Hash.pm revision 7c478bd95313f5f23a4c958a745db2134aa03244
=head1 NAME
Tie::Hash, Tie::StdHash - base class definitions for tied hashes
=head1 SYNOPSIS
package NewHash;
require Tie::Hash;
@ISA = (Tie::Hash);
sub DELETE { ... } # Provides needed method
sub CLEAR { ... } # Overrides inherited method
package NewStdHash;
require Tie::Hash;
@ISA = (Tie::StdHash);
# All methods provided by default, define only those needing overrides
sub DELETE { ... }
package main;
tie %new_hash, 'NewHash';
tie %new_std_hash, 'NewStdHash';
=head1 DESCRIPTION
This module provides some skeletal methods for hash-tying classes. See
L<perltie> for a list of the functions required in order to tie a hash
to a package. The basic B<Tie::Hash> package provides a C<new> method, as well
as methods C<TIEHASH>, C<EXISTS> and C<CLEAR>. The B<Tie::StdHash> package
provides most methods required for hashes in L<perltie>. It inherits from
B<Tie::Hash>, and causes tied hashes to behave exactly like standard hashes,
allowing for selective overloading of methods. The C<new> method is provided
as grandfathering in the case a class forgets to include a C<TIEHASH> method.
For developers wishing to write their own tied hashes, the required methods
are briefly defined below. See the L<perltie> section for more detailed
descriptive, as well as example code:
=over
=item TIEHASH classname, LIST
The method invoked by the command C<tie %hash, classname>. Associates a new
hash instance with the specified class. C<LIST> would represent additional
arguments (along the lines of L<AnyDBM_File> and compatriots) needed to
complete the association.
=item STORE this, key, value
Store datum I<value> into I<key> for the tied hash I<this>.
=item FETCH this, key
Retrieve the datum in I<key> for the tied hash I<this>.
=item FIRSTKEY this
Return the first key in the hash.
=item NEXTKEY this, lastkey
Return the next key in the hash.
=item EXISTS this, key
Verify that I<key> exists with the tied hash I<this>.
The B<Tie::Hash> implementation is a stub that simply croaks.
=item DELETE this, key
Delete the key I<key> from the tied hash I<this>.
=item CLEAR this
Clear all values from the tied hash I<this>.
=back
=head1 CAVEATS
The L<perltie> documentation includes a method called C<DESTROY> as
a necessary method for tied hashes. Neither B<Tie::Hash> nor B<Tie::StdHash>
define a default for this method. This is a standard for class packages,
but may be omitted in favor of a simple default.
=head1 MORE INFORMATION
The packages relating to various DBM-related implementations (F<DB_File>,
F<NDBM_File>, etc.) show examples of general tied hashes, as does the
L<Config> module. While these do not utilize B<Tie::Hash>, they serve as
good working examples.
=cut
use Carp;
use warnings::register;
sub new {
my $pkg = shift;
}
# Grandfather "new"
sub TIEHASH {
my $pkg = shift;
if (defined &{"${pkg}::new"}) {
warnings::warnif("WARNING: calling ${pkg}->new since ${pkg}->TIEHASH is missing");
$pkg->new(@_);
}
else {
croak "$pkg doesn't define a TIEHASH method";
}
}
sub EXISTS {
my $pkg = ref $_[0];
croak "$pkg doesn't define an EXISTS method";
}
sub CLEAR {
my $self = shift;
my @keys;
while (defined $key) {
}
}
}
# The Tie::StdHash package implements standard perl hash behaviour.
# It exists to act as a base class for classes which only wish to
# alter some parts of their behaviour.
sub TIEHASH { bless {}, $_[0] }
sub NEXTKEY { each %{$_[0]} }
sub CLEAR { %{$_[0]} = () }
1;