Global variables

### 7.21 Global variables

- Introduction
- `g_assign/2`, `g_assignb/2`, `g_link/2`
- `g_read/2`
- `g_array_size/2`
- `g_inc/3`, `g_inc/2`, `g_inco/2`, `g_inc/1`, `g_dec/3`, `g_dec/2`, `g_deco/2`, `g_dec/1`
- `g_set_bit/2`, `g_reset_bit/2`, `g_test_set_bit/2`, `g_test_reset_bit/2`
- Examples

#### 7.21.1 Introduction

GNU Prolog provides a simple and powerful way to assign and read global variables. A global variable is associated with each atom, its initial value is the integer 0. A global variable can store 3 kinds of objects:

- a copy of a term (the assignment can be made backtrackable or not).
- a link to a term (the assignment is always backtrackable).
- an array of objects (recursively).

The space necessary for copies and arrays is dynamically allocated and recovered as soon as possible. For instance, when an atom is associated with a global variable whose current value is an array, the space for this array is recovered (unless the assignment is to be undone when backtracking occurs).

When a link to a term is associated with a global variable, the reference to this term is stored and thus the original term is returned when the content of the variable is read.

Global variable naming convention: a global variable is referenced by an atom.

If the variable contains an array, an index (ranging from 0) can be provided using a compound term whose principal functor is the corresponding atom and the argument is the index. In case of a multi-dimensional array, each index is given as the arguments of the compound term.

If the variable contains a term (link or copy), it is possible to only reference a sub-term by giving its argument number (also called argument selector). Such a sub-term is specified using a compound term whose principal functor is `-/2` and whose first argument is a global variable name and the second argument is the argument number (from 1). This can be applied recursively to specify a sub-term of any depth. In case of a list, a argument number I represents the Ith element of the list. In the rest of this section we use the operator notation since `-` is a predefined infix operator (section 7.14.10).

In the following, `GVarName` represents a reference to a global variable and its syntax is as follows:

  `GVarName` | ::= | `atom` | whole content of a variable
  |  | `atom(Integer,`…`,Integer)` | element of an array
  |  | `GVarName-Integer` | sub-term selection
  `Integer` | ::= | `integer` | immediate value
  |  | `GVarName` | indirect value

When a `GVarName` is used as an index or an argument number (i.e. indirection), the value of this variable must be an integer.

Here are some examples of the naming convention:

`a` | the content of variable associated with `a` (any kind)
`t(1)` | the 2nd element of the array associated with `t`
`t(k)` | if the value associated with `k` is I, the Ith element of the array associated with `t`
`a-1-2` | if the value associated with `a` is `f(g(a,b,c),2)`, the sub-term `b`

Here are the errors associated with global variable names and common to all predicates.

`GVarName` is a variable |  | `instantiation_error`
`GVarName` is neither a variable nor a callable term |  | `type_error(callable, GVarName)`
`GVarName` contains an invalid argument number (or `GVarName` is an array) |  | `domain_error(g_argument_selector, GVarName)`
`GVarName` contains an invalid index (or `GVarName` is not an array) |  | `domain_error(g_array_index, GVarName)`
`GVarName` is used as an indirect index or argument selector and is not an integer |  | `type_error(integer, GVarName)`

Arrays: the predicates `g_assign/2`, `g_assignb/2` and `g_link/2` (section 7.21.2) can be used to create an array. They recognize some terms as values. For instance, a compound term with principal functor `g_array` is used to define an array of fixed size. There are 3 forms for the term `g_array`:

- `g_array(Size)`: if `Size` is an integer > 0 then defines an array of `Size` elements which are all initialized with the integer `0`.
- `g_array(Size, Initial)`: as above but the elements are initialized with the term `Initial` instead of 0. `Initial` can contain other array definitions allowing thus for multi-dimensional arrays.
- `g_array(List)`: as above if `List` is a list of length `Size` except that the elements of the array are initialized according to the elements of `List` (which can contain other array definitions).

An array can be extended explicitly using a compound term with principal functor `g_array_extend` which accept the same 3 forms detailed above. In that case, the existing elements of the array are not initialized. If `g_array_extend` is used with an object which is not an array it is similar to `g_array`.

Finally, an array can be automatically expanded when needed. The programmer does not need to explicitly control the expansion of an automatic array. An array is expanded as soon as an index is outside the current size of this array. Such an array is defined using a compound term with principal functor `g_array_auto`:

- `g_array_auto(Size)`: if `Size` is an integer > 0 then defines an automatic array whose initial size is `Size`. All elements are initialized with the integer `0`. Elements created during implicit expansions will be initialized with `0`.
- `g_array_auto(Size, Initial)`: as above but the elements are initialized with the term `Initial` instead of 0. `Initial` can contain other array definitions allowing thus for multi-dimensional arrays. Elements created during implicit expansions will be initialized with `Initial`.
- `g_array_auto(List)`: as above if `List` is a list of length `Size` except that the elements of the array are initialized according to the elements of `List` (which can contain other array definitions). Elements created during implicit expansions will be initialized with `0`.

In any case, when an array is read, a term of the form `g_array([Elem0,..., ElemSize-1])` is returned.

Some examples using global variables are presented later (section 7.21.7).

#### 7.21.2 `g_assign/2`, `g_assignb/2`, `g_link/2`

Templates

  `g_assign(+callable_term, ?term)
  g_assignb(+callable_term, ?term)
  g_link(+callable_term, ?term)`

Description

`g_assign(GVarName, Value)` assigns a copy of the term `Value` to `GVarName`. This assignment is not undone when backtracking occurs.

`g_assignb/2` is similar to `g_assign/2` but the assignment is undone at backtracking.

`g_link(GVarName, Value)` makes a link between `GVarName` to the term `Value`. This allows the user to give a name to any Prolog term (in particular non-ground terms). Such an assignment is always undone when backtracking occurs (since the term may no longer exist). If `Value` is an atom or an integer, `g_link/2` and `g_assignb/2` have the same behavior. Since `g_link/2` only handles links to existing terms it does not require extra memory space and is not expensive in terms of execution time.

NB: argument selectors can only be used with g_assign/2 (i.e. when using an argument selector inside an assignment, this one must not be backtrackable).

Errors

See common errors detailed in the introduction (section 7.21.1)

`GVarName` contains an argument selector and the assignment is backtrackable |  | `domain_error(g_argument_selector, GVarName)`

Portability

GNU Prolog predicates.

#### 7.21.3 `g_read/2`

Templates

  `g_read(+callable_term, ?term)`

Description

`g_read(GVarName, Value)` unifies `Value` with the term assigned to `GVarName`.

Errors

See common errors detailed in the introduction (section 7.21.1)

Portability

GNU Prolog predicate.

#### 7.21.4 `g_array_size/2`

Templates

  `g_array_size(+callable_term, ?integer)`

Description

`g_array_size(GVarName, Value)` unifies `Size` with the dimension (an integer > 0) of the array assigned to `GVarName`. Fails if `GVarName` is not an array.

Errors

See common errors detailed in the introduction (section 7.21.1)

`Size` is neither a variable nor an integer |  | `type_error(integer, Size)`

Portability

GNU Prolog predicate.

#### 7.21.5 `g_inc/3`, `g_inc/2`, `g_inco/2`, `g_inc/1`, `g_dec/3`, `g_dec/2`, `g_deco/2`, `g_dec/1`

Templates

  `g_inc(+callable_term, ?integer, ?integer)
  g_inc(+callable_term, ?integer)
  g_inco(+callable_term, ?integer)
  g_inc(+callable_term)
  g_dec(+callable_term, ?integer, ?integer)
  g_dec(+callable_term, ?integer)
  g_deco(+callable_term, ?integer)
  g_dec(+callable_term)`

Description

`g_inc(GVarName, Old, New)` unifies `Old` with the integer assigned to `GVarName`, increments `GVarName` and then unifies `New` with the incremented value.

`g_inc(GVarName, New)` is equivalent to `g_inc(GVarName, _, New)`.

`g_inco(GVarName, Old)` is equivalent to `g_inc(GVarName, Old, _)`.

`g_inc(GVarName)` is equivalent to `g_inc(GVarName, _, _)`.

Predicates `g_dec` are similar but decrement the content of `GVarName` instead.

Errors

See common errors detailed in the introduction (section 7.21.1)

`Old` is neither a variable nor an integer |  | `type_error(integer, Old)`
`New` is neither a variable nor an integer |  | `type_error(integer, New)`
`GVarName` stores an array |  | `type_error(integer, g_array)`
`GVarName` stores a term `T` which is not an integer |  | `type_error(integer, T)`

Portability

GNU Prolog predicates.

#### 7.21.6 `g_set_bit/2`, `g_reset_bit/2`, `g_test_set_bit/2`, `g_test_reset_bit/2`

Templates

  `g_set_bit(+callable_term, +integer)
  g_reset_bit(+callable_term, +integer)
  g_test_set_bit(+callable_term, +integer)
  g_test_reset_bit(+callable_term, +integer)`

Description

`g_set_bit(GVarName, Bit)` sets to 1 the bit number specified by `Bit` of the integer assigned to `GVarName` to 1. Bit numbers range from 0 to the maximum number allowed for integers (this is architecture dependent). If `Bit` is greater than this limit, the modulo with this limit is taken.

`g_reset_bit(GVarName, Bit)` is similar to `g_set_bit/2` but sets the specified bit to 0.

`g_test_set_bit/2` succeeds if the specified bit is set to 1.

`g_test_reset_bit/2` succeeds if the specified bit is set to 0.

Errors

See common errors detailed in the introduction (section 7.21.1)

`Bit` is a variable |  | `instantiation_error`
`Bit` is neither a variable nor an integer |  | `type_error(integer, Bit)`
`Bit` is an integer < 0 |  | `domain_error(not_less_than_zero, Bit)`
`GVarName` stores an array |  | `type_error(integer, g_array)`
`GVarName` stores a term `T` which is not an integer |  | `type_error(integer, T)`

Portability

GNU Prolog predicates.

#### 7.21.7 Examples

Simulating `g_inc/3`: this predicate behaves like: global variable:

      my_g_inc(Var, Old, New) :-
              g_read(Var, Old),
              N is Value + 1,
              g_assign(Var, X),
       New = N.

The query: `my_g_inc(c, X, _)` will succeed unifying `X` with `0`, another call to `my_g_inc(a, Y, _)` will then unify `Y` with `1`, and so on.

Difference between `g_assign/2` and `g_assignb/2`: `g_assign/2` does not undo its assignment when backtracking occurs whereas `g_assignb/2` undoes it.

  ``

  `test(Old) :-` | `` | `testb(Old) :-`
  `g_assign(x,1),` | `` | `g_assign(x,1),`
  `( g_read(x, Old),` | `` | `( g_read(x, Old),`
  `g_assign(x, 2)` | `` | `g_assignb(x, 2)`
  `; g_read(x, Old),` | `` | `; g_read(x, Old),`
  `g_assign(x, 3)` | `` | `g_assign(x, 3)`
  `).` | `` | `).`

  ``

The query `test(Old)` will succeed unifying `Old` with `1` and on backtracking with `2` (i.e. the assignment of the value `2` has not been undone). The query `testb(Old)` will succeed unifying `Old` with `1` and on backtracking with `1` (i.e. the assignment of the value `2` has been undone).

Difference between `g_assign/2` and `g_link/2`: `g_assign/2` (and `g_assignb/2`) creates a copy of the term whereas `g_link/2` does not. `g_link/2` can be used to avoid passing big data structures (e.g. dictionaries,…) as arguments to predicates.

  ``

  `test(B) :-` | `` | `test(B) :-`
  `g_assign(b, f(X)),` | `` | `g_link(b, f(X)),`
  `X = 12,` | `` | `X = 12,`
  `g_read(b, B).` | `` | `g_read(b, B).`

  ``

The query `test(B)` will succeed unifying `B` with `f(_)` (`g_assign/2` assigns a copy of the value). The query `test(B)` will succeed unifying `B` with `f(12)` (`g_link/2` assigns a pointer to the term).

Simple array definition: here are some queries to show how arrays can be handled:

      | ?- g_assign(w, g_array(3)), g_read(w, X).

      X = g_array([0,0,0])

      | ?- g_assign(w(0), 16), g_assign(w(1), 32), g_assign(w(2), 64), g_read(w, X).

      X = g_array([16,32,64])

this is equivalent to:

      | ?- g_assign(k, g_array([16,32,64])), g_read(k, X).

      X = g_array([16,32,64])

      | ?- g_assign(k, g_array(3,null)), g_read(k, X), g_array_size(k, S).

      S = 3
      X = g_array([null,null,null])

2-D array definition:

      | ?- g_assign(w, g_array(2, g_array(3))), g_read(w, X).

      X = g_array([g_array([0,0,0]),g_array([0,0,0])])

      | ?- (   for(I,0,1), for(J,0,2), K is I*3+J, g_assign(w(I,J), K),
               fail
           ;   g_read(w, X)
           ).

      X = g_array([g_array([0,1,2]),g_array([3,4,5])])

      | ?- g_read(w(1),X).

      X = g_array([3,4,5])

Hybrid array:

      | ?- g_assign(w,g_array([1,2,g_array([a,b,c]), g_array(2,z),5])), g_read(w, X).

      X = g_array([1,2,g_array([a,b,c]), g_array([z,z]),5])

      | ?- g_read(w(1), X), g_read(w(2,1), Y), g_read(w(3,1), Z).

      X = 2
      Y = b
      Z = z

      | ?- g_read(w(1,2),X).
      uncaught exception: error(domain_error(g_array_index,w(1,2)),g_read/2)

Array extension:

      | ?- g_assign(a, g_array([10,20,30])), g_read(a, X).

      X = g_array([10,20,30])

      | ?- g_assign(a, g_array_extend(5,null)), g_read(a, X).

      X = g_array([10,20,30,null,null])

      | ?- g_assign(a, g_array([10,20,30])), g_read(a, X).

      X = g_array([10,20,30])

      | ?- g_assign(a, g_array_extend([1,2,3,4,5,6])), g_read(a, X).

      X = g_array([10,20,30,4,5,6])

Automatic array:

      | ?- g_assign(t, g_array_auto(3)), g_assign(t(1), foo), g_read(t,X).

      X = g_array([0,foo,0])

      | ?- g_assign(t(5), bar), g_read(t,X).

      X = g_array([0,foo,0,0,0,bar,0,0])

      | ?- g_assign(t, g_array_auto(2, g_array(2))), g_assign(t(1,1), foo),
           g_read(t,X).

      X = g_array([g_array([0,0]),g_array([0,foo])])

      | ?- g_assign(t(3,0), bar), g_read(t,X).

      X = g_array([g_array([0,0]),g_array([0,foo]),g_array([0,0]),g_array([bar,0])])

      | ?- g_assign(t(3,4), bar), g_read(t,X).
      uncaught exception: error(domain_error(g_array_index,t(3,4)),g_assign/2)

      | ?- g_assign(t, g_array_auto(2, g_array_auto(2))), g_assign(t(1,1), foo),
           g_read(t,X).

      X = g_array([g_array([0,0]),g_array([0,foo])])

      | ?- g_assign(t(3,3), bar), g_read(t,X).

      X = g_array([g_array([0,0]),g_array([0,foo]),g_array([0,0]),
          g_array([0,0,0,bar])])

      | ?- g_assign(t, g_array_auto(2, g_array_auto(2, null))), g_read(t(2,3), U),
           g_read(t, X).

      U = null
      X = g_array([g_array([null,null]),g_array([null,null]),
                   g_array([null,null,null,null]),g_array([null,null])])

Copyright (C) 1999-2009 Daniel Diaz Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved. More about the copyright