PPIx::Regexp::Token::Reference(3pm)

NAME
PPIx::Regexp::Token::Reference - Represent a reference to a capture

SYNOPSIS
 use PPIx::Regexp::Dumper;
 PPIx::Regexp::Dumper->new( 'qr{\1}smx' )
     ->print();

INHERITANCE
"PPIx::Regexp::Token::Reference" is a PPIx::Regexp::Token.

"PPIx::Regexp::Token::Reference" is the parent of PPIx::Regexp::Token::Backreference, PPIx::Regexp::Token::Condition and PPIx::Regexp::Token::Recursion.

DESCRIPTION
This abstract class represents a reference to a capture buffer, either numbered or named. It should never be instantiated, but it provides a number of methods to its subclasses.

METHODS
This class provides the following public methods. Methods not documented here are private, and unsupported in the sense that the author reserves the right to change or remove them without notice.

  absolute
 print "The absolute reference is ", $ref->absolute(), "\n";

This method returns the absolute number of the capture buffer referred to. This is the same as number() for unsigned numeric references. If the reference is to a named buffer, "undef" is returned.

  is_named
 $ref->is_named and print "named reference\n";

This method returns true if the reference is named rather than numbered.

  is_relative
 $ref->is_relative()
     and print "relative numbered reference\n";

This method returns true if the reference is numbered and it is a relative number (i.e. if it is signed).

  is_matcher
This method returns a true value because, although we do not actually perform an analysis on the referred-to entity, we presume it matches something.

  name
 print "The name is ", $ref->name(), "\n";

This method returns the name of the capture buffer referred to. In the case of a reference to a numbered capture (i.e. "is_named" returns false), this method returns "undef".

  number
 print "The number is ", $ref->number(), "\n";

This method returns the number of the capture buffer referred to. In the case of a reference to a named capture (i.e. "is_named" returns true), this method returns "undef".

SUPPORT
Support is by the author. Please file bug reports at <https://github.com/trwyant/perl-PPIx-Regexp/issues> or in electronic mail to the author.

AUTHOR
Thomas R. Wyant, III harryfmudd at comcast dot net

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE
Copyright (C) 2009-2023, 2025-2026 by Thomas R. Wyant, III

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl 5.10.0. For more details, see the full text of the licenses in the directory LICENSES.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but without any warranty; without even the implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.