# Reference Manual of the Programming Language Lua 5.0 (beta)

by Roberto Ierusalimschy, Luiz Henrique de Figueiredo, Waldemar Celes

Copyright © 2002 Tecgraf, PUC-Rio. All rights reserved.

# 1 - Introduction

Lua is an extension programming language designed to support general procedural programming with data description facilities. Lua is intended to be used as a powerful, light-weight configuration language for any program that needs one. Lua is implemented as a library, written in C.

Being an extension language, Lua has no notion of a ``main'' program: it only works embedded in a host client, called the embedding program or simply the host. This host program can invoke functions to execute a piece of Lua code, can write and read Lua variables, and can register C functions to be called by Lua code. Through the use of C functions, Lua can be augmented to cope with a wide range of different domains, thus creating customized programming languages sharing a syntactical framework.

Lua is free software, and is provided as usual with no guarantees, as stated in its copyright notice. The implementation described in this manual is available at Lua's official web site, www.lua.org.

Like any other reference manual, this document is dry in places. For a discussion of the decisions behind the design of Lua, see the papers below, which are available at Lua's web site.

- R. Ierusalimschy, L. H. de Figueiredo, and W. Celes. Lua-an extensible extension language. Software: Practice & Experience 26 #6 (1996) 635--652.
- L. H. de Figueiredo, R. Ierusalimschy, and W. Celes. The design and implementation of a language for extending applications. Proceedings of XXI Brazilian Seminar on Software and Hardware (1994) 273--283.
- L. H. de Figueiredo, R. Ierusalimschy, and W. Celes. Lua: an extensible embedded language. Dr. Dobb's Journal 21 #12 (Dec 1996) 26--33.
- R. Ierusalimschy, L. H. de Figueiredo, and W. Celes. The evolution of an extension language: a history of Lua, Proceedings of V Brazilian Symposium on Programming Languages (2001) B-14--B-28.

Lua means ``moon'' in Portuguese.

# 2 - Lua Concepts

This section describes the main concepts of Lua as a language. The syntax and semantics of Lua are described in Section 3. The discussion below is not purely conceptual; it includes references to the C API (see Section 4), because Lua is designed to be embedded in host programs. It also includes references to the standard libraries (see Section 6).

## 2.1 - Environment and Chunks

All statements in Lua are executed in a global environment. This environment is initialized with a call from the embedding program to `lua_open` and persists until a call to `lua_close` or the end of the embedding program. The host program can create multiple independent global environments, and freely switch between them (see Section 4.1).

The unit of execution of Lua is called a chunk. A chunk is simply a sequence of statements. Statements are described in Section 3.3.

A chunk may be stored in a file or in a string inside the host program. When a chunk is executed, first it is pre-compiled into opcodes for a virtual machine, and then the compiled statements are executed by an interpreter for the virtual machine. All modifications a chunk makes to the global environment persist after the chunk ends.

Chunks may also be pre-compiled into binary form and stored in files; see program `luac` for details. Programs in source and compiled forms are interchangeable; Lua automatically detects the file type and acts accordingly.

## 2.2 - Table of Globals

????

## 2.3 - Values and Types

Lua is a dynamically typed language. That means that variables do not have types; only values do. There are no type definitions in the language. All values carry their own type.

There are eight basic types in Lua: nil, boolean, number, string, function, userdata, thread, and table. Nil is the type of the value nil, whose main property is to be different from any other value; usually it represents the absence of a useful value. Boolean is the type of the values false and true. In Lua, both nil and false make a condition false, and any other value makes it true. Number represents real (double-precision floating-point) numbers. String represents arrays of characters. Lua is 8-bit clean, and so strings may contain any 8-bit character, including embedded zeros (`'\0'`) (see Section 3.1).

Functions are first-class values in Lua. That means that functions can be stored in variables, passed as arguments to other functions, and returned as results. Lua can call (and manipulate) functions written in Lua and functions written in C (see Section 3.4.7).

The type userdata is provided to allow arbitrary C data to be stored in Lua variables. This type corresponds to a block of raw memory and has no pre-defined operations in Lua, except assignment and identity test. However, by using metatables, the programmer can define operations for userdata values (see Section 3.7). Userdata values cannot be created or modified in Lua, only through the C API. This guarantees the integrity of data owned by the host program.

The type thread represents independent threads of execution, and it is used to implement coroutines. (This is an experimental area; it needs more documentation, and is subject to changes in the future.)

The type table implements associative arrays, that is, arrays that can be indexed not only with numbers, but with any value (except nil). Moreover, tables can be heterogeneous, that is, they can contain values of all types. Tables are the sole data structuring mechanism in Lua; they may be used not only to represent ordinary arrays, but also symbol tables, sets, records, graphs, trees, etc. To represent records, Lua uses the field name as an index. The language supports this representation by providing `a.name` as syntactic sugar for `a["name"]`. There are several convenient ways to create tables in Lua (see Section 3.4.6).

Like indices, the value of a table field can be of any type. In particular, because functions are first class values, table fields may contain functions. So, tables may also carry methods (see Section 3.4.8).

Tables, functions, and userdata values are objects: variables do not actually contain these values, only references to them. Assignment, parameter passing, and function returns always manipulate references to these values, and do not imply any kind of copy.

The library function `type` returns a string describing the type of a given value (see Section 6.1).

### 2.3.1 - Metatables

Each table and userdata object in Lua may have a metatable.

You can change several aspects of the behavior of an object by setting specific fields in its metatable. For instance, when an object is the operand of an addition, Lua checks for a function in the field `"__add"` in its metatable. If it finds one, Lua calls that function to perform the addition.

We call the keys in a metatable events, and the values metamethods. In the previous example, `"add"` is the event, and the function is the metamethod that performs the addition.

A metatable controls how an object behaves in arithmetic operations, order comparisons, concatenation, and indexing. A metatable can also define a function to be called when a userdata is garbage collected. Section 3.7 gives a detailed description of which events you can control with metatables.

You can query and change the metatable of an object through the `setmetatable` and `getmetatable` functions (see Section 6.1).

## 2.4 - Coercion

Lua provides automatic conversion between string and number values at run time. Any arithmetic operation applied to a string tries to convert that string to a number, following the usual rules. Conversely, whenever a number is used when a string is expected, the number is converted to a string, in a reasonable format. The format is chosen so that a conversion from number to string then back to number reproduces the original number exactly. For complete control of how numbers are converted to strings, use the `format` function (see Section 6.2).

## 2.5 - Variables

There are two kinds of variables in Lua: global variables and local variables. Variables are assumed to be global unless explicitly declared local (see Section 3.3.7). Before the first assignment, the value of a variable is nil.

All global variables live as fields in ordinary Lua tables. Usually, globals live in a table called table of globals. However, a function can individually change its global table, so that all global variables in that function will refer to that table. This mechanism allows the creation of namespaces and other modularization facilities.

Local variables are lexically scoped. Therefore, local variables can be freely accessed by functions defined inside their scope (see Section 3.5).

## 2.6 - Garbage Collection

Lua does automatic memory management. That means that you do not have to worry about allocating memory for new objects and freeing it when the objects are no longer needed. Lua manages memory automatically by running a garbage collector from time to time and collecting all dead objects (all objects that are no longer accessible from Lua). All objects in Lua are subject to automatic management: tables, userdata, functions, and strings.

Using the C API, you can set garbage-collector metamethods for userdata (see Section 3.7). When it is about to free a userdata, Lua calls the metamethod associated with event `gc` in the userdata's metatable. Using such facility, you can coordinate Lua's garbage collection with external resource management (such as closing files, network or database connections, or freeing your own memory).

Lua uses two numbers to control its garbage-collection cycles. One number counts how many bytes of dynamic memory Lua is using, and the other is a threshold. When the number of bytes crosses the threshold, Lua runs the garbage collector, which reclaims the memory of all dead objects. The byte counter is corrected, and then the threshold is reset to twice the value of the byte counter.

Through the C API, you can query those numbers, and change the threshold (see Section 4.8). Setting the threshold to zero actually forces an immediate garbage-collection cycle, while setting it to a huge number effectively stops the garbage collector. Using Lua code you have a more limited control over garbage-collection cycles, through the functions `gcinfo` and `collectgarbage` (see Section 6.1).

### 2.6.1 - Weak Tables

A weak table is a table whose elements are weak references. A weak reference is ignored by the garbage collector. In other words, if the only references to an object are weak references, then the garbage collector will collect that object.

A weak table can have weak keys, weak values, or both. A table with weak keys allows the collection of its keys, but prevents the collection of its values. A table with both weak keys and weak values allows the collection of both keys and values. In any case, if either the key or the value is collected, the whole pair is removed from the table. The weakness of a table is controled by the value of the `__mode` field of its metatable. If the `__mode` field is a string containing the `k` character, the keys in the table are weak. If `__mode` contains `v`, the values in the table are weak.

# 3 - The Language

This section describes the lexis, the syntax, and the semantics of Lua. In other words, this section describes which tokens are valid, how they can be combined, and what their combinations mean.

## 3.1 - Lexical Conventions

Identifiers in Lua can be any string of letters, digits, and underscores, not beginning with a digit. This coincides with the definition of identifiers in most languages. (The definition of letter depends on the current locale: any character considered alphabetic by the current locale can be used in an identifier.)

The following keywords are reserved, and cannot be used as identifiers:

           and       break     do        else      elseif
           end       false     for       function  if
           in        local     nil       not       or
           repeat    return    then      true      until
           while

Lua is a case-sensitive language: `and` is a reserved word, but `And` and `ánd` (if the locale permits) are two different, valid identifiers. As a convention, identifiers starting with an underscore followed by uppercase letters (such as `_VERSION`) are reserved for internal variables.

The following strings denote other tokens:

           +     -     *     /     ^     =
           ~=    <=    >=    <     >     ==
           (     )     {     }     [     ]
           ;     :     ,     .     ..    ...

Literal strings can be delimited by matching single or double quotes, and can contain the C-like escape sequences ``\a`' (bell), ``\b`' (backspace), ``\f`' (form feed), ``\n`' (newline), ``\r`' (carriage return), ``\t`' (horizontal tab), ``\v`' (vertical tab), ``\\`' (backslash), ``\"`' (double quote), ``\'`' (single quote), and ``\`newline' (that is, a backslash followed by a real newline, which results in a newline in the string). A character in a string may also be specified by its numerical value, through the escape sequence ``\`ddd', where ddd is a sequence of up to three decimal digits. Strings in Lua may contain any 8-bit value, including embedded zeros, which can be specified as ``\0`'.

Literal strings can also be delimited by matching `[[` ... `]]`. Literals in this bracketed form may run for several lines, may contain nested `[[` ... `]]` pairs, and do not interpret escape sequences. For convenience, when the opening `[[` is immediately followed by a newline, the newline is not included in the string. % ]] That form is specially convenient for writing strings that contain program pieces or other quoted strings. As an example, in a system using ASCII (in which ``a`' is coded as 97, newline is coded as 10, and ``1`' is coded as 49), the four literals below denote the same string:

          (1)   "alo\n123\""
          (2)   '\97lo\10\04923"'
          (3)   [[alo
                123"]]
          (4)   [[
                alo
                123"]]

Numerical constants may be written with an optional decimal part and an optional decimal exponent. Examples of valid numerical constants are

           3     3.0     3.1416  314.16e-2   0.31416E1

Comments start anywhere outside a string with a double hyphen (`--`); If the text after `--` is different from `[[`, the comment is a short comment, that runs until the end of the line. Otherwise, it is a long comment, that runs until the corresponding `]]`. Long comments may run for several lines, and may contain nested `[[` ... `]]` pairs. For convenience, the first line of a chunk is skipped if it starts with `#`. This facility allows the use of Lua as a script interpreter in Unix systems (see Section 7).

## 3.2 - Variables

Variables are places that store values.

A single name can denote a global variable, a local variable, or a formal parameter in a function (formal parameters are just local variables):

           var ::= `Name'

Square brackets are used to index a table:

           var ::= prefixexp `[' exp `]'

The first expression should result in a table value, and the second expression identifies a specific entry inside that table.

The syntax `var.NAME` is just syntactic sugar for `var["NAME"]`:

           var ::= prefixexp `.' `Name'

The expression denoting the table to be indexed has a restricted syntax; Section 3.4 for details.

The meaning of assignments and evaluations of global and indexed variables can be changed via metatables. An assignment to a global variable `x = val` is equivalent to the assignment `_glob.x = val`, where `_glob` is the table of globals of the running function ((see Section 2.2) for a discussion about the table of globals). An assignment to an indexed variable `t[i] = val` is equivalent to `settable_event(t,i,val)`. An access to a global variable `x` is equivalent to `_glob.x` (again, (see Section 2.2) for a discussion about `_glob`). An access to an indexed variable `t[i]` is equivalent to a call `gettable_event(t,i)`. See Section 3.7 for a complete description of the `settable_event` and `gettable_event` functions. (These functions are not defined in Lua. We use them here only for explanatory purposes.)

## 3.3 - Statements

Lua supports an almost conventional set of statements, similar to those in Pascal or C. The conventional commands include assignment, control structures, and procedure calls. Non-conventional commands include table constructors and variable declarations.

### 3.3.1 - Chunks

The unit of execution of Lua is called a chunk. A chunk is simply a sequence of statements, which are executed sequentially. Each statement can be optionally followed by a semicolon:

           chunk ::= {stat [`;']}

### 3.3.2 - Blocks

A block is a list of statements; syntactically, a block is equal to a chunk:

           block ::= chunk

A block may be explicitly delimited to produce a single statement:

           stat ::= do block end

Explicit blocks are useful to control the scope of variable declarations. Explicit blocks are also sometimes used to add a return or break statement in the middle of another block (see Section 3.3.4).

### 3.3.3 - Assignment

Lua allows multiple assignment. Therefore, the syntax for assignment defines a list of variables on the left side and a list of expressions on the right side. The elements in both lists are separated by commas:

           stat ::= varlist1 `=' explist1
           varlist1 ::= var {`,' var}
           explist1 ::= exp {`,' exp}

Expressions are discussed in Section 3.4.

Before the assignment, the list of values is adjusted to the length of the list of variables. If there are more values than needed, the excess values are thrown away. If there are less values than needed, the list is extended with as many nil's as needed. If the list of expressions ends with a function call, then all values returned by that function call enter in the list of values, before the adjust (except when the call is enclosed in parentheses; see Section 3.4).

The assignment statement first evaluates all its expressions, and only then makes the assignments. So, the code

           i = 3
           i, a[i] = i+1, 20

sets `a[3]` to 20, without affecting `a[4]` because the `i` in `a[i]` is evaluated before it is assigned 4. Similarly, the line

           x, y = y, x

exchanges the values of `x` and `y`.

### 3.3.4 - Control Structures

The control structures if, while, and repeat have the usual meaning and familiar syntax:

           stat ::= while exp do block end
           stat ::= repeat block until exp
           stat ::= if exp then block {elseif exp then block} [else block] end

Lua also has a for statement, in two flavors (see Section 3.3.5).

The condition expression exp of a control structure may return any value. All values different from nil and false are considered true (in particular, the number 0 and the empty string are also true); both false and nil are considered false.

The return statement is used to return values from a function or from a chunk. Functions and chunks may return more than one value, and so the syntax for the return statement is

           stat ::= return [explist1]

The break statement can be used to terminate the execution of a while, repeat, or for loop, skipping to the next statement after the loop:

           stat ::= break

A break ends the innermost enclosing loop.

For syntactic reasons, return and break statements can only be written as the last statement of a block. If it is really necessary to return or break in the middle of a block, then an explicit inner block can used, as in the idioms ``do return end`' and ``do break end`', because now return and break are the last statements in their (inner) blocks. In practice, those idioms are only used during debugging. (For instance, a line ``do return end`' can be added at the beginning of a chunk for syntax checking only.)

### 3.3.5 - For Statement

The for statement has two forms, one for numbers and one generic.

The numerical for loop repeats a block of code while a control variable runs through an arithmetic progression. It has the following syntax:

           stat ::= for `Name' `=' exp `,' exp [`,' exp] do block end

The block is repeated for name starting at the value of the first exp, until it reaches the second exp by steps of the third exp. More precisely, a for statement like

           for var = e1, e2, e3 do block end

is equivalent to the code:

           do
             local var, _limit, _step = tonumber(e1), tonumber(e2), tonumber(e3)
             if not (var and _limit and _step) then error() end
             while (_step>0 and var<=_limit) or (_step<=0 and var>=_limit) do
               block
               var = var+_step
             end
           end

Note the following:

- Both the limit and the step are evaluated only once, before the loop starts.
- `_limit` and `_step` are invisible variables. The names are here for explanatory purposes only.
- The behavior is undefined if you assign to `var` inside the block.
- If the third expression (the step) is absent, then a step of 1 is used.
- You can use break to exit a for loop.
- The loop variable `var` is local to the statement; you cannot use its value after the for ends or is broken. If you need the value of the loop variable `var`, then assign it to another variable before breaking or exiting the loop.

The generic for statement works over functions, called generators. It calls its generator to produce a new value for each iteration, stopping when the new value is nil. It has the following syntax:

           stat ::= for `Name' {`,' `Name'} in explist1 do block end

A for statement like

           for var_1, ..., var_n in explist do block end

is equivalent to the code:

           do
             local _f, _s, var_1, ..., var_n = explist
             while 1 do
               var_1, ..., var_n = _f(_s, var_1)
               if var_1 == nil then break end
               block
             end
           end

Note the following:

- `explist` is evaluated only once. Its results are a ``generator'' function, a ``state'', and an initial value for the ``iterator variable''.
- `_f` and `_s` are invisible variables. The names are here for explanatory purposes only.
- The behavior is undefined if you assign to any `var_i` inside the block.
- You can use break to exit a for loop.
- The loop variables `var_i` are local to the statement; you cannot use their values after the for ends. If you need these values, then assign them to other variables before breaking or exiting the loop.

### 3.3.6 - Function Calls as Statements

Because of possible side-effects, function calls can be executed as statements:

           stat ::= functioncall

In this case, all returned values are thrown away. Function calls are explained in Section 3.4.7.

### 3.3.7 - Local Declarations

Local variables may be declared anywhere inside a block. The declaration may include an initial assignment:

           stat ::= local namelist [`=' explist1]
           namelist ::= `Name' {`,' `Name'}

If present, an initial assignment has the same semantics of a multiple assignment (see Section 3.3.3). Otherwise, all variables are initialized with nil.

A chunk is also a block (see Section 3.3.1), and so local variables can be declared outside any explicit block. Such local variables die when the chunk ends.

Visibility rules for local variables are explained in Section 3.5.

## 3.4 - Expressions

The basic expressions in Lua are the following:

           exp ::= prefixexp
           exp ::= nil | false | true
           exp ::= Number
           exp ::= Literal
           exp ::= function
           exp ::= tableconstructor
           prefixexp ::= var | functioncall | `(' exp `)'

An expression enclosed in parentheses always results in only one value. Thus, `(f(x,y,z))` is always a single value, even if `f` returns several values. (The value of `(f(x,y,z))` is the first value returned by `f` or nil if `f` does not return any values.)

Numbers and literal strings are explained in Section 3.1; variables are explained in Section 3.2; function definitions are explained in Section 3.4.8; function calls are explained in Section 3.4.7; table constructors are explained in Section 3.4.6.

Expressions can also be built with arithmetic operators, relational operators, and logical operadors, all of which are explained below.

### 3.4.1 - Arithmetic Operators

Lua supports the usual arithmetic operators: the binary `+` (addition), `-` (subtraction), `*` (multiplication), `/` (division), and `^` (exponentiation); and unary `-` (negation). If the operands are numbers, or strings that can be converted to numbers (see Section 2.4), then all operations except exponentiation have the usual meaning, while exponentiation calls a global function `pow`; ?? otherwise, an appropriate metamethod is called (see Section 3.7). The standard mathematical library defines function `pow`, giving the expected meaning to exponentiation (see Section 6.4).

### 3.4.2 - Relational Operators

The relational operators in Lua are

           ==    ~=    <     >     <=    >=

These operators always result in false or true.

Equality (`==`) first compares the type of its operands. If the types are different, then the result is false. Otherwise, the values of the operands are compared. Numbers and strings are compared in the usual way. Tables, userdata, and functions are compared by reference, that is, two tables are considered equal only if they are the same table.

Every time you create a new table (or userdata, or function), this new value is different from any previously existing value.

The conversion rules of Section 2.4 do not apply to equality comparisons. Thus, `"0"==0` evaluates to false, and `t[0]` and `t["0"]` denote different entries in a table.

The operator `~=` is exactly the negation of equality (`==`).

The order operators work as follows. If both arguments are numbers, then they are compared as such. Otherwise, if both arguments are strings, then their values are compared according to the current locale. Otherwise, the ``lt'' or the ``le'' metamethod is called (see Section 3.7).

### 3.4.3 - Logical Operators

The logical operators in Lua are

           and   or    not

Like the control structures (see Section 3.3.4), all logical operators consider both false and nil as false and anything else as true.

The operator not always return false or true.

The conjunction operator and returns its first argument if its value is false or nil; otherwise, and returns its second argument. The disjunction operator or returns its first argument if it is different from nil and false; otherwise, or returns its second argument. Both and and or use short-cut evaluation, that is, the second operand is evaluated only if necessary. For example,

           10 or error()       -> 10
           nil or "a"          -> "a"
           nil and 10          -> nil
           false and error()   -> false
           false and nil       -> false
           false or nil        -> nil
           10 and 20           -> 20

### 3.4.4 - Concatenation

The string concatenation operator in Lua is denoted by two dots (``..`'). If both operands are strings or numbers, then they are converted to strings according to the rules mentioned in Section 2.4. Otherwise, the ``concat'' metamethod is called (see Section 3.7).

### 3.4.5 - Precedence

Operator precedence in Lua follows the table below, from lower to higher priority:

           or
           and
           <     >     <=    >=    ~=    ==
           ..
           +     -
           *     /
           not   - (unary)
           ^

The `..` (concatenation) and `^` (exponentiation) operators are right associative. All other binary operators are left associative.

### 3.4.6 - Table Constructors

Table constructors are expressions that create tables; every time a constructor is evaluated, a new table is created. Constructors can be used to create empty tables, or to create a table and initialize some of its fields. The general syntax for constructors is

           tableconstructor ::= `{' [fieldlist] `}'
           fieldlist ::= field {fieldsep field} [fieldsep]
           field ::= `[' exp `]' `=' exp | `Name' `=' exp | exp
           fieldsep ::= `,' | `;'

Each field of the form `[exp1] = exp2` adds to the new table an entry with key `exp1` and value `exp2`. A field of the form `name = exp` is equivalent to `["name"] = exp`. Finally, fields of the form `exp` are equivalent to `[i] = exp`, where `i` are consecutive numerical integers, starting with 1. Fields in the other formats do not affect this counting. For example,

           a = {[f(1)] = g; "x", "y"; x = 1, f(x), [30] = 23; 45}

is equivalent to

           do
             local temp = {}
             temp[f(1)] = g
             temp[1] = "x"         -- 1st exp
             temp[2] = "y"         -- 2nd exp
             temp.x = 1            -- temp["x"] = 1
             temp[3] = f(x)        -- 3rd exp
             temp[30] = 23
             temp[4] = 45          -- 4th exp
             a = temp
           end

If the last expression in the list is a function call, then all values returned by the call enter the list consecutively (see Section 3.4.7). If you want to avoid this, enclose the function call in parentheses.

The field list may have an optional trailing separator, as a convenience for machine-generated code.

### 3.4.7 - Function Calls

A function call in Lua has the following syntax:

           functioncall ::= prefixexp args

In a function call, first prefixexp and args are evaluated. If the value of prefixexp has type function, then that function is called, with the given arguments. Otherwise, its ``call'' metamethod is called, having as first parameter the value of prefixexp, followed by the original call arguments (see Section 3.7).

The form

           functioncall ::= prefixexp `:' `name' args

can be used to call ``methods''. A call `v:name(...)` is syntactic sugar for `v.name(v, ...)`, except that `v` is evaluated only once.

Arguments have the following syntax:

           args ::= `(' [explist1] `)'
           args ::= tableconstructor
           args ::= Literal

All argument expressions are evaluated before the call. A call of the form `f{...}` is syntactic sugar for `f({...})`, that is, the argument list is a single new table. A call of the form `f'...'` (or `f"..."` or `f[[...]]`) is syntactic sugar for `f('...')`, that is, the argument list is a single literal string.

Because a function can return any number of results (see Section 3.3.4), the number of results must be adjusted before they are used. If the function is called as a statement (see Section 3.3.6), then its return list is adjusted to 0 elements, thus discarding all returned values. If the function is called inside another expression, or in the middle of a list of expressions, then its return list is adjusted to 1 element, thus discarding all returned values but the first one. If the function is called as the last element of a list of expressions, then no adjustment is made (unless the call is enclosed in parentheses).

Here are some examples:

           f()                -- adjusted to 0 results
           g(f(), x)          -- f() is adjusted to 1 result
           g(x, f())          -- g gets x plus all values returned by f()
           a,b,c = f(), x     -- f() is adjusted to 1 result (and c gets nil)
           a,b,c = x, f()     -- f() is adjusted to 2
           a,b,c = f()        -- f() is adjusted to 3
           return f()         -- returns all values returned by f()
           return x,y,f()     -- returns x, y, and all values returned by f()
           {f()}              -- creates a list with all values returned by f()
           {f(), nil}         -- f() is adjusted to 1 result

If you enclose a function call in parentheses, then it is adjusted to return exactly one value:

           return x,y,(f())   -- returns x, y, and the first value from f()
           {(f())}            -- creates a table with exactly one element

As an exception to the format-free syntax of Lua, you cannot put a line break before the `(` in a function call. That restriction avoids some ambiguities in the language. If you write

           a = f
           (g).x(a)

Lua would read that as `a = f(g).x(a)`. So, if you want two statements, you must add a semi-colon between them. If you actually want to call `f`, you must remove the line break before `(g)`.

### 3.4.8 - Function Definitions

The syntax for function definition is

           function ::= function funcbody
           funcbody ::= `(' [parlist1] `)' block end

The following syntactic sugar simplifies function definitions:

           stat ::= function funcname funcbody
           stat ::= local function `name' funcbody
           funcname ::= `name' {`.' `name'} [`:' `name']

The statement

           function f () ... end

translates to

           f = function () ... end

The statement

           function t.a.b.c.f () ... end

translates to

           t.a.b.c.f = function () ... end

The statement

           local function f () ... end

translates to

           local f; f = function () ... end

A function definition is an executable expression, whose value has type function. When Lua pre-compiles a chunk, all its function bodies are pre-compiled too. Then, whenever Lua executes the function definition, the function is instantiated (or closed). This function instance (or closure) is the final value of the expression. Different instances of the same function may refer to different non-local variables (see Section 3.5) and may have different tables of globals (see Section 2.2).

Parameters act as local variables, initialized with the argument values:

           parlist1 ::= namelist [`,' `...']
           parlist1 ::= `...'

When a function is called, the list of arguments is adjusted to the length of the list of parameters, unless the function is a vararg function, which is indicated by three dots (``...`') at the end of its parameter list. A vararg function does not adjust its argument list; instead, it collects all extra arguments into an implicit parameter, called `arg`. The value of `arg` is a table, with a field `n` whose value is the number of extra arguments, and the extra arguments at positions 1, 2, ..., `n`.

As an example, consider the following definitions:

           function f(a, b) end
           function g(a, b, ...) end
           function r() return 1,2,3 end

Then, we have the following mapping from arguments to parameters:

           CALL            PARAMETERS

           f(3)             a=3, b=nil
           f(3, 4)          a=3, b=4
           f(3, 4, 5)       a=3, b=4
           f(r(), 10)       a=1, b=10
           f(r())           a=1, b=2

           g(3)             a=3, b=nil, arg={n=0}
           g(3, 4)          a=3, b=4,   arg={n=0}
           g(3, 4, 5, 8)    a=3, b=4,   arg={5, 8; n=2}
           g(5, r())        a=5, b=1,   arg={2, 3; n=2}

Results are returned using the return statement (see Section 3.3.4). If control reaches the end of a function without encountering a return statement, then the function returns with no results.

The colon syntax is used for defining methods, that is, functions that have an implicit extra parameter `self`. Thus, the statement

           function t.a.b.c:f (...) ... end

is syntactic sugar for

           t.a.b.c.f = function (self, ...) ... end

## 3.5 - Visibility Rules

Lua is a lexically scoped language. The scope of variables begins at the first statement after their declaration and lasts until the end of the innermost block that includes the declaration. For instance:

      x = 10                -- global variable
      do                    -- new block
        local x = x         -- new `x', with value 10
        print(x)            --> 10
        x = x+1
        do                  -- another block
          local x = x+1     -- another `x'
          print(x)          --> 12
        end
        print(x)            --> 11
      end
      print(x)              --> 10  (the global one)

Notice that, in a declaration like `local x = x`, the new `x` being declared is not in scope yet, so the second `x` refers to the ``outside'' variable.

Because of those lexical scoping rules, local variables can be freely accessed by functions defined inside their scope. For instance:

      local counter = 0
      function inc (x)
        counter = counter + x
        return counter
      end

Notice that each execution of a local statement ``creates'' new local variables. Consider the following example:

      a = {}
      local x = 20
      for i=1,10 do
        local y = 0
        a[i] = function () y=y+1; return x+y end
      end

In that code, each function uses a different `y` variable, while all of them share the same `x`.

## 3.6 - Error Handling

Because Lua is an extension language, all Lua actions start from C code in the host program calling a function from the Lua library (see Section 4.16). Whenever an error occurs during Lua compilation or execution, control returns to C, which can take appropriate measures (such as to print an error message).

Lua code can explicitly generate an error by calling the function `error` (see Section 6.1). If you need to catch errors in Lua, you can use the `pcall` function (see Section 6.1).

## 3.7 - Metatables

Every table and userdata value in Lua may have a metatable. This metatable is a table that defines the behavior of the original table and userdata under some operations. You can query and change the metatable of an object with functions `setmetatable` and `getmetatable` (see Section 6.1).

For each of those operations Lua associates a specific key, called an event. When Lua performs one of those operations over a table or a userdata, if checks whether that object has a metatable with the corresponding event. If so, the value associated with that key (the metamethod) controls how Lua will perform the operation.

Metatables control the operations listed next. Each operation is identified by its corresponding name. The key for each operation is a string with its name prefixed by two underscores; for instance, the key for operation ``add'' is the string `"__add"`. The semantics of these operations is better explained by a Lua function describing how the interpreter executes that operation. The code shown here in Lua is only illustrative; the real behavior is hard coded in the interpreter, and it is much more efficient than this simulation. All functions used in these descriptions (`rawget`, `tonumber`, etc.) are described in Section 6.1.

``add'':
  the `+` operation.

  The function `getbinhandler` below defines how Lua chooses a handler for a binary operation. First, Lua tries the first operand. If its type does not define a handler for the operation, then Lua tries the second operand.

             function getbinhandler (op1, op2, event)
               return metatable(op1)[event] or metatable(op2)[event]
             end

  Using that function, the behavior of the ``add'' operation is

             function add_event (op1, op2)
               local o1, o2 = tonumber(op1), tonumber(op2)
               if o1 and o2 then  -- both operands are numeric
                 return o1+o2  -- '+' here is the primitive 'add'
               else  -- at least one of the operands is not numeric
                 local h = getbinhandler(op1, op2, "__add")
                 if h then
                   -- call the handler with both operands
                   return h(op1, op2)
                 else  -- no handler available: default behavior
                   error("unexpected type at arithmetic operation")
                 end
               end
             end

``sub'':
  the `-` operation. Behavior similar to the ``add'' operation.

``mul'':
  the `*` operation. Behavior similar to the ``add'' operation.

``div'':
  the `/` operation. Behavior similar to the ``add'' operation.

``pow'':
  the `^` operation (exponentiation) operation.

       ??
             function pow_event (op1, op2)
               local h = getbinhandler(op1, op2, "__pow") ???
               if h then
                 -- call the handler with both operands
                 return h(op1, op2)
               else  -- no handler available: default behavior
                 error("unexpected type at arithmetic operation")
               end
             end

``unm'':
  the unary `-` operation.

             function unm_event (op)
               local o = tonumber(op)
               if o then  -- operand is numeric
                 return -o  -- '-' here is the primitive 'unm'
               else  -- the operand is not numeric.
                 -- Try to get a handler from the operand;
                 local h = metatable(op).__unm
                 if h then
                   -- call the handler with the operand and nil
                   return h(op, nil)
                 else  -- no handler available: default behavior
                   error("unexpected type at arithmetic operation")
                 end
               end
             end

``lt'':
  the `<` operation.

             function lt_event (op1, op2)
               if type(op1) == "number" and type(op2) == "number" then
                 return op1 < op2   -- numeric comparison
               elseif type(op1) == "string" and type(op2) == "string" then
                 return op1 < op2   -- lexicographic comparison
               else
                 local h = getbinhandler(op1, op2, "__lt")
                 if h then
                   return h(op1, op2)
                 else
                   error("unexpected type at comparison");
                 end
               end
             end

  `a>b` is equivalent to `b<a`.

``le'':
  the `<=` operation.

             function lt_event (op1, op2)
               if type(op1) == "number" and type(op2) == "number" then
                 return op1 < op2   -- numeric comparison
               elseif type(op1) == "string" and type(op2) == "string" then
                 return op1 < op2   -- lexicographic comparison
               else
                 local h = getbinhandler(op1, op2, "__le")
                 if h then
                   return h(op1, op2)
                 else
                   h = getbinhandler(op1, op2, "__lt")
                   if h then
                     return not h(op2, op1)
                   else
                     error("unexpected type at comparison");
                   end
                 end
               end
             end

  `a>=b` is equivalent to `b<=a`. Notice that, in the absence of a ``le'' metamethod, Lua tries the ``lt'', assuming that `a<=b` is equivalent to `not (b<a)`.

``concat'':
  the `..` (concatenation) operation.

             function concat_event (op1, op2)
               if (type(op1) == "string" or type(op1) == "number") and
                  (type(op2) == "string" or type(op2) == "number") then
                 return op1..op2  -- primitive string concatenation
               else
                 local h = getbinhandler(op1, op2, "__concat")
                 if h then
                   return h(op1, op2)
                 else
                   error("unexpected type for concatenation")
                 end
               end
             end

``index'':
  The ``gettable'' operation `table[key]`.

             function gettable_event (table, key)
               local h
               if type(table) == "table" then
                 local v = rawget(table, key)
                 if v ~= nil then return v end
                 h = metatable(table).__index
                 if h == nil then return nil end
               else
                 h = metatable(table).__index
                 if h == nil then
                   error("indexed expression not a table");
                 end
               end
               if type(h) == "function" then
                 return h(table, key)      -- call the handler
               else return h[key]          -- or repeat operation with it
             end

``newindex'':
  The ``settable'' operation `table[key] = value`.

             function settable_event (table, key, value)
               local h
               if type(table) == "table" then
                 local v = rawget(table, key)
                 if v ~= nil then rawset(table, key, value); return end
                 h = metatable(table).__newindex
                 if h == nil then rawset(table, key, value); return end
               else
                 h = metatable(table).__newindex
                 if h == nil then
                   error("indexed expression not a table");
                 end
               end
               if type(h) == "function" then
                 return h(table, key,value)    -- call the handler
               else h[key] = value             -- or repeat operation with it
             end

``call'':
  called when Lua calls a value.

             function function_event (func, ...)
               if type(func) == "function" then
                 return func(unpack(arg))   -- regular call
               else
                 local h = metatable(func).__call
                 if h then
                   tinsert(arg, 1, func)
                   return h(unpack(arg))
                 else
                   error("call expression not a function")
                 end
               end
             end

### 3.7.1 - Metatables and Garbage collection

Metatables may also define finalizer methods for userdata values. For each userdata to be collected, Lua does the equivalent of the following function:

           function gc_event (obj)
             local h = metatable(obj).__gc
             if h then
               h(obj)
             end
           end

In a garbage-collection cycle, the finalizers for userdata are called in reverse order of their creation, that is, the first finalizer to be called is the one associated with the last userdata created in the program (among those to be collected in the same cycle).

## 3.8 - Coroutines

Lua supports coroutines, also called semi-coroutines, generators, or colaborative multithreading. A coroutine in Lua represents an independent thread of execution. Unlike ``real'' threads, however, a coroutine only suspends its execution by explicitly calling an yield function.

You create a coroutine with a call to `coroutine.create`. Its sole argument is a function, which is the main function of the coroutine. The `coroutine.create` only creates a new coroutine and returns a handle to it (an object of type thread). It does not start the coroutine execution.

When you first call `coroutine.resume`, passing as argument the thread returned by `coroutine.create`, the coroutine starts its execution, at the first line of its main function. Extra arguments passed to `coroutine.resume` are given as parameters for the coroutine main function. After the coroutine starts running, it runs until it terminates or it yields.

A coroutine can terminate its execution in two ways: Normally, when its main function returns (explicitly or implicitly, after the last instruction); and abnormally, if there is an unprotected error. In the first case, `coroutine.resume` returns true, plus any values returned by the coroutine main function. In case of errors, `coroutine.resume` returns false plus an error message.

A coroutine yields calling `coroutine.yield`. When a coroutine yields, the corresponding `coroutine.resume` returns immediately, even if the yield happens inside nested function calls (that is, not in the main function, but in a function directly or indirectly called by the main function). In the case of a yield, `coroutine.resume` also returns true, plus any values passed to `coroutine.yield`. The next time you resume the same coroutine, it continues its execution from the point where it yielded, with the call to `coroutine.yield` returning any extra arguments passed to `coroutine.resume`.

The `coroutine.wrap` function creates a coroutine like `coroutine.create`, but instead of returning the coroutine itself, it returns a function that, when called, resumes the coroutine. Any arguments passed to that function go as extra arguments to resume. The function returns all the values returned by resume, but the first one (the boolean error code). Unlike `coroutine.resume`, this function does not catch errors; any error is propagated to the caller.

As a complete example, consider the next code:

    function foo1 (a)
      print("foo", a)
      return coroutine.yield(2*a)
    end

    co = coroutine.create(function (a,b)
          print("co-body", a, b)
          local r = foo1(a+1)
          print("co-body", r)
          local r, s = coroutine.yield(a+b, a-b)
          print("co-body", r, s)
          return b, "end"
    end)

    a, b = coroutine.resume(co, 1, 10)
    print("main", a, b)
    a, b, c = coroutine.resume(co, "r")
    print("main", a, b, c)
    a, b, c = coroutine.resume(co, "x", "y")
    print("main", a, b, c)
    a, b = coroutine.resume(co, "x", "y")
    print("main", a, b)

When you run it, it produces the following output:

    co-body 1       10
    foo     2
    main    true    4
    co-body r
    main    true    11      -9
    co-body x       y
    main    true    10      end
    main    false   cannot resume dead coroutine

# 4 - The Application Program Interface

This section describes the API for Lua, that is, the set of C functions available to the host program to communicate with Lua. All API functions and related types and constants are declared in the header file `lua.h`.

Even when we use the term ``function'', any facility in the API may be provided as a macro instead. All such macros use each of its arguments exactly once (except for the first argument, which is always a Lua state), and so do not generate hidden side-effects.

## 4.1 - States

The Lua library is fully reentrant: it has no global variables. The whole state of the Lua interpreter (global variables, stack, etc.) is stored in a dynamically allocated structure of type `lua_State`; this state must be passed as the first argument to every function in the library (except `lua_open` below).

Before calling any API function, you must create a state by calling

           lua_State *lua_open (void);

To release a state created with `lua_open`, call

           void lua_close (lua_State *L);

This function destroys all objects in the given Lua environment (calling the corresponding garbage-collection metamethods, if any) and frees all dynamic memory used by that state. On several platforms, you may not need to call this function, because all resources are naturally released when the host program ends. On the other hand, long-running programs - like a daemon or a web server - might need to release states as soon as they are not needed, to avoid growing too large.

With the exception of `lua_open`, all functions in the Lua API need a state as their first argument.

## 4.2 - Threads

Lua offers a partial support for multiple threads of execution. If you have a C library that offers multi-threading, then Lua can cooperate with it to implement the equivalent facility in Lua. Also, Lua implements its own coroutine system on top of threads. The following function creates a new ``thread'' in Lua:

           lua_State *lua_newthread (lua_State *L);

The new state returned by this function shares with the original state all global environment (such as tables), but has an independent run-time stack. (The use of these multiple stacks must be ``syncronized'' with C. How to explain that? TO BE WRITTEN.)

Each thread has an independent table for global variables. When you create a thread, this table is the same as that of the given state, but you can change each one independently.

You destroy threads with

           void lua_closethread (lua_State *L, lua_State *thread);

You cannot close the sole (or last) thread of a state. Instead, you must close the state itself.

## 4.3 - The Stack and Indices

Lua uses a virtual stack to pass values to and from C. Each element in this stack represents a Lua value (nil, number, string, etc.).

Each C invocation has its own stack. Whenever Lua calls C, the called function gets a new stack, which is independent of previous stacks or of stacks of still active C functions. That stack contains initially any arguments to the C function, and it is where the C function pushes its results (see Section 4.17).

For convenience, most query operations in the API do not follow a strict stack discipline. Instead, they can refer to any element in the stack by using an index: A positive index represents an absolute stack position (starting at 1); a negative index represents an offset from the top of the stack. More specifically, if the stack has n elements, then index 1 represents the first element (that is, the element that was pushed onto the stack first), and index n represents the last element; index -1 also represents the last element (that is, the element at the top), and index -n represents the first element. We say that an index is valid if it lies between 1 and the stack top (that is, if `1 <= abs(index) <= top`).

At any time, you can get the index of the top element by calling

           int lua_gettop (lua_State *L);

Because indices start at 1, the result of `lua_gettop` is equal to the number of elements in the stack (and so 0 means an empty stack).

When you interact with Lua API, you are responsible for controlling stack overflow. The function

           int lua_checkstack (lua_State *L, int extra);

grows the stack size to `top + extra` elements; it returns false if it cannot grow the stack to that size. This function never shrinks the stack; if the stack is already bigger than the new size, it is left unchanged.

Whenever Lua calls C, it ensures that `lua_checkstack(L, LUA_MINSTACK)` is true, that is, at least `LUA_MINSTACK` positions are still available. `LUA_MINSTACK` is defined in `lua.h` as 20, so that usually you do not have to worry about stack space unless your code has loops pushing elements onto the stack.

Most query functions accept as indices any value inside the available stack space, that is, indices up to the maximum stack size you (or Lua) have set through `lua_checkstack`. Such indices are called acceptable indices. More formally, we define an acceptable index as follows:

         (index < 0 && abs(index) <= top) || (index > 0 && index <= top + stackspace)

Note that 0 is never an acceptable index.

Unless otherwise noticed, any function that accepts valid indices can also be called with pseudo-indices, which represent some Lua values that are accessible to the C code but are not in the stack. Pseudo-indices are used to access the table of globals (see Section 4.13), the registry, and the upvalues of a C function (see Section 4.18).

## 4.4 - Stack Manipulation

The API offers the following functions for basic stack manipulation:

           void lua_settop    (lua_State *L, int index);
           void lua_pushvalue (lua_State *L, int index);
           void lua_remove    (lua_State *L, int index);
           void lua_insert    (lua_State *L, int index);
           void lua_replace   (lua_State *L, int index);

`lua_settop` accepts any acceptable index, or 0, and sets the stack top to that index. If the new top is larger than the old one, then the new elements are filled with nil. If `index` is 0, then all stack elements are removed. A useful macro defined in the `lua.h` is

           #define lua_pop(L,n) lua_settop(L, -(n)-1)

which pops `n` elements from the stack.

`lua_pushvalue` pushes onto the stack a copy of the element at the given index. `lua_remove` removes the element at the given position, shifting down the elements above that position to fill the gap. `lua_insert` moves the top element into the given position, shifting up the elements above that position to open space. `lua_replace` moves the top element into the given position, without shifting any element (therefore replacing the value at the given position). These functions accept only valid indices. (Obviously, you cannot call `lua_remove` or `lua_insert` with pseudo-indices, as they do not represent a stack position.)

As an example, if the stack starts as `10 20 30 40 50*` (from bottom to top; the `*` marks the top), then

           lua_pushvalue(L, 3)    --> 10 20 30 40 50 30*
           lua_pushvalue(L, -1)   --> 10 20 30 40 50 30 30*
           lua_remove(L, -3)      --> 10 20 30 40 30 30*
           lua_remove(L,  6)      --> 10 20 30 40 30*
           lua_insert(L,  1)      --> 30 10 20 30 40*
           lua_insert(L, -1)      --> 30 10 20 30 40*  (no effect)
           lua_replace(L, 2)      --> 30 40 20 30*
           lua_settop(L, -3)      --> 30 40*
           lua_settop(L,  6)      --> 30 40 nil nil nil nil*

## 4.5 - Querying the Stack

To check the type of a stack element, the following functions are available:

           int         lua_type            (lua_State *L, int index);
           int         lua_isnil           (lua_State *L, int index);
           int         lua_isboolean       (lua_State *L, int index);
           int         lua_isnumber        (lua_State *L, int index);
           int         lua_isstring        (lua_State *L, int index);
           int         lua_istable         (lua_State *L, int index);
           int         lua_isfunction      (lua_State *L, int index);
           int         lua_iscfunction     (lua_State *L, int index);
           int         lua_isuserdata      (lua_State *L, int index);
           int         lua_islightuserdata (lua_State *L, int index);

These functions can be called with any acceptable index.

`lua_type` returns the type of a value in the stack, or `LUA_TNONE` for a non-valid index (that is, if that stack position is ``empty''). The types are coded by the following constants defined in `lua.h`: `LUA_TNIL`, `LUA_TNUMBER`, `LUA_TBOOLEAN`, `LUA_TSTRING`, `LUA_TTABLE`, `LUA_TFUNCTION`, `LUA_TUSERDATA`, `LUA_TLIGHTUSERDATA`. The following function translates such constants to a type name:

           const char *lua_typename  (lua_State *L, int type);

The `lua_is*` functions return 1 if the object is compatible with the given type, and 0 otherwise. `lua_isboolean` is an exception to this rule, and it succeeds only for boolean values (otherwise it would be useless, as any value has a boolean value). They always return 0 for a non-valid index. `lua_isnumber` accepts numbers and numerical strings, `lua_isstring` accepts strings and numbers (see Section 2.4), `lua_isfunction` accepts both Lua functions and C functions, and `lua_isuserdata` accepts both full and ligth userdata. To distinguish between Lua functions and C functions, you should use `lua_iscfunction`. To distinguish between full and ligth userdata, you can use `lua_islightuserdata`. To distinguish between numbers and numerical strings, you can use `lua_type`.

The API also has functions to compare two values in the stack:

           int lua_equal    (lua_State *L, int index1, int index2);
           int lua_lessthan (lua_State *L, int index1, int index2);

These functions are equivalent to their counterparts in Lua (see Section 3.4.2). Both functions return 0 if any of the indices are non-valid.

## 4.6 - Getting Values from the Stack

To translate a value in the stack to a specific C type, you can use the following conversion functions:

           int            lua_toboolean   (lua_State *L, int index);
           lua_Number     lua_tonumber    (lua_State *L, int index);
           const char    *lua_tostring    (lua_State *L, int index);
           size_t         lua_strlen      (lua_State *L, int index);
           lua_CFunction  lua_tocfunction (lua_State *L, int index);
           void          *lua_touserdata  (lua_State *L, int index);

These functions can be called with any acceptable index. When called with a non-valid index, they act as if the given value had an incorrect type.

`lua_toboolean` converts the Lua value at the given index to a C ``boolean'' value (that is, 0 or 1). Like all tests in Lua, it returns 1 for any Lua value different from false and nil; otherwise it returns 0. It also returns 0 when called with a non-valid index. (If you want to accept only real boolean values, use `lua_isboolean` to test the type of the value.)

`lua_tonumber` converts the Lua value at the given index to a number (by default, `lua_Number` is `double`). The Lua value must be a number or a string convertible to number (see Section 2.4); otherwise, `lua_tonumber` returns 0.

`lua_tostring` converts the Lua value at the given index to a string (`const char*`). The Lua value must be a string or a number; otherwise, the function returns `NULL`. If the value is a number, then `lua_tostring` also changes the actual value in the stack to a string. (This change confuses `lua_next` when `lua_tostring` is applied to keys.) `lua_tostring` returns a fully aligned pointer to a string inside the Lua environment. This string always has a zero (`'\0'`) after its last character (as in C), but may contain other zeros in its body. If you do not know whether a string may contain zeros, you can use `lua_strlen` to get its actual length. Because Lua has garbage collection, there is no guarantee that the pointer returned by `lua_tostring` will be valid after the corresponding value is removed from the stack. So, if you need the string after the current function returns, then you should duplicate it (or put it into the registry (see Section 4.18)).

`lua_tocfunction` converts a value in the stack to a C function. This value must be a C function; otherwise, `lua_tocfunction` returns `NULL`. The type `lua_CFunction` is explained in Section 4.17.

`lua_touserdata` is explained in Section 4.9.

## 4.7 - Pushing Values onto the Stack

The API has the following functions to push C values onto the stack:

           void lua_pushboolean   (lua_State *L, int b);
           void lua_pushnumber    (lua_State *L, lua_Number n);
           void lua_pushlstring   (lua_State *L, const char *s, size_t len);
           void lua_pushstring    (lua_State *L, const char *s);
           void lua_pushnil       (lua_State *L);
           void lua_pushcfunction (lua_State *L, lua_CFunction f);
           void lua_pushlightuserdata  (lua_State *L, void *p);

These functions receive a C value, convert it to a corresponding Lua value, and push the result onto the stack. In particular, `lua_pushlstring` and `lua_pushstring` make an internal copy of the given string. `lua_pushstring` can only be used to push proper C strings (that is, strings that end with a zero and do not contain embedded zeros); otherwise, you should use the more general `lua_pushlstring`, which accepts an explicit size.

You can also push ``formatted'' strings:

           const char *lua_pushfstring  (lua_State *L, const char *fmt, ...);
           const char *lua_pushvfstring (lua_State *L, const char *fmt,
                                                       va_list argp);

Both functions push onto the stack a formatted string, and return a pointer to that string. These functions are similar to `sprintf` and `vsprintf`, but with some important differences:

- You do not have to allocate the space for the result; the result is a Lua string, and Lua takes care of memory allocation (and deallocation, later).
- The conversion specifiers are quite restricted. There are no flags, widths, or precisions. The conversion specifiers can be simply `%%` (inserts a `%` in the string), `%s` (inserts a zero-terminated string, with no size restrictions), `%f` (inserts a `lua_Number`), `%d` (inserts an `int`), `%c` (inserts an `int` as a character).

## 4.8 - Controlling Garbage Collection

Lua uses two numbers to control its garbage collection: the count and the threshold (see Section 2.6). The first counts the ammount of memory in use by Lua; when the count reaches the threshold, Lua runs its garbage collector. After the collection, the count is updated, and the threshold is set to twice the count value.

You can access the current values of these two numbers through the following functions:

           int  lua_getgccount (lua_State *L);
           int  lua_getgcthreshold (lua_State *L);

Both return their respective values in Kbytes. You can change the threshold value with

           void  lua_setgcthreshold (lua_State *L, int newthreshold);

Again, the `newthreshold` value is given in Kbytes. When you call this function, Lua sets the new threshold and checks it against the byte counter. If the new threshold is smaller than the byte counter, then Lua immediately runs the garbage collector. In particular `lua_setgcthreshold(L,0)` forces a garbage collectiion. After the collection, a new threshold is set according to the previous rule.

## 4.9 - Userdata

Userdata represents C values in Lua. Lua supports two types of userdata: full userdata and light userdata.

A full userdata represents a block of memory. It is an object (like a table): You must create it, it can have its own metatable, you can detect when it is being collected. A full userdata is only equal to itself.

A light userdata represents a pointer. It is a value (like a number): You do not create it, it has no metatables, it is not collected (as it was never created). A light userdata is equal to ``any'' light userdata with the same address.

In Lua code, there is no way to test whether a userdata is full or light; both have type `userdata`. In C code, `lua_type` returns `LUA_TUSERDATA` for full userdata, and `LUA_LIGHTUSERDATA` for light userdata.

You can create new full userdata with the following function:

           void *lua_newuserdata (lua_State *L, size_t size);

It allocates a new block of memory with the given size, pushes on the stack a new userdata with the block address, and returns this address.

To push a light userdata into the stack you use `lua_pushlightuserdata` (see Section 4.7).

`lua_touserdata` (see Section 4.6) retrieves the value of a userdata. When applied on a full userdata, it returns the address of its block; when applied on a light userdata, it returns its pointer; when applied on a non-userdata value, it returns `NULL`.

When Lua collects a full userdata, it calls its `gc` metamethod, if any, and then it frees its corresponding memory.

## 4.10 - Metatables

The following functions allow you do manipulate the metatables of an object:

           int lua_getmetatable (lua_State *L, int objindex);
           int lua_setmetatable (lua_State *L, int objindex);

Both get at `objindex` a valid index for an object. `lua_getmetatable` pushes on the stack the metatable of that object; `lua_setmetatable` sets the table on the top of the stack as the new metatable for that object (and pops the table).

If the object does not have a metatable, `lua_getmetatable` returns 0, and pushes nothing on the stack. `lua_setmetatable` returns 0 when it cannot set the metatable of the given object (that is, when the object is not a userdata nor a table); even then it pops the table from the stack.

## 4.11 - Loading Lua Chunks

You can load a Lua chunk with

           typedef const char * (*lua_Chunkreader)
                                    (lua_State *L, void *data, size_t *size);

           int lua_load (lua_State *L, lua_Chunkreader reader, void *data,
                                       const char *chunkname);

The return values of `lua_load` are:

- 0 - no errors;
- `LUA_ERRSYNTAX` - syntax error during pre-compilation.
- `LUA_ERRMEM` - memory allocation error.

If there are no errors, `lua_load` pushes the compiled chunk as a Lua function on top of the stack. Otherwise, it pushes an error message.

`lua_load` automatically detects whether the chunk is text or binary, and loads it accordingly (see program `luac`).

`lua_load` uses the reader to read the chunk. Everytime it needs another piece of the chunk, it calls the reader, passing along its `data` parameter. The reader must return a pointer to a block of memory with a new part of the chunk, and set `size` to the block size. To signal the end of the chunk, the reader must return `NULL`. The reader function may return pieces of any size greater than zero.

In the current implementation, the reader function cannot call any Lua function; to ensure that, it always receives `NULL` as the Lua state.

The chunkname is used for error messages and debug information (see Section 5).

See the auxiliar library (`lauxlib`) for examples of how to use `lua_load`, and for some ready-to-use functions to load chunks from files and from strings.

## 4.12 - Manipulating Tables

Tables are created by calling the function

           void lua_newtable (lua_State *L);

This function creates a new, empty table and pushes it onto the stack.

To read a value from a table that resides somewhere in the stack, call

           void lua_gettable (lua_State *L, int index);

where `index` points to the table. `lua_gettable` pops a key from the stack and returns (on the stack) the contents of the table at that key. The table is left where it was in the stack; this is convenient for getting multiple values from a table.

As in Lua, this function may trigger a metamethod for the ``gettable'' or ``index'' events (see Section 3.7). To get the real value of any table key, without invoking any metamethod, use the raw version:

           void lua_rawget (lua_State *L, int index);

To store a value into a table that resides somewhere in the stack, you push the key and the value onto the stack (in this order), and then call

           void lua_settable (lua_State *L, int index);

where `index` points to the table. `lua_settable` pops from the stack both the key and the value. The table is left where it was in the stack; this is convenient for setting multiple values in a table.

As in Lua, this operation may trigger a metamethod for the ``settable'' or ``newindex'' events. To set the real value of any table index, without invoking any metamethod, use the raw version:

           void lua_rawset (lua_State *L, int index);

You can traverse a table with the function

           int lua_next (lua_State *L, int index);

where `index` points to the table to be traversed. The function pops a key from the stack, and pushes a key-value pair from the table (the ``next'' pair after the given key). If there are no more elements, then `lua_next` returns 0 (and pushes nothing). Use a nil key to signal the start of a traversal.

A typical traversal looks like this:

           /* table is in the stack at index `t' */
           lua_pushnil(L);  /* first key */
           while (lua_next(L, t) != 0) {
             /* `key' is at index -2 and `value' at index -1 */
             printf("%s - %s\n",
               lua_typename(L, lua_type(L, -2)), lua_typename(L, lua_type(L, -1)));
             lua_pop(L, 1);  /* removes `value'; keeps `key' for next iteration */
           }

NOTE: While traversing a table, do not call `lua_tostring` on a key, unless you know the key is actually a string. Recall that `lua_tostring` changes the value at the given index; this confuses the next call to `lua_next`.

## 4.13 - Manipulating Global Variables

All global variables are kept in an ordinary Lua table. This table is always at pseudo-index `LUA_GLOBALSINDEX`.

To access and change the value of global variables, you can use regular table operations over the global table. For instance, to access the value of a global variable, do

           lua_pushstring(L, varname);
           lua_gettable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX);

You can change the global table of a Lua thread using `lua_replace`.

## 4.14 - Using Tables as Arrays

The API has functions that help to use Lua tables as arrays, that is, tables indexed by numbers only:

           void lua_rawgeti (lua_State *L, int index, int n);
           void lua_rawseti (lua_State *L, int index, int n);

`lua_rawgeti` pushes the value of the n-th element of the table at stack position `index`. `lua_rawseti` sets the value of the n-th element of the table at stack position `index` to the value at the top of the stack, removing this value from the stack.

## 4.15 - Calling Functions

Functions defined in Lua and C functions registered in Lua can be called from the host program. This is done using the following protocol: First, the function to be called is pushed onto the stack; then, the arguments to the function are pushed in direct order, that is, the first argument is pushed first. Finally, the function is called using

           void lua_call (lua_State *L, int nargs, int nresults);

`nargs` is the number of arguments that you pushed onto the stack. All arguments and the function value are popped from the stack, and the function results are pushed. The number of results are adjusted to `nresults`, unless `nresults` is `LUA_MULTRET`. In that case, all results from the function are pushed. Lua takes care that the returned values fit into the stack space. The function results are pushed onto the stack in direct order (the first result is pushed first), so that after the call the last result is on the top.

The following example shows how the host program may do the equivalent to the Lua code:

           a = f("how", t.x, 14)

Here it is in C:

        lua_pushstring(L, "t");
        lua_gettable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX);          /* global `t' (for later use) */
        lua_pushstring(L, "a");                                       /* var name */
        lua_pushstring(L, "f");                                  /* function name */
        lua_gettable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX);               /* function to be called */
        lua_pushstring(L, "how");                                 /* 1st argument */
        lua_pushstring(L, "x");                            /* push the string "x" */
        lua_gettable(L, -5);                      /* push result of t.x (2nd arg) */
        lua_pushnumber(L, 14);                                    /* 3rd argument */
        lua_call(L, 3, 1);         /* call function with 3 arguments and 1 result */
        lua_settable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX);             /* set global variable `a' */
        lua_pop(L, 1);                               /* remove `t' from the stack */

Notice that the code above is ``balanced'': at its end, the stack is back to its original configuration. This is considered good programming practice.

(We did this example using only the raw functions provided by Lua's API, to show all the details. Usually programmers use several macros and auxiliar functions that provide higher level access to Lua.)

## 4.16 - Protected Calls

When you call a function with `lua_call`, any error inside the called function is propagated upwards (with a `longjmp`). If you need to handle errors, then you should use `lua_pcall`:

           int lua_pcall (lua_State *L, int nargs, int nresults, int errfunc);

Both `nargs` and `nresults` have the same meaning as in `lua_call`. If there are no errors during the call, `lua_pcall` behaves exactly like `lua_call`. Like `lua_call`, `lua_pcall` always removes the function and its arguments from the stack. However, if there is any error, `lua_pcall` catches it, pushes a single value at the stack (the error message), and returns an error code.

If `errfunc` is 0, then the error message returned is exactly the original error message. Otherwise, `errfunc` gives the stack index for an error handler function. (In the current implementation, that index cannot be a pseudo-index.) In case of runtime errors, that function will be called with the error message, and its return value will be the message returned by `lua_pcall`.

Typically, the error handler function is used to add more debug information to the error message, such as a stack traceback. Such information cannot be gathered after the return of `lua_pcall`, since by then the stack has unwound.

The `lua_pcall` function returns 0 in case of success, or one of the following error codes (defined in `lua.h`):

- `LUA_ERRRUN` - a runtime error.
- `LUA_ERRMEM` - memory allocation error. For such errors, Lua does not call the error handler function.
- `LUA_ERRERR` - error while running the error handler function.

>>>> Some special Lua functions have their own C interfaces. The host program can generate a Lua error calling the function

           void lua_error (lua_State *L);

The error message (which actually can be any type of object) is popped from the stack. This function never returns. If `lua_error` is called from a C function that has been called from Lua, then the corresponding Lua execution terminates, as if an error had occurred inside Lua code. Otherwise, the whole host program terminates with a call to `exit(EXIT_FAILURE)`.

The function

           void lua_concat (lua_State *L, int n);

concatenates the `n` values at the top of the stack, pops them, and leaves the result at the top. If `n` is 1, the result is that single string (that is, the function does nothing); if `n` is 0, the result is the empty string. Concatenation is done following the usual semantics of Lua (see Section 3.4.4).

## 4.17 - Defining C Functions

Lua can be extended with functions written in C. These functions must be of type `lua_CFunction`, which is defined as

           typedef int (*lua_CFunction) (lua_State *L);

A C function receives a Lua environment and returns an integer, the number of values it has returned to Lua.

In order to communicate properly with Lua, a C function must follow the following protocol, which defines the way parameters and results are passed: A C function receives its arguments from Lua in its stack, in direct order (the first argument is pushed first). So, when the function starts, its first argument (if any) is at index 1. To return values to Lua, a C function just pushes them onto the stack, in direct order (the first result is pushed first), and returns the number of results. Like a Lua function, a C function called by Lua can also return many results.

As an example, the following function receives a variable number of numerical arguments and returns their average and sum:

           static int foo (lua_State *L) {
             int n = lua_gettop(L);    /* number of arguments */
             lua_Number sum = 0;
             int i;
             for (i = 1; i <= n; i++) {
               if (!lua_isnumber(L, i)) {
                 lua_pushstring(L, "incorrect argument to function `average'");
                 lua_error(L);
               }
               sum += lua_tonumber(L, i);
             }
             lua_pushnumber(L, sum/n);        /* first result */
             lua_pushnumber(L, sum);         /* second result */
             return 2;                   /* number of results */
           }

To register a C function to Lua, there is the following convenience macro:

           #define lua_register(L,n,f) \
                   (lua_pushstring(L, n), \
                    lua_pushcfunction(L, f), \
                    lua_settable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX))
         /* const char *n;   */
         /* lua_CFunction f; */

which receives the name the function will have in Lua, and a pointer to the function. Thus, the C function ``foo`' above may be registered in Lua as ``average`' by calling

           lua_register(L, "average", foo);

## 4.18 - Defining C Closures

When a C function is created, it is possible to associate some values to it, thus creating a C closure; these values are then accessible to the function whenever it is called. To associate values to a C function, first these values should be pushed onto the stack (when there are multiple values, the first value is pushed first). Then the function

           void lua_pushcclosure (lua_State *L, lua_CFunction fn, int n);

is used to push the C function onto the stack, with the argument `n` telling how many values should be associated with the function (`lua_pushcclosure` also pops these values from the stack); in fact, the macro `lua_pushcfunction` is defined as `lua_pushcclosure` with `n` set to 0.

Then, whenever the C function is called, those values are located at specific pseudo-indices. Those pseudo-indices are produced by a macro `lua_upvalueindex`. The first value associated with a function is at position `lua_upvalueindex(1)`, and so on.

For examples of C functions and closures, see files `lbaselib.c`, `liolib.c`, `lmathlib.c`, and `lstrlib.c` in the official Lua distribution.

### Registry

Lua provides a pre-defined table that can be used by any C code to store whatever Lua value it needs to store, especially if the C code needs to keep that Lua value outside the life span of a C function. This table is always located at pseudo-index `LUA_REGISTRYINDEX`. Any C library can store data into this table, as long as it chooses keys different from other libraries. Typically, you should use as key a string containing your library name, or a light userdata with the address of a C object in your code.

The integer keys in the registry are used by the reference mechanism, implemented by the auxiliar library, and therefore should not be used by other purposes.

# 5 - The Debug Interface

Lua has no built-in debugging facilities. Instead, it offers a special interface, by means of functions and hooks, which allows the construction of different kinds of debuggers, profilers, and other tools that need ``inside information'' from the interpreter.

## 5.1 - Stack and Function Information

The main function to get information about the interpreter stack is

           int lua_getstack (lua_State *L, int level, lua_Debug *ar);

This function fills parts of a `lua_Debug` structure with an identification of the activation record of the function executing at a given level. Level 0 is the current running function, whereas level n+1 is the function that has called level n. Usually, `lua_getstack` returns 1; when called with a level greater than the stack depth, it returns 0.

The structure `lua_Debug` is used to carry different pieces of information about an active function:

          typedef struct lua_Debug {
            int event;
            const char *name;      /* (n) */
            const char *namewhat;  /* (n) `global', `local', `field', `method' */
            const char *what;      /* (S) `Lua' function, `C' function, Lua `main' */
            const char *source;    /* (S) */
            int currentline;       /* (l) */
            int nups;              /* (u) number of upvalues */
            int linedefined;       /* (S) */
            char short_src[LUA_IDSIZE]; /* (S) */

            /* private part */
            ...
          } lua_Debug;

`lua_getstack` fills only the private part of this structure, for future use. To fill the other fields of `lua_Debug` with useful information, call

           int lua_getinfo (lua_State *L, const char *what, lua_Debug *ar);

This function returns 0 on error (for instance, an invalid option in `what`). Each character in the string `what` selects some fields of `ar` to be filled, as indicated by the letter in parentheses in the definition of `lua_Debug` above: ``S`' fills in the fields `source`, `linedefined`, and `what`; ``l`' fills in the field `currentline`, etc. Moreover, ``f`' pushes onto the stack the function that is running at the given level.

To get information about a function that is not active (that is, it is not in the stack), you push the function onto the stack, and start the `what` string with the character ``>`'. For instance, to know in which line a function `f` was defined, you can write

           lua_Debug ar;
           lua_pushstring(L, "f");
           lua_gettable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX);  /* get global `f' */
           lua_getinfo(L, ">S", &ar);
           printf("%d\n", ar.linedefined);

The fields of `lua_Debug` have the following meaning:

source
  If the function was defined in a string, then `source` is that string; if the function was defined in a file, then `source` starts with a `@` followed by the file name.

short_src
  A ``printable'' version of `source`, to be used in error messages.

linedefined
  the line number where the definition of the function starts.

what
  the string `"Lua"` if this is a Lua function, `"C"` if this is a C function, or `"main"` if this is the main part of a chunk.

currentline
  the current line where the given function is executing. When no line information is available, `currentline` is set to -1.

name
  a reasonable name for the given function. Because functions in Lua are first class values, they do not have a fixed name: Some functions may be the value of many global variables, while others may be stored only in a table field. The `lua_getinfo` function checks how the function was called or whether it is the value of a global variable to find a suitable name. If it cannot find a name, then `name` is set to `NULL`.

namewhat
  Explains the previous field. It can be `"global"`, `"local"`, `"method"`, `"field"`, or `""` (the empty string), according to how the function was called. (Lua uses the empty string when no other option seems to apply.)

nups
  Number of upvalues of the function.

## 5.2 - Manipulating Local Variables

For the manipulation of local variables, `luadebug.h` uses indices: The first parameter or local variable has index 1, and so on, until the last active local variable.

The following functions allow the manipulation of the local variables of a given activation record:

           const char *lua_getlocal (lua_State *L, const lua_Debug *ar, int n);
           const char *lua_setlocal (lua_State *L, const lua_Debug *ar, int n);

The parameter `ar` must be a valid activation record, filled by a previous call to `lua_getstack` or given as argument to a hook (see Section 5.3). `lua_getlocal` gets the index `n` of a local variable, pushes its value onto the stack, and returns its name. `lua_setlocal` assigns the value at the top of the stack to the variable and returns its name. Both functions return `NULL` on failure, that is when the index is greater than the number of active local variables.

As an example, the following function lists the names of all local variables for a function at a given level of the stack:

           int listvars (lua_State *L, int level) {
             lua_Debug ar;
             int i = 1;
             const char *name;
             if (lua_getstack(L, level, &ar) == 0)
               return 0;  /* failure: no such level in the stack */
             while ((name = lua_getlocal(L, &ar, i++)) != NULL) {
               printf("%s\n", name);
               lua_pop(L, 1);  /* remove variable value */
             }
             return 1;
           }

## 5.3 - Hooks

The Lua interpreter offers a mechanism of hooks: user-defined C functions that are called during the program execution. A hook may be called in four different events: a call event, when Lua calls a function; a return event, when Lua returns from a function; a line event, when Lua starts executing a new line of code; and a count event, that happens every ``count'' instructions. Lua identifies them with the following constants: , , , and .

A hook has type `lua_Hook`, defined as follows:

           typedef void (*lua_Hook) (lua_State *L, lua_Debug *ar);

You can set the hook with the following function:

           int lua_sethook (lua_State *L, lua_Hook func, unsigned long mask);

`func` is the hook, and `mask` specifies at which events it will be called. It is formed by a disjunction of the constants `LUA_MASKCALL`, `LUA_MASKRET`, `LUA_MASKLINE`, plus the macro `LUA_MASKCOUNT(count)`. For each event, the hook is called as explained below:

- {call hook} called when the interpreter calls a function. The hook is called just after Lua ``enters'' the new function.
- {return hook} called when the interpreter returns from a function. The hook is called just before Lua ``leaves'' the function.
- {line hook} called when the interpreter is about to start the execution of a new line of code, or when it jumps back (even for the same line). (For obvious reasons, this event does not happens while Lua is executing a C function.)
- {count hook} called after the interpreter executes every `count` instructions. (For obvious reasons, this event does not happens while Lua is executing a C function.)

A hook is disabled with the mask zero.

You can get the current hook and the current mask with the next functions:

           lua_Hook lua_gethook (lua_State *L);
           unsigned long lua_gethookmask (lua_State *L);

You can get the count inside a mask with the macro `lua_getmaskcount`.

Whenever a hook is called, its `ar` argument has its field `event` set to the specific event that triggered the hook. Moreover, for line events, the field `currentline` is also set. For the value of any other field, the hook must call `lua_getinfo`.

While Lua is running a hook, it disables other calls to hooks. Therefore, if a hook calls Lua to execute a function or a chunk, that execution ocurrs without any calls to hooks.

# 6 - Standard Libraries

The standard libraries provide useful functions that are implemented directly through the standard C API. Some of these functions provide essential services to the language (e.g. `type` and `getmetatable`); others provide access to ``outside'' servides (e.g. I/O); and others could be implemented in Lua itself, but are quite useful or have critical performance to deserve an implementation in C (e.g. `sort`).

All libraries are implemented through the official C API, and are provided as separate C modules. Currently, Lua has the following standard libraries:

- basic library;
- string manipulation;
- table manipulation;
- mathematical functions (sin, log, etc.);
- input and output;
- operating system facilities;
- debug facilities.

Except for the basic library, each library provides all its functions as fields of a global table or as methods of its objects.

To have access to these libraries, the C host program must call the functions `lua_baselibopen` (for the basic library), `lua_strlibopen` (for the string library), `lua_tablibopen` (for the table library), `lua_mathlibopen` (for the mathematical library), `lua_iolibopen` (for the I/O and the Operating System libraries), and `lua_dblibopen` (for the debug library), which are declared in `lualib.h`.

## 6.1 - Basic Functions

The basic library provides some core functions to Lua. If you do not include this library in your application, you should check carefully whether you need to provide some alternative implementation for some facilities.

The basic library also defines a global variable `_VERSION` with a string containing the current interpreter version. The current content of this string is `"Lua 5.0 (alpha)"`.

### `assert (v [, message])`

Issues an ``assertion failed!'' error when its argument `v` is nil; otherwise, returns this argument. This function is equivalent to the following Lua function:

           function assert (v, m)
             if not v then
               error(m or "assertion failed!")
             end
             return v
           end

### `collectgarbage ([limit])`

Sets the garbage-collection threshold for the given limit (in Kbytes), and checks it against the byte counter. If the new threshold is smaller than the byte counter, then Lua immediately runs the garbage collector (see Section 2.6). If `limit` is absent, it defaults to zero (thus forcing a garbage-collection cycle).

### `dofile (filename)`

Receives a file name, opens the named file, and executes its contents as a Lua chunk. When called without arguments, `dofile` executes the contents of the standard input (`stdin`). Returns any value returned by the chunk.

### `error (message [, level])`

DefLIB{error} Terminates the last protected function called, and returns `message` as the error message. Function `error` never returns.

The `level` argument affects to where the error message points the error. With level 1 (the default), the error position is where the `error` function was called. Level 2 points the error to where the function that called `error` was called; and so on.

### `getglobals (function)`

Returns the current table of globals in use by the function. `function` can be a Lua function or a number, meaning the function at that stack level: Level 1 is the function calling `getglobals`. If the given function is not a Lua function, returns the ``global'' table of globals. The default for `function` is 1.

### `getmetatable (object)`

Returns the metatable of the given object. If the object does not have a metatable, returns nil.

### `gcinfo ()`

Returns the number of Kbytes of dynamic memory Lua is using, and (as a second result) the current garbage collector threshold (also in Kbytes).

### `ipairs (t)`

Returns a generator function and the table `t`, so that the construction

           for i,v in ipairs(t) do ... end

will iterate over the pairs `1, t[1]`, `2, t[2]`, ..., up to the first nil value of the table.

### `loadfile (filename)`

Loads a file as a Lua chunk. If there is no errors, returns the compiled chunk as a function; otherwise, returns nil plus an error message.

### `loadstring (string [, chunkname])`

Loads a string as a Lua chunk. If there is no errors, returns the compiled chunk as a function; otherwise, returns nil plus an error message.

The optional parameter `chunkname` is the ``name of the chunk'', used in error messages and debug information.

To load and run a given string, use the idiom

          assert(loadstring(s))()

### `next (table, [index])`

Allows a program to traverse all fields of a table. Its first argument is a table and its second argument is an index in this table. `next` returns the next index of the table and the value associated with the index. When called with nil as its second argument, `next` returns the first index of the table and its associated value. When called with the last index, or with nil in an empty table, `next` returns nil. If the second argument is absent, then it is interpreted as nil.

Lua has no declaration of fields; semantically, there is no difference between a field not present in a table or a field with value nil. Therefore, `next` only considers fields with non-nil values. The order in which the indices are enumerated is not specified, even for numeric indices (to traverse a table in numeric order, use a numerical for or the function `ipairs`).

The behavior of `next` is undefined if you change the table during the traversal.

### `pairs (t)`

Returns the function `next` and the table `t`, so that the construction

           for k,v in pairs(t) do ... end

will iterate over all pairs of key--value of table `t`.

### `pcall (func, arg1, arg2, ...)`

Calls function `func` with the given arguments in protected mode. That means that any error inside `func` is not propagated; instead, `pcall` catches the error, returning a status code. Its first result is the status code (a boolean), true if the call succeeds without errors. In such case, `pcall` also returns all results from the call, after this first result. In case of any error, `pcall` returns false plus the error message.

### `print (e1, e2, ...)`

Receives any number of arguments, and prints their values in `stdout`, using the strings returned by `tostring`. This function is not intended for formatted output, but only as a quick way to show a value, typically for debugging. For formatted output, see `format` (see Section 6.2).

### `rawget (table, index)`

Gets the real value of `table[index]`, without invoking any metamethod. `table` must be a table; `index` is any value different from nil.

### `rawset (table, index, value)`

Sets the real value of `table[index]` to `value`, without invoking any metamethod. `table` must be a table; `index` is any value different from nil; and `value` is any Lua value.

### `require (packagename)`

Loads the given package. The function starts by looking into the table `_LOADED` whether `packagename` is already loaded. If it is, then `require` is done. Otherwise, it searches a path looking for a file to load.

If the global variable `LUA_PATH` is a string, this string is the path. Otherwise, `require` tries the environment variable `LUA_PATH`. In the last resort, it uses a predefined path.

The path is a sequence of templates separated by semicolons. For each template, `require` will change an eventual interrogation mark in the template to `packagename`, and then will try to load the resulting file name. So, for instance, if the path is

      "./?.lua;./?.lc;/usr/local/?/init.lua;/lasttry"

a `require "mod"` will try to load the files `./mod.lua`, `./mod.lc`, `/usr/local/mod/init.lua`, and `/lasttry`, in that order.

The function stops the search as soon as it can load a file, and then it runs the file. If there is any error loading or running the file, or if it cannot find any file in the path, then `require` signals an error. Otherwise, it marks in table `_LOADED` that the package is loaded, and returns.

While running a packaged file, `require` defines the global variable `_REQUIREDNAME` with the package name.

### `setglobals (function, table)`

Sets the current table of globals to be used by the given function. `function` can be a Lua function or a number, meaning the function at that stack level: Level 1 is the function calling `setglobals`.

### `setmetatable (table, metatable)`

Sets the metatable for the given table. (You cannot change the metatable of a userdata from Lua.) If `metatable` is nil, removes the metatable of the given table.

### `tonumber (e [, base])`

Tries to convert its argument to a number. If the argument is already a number or a string convertible to a number, then `tonumber` returns that number; otherwise, it returns nil.

An optional argument specifies the base to interpret the numeral. The base may be any integer between 2 and 36, inclusive. In bases above 10, the letter `A' (in either upper or lower case) represents 10, `B' represents 11, and so forth, with `Z' representing 35. In base 10 (the default), the number may have a decimal part, as well as an optional exponent part (see Section 2.4). In other bases, only unsigned integers are accepted.

### `tostring (e)`

Receives an argument of any type and converts it to a string in a reasonable format. For complete control of how numbers are converted, use `format` (see Section 6.2).

### `type (v)`

Returns the type of its only argument, coded as a string. The possible results of this function are `"nil"` (a string, not the value nil), `"number"`, `"string"`, `"table"`, `"function"`, and `"userdata"`.

### `unpack (list)`

Returns all elements from the given list. This function is equivalent to

      return list[1], list[2], ..., list[n]

except that the above code can be valid only for a fixed n. The number n of returned values is either the value of `list.n`, if it is a number, or one less the index of the first absent (nil) value.

## 6.2 - String Manipulation

This library provides generic functions for string manipulation, such as finding and extracting substrings and pattern matching. When indexing a string in Lua, the first character is at position 1 (not at 0, as in C). Indices are allowed to be negative and are interpreted as indexing backwards, from the end of the string. Thus, the last character is at position -1, and so on.

The string library provides all its functions inside the table `string`.

### `string.byte (s [, i])`

Returns the internal numerical code of the i-th character of `s`. If `i` is absent, then it is assumed to be 1. `i` may be negative.

Numerical codes are not necessarily portable across platforms.

### `string.char (i1, i2, ...)`

Receives 0 or more integers. Returns a string with length equal to the number of arguments, in which each character has the internal numerical code equal to its correspondent argument.

Numerical codes are not necessarily portable across platforms.

### `string.find (s, pattern [, init [, plain]])`

Looks for the first match of `pattern` in the string `s`. If it finds one, then `find` returns the indices of `s` where this occurrence starts and ends; otherwise, it returns nil. If the pattern specifies captures (see `string.gsub` below), the captured strings are returned as extra results. A third, optional numerical argument `init` specifies where to start the search; its default value is 1, and may be negative. A value of true as a fourth, optional argument `plain` turns off the pattern matching facilities, so the function does a plain ``find substring'' operation, with no characters in `pattern` being considered ``magic''. Note that if `plain` is given, then `init` must be given too.

### `string.len (s)`

Receives a string and returns its length. The empty string `""` has length 0. Embedded zeros are counted, and so `"a\000b\000c"` has length 5.

### `string.lower (s)`

Receives a string and returns a copy of that string with all uppercase letters changed to lowercase. All other characters are left unchanged. The definition of what is an uppercase letter depends on the current locale.

### `string.rep (s, n)`

Returns a string that is the concatenation of `n` copies of the string `s`.

### `string.sub (s, i [, j])`

Returns another string, which is a substring of `s`, starting at `i` and running until `j`; `i` and `j` may be negative. If `j` is absent, then it is assumed to be equal to -1 (which is the same as the string length). In particular, the call `string.sub(s,1,j)` returns a prefix of `s` with length `j`, and the call `string.sub(s, -i)` returns a suffix of `s` with length `i`.

### `string.upper (s)`

Receives a string and returns a copy of that string with all lowercase letters changed to uppercase. All other characters are left unchanged. The definition of what is a lowercase letter depends on the current locale.

### `string.format (formatstring, e1, e2, ...)`

Returns a formatted version of its variable number of arguments following the description given in its first argument (which must be a string). The format string follows the same rules as the `printf` family of standard C functions. The only differences are that the options/modifiers `*`, `l`, `L`, `n`, `p`, and `h` are not supported, and there is an extra option, `q`. The `q` option formats a string in a form suitable to be safely read back by the Lua interpreter: The string is written between double quotes, and all double quotes, returns, and backslashes in the string are correctly escaped when written. For instance, the call

           string.format('%q', 'a string with "quotes" and \n new line')

will produce the string:

    "a string with \"quotes\" and \
     new line"

The options `c`, `d`, `E`, `e`, `f`, `g`, `G`, `i`, `o`, `u`, `X`, and `x` all expect a number as argument, whereas `q` and `s` expect a string. The `*` modifier can be simulated by building the appropriate format string. For example, `"%*g"` can be simulated with `"%"..width.."g"`.

String values to be formatted with `%s` cannot contain embedded zeros.

### `string.gfind (s, pat)`

Returns a generator function that, each time it is called, returns the next captures from pattern `pat` over string `s`.

If `pat` specifies no captures, then the whole match is produced in each call.

As an example, the following loop

      s = "hello world from Lua"
      for w in string.gfind(s, "%a+") do
        print(w)
      end

will iterate over all the words from string `s`, printing each one in a line. The next example collects all pairs `key=value` from the given string into a table:

      t = {}
      s = "from=world, to=Lua"
      for k, v in string.gfind(s, "(%w+)=(%w+)") do
        t[k] = v
      end

### `string.gsub (s, pat, repl [, n])`

Returns a copy of `s` in which all occurrences of the pattern `pat` have been replaced by a replacement string specified by `repl`. `gsub` also returns, as a second value, the total number of substitutions made.

If `repl` is a string, then its value is used for replacement. Any sequence in `repl` of the form `%`n, with n between 1 and 9, stands for the value of the n-th captured substring.

If `repl` is a function, then this function is called every time a match occurs, with all captured substrings passed as arguments, in order (see below); if the pattern specifies no captures, then the whole match is passed as a sole argument. If the value returned by this function is a string, then it is used as the replacement string; otherwise, the replacement string is the empty string.

The last, optional parameter `n` limits the maximum number of substitutions to occur. For instance, when `n` is 1 only the first occurrence of `pat` is replaced.

Here are some examples:

       x = string.gsub("hello world", "(%w+)", "%1 %1")
       --> x="hello hello world world"

       x = string.gsub("hello world", "(%w+)", "%1 %1", 1)
       --> x="hello hello world"

       x = string.gsub("hello world from Lua", "(%w+)%s*(%w+)", "%2 %1")
       --> x="world hello Lua from"

       x = string.gsub("home = $HOME, user = $USER", "%$(%w+)", os.getenv)
       --> x="home = /home/roberto, user = roberto"  (for instance)

       x = string.gsub("4+5 = $return 4+5$", "%$(.-)%$", function (s)
             return loadstring(s)()
           end)
       --> x="4+5 = 9"

       local t = {name="Lua", version="5.0"}
       x = string.gsub("$name - $version", "%$(%w+)", function (v)
             return t[v]
           end)
       --> x="Lua - 5.0"

### Patterns

#### Character Class:

a character class is used to represent a set of characters. The following combinations are allowed in describing a character class:

x
  (where x is not one of the magic characters `^$()%.[]*+-?`) - represents the character x itself.
`.`
  - (a dot) represents all characters.
`%a`
  - represents all letters.
`%c`
  - represents all control characters.
`%d`
  - represents all digits.
`%l`
  - represents all lowercase letters.
`%p`
  - represents all punctuation characters.
`%s`
  - represents all space characters.
`%u`
  - represents all uppercase letters.
`%w`
  - represents all alphanumeric characters.
`%x`
  - represents all hexadecimal digits.
`%z`
  - represents the character with representation 0.
`%`x (where x is any non-alphanumeric character)
  - represents the character x. This is the standard way to escape the magic characters. We recommend that any punctuation character (even the non magic) should be preceded by a `%` when used to represent itself in a pattern.

`[`set`]`
  - represents the class which is the union of all characters in set. A range of characters may be specified by separating the end characters of the range with a `-`. All classes `%`x described above may also be used as components in set. All other characters in set represent themselves. For example, `[%w_]` (or `[_%w]`) represents all alphanumeric characters plus the underscore, `[0-7]` represents the octal digits, and `[0-7%l%-]` represents the octal digits plus the lowercase letters plus the `-` character.

  The interaction between ranges and classes is not defined. Therefore, patterns like `[%a-z]` or `[a-%%]` have no meaning.

`[^`set`]`
  - represents the complement of set, where set is interpreted as above.

For all classes represented by single letters (`%a`, `%c`, ...), the corresponding uppercase letter represents the complement of the class. For instance, `%S` represents all non-space characters.

The definitions of letter, space, etc. depend on the current locale. In particular, the class `[a-z]` may not be equivalent to `%l`. The second form should be preferred for portability.

#### Pattern Item:

a pattern item may be

- a single character class, which matches any single character in the class;
- a single character class followed by `*`, which matches 0 or more repetitions of characters in the class. These repetition items will always match the longest possible sequence;
- a single character class followed by `+`, which matches 1 or more repetitions of characters in the class. These repetition items will always match the longest possible sequence;
- a single character class followed by `-`, which also matches 0 or more repetitions of characters in the class. Unlike `*`, these repetition items will always match the shortest possible sequence;
- a single character class followed by `?`, which matches 0 or 1 occurrence of a character in the class;
- `%n`, for n between 1 and 9; such item matches a substring equal to the n-th captured string (see below);
- `%bxy`, where x and y are two distinct characters; such item matches strings that start with x, end with y, and where the x and y are balanced. This means that, if one reads the string from left to right, counting +1 for an x and -1 for a y, the ending y is the first y where the count reaches 0. For instance, the item `%b()` matches expressions with balanced parentheses.

#### Pattern:

a pattern is a sequence of pattern items. A `^` at the beginning of a pattern anchors the match at the beginning of the subject string. A `$` at the end of a pattern anchors the match at the end of the subject string. At other positions, `^` and `$` have no special meaning and represent themselves.

#### Captures:

A pattern may contain sub-patterns enclosed in parentheses; they describe captures. When a match succeeds, the substrings of the subject string that match captures are stored (captured) for future use. Captures are numbered according to their left parentheses. For instance, in the pattern `"(a*(.)%w(%s*))"`, the part of the string matching `"a*(.)%w(%s*)"` is stored as the first capture (and therefore has number 1); the character matching `.` is captured with number 2, and the part matching `%s*` has number 3.

As a special case, the empty capture `()` captures the current string position (a number). For instance, if we apply the pattern `"()aa()"` on the string `"flaaap"`, there will be two captures: 3 and 5.

A pattern cannot contain embedded zeros. Use `%z` instead.

## 6.3 - Table Manipulation

This library provides generic functions for table manipulation, It provides all its functions inside the table `table`.

Most functions in the table library library assume that the table represents an array or a list. For those functions, an important concept is the size of the array. There are three ways to specify that size:

- the field `"n"` - When the table has a field `"n"` with a numerical value, that value is assumed as its size.
- `setn` - You can call the `table.setn` function to explicitly set the size of a table.
- implicit size - Otherwise, the size of the object is one less the first integer index with a nil value.

For more details, see the descriptions of the `table.getn` and `table.setn` functions.

### `table.concat (table [, sep [, i [, j]]])`

Returns `table[i]..sep..table[i+1] ... sep..table[j]`. The default value for `sep` is the empty string, the default for `i` is 1, and the default for `j` is the size of the table. If `i` is greater than `j`, returns the empty string.

### `table.foreach (table, func)`

Executes the given `func` over all elements of `table`. For each element, `func` is called with the index and respective value as arguments. If `func` returns a non-nil value, then the loop is broken, and this value is returned as the final value of `foreach`.

The behavior of `foreach` is undefined if you change the table `t` during the traversal.

### `table.foreachi (table, func)`

Executes the given `func` over the numerical indices of `table`. For each index, `func` is called with the index and respective value as arguments. Indices are visited in sequential order, from 1 to `n`, where `n` is the size of the table (see Section 6.3). If `func` returns a non-nil value, then the loop is broken, and this value is returned as the final value of `foreachi`.

### `table.getn (table)`

Returns the ``size'' of a table, when seen as a list. If the table has an `n` field with a numeric value, this value is the ``size'' of the table. Otherwise, if there was a previous call to `table.getn` or to `table.setn` over this table, the respective value is returned. Otherwise, the ``size'' is one less the first integer index with a nil value.

Notice that the last option happens only once for a table. If you call `table.getn` again over the same table, it will return the same previous result, even if the table has been modified. The only way to change the value of `table.getn` is by calling `table.setn` or assigning to field `"n"` in the table.

### `table.sort (table [, comp])`

Sorts table elements in a given order, in-place, from `table[1]` to `table[n]`, where `n` is the size of the table (see Section 6.3). If `comp` is given, then it must be a function that receives two table elements, and returns true when the first is less than the second (so that `not comp(a[i+1],a[i])` will be true after the sort). If `comp` is not given, then the standard Lua operator `<` is used instead.

The sort algorithm is not stable (that is, elements considered equal by the given order may have their relative positions changed by the sort).

### `table.insert (table, [pos,] value)`

Inserts element `value` at position `pos` in `table`, shifting other elements up to open space, if necessary. The default value for `pos` is `n+1`, where `n` is the size of the table (see Section 6.3), so that a call `table.insert(t,x)` inserts `x` at the end of table `t`. This function also updates the size of the table, calling `table.setn(table, n+1)`.

### `table.remove (table [, pos])`

Removes from `table` the element at position `pos`, shifting other elements down to close the space, if necessary. Returns the value of the removed element. The default value for `pos` is `n`, where `n` is the size of the table (see Section 6.3), so that a call `tremove(t)` removes the last element of table `t`. This function also updates the size of the table, calling `table.setn(table, n-1)`.

### `table.setn (table, n)`

Updates the ``size'' of a table. If the table has a field `"n"` with a numerical value, that value is changed to the given `n`. Otherwise, it updates an internal state of the `table` library so that subsequent calls to `table.getn(table)` return `n`.

## 6.4 - Mathematical Functions

This library is an interface to most functions of the standard C math library. (Some have slightly different names.) It provides all its functions inside the table `math`. In addition, it registers a ??tag method for the binary exponentiation operator `^` that returns xy when applied to numbers `xy`.

The library provides the following functions:

           math.abs   math.acos   math.asin  math.atan math.atan2
           math.ceil  math.cos    math.deg   math.exp  math.floor
           math.log   math.log10  math.max   math.min  math.mod
           math.rad   math.sin    math.sqrt  math.tan  math.frexp
           math.ldexp math.random math.randomseed

plus a variable `math.pi`. Most of them are only interfaces to the homonymous functions in the C library. All trigonometric functions work in radians. The functions `math.deg` and `math.rad` convert between radians and degrees.

The function `math.max` returns the maximum value of its numeric arguments. Similarly, `math.min` computes the minimum. Both can be used with 1, 2, or more arguments.

The functions `math.random` and `math.randomseed` are interfaces to the simple random generator functions `rand` and `srand`, provided by ANSI C. (No guarantees can be given for their statistical properties.) When called without arguments, `math.random` returns a pseudo-random real number in the range [0,1). %] When called with a number n, `math.random` returns a pseudo-random integer in the range [1,n]. When called with two arguments, l and u, `math.random` returns a pseudo-random integer in the range [l,u]. The `math.randomseed` function sets a ``seed'' for the pseudo-random generator: Equal seeds produce equal sequences of numbers.

## 6.5 - Input and Output Facilities

The I/O library provides two different styles for file manipulation. The first one uses implicit file descriptors; that is, there are operations to set a default input file and a default output file, and all input/output operations are over those default files. The second style uses explicit file descriptors.

When using implicit file descriptors, all operations are supplied by table `io`. When using explicit file descriptors, the operation `io.open` returns a file descriptor, and then all operations are supplied as methods by the file descriptor.

Moreover, the table `io` also provides three predefined file descriptors: `io.stdin`, `io.stdout`, and `io.stderr`, with their usual meaning from C.

A file handle is a userdata containing the file stream (`FILE*`), with a distinctive metatable created by the I/O library.

Unless otherwise stated, all I/O functions return nil on failure (plus an error message as a second result) and some value different from nil on success.

### `io.close ([handle])`

Equivalent to `file:close()`. Without a `handle`, closes the default output file.

### `io.flush ()`

Equivalent to `file:flush` over the default output file.

### `io.input ([file])`

When called with a file name, it opens the named file (in text mode), and sets its handle as the default input file (and returns nothing). When called with a file handle, it simply sets that file handle as the default input file. When called without parameters, it returns the current default input file.

In case of errors this function raises the error, instead of returning an error code.

### `io.lines ([filename])`

Opens the given file name in read mode, and returns a generator function that, each time it is called, returns a new line from the file. Therefore, the construction

           for lines in io.lines(filename) do ... end

will iterate over all lines of the file. When the generator function detects the end of file, it returns nil (to finish the loop) and automatically closes the file.

The call `io.lines()` (without a file name) is equivalent to `io.input():lines()`, that is, it iterates over the lines of the default input file.

### `io.open (filename, mode)`

This function opens a file, in the mode specified in the string `mode`. It returns a new file handle, or, in case of errors, nil plus an error message.

The `mode` string can be any of the following:

``r''
  read mode;
``w''
  write mode;
``a''
  append mode;
``r+''
  update mode, all previous data is preserved;
``w+''
  update mode, all previous data is erased;
``a+''
  append update mode, previous data is preserved, writing is only allowed at the end of file.

The `mode` string may also have a `b` at the end, which is needed in some systems to open the file in binary mode. This string is exactly what is used in the standard C function `fopen`.

### `io.output ([file])`

Similar to `io.input`, but operates over the default output file.

### `io.read (format1, ...)`

Equivalent to `file:read` over the default input file.

### `io.tmpfile ()`

Returns a handle for a temporary file. This file is open in read/write mode, and it is automatically removed when the program ends.

### `io.write (value1, ...)`

Equivalent to `file:write` over the default output file.

### `file:close ()`

Closes the file `file`.

### `file:flush ()`

Saves any written data to the file `file`.

### `file:lines ()`

Returns a generator function that, each time it is called, returns a new line from the file. Therefore, the construction

           for lines in file:lines() do ... end

will iterate over all lines of the file. (Unlike `io.lines`, this function does not close the file when the loop ends.)

### `file:read (format1, ...)`

Reads the file `file`, according to the given formats, which specify what to read. For each format, the function returns a string (or a number) with the characters read, or nil if it cannot read data with the specified format. When called without formats, it uses a default format that reads the entire next line (see below).

The available formats are

``*n''
  reads a number; this is the only format that returns a number instead of a string.
``*a''
  reads the whole file, starting at the current position. On end of file, it returns the empty string.
``*l''
  reads the next line (skipping the end of line), returning nil on end of file. This is the default format.
number
  reads a string with up to that number of characters, or nil on end of file. If number is zero, it reads nothing and returns an empty string, or nil on end of file.

### `file:seek ([whence] [, offset])`

Sets and gets the file position, measured in bytes from the beginning of the file, to the position given by `offset` plus a base specified by the string `whence`, as follows:

``set''
  base is position 0 (beginning of the file);
``cur''
  base is current position;
``end''
  base is end of file;

In case of success, function `seek` returns the final file position, measured in bytes from the beginning of the file. If this function fails, it returns nil, plus a string describing the error.

The default value for `whence` is `"cur"`, and for `offset` is 0. Therefore, the call `file:seek()` returns the current file position, without changing it; the call `file:seek("set")` sets the position to the beginning of the file (and returns 0); and the call `file:seek("end")` sets the position to the end of the file, and returns its size.

### `file:write (value1, ...)`

Writes the value of each of its arguments to the filehandle `file`. The arguments must be strings or numbers. To write other values, use `tostring` or `format` before `write`. If this function fails, it returns nil, plus a string describing the error.

## 6.6 - Operating System Facilities

This library is implemented through table `os`.

### `os.clock ()`

Returns an approximation of the amount of CPU time used by the program, in seconds.

### `os.date ([format [, time]])`

Returns a string or a table containing date and time, formatted according to the given string `format`.

If the `time` argument is present, this is the time to be formatted (see the `time` function for a description of this value). Otherwise, `date` formats the current time.

If `format` starts with `!`, then the date is formatted in Coordinated Universal Time.

After that optional character, if `format` is `*t`, then `date` returns a table with the following fields: `year` (four digits), `month` (1--12), `day` (1--31), `hour` (0--23), `min` (0--59), `sec` (0--61), `wday` (weekday, Sunday is 1), `yday` (day of the year), and `isdst` (daylight saving flag, a boolean).

If format is not `*t`, then `date` returns the date as a string, formatted according with the same rules as the C function `strftime`. When called without arguments, `date` returns a reasonable date and time representation that depends on the host system and on the current locale (that is, `os.date()` is equivalent to `os.date("%c")`).

### `os.difftime (t1, t2)`

Returns the number of seconds from time `t1` to time `t2`. In Posix, Windows, and some other systems, this value is exactly `t1`-`t2`.

### `os.execute (command)`

This function is equivalent to the C function `system`. It passes `command` to be executed by an operating system shell. It returns a status code, which is system-dependent.

### `os.exit ([code])`

Calls the C function `exit`, with an optional `code`, to terminate the host program. The default value for `code` is the success code.

### `os.getenv (varname)`

Returns the value of the process environment variable `varname`, or nil if the variable is not defined.

### `os.remove (filename)`

Deletes the file with the given name. If this function fails, it returns nil, plus a string describing the error.

### `os.rename (name1, name2)`

Renames file named `name1` to `name2`. If this function fails, it returns nil, plus a string describing the error.

### `os.setlocale (locale [, category])`

This function is an interface to the C function `setlocale`. `locale` is a string specifying a locale; `category` is an optional string describing which category to change: `"all"`, `"collate"`, `"ctype"`, `"monetary"`, `"numeric"`, or `"time"`; the default category is `"all"`. The function returns the name of the new locale, or nil if the request cannot be honored.

### `os.time ([table])`

Returns the current time when called without arguments, or a time representing the date and time specified by the given table. This table must have fields `year`, `month`, and `day`, and may have fields `hour`, `min`, `sec`, and `isdst` (for a description of these fields, see the `os.date` function).

The returned value is a number, whose meaning depends on your system. In Posix, Windows, and some other systems, this number counts the number of seconds since some given start time (the ``epoch''). In other systems, the meaning is not specified, and the number returned bt `time` can be used only as an argument to `date` and `difftime`.

### `os.tmpname ()`

Returns a string with a file name that can be used for a temporary file. The file must be explicitly opened before its use and removed when no longer needed.

This function is equivalent to the `tmpnam` C function, and many people (and even some compilers!) advise against its use, because between the time you call the function and the time you open the file, it is possible for another process to create a file with the same name.

## 6.7 - The Reflexive Debug Interface

The library `ldblib` provides the functionality of the debug interface to Lua programs. You should exert great care when using this library. The functions provided here should be used exclusively for debugging and similar tasks, such as profiling. Please resist the temptation to use them as a usual programming tool: They can be very slow. Moreover, `setlocal` and `getlocal` violate the privacy of local variables, and therefore can compromise some (otherwise) secure code.

All functions in this library are provided inside a `debug` table.

### `debug.getinfo (function, [what])`

This function returns a table with information about a function. You can give the function directly, or you can give a number as the value of `function`, which means the function running at level `function` of the stack: Level 0 is the current function (`getinfo` itself); level 1 is the function that called `getinfo`; and so on. If `function` is a number larger than the number of active functions, then `getinfo` returns nil.

The returned table contains all the fields returned by `lua_getinfo`, with the string `what` describing what to get. The default for `what` is to get all information available. If present, the option `f` adds a field named `func` with the function itself.

For instance, the expression `getinfo(1,"n").name` returns the name of the current function, if a reasonable name can be found, and `getinfo(print)` returns a table with all available information about the `print` function.

### `debug.getlocal (level, local)`

This function returns the name and the value of the local variable with index `local` of the function at level `level` of the stack. (The first parameter or local variable has index 1, and so on, until the last active local variable.) The function returns nil if there is no local variable with the given index, and raises an error when called with a `level` out of range. (You can call `getinfo` to check whether the level is valid.)

### `debug.setlocal (level, local, value)`

This function assigns the value `value` to the local variable with index `local` of the function at level `level` of the stack. The function returns nil if there is no local variable with the given index, and raises an error when called with a `level` out of range. (You can call `getinfo` to check whether the level is valid.)

### `debug.sethook (hook, mask [, count])`

Sets the given function as a hook. The string `mask` and the number `count` describe when the hook will be called. The string mask may have the following characters, with the given meaning:

`"c"`
  The hook is called every time Lua calls a function;
`"r"`
  The hook is called every time Lua returns from a function;
`"l"`
  The hook is called every time Lua enters a new line of code.

With a `count` different from zero, the hook is called after every `count` instructions.

When called without arguments, the `debug.sethook` function turns off the hook.

When the hook is called, its first parameter is always a string describing the event that triggered its call: `"call"`, `"return"`, `"line"`, and `"count"`. Moreover, for line events, it also gets as its second parameter the new line number. Inside a hook, you can call `getinfo` with level 2 to get more information about the running function (level 0 is the `getinfo` function, and level 1 is the hook function).

### `debug.gethook ()`

Returns the current hook settings, as three values: the current hook function, the current hook mask, and the current hook count (as set by the `debug.sethook` function).

# 7 - Lua Stand-alone

Although Lua has been designed as an extension language, to be embedded in a host C program, it is also frequently used as a stand-alone language. An interpreter for Lua as a stand-alone language, called simply `lua`, is provided with the standard distribution. The stand-alone interpreter includes all standard libraries plus the reflexive debug interface. Its usage is:

          lua [options] [script [args]]

The options are:

`-`
  executes `stdin` as a file;
`-e` stat
  executes string stat;
`-l` file
  ``requires'' file;
`-i`
  enters interactive mode after running script;
`-v`
  prints version information;
`--`
  stop handling options.

After handling its options, `lua` runs the given script, passing to it the given args. When called without arguments, `lua` behaves as `lua -v -i` when `stdin` is a terminal, and as `lua -` otherwise.

Before running any argument, the intepreter checks for an environment variable `LUA_INIT`. If its format is `@`filename, then lua executes the file. Otherwise, lua executes the string itself.

All options are handled in order, except `-i`. For instance, an invocation like

           $ lua -e'a=1' -e 'print(a)' script.lua

will first set `a` to 1, then print `a`, and finally run the file `script.lua`. (Here, `$` is the shell prompt. Your prompt may be different.)

Before starting to run the script, `lua` collects all arguments in the command line in a global table called `arg`. The script name is stored in index 0, the first argument after the script name goes to index 1, and so on. The field `n` gets the number of arguments after the script name. Any arguments before the script name (that is, the interpreter name plus the options) go to negative indices. For instance, in the call

           $ lua -la.lua b.lua t1 t2

the interpreter first runs the file `a.lua`, then creates a table

           arg = { [-2] = "lua", [-1] = "-la.lua", [0] = "b.lua",
                   [1] = "t1", [2] = "t2"; n = 2 }

and finally runs the file `b.lua`.

In interactive mode, if you write an incomplete statement, the interpreter waits for its completion.

If the global variable `_PROMPT` is defined as a string, then its value is used as the prompt. Therefore, the prompt can be changed directly on the command line:

           $ lua -e"_PROMPT='myprompt> '" -i

(the first pair of quotes is for the shell, the second is for Lua), or in any Lua programs by assigning to `_PROMPT`. Note the use of `-i` to enter interactive mode; otherwise, the program would end just after the assignment to `_PROMPT`.

In Unix systems, Lua scripts can be made into executable programs by using `chmod +x` and the `#!` form, as in

    #!/usr/local/bin/lua

(Of course, the location of the Lua interpreter may be different in your machine. If `lua` is in your `PATH`, then a more portable solution is

    #!/usr/bin/env lua

# Acknowledgments

The Lua team is grateful to Tecgraf for its continued support to Lua. We thank everyone at Tecgraf, specially the head of the group, Marcelo Gattass. At the risk of omitting several names, we also thank the following individuals for supporting, contributing to, and spreading the word about Lua: Alan Watson. André Clinio, André Costa, Antonio Scuri, Bret Mogilefsky, Cameron Laird, Carlos Cassino, Carlos Henrique Levy, Claudio Terra, David Jeske, Edgar Toernig, Erik Hougaard, Jim Mathies, John Belmonte, John Passaniti, John Roll, Jon Erickson, Jon Kleiser, Mark Ian Barlow, Nick Trout, Noemi Rodriguez, Norman Ramsey, Philippe Lhoste, Renata Ratton, Renato Borges, Renato Cerqueira, Reuben Thomas, Stephan Herrmann, Steve Dekorte, Thatcher Ulrich, Tomás Gorham, Vincent Penquerc'h, Thank you!

# Incompatibilities with Previous Versions

## Incompatibilities with version 4.0

### Changes in the Language

- Function calls written between parentheses result in exactly one value.

- A function call as the last expression in a list constructor (like `{a,b,f()}`) has all its return values inserted in the list.

- The precedence of or is smaller than the precedence of and.

- in is a reserved word.

- The old construction `for k,v in t`, where `t` is a table, is deprecated (although it is still supported). Use `for k,v in pairs(t)` instead.

- When a literal string of the form `[[...]]` starts with a newline, this newline is ignored.

- Old pre-compiled code is obsolete, and must be re-compiled.

### Changes in the Libraries

- Most library functions now are defined inside tables. There is a compatibility script (`compat.lua`) that redefine most of them as global names.

- In the math library, angles are expressed in radians. With the compatibility script (`compat.lua`), functions still work in degrees.

- The `call` function is deprecated. Use `f(unpack(tab))` instead of `call(f, tab)` for unprotected calls, or the new `pcall` function for protected calls.

- `dofile` do not handle errors, but simply propagate them.

- The `read` option `*w` is obsolete.

- The `format` option `%n$` is obsolete.

### Changes in the API

- Userdata!!

# The Complete Syntax of Lua

The notation used here is the usual extended BNF, in which {a} means 0 or more a's, and [a] means an optional a. Non-terminals are shown in italics, keywords are shown in bold, and other terminal symbols are shown in `typewriter` font, enclosed in single quotes.

           chunk ::= {stat [`;']}

           block ::= chunk

           stat ::=  varlist1 `=' explist1
    	| functioncall
    	| do block end
    	| while exp do block end
    	| repeat block until exp
    	| if exp then block {elseif exp then block} [else block] end
    	| return [explist1]
    	| break
    	| for `Name' `=' exp `,' exp [`,' exp] do block end
    	| for `Name' {`,' `Name'} in explist1 do block end
    	| function funcname funcbody
    	| local function `Name' funcbody
    	| local namelist [init]

           funcname ::= `Name' {`.' `Name'} [`:' `Name']

           varlist1 ::= var {`,' var}

           var ::=  `Name' | prefixexp `[' exp `]' | prefixexp `.' `Name'

           namelist ::= `Name' {`,' `Name'}

           init ::= `=' explist1

           explist1 ::= {exp `,'} exp

           exp ::=  nil false true | `Number'
    	| `Literal' | function | prefixexp
    	| tableconstructor | exp binop exp | unop exp

           prefixexp ::= var | functioncall | `(' exp `)'

           functioncall ::=  prefixexp args | prefixexp `:' `Name' args

           args ::=  `(' [explist1] `)' | tableconstructor | `Literal'

           function ::= function funcbody

           funcbody ::= `(' [parlist1] `)' block end

           parlist1 ::=  `Name' {`,' `Name'} [`,' `...'] | `...'

           tableconstructor ::= `{' [fieldlist] `}'
           fieldlist ::= field {fieldsep field} [fieldsep]
           field ::= `[' exp `]' `=' exp | name `=' exp | exp
           fieldsep ::= `,' | `;'

           binop ::= `+' | `-' | `*' | `/' | `^' | `..' | `<' | `<=' | `>' | `>=' | `==' | `~='
    	| and | or

           unop ::= `-' | not

Last update: Tue Dec 17 11:49:21 EDT 2002