bump version to 0.93
[gitmo/Class-MOP.git] / lib / Class / MOP / Attribute.pm
CommitLineData
8b978dd5 1
2package Class::MOP::Attribute;
3
4use strict;
5use warnings;
6
ba38bf08 7use Class::MOP::Method::Accessor;
8
2eb717d5 9use Carp 'confess';
9b522fc4 10use Scalar::Util 'blessed', 'weaken';
2eb717d5 11
436d2a84 12our $VERSION = '0.93';
d519662a 13$VERSION = eval $VERSION;
f0480c45 14our $AUTHORITY = 'cpan:STEVAN';
8b978dd5 15
b1897d4d 16use base 'Class::MOP::Object';
17
727919c5 18# NOTE: (meta-circularity)
1d68af04 19# This method will be replaced in the
20# boostrap section of Class::MOP, by
21# a new version which uses the
727919c5 22# &Class::MOP::Class::construct_instance
23# method to build an attribute meta-object
24# which itself is described with attribute
1d68af04 25# meta-objects.
727919c5 26# - Ain't meta-circularity grand? :)
8b978dd5 27sub new {
649efb63 28 my ( $class, @args ) = @_;
29
30 unshift @args, "name" if @args % 2 == 1;
31 my %options = @args;
32
33 my $name = $options{name};
1d68af04 34
d9330488 35 (defined $name)
8b978dd5 36 || confess "You must provide a name for the attribute";
1d68af04 37
38 $options{init_arg} = $name
5659d76e 39 if not exists $options{init_arg};
1d68af04 40 if(exists $options{builder}){
41 confess("builder must be a defined scalar value which is a method name")
42 if ref $options{builder} || !(defined $options{builder});
43 confess("Setting both default and builder is not allowed.")
44 if exists $options{default};
8fe581e5 45 } else {
46 (is_default_a_coderef(\%options))
47 || confess("References are not allowed as default values, you must ".
3c0a8087 48 "wrap the default of '$name' in a CODE reference (ex: sub { [] } and not [])")
8fe581e5 49 if exists $options{default} && ref $options{default};
1d68af04 50 }
2e877f58 51 if( $options{required} and not( defined($options{builder}) || defined($options{init_arg}) || exists $options{default} ) ) {
52 confess("A required attribute must have either 'init_arg', 'builder', or 'default'");
53 }
8683db0e 54
cb75020f 55 $class->_new(\%options);
4b698b1a 56}
57
58sub _new {
0bfc85b8 59 my $class = shift;
ec9e38e5 60
61 return Class::MOP::Class->initialize($class)->new_object(@_)
812d58f9 62 if $class ne __PACKAGE__;
ec9e38e5 63
0bfc85b8 64 my $options = @_ == 1 ? $_[0] : {@_};
4b698b1a 65
8b978dd5 66 bless {
d9d99689 67 'name' => $options->{name},
68 'accessor' => $options->{accessor},
69 'reader' => $options->{reader},
70 'writer' => $options->{writer},
71 'predicate' => $options->{predicate},
72 'clearer' => $options->{clearer},
73 'builder' => $options->{builder},
74 'init_arg' => $options->{init_arg},
75 'default' => $options->{default},
76 'initializer' => $options->{initializer},
77 'definition_context' => $options->{definition_context},
1d68af04 78 # keep a weakened link to the
9ec169fe 79 # class we are associated with
8683db0e 80 'associated_class' => undef,
1d68af04 81 # and a list of the methods
3545c727 82 # associated with this attr
8683db0e 83 'associated_methods' => [],
dc9d420c 84 # this let's us keep track of
85 # our order inside the associated
86 # class
87 'insertion_order' => undef,
0bfc85b8 88 }, $class;
8b978dd5 89}
90
7b31baf4 91# NOTE:
1d68af04 92# this is a primative (and kludgy) clone operation
16e960bd 93# for now, it will be replaced in the Class::MOP
1d68af04 94# bootstrap with a proper one, however we know
5659d76e 95# that this one will work fine for now.
96sub clone {
97 my $self = shift;
98 my %options = @_;
99 (blessed($self))
100 || confess "Can only clone an instance";
b3fa93c7 101 return bless { %{$self}, %options } => ref($self);
5659d76e 102}
103
bd4e03f9 104sub initialize_instance_slot {
f892c0f0 105 my ($self, $meta_instance, $instance, $params) = @_;
8683db0e 106 my $init_arg = $self->{'init_arg'};
107
bd4e03f9 108 # try to fetch the init arg from the %params ...
8d2d4c67 109
1d68af04 110 # if nothing was in the %params, we can use the
bd4e03f9 111 # attribute's default value (if it has one)
2e877f58 112 if(defined $init_arg and exists $params->{$init_arg}){
8ee74136 113 $self->_set_initial_slot_value(
114 $meta_instance,
0ab65f99 115 $instance,
0ab65f99 116 $params->{$init_arg},
0ab65f99 117 );
b7bdffc3 118 }
8683db0e 119 elsif (defined $self->{'default'}) {
8ee74136 120 $self->_set_initial_slot_value(
121 $meta_instance,
0ab65f99 122 $instance,
0ab65f99 123 $self->default($instance),
0ab65f99 124 );
b7bdffc3 125 }
8683db0e 126 elsif (defined( my $builder = $self->{'builder'})) {
b7bdffc3 127 if ($builder = $instance->can($builder)) {
8ee74136 128 $self->_set_initial_slot_value(
129 $meta_instance,
0ab65f99 130 $instance,
0ab65f99 131 $instance->$builder,
0ab65f99 132 );
b7bdffc3 133 }
134 else {
b3fa93c7 135 confess(ref($instance)." does not support builder method '". $self->{'builder'} ."' for attribute '" . $self->name . "'");
8fe581e5 136 }
1d68af04 137 }
bd4e03f9 138}
139
8ee74136 140sub _set_initial_slot_value {
141 my ($self, $meta_instance, $instance, $value) = @_;
142
143 my $slot_name = $self->name;
144
145 return $meta_instance->set_slot_value($instance, $slot_name, $value)
146 unless $self->has_initializer;
147
148 my $callback = sub {
149 $meta_instance->set_slot_value($instance, $slot_name, $_[0]);
150 };
151
152 my $initializer = $self->initializer;
153
154 # most things will just want to set a value, so make it first arg
155 $instance->$initializer($value, $callback, $self);
156}
157
5659d76e 158# NOTE:
1d68af04 159# the next bunch of methods will get bootstrapped
7b31baf4 160# away in the Class::MOP bootstrapping section
161
8683db0e 162sub associated_class { $_[0]->{'associated_class'} }
163sub associated_methods { $_[0]->{'associated_methods'} }
164
b3fa93c7 165sub has_accessor { defined($_[0]->{'accessor'}) }
166sub has_reader { defined($_[0]->{'reader'}) }
167sub has_writer { defined($_[0]->{'writer'}) }
168sub has_predicate { defined($_[0]->{'predicate'}) }
169sub has_clearer { defined($_[0]->{'clearer'}) }
170sub has_builder { defined($_[0]->{'builder'}) }
171sub has_init_arg { defined($_[0]->{'init_arg'}) }
172sub has_default { defined($_[0]->{'default'}) }
173sub has_initializer { defined($_[0]->{'initializer'}) }
dc9d420c 174sub has_insertion_order { defined($_[0]->{'insertion_order'}) }
8683db0e 175
d9d99689 176sub accessor { $_[0]->{'accessor'} }
177sub reader { $_[0]->{'reader'} }
178sub writer { $_[0]->{'writer'} }
179sub predicate { $_[0]->{'predicate'} }
180sub clearer { $_[0]->{'clearer'} }
181sub builder { $_[0]->{'builder'} }
182sub init_arg { $_[0]->{'init_arg'} }
183sub initializer { $_[0]->{'initializer'} }
184sub definition_context { $_[0]->{'definition_context'} }
dc9d420c 185sub insertion_order { $_[0]->{'insertion_order'} }
943cbe2d 186sub _set_insertion_order { $_[0]->{'insertion_order'} = $_[1] }
c50c603e 187
7b31baf4 188# end bootstrapped away method section.
189# (all methods below here are kept intact)
190
9e517e01 191sub has_read_method { $_[0]->has_reader || $_[0]->has_accessor }
192sub has_write_method { $_[0]->has_writer || $_[0]->has_accessor }
193
d14f6cbe 194sub get_read_method {
195 my $self = shift;
196 my $reader = $self->reader || $self->accessor;
197 # normal case ...
198 return $reader unless ref $reader;
199 # the HASH ref case
200 my ($name) = %$reader;
201 return $name;
202}
203
204sub get_write_method {
205 my $self = shift;
206 my $writer = $self->writer || $self->accessor;
207 # normal case ...
208 return $writer unless ref $writer;
209 # the HASH ref case
210 my ($name) = %$writer;
211 return $name;
212}
b25109b1 213
5da16d1b 214sub get_read_method_ref {
215 my $self = shift;
742fb371 216 if ((my $reader = $self->get_read_method) && $self->associated_class) {
5da16d1b 217 return $self->associated_class->get_method($reader);
218 }
219 else {
def5c0b5 220 my $code = sub { $self->get_value(@_) };
221 if (my $class = $self->associated_class) {
222 return $class->method_metaclass->wrap(
223 $code,
224 package_name => $class->name,
225 name => '__ANON__'
226 );
227 }
228 else {
229 return $code;
230 }
5da16d1b 231 }
232}
233
234sub get_write_method_ref {
235 my $self = shift;
d14f6cbe 236 if ((my $writer = $self->get_write_method) && $self->associated_class) {
742fb371 237 return $self->associated_class->get_method($writer);
5da16d1b 238 }
239 else {
def5c0b5 240 my $code = sub { $self->set_value(@_) };
241 if (my $class = $self->associated_class) {
242 return $class->method_metaclass->wrap(
243 $code,
244 package_name => $class->name,
245 name => '__ANON__'
246 );
247 }
248 else {
249 return $code;
250 }
5da16d1b 251 }
252}
253
1d68af04 254sub is_default_a_coderef {
ed337aad 255 my ($value) = $_[0]->{'default'};
256 return unless ref($value);
257 return ref($value) eq 'CODE' || (blessed($value) && $value->isa('Class::MOP::Method'));
c0cbf4d9 258}
259
1d68af04 260sub default {
c0cbf4d9 261 my ($self, $instance) = @_;
9363ea89 262 if (defined $instance && $self->is_default_a_coderef) {
1d68af04 263 # if the default is a CODE ref, then
727919c5 264 # we pass in the instance and default
1d68af04 265 # can return a value based on that
727919c5 266 # instance. Somewhat crude, but works.
8683db0e 267 return $self->{'default'}->($instance);
1d68af04 268 }
8683db0e 269 $self->{'default'};
c50c603e 270}
8b978dd5 271
c57c8b10 272# slots
273
274sub slots { (shift)->name }
275
1d68af04 276# class association
727919c5 277
9ec169fe 278sub attach_to_class {
279 my ($self, $class) = @_;
280 (blessed($class) && $class->isa('Class::MOP::Class'))
281 || confess "You must pass a Class::MOP::Class instance (or a subclass)";
8683db0e 282 weaken($self->{'associated_class'} = $class);
9ec169fe 283}
284
285sub detach_from_class {
286 my $self = shift;
8683db0e 287 $self->{'associated_class'} = undef;
9ec169fe 288}
289
1d68af04 290# method association
3545c727 291
292sub associate_method {
293 my ($self, $method) = @_;
8683db0e 294 push @{$self->{'associated_methods'}} => $method;
3545c727 295}
296
16e960bd 297## Slot management
298
ef91a0e2 299sub set_initial_value {
300 my ($self, $instance, $value) = @_;
e76b01fb 301 $self->_set_initial_slot_value(
b3fa93c7 302 Class::MOP::Class->initialize(ref($instance))->get_meta_instance,
8ee74136 303 $instance,
304 $value
305 );
ef91a0e2 306}
307
16e960bd 308sub set_value {
1396f86b 309 my ($self, $instance, $value) = @_;
16e960bd 310
b3fa93c7 311 Class::MOP::Class->initialize(ref($instance))
da34f054 312 ->get_meta_instance
313 ->set_slot_value($instance, $self->name, $value);
16e960bd 314}
315
316sub get_value {
1396f86b 317 my ($self, $instance) = @_;
16e960bd 318
b3fa93c7 319 Class::MOP::Class->initialize(ref($instance))
da34f054 320 ->get_meta_instance
321 ->get_slot_value($instance, $self->name);
16e960bd 322}
323
3545c727 324sub has_value {
325 my ($self, $instance) = @_;
1d68af04 326
b3fa93c7 327 Class::MOP::Class->initialize(ref($instance))
da34f054 328 ->get_meta_instance
329 ->is_slot_initialized($instance, $self->name);
3545c727 330}
331
332sub clear_value {
333 my ($self, $instance) = @_;
1d68af04 334
b3fa93c7 335 Class::MOP::Class->initialize(ref($instance))
da34f054 336 ->get_meta_instance
337 ->deinitialize_slot($instance, $self->name);
3545c727 338}
339
ba38bf08 340## load em up ...
c0cbf4d9 341
ba38bf08 342sub accessor_metaclass { 'Class::MOP::Method::Accessor' }
c0cbf4d9 343
45a183fb 344sub _process_accessors {
c0cbf4d9 345 my ($self, $type, $accessor, $generate_as_inline_methods) = @_;
d9d99689 346
347 my $method_ctx;
348
349 if ( my $ctx = $self->definition_context ) {
350 $method_ctx = { %$ctx };
351 }
352
9b522fc4 353 if (ref($accessor)) {
354 (ref($accessor) eq 'HASH')
7d28758b 355 || confess "bad accessor/reader/writer/predicate/clearer format, must be a HASH ref";
4d47b77f 356 my ($name, $method) = %{$accessor};
4c105333 357 $method = $self->accessor_metaclass->wrap(
358 $method,
359 package_name => $self->associated_class->name,
360 name => $name,
d9d99689 361 definition_context => $method_ctx,
4c105333 362 );
3545c727 363 $self->associate_method($method);
1d68af04 364 return ($name, $method);
2eb717d5 365 }
9ec169fe 366 else {
1d68af04 367 my $inline_me = ($generate_as_inline_methods && $self->associated_class->instance_metaclass->is_inlinable);
ba38bf08 368 my $method;
369 eval {
d9d99689 370 if ( $method_ctx ) {
371 my $desc = "accessor $accessor";
372 if ( $accessor ne $self->name ) {
373 $desc .= " of attribute " . $self->name;
374 }
375
376 $method_ctx->{description} = $desc;
377 }
378
ba38bf08 379 $method = $self->accessor_metaclass->new(
380 attribute => $self,
d90b42a6 381 is_inline => $inline_me,
ba38bf08 382 accessor_type => $type,
4c105333 383 package_name => $self->associated_class->name,
384 name => $accessor,
d9d99689 385 definition_context => $method_ctx,
1d68af04 386 );
ba38bf08 387 };
1d68af04 388 confess "Could not create the '$type' method for " . $self->name . " because : $@" if $@;
3545c727 389 $self->associate_method($method);
ba38bf08 390 return ($accessor, $method);
1d68af04 391 }
9ec169fe 392}
393
394sub install_accessors {
c0cbf4d9 395 my $self = shift;
396 my $inline = shift;
397 my $class = $self->associated_class;
1d68af04 398
9ec169fe 399 $class->add_method(
45a183fb 400 $self->_process_accessors('accessor' => $self->accessor(), $inline)
9ec169fe 401 ) if $self->has_accessor();
402
1d68af04 403 $class->add_method(
45a183fb 404 $self->_process_accessors('reader' => $self->reader(), $inline)
9ec169fe 405 ) if $self->has_reader();
406
407 $class->add_method(
45a183fb 408 $self->_process_accessors('writer' => $self->writer(), $inline)
9ec169fe 409 ) if $self->has_writer();
410
411 $class->add_method(
45a183fb 412 $self->_process_accessors('predicate' => $self->predicate(), $inline)
9ec169fe 413 ) if $self->has_predicate();
1d68af04 414
7d28758b 415 $class->add_method(
45a183fb 416 $self->_process_accessors('clearer' => $self->clearer(), $inline)
7d28758b 417 ) if $self->has_clearer();
1d68af04 418
9ec169fe 419 return;
2eb717d5 420}
421
b51af7f9 422{
423 my $_remove_accessor = sub {
424 my ($accessor, $class) = @_;
9b522fc4 425 if (ref($accessor) && ref($accessor) eq 'HASH') {
c50c603e 426 ($accessor) = keys %{$accessor};
1d68af04 427 }
428 my $method = $class->get_method($accessor);
429 $class->remove_method($accessor)
b3fa93c7 430 if (ref($method) && $method->isa('Class::MOP::Method::Accessor'));
b51af7f9 431 };
1d68af04 432
b51af7f9 433 sub remove_accessors {
9ec169fe 434 my $self = shift;
2367814a 435 # TODO:
1d68af04 436 # we really need to make sure to remove from the
437 # associates methods here as well. But this is
438 # such a slimly used method, I am not worried
2367814a 439 # about it right now.
9ec169fe 440 $_remove_accessor->($self->accessor(), $self->associated_class()) if $self->has_accessor();
441 $_remove_accessor->($self->reader(), $self->associated_class()) if $self->has_reader();
442 $_remove_accessor->($self->writer(), $self->associated_class()) if $self->has_writer();
443 $_remove_accessor->($self->predicate(), $self->associated_class()) if $self->has_predicate();
7d28758b 444 $_remove_accessor->($self->clearer(), $self->associated_class()) if $self->has_clearer();
1d68af04 445 return;
b51af7f9 446 }
447
8b978dd5 448}
449
4501;
451
452__END__
453
454=pod
455
1d68af04 456=head1 NAME
8b978dd5 457
458Class::MOP::Attribute - Attribute Meta Object
459
460=head1 SYNOPSIS
1d68af04 461
2e23f7dc 462 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
463 foo => (
464 accessor => 'foo', # dual purpose get/set accessor
465 predicate => 'has_foo', # predicate check for defined-ness
466 init_arg => '-foo', # class->new will look for a -foo key
467 default => 'BAR IS BAZ!' # if no -foo key is provided, use this
468 )
469 );
470
471 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
472 bar => (
473 reader => 'bar', # getter
474 writer => 'set_bar', # setter
475 predicate => 'has_bar', # predicate check for defined-ness
476 init_arg => ':bar', # class->new will look for a :bar key
477 # no default value means it is undef
478 )
479 );
8b978dd5 480
481=head1 DESCRIPTION
482
2e23f7dc 483The Attribute Protocol is almost entirely an invention of
484C<Class::MOP>. Perl 5 does not have a consistent notion of
485attributes. There are so many ways in which this is done, and very few
486(if any) are easily discoverable by this module.
552e3d24 487
2e23f7dc 488With that said, this module attempts to inject some order into this
1d68af04 489chaos, by introducing a consistent API which can be used to create
fe122940 490object attributes.
552e3d24 491
492=head1 METHODS
493
494=head2 Creation
495
496=over 4
497
2e23f7dc 498=item B<< Class::MOP::Attribute->new($name, ?%options) >>
fe122940 499
1d68af04 500An attribute must (at the very least), have a C<$name>. All other
2e23f7dc 501C<%options> are added as key-value pairs.
fe122940 502
2e23f7dc 503=over 8
fe122940 504
76187047 505=item * init_arg
fe122940 506
2e23f7dc 507This is a string value representing the expected key in an
508initialization hash. For instance, if we have an C<init_arg> value of
509C<-foo>, then the following code will Just Work.
fe122940 510
d69fb6b3 511 MyClass->meta->new_object( -foo => 'Hello There' );
fe122940 512
2e23f7dc 513If an init_arg is not assigned, it will automatically use the
514attribute's name. If C<init_arg> is explicitly set to C<undef>, the
515attribute cannot be specified during initialization.
7b31baf4 516
76187047 517=item * builder
1d68af04 518
2e23f7dc 519This provides the name of a method that will be called to initialize
520the attribute. This method will be called on the object after it is
521constructed. It is expected to return a valid value for the attribute.
fe122940 522
76187047 523=item * default
4c4a6c41 524
2e23f7dc 525This can be used to provide an explicit default for initializing the
526attribute. If the default you provide is a subroutine reference, then
527this reference will be called I<as a method> on the object.
4c4a6c41 528
2e23f7dc 529If the value is a simple scalar (string or number), then it can be
530just passed as is. However, if you wish to initialize it with a HASH
531or ARRAY ref, then you need to wrap that inside a subroutine
532reference:
fe122940 533
2e23f7dc 534 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
535 'foo' => (
536 default => sub { [] },
537 )
538 );
1d68af04 539
540 # or ...
541
2e23f7dc 542 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
543 'foo' => (
544 default => sub { {} },
545 )
546 );
547
548If you wish to initialize an attribute with a subroutine reference
549itself, then you need to wrap that in a subroutine as well:
550
551 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
552 'foo' => (
553 default => sub {
554 sub { print "Hello World" }
555 },
556 )
557 );
558
559And lastly, if the value of your attribute is dependent upon some
560other aspect of the instance structure, then you can take advantage of
561the fact that when the C<default> value is called as a method:
562
563 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
564 'object_identity' => (
565 default => sub { Scalar::Util::refaddr( $_[0] ) },
566 )
567 );
568
569Note that there is no guarantee that attributes are initialized in any
570particular order, so you cannot rely on the value of some other
571attribute when generating the default.
fe122940 572
76187047 573=item * initializer
0ef07b33 574
2e23f7dc 575This option can be either a method name or a subroutine
576reference. This method will be called when setting the attribute's
577value in the constructor. Unlike C<default> and C<builder>, the
578initializer is only called when a value is provided to the
579constructor. The initializer allows you to munge this value during
580object construction.
581
582The initializer is called as a method with three arguments. The first
583is the value that was passed to the constructor. The second is a
584subroutine reference that can be called to actually set the
585attribute's value, and the last is the associated
586C<Class::MOP::Attribute> object.
587
588This contrived example shows an initializer that sets the attribute to
589twice the given value.
590
591 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
592 'doubled' => (
593 initializer => sub {
ea62c8ab 594 my ( $self, $value, $set, $attr ) = @_;
2e23f7dc 595 $set->( $value * 2 );
596 },
597 )
598 );
599
600Since an initializer can be a method name, you can easily make
0ef07b33 601attribute initialization use the writer:
602
2e23f7dc 603 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
604 'some_attr' => (
605 writer => 'some_attr',
606 initializer => 'some_attr',
607 )
608 );
0ef07b33 609
2e23f7dc 610Your writer will need to examine C<@_> and determine under which
611context it is being called.
127d39a7 612
fe122940 613=back
614
2e23f7dc 615The C<accessor>, C<reader>, C<writer>, C<predicate> and C<clearer>
616options all accept the same parameters. You can provide the name of
617the method, in which case an appropriate default method will be
618generated for you. Or instead you can also provide hash reference
619containing exactly one key (the method name) and one value. The value
620should be a subroutine reference, which will be installed as the
621method itself.
59e7697f 622
76187047 623=over 8
59e7697f 624
76187047 625=item * accessor
59e7697f 626
2e23f7dc 627An C<accessor> is a standard Perl-style read/write accessor. It will
628return the value of the attribute, and if a value is passed as an
629argument, it will assign that value to the attribute.
fe122940 630
2e23f7dc 631Note that C<undef> is a legitimate value, so this will work:
fe122940 632
633 $object->set_something(undef);
634
76187047 635=item * reader
59e7697f 636
2e23f7dc 637This is a basic read-only accessor. It returns the value of the
638attribute.
fe122940 639
76187047 640=item * writer
59e7697f 641
1d68af04 642This is a basic write accessor, it accepts a single argument, and
2e23f7dc 643assigns that value to the attribute.
59e7697f 644
2e23f7dc 645Note that C<undef> is a legitimate value, so this will work:
59e7697f 646
2e23f7dc 647 $object->set_something(undef);
fe122940 648
76187047 649=item * predicate
fe122940 650
2e23f7dc 651The predicate method returns a boolean indicating whether or not the
652attribute has been explicitly set.
07dca7e3 653
2e23f7dc 654Note that the predicate returns true even if the attribute was set to
655a false value (C<0> or C<undef>).
07dca7e3 656
76187047 657=item * clearer
7d28758b 658
2e23f7dc 659This method will uninitialize the attribute. After an attribute is
660cleared, its C<predicate> will return false.
7d28758b 661
76187047 662=item * definition_context
f8813817 663
664Mostly, this exists as a hook for the benefit of Moose.
665
666This option should be a hash reference containing several keys which
667will be used when inlining the attribute's accessors. The keys should
668include C<line>, the line number where the attribute was created, and
669either C<file> or C<description>.
670
671This information will ultimately be used when eval'ing inlined
672accessor code so that error messages report a useful line and file
673name.
674
59e7697f 675=back
552e3d24 676
2e23f7dc 677=item B<< $attr->clone(%options) >>
bd4e03f9 678
2e23f7dc 679This clones the attribute. Any options you provide will override the
680settings of the original attribute. You can change the name of the new
681attribute by passing a C<name> key in C<%options>.
127d39a7 682
2e23f7dc 683=back
bd4e03f9 684
2e23f7dc 685=head2 Informational
127d39a7 686
2e23f7dc 687These are all basic read-only accessors for the values passed into
688the constructor.
552e3d24 689
2e23f7dc 690=over 4
16e960bd 691
2e23f7dc 692=item B<< $attr->name >>
2367814a 693
76187047 694Returns the attribute's name.
695
2e23f7dc 696=item B<< $attr->accessor >>
2367814a 697
2e23f7dc 698=item B<< $attr->reader >>
16e960bd 699
2e23f7dc 700=item B<< $attr->writer >>
16e960bd 701
2e23f7dc 702=item B<< $attr->predicate >>
16e960bd 703
2e23f7dc 704=item B<< $attr->clearer >>
c0921932 705
2e23f7dc 706The C<accessor>, C<reader>, C<writer>, C<predicate>, and C<clearer>
707methods all return exactly what was passed to the constructor, so it
a6710c60 708can be either a string containing a method name, or a hash reference.
c0921932 709
2e23f7dc 710=item B<< $attr->initializer >>
16e960bd 711
a6710c60 712Returns the initializer as passed to the constructor, so this may be
2e23f7dc 713either a method name or a subroutine reference.
16e960bd 714
2e23f7dc 715=item B<< $attr->init_arg >>
3545c727 716
2e23f7dc 717=item B<< $attr->is_default_a_coderef >>
2367814a 718
2e23f7dc 719=item B<< $attr->default($instance) >>
3545c727 720
2e23f7dc 721The C<$instance> argument is optional. If you don't pass it, the
722return value for this method is exactly what was passed to the
723constructor, either a simple scalar or a subroutine reference.
2367814a 724
2e23f7dc 725If you I<do> pass an C<$instance> and the default is a subroutine
726reference, then the reference is called as a method on the
727C<$instance> and the generated value is returned.
16e960bd 728
2e23f7dc 729=item B<< $attr->slots >>
552e3d24 730
2e23f7dc 731Return a list of slots required by the attribute. This is usually just
732one, the name of the attribute.
fe122940 733
2e23f7dc 734A slot is the name of the hash key used to store the attribute in an
735object instance.
552e3d24 736
2e23f7dc 737=item B<< $attr->get_read_method >>
552e3d24 738
2e23f7dc 739=item B<< $attr->get_write_method >>
552e3d24 740
2e23f7dc 741Returns the name of a method suitable for reading or writing the value
742of the attribute in the associated class.
552e3d24 743
2e23f7dc 744If an attribute is read- or write-only, then these methods can return
745C<undef> as appropriate.
552e3d24 746
2e23f7dc 747=item B<< $attr->has_read_method >>
c50c603e 748
2e23f7dc 749=item B<< $attr->has_write_method >>
7d28758b 750
2e23f7dc 751This returns a boolean indicating whether the attribute has a I<named>
752read or write method.
0ab65f99 753
2e23f7dc 754=item B<< $attr->get_read_method_ref >>
552e3d24 755
2e23f7dc 756=item B<< $attr->get_write_method_ref >>
495af518 757
2e23f7dc 758Returns the subroutine reference of a method suitable for reading or
759writing the attribute's value in the associated class. These methods
760always return a subroutine reference, regardless of whether or not the
761attribute is read- or write-only.
762
eeff7496 763=item B<< $attr->insertion_order >>
764
765If this attribute has been inserted into a class, this returns a zero
766based index regarding the order of insertion.
767
2e23f7dc 768=back
fe122940 769
2e23f7dc 770=head2 Informational predicates
92d2abfa 771
2e23f7dc 772These are all basic predicate methods for the values passed into C<new>.
552e3d24 773
2e23f7dc 774=over 4
c57c8b10 775
2e23f7dc 776=item B<< $attr->has_accessor >>
c57c8b10 777
2e23f7dc 778=item B<< $attr->has_reader >>
b25109b1 779
2e23f7dc 780=item B<< $attr->has_writer >>
b25109b1 781
2e23f7dc 782=item B<< $attr->has_predicate >>
5da16d1b 783
2e23f7dc 784=item B<< $attr->has_clearer >>
5da16d1b 785
2e23f7dc 786=item B<< $attr->has_initializer >>
5da16d1b 787
2e23f7dc 788=item B<< $attr->has_init_arg >>
5da16d1b 789
2e23f7dc 790This will be I<false> if the C<init_arg> was set to C<undef>.
b25109b1 791
2e23f7dc 792=item B<< $attr->has_default >>
9e517e01 793
2e23f7dc 794This will be I<false> if the C<default> was set to C<undef>, since
795C<undef> is the default C<default> anyway.
9e517e01 796
2e23f7dc 797=item B<< $attr->has_builder >>
9e517e01 798
eeff7496 799=item B<< $attr->has_insertion_order >>
800
801This will be I<false> if this attribute has not be inserted into a class
802
552e3d24 803=back
804
2e23f7dc 805=head2 Value management
552e3d24 806
a6710c60 807These methods are basically "back doors" to the instance, and can be
2e23f7dc 808used to bypass the regular accessors, but still stay within the MOP.
809
810These methods are not for general use, and should only be used if you
811really know what you are doing.
fe122940 812
552e3d24 813=over 4
814
2e23f7dc 815=item B<< $attr->initialize_instance_slot($meta_instance, $instance, $params) >>
816
817This method is used internally to initialize the attribute's slot in
818the object C<$instance>.
819
820The C<$params> is a hash reference of the values passed to the object
821constructor.
822
823It's unlikely that you'll need to call this method yourself.
552e3d24 824
2e23f7dc 825=item B<< $attr->set_value($instance, $value) >>
552e3d24 826
2e23f7dc 827Sets the value without going through the accessor. Note that this
828works even with read-only attributes.
552e3d24 829
2e23f7dc 830=item B<< $attr->set_initial_value($instance, $value) >>
c50c603e 831
2e23f7dc 832Sets the value without going through the accessor. This method is only
833called when the instance is first being initialized.
7d28758b 834
2e23f7dc 835=item B<< $attr->get_value($instance) >>
0ab65f99 836
2e23f7dc 837Returns the value without going through the accessor. Note that this
838works even with write-only accessors.
552e3d24 839
2e23f7dc 840=item B<< $attr->has_value($instance) >>
552e3d24 841
2e23f7dc 842Return a boolean indicating whether the attribute has been set in
843C<$instance>. This how the default C<predicate> method works.
844
845=item B<< $attr->clear_value($instance) >>
846
847This will clear the attribute's value in C<$instance>. This is what
848the default C<clearer> calls.
849
850Note that this works even if the attribute does not have any
851associated read, write or clear methods.
bf731086 852
552e3d24 853=back
854
9ec169fe 855=head2 Class association
856
1d68af04 857These methods allow you to manage the attributes association with
858the class that contains it. These methods should not be used
2367814a 859lightly, nor are they very magical, they are mostly used internally
860and by metaclass instances.
861
9ec169fe 862=over 4
863
2e23f7dc 864=item B<< $attr->associated_class >>
865
866This returns the C<Class::MOP::Class> with which this attribute is
867associated, if any.
868
869=item B<< $attr->attach_to_class($metaclass) >>
9ec169fe 870
2e23f7dc 871This method stores a weakened reference to the C<$metaclass> object
872internally.
2367814a 873
2e23f7dc 874This method does not remove the attribute from its old class,
875nor does it create any accessors in the new class.
9ec169fe 876
2e23f7dc 877It is probably best to use the L<Class::MOP::Class> C<add_attribute>
878method instead.
2367814a 879
2e23f7dc 880=item B<< $attr->detach_from_class >>
9ec169fe 881
2e23f7dc 882This method removes the associate metaclass object from the attribute
883it has one.
884
885This method does not remove the attribute itself from the class, or
886remove its accessors.
887
888It is probably best to use the L<Class::MOP::Class>
889C<remove_attribute> method instead.
2367814a 890
9ec169fe 891=back
892
552e3d24 893=head2 Attribute Accessor generation
894
895=over 4
896
2e23f7dc 897=item B<< $attr->accessor_metaclass >>
ba38bf08 898
2e23f7dc 899Accessor methods are generated using an accessor metaclass. By
900default, this is L<Class::MOP::Method::Accessor>. This method returns
2367814a 901the name of the accessor metaclass that this attribute uses.
902
2e23f7dc 903=item B<< $attr->associate_method($method) >>
2367814a 904
2e23f7dc 905This associates a L<Class::MOP::Method> object with the
906attribute. Typically, this is called internally when an attribute
907generates its accessors.
3545c727 908
2e23f7dc 909=item B<< $attr->associated_methods >>
3545c727 910
2e23f7dc 911This returns the list of methods which have been associated with the
912attribute.
2367814a 913
2e23f7dc 914=item B<< $attr->install_accessors >>
2eb717d5 915
2e23f7dc 916This method generates and installs code the attributes various
917accessors. It is typically called from the L<Class::MOP::Class>
918C<add_attribute> method.
2eb717d5 919
2e23f7dc 920=item B<< $attr->remove_accessors >>
2eb717d5 921
2e23f7dc 922This method removes all of the accessors associated with the
923attribute.
2eb717d5 924
2e23f7dc 925This does not currently remove methods from the list returned by
926C<associated_methods>.
2367814a 927
2eb717d5 928=back
929
930=head2 Introspection
931
932=over 4
552e3d24 933
45b4c423 934=item B<< Class::MOP::Attribute->meta >>
552e3d24 935
2e23f7dc 936This will return a L<Class::MOP::Class> instance for this class.
fe122940 937
2e23f7dc 938It should also be noted that L<Class::MOP> will actually bootstrap
939this module by installing a number of attribute meta-objects into its
940metaclass.
fe122940 941
552e3d24 942=back
943
1a09d9cc 944=head1 AUTHORS
8b978dd5 945
a2e85e6c 946Stevan Little E<lt>stevan@iinteractive.comE<gt>
8b978dd5 947
948=head1 COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE
949
070bb6c9 950Copyright 2006-2009 by Infinity Interactive, Inc.
8b978dd5 951
952L<http://www.iinteractive.com>
953
954This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
1d68af04 955it under the same terms as Perl itself.
8b978dd5 956
16e960bd 957=cut
958
7d28758b 959