go spec: clean up section on selectors

- point out difference between selectors and qualified identifiers
- differentiate between illegal selectors and run-time panics
- use "indirect" as opposed to "dereference" consistently
- add extra links

Fixes #3779.

R=r, rsc, iant, ken
CC=golang-dev
https://golang.org/cl/6326059
This commit is contained in:
Robert Griesemer 2012-06-28 12:22:24 -07:00
parent 8907f94a51
commit 71de83b733

View File

@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
<!--{ <!--{
"Title": "The Go Programming Language Specification", "Title": "The Go Programming Language Specification",
"Subtitle": "Version of June 26, 2012", "Subtitle": "Version of June 27, 2012",
"Path": "/ref/spec" "Path": "/ref/spec"
}--> }-->
@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ TODO
[ ] need explicit language about the result type of operations [ ] need explicit language about the result type of operations
[ ] should probably write something about evaluation order of statements even [ ] should probably write something about evaluation order of statements even
though obvious though obvious
[ ] review language on implicit dereferencing
--> -->
@ -2324,7 +2323,6 @@ Point{1, 2}
m["foo"] m["foo"]
s[i : j + 1] s[i : j + 1]
obj.color obj.color
math.Sin
f.p[i].x() f.p[i].x()
</pre> </pre>
@ -2332,7 +2330,9 @@ f.p[i].x()
<h3 id="Selectors">Selectors</h3> <h3 id="Selectors">Selectors</h3>
<p> <p>
A primary expression of the form For a <a href="#Primary_expressions">primary expression</a> <code>x</code>
that is not a <a href="#Package_clause">package name</a>, the
<i>selector expression</i>
</p> </p>
<pre> <pre>
@ -2340,17 +2340,20 @@ x.f
</pre> </pre>
<p> <p>
denotes the field or method <code>f</code> of the value denoted by <code>x</code> denotes the field or method <code>f</code> of the value <code>x</code>
(or sometimes <code>*x</code>; see below). The identifier <code>f</code> (or sometimes <code>*x</code>; see below).
is called the (field or method) The identifier <code>f</code> is called the (field or method) <i>selector</i>;
<i>selector</i>; it must not be the <a href="#Blank_identifier">blank identifier</a>. it must not be the <a href="#Blank_identifier">blank identifier</a>.
The type of the expression is the type of <code>f</code>. The type of the selector expression is the type of <code>f</code>.
If <code>x</code> is a package name, see the section on
<a href="#Qualified_identifiers">qualified identifiers</a>.
</p> </p>
<p> <p>
A selector <code>f</code> may denote a field or method <code>f</code> of A selector <code>f</code> may denote a field or method <code>f</code> of
a type <code>T</code>, or it may refer a type <code>T</code>, or it may refer
to a field or method <code>f</code> of a nested anonymous field of to a field or method <code>f</code> of a nested
<code>T</code>. <a href="#Struct_types">anonymous field</a> of <code>T</code>.
The number of anonymous fields traversed The number of anonymous fields traversed
to reach <code>f</code> is called its <i>depth</i> in <code>T</code>. to reach <code>f</code> is called its <i>depth</i> in <code>T</code>.
The depth of a field or method <code>f</code> The depth of a field or method <code>f</code>
@ -2359,9 +2362,11 @@ The depth of a field or method <code>f</code> declared in
an anonymous field <code>A</code> in <code>T</code> is the an anonymous field <code>A</code> in <code>T</code> is the
depth of <code>f</code> in <code>A</code> plus one. depth of <code>f</code> in <code>A</code> plus one.
</p> </p>
<p> <p>
The following rules apply to selectors: The following rules apply to selectors:
</p> </p>
<ol> <ol>
<li> <li>
For a value <code>x</code> of type <code>T</code> or <code>*T</code> For a value <code>x</code> of type <code>T</code> or <code>*T</code>
@ -2373,18 +2378,26 @@ If there is not exactly <a href="#Uniqueness_of_identifiers">one <code>f</code><
with shallowest depth, the selector expression is illegal. with shallowest depth, the selector expression is illegal.
</li> </li>
<li> <li>
For a variable <code>x</code> of type <code>I</code> For a variable <code>x</code> of type <code>I</code> where <code>I</code>
where <code>I</code> is an interface type, is an interface type, <code>x.f</code> denotes the actual method with name
<code>x.f</code> denotes the actual method with name <code>f</code> of the value assigned <code>f</code> of the value assigned to <code>x</code>.
to <code>x</code> if there is such a method. If there is no method with name <code>f</code> in the
If no value or <code>nil</code> was assigned to <code>x</code>, <code>x.f</code> is illegal. <a href="#Method_sets">method set</a> of <code>I</code>, the selector
expression is illegal.
</li> </li>
<li> <li>
In all other cases, <code>x.f</code> is illegal. In all other cases, <code>x.f</code> is illegal.
</li> </li>
<li>
If <code>x</code> is of pointer or interface type and has the value
<code>nil</code>, assigning to, evaluating, or calling <code>x.f</code>
causes a <a href="#Run_time_panics">run-time panic</a>.
</i>
</ol> </ol>
<p> <p>
Selectors automatically dereference pointers to structs. Selectors automatically <a href="#Address_operators">dereference</a>
pointers to structs.
If <code>x</code> is a pointer to a struct, <code>x.y</code> If <code>x</code> is a pointer to a struct, <code>x.y</code>
is shorthand for <code>(*x).y</code>; if the field <code>y</code> is shorthand for <code>(*x).y</code>; if the field <code>y</code>
is also a pointer to a struct, <code>x.y.z</code> is shorthand is also a pointer to a struct, <code>x.y.z</code> is shorthand
@ -2393,6 +2406,7 @@ If <code>x</code> contains an anonymous field of type <code>*A</code>,
where <code>A</code> is also a struct type, where <code>A</code> is also a struct type,
<code>x.f</code> is a shortcut for <code>(*x.A).f</code>. <code>x.f</code> is a shortcut for <code>(*x.A).f</code>.
</p> </p>
<p> <p>
For example, given the declarations: For example, given the declarations:
</p> </p>