1 => { $k2, $k3 }} = $d; # Unpack nested hash w/ $k1 set to inner hash ref my { k1 => [ $x1, $x2 ]} = $d; # Unpack array ref nested in hash (no nesting depth limit) # Operator assignments: [ $a, $b ] //= $d; # Only assign undefined variables [ $a, $b ] .= $d; # Append string to every var [ $a, $b ] += $d; # Add number to every var # In for loops: for my { $k => [ $x1, $x2 ]} (@list) { # Unpack each collection from a list for my { $k => $v } (%hash) { $d; # Unpack each key/val pair from a hash # In signatures: sub foo( $a, {$k1, [ $x1, $x2 ]} ) { … } sub foo({ $name = "Fred", number => $num = 42, }) { … } # Regex: my [ $match, $cap1, $cap2 ] = $str =~ /…/; my [ $match, $cap1, $cap2 ] = /…/; # Match using $_ # Inline list expressions: my [ $a, @l{reverse}, $y, $z ] = $d; my [ $a, @l{map ($_ + 1), grep ($_ > 10)}, $z ] = $d; my [ $a, @{join '-'} => $s, $z ] = $d; IMPLEMENTATION All of the new assignment forms introduced here would cause Perl syntax or runtime errors without using assign.pm. Currently this module is a working prototype that uses Filter::Simple (Perl source code filtering) and PPI.pm (to parse and restructure Perl code). When all the syntax forms have been implemented and fully tested and the module has become stable, it will be rewritten as an XS module. PRIOR ART Destructuring assignment is available in many common languages. The assign module got many ideas from these. * CoffeeScript * JavaScript * Python * Clojure AUTHORS * Ingy döt Net <> COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE Copyright 2023 by Ingy döt Net This is free software, licensed under: The MIT (X11) License