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Matrix

A matrix is a 2-dimensional array of numbers used for linear algebra operations. Matrices are created by calling the to_matrix() method on nested arrays.

Matrix supports mathematical operations:

  • Matrix multiplication: m1 * m2
  • Element-wise addition: m1 + m2
  • Element-wise subtraction: m1 - m2

Matrix indexing:

  • m[i] returns row i as an array
  • m[i][j] returns the element at row i, column j
  • Negative indices are supported: m[-1] returns the last row
m1 = [[1, 2], [3, 4]].to_matrix()
m2 = [[5, 6], [7, 8]].to_matrix()

result = m1 * m2
sum = m1 + m2
diff = m2 - m1

print(result)

// should output
2x2 matrix
┌ ┐
19.0 22.0
43.0 50.0
└ ┘

Literal Specific Methods

col(INTEGER)

Returns ARRAY|ERROR

Returns the specified column as an array (0-indexed).

m = [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]].to_matrix()
m.col(1)
Output
[2.0, 5.0]

cols()

Returns INTEGER

Returns the number of columns in the matrix.

m = [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]].to_matrix()
m.cols()
Output
3

get(INTEGER, INTEGER)

Returns FLOAT|ERROR

Returns the element at the specified row and column (0-indexed).

m = [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]].to_matrix()
m.get(0, 2)
Output
3.0

row(INTEGER)

Returns ARRAY|ERROR

Returns the specified row as an array (0-indexed).

m = [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]].to_matrix()
m.row(0)
Output
[1.0, 2.0, 3.0]

rows()

Returns INTEGER

Returns the number of rows in the matrix.

m = [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]].to_matrix()
m.rows()
Output
2

set(INTEGER, INTEGER, NUMERIC)

Returns MATRIX|ERROR

Returns a new matrix with the element at the specified row and column (0-indexed) changed. The receiver is left untouched; use set! to mutate in place.

m = [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]].to_matrix()
m.set(0, 2, 99)
m
Output
2x3 matrix
┌ ┐
1.0 2.0 3.0
4.0 5.0 6.0
└ ┘
2x3 matrix
┌ ┐
1.0 2.0 99.0
4.0 5.0 6.0
└ ┘
2x3 matrix
┌ ┐
1.0 2.0 3.0
4.0 5.0 6.0
└ ┘

set!(INTEGER, INTEGER, NUMERIC)

Returns MATRIX|ERROR

Sets the element at the specified row and column (0-indexed), mutating the matrix in place, and returns it so calls can be chained.

m = [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]].to_matrix()
m.set!(0, 2, 99)
m
Output
2x3 matrix
┌ ┐
1.0 2.0 3.0
4.0 5.0 6.0
└ ┘
2x3 matrix
┌ ┐
1.0 2.0 99.0
4.0 5.0 6.0
└ ┘
2x3 matrix
┌ ┐
1.0 2.0 99.0
4.0 5.0 6.0
└ ┘

shape()

Returns ARRAY

Returns an array containing the dimensions [rows, cols] of the matrix.

m = [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]].to_matrix()
m.shape()
Output
[2, 3]

size()

Returns INTEGER

Returns the total number of elements in the matrix (rows * cols).

m = [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]].to_matrix()
m.size()
Output
6

to_array()

Returns ARRAY

Converts the matrix back to a nested array representation.

m = [[1, 2], [3, 4]].to_matrix()
m.to_array()
Output
[[1.0, 2.0], [3.0, 4.0]]

transpose()

Returns MATRIX

Returns the transposed matrix (rows and columns swapped).

m = [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]].to_matrix()
m.transpose()
Output
3x2 matrix
┌ ┐
1.0 4.0
2.0 5.0
3.0 6.0
└ ┘

Generic Literal Methods

help()

Returns NIL

Prints the type's literal-specific methods with their argument and return types, sorted by name, one per line. It returns nil rather than the listing: this exists to be read, and the REPL echoes a returned value through its escaped representation, which would put the whole thing on one line. Use methods when the names are wanted as data. A type with no methods of its own prints only the heading.

true.help()
1.0.help()
Output
BOOLEAN supports the following methods:
nil
FLOAT supports the following methods:
abs()
acos()
asin()
atan()
ceil([INTEGER])
copysign(NUMERIC)
cos()
divmod(FLOAT)
exp()
finite?()
floor([INTEGER])
infinite?()
log()
log10()
log2()
nan?()
negative?()
positive?()
pow(NUMERIC)
remainder(NUMERIC)
round([INTEGER])
sin()
sqrt()
tan()
truncate([INTEGER])
zero?()
nil

is_a?(STRING)

Returns BOOLEAN|ERROR

Returns true when the value is of the given type or belongs to the given type group, so one question covers both. The name has to be one that exists: anything else is an error rather than a false, because a typo would otherwise read as a real answer. See Types and type groups.

nil.is_a?("NIL")
"a".is_a?("HASHABLE")
nil.is_a?("HASHABLE")
true.is_a?("INTEGERABLE")
"a".is_a?("INTEGER")
Output
true
true
false
true
false

methods()

Returns ARRAY

Returns the names of the methods specific to this literal type, not including the generic methods listed on this page. The names are sorted, so the result is the same on every run. A type with no methods of its own returns an empty array.

1.0.methods().contains?("round")
true.methods()
Output
true
[]

nil?()

Returns BOOLEAN

Returns true only for nil. Reads better than comparing against nil at the end of a chain, and every type answers it.

nil.nil?()
1.nil?()
"".nil?()
[].first().nil?()
Output
true
false
false
true

to_float()

Returns FLOAT|NIL

Converts an object to its float representation, or nil when it cannot. A nil result is what distinguishes a failed conversion from a genuine 0.0.

1.to_float()
"1.4".to_float()
"abc".to_float()
nil.to_float()
Output
1.0
1.4
nil
nil

to_integer()

Returns INTEGER|NIL

Converts an object to its integer representation, or nil when it cannot. A nil result is what distinguishes a failed conversion from a genuine 0. For strings a 0b, 0o or 0x prefix selects binary, octal or hexadecimal and is matched case insensitively, a leading zero followed only by octal digits is octal, and anything else is decimal. The resulting integer keeps the base it was parsed with, and integers of differing bases cannot be combined directly.

true.to_integer()
false.to_integer()
1234.to_integer()
"4".to_integer()
"0".to_integer()
"0125".to_integer()
"0x2322".to_integer()
"0b1010".to_integer()
"test".to_integer()
Output
1
0
1234
4
0
0o125
0x2322
0b1010
nil

to_json()

Returns STRING|ERROR

Returns the object as json notation.

a = {"test": 1234}
a.to_json()
Output
{"test": 1234}
"{\"test\":1234}"

to_string()

Returns STRING

Converts an object to its string representation, or the empty string when it has none. Takes no arguments; an integer renders in its own base, so use to_base first to change it.

true.to_string()
1234.to_string()
"test".to_string()
1.4.to_string()
nil.to_string()
"0b1010".to_integer().to_string()
Output
"true"
"1234"
"test"
"1.4"
""
"0b1010"

type()

Returns STRING

Returns the type of the object.

"test".type()
Output
"STRING"

type_groups()

Returns ARRAY

Returns the type groups the value belongs to, sorted. ANY is not listed: every value belongs to it, so it would say nothing while prefixing every answer. It exists for signatures, where append(ANY) means the argument accepts anything, and is_a?("ANY") still answers true. See Types and type groups for what each group means.

1.type_groups()
nil.type_groups()
def() end.type_groups()
print.type_groups()
Output
["COMPARABLE", "HASHABLE", "INTEGERABLE", "NUMERIC", "STRINGABLE"]
["STRINGABLE"]
["CALLABLE"]
["CALLABLE"]

wat()

Returns NIL

An alias of help, kept as an easter egg. This is the only alias in RocketLang; every other method has exactly one name.

true.wat()
1.0.wat()
Output
BOOLEAN supports the following methods:
nil
FLOAT supports the following methods:
abs()
acos()
asin()
atan()
ceil([INTEGER])
copysign(NUMERIC)
cos()
divmod(FLOAT)
exp()
finite?()
floor([INTEGER])
infinite?()
log()
log10()
log2()
nan?()
negative?()
positive?()
pow(NUMERIC)
remainder(NUMERIC)
round([INTEGER])
sin()
sqrt()
tan()
truncate([INTEGER])
zero?()
nil