Version 1.12
[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';
a8344505 11use Try::Tiny;
2eb717d5 12
bd2550f8 13our $VERSION = '1.12';
d519662a 14$VERSION = eval $VERSION;
f0480c45 15our $AUTHORITY = 'cpan:STEVAN';
8b978dd5 16
9b871d79 17use base 'Class::MOP::Object', 'Class::MOP::Mixin::AttributeCore';
b1897d4d 18
727919c5 19# NOTE: (meta-circularity)
1d68af04 20# This method will be replaced in the
21# boostrap section of Class::MOP, by
22# a new version which uses the
727919c5 23# &Class::MOP::Class::construct_instance
24# method to build an attribute meta-object
25# which itself is described with attribute
1d68af04 26# meta-objects.
727919c5 27# - Ain't meta-circularity grand? :)
8b978dd5 28sub new {
649efb63 29 my ( $class, @args ) = @_;
30
31 unshift @args, "name" if @args % 2 == 1;
32 my %options = @args;
33
34 my $name = $options{name};
1d68af04 35
d9330488 36 (defined $name)
8b978dd5 37 || confess "You must provide a name for the attribute";
1d68af04 38
39 $options{init_arg} = $name
5659d76e 40 if not exists $options{init_arg};
1d68af04 41 if(exists $options{builder}){
42 confess("builder must be a defined scalar value which is a method name")
43 if ref $options{builder} || !(defined $options{builder});
44 confess("Setting both default and builder is not allowed.")
45 if exists $options{default};
8fe581e5 46 } else {
9b871d79 47 ($class->is_default_a_coderef(\%options))
8fe581e5 48 || confess("References are not allowed as default values, you must ".
3c0a8087 49 "wrap the default of '$name' in a CODE reference (ex: sub { [] } and not [])")
8fe581e5 50 if exists $options{default} && ref $options{default};
1d68af04 51 }
2e877f58 52 if( $options{required} and not( defined($options{builder}) || defined($options{init_arg}) || exists $options{default} ) ) {
53 confess("A required attribute must have either 'init_arg', 'builder', or 'default'");
54 }
8683db0e 55
cb75020f 56 $class->_new(\%options);
4b698b1a 57}
58
59sub _new {
0bfc85b8 60 my $class = shift;
ec9e38e5 61
62 return Class::MOP::Class->initialize($class)->new_object(@_)
812d58f9 63 if $class ne __PACKAGE__;
ec9e38e5 64
0bfc85b8 65 my $options = @_ == 1 ? $_[0] : {@_};
4b698b1a 66
8b978dd5 67 bless {
d9d99689 68 'name' => $options->{name},
69 'accessor' => $options->{accessor},
70 'reader' => $options->{reader},
71 'writer' => $options->{writer},
72 'predicate' => $options->{predicate},
73 'clearer' => $options->{clearer},
74 'builder' => $options->{builder},
75 'init_arg' => $options->{init_arg},
8343d501 76 exists $options->{default}
77 ? ('default' => $options->{default})
78 : (),
d9d99689 79 'initializer' => $options->{initializer},
80 'definition_context' => $options->{definition_context},
1d68af04 81 # keep a weakened link to the
9ec169fe 82 # class we are associated with
8683db0e 83 'associated_class' => undef,
1d68af04 84 # and a list of the methods
3545c727 85 # associated with this attr
8683db0e 86 'associated_methods' => [],
dc9d420c 87 # this let's us keep track of
88 # our order inside the associated
89 # class
90 'insertion_order' => undef,
0bfc85b8 91 }, $class;
8b978dd5 92}
93
7b31baf4 94# NOTE:
1d68af04 95# this is a primative (and kludgy) clone operation
16e960bd 96# for now, it will be replaced in the Class::MOP
1d68af04 97# bootstrap with a proper one, however we know
5659d76e 98# that this one will work fine for now.
99sub clone {
100 my $self = shift;
101 my %options = @_;
102 (blessed($self))
103 || confess "Can only clone an instance";
b3fa93c7 104 return bless { %{$self}, %options } => ref($self);
5659d76e 105}
106
bd4e03f9 107sub initialize_instance_slot {
f892c0f0 108 my ($self, $meta_instance, $instance, $params) = @_;
8683db0e 109 my $init_arg = $self->{'init_arg'};
110
bd4e03f9 111 # try to fetch the init arg from the %params ...
8d2d4c67 112
1d68af04 113 # if nothing was in the %params, we can use the
bd4e03f9 114 # attribute's default value (if it has one)
2e877f58 115 if(defined $init_arg and exists $params->{$init_arg}){
8ee74136 116 $self->_set_initial_slot_value(
117 $meta_instance,
0ab65f99 118 $instance,
0ab65f99 119 $params->{$init_arg},
0ab65f99 120 );
b7bdffc3 121 }
8343d501 122 elsif (exists $self->{'default'}) {
8ee74136 123 $self->_set_initial_slot_value(
124 $meta_instance,
0ab65f99 125 $instance,
0ab65f99 126 $self->default($instance),
0ab65f99 127 );
b7bdffc3 128 }
8683db0e 129 elsif (defined( my $builder = $self->{'builder'})) {
b7bdffc3 130 if ($builder = $instance->can($builder)) {
8ee74136 131 $self->_set_initial_slot_value(
132 $meta_instance,
0ab65f99 133 $instance,
0ab65f99 134 $instance->$builder,
0ab65f99 135 );
b7bdffc3 136 }
137 else {
b3fa93c7 138 confess(ref($instance)." does not support builder method '". $self->{'builder'} ."' for attribute '" . $self->name . "'");
8fe581e5 139 }
1d68af04 140 }
bd4e03f9 141}
142
8ee74136 143sub _set_initial_slot_value {
144 my ($self, $meta_instance, $instance, $value) = @_;
145
146 my $slot_name = $self->name;
147
148 return $meta_instance->set_slot_value($instance, $slot_name, $value)
149 unless $self->has_initializer;
150
151 my $callback = sub {
152 $meta_instance->set_slot_value($instance, $slot_name, $_[0]);
153 };
154
155 my $initializer = $self->initializer;
156
157 # most things will just want to set a value, so make it first arg
158 $instance->$initializer($value, $callback, $self);
159}
160
8683db0e 161sub associated_class { $_[0]->{'associated_class'} }
162sub associated_methods { $_[0]->{'associated_methods'} }
163
d14f6cbe 164sub get_read_method {
165 my $self = shift;
166 my $reader = $self->reader || $self->accessor;
167 # normal case ...
168 return $reader unless ref $reader;
169 # the HASH ref case
170 my ($name) = %$reader;
171 return $name;
172}
173
174sub get_write_method {
175 my $self = shift;
176 my $writer = $self->writer || $self->accessor;
177 # normal case ...
178 return $writer unless ref $writer;
179 # the HASH ref case
180 my ($name) = %$writer;
181 return $name;
182}
b25109b1 183
5da16d1b 184sub get_read_method_ref {
185 my $self = shift;
742fb371 186 if ((my $reader = $self->get_read_method) && $self->associated_class) {
5da16d1b 187 return $self->associated_class->get_method($reader);
188 }
189 else {
def5c0b5 190 my $code = sub { $self->get_value(@_) };
191 if (my $class = $self->associated_class) {
192 return $class->method_metaclass->wrap(
193 $code,
194 package_name => $class->name,
195 name => '__ANON__'
196 );
197 }
198 else {
199 return $code;
200 }
5da16d1b 201 }
202}
203
204sub get_write_method_ref {
205 my $self = shift;
d14f6cbe 206 if ((my $writer = $self->get_write_method) && $self->associated_class) {
742fb371 207 return $self->associated_class->get_method($writer);
5da16d1b 208 }
209 else {
def5c0b5 210 my $code = sub { $self->set_value(@_) };
211 if (my $class = $self->associated_class) {
212 return $class->method_metaclass->wrap(
213 $code,
214 package_name => $class->name,
215 name => '__ANON__'
216 );
217 }
218 else {
219 return $code;
220 }
5da16d1b 221 }
222}
223
c57c8b10 224# slots
225
226sub slots { (shift)->name }
227
1d68af04 228# class association
727919c5 229
9ec169fe 230sub attach_to_class {
231 my ($self, $class) = @_;
232 (blessed($class) && $class->isa('Class::MOP::Class'))
233 || confess "You must pass a Class::MOP::Class instance (or a subclass)";
8683db0e 234 weaken($self->{'associated_class'} = $class);
9ec169fe 235}
236
237sub detach_from_class {
238 my $self = shift;
8683db0e 239 $self->{'associated_class'} = undef;
9ec169fe 240}
241
1d68af04 242# method association
3545c727 243
244sub associate_method {
245 my ($self, $method) = @_;
8683db0e 246 push @{$self->{'associated_methods'}} => $method;
3545c727 247}
248
16e960bd 249## Slot management
250
ef91a0e2 251sub set_initial_value {
252 my ($self, $instance, $value) = @_;
e76b01fb 253 $self->_set_initial_slot_value(
b3fa93c7 254 Class::MOP::Class->initialize(ref($instance))->get_meta_instance,
8ee74136 255 $instance,
256 $value
257 );
ef91a0e2 258}
259
7e5efe15 260sub set_value { shift->set_raw_value(@_) }
261sub get_value { shift->get_raw_value(@_) }
262
263sub set_raw_value {
1396f86b 264 my ($self, $instance, $value) = @_;
16e960bd 265
b3fa93c7 266 Class::MOP::Class->initialize(ref($instance))
da34f054 267 ->get_meta_instance
268 ->set_slot_value($instance, $self->name, $value);
16e960bd 269}
270
7e5efe15 271sub get_raw_value {
1396f86b 272 my ($self, $instance) = @_;
16e960bd 273
b3fa93c7 274 Class::MOP::Class->initialize(ref($instance))
da34f054 275 ->get_meta_instance
276 ->get_slot_value($instance, $self->name);
16e960bd 277}
278
3545c727 279sub has_value {
280 my ($self, $instance) = @_;
1d68af04 281
b3fa93c7 282 Class::MOP::Class->initialize(ref($instance))
da34f054 283 ->get_meta_instance
284 ->is_slot_initialized($instance, $self->name);
3545c727 285}
286
287sub clear_value {
288 my ($self, $instance) = @_;
1d68af04 289
b3fa93c7 290 Class::MOP::Class->initialize(ref($instance))
da34f054 291 ->get_meta_instance
292 ->deinitialize_slot($instance, $self->name);
3545c727 293}
294
ba38bf08 295## load em up ...
c0cbf4d9 296
ba38bf08 297sub accessor_metaclass { 'Class::MOP::Method::Accessor' }
c0cbf4d9 298
45a183fb 299sub _process_accessors {
c0cbf4d9 300 my ($self, $type, $accessor, $generate_as_inline_methods) = @_;
d9d99689 301
302 my $method_ctx;
303
304 if ( my $ctx = $self->definition_context ) {
305 $method_ctx = { %$ctx };
306 }
307
9b522fc4 308 if (ref($accessor)) {
309 (ref($accessor) eq 'HASH')
7d28758b 310 || confess "bad accessor/reader/writer/predicate/clearer format, must be a HASH ref";
4d47b77f 311 my ($name, $method) = %{$accessor};
4c105333 312 $method = $self->accessor_metaclass->wrap(
313 $method,
314 package_name => $self->associated_class->name,
315 name => $name,
d9d99689 316 definition_context => $method_ctx,
4c105333 317 );
3545c727 318 $self->associate_method($method);
1d68af04 319 return ($name, $method);
2eb717d5 320 }
9ec169fe 321 else {
1d68af04 322 my $inline_me = ($generate_as_inline_methods && $self->associated_class->instance_metaclass->is_inlinable);
ba38bf08 323 my $method;
a8344505 324 try {
d9d99689 325 if ( $method_ctx ) {
326 my $desc = "accessor $accessor";
327 if ( $accessor ne $self->name ) {
328 $desc .= " of attribute " . $self->name;
329 }
330
331 $method_ctx->{description} = $desc;
332 }
333
ba38bf08 334 $method = $self->accessor_metaclass->new(
335 attribute => $self,
d90b42a6 336 is_inline => $inline_me,
ba38bf08 337 accessor_type => $type,
4c105333 338 package_name => $self->associated_class->name,
339 name => $accessor,
d9d99689 340 definition_context => $method_ctx,
1d68af04 341 );
a8344505 342 }
343 catch {
344 confess "Could not create the '$type' method for " . $self->name . " because : $_";
ba38bf08 345 };
3545c727 346 $self->associate_method($method);
ba38bf08 347 return ($accessor, $method);
1d68af04 348 }
9ec169fe 349}
350
351sub install_accessors {
c0cbf4d9 352 my $self = shift;
353 my $inline = shift;
354 my $class = $self->associated_class;
1d68af04 355
9ec169fe 356 $class->add_method(
45a183fb 357 $self->_process_accessors('accessor' => $self->accessor(), $inline)
9ec169fe 358 ) if $self->has_accessor();
359
1d68af04 360 $class->add_method(
45a183fb 361 $self->_process_accessors('reader' => $self->reader(), $inline)
9ec169fe 362 ) if $self->has_reader();
363
364 $class->add_method(
45a183fb 365 $self->_process_accessors('writer' => $self->writer(), $inline)
9ec169fe 366 ) if $self->has_writer();
367
368 $class->add_method(
45a183fb 369 $self->_process_accessors('predicate' => $self->predicate(), $inline)
9ec169fe 370 ) if $self->has_predicate();
1d68af04 371
7d28758b 372 $class->add_method(
45a183fb 373 $self->_process_accessors('clearer' => $self->clearer(), $inline)
7d28758b 374 ) if $self->has_clearer();
1d68af04 375
9ec169fe 376 return;
2eb717d5 377}
378
b51af7f9 379{
380 my $_remove_accessor = sub {
381 my ($accessor, $class) = @_;
9b522fc4 382 if (ref($accessor) && ref($accessor) eq 'HASH') {
c50c603e 383 ($accessor) = keys %{$accessor};
1d68af04 384 }
385 my $method = $class->get_method($accessor);
386 $class->remove_method($accessor)
b3fa93c7 387 if (ref($method) && $method->isa('Class::MOP::Method::Accessor'));
b51af7f9 388 };
1d68af04 389
b51af7f9 390 sub remove_accessors {
9ec169fe 391 my $self = shift;
2367814a 392 # TODO:
1d68af04 393 # we really need to make sure to remove from the
394 # associates methods here as well. But this is
395 # such a slimly used method, I am not worried
2367814a 396 # about it right now.
9ec169fe 397 $_remove_accessor->($self->accessor(), $self->associated_class()) if $self->has_accessor();
398 $_remove_accessor->($self->reader(), $self->associated_class()) if $self->has_reader();
399 $_remove_accessor->($self->writer(), $self->associated_class()) if $self->has_writer();
400 $_remove_accessor->($self->predicate(), $self->associated_class()) if $self->has_predicate();
7d28758b 401 $_remove_accessor->($self->clearer(), $self->associated_class()) if $self->has_clearer();
1d68af04 402 return;
b51af7f9 403 }
404
8b978dd5 405}
406
03a3092d 407sub inline_get {
408 my $self = shift;
409 my ($instance) = @_;
410
411 return $self->associated_class->get_meta_instance->inline_get_slot_value(
412 $instance, $self->name );
413}
414
415sub inline_set {
416 my $self = shift;
417 my ( $instance, $value ) = @_;
418
419 return $self->associated_class->get_meta_instance->inline_set_slot_value(
420 $instance, $self->name, $value );
421}
422
423sub inline_has {
424 my $self = shift;
425 my ($instance) = @_;
426
427 return
428 $self->associated_class->get_meta_instance
429 ->inline_is_slot_initialized( $instance, $self->name );
430}
431
432sub inline_clear {
433 my $self = shift;
434 my ($instance) = @_;
435
436 return
437 $self->associated_class->get_meta_instance
438 ->inline_deinitialize_slot( $instance, $self->name );
439}
440
8b978dd5 4411;
442
443__END__
444
445=pod
446
1d68af04 447=head1 NAME
8b978dd5 448
449Class::MOP::Attribute - Attribute Meta Object
450
451=head1 SYNOPSIS
1d68af04 452
2e23f7dc 453 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
454 foo => (
455 accessor => 'foo', # dual purpose get/set accessor
456 predicate => 'has_foo', # predicate check for defined-ness
457 init_arg => '-foo', # class->new will look for a -foo key
458 default => 'BAR IS BAZ!' # if no -foo key is provided, use this
459 )
460 );
461
462 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
463 bar => (
464 reader => 'bar', # getter
465 writer => 'set_bar', # setter
466 predicate => 'has_bar', # predicate check for defined-ness
467 init_arg => ':bar', # class->new will look for a :bar key
468 # no default value means it is undef
469 )
470 );
8b978dd5 471
472=head1 DESCRIPTION
473
2e23f7dc 474The Attribute Protocol is almost entirely an invention of
475C<Class::MOP>. Perl 5 does not have a consistent notion of
476attributes. There are so many ways in which this is done, and very few
477(if any) are easily discoverable by this module.
552e3d24 478
2e23f7dc 479With that said, this module attempts to inject some order into this
1d68af04 480chaos, by introducing a consistent API which can be used to create
fe122940 481object attributes.
552e3d24 482
483=head1 METHODS
484
485=head2 Creation
486
487=over 4
488
2e23f7dc 489=item B<< Class::MOP::Attribute->new($name, ?%options) >>
fe122940 490
1d68af04 491An attribute must (at the very least), have a C<$name>. All other
2e23f7dc 492C<%options> are added as key-value pairs.
fe122940 493
2e23f7dc 494=over 8
fe122940 495
76187047 496=item * init_arg
fe122940 497
2e23f7dc 498This is a string value representing the expected key in an
499initialization hash. For instance, if we have an C<init_arg> value of
500C<-foo>, then the following code will Just Work.
fe122940 501
d69fb6b3 502 MyClass->meta->new_object( -foo => 'Hello There' );
fe122940 503
2e23f7dc 504If an init_arg is not assigned, it will automatically use the
505attribute's name. If C<init_arg> is explicitly set to C<undef>, the
506attribute cannot be specified during initialization.
7b31baf4 507
76187047 508=item * builder
1d68af04 509
2e23f7dc 510This provides the name of a method that will be called to initialize
511the attribute. This method will be called on the object after it is
512constructed. It is expected to return a valid value for the attribute.
fe122940 513
76187047 514=item * default
4c4a6c41 515
2e23f7dc 516This can be used to provide an explicit default for initializing the
517attribute. If the default you provide is a subroutine reference, then
518this reference will be called I<as a method> on the object.
4c4a6c41 519
2e23f7dc 520If the value is a simple scalar (string or number), then it can be
521just passed as is. However, if you wish to initialize it with a HASH
522or ARRAY ref, then you need to wrap that inside a subroutine
523reference:
fe122940 524
2e23f7dc 525 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
526 'foo' => (
527 default => sub { [] },
528 )
529 );
1d68af04 530
531 # or ...
532
2e23f7dc 533 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
534 'foo' => (
535 default => sub { {} },
536 )
537 );
538
539If you wish to initialize an attribute with a subroutine reference
540itself, then you need to wrap that in a subroutine as well:
541
542 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
543 'foo' => (
544 default => sub {
545 sub { print "Hello World" }
546 },
547 )
548 );
549
550And lastly, if the value of your attribute is dependent upon some
551other aspect of the instance structure, then you can take advantage of
552the fact that when the C<default> value is called as a method:
553
554 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
555 'object_identity' => (
556 default => sub { Scalar::Util::refaddr( $_[0] ) },
557 )
558 );
559
560Note that there is no guarantee that attributes are initialized in any
561particular order, so you cannot rely on the value of some other
562attribute when generating the default.
fe122940 563
76187047 564=item * initializer
0ef07b33 565
2e23f7dc 566This option can be either a method name or a subroutine
567reference. This method will be called when setting the attribute's
568value in the constructor. Unlike C<default> and C<builder>, the
569initializer is only called when a value is provided to the
570constructor. The initializer allows you to munge this value during
571object construction.
572
573The initializer is called as a method with three arguments. The first
574is the value that was passed to the constructor. The second is a
575subroutine reference that can be called to actually set the
576attribute's value, and the last is the associated
577C<Class::MOP::Attribute> object.
578
579This contrived example shows an initializer that sets the attribute to
580twice the given value.
581
582 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
583 'doubled' => (
584 initializer => sub {
ea62c8ab 585 my ( $self, $value, $set, $attr ) = @_;
2e23f7dc 586 $set->( $value * 2 );
587 },
588 )
589 );
590
591Since an initializer can be a method name, you can easily make
0ef07b33 592attribute initialization use the writer:
593
2e23f7dc 594 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
595 'some_attr' => (
596 writer => 'some_attr',
597 initializer => 'some_attr',
598 )
599 );
0ef07b33 600
2e23f7dc 601Your writer will need to examine C<@_> and determine under which
602context it is being called.
127d39a7 603
fe122940 604=back
605
2e23f7dc 606The C<accessor>, C<reader>, C<writer>, C<predicate> and C<clearer>
607options all accept the same parameters. You can provide the name of
608the method, in which case an appropriate default method will be
609generated for you. Or instead you can also provide hash reference
610containing exactly one key (the method name) and one value. The value
611should be a subroutine reference, which will be installed as the
612method itself.
59e7697f 613
76187047 614=over 8
59e7697f 615
76187047 616=item * accessor
59e7697f 617
2e23f7dc 618An C<accessor> is a standard Perl-style read/write accessor. It will
619return the value of the attribute, and if a value is passed as an
620argument, it will assign that value to the attribute.
fe122940 621
2e23f7dc 622Note that C<undef> is a legitimate value, so this will work:
fe122940 623
624 $object->set_something(undef);
625
76187047 626=item * reader
59e7697f 627
2e23f7dc 628This is a basic read-only accessor. It returns the value of the
629attribute.
fe122940 630
76187047 631=item * writer
59e7697f 632
1d68af04 633This is a basic write accessor, it accepts a single argument, and
2e23f7dc 634assigns that value to the attribute.
59e7697f 635
2e23f7dc 636Note that C<undef> is a legitimate value, so this will work:
59e7697f 637
2e23f7dc 638 $object->set_something(undef);
fe122940 639
76187047 640=item * predicate
fe122940 641
2e23f7dc 642The predicate method returns a boolean indicating whether or not the
643attribute has been explicitly set.
07dca7e3 644
2e23f7dc 645Note that the predicate returns true even if the attribute was set to
646a false value (C<0> or C<undef>).
07dca7e3 647
76187047 648=item * clearer
7d28758b 649
2e23f7dc 650This method will uninitialize the attribute. After an attribute is
651cleared, its C<predicate> will return false.
7d28758b 652
76187047 653=item * definition_context
f8813817 654
655Mostly, this exists as a hook for the benefit of Moose.
656
657This option should be a hash reference containing several keys which
658will be used when inlining the attribute's accessors. The keys should
659include C<line>, the line number where the attribute was created, and
660either C<file> or C<description>.
661
662This information will ultimately be used when eval'ing inlined
663accessor code so that error messages report a useful line and file
664name.
665
59e7697f 666=back
552e3d24 667
2e23f7dc 668=item B<< $attr->clone(%options) >>
bd4e03f9 669
2e23f7dc 670This clones the attribute. Any options you provide will override the
671settings of the original attribute. You can change the name of the new
672attribute by passing a C<name> key in C<%options>.
127d39a7 673
2e23f7dc 674=back
bd4e03f9 675
2e23f7dc 676=head2 Informational
127d39a7 677
2e23f7dc 678These are all basic read-only accessors for the values passed into
679the constructor.
552e3d24 680
2e23f7dc 681=over 4
16e960bd 682
2e23f7dc 683=item B<< $attr->name >>
2367814a 684
76187047 685Returns the attribute's name.
686
2e23f7dc 687=item B<< $attr->accessor >>
2367814a 688
2e23f7dc 689=item B<< $attr->reader >>
16e960bd 690
2e23f7dc 691=item B<< $attr->writer >>
16e960bd 692
2e23f7dc 693=item B<< $attr->predicate >>
16e960bd 694
2e23f7dc 695=item B<< $attr->clearer >>
c0921932 696
2e23f7dc 697The C<accessor>, C<reader>, C<writer>, C<predicate>, and C<clearer>
698methods all return exactly what was passed to the constructor, so it
a6710c60 699can be either a string containing a method name, or a hash reference.
c0921932 700
2e23f7dc 701=item B<< $attr->initializer >>
16e960bd 702
a6710c60 703Returns the initializer as passed to the constructor, so this may be
2e23f7dc 704either a method name or a subroutine reference.
16e960bd 705
2e23f7dc 706=item B<< $attr->init_arg >>
3545c727 707
2e23f7dc 708=item B<< $attr->is_default_a_coderef >>
2367814a 709
2e23f7dc 710=item B<< $attr->default($instance) >>
3545c727 711
2e23f7dc 712The C<$instance> argument is optional. If you don't pass it, the
713return value for this method is exactly what was passed to the
714constructor, either a simple scalar or a subroutine reference.
2367814a 715
2e23f7dc 716If you I<do> pass an C<$instance> and the default is a subroutine
717reference, then the reference is called as a method on the
718C<$instance> and the generated value is returned.
16e960bd 719
2e23f7dc 720=item B<< $attr->slots >>
552e3d24 721
2e23f7dc 722Return a list of slots required by the attribute. This is usually just
723one, the name of the attribute.
fe122940 724
2e23f7dc 725A slot is the name of the hash key used to store the attribute in an
726object instance.
552e3d24 727
2e23f7dc 728=item B<< $attr->get_read_method >>
552e3d24 729
2e23f7dc 730=item B<< $attr->get_write_method >>
552e3d24 731
2e23f7dc 732Returns the name of a method suitable for reading or writing the value
733of the attribute in the associated class.
552e3d24 734
2e23f7dc 735If an attribute is read- or write-only, then these methods can return
736C<undef> as appropriate.
552e3d24 737
2e23f7dc 738=item B<< $attr->has_read_method >>
c50c603e 739
2e23f7dc 740=item B<< $attr->has_write_method >>
7d28758b 741
2e23f7dc 742This returns a boolean indicating whether the attribute has a I<named>
743read or write method.
0ab65f99 744
2e23f7dc 745=item B<< $attr->get_read_method_ref >>
552e3d24 746
2e23f7dc 747=item B<< $attr->get_write_method_ref >>
495af518 748
2e23f7dc 749Returns the subroutine reference of a method suitable for reading or
750writing the attribute's value in the associated class. These methods
751always return a subroutine reference, regardless of whether or not the
752attribute is read- or write-only.
753
eeff7496 754=item B<< $attr->insertion_order >>
755
756If this attribute has been inserted into a class, this returns a zero
757based index regarding the order of insertion.
758
2e23f7dc 759=back
fe122940 760
2e23f7dc 761=head2 Informational predicates
92d2abfa 762
2e23f7dc 763These are all basic predicate methods for the values passed into C<new>.
552e3d24 764
2e23f7dc 765=over 4
c57c8b10 766
2e23f7dc 767=item B<< $attr->has_accessor >>
c57c8b10 768
2e23f7dc 769=item B<< $attr->has_reader >>
b25109b1 770
2e23f7dc 771=item B<< $attr->has_writer >>
b25109b1 772
2e23f7dc 773=item B<< $attr->has_predicate >>
5da16d1b 774
2e23f7dc 775=item B<< $attr->has_clearer >>
5da16d1b 776
2e23f7dc 777=item B<< $attr->has_initializer >>
5da16d1b 778
2e23f7dc 779=item B<< $attr->has_init_arg >>
5da16d1b 780
2e23f7dc 781This will be I<false> if the C<init_arg> was set to C<undef>.
b25109b1 782
2e23f7dc 783=item B<< $attr->has_default >>
9e517e01 784
2e23f7dc 785This will be I<false> if the C<default> was set to C<undef>, since
786C<undef> is the default C<default> anyway.
9e517e01 787
2e23f7dc 788=item B<< $attr->has_builder >>
9e517e01 789
eeff7496 790=item B<< $attr->has_insertion_order >>
791
792This will be I<false> if this attribute has not be inserted into a class
793
552e3d24 794=back
795
2e23f7dc 796=head2 Value management
552e3d24 797
a6710c60 798These methods are basically "back doors" to the instance, and can be
2e23f7dc 799used to bypass the regular accessors, but still stay within the MOP.
800
801These methods are not for general use, and should only be used if you
802really know what you are doing.
fe122940 803
552e3d24 804=over 4
805
2e23f7dc 806=item B<< $attr->initialize_instance_slot($meta_instance, $instance, $params) >>
807
808This method is used internally to initialize the attribute's slot in
809the object C<$instance>.
810
811The C<$params> is a hash reference of the values passed to the object
812constructor.
813
814It's unlikely that you'll need to call this method yourself.
552e3d24 815
2e23f7dc 816=item B<< $attr->set_value($instance, $value) >>
552e3d24 817
2e23f7dc 818Sets the value without going through the accessor. Note that this
819works even with read-only attributes.
552e3d24 820
7e5efe15 821=item B<< $attr->set_raw_value($instance, $value) >>
822
823Sets the value with no side effects such as a trigger.
824
825This doesn't actually apply to Class::MOP attributes, only to subclasses.
826
2e23f7dc 827=item B<< $attr->set_initial_value($instance, $value) >>
c50c603e 828
2e23f7dc 829Sets the value without going through the accessor. This method is only
830called when the instance is first being initialized.
7d28758b 831
2e23f7dc 832=item B<< $attr->get_value($instance) >>
0ab65f99 833
2e23f7dc 834Returns the value without going through the accessor. Note that this
835works even with write-only accessors.
552e3d24 836
25b3fdad 837=item B<< $attr->get_raw_value($instance) >>
7e5efe15 838
839Returns the value without any side effects such as lazy attributes.
840
841Doesn't actually apply to Class::MOP attributes, only to subclasses.
842
2e23f7dc 843=item B<< $attr->has_value($instance) >>
552e3d24 844
2e23f7dc 845Return a boolean indicating whether the attribute has been set in
846C<$instance>. This how the default C<predicate> method works.
847
848=item B<< $attr->clear_value($instance) >>
849
850This will clear the attribute's value in C<$instance>. This is what
851the default C<clearer> calls.
852
853Note that this works even if the attribute does not have any
854associated read, write or clear methods.
bf731086 855
552e3d24 856=back
857
9ec169fe 858=head2 Class association
859
1d68af04 860These methods allow you to manage the attributes association with
861the class that contains it. These methods should not be used
2367814a 862lightly, nor are they very magical, they are mostly used internally
863and by metaclass instances.
864
9ec169fe 865=over 4
866
2e23f7dc 867=item B<< $attr->associated_class >>
868
869This returns the C<Class::MOP::Class> with which this attribute is
870associated, if any.
871
872=item B<< $attr->attach_to_class($metaclass) >>
9ec169fe 873
2e23f7dc 874This method stores a weakened reference to the C<$metaclass> object
875internally.
2367814a 876
2e23f7dc 877This method does not remove the attribute from its old class,
878nor does it create any accessors in the new class.
9ec169fe 879
2e23f7dc 880It is probably best to use the L<Class::MOP::Class> C<add_attribute>
881method instead.
2367814a 882
2e23f7dc 883=item B<< $attr->detach_from_class >>
9ec169fe 884
2e23f7dc 885This method removes the associate metaclass object from the attribute
886it has one.
887
888This method does not remove the attribute itself from the class, or
889remove its accessors.
890
891It is probably best to use the L<Class::MOP::Class>
892C<remove_attribute> method instead.
2367814a 893
9ec169fe 894=back
895
552e3d24 896=head2 Attribute Accessor generation
897
898=over 4
899
2e23f7dc 900=item B<< $attr->accessor_metaclass >>
ba38bf08 901
2e23f7dc 902Accessor methods are generated using an accessor metaclass. By
903default, this is L<Class::MOP::Method::Accessor>. This method returns
2367814a 904the name of the accessor metaclass that this attribute uses.
905
2e23f7dc 906=item B<< $attr->associate_method($method) >>
2367814a 907
2e23f7dc 908This associates a L<Class::MOP::Method> object with the
909attribute. Typically, this is called internally when an attribute
910generates its accessors.
3545c727 911
2e23f7dc 912=item B<< $attr->associated_methods >>
3545c727 913
2e23f7dc 914This returns the list of methods which have been associated with the
915attribute.
2367814a 916
2e23f7dc 917=item B<< $attr->install_accessors >>
2eb717d5 918
2e23f7dc 919This method generates and installs code the attributes various
920accessors. It is typically called from the L<Class::MOP::Class>
921C<add_attribute> method.
2eb717d5 922
2e23f7dc 923=item B<< $attr->remove_accessors >>
2eb717d5 924
2e23f7dc 925This method removes all of the accessors associated with the
926attribute.
2eb717d5 927
2e23f7dc 928This does not currently remove methods from the list returned by
929C<associated_methods>.
2367814a 930
03a3092d 931=item B<< $attr->inline_get >>
932
933=item B<< $attr->inline_set >>
934
935=item B<< $attr->inline_has >>
936
937=item B<< $attr->inline_clear >>
938
939These methods return a code snippet suitable for inlining the relevant
940operation. They expect strings containing variable names to be used in the
941inlining, like C<'$self'> or C<'$_[1]'>.
942
2eb717d5 943=back
944
945=head2 Introspection
946
947=over 4
552e3d24 948
45b4c423 949=item B<< Class::MOP::Attribute->meta >>
552e3d24 950
2e23f7dc 951This will return a L<Class::MOP::Class> instance for this class.
fe122940 952
2e23f7dc 953It should also be noted that L<Class::MOP> will actually bootstrap
954this module by installing a number of attribute meta-objects into its
955metaclass.
fe122940 956
552e3d24 957=back
958
1a09d9cc 959=head1 AUTHORS
8b978dd5 960
a2e85e6c 961Stevan Little E<lt>stevan@iinteractive.comE<gt>
8b978dd5 962
963=head1 COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE
964
3e2c8600 965Copyright 2006-2010 by Infinity Interactive, Inc.
8b978dd5 966
967L<http://www.iinteractive.com>
968
969This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
1d68af04 970it under the same terms as Perl itself.
8b978dd5 971
16e960bd 972=cut
973
7d28758b 974