1.2. Values and Data types

While Quirrel is a dynamically typed language and variables do not have a type, different operations may interpret the variable as containing a type. Quirrel’s basic types are integer, float, string, null, table, array, function, generator, class, instance, bool, thread and userdata.

1.2.1. Integer

An Integer represents a 32 bit (or better) signed number.:

local a = 123 //decimal
local b = 0x0012 //hexadecimal
local d = 'w' //char code
local e = 123_456 // underscores may be used to visually sepearate digit groups
local f = 0xAB_CD_01_23 // also underscores

1.2.2. Float

A float represents a 32 bit (or better) floating point number.:

local a = 1.0
local b = 0.234
local c = 6.5e-11 //exponential notation
local d = 12.345_67e+2 // digit group separators

1.2.3. String

Strings are an immutable sequence of characters. In order to modify a string is it necessary create a new one.

Quirrel’s strings are similar to strings in C or C++. They are delimited by quotation marks(") and can contain escape sequences (\t, \a, \b, \n, \r, \v, \f, \\, \", \', \0, \x<hh>, \u<hhhh> and \U<hhhhhhhh>).

Verbatim string literals do not interpret escape sequences. They begin with @" and end with the matching quote. Verbatim string literals also can extend over a line break. If they do, they include any white space characters between the quotes:

let a = "I'm a wonderful string\n"
// has a newline at the end of the string
let x = @"I'm a verbatim string\n"
// the \n is literal, similar to "\\n" in a regular string.

However, a doubled quotation mark within a verbatim string is replaced by a single quotation mark:

let multiline = @"
    this is a multiline string
    it will ""embed"" all the new line
    characters
"

1.2.4. Null

The null value is a primitive value that represents the null, empty, or non-existent reference. The type Null has exactly one value, called null.:

local a = null

1.2.5. Bool

Bool is a double-valued (Boolean) data type. Its literals are true and false. A bool value expresses the validity of a condition (tells whether the condition is true or false).:

local a = true

1.2.6. Table

Tables are associative containers implemented as a set of key/value pairs called slots.:

let t={}
let test = {
    a=10
    b = function(x) { return x+1 }
}

1.2.7. Array

Arrays are simple sequence of objects. Their size is dynamic and their index always starts from 0.:

let a  = ["I'm","an","array"]
let b = [null]
b[0] = a[2]

1.2.8. Function

Functions are similar to those in other C-like languages with a few key differences (see below).

1.2.9. Class

Classes are associative containers implemented as sets of key/value pairs. Classes are created through a ‘class expression’ or a ‘class statement’. class members can be inherited from another class object at creation time. After creation, members can be added until an instance of the class is created.

1.2.10. Class Instance

Class instances are created by calling a class object. Instances, as tables, are implemented as sets of key/value pairs. Instance members cannot be dynamically added or removed; however the value of the members can be changed.

1.2.11. Generator

Generators are functions that can be suspended with the statement ‘yield’ and resumed later (see Generators).

1.2.12. Userdata

Userdata objects are blobs of memory or pointers defined by the host application but stored within Quirrel variables (See Userdata and UserPointers).

1.2.13. Thread

Threads are objects representing a cooperative thread of execution, also known as coroutines.

1.2.14. Weak Reference

Weak References are objects that point to another (non-scalar) object but do not own a strong reference to it. (See Weak References).