bump version to 1.06
[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
e41d1dd6 13our $VERSION = '1.06';
d519662a 14$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 $self->has_clearer();
1d68af04 402 return;
b51af7f9 403 }
404
8b978dd5 405}
406
4071;
408
409__END__
410
411=pod
412
1d68af04 413=head1 NAME
8b978dd5 414
415Class::MOP::Attribute - Attribute Meta Object
416
417=head1 SYNOPSIS
1d68af04 418
2e23f7dc 419 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
420 foo => (
421 accessor => 'foo', # dual purpose get/set accessor
422 predicate => 'has_foo', # predicate check for defined-ness
423 init_arg => '-foo', # class->new will look for a -foo key
424 default => 'BAR IS BAZ!' # if no -foo key is provided, use this
425 )
426 );
427
428 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
429 bar => (
430 reader => 'bar', # getter
431 writer => 'set_bar', # setter
432 predicate => 'has_bar', # predicate check for defined-ness
433 init_arg => ':bar', # class->new will look for a :bar key
434 # no default value means it is undef
435 )
436 );
8b978dd5 437
438=head1 DESCRIPTION
439
2e23f7dc 440The Attribute Protocol is almost entirely an invention of
441C<Class::MOP>. Perl 5 does not have a consistent notion of
442attributes. There are so many ways in which this is done, and very few
443(if any) are easily discoverable by this module.
552e3d24 444
2e23f7dc 445With that said, this module attempts to inject some order into this
1d68af04 446chaos, by introducing a consistent API which can be used to create
fe122940 447object attributes.
552e3d24 448
449=head1 METHODS
450
451=head2 Creation
452
453=over 4
454
2e23f7dc 455=item B<< Class::MOP::Attribute->new($name, ?%options) >>
fe122940 456
1d68af04 457An attribute must (at the very least), have a C<$name>. All other
2e23f7dc 458C<%options> are added as key-value pairs.
fe122940 459
2e23f7dc 460=over 8
fe122940 461
76187047 462=item * init_arg
fe122940 463
2e23f7dc 464This is a string value representing the expected key in an
465initialization hash. For instance, if we have an C<init_arg> value of
466C<-foo>, then the following code will Just Work.
fe122940 467
d69fb6b3 468 MyClass->meta->new_object( -foo => 'Hello There' );
fe122940 469
2e23f7dc 470If an init_arg is not assigned, it will automatically use the
471attribute's name. If C<init_arg> is explicitly set to C<undef>, the
472attribute cannot be specified during initialization.
7b31baf4 473
76187047 474=item * builder
1d68af04 475
2e23f7dc 476This provides the name of a method that will be called to initialize
477the attribute. This method will be called on the object after it is
478constructed. It is expected to return a valid value for the attribute.
fe122940 479
76187047 480=item * default
4c4a6c41 481
2e23f7dc 482This can be used to provide an explicit default for initializing the
483attribute. If the default you provide is a subroutine reference, then
484this reference will be called I<as a method> on the object.
4c4a6c41 485
2e23f7dc 486If the value is a simple scalar (string or number), then it can be
487just passed as is. However, if you wish to initialize it with a HASH
488or ARRAY ref, then you need to wrap that inside a subroutine
489reference:
fe122940 490
2e23f7dc 491 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
492 'foo' => (
493 default => sub { [] },
494 )
495 );
1d68af04 496
497 # or ...
498
2e23f7dc 499 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
500 'foo' => (
501 default => sub { {} },
502 )
503 );
504
505If you wish to initialize an attribute with a subroutine reference
506itself, then you need to wrap that in a subroutine as well:
507
508 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
509 'foo' => (
510 default => sub {
511 sub { print "Hello World" }
512 },
513 )
514 );
515
516And lastly, if the value of your attribute is dependent upon some
517other aspect of the instance structure, then you can take advantage of
518the fact that when the C<default> value is called as a method:
519
520 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
521 'object_identity' => (
522 default => sub { Scalar::Util::refaddr( $_[0] ) },
523 )
524 );
525
526Note that there is no guarantee that attributes are initialized in any
527particular order, so you cannot rely on the value of some other
528attribute when generating the default.
fe122940 529
76187047 530=item * initializer
0ef07b33 531
2e23f7dc 532This option can be either a method name or a subroutine
533reference. This method will be called when setting the attribute's
534value in the constructor. Unlike C<default> and C<builder>, the
535initializer is only called when a value is provided to the
536constructor. The initializer allows you to munge this value during
537object construction.
538
539The initializer is called as a method with three arguments. The first
540is the value that was passed to the constructor. The second is a
541subroutine reference that can be called to actually set the
542attribute's value, and the last is the associated
543C<Class::MOP::Attribute> object.
544
545This contrived example shows an initializer that sets the attribute to
546twice the given value.
547
548 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
549 'doubled' => (
550 initializer => sub {
ea62c8ab 551 my ( $self, $value, $set, $attr ) = @_;
2e23f7dc 552 $set->( $value * 2 );
553 },
554 )
555 );
556
557Since an initializer can be a method name, you can easily make
0ef07b33 558attribute initialization use the writer:
559
2e23f7dc 560 Class::MOP::Attribute->new(
561 'some_attr' => (
562 writer => 'some_attr',
563 initializer => 'some_attr',
564 )
565 );
0ef07b33 566
2e23f7dc 567Your writer will need to examine C<@_> and determine under which
568context it is being called.
127d39a7 569
fe122940 570=back
571
2e23f7dc 572The C<accessor>, C<reader>, C<writer>, C<predicate> and C<clearer>
573options all accept the same parameters. You can provide the name of
574the method, in which case an appropriate default method will be
575generated for you. Or instead you can also provide hash reference
576containing exactly one key (the method name) and one value. The value
577should be a subroutine reference, which will be installed as the
578method itself.
59e7697f 579
76187047 580=over 8
59e7697f 581
76187047 582=item * accessor
59e7697f 583
2e23f7dc 584An C<accessor> is a standard Perl-style read/write accessor. It will
585return the value of the attribute, and if a value is passed as an
586argument, it will assign that value to the attribute.
fe122940 587
2e23f7dc 588Note that C<undef> is a legitimate value, so this will work:
fe122940 589
590 $object->set_something(undef);
591
76187047 592=item * reader
59e7697f 593
2e23f7dc 594This is a basic read-only accessor. It returns the value of the
595attribute.
fe122940 596
76187047 597=item * writer
59e7697f 598
1d68af04 599This is a basic write accessor, it accepts a single argument, and
2e23f7dc 600assigns that value to the attribute.
59e7697f 601
2e23f7dc 602Note that C<undef> is a legitimate value, so this will work:
59e7697f 603
2e23f7dc 604 $object->set_something(undef);
fe122940 605
76187047 606=item * predicate
fe122940 607
2e23f7dc 608The predicate method returns a boolean indicating whether or not the
609attribute has been explicitly set.
07dca7e3 610
2e23f7dc 611Note that the predicate returns true even if the attribute was set to
612a false value (C<0> or C<undef>).
07dca7e3 613
76187047 614=item * clearer
7d28758b 615
2e23f7dc 616This method will uninitialize the attribute. After an attribute is
617cleared, its C<predicate> will return false.
7d28758b 618
76187047 619=item * definition_context
f8813817 620
621Mostly, this exists as a hook for the benefit of Moose.
622
623This option should be a hash reference containing several keys which
624will be used when inlining the attribute's accessors. The keys should
625include C<line>, the line number where the attribute was created, and
626either C<file> or C<description>.
627
628This information will ultimately be used when eval'ing inlined
629accessor code so that error messages report a useful line and file
630name.
631
59e7697f 632=back
552e3d24 633
2e23f7dc 634=item B<< $attr->clone(%options) >>
bd4e03f9 635
2e23f7dc 636This clones the attribute. Any options you provide will override the
637settings of the original attribute. You can change the name of the new
638attribute by passing a C<name> key in C<%options>.
127d39a7 639
2e23f7dc 640=back
bd4e03f9 641
2e23f7dc 642=head2 Informational
127d39a7 643
2e23f7dc 644These are all basic read-only accessors for the values passed into
645the constructor.
552e3d24 646
2e23f7dc 647=over 4
16e960bd 648
2e23f7dc 649=item B<< $attr->name >>
2367814a 650
76187047 651Returns the attribute's name.
652
2e23f7dc 653=item B<< $attr->accessor >>
2367814a 654
2e23f7dc 655=item B<< $attr->reader >>
16e960bd 656
2e23f7dc 657=item B<< $attr->writer >>
16e960bd 658
2e23f7dc 659=item B<< $attr->predicate >>
16e960bd 660
2e23f7dc 661=item B<< $attr->clearer >>
c0921932 662
2e23f7dc 663The C<accessor>, C<reader>, C<writer>, C<predicate>, and C<clearer>
664methods all return exactly what was passed to the constructor, so it
a6710c60 665can be either a string containing a method name, or a hash reference.
c0921932 666
2e23f7dc 667=item B<< $attr->initializer >>
16e960bd 668
a6710c60 669Returns the initializer as passed to the constructor, so this may be
2e23f7dc 670either a method name or a subroutine reference.
16e960bd 671
2e23f7dc 672=item B<< $attr->init_arg >>
3545c727 673
2e23f7dc 674=item B<< $attr->is_default_a_coderef >>
2367814a 675
2e23f7dc 676=item B<< $attr->default($instance) >>
3545c727 677
2e23f7dc 678The C<$instance> argument is optional. If you don't pass it, the
679return value for this method is exactly what was passed to the
680constructor, either a simple scalar or a subroutine reference.
2367814a 681
2e23f7dc 682If you I<do> pass an C<$instance> and the default is a subroutine
683reference, then the reference is called as a method on the
684C<$instance> and the generated value is returned.
16e960bd 685
2e23f7dc 686=item B<< $attr->slots >>
552e3d24 687
2e23f7dc 688Return a list of slots required by the attribute. This is usually just
689one, the name of the attribute.
fe122940 690
2e23f7dc 691A slot is the name of the hash key used to store the attribute in an
692object instance.
552e3d24 693
2e23f7dc 694=item B<< $attr->get_read_method >>
552e3d24 695
2e23f7dc 696=item B<< $attr->get_write_method >>
552e3d24 697
2e23f7dc 698Returns the name of a method suitable for reading or writing the value
699of the attribute in the associated class.
552e3d24 700
2e23f7dc 701If an attribute is read- or write-only, then these methods can return
702C<undef> as appropriate.
552e3d24 703
2e23f7dc 704=item B<< $attr->has_read_method >>
c50c603e 705
2e23f7dc 706=item B<< $attr->has_write_method >>
7d28758b 707
2e23f7dc 708This returns a boolean indicating whether the attribute has a I<named>
709read or write method.
0ab65f99 710
2e23f7dc 711=item B<< $attr->get_read_method_ref >>
552e3d24 712
2e23f7dc 713=item B<< $attr->get_write_method_ref >>
495af518 714
2e23f7dc 715Returns the subroutine reference of a method suitable for reading or
716writing the attribute's value in the associated class. These methods
717always return a subroutine reference, regardless of whether or not the
718attribute is read- or write-only.
719
eeff7496 720=item B<< $attr->insertion_order >>
721
722If this attribute has been inserted into a class, this returns a zero
723based index regarding the order of insertion.
724
2e23f7dc 725=back
fe122940 726
2e23f7dc 727=head2 Informational predicates
92d2abfa 728
2e23f7dc 729These are all basic predicate methods for the values passed into C<new>.
552e3d24 730
2e23f7dc 731=over 4
c57c8b10 732
2e23f7dc 733=item B<< $attr->has_accessor >>
c57c8b10 734
2e23f7dc 735=item B<< $attr->has_reader >>
b25109b1 736
2e23f7dc 737=item B<< $attr->has_writer >>
b25109b1 738
2e23f7dc 739=item B<< $attr->has_predicate >>
5da16d1b 740
2e23f7dc 741=item B<< $attr->has_clearer >>
5da16d1b 742
2e23f7dc 743=item B<< $attr->has_initializer >>
5da16d1b 744
2e23f7dc 745=item B<< $attr->has_init_arg >>
5da16d1b 746
2e23f7dc 747This will be I<false> if the C<init_arg> was set to C<undef>.
b25109b1 748
2e23f7dc 749=item B<< $attr->has_default >>
9e517e01 750
2e23f7dc 751This will be I<false> if the C<default> was set to C<undef>, since
752C<undef> is the default C<default> anyway.
9e517e01 753
2e23f7dc 754=item B<< $attr->has_builder >>
9e517e01 755
eeff7496 756=item B<< $attr->has_insertion_order >>
757
758This will be I<false> if this attribute has not be inserted into a class
759
552e3d24 760=back
761
2e23f7dc 762=head2 Value management
552e3d24 763
a6710c60 764These methods are basically "back doors" to the instance, and can be
2e23f7dc 765used to bypass the regular accessors, but still stay within the MOP.
766
767These methods are not for general use, and should only be used if you
768really know what you are doing.
fe122940 769
552e3d24 770=over 4
771
2e23f7dc 772=item B<< $attr->initialize_instance_slot($meta_instance, $instance, $params) >>
773
774This method is used internally to initialize the attribute's slot in
775the object C<$instance>.
776
777The C<$params> is a hash reference of the values passed to the object
778constructor.
779
780It's unlikely that you'll need to call this method yourself.
552e3d24 781
2e23f7dc 782=item B<< $attr->set_value($instance, $value) >>
552e3d24 783
2e23f7dc 784Sets the value without going through the accessor. Note that this
785works even with read-only attributes.
552e3d24 786
7e5efe15 787=item B<< $attr->set_raw_value($instance, $value) >>
788
789Sets the value with no side effects such as a trigger.
790
791This doesn't actually apply to Class::MOP attributes, only to subclasses.
792
2e23f7dc 793=item B<< $attr->set_initial_value($instance, $value) >>
c50c603e 794
2e23f7dc 795Sets the value without going through the accessor. This method is only
796called when the instance is first being initialized.
7d28758b 797
2e23f7dc 798=item B<< $attr->get_value($instance) >>
0ab65f99 799
2e23f7dc 800Returns the value without going through the accessor. Note that this
801works even with write-only accessors.
552e3d24 802
25b3fdad 803=item B<< $attr->get_raw_value($instance) >>
7e5efe15 804
805Returns the value without any side effects such as lazy attributes.
806
807Doesn't actually apply to Class::MOP attributes, only to subclasses.
808
2e23f7dc 809=item B<< $attr->has_value($instance) >>
552e3d24 810
2e23f7dc 811Return a boolean indicating whether the attribute has been set in
812C<$instance>. This how the default C<predicate> method works.
813
814=item B<< $attr->clear_value($instance) >>
815
816This will clear the attribute's value in C<$instance>. This is what
817the default C<clearer> calls.
818
819Note that this works even if the attribute does not have any
820associated read, write or clear methods.
bf731086 821
552e3d24 822=back
823
9ec169fe 824=head2 Class association
825
1d68af04 826These methods allow you to manage the attributes association with
827the class that contains it. These methods should not be used
2367814a 828lightly, nor are they very magical, they are mostly used internally
829and by metaclass instances.
830
9ec169fe 831=over 4
832
2e23f7dc 833=item B<< $attr->associated_class >>
834
835This returns the C<Class::MOP::Class> with which this attribute is
836associated, if any.
837
838=item B<< $attr->attach_to_class($metaclass) >>
9ec169fe 839
2e23f7dc 840This method stores a weakened reference to the C<$metaclass> object
841internally.
2367814a 842
2e23f7dc 843This method does not remove the attribute from its old class,
844nor does it create any accessors in the new class.
9ec169fe 845
2e23f7dc 846It is probably best to use the L<Class::MOP::Class> C<add_attribute>
847method instead.
2367814a 848
2e23f7dc 849=item B<< $attr->detach_from_class >>
9ec169fe 850
2e23f7dc 851This method removes the associate metaclass object from the attribute
852it has one.
853
854This method does not remove the attribute itself from the class, or
855remove its accessors.
856
857It is probably best to use the L<Class::MOP::Class>
858C<remove_attribute> method instead.
2367814a 859
9ec169fe 860=back
861
552e3d24 862=head2 Attribute Accessor generation
863
864=over 4
865
2e23f7dc 866=item B<< $attr->accessor_metaclass >>
ba38bf08 867
2e23f7dc 868Accessor methods are generated using an accessor metaclass. By
869default, this is L<Class::MOP::Method::Accessor>. This method returns
2367814a 870the name of the accessor metaclass that this attribute uses.
871
2e23f7dc 872=item B<< $attr->associate_method($method) >>
2367814a 873
2e23f7dc 874This associates a L<Class::MOP::Method> object with the
875attribute. Typically, this is called internally when an attribute
876generates its accessors.
3545c727 877
2e23f7dc 878=item B<< $attr->associated_methods >>
3545c727 879
2e23f7dc 880This returns the list of methods which have been associated with the
881attribute.
2367814a 882
2e23f7dc 883=item B<< $attr->install_accessors >>
2eb717d5 884
2e23f7dc 885This method generates and installs code the attributes various
886accessors. It is typically called from the L<Class::MOP::Class>
887C<add_attribute> method.
2eb717d5 888
2e23f7dc 889=item B<< $attr->remove_accessors >>
2eb717d5 890
2e23f7dc 891This method removes all of the accessors associated with the
892attribute.
2eb717d5 893
2e23f7dc 894This does not currently remove methods from the list returned by
895C<associated_methods>.
2367814a 896
2eb717d5 897=back
898
899=head2 Introspection
900
901=over 4
552e3d24 902
45b4c423 903=item B<< Class::MOP::Attribute->meta >>
552e3d24 904
2e23f7dc 905This will return a L<Class::MOP::Class> instance for this class.
fe122940 906
2e23f7dc 907It should also be noted that L<Class::MOP> will actually bootstrap
908this module by installing a number of attribute meta-objects into its
909metaclass.
fe122940 910
552e3d24 911=back
912
1a09d9cc 913=head1 AUTHORS
8b978dd5 914
a2e85e6c 915Stevan Little E<lt>stevan@iinteractive.comE<gt>
8b978dd5 916
917=head1 COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE
918
3e2c8600 919Copyright 2006-2010 by Infinity Interactive, Inc.
8b978dd5 920
921L<http://www.iinteractive.com>
922
923This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
1d68af04 924it under the same terms as Perl itself.
8b978dd5 925
16e960bd 926=cut
927
7d28758b 928