1.16.4.4 Range generators

Generator Syntax: :range vars stop

Generator Syntax: :range vars start stop

Generator Syntax: :range vars start stop step

Runs through a range of exact rational numbers.

(:range vars stop)

Evaluate the expression stop, which must result in an exact integer N, and runs through the finite sequence 0, 1, 2, …, N-1. If N is zero or negative the sequence is empty.

(:range vars start stop)

Evaluate the expressions start and stop, which must result in exact integers A and B, and runs through the finite sequence A, A+1, A+2, …, B-1. If B is less or equal A then the sequence is empty.

(:range vars start stop step)

First evaluates the expressions start, stop and step, which must result in exact integers A, B and S such that S is non–zero. Then the sequence A, A+S, A+2*S, …, A+(N-1)*S is enumerated where: N = ceil((B-A)/S).

In other words, the sequence starts at A, increments by S, and stops when the next value would reach or cross B. If N is zero or negative the sequence is empty.

Generator Syntax: :real-range vars stop

Generator Syntax: :real-range vars start stop

Generator Syntax: :real-range vars start stop step

Runs through a range of real numbers using an explicit index variable. This form of range enumeration avoids accumulation of rounding errors and is the one to use if any of the numbers defining the range is inexact, not an integer, or a bignum of large magnitude.

Providing default values 0 for start and 1 for step, the generator first evaluates start, stop and step, which must result in reals A, B and S such that N = (B-A)/S is also representable as a real. Then the sequence 0, 1, 2, …, N-1 is enumerated while the current value I is less than N, and the variable in vars is bound to the value A+I*S. If any of the values A, B or S is non–exact then all values in the sequence are non–exact.

Generator Syntax: :char-range vars min max

Run through a range of characters. First min and max are evaluated, which must result in two characters A and B. Then the sequence of characters A, A+1, A+2, …, B is enumerated in the order defined by char<=?. If B is smaller than A then the sequence is empty. Note that B is included in the sequence.