The revised syntax¶

The revised syntax

The revised syntax is an alternative syntax of OCaml. It is close to the normal syntax. We present here only the differences between the two syntaxes.

Notice that there is a simple way to know how the normal syntax is written in revised syntax: write the code in a file “foo.ml” in normal syntax and type, in a shell:

camlp5o pr_r.cmo pr_rp.cmo foo.ml

And, conversely, how a file “bar.ml” written in revised syntax is displayed in normal syntax:

camlp5r pr_o.cmo pr_op.cmo bar.ml

Even simpler, without creating a file:

camlp5o pr_r.cmo pr_op.cmo -impl -
... type in normal syntax ...
... type control-D ...
camlp5r pr_o.cmo pr_rp.cmo -impl -
... type in revised syntax ...
... type control-D ...

Lexing

The character quote (') can be written without backslash: ======== ======= OCaml Revised ======== ======= '\'' ''' ======== =======

Modules, Structure and Signature items

Structure and signature items always end with a single semicolon which is required.
In structures, the declaration of a value is introduced by the keyword “value”, instead of “let”: ========================= ======================== OCaml Revised ========================= ======================== let x = 42;; value x = 42; let x = 42 in x + 7;; let x = 42 in x + 7; ========================= ========================
In signatures, the declaration of a value is also introduced by the keyword “value”, instead of “val”: ================= ================== OCaml Revised ================= ================== val x : int;; value x : int; ================= ==================
In signatures, abstract module types are represented by a quote and an (any) identifier: ==================== ======================== OCaml Revised ==================== ======================== module type MT;; module type MT = 'a; ==================== ========================
Functor application uses currying. Parentheses are not required for the parameters: =================================== ============================== OCaml Revised =================================== ============================== type t = Set.Make(M).t;; type t = (Set.Make M).t; module M = Mod.Make (M1) (M2);; module M = Mod.Make M1 M2; =================================== ==============================
It is possible to group several declarations together either in an interface or in an implementation by enclosing them between “declare” and “end” (this is useful when using syntax extensions to generate several declarations from one). Example in an interface:
```
declare
  type foo = [ Foo of int | Bar ];
  value f : foo -> int;
end;
```

Expressions and Patterns

Imperative constructions

The sequence is introduced by the keyword “do” followed by “{” and terminated by “}”; it is possible to put a semicolon after the last expression: ================== ========================= OCaml Revised ================== ========================= e1; e2; e3; e4 do { e1; e2; e3; e4 } ================== =========================
The “do” after the “while” loop and the “for” loop are followed by a “{” and the loop end with “}”; it is possible to put a semicolon after the last expression: ========================= ========================= OCaml Revised ========================= ========================= while e1 do while e1 do { `` e1; e2; e3`` `` e1; e2; e3`` done } ```` ```` for i = e1 to e2 do `` ``for i = e1 to e2 do { `` e1; e2; e3`` `` e1; e2; e3`` done } ========================= =========================

Tuples and Lists

Parentheses are required in tuples: ===================== ======================= OCaml Revised ===================== ======================= 1, "hello", World (1, "hello", World) ===================== =======================
Lists are always enclosed with brackets. A list is a left bracket, followed by a list of elements separated with semicolons, optionally followed by colon-colon and an element, and ended by a right bracket. Warning: the colon-colon is not an infix but is just part of the syntactic construction. ==================== ================== OCaml Revised ==================== ================== x :: y [x :: y] [x; y; z] [x; y; z] x :: y :: z :: t [x; y; z :: t] ==================== ==================

Records

In record update, parentheses are required around the initial expression: ====================== ======================== OCaml Revised ====================== ======================== {e with field = a} {(e) with field = a} ====================== ========================
It is allowable to use function binding syntax in record field definitions: ======================== ================= OCaml Revised ======================== ================= {field = fun a -> e} {field a = e} ======================== =================

Irrefutable patterns

An irrefutable pattern is a pattern which is syntactically visible and never fails. They are used in some syntactic constructions. It is either:

A variable,
The wildcard “_”,
The constructor “()”,
A tuple with irrefutable patterns,
A record with irrefutable patterns,
A type constraint with an irrefutable pattern.

Notice that this definition is only syntactic: a constructor belonging to a type having only one constructor is not considered as an irrefutable pattern (except “()”).

Constructions with matching

The keyword “function” no longer exists. Only “fun” is used.
The pattern matching, in constructions with “fun”, “match” and “try” is closed with brackets: an open bracket “[” before the first case, and a close bracket “]” after the last case: ================ ================ OCaml Revised ================ ================ match e with match e with `` p1 -> e1`` [ p1 -> e1 | p2 -> e2 | p2 -> e2 ] ================ ================

If there is only one case and if the pattern is irrefutable, the brackets are not required. These examples work identically in OCaml and in revised syntax: ========================= ========================= OCaml Revised ========================= ========================= fun x -> x fun x -> x fun {foo=(y, _)} -> y fun {foo=(y, _)} -> y ========================= =========================
It is possible to write the empty function which always raises the exception “Match_failure” when a parameter is applied. It is also possible to write and empty “match”, raising “Match_failure” after having evaluated its expression and the empty “try”, equivalent to its expression without try:
```
fun []
match e with []
try e with []
```
The patterns after “let” and “value” must be irrefutable. The following OCaml expression:
```
let f (x::y) = ...
```
must be written:
```
let f = fun [ [x::y] -> ...
```
It is possible to use a construction “where”, equivalent to “let”, but usable only when where is only one binding. The expression:
```
e1 where p = e
```
is equivalent to:
```
let p = e in e1
```

Mutables and Assignment

The statement “<-” is written “:=”: ============ ============ OCaml Revised ============ ============ x.f <- y x.f := y ============ ============
The “ref” type is declared as a record type with one field named “val”, instead of “contents”. The operator “!” does not exist any more, and references are assigned like the other mutables: =============== ====================== OCaml Revised =============== ====================== x := !x + y x.val := x.val + y =============== ======================

Miscellaneous

The “else” is required in the “if” statement: =============== ======================= OCaml Revised =============== ======================= if a then b if a then b else () =============== =======================
The boolean operations “or” and “and” can only be written with “||” and “&&”: =============== =============== OCaml Revised =============== =============== a or b & c a || b && c a || b && c a || b && c =============== ===============
No more “begin end” construction. One must use parentheses.
The operators as values are written with an backslash: ========= ======== OCaml Revised ========= ======== (+) \+ (mod) \mod ========= ========
Nested “as” patterns require parenthesis: ============================== =============================== OCaml Revised ============================== =============================== function Some a as b, c -> fun [ ((Some a as b), c) -> `` …`` `` …`` ============================== ===============================

But they are not required before the right arrow: =========================== ======================== OCaml Revised =========================== ======================== function Some a as b -> fun [ Some a as b -> `` …`` `` …`` =========================== ========================
The operators with special characters are not automatically infix. To define infixes, use syntax extensions.

Types and Constructors

The type constructors are before their type parameters, which are curryfied: ============================== ================================ OCaml Revised ============================== ================================ int list list int ('a, bool) Hashtbl.t Hashtbl.t 'a bool type 'a foo = 'a list list type foo 'a = list (list 'a) ============================== ================================
The abstract types are represented by an unbound type variable: ================= ===================== OCaml Revised ================= ===================== type 'a foo;; type foo 'a = 'b; type bar;; type bar = 'a; ================= =====================
Parentheses are required in tuples of types: ============== ================ OCaml Revised ============== ================ int * bool (int * bool) ============== ================
In declarations of a concrete type, brackets must enclose the constructor declarations: ========================= ============================ OCaml Revised ========================= ============================ type t = A of i | B;; type t = [ A of i | B ]; ========================= ============================
It is possible to make the empty type, without constructor:
```
type foo = [];
```
There is a syntax difference between data constructors with several parameters and data constructors with one parameter of type tuple: The declaration of a data constructor with several parameters is done by separating the types with “and”. In expressions and patterns, these constructor parameters must be curryfied: =========================== ================================ OCaml Revised =========================== ================================ type t = C of t1 * t2;; type t = [ C of t1 and t2 ]; C (x, y);; C x y; =========================== ================================

The declaration of a data constructor with one parameter of type tuple is done by using a tuple type. In expressions and patterns, the parameter must not to be curryfied, since it is alone. In that case the syntax of constructor parameters is the same between the two syntaxes: ============================= ================================ OCaml Revised ============================= ================================ type t = D of (t1 * t2);; type t = [ D of (t1 * t2) ]; D (x, y);; D (x, y); ============================= ================================
The bool constructors start with an uppercase letter. The identifiers “true” and “false” are not keywords: ================= ================= OCaml Revised ================= ================= true && false True && False ================= =================
In record types, the keyword “mutable” must appear after the colon: =============================== ============================== OCaml Revised =============================== ============================== type t = {mutable x : t1};; type t = {x : mutable t1}; =============================== ==============================
Manifest types are with “==”: =========================== ============================ OCaml Revised =========================== ============================ type 'a t = 'a option = type t 'a = option 'a == `` None`` `` [ None`` `` | Some of ‘a`` `` | Some of ‘a ]`` =========================== ============================
Polymorphic types start with “!”: ========================== ============================ OCaml Revised ========================== ============================ type t = type t = `` { f : ‘a . ‘a list }`` `` { f : ! ‘a . list ‘a }`` ========================== ============================

Streams and Parsers

The streams and the stream patterns are bracketed with “[:” and “:]” instead of “[<” and “>]”.
The stream component “terminal” is written with a back-quote instead of a quote: ======================= ============================== OCaml Revised ======================= ============================== [< '1; '2; s; '3 >] [: `1; `2; s; `3 :] ======================= ==============================
The cases of parsers are bracketed with “[” and “]”, as with “fun”, “match” and “try”. If there is one case, the brackets are not required: ========================== ================================ OCaml Revised ========================== ================================ parser parser `` [< ‘Foo >] -> e`` [ [: `Foo :] -> e | [< p = f >] -> f;; | [: p = f :] -> f ]; parser [< 'x >] -> x;; parser [: `x :] -> x; ========================== ================================
It is possible to write the empty parser raising the exception “Stream.Failure” whatever parameter is applied, and the empty stream matching always raising “Stream.Failure”:
```
parser []
match e with parser []
```
In normal syntax, the error indicator starts with a double question mark, in revised syntax with a simple question mark: ================================ ====================================== OCaml Revised ================================ ====================================== parser parser `` [< ‘1; ‘2 ?? “error” >] ->`` :literal:` [: 1; `2 ? “error” :] -> `` …`` `` …`` ================================ ======================================
In normal syntax, the component optimization starts with “?!”, in revised syntax with “!”: ======================== ============================== OCaml Revised ======================== ============================== parser parser `` [< ‘1; ‘2 ?! >] ->`` :literal:` [: 1; `2 ! :] -> `` …`` `` …`` ======================== ==============================

Classes and Objects

Object items end with a single semicolon which is required.
Class type parameters follow the class identifier: ============================== ============================== OCaml Revised ============================== ============================== class ['a, 'b] point = ... class point ['a, 'b] = ... class c = [int] color;; class c = color [int]; ============================== ==============================
In the type of class with parameters, the type of the parameters are between brackets. Example in signature: ============================ ============================= OCaml Revised ============================ ============================= class c : int -> point;; class c : [int] -> point; ============================ =============================
The keywords “virtual” and “private” must be in this order: ============================== ============================== OCaml Revised ============================== ============================== method virtual private m : method virtual private m : `` …`` `` …`` method private virtual m : method virtual private m : `` …`` `` …`` ============================== ==============================
Object variables are introduced with “value” instead of “val”: ======================== =========================== OCaml Revised ======================== =========================== object val x = 3 end object value x = 3; end ======================== ===========================
Type constraints in objects are introduced with “type” instead of “constraint”: ================================== ============================= OCaml Revised ================================== ============================= object constraint 'a = int end object type 'a = int; end ================================== =============================

Labels and Variants

Labels in types must start with “~”: ============================= =============================== OCaml Revised ============================= =============================== val x : num:int -> bool;; value x : ~num:int -> bool; ============================= ===============================