Elisp: Backquote Reader Macro for List
What is Backquote Reader Macro
Backquote Reader Macro is a lisp reader macro , which transforms syntax before lisp compiler runs the code.
Backquote Reader Macro is useful for:
- Eval some of the list element only.
- Change list into just its elements, inside a list.
Eval Some Elements Only
Syntax:
`(x1 x2 rest)
for each element you want to eval, put a comma in front of it. e.g. eval second elemnt
`(x1 ,x2 x3)
;; example of eval only some element of a list (setq x1 1) (setq x2 2) ;; eval just x1 (setq x3 `(0 ,x1 x2)) (equal x3 '(0 1 x2)) ;; true (proper-list-p x3) ;; true
Change List into Its Elements
Syntax:
`(x1 x2 rest)
for each element that is a list you want to become elements, put “comma at” ,@
in front of it.
e.g. spill x2 as elements:
`(x1 ,@x2 x3)
;; example of turning a list into elements, inside a list (setq x1 (list 1 2)) (setq x2 (list 3 4)) ;; we want the elements of x1 and x2 inside a list, but not as sublist (setq x3 `(0 ,@ x1 ,@ x2)) (equal x3 '(0 1 2 3 4)) ;; true (proper-list-p x3) ;; true
;; Backquote Reader Macro can be used to feed a list into a function as args ;; our test function (defun ff (x y z) "return args as one string" (format "%s %s %s" x y z)) ;; normal usage (equal (ff 2 3 4) "2 3 4") ;; define a list (setq xx '(2 3 4)) ;; use backquote reader macro, to turn a list into elements, then use eval (equal (eval `(ff ,@ xx)) "2 3 4")