Class Structure

  • All Implemented Interfaces:
    Term

    public final class Structure
    extends java.lang.Object
    implements Term
    A Term consisting of a functor (name) and a number of other Term arguments.

    Also known as a "compound term".

    • Field Detail

      • functor

        private final java.lang.String functor
      • args

        private final Term[] args
      • immutable

        private final boolean immutable
      • hashCode

        private final int hashCode
    • Constructor Detail

      • Structure

        private Structure​(java.lang.String functor,
                          Term[] args,
                          boolean immutable)
        Private constructor to force use of createStructure(String, Term[])
        Parameters:
        immutable - is this structure immutable (i.e. are all its arguments known to be immutable)?
    • Method Detail

      • createStructure

        public static Term createStructure​(java.lang.String functor,
                                           Term[] args)
        Factory method for creating Structure instances.

        The reason that Structures have to be created via a factory method, rather than a constructor, is to enforce:

        • structures with the functor . and two arguments are created as instances of List
        • no structures can be created without any arguments
        Parameters:
        functor - the name of the new term
        args - arguments for the new term
        Returns:
        either a new Structure or a new List
      • isImmutable

        private static boolean isImmutable​(Term[] args)
      • getName

        public java.lang.String getName()
        Returns the functor of this structure.
        Specified by:
        getName in interface Term
        Returns:
        the functor of this structure
      • getArgs

        public Term[] getArgs()
        Description copied from interface: Term
        Returns an array of this terms's arguments.

        Note: for performance reasons the array returned is the same array used internally be the term instance so be careful not to alter the array returned as changes will be reflected in the original term.

        Specified by:
        getArgs in interface Term
        Returns:
        array of this terms's arguments
        See Also:
        Term.getArgument(int)
      • getNumberOfArguments

        public int getNumberOfArguments()
        Description copied from interface: Term
        Returns the number of arguments in this term.
        Specified by:
        getNumberOfArguments in interface Term
        Returns:
        number of arguments in this term
      • getArgument

        public Term getArgument​(int index)
        Description copied from interface: Term
        Returns the term at the specified position in this term's arguments.
        Specified by:
        getArgument in interface Term
        Parameters:
        index - index of the argument to return
        Returns:
        the term at the specified position in this term's arguments
      • isImmutable

        public boolean isImmutable()
        Description copied from interface: Term
        Returns true is this term is immutable.

        A term is considered immutable if its value will never change as a result of executing its Term.unify(Term) or Term.backtrack() methods. A term will not be considered immutable if it is a Variable or any of its arguments are not immutable.

        Specified by:
        isImmutable in interface Term
        Returns:
        true is this term is immutable
      • getTerm

        public Structure getTerm()
        Description copied from interface: Term
        Returns the current instantiated state of this term.

        Returns a representation of this term with all instantiated Variables replaced with the terms they are instantiated with.

        Specified by:
        getTerm in interface Term
        Returns:
        a representation of this term with all instantiated Variables replaced with the terms they are instantiated with.
      • copy

        public Structure copy​(java.util.Map<Variable,​Variable> sharedVariables)
        Description copied from interface: Term
        Returns a copy of this term.

        The returned copy will share any immutable terms contained in this term. The returned copy will contain new instances for any Variables contained in this term. The sharedVariables parameter keeps track of which Variables have already been copied.

        Specified by:
        copy in interface Term
        Parameters:
        sharedVariables - keeps track of which Variables have already been copied (key = original version, value = version used in copy)
        Returns:
        a copy of this term
      • unify

        public boolean unify​(Term t)
        Description copied from interface: Term
        Attempts to unify this term to the specified term.

        The rules for deciding if two terms are unifiable are as follows:

        • An uninstantiated Variable will unify with any term. As a result the Variable will become instantiated to the other term. The instantiaton will be undone when Term.backtrack() is next called on the Variable
        • Non-variable terms will unify with other terms that are of the same TermType and have the same value. The exact meaning of "having the same value" will vary between term types but will include that the two terms being unified have the same number of arguments and that all of their corresponding arguments unify.
        Note: can leave things in "half-state" on failure as neither List or Predicate backtrack earlier args.
        Specified by:
        unify in interface Term
        Parameters:
        t - the term to unify this term against
        Returns:
        true if the attempt to unify this term to the given term was successful
        See Also:
        Term.backtrack()
      • backtrack

        public void backtrack()
        Description copied from interface: Term
        Reverts this term back to its original state prior to any unifications.

        Makes all Variables that this term consists of uninstantiated.

        Specified by:
        backtrack in interface Term
        See Also:
        Term.unify(Term)
      • equals

        public boolean equals​(java.lang.Object o)
        Overrides:
        equals in class java.lang.Object
      • hashCode

        public int hashCode()
        Overrides:
        hashCode in class java.lang.Object
      • toString

        public java.lang.String toString()
        Returns a String representation of this term.

        The value returned will consist of the structure's functor followed be a comma separated list of its arguments enclosed in brackets.

        Example: functor(arg1, arg2, arg3)

        Overrides:
        toString in class java.lang.Object