Collect dynamic dots in a list

list2(...) is equivalent to list(...) with a few additional features, collectively called dynamic dots. While list2() hard-code these features, dots_list() is a lower-level version that offers more control.

Usage

list2(...)

dots_list(
  ...,
  .named = FALSE,
  .ignore_empty = c("trailing", "none", "all"),
  .preserve_empty = FALSE,
  .homonyms = c("keep", "first", "last", "error"),
  .check_assign = FALSE
)

Arguments

...

Arguments to collect in a list. These dots are dynamic.

.named

If TRUE, unnamed inputs are automatically named with as_label(). This is equivalent to applying exprs_auto_name() on the result. If FALSE, unnamed elements are left as is and, if fully unnamed, the list is given minimal names (a vector of ""). If NULL, fully unnamed results are left with NULL names.

.ignore_empty

Whether to ignore empty arguments. Can be one of "trailing", "none", "all". If "trailing", only the last argument is ignored if it is empty.

.preserve_empty

Whether to preserve the empty arguments that were not ignored. If TRUE, empty arguments are stored with missing_arg() values. If FALSE (the default) an error is thrown when an empty argument is detected.

.homonyms

How to treat arguments with the same name. The default, "keep", preserves these arguments. Set .homonyms to "first" to only keep the first occurrences, to "last" to keep the last occurrences, and to "error" to raise an informative error and indicate what arguments have duplicated names.

.check_assign

Whether to check for <- calls. When TRUE a warning recommends users to use = if they meant to match a function parameter or wrap the <- call in curly braces otherwise. This ensures assignments are explicit.

Value

A list containing the ... inputs.

Details

For historical reasons, dots_list() creates a named list by default. By comparison list2() implements the preferred behaviour of only creating a names vector when a name is supplied.

Examples

# Let's create a function that takes a variable number of arguments:
numeric <- function(...) {
  dots <- list2(...)
  num <- as.numeric(dots)
  set_names(num, names(dots))
}
numeric(1, 2, 3)
#> [1] 1 2 3

# The main difference with list(...) is that list2(...) enables
# the `!!!` syntax to splice lists:
x <- list(2, 3)
numeric(1, !!! x, 4)
#> [1] 1 2 3 4

# As well as unquoting of names:
nm <- "yup!"
numeric(!!nm := 1)
#> yup! 
#>    1 


# One useful application of splicing is to work around exact and
# partial matching of arguments. Let's create a function taking
# named arguments and dots:
fn <- function(data, ...) {
  list2(...)
}

# You normally cannot pass an argument named `data` through the dots
# as it will match `fn`'s `data` argument. The splicing syntax
# provides a workaround:
fn("wrong!", data = letters)  # exact matching of `data`
#> [[1]]
#> [1] "wrong!"
#> 
fn("wrong!", dat = letters)   # partial matching of `data`
#> [[1]]
#> [1] "wrong!"
#> 
fn(some_data, !!!list(data = letters))  # no matching
#> $data
#>  [1] "a" "b" "c" "d" "e" "f" "g" "h" "i" "j" "k" "l" "m" "n" "o" "p"
#> [17] "q" "r" "s" "t" "u" "v" "w" "x" "y" "z"
#> 

# Empty trailing arguments are allowed:
list2(1, )
#> [[1]]
#> [1] 1
#> 

# But non-trailing empty arguments cause an error:
try(list2(1, , ))
#> Error in list2(1, , ) : Argument 2 can't be empty.

# Use the more configurable `dots_list()` function to preserve all
# empty arguments:
list3 <- function(...) dots_list(..., .preserve_empty = TRUE)

# Note how the last empty argument is still ignored because
# `.ignore_empty` defaults to "trailing":
list3(1, , )
#> [[1]]
#> [1] 1
#> 
#> [[2]]
#> 
#> 

# The list with preserved empty arguments is equivalent to:
list(1, missing_arg())
#> [[1]]
#> [1] 1
#> 
#> [[2]]
#> 
#> 


# Arguments with duplicated names are kept by default:
list2(a = 1, a = 2, b = 3, b = 4, 5, 6)
#> $a
#> [1] 1
#> 
#> $a
#> [1] 2
#> 
#> $b
#> [1] 3
#> 
#> $b
#> [1] 4
#> 
#> [[5]]
#> [1] 5
#> 
#> [[6]]
#> [1] 6
#> 

# Use the `.homonyms` argument to keep only the first of these:
dots_list(a = 1, a = 2, b = 3, b = 4, 5, 6, .homonyms = "first")
#> $a
#> [1] 1
#> 
#> $b
#> [1] 3
#> 
#> [[3]]
#> [1] 5
#> 
#> [[4]]
#> [1] 6
#> 

# Or the last:
dots_list(a = 1, a = 2, b = 3, b = 4, 5, 6, .homonyms = "last")
#> $a
#> [1] 2
#> 
#> $b
#> [1] 4
#> 
#> [[3]]
#> [1] 5
#> 
#> [[4]]
#> [1] 6
#> 

# Or raise an informative error:
try(dots_list(a = 1, a = 2, b = 3, b = 4, 5, 6, .homonyms = "error"))
#> Error in eval(expr, envir) : 
#>   Arguments in `...` must have unique names.
#> ✖ Multiple arguments named `a` at positions 1 and 2.
#> ✖ Multiple arguments named `b` at positions 3 and 4.


# dots_list() can be configured to warn when a `<-` call is
# detected:
my_list <- function(...) dots_list(..., .check_assign = TRUE)
my_list(a <- 1)
#> Warning: Using `<-` as argument is often a mistake.
#> Do you need to use `=` to match an argument?
#> 
#> If you really want to use `<-`, please wrap in braces:
#> 
#>   # Bad:
#>   fn(a <- 1)
#> 
#>   # Good:
#>   fn(a = 1)       # Match 1 to parameter `a`
#>   fn({ a <- 1 })  # Assign 1 to variable `a`
#> [[1]]
#> [1] 1
#> 

# There is no warning if the assignment is wrapped in braces.
# This requires users to be explicit about their intent:
my_list({ a <- 1 })
#> [[1]]
#> [1] 1
#>