strscan 3.1.0 → 3.1.1

data/doc/strscan/strscan.md

@@ -0,0 +1,544 @@
+\Class `StringScanner` supports processing a stored string as a stream;
+this code creates a new `StringScanner` object with string `'foobarbaz'`:
+
+```
+require 'strscan'
+scanner = StringScanner.new('foobarbaz')
+```
+
+## About the Examples
+
+All examples here assume that `StringScanner` has been required:
+
+```
+require 'strscan'
+```
+
+Some examples here assume that these constants are defined:
+
+```
+MULTILINE_TEXT = <<~EOT
+Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
+and remember what peace there may be in silence.
+EOT
+
+HIRAGANA_TEXT = 'こんにちは'
+
+ENGLISH_TEXT = 'Hello'
+```
+
+Some examples here assume that certain helper methods are defined:
+
+- `put_situation(scanner)`:
+  Displays the values of the scanner's
+  methods #pos, #charpos, #rest, and #rest_size.
+- `put_match_values(scanner)`:
+  Displays the scanner's [match values][9].
+- `match_values_cleared?(scanner)`:
+  Returns whether the scanner's [match values][9] are cleared.
+
+See examples [here][ext/strscan/helper_methods_md.html].
+
+## The `StringScanner` \Object
+
+This code creates a `StringScanner` object
+(we'll call it simply a _scanner_),
+and shows some of its basic properties:
+
+```
+scanner = StringScanner.new('foobarbaz')
+scanner.string # => "foobarbaz"
+put_situation(scanner)
+# Situation:
+#   pos:       0
+#   charpos:   0
+#   rest:      "foobarbaz"
+#   rest_size: 9
+```
+
+The scanner has:
+
+* A <i>stored string</i>, which is:
+
+    * Initially set by StringScanner.new(string) to the given `string`
+      (`'foobarbaz'` in the example above).
+    * Modifiable by methods #string=(new_string) and #concat(more_string).
+    * Returned by method #string.
+
+    More at [Stored String][1] below.
+
+* A _position_;
+  a zero-based index into the bytes of the stored string (_not_ into its characters):
+
+    * Initially set by StringScanner.new to `0`.
+    * Returned by method #pos.
+    * Modifiable explicitly by methods #reset, #terminate, and #pos=(new_pos).
+    * Modifiable implicitly (various traversing methods, among others).
+
+    More at [Byte Position][2] below.
+
+* A <i>target substring</i>,
+  which is a trailing substring of the stored string;
+  it extends from the current position to the end of the stored string:
+
+    * Initially set by StringScanner.new(string) to the given `string`
+      (`'foobarbaz'` in the example above).
+    * Returned by method #rest.
+    * Modified by any modification to either the stored string or the position.
+
+    <b>Most importantly</b>:
+    the searching and traversing methods operate on the target substring,
+    which may be (and often is) less than the entire stored string.
+
+    More at [Target Substring][3] below.
+
+## Stored \String
+
+The <i>stored string</i> is the string stored in the `StringScanner` object.
+
+Each of these methods sets, modifies, or returns the stored string:
+
+| Method               | Effect                                          |
+|----------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
+| ::new(string)        | Creates a new scanner for the given string.     |
+| #string=(new_string) | Replaces the existing stored string.            |
+| #concat(more_string) | Appends a string to the existing stored string. |
+| #string              | Returns the stored string.                      |
+
+## Positions
+
+A `StringScanner` object maintains a zero-based <i>byte position</i>
+and a zero-based <i>character position</i>.
+
+Each of these methods explicitly sets positions:
+
+| Method                   | Effect                                                   |
+|--------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|
+| #reset                   | Sets both positions to zero (begining of stored string). |
+| #terminate               | Sets both positions to the end of the stored string.     |
+| #pos=(new_byte_position) | Sets byte position; adjusts character position.          |
+
+### Byte Position (Position)
+
+The byte position (or simply _position_)
+is a zero-based index into the bytes in the scanner's stored string;
+for a new `StringScanner` object, the byte position is zero.
+
+When the byte position is:
+
+* Zero (at the beginning), the target substring is the entire stored string.
+* Equal to the size of the stored string (at the end),
+  the target substring is the empty string `''`.
+
+To get or set the byte position:
+
+* \#pos: returns the byte position.
+* \#pos=(new_pos): sets the byte position.
+
+Many methods use the byte position as the basis for finding matches;
+many others set, increment, or decrement the byte position:
+
+```
+scanner = StringScanner.new('foobar')
+scanner.pos # => 0
+scanner.scan(/foo/) # => "foo" # Match found.
+scanner.pos         # => 3     # Byte position incremented.
+scanner.scan(/foo/) # => nil   # Match not found.
+scanner.pos # => 3             # Byte position not changed.
+```
+
+Some methods implicitly modify the byte position;
+see:
+
+* [Setting the Target Substring][4].
+* [Traversing the Target Substring][5].
+
+The values of these methods are derived directly from the values of #pos and #string:
+
+- \#charpos: the [character position][7].
+- \#rest: the [target substring][3].
+- \#rest_size: `rest.size`.
+
+### Character Position
+
+The character position is a zero-based index into the _characters_
+in the stored string;
+for a new `StringScanner` object, the character position is zero.
+
+\Method #charpos returns the character position;
+its value may not be reset explicitly.
+
+Some methods change (increment or reset) the character position;
+see:
+
+* [Setting the Target Substring][4].
+* [Traversing the Target Substring][5].
+
+Example (string includes multi-byte characters):
+
+```
+scanner = StringScanner.new(ENGLISH_TEXT) # Five 1-byte characters.
+scanner.concat(HIRAGANA_TEXT)             # Five 3-byte characters
+scanner.string # => "Helloこんにちは"       # Twenty bytes in all.
+put_situation(scanner)
+# Situation:
+#   pos:       0
+#   charpos:   0
+#   rest:      "Helloこんにちは"
+#   rest_size: 20
+scanner.scan(/Hello/) # => "Hello" # Five 1-byte characters.
+put_situation(scanner)
+# Situation:
+#   pos:       5
+#   charpos:   5
+#   rest:      "こんにちは"
+#   rest_size: 15
+scanner.getch         # => "こ"    # One 3-byte character.
+put_situation(scanner)
+# Situation:
+#   pos:       8
+#   charpos:   6
+#   rest:      "んにちは"
+#   rest_size: 12
+```
+
+## Target Substring
+
+The target substring is the the part of the [stored string][1]
+that extends from the current [byte position][2] to the end of the stored string;
+it is always either:
+
+- The entire stored string (byte position is zero).
+- A trailing substring of the stored string (byte position positive).
+
+The target substring is returned by method #rest,
+and its size is returned by method #rest_size.
+
+Examples:
+
+```
+scanner = StringScanner.new('foobarbaz')
+put_situation(scanner)
+# Situation:
+#   pos:       0
+#   charpos:   0
+#   rest:      "foobarbaz"
+#   rest_size: 9
+scanner.pos = 3
+put_situation(scanner)
+# Situation:
+#   pos:       3
+#   charpos:   3
+#   rest:      "barbaz"
+#   rest_size: 6
+scanner.pos = 9
+put_situation(scanner)
+# Situation:
+#   pos:       9
+#   charpos:   9
+#   rest:      ""
+#   rest_size: 0
+```
+
+### Setting the Target Substring
+
+The target substring is set whenever:
+
+* The [stored string][1] is set (position reset to zero; target substring set to stored string).
+* The [byte position][2] is set (target substring adjusted accordingly).
+
+### Querying the Target Substring
+
+This table summarizes (details and examples at the links):
+
+| Method     | Returns                           |
+|------------|-----------------------------------|
+| #rest      | Target substring.                 |
+| #rest_size | Size (bytes) of target substring. |
+
+### Searching the Target Substring
+
+A _search_ method examines the target substring,
+but does not advance the [positions][11]
+or (by implication) shorten the target substring.
+
+This table summarizes (details and examples at the links):
+
+| Method                | Returns                                       | Sets Match Values? |
+|-----------------------|-----------------------------------------------|--------------------|
+| #check(pattern)       | Matched leading substring or +nil+.           | Yes.               |
+| #check_until(pattern) | Matched substring (anywhere) or +nil+.        | Yes.               |
+| #exist?(pattern)      | Matched substring (anywhere) end index.       | Yes.               |
+| #match?(pattern)      | Size of matched leading substring or +nil+.   | Yes.               |
+| #peek(size)           | Leading substring of given length (bytes).    | No.                |
+| #peek_byte            | Integer leading byte or +nil+.                | No.                |
+| #rest                 | Target substring (from byte position to end). | No.                |
+
+### Traversing the Target Substring
+
+A _traversal_ method examines the target substring,
+and, if successful:
+
+- Advances the [positions][11].
+- Shortens the target substring.
+
+
+This table summarizes (details and examples at links):
+
+| Method               | Returns                                              | Sets Match Values? |
+|----------------------|------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|
+| #get_byte            | Leading byte or +nil+.                               | No.                |
+| #getch               | Leading character or +nil+.                          | No.                |
+| #scan(pattern)       | Matched leading substring or +nil+.                  | Yes.               |
+| #scan_byte           | Integer leading byte or +nil+.                       | No.                |
+| #scan_until(pattern) | Matched substring (anywhere) or +nil+.               | Yes.               |
+| #skip(pattern)       | Matched leading substring size or +nil+.             | Yes.               |
+| #skip_until(pattern) | Position delta to end-of-matched-substring or +nil+. | Yes.               |
+| #unscan              | +self+.                                              | No.                |
+
+## Querying the Scanner
+
+Each of these methods queries the scanner object
+without modifying it (details and examples at links)
+
+| Method              | Returns                          |
+|---------------------|----------------------------------|
+| #beginning_of_line? | +true+ or +false+.               |
+| #charpos            | Character position.              |
+| #eos?               | +true+ or +false+.               |
+| #fixed_anchor?      | +true+ or +false+.               |
+| #inspect            | String representation of +self+. |
+| #pos                | Byte position.                   |
+| #rest               | Target substring.                |
+| #rest_size          | Size of target substring.        |
+| #string             | Stored string.                   |
+
+## Matching
+
+`StringScanner` implements pattern matching via Ruby class [Regexp][6],
+and its matching behaviors are the same as Ruby's
+except for the [fixed-anchor property][10].
+
+### Matcher Methods
+
+Each <i>matcher method</i> takes a single argument `pattern`,
+and attempts to find a matching substring in the [target substring][3].
+
+| Method       | Pattern Type      | Matches Target Substring | Success Return     | May Update Positions? |
+|--------------|-------------------|--------------------------|--------------------|-----------------------|
+| #check       | Regexp or String. | At beginning.            | Matched substring. | No.                   |
+| #check_until | Regexp or String. | Anywhere.                | Substring.         | No.                   |
+| #match?      | Regexp or String. | At beginning.            | Match size.        | No.                   |
+| #exist?      | Regexp or String. | Anywhere.                | Substring size.    | No.                   |
+| #scan        | Regexp or String. | At beginning.            | Matched substring. | Yes.                  |
+| #scan_until  | Regexp or String. | Anywhere.                | Substring.         | Yes.                  |
+| #skip        | Regexp or String. | At beginning.            | Match size.        | Yes.                  |
+| #skip_until  | Regexp or String. | Anywhere.                | Substring size.    | Yes.                  |
+
+<br>
+
+Which matcher you choose will depend on:
+
+- Where you want to find a match:
+
+    - Only at the beginning of the target substring:
+      #check, #match?, #scan, #skip.
+    - Anywhere in the target substring:
+      #check_until, #exist?, #scan_until, #skip_until.
+
+- Whether you want to:
+
+    - Traverse, by advancing the positions:
+      #scan, #scan_until, #skip, #skip_until.
+    - Keep the positions unchanged:
+      #check, #check_until, #match?, #exist?.
+
+- What you want for the return value:
+
+    - The matched substring: #check, #scan.
+    - The substring: #check_until, #scan_until.
+    - The match size: #match?, #skip.
+    - The substring size: #exist?, #skip_until.
+
+### Match Values
+
+The <i>match values</i> in a `StringScanner` object
+generally contain the results of the most recent attempted match.
+
+Each match value may be thought of as:
+
+* _Clear_: Initially, or after an unsuccessful match attempt:
+  usually, `false`, `nil`, or `{}`.
+* _Set_: After a successful match attempt:
+  `true`, string, array, or hash.
+
+Each of these methods clears match values:
+
+- ::new(string).
+- \#reset.
+- \#terminate.
+
+Each of these methods attempts a match based on a pattern,
+and either sets match values (if successful) or clears them (if not);
+
+- \#check(pattern)
+- \#check_until(pattern)
+- \#exist?(pattern)
+- \#match?(pattern)
+- \#scan(pattern)
+- \#scan_until(pattern)
+- \#skip(pattern)
+- \#skip_until(pattern)
+
+#### Basic Match Values
+
+Basic match values are those not related to captures.
+
+Each of these methods returns a basic match value:
+
+| Method          | Return After Match                     | Return After No Match |
+|-----------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------|
+| #matched?       | +true+.                                | +false+.              |
+| #matched_size   | Size of matched substring.             | +nil+.                |
+| #matched        | Matched substring.                     | +nil+.                |
+| #pre_match      | Substring preceding matched substring. | +nil+.                |
+| #post_match     | Substring following matched substring. | +nil+.                |
+
+<br>
+
+See examples below.
+
+#### Captured Match Values
+
+Captured match values are those related to [captures][16].
+
+Each of these methods returns a captured match value:
+
+| Method          | Return After Match                      | Return After No Match |
+|-----------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------|
+| #size           | Count of captured substrings.           | +nil+.                |
+| #[](n)          | <tt>n</tt>th captured substring.        | +nil+.                |
+| #captures       | Array of all captured substrings.       | +nil+.                |
+| #values_at(*n)  | Array of specified captured substrings. | +nil+.                |
+| #named_captures | Hash of named captures.                 | <tt>{}</tt>.          |
+
+<br>
+
+See examples below.
+
+#### Match Values Examples
+
+Successful basic match attempt (no captures):
+
+```
+scanner = StringScanner.new('foobarbaz')
+scanner.exist?(/bar/)
+put_match_values(scanner)
+# Basic match values:
+#   matched?:       true
+#   matched_size:   3
+#   pre_match:      "foo"
+#   matched  :      "bar"
+#   post_match:     "baz"
+# Captured match values:
+#   size:           1
+#   captures:       []
+#   named_captures: {}
+#   values_at:      ["bar", nil]
+#   []:
+#     [0]:          "bar"
+#     [1]:          nil
+```
+
+Failed basic match attempt (no captures);
+
+```
+scanner = StringScanner.new('foobarbaz')
+scanner.exist?(/nope/)
+match_values_cleared?(scanner) # => true
+```
+
+Successful unnamed capture match attempt:
+
+```
+scanner = StringScanner.new('foobarbazbatbam')
+scanner.exist?(/(foo)bar(baz)bat(bam)/)
+put_match_values(scanner)
+# Basic match values:
+#   matched?:       true
+#   matched_size:   15
+#   pre_match:      ""
+#   matched  :      "foobarbazbatbam"
+#   post_match:     ""
+# Captured match values:
+#   size:           4
+#   captures:       ["foo", "baz", "bam"]
+#   named_captures: {}
+#   values_at:      ["foobarbazbatbam", "foo", "baz", "bam", nil]
+#   []:
+#     [0]:          "foobarbazbatbam"
+#     [1]:          "foo"
+#     [2]:          "baz"
+#     [3]:          "bam"
+#     [4]:          nil
+```
+
+Successful named capture match attempt;
+same as unnamed above, except for #named_captures:
+
+```
+scanner = StringScanner.new('foobarbazbatbam')
+scanner.exist?(/(?<x>foo)bar(?<y>baz)bat(?<z>bam)/)
+scanner.named_captures # => {"x"=>"foo", "y"=>"baz", "z"=>"bam"}
+```
+
+Failed unnamed capture match attempt:
+
+```
+scanner = StringScanner.new('somestring')
+scanner.exist?(/(foo)bar(baz)bat(bam)/)
+match_values_cleared?(scanner) # => true
+```
+
+Failed named capture match attempt;
+same as unnamed above, except for #named_captures:
+
+```
+scanner = StringScanner.new('somestring')
+scanner.exist?(/(?<x>foo)bar(?<y>baz)bat(?<z>bam)/)
+match_values_cleared?(scanner) # => false
+scanner.named_captures # => {"x"=>nil, "y"=>nil, "z"=>nil}
+```
+
+## Fixed-Anchor Property
+
+Pattern matching in `StringScanner` is the same as in Ruby's,
+except for its fixed-anchor property,
+which determines the meaning of `'\A'`:
+
+* `false` (the default): matches the current byte position.
+
+    ```
+    scanner = StringScanner.new('foobar')
+    scanner.scan(/\A./) # => "f"
+    scanner.scan(/\A./) # => "o"
+    scanner.scan(/\A./) # => "o"
+    scanner.scan(/\A./) # => "b"
+    ```
+
+* `true`: matches the beginning of the target substring;
+  never matches unless the byte position is zero:
+
+    ```
+    scanner = StringScanner.new('foobar', fixed_anchor: true)
+    scanner.scan(/\A./) # => "f"
+    scanner.scan(/\A./) # => nil
+    scanner.reset
+    scanner.scan(/\A./) # => "f"
+    ```
+
+The fixed-anchor property is set when the `StringScanner` object is created,
+and may not be modified
+(see StringScanner.new);
+method #fixed_anchor? returns the setting.
+