NAME

Math::Calc::Parser - Parse and evaluate mathematical expressions

SYNOPSIS

  use Math::Calc::Parser 'calc';
  
  my $result = calc '2 + 2'; # 4
  my $result = calc 'int rand 5'; # Random integer between 0 and 4
  my $result = calc 'sqrt -1'; # i
  my $result = calc '0xff << 2'; # 1020
  my $result = calc '1/0'; # Division by 0 exception
  
  # Class methods
  my $result = Math::Calc::Parser->evaluate('2 + 2'); # 4
  my $result = Math::Calc::Parser->evaluate('3pi^2'); # 29.608813203268
  my $result = Math::Calc::Parser->evaluate('0.7(ln 4)'); # 0.970406052783923
  
  # With more advanced error handling
  my $result = Math::Calc::Parser->try_evaluate('rand(abs'); # undef (Mismatched parentheses)
  if (defined $result) {
    print "Result: $result\n";
  } else {
    print "Error: ".Math::Calc::Parser->error."\n";
  }
  
  # Or as an object for more control
  my $parser = Math::Calc::Parser->new;
  $parser->add_functions(triple => { args => 1, code => sub { $_[0]*3 } });
  $parser->add_functions(pow => { args => 2, code => sub { $_[0] ** $_[1] });
  $parser->add_functions(one => sub { 1 }, two => sub { 2 }, three => sub { 3 });
  
  my $result = $parser->evaluate('2(triple one)'); # 2*(1*3) = 6
  my $result = $parser->evaluate('pow(triple two, three)'); # (2*3)^3 = 216
  my $result = $parser->try_evaluate('triple triple'); # undef (Malformed expression)
  die $parser->error unless defined $result;
  
  $parser->remove_functions('pi', 'e');
  $parser->evaluate('3pi'); # Invalid function exception

DESCRIPTION

Math::Calc::Parser is a simplified mathematical expression evaluator with support for complex and trigonometric operations, implicit multiplication, and perlish "parentheses optional" functions, while being safe for arbitrary user input. It parses input strings into a structure based on Reverse Polish notation (RPN), and then evaluates the result. The list of recognized functions may be customized using "add_functions" and "remove_functions".

FUNCTIONS

calc

  use Math::Calc::Parser 'calc';
  my $result = calc '2+2';
  
  $ perl -MMath::Calc::Parser=calc -E 'say calc "2+2"'
  $ perl -Math -e '2+2'

Compact exportable function wrapping "evaluate" for string expressions. Throws an exception on error. See ath for easy compact one-liners.

METHODS

Aside from add_functions and remove_functions, all methods can be called as class methods, and will act on a singleton object with the default functions available.

new

  my $parser = Math::Calc::Parser->new;

Creates a new Math::Calc::Parser object.

parse

  my $parsed = Math::Calc::Parser->parse('5 / e^(i*pi)');
  my $parsed = $parser->parse('3pi');

Parses a mathematical expression. On success, returns an array reference representation of the expression in RPN notation which can be passed to "evaluate". Throws an exception on failure.

evaluate

  my $result = Math::Calc::Parser->evaluate($parsed);
  my $result = Math::Calc::Parser->evaluate('log rand 7');
  my $result = $parser->evaluate('round 13/3');

Evaluates a mathematical expression. The argument can be either an arrayref from "parse" or a string expression which will be passed to "parse". Returns the result of the expression on success or throws an exception on failure.

try_evaluate

  if (defined (my $result = Math::Calc::Parser->evaluate('floor 2.5'))) {
    print "Result: $result\n";
  } else {
    print "Error: ".Math::Calc::Parser->error."\n";
  }
  
  if (defined (my $result = $parser->evaluate('log(5'))) {
        print "Result: $result\n";
  } else {
        print "Error: ".$parser->error."\n";
  }

Same as "evaluate" but instead of throwing an exception on failure, returns undef and sets the "error" attribute to the error message. The error message for the most recent "try_evaluate" call can also be retrieved from the package variable $Math::Calc::Parser::ERROR.

error

  my $result = Math::Calc::Parser->try_evaluate('(i');
  die Math::Calc::Parser->error unless defined $result;
  my $result = $parser->try_evaluate('2//');
  die $parser->error unless defined $result;

Returns the error message after a failed "try_evaluate".

add_functions

  $parser->add_functions(
    my_function => { args => 5, code => sub { return grep { $_ > 0 } @_; } },
    other_function => sub { 20 }
  );

Adds functions to be recognized by the parser object. Keys are function names which must start with an alphabetic character and consist only of word characters. Values are either a hashref containing args and code keys, or a coderef that is assumed to be a 0-argument function. args must be an integer greater than or equal to 0. code or the passed coderef will be called with the numeric operands passed as parameters, and must either return a numeric result or throw an exception. Non-numeric results will be cast to numbers in the usual perl fashion, and undefined results will throw an evaluation error.

remove_functions

  $parser->remove_functions('rand','nonexistent');

Removes functions from the parser object if they exist. Can be used to remove default functions as well as functions previously added with "add_functions".

OPERATORS

Math::Calc::Parser recognizes the following operators with their usual mathematical definitions.

  +, -, *, /, %, ^, !, <<, >>

Note: + and - can represent both binary addition/subtraction and unary negation.

DEFAULT FUNCTIONS

Math::Calc::Parser parses several functions by default, which can be customized using "add_functions" or "remove_functions" on an object instance.

abs

Absolute value.

acos

asin

atan

Inverse sine, cosine, and tangent.

ceil

Round up to nearest integer.

cos

Cosine.

e

Euler's number.

floor

Round down to nearest integer.

i

Imaginary unit.

int

Cast (truncate) to integer.

ln

Natural log.

log

Log base 10.

logn

Log with arbitrary base given as second argument.

pi

π

rand

Random value between 0 and 1 (exclusive of 1).

round

Round to nearest integer, with halfway cases rounded away from zero.

sin

Sine.

sqrt

Square root.

tan

Tangent.

CAVEATS

While parentheses are optional for functions with 0 or 1 argument, they are required when a comma is used to separate multiple arguments.

Due to the nature of handling complex numbers, the evaluated result may be a Math::Complex object. These objects can be directly printed or used in numeric operations but may be more difficult to use in comparisons.

Operators that are not defined to operate on complex numbers will return the result of the operation on the real components of their operands. This includes the operators <<, >>, %, and !.

BUGS

Report any issues on the public bugtracker.

AUTHOR

Dan Book, dbook@cpan.org

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

Copyright 2015, Dan Book.

This library is free software; you may redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the Artistic License version 2.0.

SEE ALSO

Math::Complex

cpanm Math::Calc::Parser

perl -MCPAN -e shell
install Math::Calc::Parser