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[gitmo/Moose.git] / lib / Class / MOP / Attribute.pm
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38bf2a25 1
2package Class::MOP::Attribute;
3
4use strict;
5use warnings;
6
7use Class::MOP::Method::Accessor;
8
9use Carp 'confess';
10use Scalar::Util 'blessed', 'weaken';
11use Try::Tiny;
12
38bf2a25 13use base 'Class::MOP::Object', 'Class::MOP::Mixin::AttributeCore';
14
15# NOTE: (meta-circularity)
16# This method will be replaced in the
17# boostrap section of Class::MOP, by
18# a new version which uses the
19# &Class::MOP::Class::construct_instance
20# method to build an attribute meta-object
21# which itself is described with attribute
22# meta-objects.
23# - Ain't meta-circularity grand? :)
24sub new {
25 my ( $class, @args ) = @_;
26
27 unshift @args, "name" if @args % 2 == 1;
28 my %options = @args;
29
30 my $name = $options{name};
31
32 (defined $name)
33 || confess "You must provide a name for the attribute";
34
35 $options{init_arg} = $name
36 if not exists $options{init_arg};
37 if(exists $options{builder}){
38 confess("builder must be a defined scalar value which is a method name")
39 if ref $options{builder} || !(defined $options{builder});
40 confess("Setting both default and builder is not allowed.")
41 if exists $options{default};
42 } else {
43 ($class->is_default_a_coderef(\%options))
44 || confess("References are not allowed as default values, you must ".
45 "wrap the default of '$name' in a CODE reference (ex: sub { [] } and not [])")
46 if exists $options{default} && ref $options{default};
47 }
48 if( $options{required} and not( defined($options{builder}) || defined($options{init_arg}) || exists $options{default} ) ) {
49 confess("A required attribute must have either 'init_arg', 'builder', or 'default'");
50 }
51
52 $class->_new(\%options);
53}
54
55sub _new {
56 my $class = shift;
57
58 return Class::MOP::Class->initialize($class)->new_object(@_)
59 if $class ne __PACKAGE__;
60
61 my $options = @_ == 1 ? $_[0] : {@_};
62
63 bless {
64 'name' => $options->{name},
65 'accessor' => $options->{accessor},
66 'reader' => $options->{reader},
67 'writer' => $options->{writer},
68 'predicate' => $options->{predicate},
69 'clearer' => $options->{clearer},
70 'builder' => $options->{builder},
71 'init_arg' => $options->{init_arg},
72 exists $options->{default}
73 ? ('default' => $options->{default})
74 : (),
75 'initializer' => $options->{initializer},
76 'definition_context' => $options->{definition_context},
77 # keep a weakened link to the
78 # class we are associated with
79 'associated_class' => undef,
80 # and a list of the methods
81 # associated with this attr
82 'associated_methods' => [],
83 # this let's us keep track of
84 # our order inside the associated
85 # class
86 'insertion_order' => undef,
87 }, $class;
88}
89
90# NOTE:
91# this is a primative (and kludgy) clone operation
92# for now, it will be replaced in the Class::MOP
93# bootstrap with a proper one, however we know
94# that this one will work fine for now.
95sub clone {
96 my $self = shift;
97 my %options = @_;
98 (blessed($self))
99 || confess "Can only clone an instance";
100 return bless { %{$self}, %options } => ref($self);
101}
102
103sub initialize_instance_slot {
104 my ($self, $meta_instance, $instance, $params) = @_;
105 my $init_arg = $self->{'init_arg'};
106
107 # try to fetch the init arg from the %params ...
108
109 # if nothing was in the %params, we can use the
110 # attribute's default value (if it has one)
111 if(defined $init_arg and exists $params->{$init_arg}){
112 $self->_set_initial_slot_value(
113 $meta_instance,
114 $instance,
115 $params->{$init_arg},
116 );
117 }
118 elsif (exists $self->{'default'}) {
119 $self->_set_initial_slot_value(
120 $meta_instance,
121 $instance,
122 $self->default($instance),
123 );
124 }
125 elsif (defined( my $builder = $self->{'builder'})) {
126 if ($builder = $instance->can($builder)) {
127 $self->_set_initial_slot_value(
128 $meta_instance,
129 $instance,
130 $instance->$builder,
131 );
132 }
133 else {
134 confess(ref($instance)." does not support builder method '". $self->{'builder'} ."' for attribute '" . $self->name . "'");
135 }
136 }
137}
138
139sub _set_initial_slot_value {
140 my ($self, $meta_instance, $instance, $value) = @_;
141
142 my $slot_name = $self->name;
143
144 return $meta_instance->set_slot_value($instance, $slot_name, $value)
145 unless $self->has_initializer;
146
147 my $callback = $self->_make_initializer_writer_callback(
148 $meta_instance, $instance, $slot_name
149 );
150
151 my $initializer = $self->initializer;
152
153 # most things will just want to set a value, so make it first arg
154 $instance->$initializer($value, $callback, $self);
155}
156
157sub _make_initializer_writer_callback {
158 my $self = shift;
159 my ($meta_instance, $instance, $slot_name) = @_;
160
161 return sub {
162 $meta_instance->set_slot_value($instance, $slot_name, $_[0]);
163 };
164}
165
166sub get_read_method {
167 my $self = shift;
168 my $reader = $self->reader || $self->accessor;
169 # normal case ...
170 return $reader unless ref $reader;
171 # the HASH ref case
172 my ($name) = %$reader;
173 return $name;
174}
175
176sub get_write_method {
177 my $self = shift;
178 my $writer = $self->writer || $self->accessor;
179 # normal case ...
180 return $writer unless ref $writer;
181 # the HASH ref case
182 my ($name) = %$writer;
183 return $name;
184}
185
186sub get_read_method_ref {
187 my $self = shift;
188 if ((my $reader = $self->get_read_method) && $self->associated_class) {
189 return $self->associated_class->get_method($reader);
190 }
191 else {
192 my $code = sub { $self->get_value(@_) };
193 if (my $class = $self->associated_class) {
194 return $class->method_metaclass->wrap(
195 $code,
196 package_name => $class->name,
197 name => '__ANON__'
198 );
199 }
200 else {
201 return $code;
202 }
203 }
204}
205
206sub get_write_method_ref {
207 my $self = shift;
208 if ((my $writer = $self->get_write_method) && $self->associated_class) {
209 return $self->associated_class->get_method($writer);
210 }
211 else {
212 my $code = sub { $self->set_value(@_) };
213 if (my $class = $self->associated_class) {
214 return $class->method_metaclass->wrap(
215 $code,
216 package_name => $class->name,
217 name => '__ANON__'
218 );
219 }
220 else {
221 return $code;
222 }
223 }
224}
225
226# slots
227
228sub slots { (shift)->name }
229
230# class association
231
232sub attach_to_class {
233 my ($self, $class) = @_;
234 (blessed($class) && $class->isa('Class::MOP::Class'))
235 || confess "You must pass a Class::MOP::Class instance (or a subclass)";
236 weaken($self->{'associated_class'} = $class);
237}
238
239sub detach_from_class {
240 my $self = shift;
241 $self->{'associated_class'} = undef;
242}
243
244# method association
245
246sub associate_method {
247 my ($self, $method) = @_;
248 push @{$self->{'associated_methods'}} => $method;
249}
250
251## Slot management
252
253sub set_initial_value {
254 my ($self, $instance, $value) = @_;
255 $self->_set_initial_slot_value(
256 Class::MOP::Class->initialize(ref($instance))->get_meta_instance,
257 $instance,
258 $value
259 );
260}
261
262sub set_value { shift->set_raw_value(@_) }
263
264sub set_raw_value {
265 my $self = shift;
266 my ($instance, $value) = @_;
267
268 my $mi = Class::MOP::Class->initialize(ref($instance))->get_meta_instance;
269 return $mi->set_slot_value($instance, $self->name, $value);
270}
271
272sub _inline_set_value {
273 my $self = shift;
274 return $self->_inline_instance_set(@_) . ';';
275}
276
277sub _inline_instance_set {
278 my $self = shift;
279 my ($instance, $value) = @_;
280
281 my $mi = $self->associated_class->get_meta_instance;
282 return $mi->inline_set_slot_value($instance, $self->name, $value);
283}
284
285sub get_value { shift->get_raw_value(@_) }
286
287sub get_raw_value {
288 my $self = shift;
289 my ($instance) = @_;
290
291 my $mi = Class::MOP::Class->initialize(ref($instance))->get_meta_instance;
292 return $mi->get_slot_value($instance, $self->name);
293}
294
295sub _inline_get_value {
296 my $self = shift;
297 return $self->_inline_instance_get(@_) . ';';
298}
299
300sub _inline_instance_get {
301 my $self = shift;
302 my ($instance) = @_;
303
304 my $mi = $self->associated_class->get_meta_instance;
305 return $mi->inline_get_slot_value($instance, $self->name);
306}
307
308sub has_value {
309 my $self = shift;
310 my ($instance) = @_;
311
312 my $mi = Class::MOP::Class->initialize(ref($instance))->get_meta_instance;
313 return $mi->is_slot_initialized($instance, $self->name);
314}
315
316sub _inline_has_value {
317 my $self = shift;
318 return $self->_inline_instance_has(@_) . ';';
319}
320
321sub _inline_instance_has {
322 my $self = shift;
323 my ($instance) = @_;
324
325 my $mi = $self->associated_class->get_meta_instance;
326 return $mi->inline_is_slot_initialized($instance, $self->name);
327}
328
329sub clear_value {
330 my $self = shift;
331 my ($instance) = @_;
332
333 my $mi = Class::MOP::Class->initialize(ref($instance))->get_meta_instance;
334 return $mi->deinitialize_slot($instance, $self->name);
335}
336
337sub _inline_clear_value {
338 my $self = shift;
339 return $self->_inline_instance_clear(@_) . ';';
340}
341
342sub _inline_instance_clear {
343 my $self = shift;
344 my ($instance) = @_;
345
346 my $mi = $self->associated_class->get_meta_instance;
347 return $mi->inline_deinitialize_slot($instance, $self->name);
348}
349
350## load em up ...
351
352sub accessor_metaclass { 'Class::MOP::Method::Accessor' }
353
354sub _process_accessors {
355 my ($self, $type, $accessor, $generate_as_inline_methods) = @_;
356
357 my $method_ctx;
358
359 if ( my $ctx = $self->definition_context ) {
360 $method_ctx = { %$ctx };
361 }
362
363 if (ref($accessor)) {
364 (ref($accessor) eq 'HASH')
365 || confess "bad accessor/reader/writer/predicate/clearer format, must be a HASH ref";
366 my ($name, $method) = %{$accessor};
367 $method = $self->accessor_metaclass->wrap(
368 $method,
369 package_name => $self->associated_class->name,
370 name => $name,
371 definition_context => $method_ctx,
372 );
373 $self->associate_method($method);
374 return ($name, $method);
375 }
376 else {
377 my $inline_me = ($generate_as_inline_methods && $self->associated_class->instance_metaclass->is_inlinable);
378 my $method;
379 try {
380 if ( $method_ctx ) {
381 my $desc = "accessor $accessor";
382 if ( $accessor ne $self->name ) {
383 $desc .= " of attribute " . $self->name;
384 }
385
386 $method_ctx->{description} = $desc;
387 }
388
389 $method = $self->accessor_metaclass->new(
390 attribute => $self,
391 is_inline => $inline_me,
392 accessor_type => $type,
393 package_name => $self->associated_class->name,
394 name => $accessor,
395 definition_context => $method_ctx,
396 );
397 }
398 catch {
399 confess "Could not create the '$type' method for " . $self->name . " because : $_";
400 };
401 $self->associate_method($method);
402 return ($accessor, $method);
403 }
404}
405
406sub install_accessors {
407 my $self = shift;
408 my $inline = shift;
409 my $class = $self->associated_class;
410
411 $class->add_method(
412 $self->_process_accessors('accessor' => $self->accessor(), $inline)
413 ) if $self->has_accessor();
414
415 $class->add_method(
416 $self->_process_accessors('reader' => $self->reader(), $inline)
417 ) if $self->has_reader();
418
419 $class->add_method(
420 $self->_process_accessors('writer' => $self->writer(), $inline)
421 ) if $self->has_writer();
422
423 $class->add_method(
424 $self->_process_accessors('predicate' => $self->predicate(), $inline)
425 ) if $self->has_predicate();
426
427 $class->add_method(
428 $self->_process_accessors('clearer' => $self->clearer(), $inline)
429 ) if $self->has_clearer();
430
431 return;
432}
433
434{
435 my $_remove_accessor = sub {
436 my ($accessor, $class) = @_;
437 if (ref($accessor) && ref($accessor) eq 'HASH') {
438 ($accessor) = keys %{$accessor};
439 }
440 my $method = $class->get_method($accessor);
441 $class->remove_method($accessor)
442 if (ref($method) && $method->isa('Class::MOP::Method::Accessor'));
443 };
444
445 sub remove_accessors {
446 my $self = shift;
447 # TODO:
448 # we really need to make sure to remove from the
449 # associates methods here as well. But this is
450 # such a slimly used method, I am not worried
451 # about it right now.
452 $_remove_accessor->($self->accessor(), $self->associated_class()) if $self->has_accessor();
453 $_remove_accessor->($self->reader(), $self->associated_class()) if $self->has_reader();
454 $_remove_accessor->($self->writer(), $self->associated_class()) if $self->has_writer();
455 $_remove_accessor->($self->predicate(), $self->associated_class()) if $self->has_predicate();
456 $_remove_accessor->($self->clearer(), $self->associated_class()) if $self->has_clearer();
457 return;
458 }
459
460}
461
4621;
463
464# ABSTRACT: Attribute Meta Object
465
466__END__
467
468=pod
469
470=head1 SYNOPSIS
471
472 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
473 foo => (
474 accessor => 'foo', # dual purpose get/set accessor
475 predicate => 'has_foo', # predicate check for defined-ness
476 init_arg => '-foo', # class->new will look for a -foo key
477 default => 'BAR IS BAZ!' # if no -foo key is provided, use this
478 )
479 );
480
481 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
482 bar => (
483 reader => 'bar', # getter
484 writer => 'set_bar', # setter
485 predicate => 'has_bar', # predicate check for defined-ness
486 init_arg => ':bar', # class->new will look for a :bar key
487 # no default value means it is undef
488 )
489 );
490
491=head1 DESCRIPTION
492
493The Attribute Protocol is almost entirely an invention of
494C<Class::MOP>. Perl 5 does not have a consistent notion of
495attributes. There are so many ways in which this is done, and very few
496(if any) are easily discoverable by this module.
497
498With that said, this module attempts to inject some order into this
499chaos, by introducing a consistent API which can be used to create
500object attributes.
501
502=head1 METHODS
503
504=head2 Creation
505
506=over 4
507
508=item B<< Class::MOP::Attribute->new($name, ?%options) >>
509
510An attribute must (at the very least), have a C<$name>. All other
511C<%options> are added as key-value pairs.
512
513=over 8
514
515=item * init_arg
516
517This is a string value representing the expected key in an
518initialization hash. For instance, if we have an C<init_arg> value of
519C<-foo>, then the following code will Just Work.
520
521 MyClass->meta->new_object( -foo => 'Hello There' );
522
523If an init_arg is not assigned, it will automatically use the
524attribute's name. If C<init_arg> is explicitly set to C<undef>, the
525attribute cannot be specified during initialization.
526
527=item * builder
528
529This provides the name of a method that will be called to initialize
530the attribute. This method will be called on the object after it is
531constructed. It is expected to return a valid value for the attribute.
532
533=item * default
534
535This can be used to provide an explicit default for initializing the
536attribute. If the default you provide is a subroutine reference, then
537this reference will be called I<as a method> on the object.
538
539If the value is a simple scalar (string or number), then it can be
540just passed as is. However, if you wish to initialize it with a HASH
541or ARRAY ref, then you need to wrap that inside a subroutine
542reference:
543
544 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
545 'foo' => (
546 default => sub { [] },
547 )
548 );
549
550 # or ...
551
552 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
553 'foo' => (
554 default => sub { {} },
555 )
556 );
557
558If you wish to initialize an attribute with a subroutine reference
559itself, then you need to wrap that in a subroutine as well:
560
561 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
562 'foo' => (
563 default => sub {
564 sub { print "Hello World" }
565 },
566 )
567 );
568
569And lastly, if the value of your attribute is dependent upon some
570other aspect of the instance structure, then you can take advantage of
571the fact that when the C<default> value is called as a method:
572
573 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
574 'object_identity' => (
575 default => sub { Scalar::Util::refaddr( $_[0] ) },
576 )
577 );
578
579Note that there is no guarantee that attributes are initialized in any
580particular order, so you cannot rely on the value of some other
581attribute when generating the default.
582
583=item * initializer
584
585This option can be either a method name or a subroutine
586reference. This method will be called when setting the attribute's
587value in the constructor. Unlike C<default> and C<builder>, the
588initializer is only called when a value is provided to the
589constructor. The initializer allows you to munge this value during
590object construction.
591
592The initializer is called as a method with three arguments. The first
593is the value that was passed to the constructor. The second is a
594subroutine reference that can be called to actually set the
595attribute's value, and the last is the associated
596C<Class::MOP::Attribute> object.
597
598This contrived example shows an initializer that sets the attribute to
599twice the given value.
600
601 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
602 'doubled' => (
603 initializer => sub {
604 my ( $self, $value, $set, $attr ) = @_;
605 $set->( $value * 2 );
606 },
607 )
608 );
609
610Since an initializer can be a method name, you can easily make
611attribute initialization use the writer:
612
613 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
614 'some_attr' => (
615 writer => 'some_attr',
616 initializer => 'some_attr',
617 )
618 );
619
620Your writer will need to examine C<@_> and determine under which
621context it is being called.
622
623=back
624
625The C<accessor>, C<reader>, C<writer>, C<predicate> and C<clearer>
626options all accept the same parameters. You can provide the name of
627the method, in which case an appropriate default method will be
628generated for you. Or instead you can also provide hash reference
629containing exactly one key (the method name) and one value. The value
630should be a subroutine reference, which will be installed as the
631method itself.
632
633=over 8
634
635=item * accessor
636
637An C<accessor> is a standard Perl-style read/write accessor. It will
638return the value of the attribute, and if a value is passed as an
639argument, it will assign that value to the attribute.
640
641Note that C<undef> is a legitimate value, so this will work:
642
643 $object->set_something(undef);
644
645=item * reader
646
647This is a basic read-only accessor. It returns the value of the
648attribute.
649
650=item * writer
651
652This is a basic write accessor, it accepts a single argument, and
653assigns that value to the attribute.
654
655Note that C<undef> is a legitimate value, so this will work:
656
657 $object->set_something(undef);
658
659=item * predicate
660
661The predicate method returns a boolean indicating whether or not the
662attribute has been explicitly set.
663
664Note that the predicate returns true even if the attribute was set to
665a false value (C<0> or C<undef>).
666
667=item * clearer
668
669This method will uninitialize the attribute. After an attribute is
670cleared, its C<predicate> will return false.
671
672=item * definition_context
673
674Mostly, this exists as a hook for the benefit of Moose.
675
676This option should be a hash reference containing several keys which
677will be used when inlining the attribute's accessors. The keys should
678include C<line>, the line number where the attribute was created, and
679either C<file> or C<description>.
680
681This information will ultimately be used when eval'ing inlined
682accessor code so that error messages report a useful line and file
683name.
684
685=back
686
687=item B<< $attr->clone(%options) >>
688
689This clones the attribute. Any options you provide will override the
690settings of the original attribute. You can change the name of the new
691attribute by passing a C<name> key in C<%options>.
692
693=back
694
695=head2 Informational
696
697These are all basic read-only accessors for the values passed into
698the constructor.
699
700=over 4
701
702=item B<< $attr->name >>
703
704Returns the attribute's name.
705
706=item B<< $attr->accessor >>
707
708=item B<< $attr->reader >>
709
710=item B<< $attr->writer >>
711
712=item B<< $attr->predicate >>
713
714=item B<< $attr->clearer >>
715
716The C<accessor>, C<reader>, C<writer>, C<predicate>, and C<clearer>
717methods all return exactly what was passed to the constructor, so it
718can be either a string containing a method name, or a hash reference.
719
720=item B<< $attr->initializer >>
721
722Returns the initializer as passed to the constructor, so this may be
723either a method name or a subroutine reference.
724
725=item B<< $attr->init_arg >>
726
727=item B<< $attr->is_default_a_coderef >>
728
729=item B<< $attr->default($instance) >>
730
731The C<$instance> argument is optional. If you don't pass it, the
732return value for this method is exactly what was passed to the
733constructor, either a simple scalar or a subroutine reference.
734
735If you I<do> pass an C<$instance> and the default is a subroutine
736reference, then the reference is called as a method on the
737C<$instance> and the generated value is returned.
738
739=item B<< $attr->slots >>
740
741Return a list of slots required by the attribute. This is usually just
742one, the name of the attribute.
743
744A slot is the name of the hash key used to store the attribute in an
745object instance.
746
747=item B<< $attr->get_read_method >>
748
749=item B<< $attr->get_write_method >>
750
751Returns the name of a method suitable for reading or writing the value
752of the attribute in the associated class.
753
754If an attribute is read- or write-only, then these methods can return
755C<undef> as appropriate.
756
757=item B<< $attr->has_read_method >>
758
759=item B<< $attr->has_write_method >>
760
761This returns a boolean indicating whether the attribute has a I<named>
762read or write method.
763
764=item B<< $attr->get_read_method_ref >>
765
766=item B<< $attr->get_write_method_ref >>
767
768Returns the subroutine reference of a method suitable for reading or
769writing the attribute's value in the associated class. These methods
770always return a subroutine reference, regardless of whether or not the
771attribute is read- or write-only.
772
773=item B<< $attr->insertion_order >>
774
775If this attribute has been inserted into a class, this returns a zero
776based index regarding the order of insertion.
777
778=back
779
780=head2 Informational predicates
781
782These are all basic predicate methods for the values passed into C<new>.
783
784=over 4
785
786=item B<< $attr->has_accessor >>
787
788=item B<< $attr->has_reader >>
789
790=item B<< $attr->has_writer >>
791
792=item B<< $attr->has_predicate >>
793
794=item B<< $attr->has_clearer >>
795
796=item B<< $attr->has_initializer >>
797
798=item B<< $attr->has_init_arg >>
799
800This will be I<false> if the C<init_arg> was set to C<undef>.
801
802=item B<< $attr->has_default >>
803
804This will be I<false> if the C<default> was set to C<undef>, since
805C<undef> is the default C<default> anyway.
806
807=item B<< $attr->has_builder >>
808
809=item B<< $attr->has_insertion_order >>
810
811This will be I<false> if this attribute has not be inserted into a class
812
813=back
814
815=head2 Value management
816
817These methods are basically "back doors" to the instance, and can be
818used to bypass the regular accessors, but still stay within the MOP.
819
820These methods are not for general use, and should only be used if you
821really know what you are doing.
822
823=over 4
824
825=item B<< $attr->initialize_instance_slot($meta_instance, $instance, $params) >>
826
827This method is used internally to initialize the attribute's slot in
828the object C<$instance>.
829
830The C<$params> is a hash reference of the values passed to the object
831constructor.
832
833It's unlikely that you'll need to call this method yourself.
834
835=item B<< $attr->set_value($instance, $value) >>
836
837Sets the value without going through the accessor. Note that this
838works even with read-only attributes.
839
840=item B<< $attr->set_raw_value($instance, $value) >>
841
842Sets the value with no side effects such as a trigger.
843
844This doesn't actually apply to Class::MOP attributes, only to subclasses.
845
846=item B<< $attr->set_initial_value($instance, $value) >>
847
848Sets the value without going through the accessor. This method is only
849called when the instance is first being initialized.
850
851=item B<< $attr->get_value($instance) >>
852
853Returns the value without going through the accessor. Note that this
854works even with write-only accessors.
855
856=item B<< $attr->get_raw_value($instance) >>
857
858Returns the value without any side effects such as lazy attributes.
859
860Doesn't actually apply to Class::MOP attributes, only to subclasses.
861
862=item B<< $attr->has_value($instance) >>
863
864Return a boolean indicating whether the attribute has been set in
865C<$instance>. This how the default C<predicate> method works.
866
867=item B<< $attr->clear_value($instance) >>
868
869This will clear the attribute's value in C<$instance>. This is what
870the default C<clearer> calls.
871
872Note that this works even if the attribute does not have any
873associated read, write or clear methods.
874
875=back
876
877=head2 Class association
878
879These methods allow you to manage the attributes association with
880the class that contains it. These methods should not be used
881lightly, nor are they very magical, they are mostly used internally
882and by metaclass instances.
883
884=over 4
885
886=item B<< $attr->associated_class >>
887
888This returns the C<Class::MOP::Class> with which this attribute is
889associated, if any.
890
891=item B<< $attr->attach_to_class($metaclass) >>
892
893This method stores a weakened reference to the C<$metaclass> object
894internally.
895
896This method does not remove the attribute from its old class,
897nor does it create any accessors in the new class.
898
899It is probably best to use the L<Class::MOP::Class> C<add_attribute>
900method instead.
901
902=item B<< $attr->detach_from_class >>
903
904This method removes the associate metaclass object from the attribute
905it has one.
906
907This method does not remove the attribute itself from the class, or
908remove its accessors.
909
910It is probably best to use the L<Class::MOP::Class>
911C<remove_attribute> method instead.
912
913=back
914
915=head2 Attribute Accessor generation
916
917=over 4
918
919=item B<< $attr->accessor_metaclass >>
920
921Accessor methods are generated using an accessor metaclass. By
922default, this is L<Class::MOP::Method::Accessor>. This method returns
923the name of the accessor metaclass that this attribute uses.
924
925=item B<< $attr->associate_method($method) >>
926
927This associates a L<Class::MOP::Method> object with the
928attribute. Typically, this is called internally when an attribute
929generates its accessors.
930
931=item B<< $attr->associated_methods >>
932
933This returns the list of methods which have been associated with the
934attribute.
935
936=item B<< $attr->install_accessors >>
937
938This method generates and installs code the attributes various
939accessors. It is typically called from the L<Class::MOP::Class>
940C<add_attribute> method.
941
942=item B<< $attr->remove_accessors >>
943
944This method removes all of the accessors associated with the
945attribute.
946
947This does not currently remove methods from the list returned by
948C<associated_methods>.
949
950=item B<< $attr->inline_get >>
951
952=item B<< $attr->inline_set >>
953
954=item B<< $attr->inline_has >>
955
956=item B<< $attr->inline_clear >>
957
958These methods return a code snippet suitable for inlining the relevant
959operation. They expect strings containing variable names to be used in the
960inlining, like C<'$self'> or C<'$_[1]'>.
961
962=back
963
964=head2 Introspection
965
966=over 4
967
968=item B<< Class::MOP::Attribute->meta >>
969
970This will return a L<Class::MOP::Class> instance for this class.
971
972It should also be noted that L<Class::MOP> will actually bootstrap
973this module by installing a number of attribute meta-objects into its
974metaclass.
975
976=back
977
978=cut
979
980