_{Official ZPE/YASS documentation}List data type

Standard lists

The list data type is one of the most powerful data types in ZPE. The list works similar to an array in other languages but unlike a standard array can be either fixed length or countably infinite.

Defining a list is easy:

$empty_list = []
$some_list = [1, 2, 3, 4]

//Using TYPO (version 1.9.7+)
declare myList as list = []

  

There are many operations that can be performed on the list but perhaps the most common is simply obtaining an element from the list:

$some_list = [1, 2, 3, 4]
//This will obtain the third element from the list
$some_element = $some_list[2]
  

Defining a fixed-length array is also very easy by just defining in the brackets the default value of the array and then telling the compiler how many elements are needed:

$some_list = [0] * 5
  

Reference functions

The list data type provides several reference functions that allow for ease of use:

to_string () ⇒ string

Converts (casts) the list to a string

put (mixed value) ⇒ list

Puts an element at the end of the list.

push (mixed value) ⇒ list

Adds an element to the start of the list.

getc (number index) ⇒ mixed

Gets an element using a circular index, meaning that it will always be index safe.

sublist (number from, number to) ⇒ list

Gets a sublist of the list.

remove (number index) ⇒ list

Removes an element from a list at a specified index.

length () ⇒ number

Returns the length or size of the list.

Maps

The map or associative array data type is a very powerful one that features a key to value pair mapping.

This mapping allows quick access to a value based on its key. The key can be any data type ranging from a string, to a number or an object.

Associative arrays are used in many functions across ZPE/YASS as return values since they offer a fast way of accessing data.

There are several functions that work specifically on associative arrays in ZPE as well as the associative array itself having many built-in reference functions.

Producing an associative array is done with nearly identical syntax to that of the standard list by just using the square brackets syntax [] from version 1.5. Prior to that associative arrays were created using the { } syntax (now reserved for objects). The empty associative array is represented by [>].

$a = ["Jamie" => "Balfour", "Michael" => ["Balfour", "October"]]
//The empty map
$b = [=>]

//Using TYPO (version 1.9.7+)
declare myMap as list = [=>]
    

Much like the list data type, the map data type can have mixed types for the values, even with strong typing enabled.

Reference functions

The map data type provides several reference functions that allow for ease of use:

to_string () ⇒ string

Converts (casts) the map to a string

get (mixed key) ⇒ mixed

Gets an item from the map based on its key.

put (mixed key, mixed value) ⇒ map

Adds an item to the map.

remove (mixed key) ⇒ map

Removes an item based on its key.