NAME
Test::Number::Delta - Compare the difference between numbers against a
given tolerance
SYNOPSIS
# Import test functions
use Test::Number::Delta;
# Equality test with default tolerance
delta_ok( 1e-5, 2e-5, 'values within 1e-6');
# Inequality test with default tolerance
delta_not_ok( 1e-5, 2e-5, 'values not within 1e-6');
# Provide specific tolerance
delta_within( 1e-3, 2e-3, 1e-4, 'values within 1e-4');
delta_not_within( 1e-3, 2e-3, 1e-4, 'values not within 1e-4');
# Compare arrays or matrices
@a = ( 3.14, 1.41 );
@b = ( 3.15, 1.41 );
delta_ok( \@a, \@b, 'compare @a and @b' );
# Set a different default tolerance
use Test::Number::Delta within => 1e-5;
delta_ok( 1.1e-5, 2e-5, 'values within 1e-5'); # ok
# Set a relative tolerance
use Test::Number::Delta relative => 1e-3;
delta_ok( 1.01, 1.0099, 'values within 1.01e-3');
DESCRIPTION
At some point or another, most programmers find they need to compare
floating-point numbers for equality. The typical idiom is to test if the
absolute value of the difference of the numbers is within a desired
tolerance, usually called epsilon. This module provides such a function
for use with Test::Harness. Usage is similar to other test functions
described in Test::More. Semantically, the "delta_within" function
replaces this kind of construct:
ok ( abs($p - $q) < $epsilon, '$p is equal to $q' ) or
diag "$p is not equal to $q to within $epsilon";
While there's nothing wrong with that construct, it's painful to type it
repeatedly in a test script. This module does the same thing with a
single function call. The "delta_ok" function is similar, but either
uses a global default value for epsilon or else calculates a 'relative'
epsilon on the fly so that epsilon is scaled automatically to the size
of the arguments to "delta_ok". Both functions are exported
automatically.
Because checking floating-point equality is not always reliable, it is
not possible to check the 'equal to' boundary of 'less than or equal to
epsilon'. Therefore, Test::Number::Delta only compares if the absolute
value of the difference is less than epsilon (for equality tests) or
greater than epsilon (for inequality tests).
USAGE
use Test::Number::Delta;
With no arguments, epsilon defaults to 1e-6. (An arbitrary choice on the
author's part.)
use Test::Number::Delta within => 1e-9;
To specify a different default value for epsilon, provide a "within"
parameter when importing the module. The value must be non-zero.
use Test::Number::Delta relative => 1e-3;
As an alternative to using a fixed value for epsilon, provide a
"relative" parameter when importing the module. This signals that
"delta_ok" should test equality with an epsilon that is scaled to the
size of the arguments. Epsilon is calculated as the relative value times
the absolute value of the argument with the greatest magnitude.
Mathematically, for arguments 'x' and 'y':
epsilon = relative * max( abs(x), abs(y) )
For example, a relative value of "0.01" would mean that the arguments
are equal if they differ by less than 1% of the larger of the two
values. A relative value of 1e-6 means that the arguments must differ by
less than 1 millionth of the larger value. The relative value must be
non-zero.
Combining with a test plan
use Test::Number::Delta 'no_plan';
# or
use Test::Number::Delta within => 1e-9, tests => 1;
If a test plan has not already been specified, the optional parameter
for Test::Number::Delta may be followed with a test plan (see Test::More
for details). If a parameter for Test::Number::Delta is given, it must
come first.
FUNCTIONS
delta_within
delta_within( $p, $q, $epsilon, '$p and $q are equal within $epsilon' );
delta_within( \@p, \@q, $epsilon, '@p and @q are equal within $epsilon' );
This function tests for equality within a given value of epsilon. The
test is true if the absolute value of the difference between $p and $q
is less than epsilon. If the test is true, it prints an "OK" statement
for use in testing. If the test is not true, this function prints a
failure report and diagnostic. Epsilon must be non-zero.
The values to compare may be scalars or references to arrays. If the
values are references to arrays, the comparison is done pairwise for
each index value of the array. The pairwise comparison is recursive, so
matrices may be compared as well.
For example, this code sample compares two matrices:
my @a = ( [ 3.14, 6.28 ],
[ 1.41, 2.84 ] );
my @b = ( [ 3.14, 6.28 ],
[ 1.42, 2.84 ] );
delta_within( \@a, \@b, 1e-6, 'compare @a and @b' );
The sample prints the following:
not ok 1 - compare @a and @b
# At [1][0]: 1.4100000 and 1.4200000 are not equal to within 0.000001
delta_ok
delta_ok( $p, $q, '$p and $q are close enough to equal' );
delta_ok( \@p, \@q, '@p and @q are close enough to equal' );
This function tests for equality within a default epsilon value. See
"USAGE" for details on changing the default. Otherwise, this function
works the same as "delta_within".
delta_not_within
delta_not_within( $p, $q, '$p and $q are different' );
delta_not_within( \@p, \@q, $epsilon, '@p and @q are different' );
This test compares inequality in excess of a given value of epsilon. The
test is true if the absolute value of the difference between $p and $q
is greater than epsilon. For array or matrix comparisons, the test is
true if *any* pair of values differs by more than epsilon. Otherwise,
this function works the same as "delta_within".
delta_not_ok
delta_not_ok( $p, $q, '$p and $q are different' );
delta_not_ok( \@p, \@q, '@p and @q are different' );
This function tests for inequality in excess of a default epsilon value.
See "USAGE" for details on changing the default. Otherwise, this
function works the same as "delta_not_within".
SEE ALSO
Test::More, Test::Harness, Test::Builder
BUGS
Please report any bugs or feature using the CPAN Request Tracker. Bugs
can be submitted by email to "bug-Test-Number-Delta@rt.cpan.org" or
through the web interface at
<http://rt.cpan.org/Dist/Display.html?Queue=Test-Number-Delta>
When submitting a bug or request, please include a test-file or a patch
to an existing test-file that illustrates the bug or desired feature.
AUTHOR
David A Golden (DAGOLDEN)
dagolden@cpan.org
<http://dagolden.com/>
COPYRIGHT
Copyright (c) 2005, 2006 by David A. Golden
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
under the same terms as Perl itself.
The full text of the license can be found in the LICENSE file included
with this module.
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY
BECAUSE THIS SOFTWARE IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO WARRANTY
FOR THE SOFTWARE, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN
OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES
PROVIDE THE SOFTWARE "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE
ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE IS WITH
YOU. SHOULD THE SOFTWARE PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL
NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR, OR CORRECTION.
IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN WRITING
WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MAY MODIFY AND/OR
REDISTRIBUTE THE SOFTWARE AS PERMITTED BY THE ABOVE LICENCE, BE LIABLE
TO YOU FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE
SOFTWARE (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING
RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD PARTIES OR A
FAILURE OF THE SOFTWARE TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER SOFTWARE), EVEN IF
SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
DAMAGES.