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Diffstat (limited to 'doc/manual/src/language/constructs.md')
-rw-r--r-- | doc/manual/src/language/constructs.md | 47 |
1 files changed, 32 insertions, 15 deletions
diff --git a/doc/manual/src/language/constructs.md b/doc/manual/src/language/constructs.md index 1c01f2cc7..c53eb8889 100644 --- a/doc/manual/src/language/constructs.md +++ b/doc/manual/src/language/constructs.md @@ -2,8 +2,11 @@ ## Recursive sets -Recursive sets are just normal sets, but the attributes can refer to -each other. For example, +Recursive sets are like normal [attribute sets](./values.md#attribute-set), but the attributes can refer to each other. + +> *rec-attrset* = `rec {` [ *name* `=` *expr* `;` `]`... `}` + +Example: ```nix rec { @@ -12,7 +15,9 @@ rec { }.x ``` -evaluates to `123`. Note that without `rec` the binding `x = y;` would +This evaluates to `123`. + +Note that without `rec` the binding `x = y;` would refer to the variable `y` in the surrounding scope, if one exists, and would be invalid if no such variable exists. That is, in a normal (non-recursive) set, attributes are not added to the lexical scope; in a @@ -33,7 +38,10 @@ will crash with an `infinite recursion encountered` error message. ## Let-expressions A let-expression allows you to define local variables for an expression. -For instance, + +> *let-in* = `let` [ *identifier* = *expr* ]... `in` *expr* + +Example: ```nix let @@ -42,18 +50,19 @@ let in x + y ``` -evaluates to `"foobar"`. +This evaluates to `"foobar"`. ## Inheriting attributes -When defining a set or in a let-expression it is often convenient to -copy variables from the surrounding lexical scope (e.g., when you want -to propagate attributes). This can be shortened using the `inherit` -keyword. For instance, +When defining an [attribute set](./values.md#attribute-set) or in a [let-expression](#let-expressions) it is often convenient to copy variables from the surrounding lexical scope (e.g., when you want to propagate attributes). +This can be shortened using the `inherit` keyword. + +Example: ```nix let x = 123; in -{ inherit x; +{ + inherit x; y = 456; } ``` @@ -62,15 +71,23 @@ is equivalent to ```nix let x = 123; in -{ x = x; +{ + x = x; y = 456; } ``` -and both evaluate to `{ x = 123; y = 456; }`. (Note that this works -because `x` is added to the lexical scope by the `let` construct.) It is -also possible to inherit attributes from another set. For instance, in -this fragment from `all-packages.nix`, +and both evaluate to `{ x = 123; y = 456; }`. + +> **Note** +> +> This works because `x` is added to the lexical scope by the `let` construct. + +It is also possible to inherit attributes from another attribute set. + +Example: + +In this fragment from `all-packages.nix`, ```nix graphviz = (import ../tools/graphics/graphviz) { |