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<div class="titlepage"><div><div><h5 class="title">
<a name="spirit.karma.reference.generator_concepts.nonterminal"></a><a class="link" href="nonterminal.html" title="Nonterminal">Nonterminal</a>
</h5></div></div></div>
<a name="spirit.karma.reference.generator_concepts.nonterminal.description"></a><h6>
<a name="id990749"></a>
<a class="link" href="nonterminal.html#spirit.karma.reference.generator_concepts.nonterminal.description">Description</a>
</h6>
<p>
A Nonterminal is a symbol in a <a class="link" href="../../../abstracts/parsing_expression_grammar.html" title="Parsing Expression Grammar">Parsing
Expression Grammar</a> production that represents a grammar fragment.
Nonterminals may self reference to specify recursion. This is one of
the most important concepts and the reason behind the word "recursive"
in recursive descent generation.
</p>
<a name="spirit.karma.reference.generator_concepts.nonterminal.refinement_of"></a><h6>
<a name="id990771"></a>
<a class="link" href="nonterminal.html#spirit.karma.reference.generator_concepts.nonterminal.refinement_of">Refinement
of</a>
</h6>
<div class="blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><p>
<a class="link" href="generator.html" title="Generator"><code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">Generator</span></code></a>
</p></blockquote></div>
<a name="spirit.karma.reference.generator_concepts.nonterminal.signature"></a><h6>
<a name="id990803"></a>
<a class="link" href="nonterminal.html#spirit.karma.reference.generator_concepts.nonterminal.signature">Signature</a>
</h6>
<p>
Rules can have both consumed and inherited attributes. The rule's <span class="emphasis"><em>Signature</em></span>
specifies both the consumed and inherited attributes. The specification
uses the function declarator syntax:
</p>
<pre class="programlisting"><span class="identifier">RT</span><span class="special">(</span><span class="identifier">A0</span><span class="special">,</span> <span class="identifier">A1</span><span class="special">,</span> <span class="identifier">A2</span><span class="special">,</span> <span class="special">...,</span> <span class="identifier">AN</span><span class="special">)</span>
</pre>
<p>
where <code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">RT</span></code> is the rule's
consumed attribute and <code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">A0</span></code>
... <code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">AN</span></code> are the rule's
inherited attributes.
</p>
<a name="spirit.karma.reference.generator_concepts.nonterminal.attributes"></a><h6>
<a name="id990902"></a>
<a class="link" href="nonterminal.html#spirit.karma.reference.generator_concepts.nonterminal.attributes">Attributes</a>
</h6>
<p>
The rule models a C++ function. The rule's consumed attribute is analogous
to the function return value as it is the type -exposed- by the rule.
Its inherited attributes are analogous to function arguments. The inherited
attributes (arguments) can be passed in just like any <a class="link" href="../karma_basics.html#spirit.karma.reference.karma_basics.lazy_argument">Lazy
Argument</a>, e.g.:
</p>
<pre class="programlisting"><span class="identifier">r</span><span class="special">(</span><span class="identifier">expr</span><span class="special">)</span> <span class="comment">// Evaluate expr at parse time and pass the result to the Nonterminal r
</span></pre>
<a name="spirit.karma.reference.generator_concepts.nonterminal._code__phrase_role__identifier___val__phrase___code_"></a><h6>
<a name="id990946"></a>
<a class="link" href="nonterminal.html#spirit.karma.reference.generator_concepts.nonterminal._code__phrase_role__identifier___val__phrase___code_"><code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">_val</span></code></a>
</h6>
<p>
The <code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">boost</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">spirit</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">karma</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">_val</span></code> placeholder can be used in <a href="../../../../../../phoenix/doc/html/index.html" target="_top">Phoenix</a> semantic actions
anywhere in the Nonterminal's definition. This <a href="../../../../../../phoenix/doc/html/index.html" target="_top">Phoenix</a>
placeholder refers to the Nonterminal's (consumed) attribute. The <code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">_val</span></code> placeholder acts like an immutable
reference to the Nonterminal's attribute.
</p>
<a name="spirit.karma.reference.generator_concepts.nonterminal._code__phrase_role__identifier___r1__phrase___code_____code__phrase_role__identifier__r10__phrase___code_"></a><h6>
<a name="id991013"></a>
<a class="link" href="nonterminal.html#spirit.karma.reference.generator_concepts.nonterminal._code__phrase_role__identifier___r1__phrase___code_____code__phrase_role__identifier__r10__phrase___code_"><code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">_r1</span></code>...<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">r10</span></code></a>
</h6>
<p>
The <code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">boost</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">spirit</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">_r1</span></code>...<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">boost</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">spirit</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">r10</span></code>
placeholders can be used in <a href="../../../../../../phoenix/doc/html/index.html" target="_top">Phoenix</a>
semantic actions anywhere in the Nonterminal's definition. These <a href="../../../../../../phoenix/doc/html/index.html" target="_top">Phoenix</a> placeholders
refer to the Nonterminal's inherited attributes.
</p>
<a name="spirit.karma.reference.generator_concepts.nonterminal.locals"></a><h6>
<a name="id991097"></a>
<a class="link" href="nonterminal.html#spirit.karma.reference.generator_concepts.nonterminal.locals">Locals</a>
</h6>
<p>
Nonterminals can have local variables that will be created on the stack
at runtime. A locals descriptor added to the Nonterminal declaration
will give the Nonterminal local variables:
</p>
<pre class="programlisting"><span class="keyword">template</span> <span class="special">&lt;</span><span class="keyword">typename</span> <span class="identifier">T0</span><span class="special">,</span> <span class="keyword">typename</span> <span class="identifier">T1</span><span class="special">,</span> <span class="keyword">typename</span> <span class="identifier">T2</span><span class="special">,</span> <span class="special">...,</span> <span class="keyword">typename</span> <span class="identifier">TN</span><span class="special">&gt;</span>
<span class="keyword">struct</span> <span class="identifier">locals</span><span class="special">;</span>
</pre>
<p>
where <code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">T0</span></code> ... <code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">TN</span></code> are the types of local variables
accessible in your <a href="../../../../../../phoenix/doc/html/index.html" target="_top">Phoenix</a>
semantic actions using the placeholders:
</p>
<div class="itemizedlist"><ul class="itemizedlist" type="disc">
<li class="listitem">
<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">boost</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">spirit</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">_a</span></code>
</li>
<li class="listitem">
<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">boost</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">spirit</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">_b</span></code>
</li>
<li class="listitem">
<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">boost</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">spirit</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">_c</span></code>
</li>
<li class="listitem">
<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">boost</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">spirit</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">_d</span></code>
</li>
<li class="listitem">
<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">boost</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">spirit</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">_e</span></code>
</li>
<li class="listitem">
<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">boost</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">spirit</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">_f</span></code>
</li>
<li class="listitem">
<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">boost</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">spirit</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">_g</span></code>
</li>
<li class="listitem">
<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">boost</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">spirit</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">_h</span></code>
</li>
<li class="listitem">
<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">boost</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">spirit</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">_i</span></code>
</li>
<li class="listitem">
<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">boost</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">spirit</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">_j</span></code>
</li>
</ul></div>
<p>
which correspond to the Nonterminal's local variables <code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">T0</span></code>
... <code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">T9</span></code>.
</p>
<div class="variablelist">
<p class="title"><b>Notation</b></p>
<dl>
<dt><span class="term"><code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">x</span></code></span></dt>
<dd><p>
A Nonterminal
</p></dd>
<dt><span class="term"><code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">X</span></code></span></dt>
<dd><p>
A Nonterminal type
</p></dd>
<dt><span class="term"><code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">arg1</span></code>, <code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">arg2</span></code>, ..., <code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">argN</span></code></span></dt>
<dd><p>
<a class="link" href="../karma_basics.html#spirit.karma.reference.karma_basics.lazy_argument">Lazy
Arguments</a> that evaluate to each of the Nonterminal's inherited
attributes.
</p></dd>
</dl>
</div>
<a name="spirit.karma.reference.generator_concepts.nonterminal.valid_expressions"></a><h6>
<a name="id991616"></a>
<a class="link" href="nonterminal.html#spirit.karma.reference.generator_concepts.nonterminal.valid_expressions">Valid
Expressions</a>
</h6>
<p>
In addition to the requirements defined in <a class="link" href="generator.html" title="Generator"><code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">Generator</span></code></a>, for any Nonterminal
the following must be met:
</p>
<div class="informaltable"><table class="table">
<colgroup>
<col>
<col>
<col>
</colgroup>
<thead><tr>
<th>
<p>
Expression
</p>
</th>
<th>
<p>
Semantics
</p>
</th>
<th>
<p>
Return type
</p>
</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<p>
<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">x</span></code>
</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>
In a generator expression, invoke Nonterminal <code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">x</span></code>
</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>
<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">X</span></code>
</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>
<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">x</span><span class="special">(</span><span class="identifier">arg1</span><span class="special">,</span>
<span class="identifier">arg2</span><span class="special">,</span>
<span class="special">...,</span> <span class="identifier">argN</span><span class="special">)</span></code>
</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>
In a generator expression, invoke Nonterminal <code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">x</span></code> passing in inherited attributes
<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">arg1</span></code>...<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">argN</span></code>
</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>
<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">X</span></code>
</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>
<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">x</span><span class="special">.</span><span class="identifier">name</span><span class="special">(</span><span class="identifier">name</span><span class="special">)</span></code>
</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>
Set the name of a Nonterminal
</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>
<code class="computeroutput"><span class="keyword">void</span></code>
</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>
<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">x</span><span class="special">.</span><span class="identifier">name</span><span class="special">()</span></code>
</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>
Get the name of a Nonterminal
</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>
<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">std</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">string</span></code>
</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div>
<a name="spirit.karma.reference.generator_concepts.nonterminal.type_expressions"></a><h6>
<a name="id992015"></a>
<a class="link" href="nonterminal.html#spirit.karma.reference.generator_concepts.nonterminal.type_expressions">Type
Expressions</a>
</h6>
<div class="informaltable"><table class="table">
<colgroup>
<col>
<col>
</colgroup>
<thead><tr>
<th>
<p>
Expression
</p>
</th>
<th>
<p>
Description
</p>
</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<p>
<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">X</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">sig_type</span></code>
</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>
The Signature of <code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">X</span></code>:
An <a href="../../../../../../../../libs/mpl/doc/refmanual/forward-sequence.html" target="_top">MPL
Forward Sequence</a>. The first element is the Nonterminal's
consumed attribute type and the rest are the inherited attribute
types.
</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>
<code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">X</span><span class="special">::</span><span class="identifier">locals_type</span></code>
</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>
The local variables of <code class="computeroutput"><span class="identifier">X</span></code>:
An <a href="../../../../../../../../libs/mpl/doc/refmanual/forward-sequence.html" target="_top">MPL
Forward Sequence</a>.
</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div>
<a name="spirit.karma.reference.generator_concepts.nonterminal.models"></a><h6>
<a name="id992157"></a>
<a class="link" href="nonterminal.html#spirit.karma.reference.generator_concepts.nonterminal.models">Models</a>
</h6>
<div class="itemizedlist"><ul class="itemizedlist" type="disc">
<li class="listitem">
<a class="link" href="../nonterminal/rule.html" title="Rule">rule</a>
</li>
<li class="listitem">
<a class="link" href="../nonterminal/grammar.html" title="Grammar">grammar</a>
</li>
</ul></div>
</div>
<table xmlns:rev="http://www.cs.rpi.edu/~gregod/boost/tools/doc/revision" width="100%"><tr>
<td align="left"></td>
<td align="right"><div class="copyright-footer">Copyright &#169; 2001-2010 Joel de Guzman, Hartmut Kaiser<p>
Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See accompanying
file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at <a href="http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt" target="_top">http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt</a>)
</p>
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