List View Source
Functions that work on (linked) lists.
Many of the functions provided for lists, which implement
the Enumerable protocol, are found in the Enum module.
Additionally, the following functions and operators for lists are
found in Kernel:
Lists in Elixir are specified between square brackets:
iex> [1, "two", 3, :four]
[1, "two", 3, :four]
Two lists can be concatenated and subtracted using the
Kernel.++/2 and Kernel.--/2 operators:
iex> [1, 2, 3] ++ [4, 5, 6]
[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
iex> [1, true, 2, false, 3, true] -- [true, false]
[1, 2, 3, true]
Lists in Elixir are effectively linked lists, which means they are internally represented in pairs containing the head and the tail of a list:
iex> [head | tail] = [1, 2, 3]
iex> head
1
iex> tail
[2, 3]
Similarly, we could write the list [1, 2, 3] using only
such pairs (called cons cells):
iex> [1 | [2 | [3 | []]]]
[1, 2, 3]
Some lists, called improper lists, do not have an empty list as the second element in the last cons cell:
iex> [1 | [2 | [3 | 4]]]
[1, 2, 3 | 4]
Although improper lists are generally avoided, they are used in some
special circumstances like iodata and chardata entities (see the IO module).
Due to their cons cell based representation, prepending an element to a list is always fast (constant time), while appending becomes slower as the list grows in size (linear time):
iex> list = [1, 2, 3]
iex> [0 | list] # fast
[0, 1, 2, 3]
iex> list ++ [4] # slow
[1, 2, 3, 4]
Additionally, getting a list's length and accessing it by index are linear time operations. Negative indexes are also supported but they imply the list will be iterated twice, once to calculate the proper index and another time to perform the operation.
Charlists
If a list is made of non-negative integers, it can also be called a charlist. Elixir uses single quotes to define charlists:
iex> 'héllo'
[104, 233, 108, 108, 111]
In particular, charlists may be printed back in single quotes if they contain only ASCII-printable codepoints:
iex> 'abc'
'abc'
The rationale behind this behaviour is to better support
Erlang libraries which may return text as charlists
instead of Elixir strings. One example of such functions
is Application.loaded_applications/0:
Application.loaded_applications()
#=> [
#=> {:stdlib, 'ERTS CXC 138 10', '2.6'},
#=> {:compiler, 'ERTS CXC 138 10', '6.0.1'},
#=> {:elixir, 'elixir', '1.0.0'},
#=> {:kernel, 'ERTS CXC 138 10', '4.1'},
#=> {:logger, 'logger', '1.0.0'}
#=> ]
A list can be checked if it is made of printable ASCII
codepoints with ascii_printable?/2.
Link to this section Summary
Functions
Checks if list is a charlist made only of printable ASCII characters
Deletes the given item from the list. Returns a new list without
the item
Produces a new list by removing the value at the specified index
Duplicates the given element n times in a list
Returns the first element in list or nil if list is empty
Flattens the given list of nested lists
Flattens the given list of nested lists.
The list tail will be added at the end of
the flattened list
Folds (reduces) the given list from the left with a function. Requires an accumulator
Folds (reduces) the given list from the right with a function. Requires an accumulator
Returns true if list is an improper list. Otherwise returns false
Returns a list with value inserted at the specified index
Receives a list of tuples and deletes the first tuple
where the item at position matches the
given key. Returns the new list
Receives a list of tuples and returns the first tuple
where the item at position in the tuple matches the
given key
Receives a list of tuples and returns true if there is
a tuple where the item at position in the tuple matches
the given key
Receives a list of tuples and if the identified item by key at position
exists, it is replaced with new_tuple
Receives a list of tuples and sorts the items
at position of the tuples. The sort is stable
Receives a list of tuples and replaces the item
identified by key at position with new_tuple
Receives a list of tuples and returns the first tuple
where the element at position in the tuple matches the
given key, as well as the list without found tuple
Returns the last element in list or nil if list is empty
Returns a keyword list that represents an edit script
Returns a keyword list that represents an edit script with nested diffs
Returns and removes the value at the specified index in the list
Returns a list with a replaced value at the specified index
Returns true if list starts with the given prefix list; otherwise returns false
Converts a charlist to an atom
Converts a list of integers representing codepoints, lists or strings into a charlist
Converts a charlist to an existing atom. Raises an ArgumentError
if the atom does not exist
Returns the float whose text representation is charlist
Returns an integer whose text representation is charlist
Returns an integer whose text representation is charlist in base base
Converts a list of integers representing codepoints, lists or strings into a string
Converts a list to a tuple
Returns a list with an updated value at the specified index
Wraps term in a list if this is not list
Zips corresponding elements from each list in list_of_lists
Link to this section Functions
ascii_printable?(list, limit \\ :infinity)
View Source
(since 1.6.0)
ascii_printable?(list(), limit) :: boolean()
when limit: :infinity | non_neg_integer()
ascii_printable?(list(), limit) :: boolean() when limit: :infinity | non_neg_integer()
Checks if list is a charlist made only of printable ASCII characters.
Takes an optional limit as a second argument. ascii_printable?/2 only
checks the printability of the list up to the limit.
A printable charlist in Elixir contains only the printable characters in the standard seven-bit ASCII character encoding, which are characters ranging from 32 to 126 in decimal notation, plus the following control characters:
?\a- Bell?\b- Backspace?\t- Horizontal tab?\n- Line feed?\v- Vertical tab?\f- Form feed?\r- Carriage return?\e- Escape
For more information read the Character groups section in the Wikipedia article of the ASCII standard.
Examples
iex> List.ascii_printable?('abc')
true
iex> List.ascii_printable?('abc' ++ [0])
false
iex> List.ascii_printable?('abc' ++ [0], 2)
true
Improper lists are not printable, even if made only of ASCII characters:
iex> List.ascii_printable?('abc' ++ ?d)
false
delete(list, item) View Source
Deletes the given item from the list. Returns a new list without
the item.
If the item occurs more than once in the list, just
the first occurrence is removed.
Examples
iex> List.delete([:a, :b, :c], :a)
[:b, :c]
iex> List.delete([:a, :b, :b, :c], :b)
[:a, :b, :c]
delete_at(list, index) View Source
Produces a new list by removing the value at the specified index.
Negative indices indicate an offset from the end of the list.
If index is out of bounds, the original list is returned.
Examples
iex> List.delete_at([1, 2, 3], 0)
[2, 3]
iex> List.delete_at([1, 2, 3], 10)
[1, 2, 3]
iex> List.delete_at([1, 2, 3], -1)
[1, 2]
duplicate(elem, n)
View Source
duplicate(elem, non_neg_integer()) :: [elem] when elem: var
duplicate(elem, non_neg_integer()) :: [elem] when elem: var
Duplicates the given element n times in a list.
Examples
iex> List.duplicate("hello", 3)
["hello", "hello", "hello"]
iex> List.duplicate([1, 2], 2)
[[1, 2], [1, 2]]
first(list)
View Source
first([elem]) :: nil | elem when elem: var
first([elem]) :: nil | elem when elem: var
Returns the first element in list or nil if list is empty.
Examples
iex> List.first([])
nil
iex> List.first([1])
1
iex> List.first([1, 2, 3])
1
flatten(list) View Source
Flattens the given list of nested lists.
Examples
iex> List.flatten([1, [[2], 3]])
[1, 2, 3]
flatten(list, tail)
View Source
flatten(deep_list, [elem]) :: [elem]
when deep_list: [elem | deep_list], elem: var
flatten(deep_list, [elem]) :: [elem] when deep_list: [elem | deep_list], elem: var
Flattens the given list of nested lists.
The list tail will be added at the end of
the flattened list.
Examples
iex> List.flatten([1, [[2], 3]], [4, 5])
[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
foldl(list, acc, fun)
View Source
foldl([elem], acc, (elem, acc -> acc)) :: acc when elem: var, acc: var
foldl([elem], acc, (elem, acc -> acc)) :: acc when elem: var, acc: var
Folds (reduces) the given list from the left with a function. Requires an accumulator.
Examples
iex> List.foldl([5, 5], 10, fn x, acc -> x + acc end)
20
iex> List.foldl([1, 2, 3, 4], 0, fn x, acc -> x - acc end)
2
foldr(list, acc, fun)
View Source
foldr([elem], acc, (elem, acc -> acc)) :: acc when elem: var, acc: var
foldr([elem], acc, (elem, acc -> acc)) :: acc when elem: var, acc: var
Folds (reduces) the given list from the right with a function. Requires an accumulator.
Examples
iex> List.foldr([1, 2, 3, 4], 0, fn x, acc -> x - acc end)
-2
improper?(list)
View Source
(since 1.8.0)
improper?(maybe_improper_list()) :: boolean()
improper?(maybe_improper_list()) :: boolean()
Returns true if list is an improper list. Otherwise returns false.
Examples
iex> List.improper?([1, 2 | 3]) true
iex> List.improper?([1, 2, 3]) false
insert_at(list, index, value) View Source
Returns a list with value inserted at the specified index.
Note that index is capped at the list length. Negative indices
indicate an offset from the end of the list.
Examples
iex> List.insert_at([1, 2, 3, 4], 2, 0)
[1, 2, 0, 3, 4]
iex> List.insert_at([1, 2, 3], 10, 0)
[1, 2, 3, 0]
iex> List.insert_at([1, 2, 3], -1, 0)
[1, 2, 3, 0]
iex> List.insert_at([1, 2, 3], -10, 0)
[0, 1, 2, 3]
keydelete(list, key, position)
View Source
keydelete([tuple()], any(), non_neg_integer()) :: [tuple()]
keydelete([tuple()], any(), non_neg_integer()) :: [tuple()]
Receives a list of tuples and deletes the first tuple
where the item at position matches the
given key. Returns the new list.
Examples
iex> List.keydelete([a: 1, b: 2], :a, 0)
[b: 2]
iex> List.keydelete([a: 1, b: 2], 2, 1)
[a: 1]
iex> List.keydelete([a: 1, b: 2], :c, 0)
[a: 1, b: 2]
keyfind(list, key, position, default \\ nil)
View Source
keyfind([tuple()], any(), non_neg_integer(), any()) :: any()
keyfind([tuple()], any(), non_neg_integer(), any()) :: any()
Receives a list of tuples and returns the first tuple
where the item at position in the tuple matches the
given key.
Examples
iex> List.keyfind([a: 1, b: 2], :a, 0)
{:a, 1}
iex> List.keyfind([a: 1, b: 2], 2, 1)
{:b, 2}
iex> List.keyfind([a: 1, b: 2], :c, 0)
nil
keymember?(list, key, position)
View Source
keymember?([tuple()], any(), non_neg_integer()) :: boolean()
keymember?([tuple()], any(), non_neg_integer()) :: boolean()
Receives a list of tuples and returns true if there is
a tuple where the item at position in the tuple matches
the given key.
Examples
iex> List.keymember?([a: 1, b: 2], :a, 0)
true
iex> List.keymember?([a: 1, b: 2], 2, 1)
true
iex> List.keymember?([a: 1, b: 2], :c, 0)
false
keyreplace(list, key, position, new_tuple)
View Source
keyreplace([tuple()], any(), non_neg_integer(), tuple()) :: [tuple()]
keyreplace([tuple()], any(), non_neg_integer(), tuple()) :: [tuple()]
Receives a list of tuples and if the identified item by key at position
exists, it is replaced with new_tuple.
Examples
iex> List.keyreplace([a: 1, b: 2], :a, 0, {:a, 3})
[a: 3, b: 2]
iex> List.keyreplace([a: 1, b: 2], :a, 1, {:a, 3})
[a: 1, b: 2]
keysort(list, position)
View Source
keysort([tuple()], non_neg_integer()) :: [tuple()]
keysort([tuple()], non_neg_integer()) :: [tuple()]
Receives a list of tuples and sorts the items
at position of the tuples. The sort is stable.
Examples
iex> List.keysort([a: 5, b: 1, c: 3], 1)
[b: 1, c: 3, a: 5]
iex> List.keysort([a: 5, c: 1, b: 3], 0)
[a: 5, b: 3, c: 1]
keystore(list, key, position, new_tuple)
View Source
keystore([tuple()], any(), non_neg_integer(), tuple()) :: [tuple(), ...]
keystore([tuple()], any(), non_neg_integer(), tuple()) :: [tuple(), ...]
Receives a list of tuples and replaces the item
identified by key at position with new_tuple.
If the item does not exist, it is added to the end of the list.
Examples
iex> List.keystore([a: 1, b: 2], :a, 0, {:a, 3})
[a: 3, b: 2]
iex> List.keystore([a: 1, b: 2], :c, 0, {:c, 3})
[a: 1, b: 2, c: 3]
keytake(list, key, position)
View Source
keytake([tuple()], any(), non_neg_integer()) :: {tuple(), [tuple()]} | nil
keytake([tuple()], any(), non_neg_integer()) :: {tuple(), [tuple()]} | nil
Receives a list of tuples and returns the first tuple
where the element at position in the tuple matches the
given key, as well as the list without found tuple.
If such a tuple is not found, nil will be returned.
Examples
iex> List.keytake([a: 1, b: 2], :a, 0)
{{:a, 1}, [b: 2]}
iex> List.keytake([a: 1, b: 2], 2, 1)
{{:b, 2}, [a: 1]}
iex> List.keytake([a: 1, b: 2], :c, 0)
nil
last(list)
View Source
last([elem]) :: nil | elem when elem: var
last([elem]) :: nil | elem when elem: var
Returns the last element in list or nil if list is empty.
Examples
iex> List.last([])
nil
iex> List.last([1])
1
iex> List.last([1, 2, 3])
3
myers_difference(list1, list2) View Source (since 1.4.0)
Returns a keyword list that represents an edit script.
The algorithm is outlined in the "An O(ND) Difference Algorithm and Its Variations" paper by E. Myers.
An edit script is a keyword list. Each key describes the "editing action" to
take in order to bring list1 closer to being equal to list2; a key can be
:eq, :ins, or :del. Each value is a sublist of either list1 or list2
that should be inserted (if the corresponding key :ins), deleted (if the
corresponding key is :del), or left alone (if the corresponding key is
:eq) in list1 in order to be closer to list2.
See myers_difference/3 if you want to handle nesting in the diff scripts.
Examples
iex> List.myers_difference([1, 4, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3, 4])
[eq: [1], del: [4], eq: [2, 3], ins: [4]]
myers_difference(list1, list2, diff_script) View Source (since 1.8.0)
Returns a keyword list that represents an edit script with nested diffs.
This is an extension of myers_difference/2 where a diff_script function
can be given in case it is desired to compute nested differences. The function
may return a list with the inner edit script or nil in case there is no
such script. The returned inner edit script will be under the :diff key.
Examples
iex> List.myers_difference(["a", "db", "c"], ["a", "bc"], &String.myers_difference/2)
[eq: ["a"], diff: [del: "d", eq: "b", ins: "c"], del: ["c"]]
pop_at(list, index, default \\ nil) View Source (since 1.4.0)
Returns and removes the value at the specified index in the list.
Negative indices indicate an offset from the end of the list.
If index is out of bounds, the original list is returned.
Examples
iex> List.pop_at([1, 2, 3], 0)
{1, [2, 3]}
iex> List.pop_at([1, 2, 3], 5)
{nil, [1, 2, 3]}
iex> List.pop_at([1, 2, 3], 5, 10)
{10, [1, 2, 3]}
iex> List.pop_at([1, 2, 3], -1)
{3, [1, 2]}
replace_at(list, index, value) View Source
Returns a list with a replaced value at the specified index.
Negative indices indicate an offset from the end of the list.
If index is out of bounds, the original list is returned.
Examples
iex> List.replace_at([1, 2, 3], 0, 0)
[0, 2, 3]
iex> List.replace_at([1, 2, 3], 10, 0)
[1, 2, 3]
iex> List.replace_at([1, 2, 3], -1, 0)
[1, 2, 0]
iex> List.replace_at([1, 2, 3], -10, 0)
[1, 2, 3]
starts_with?(list, prefix) View Source (since 1.5.0)
Returns true if list starts with the given prefix list; otherwise returns false.
If prefix is an empty list, it returns true.
Examples
iex> List.starts_with?([1, 2, 3], [1, 2])
true
iex> List.starts_with?([1, 2], [1, 2, 3])
false
iex> List.starts_with?([:alpha], [])
true
iex> List.starts_with?([], [:alpha])
false
to_atom(charlist) View Source
Converts a charlist to an atom.
Elixir supports conversions from charlists which contains any Unicode codepoint.
Inlined by the compiler.
Examples
iex> List.to_atom('Elixir')
:Elixir
iex> List.to_atom('🌢 Elixir')
:"🌢 Elixir"
to_charlist(list)
View Source
(since 1.8.0)
to_charlist(:unicode.charlist()) :: charlist()
to_charlist(:unicode.charlist()) :: charlist()
Converts a list of integers representing codepoints, lists or strings into a charlist.
Notice that this function expects a list of integers representing
UTF-8 codepoints. If you have a list of bytes, you must instead use
the :binary module.
Examples
iex> List.to_charlist([0x00E6, 0x00DF])
'æß'
iex> List.to_charlist([0x0061, "bc"])
'abc'
iex> List.to_charlist([0x0064, "ee", ['p']])
'deep'
to_existing_atom(charlist) View Source
Converts a charlist to an existing atom. Raises an ArgumentError
if the atom does not exist.
Elixir supports conversions from charlists which contains any Unicode codepoint.
Inlined by the compiler.
Examples
iex> _ = :my_atom
iex> List.to_existing_atom('my_atom')
:my_atom
iex> _ = :"🌢 Elixir"
iex> List.to_existing_atom('🌢 Elixir')
:"🌢 Elixir"
iex> List.to_existing_atom('this_atom_will_never_exist')
** (ArgumentError) argument error
to_float(charlist) View Source
Returns the float whose text representation is charlist.
Inlined by the compiler.
Examples
iex> List.to_float('2.2017764e+0')
2.2017764
to_integer(charlist) View Source
Returns an integer whose text representation is charlist.
Inlined by the compiler.
Examples
iex> List.to_integer('123')
123
to_integer(charlist, base) View Source
Returns an integer whose text representation is charlist in base base.
Inlined by the compiler.
Examples
iex> List.to_integer('3FF', 16)
1023
to_string(list)
View Source
to_string(:unicode.charlist()) :: String.t()
to_string(:unicode.charlist()) :: String.t()
Converts a list of integers representing codepoints, lists or strings into a string.
Notice that this function expects a list of integers representing
UTF-8 codepoints. If you have a list of bytes, you must instead use
the :binary module.
Examples
iex> List.to_string([0x00E6, 0x00DF])
"æß"
iex> List.to_string([0x0061, "bc"])
"abc"
iex> List.to_string([0x0064, "ee", ['p']])
"deep"
to_tuple(list) View Source
Converts a list to a tuple.
Inlined by the compiler.
Examples
iex> List.to_tuple([:share, [:elixir, 163]])
{:share, [:elixir, 163]}
update_at(list, index, fun) View Source
Returns a list with an updated value at the specified index.
Negative indices indicate an offset from the end of the list.
If index is out of bounds, the original list is returned.
Examples
iex> List.update_at([1, 2, 3], 0, &(&1 + 10))
[11, 2, 3]
iex> List.update_at([1, 2, 3], 10, &(&1 + 10))
[1, 2, 3]
iex> List.update_at([1, 2, 3], -1, &(&1 + 10))
[1, 2, 13]
iex> List.update_at([1, 2, 3], -10, &(&1 + 10))
[1, 2, 3]
wrap(term)
View Source
wrap(nil) :: []
wrap(list) :: list when list: maybe_improper_list()
wrap(term) :: [term, ...] when term: any()
wrap(nil) :: []
wrap(list) :: list when list: maybe_improper_list()
wrap(term) :: [term, ...] when term: any()
Wraps term in a list if this is not list.
If term is already a list, it returns the list.
If term is nil, it returns an empty list.
Examples
iex> List.wrap("hello")
["hello"]
iex> List.wrap([1, 2, 3])
[1, 2, 3]
iex> List.wrap(nil)
[]
zip(list_of_lists) View Source
Zips corresponding elements from each list in list_of_lists.
The zipping finishes as soon as any list terminates.
Examples
iex> List.zip([[1, 2], [3, 4], [5, 6]])
[{1, 3, 5}, {2, 4, 6}]
iex> List.zip([[1, 2], [3], [5, 6]])
[{1, 3, 5}]