SYNOPSIS

use Scalar::Number qw(scalar_num_part);
$num = scalar_num_part($scalar);
use Scalar::Number qw(sclnum_is_natint sclnum_is_float);
if(sclnum_is_natint($value)) { ...
if(sclnum_is_float($value)) { ...
use Scalar::Number qw(sclnum_val_cmp sclnum_id_cmp);
@sorted_nums = sort { sclnum_val_cmp($a, $b) } @floats;
@sorted_nums = sort { sclnum_id_cmp($a, $b) } @floats;

DESCRIPTION

This module provides functions to extract the numeric part of a scalar, classify a number by expressibility, and compare numbers across representations.

This module is implemented in XS, with a pure Perl backup version for systems that can't handle XS.

FUNCTIONS

Decomposition

scalar_num_part(SCALAR)

Extracts the numeric value of SCALAR, and returns it as a pure numeric scalar. The argument is permitted to be any scalar.

Every scalar has both a string value and a numeric value. In pure string scalars, those resulting from string literals or string operations, the numeric value is determined from the string value. In pure numeric scalars, those resulting from numeric literals or numeric operations, the string value is determined from the numeric value. In the general case, however, a plain scalar's string and numeric values may be set independently, which is known as a dualvar. Non-plain scalars, principally references, determine their string and numeric values in other ways, and in particular a reference to a blessed object can stringify and numerify however the class wishes.

This function does not warn if given an ostensibly non-numeric argument, because the whole point of it is to extract the numeric value of scalars that are not pure numeric.

Classification

sclnum_is_natint(VALUE)

Returns a truth value indicating whether the provided VALUE can be represented in the native integer data type. If the floating point type includes signed zeroes then they do not qualify; the only zero representable in the integer type is unsigned.

sclnum_is_float(VALUE)

Returns a truth value indicating whether the provided VALUE can be represented in the native floating point data type. If the floating point type includes signed zeroes then an unsigned zero (from the native integer type) does not qualify.

Comparison

sclnum_val_cmp(A, B)

Numerically compares the values A and B. Integer and floating point values are compared correctly with each other, even if there is no available format in which both values can be accurately represented. Returns -1, 0, +1, or undef, indicating whether A is less than, equal to, greater than, or not comparable with B. The ``not comparable'' situation arises if either value is a floating point NaN (not-a-number). All flavours of zero compare equal.

This is very similar to Perl's built-in <=> operator. The only difference is the capability to compare integer against floating point (where neither can be represented exactly in the other's format). <=> performs such comparisons in floating point, losing accuracy of the integer value.

sclnum_id_cmp(A, B)

This is a comparison function supplying a total ordering of scalar numeric values. Returns -1, 0, or +1, indicating whether A is to be sorted before, the same as, or after B.

The ordering is of the identities of numeric values, not their numerical values. If floating point zeroes are signed, then the three types (positive, negative, and unsigned) are considered to be distinct. NaNs compare equal to each other, but different from all numeric values. The exact ordering provided is mostly numerical order: NaNs come first, followed by negative infinity, then negative finite values, then negative zero, then unsigned zero, then positive zero, then positive finite values, then positive infinity.

In addition to sorting, this function can be useful to check for a zero of a particular sign.

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