Uutf

# Module Uutf

    module Uutf: sig .. end

Non-blocking streaming Unicode codec.

`Uutf` is a non-blocking streaming codec to decode and encode the UTF-8, UTF-16, UTF-16LE and UTF-16BE encoding schemes. It can efficiently work character by character without blocking on IO. Decoders perform character position tracking and support newline normalization.

Functions are also provided to fold over the characters of UTF encoded OCaml string values and to directly encode characters in OCaml `Buffer.t` values.

See examples of use.

Release 0.9.3 - Daniel Bünzli <daniel.buenzl i@erratique.ch>

### References

- The Unicode Consortium. The Unicode Standard. (latest version)

# Unicode characters

`Uutf` uses the term character for a Unicode scalar value which is an integer value in the ranges `0x0000` ... `0xD7FF` and `0xE000` ... `0x10FFFF`. This should not be confused with a Unicode code point, which is a scalar value or a (textually meaningless) surrogate code point.

    type uchar = int

The type for Unicode characters. Any value of this type returned by `Uutf` is a Unicode scalar value.

    val u_bom : uchar

`u_bom` is the byte order mark (BOM) character (`U+FEFF`).

    val u_rep : uchar

`u_rep` is the replacement character (`U+FFFD`).

    val is_uchar : int -> bool

`is_uchar cp` is `true` iff `cp` is a Unicode scalar value.

    val cp_to_string : int -> string

`cp_to_string cp` represents the code point `cp` in ASCII according to the Unicode notational convention (see Appendix A in Unicode 6.1.0). If `cp` is not a valid code point `"U+Invalid(X)"` is returned where `X` is the hexadecimal integer value.

Warning. Not thread safe. Use `Uutf.pp_cp` for thread safety.

    val pp_cp : Format.formatter -> int -> unit

`pp_cp ppf cp` prints `cp` on `ppf`. See `Uutf.cp_to_string`.

# Unicode encoding schemes

    type encoding = [ `UTF_16 | `UTF_16BE | `UTF_16LE | `UTF_8 ]

The type for Unicode encoding schemes.

    type decoder_encoding = [ `ISO_8859_1 | `US_ASCII | `UTF_16 | `UTF_16BE | `UTF_16LE | `UTF_8 ]

The type for encoding schemes decoded by `Uutf`. Unicode encoding schemes plus US-ASCII and ISO/IEC 8859-1 (latin-1).

    val encoding_of_string : string -> decoder_encoding option

`encoding_of_string s` converts a (case insensitive) IANA character set name to an encoding.

    val encoding_to_string : [< decoder_encoding ] -> string

`encoding_to_string e` is a IANA character set name for `e`.

# Decode

    type src = [ `Channel of Pervasives.in_channel | `Manual | `String of string ]

The type for input sources. With a ``Manual` source the client must provide input with `Uutf.Manual.src`.

    type nln = [ `ASCII of uchar | `NLF of uchar | `Readline of uchar ]

The type for newline normalizations. The variant argument is the normalization character.

- ``ASCII`, normalizes CR (`U+000D`), LF (`U+000A`) and CRLF (<`U+000D`, `U+000A`>).
- ``NLF`, normalizes the Unicode newline function (NLF). This is NEL (`U+0085`) and the normalizations of ``ASCII`.
- ``Readline`, normalizes for a Unicode readline function. This is FF (`U+000C`), LS (`U+2028`), PS (`U+2029`), and the normalizations of ``NLF`.

Used with an appropriate normalization character the ``NLF` and ``Readline` normalizations allow to implement all the different recommendations of Unicode's newline guidelines (section 5.8 in Unicode 6.1.0).

    type decoder

The type for decoders.

    val decoder : ?nln:[< nln ] ->
           ?encoding:[< decoder_encoding ] -> [< src ] -> decoder

`decoder nln encoding src` is a decoder that inputs from `src`.

Byte order mark. Byte order mark (BOM) constraints are application dependent and prone to misunderstandings (see the FAQ). Hence, `Uutf` decoders have a simple rule: an initial BOM is always removed from the input and not counted in character position tracking. The function `Uutf.decoder_removed_bom` does however return `true` if a BOM was removed so that all the information can be recovered if needed.

For UTF-16BE and UTF-16LE the above rule is a violation of conformance D96 and D97 of the standard. `Uutf` favors the idea that if there's a BOM, decoding with ``UTF_16` or the ``UTF_16XX` corresponding to the BOM should decode the same character sequence (this is not the case if you stick to the standard). The client can however regain conformance by consulting the result of `Uutf.decoder_removed_bom` and take appropriate action.

Encoding. `encoding` specifies the decoded encoding scheme. If ``UTF_16` is used the endianness is determined according to the standard: from a BOM if there is one, ``UTF_16BE` otherwise.

If `encoding` is unspecified it is guessed. The result of a guess can only be ``UTF_8`, ``UTF_16BE` or ``UTF_16LE`. The heuristic looks at the first three bytes of input (or less if impossible) and takes the first matching byte pattern in the table below.

    xx = any byte

    .. = any byte or no byte (input too small)

    pp = positive byte

    uu = valid UTF-8 first byte

    Bytes    | Guess     | Rationale

    ---------+-----------+-----------------------------------------------

    EF BB BF | `UTF_8    | UTF-8 BOM

    FE FF .. | `UTF_16BE | UTF-16BE BOM

    FF FE .. | `UTF_16LE | UTF-16LE BOM

    00 pp .. | `UTF_16BE | ASCII UTF-16BE and U+0000 is often forbidden

    pp 00 .. | `UTF_16LE | ASCII UTF-16LE and U+0000 is often forbidden

    uu .. .. | `UTF_8    | ASCII UTF-8 or valid UTF-8 first byte.

    xx xx .. | `UTF_16BE | Not UTF-8 => UTF-16, no BOM => UTF-16BE

    .. .. .. | `UTF_8    | Single malformed UTF-8 byte or no input.

This heuristic is compatible both with BOM based recognitition and JSON-like encoding recognition that relies on ASCII being present at the beginning of the stream. Also, `Uutf.decoder_removed_bom` will tell the client if the guess was BOM based.

Newline normalization. If `nln` is specified, the given newline normalization is performed, see `Uutf.nln`. Otherwise all newlines are returned as found in the input.

Character position. The line number, column number and character count of the last decoded character (including ``Malformed` ones) are respectively returned by `Uutf.decoder_line`, `Uutf.decoder_col` and `Uutf.decoder_count`. Before the first call to `Uutf.decode` the line number is `1` and the column is `0`. Each `Uutf.decode` returning ``Uchar` or ``Malformed` increments the column until a newline. On a newline, the line number is incremented and the column set to zero. For example the line is `2` and column `0` after the first newline was decoded. This can be understood as if `Uutf.decode` was moving an insertion point to the right in the data. A newline is anything normalized by ``Readline`, see `Uutf.nln`.

`Uutf` assumes that each Unicode scalar value has a column width of 1. The same assumption may not be made by the display program (e.g. for `emacs`' compilation mode you need to set `compilation-error-screen-columns` to `nil`). For implementing more involved column width increments yourself, look into `wcwidth` and grapheme cluster boundaries.

    val decode : decoder ->
           [ `Await | `End | `Malformed of string | `Uchar of uchar ]

`decode d` is:

- ``Await` if `d` has a ``Manual` input source and awaits for more input. The client must use `Uutf.Manual.src` to provide it.
- ``Uchar u` if a Unicode scalar value `u` was decoded.
- ``End` if the end of input was reached.
- ``Malformed bytes` if the `bytes` sequence is malformed according to the decoded encoding scheme. If you are interested in a best-effort decoding you can still continue to decode after an error until the decoder synchronizes again on valid bytes. It may however be a good idea to signal the malformed characters by adding an `Uutf.u_rep` character to the parsed data, see the examples.

Note. Repeated invocation always eventually returns ``End`, even in case of errors.

    val decoder_encoding : decoder -> decoder_encoding

`decoder_encoding d` is `d`'s the decoded encoding scheme of `d`.

Warning. If the decoder guesses the encoding or uses ``UTF_16`, rely on this value only after the first ``Uchar` was decoded.

    val decoder_line : decoder -> int

`decoder_line d` is the line number of the last decoded (or malformed) character. See `Uutf.decoder` for details.

    val decoder_col : decoder -> int

`decoder_col d` is the column number of the last decoded (or malformed) character. See `Uutf.decoder` for details.

    val decoder_count : decoder -> int

`decoder_count d` is the number of characters already decoded on `d` (including malformed ones). See `Uutf.decoder` for details.

    val decoder_removed_bom : decoder -> bool

`decoder_removed_bom d` is `true` iff an initial BOM was removed from the input stream. See `Uutf.decoder` for details.

    val decoder_src : decoder -> src

`decoder_src d` is `d`'s input source.

    val decoder_nln : decoder -> nln option

`decoder_nln d` returns `d`'s newline normalization (if any).

    val pp_decode : Format.formatter ->
           [< `Await | `End | `Malformed of string | `Uchar of uchar ] -> unit

`pp_decode ppf v` prints an unspecified representation of `v` on `ppf`.

# Encode

    type dst = [ `Buffer of Buffer.t | `Channel of Pervasives.out_channel | `Manual ]

The type for output destinations. With a ``Manual` destination the client must provide output storage with `Uutf.Manual.dst`.

    type encoder

The type for Unicode encoders.

    val encoder : [< encoding ] -> [< dst ] -> encoder

`encoder encoding dst` is an encoder for `encoding` that outputs to `dst`.

Note. No initial BOM is encoded. If needed, this duty is left to the client.

    val encode : encoder ->
           [< `Await | `End | `Uchar of uchar ] -> [ `Ok | `Partial ]

`encode e v` is :

- ``Partial` iff `e` has a ``Manual` destination and needs more output storage. The client must use `Uutf.Manual.dst` to provide a new buffer and then call `Uutf.encode` with ``Await` until ``Ok` is returned.
- ``Ok` when the encoder is ready to encode a new ``Uchar` or ``End`

For ``Manual` destination, encoding ``End` always returns ``Partial`, the client should continue as usual with ``Await` until ``Ok` is returned at which point `Uutf.Manual.dst_rem` `e` is guaranteed to be the size of the last provided buffer (i.e. nothing was written).

Warning. The function assumes that `u` is a Unicode scalar value. If you are handling foreign data you can use `Uutf.is_uchar` to assert that.

Raises. `Invalid_argument` if an ``Uchar` or ``End` is encoded after a ``Partial` encode.

    val encoder_encoding : encoder -> encoding

`encoder_encoding e` is `e`'s encoding.

    val encoder_dst : encoder -> dst

`encoder_dst e` is `e`'s output destination.

# Manual sources and destinations.

    module Manual: sig .. end

Manual sources and destinations.

# String folders and Buffer encoders

    module String: sig .. end

Fold over the characters of UTF encoded OCaml `string` values.

    module Buffer: sig .. end

UTF encode characters in OCaml `Buffer.t` values.

# Examples

## Read lines

The value of `lines src` is the list of lines in `src` as UTF-8 encoded OCaml strings. Line breaks are determined according to the recommendation R4 for a `readline` function in section 5.8 of Unicode 6.1.0. If a decoding error occurs we silently replace the malformed sequence by the replacement character `Uutf.u_rep` and continue.

    let lines ?encoding (src : [`Channel of in_channel | `String of string]) =

      let rec loop d buf acc = match Uutf.decode d with

      | `Uchar 0x000A ->

          let line = Buffer.contents buf in

          Buffer.clear buf; loop d buf (line :: acc)

      | `Uchar u -> Uutf.Buffer.add_utf_8 buf u; loop d buf acc

      | `End -> List.rev (Buffer.contents buf :: acc)

      | `Malformed _ -> Uutf.Buffer.add_utf_8 buf Uutf.u_rep; loop d buf acc

      | `Await -> assert false

      in

      let nln = `Readline 0x000A in

      loop (Uutf.decoder ~nln ?encoding src) (Buffer.create 512) []

Using the ``Manual` interface, `lines_fd` does the same but on a Unix file descriptor.

    let lines_fd ?encoding (fd : Unix.file_descr) =

      let rec loop fd s d buf acc = match Uutf.decode d with

      | `Uchar 0x000A ->

          let line = Buffer.contents buf in

          Buffer.clear buf; loop fd s d buf (line :: acc)

      | `Uchar u -> Uutf.Buffer.add_utf_8 buf u; loop fd s d buf acc

      | `End -> List.rev (Buffer.contents buf :: acc)

      | `Malformed _ -> Uutf.Buffer.add_utf_8 buf Uutf.u_rep; loop fd s d buf acc

      | `Await ->

          let rec unix_read fd s j l = try Unix.read fd s j l with

          | Unix.Unix_error (Unix.EINTR, _, _) -> unix_read fd s j l

          in

          let rc = unix_read fd s 0 (String.length s) in

          Uutf.Manual.src d s 0 rc; loop fd s d buf acc

      in

      let s = String.create 65536 (* UNIX_BUFFER_SIZE in 4.0.0 *) in

      let nln = `Readline 0x000A in

      loop fd s (Uutf.decoder ~nln ?encoding `Manual) (Buffer.create 512) []

## Recode

The result of `recode src out_encoding dst` has the characters of `src` written on `dst` with encoding `out_encoding`. If a decoding error occurs we silently replace the malformed sequence by the replacement character `Uutf.u_rep` and continue. Note that we don't add an initial BOM to `dst`, recoding will thus loose the initial BOM `src` may have. Whether this is a problem or not depends on the context.

    let recode ?nln ?encoding out_encoding

        (src : [`Channel of in_channel | `String of string])

        (dst : [`Channel of out_channel | `Buffer of Buffer.t])

      =

      let rec loop d e = match Uutf.decode d with

      | `Uchar _ as u -> ignore (Uutf.encode e u); loop d e

      | `End -> ignore (Uutf.encode e `End)

      | `Malformed _ -> ignore (Uutf.encode e (`Uchar Uutf.u_rep)); loop d e

      | `Await -> assert false

      in

      let d = Uutf.decoder ?nln ?encoding src in

      let e = Uutf.encoder out_encoding dst in

      loop d e

Using the ``Manual` interface, `recode_fd` does the same but between Unix file descriptors.

    let recode_fd ?nln ?encoding out_encoding

        (fdi : Unix.file_descr)

        (fdo : Unix.file_descr)

      =

      let rec encode fd s e v = match Uutf.encode e v with `Ok -> ()

      | `Partial ->

          let rec unix_write fd s j l =

            let rec write fd s j l = try Unix.single_write fd s j l with

            | Unix.Unix_error (Unix.EINTR, _, _) -> write fd s j l

            in

            let wc = write fd s j l in

            if wc < l then unix_write fd s (j + wc) (l - wc) else ()

          in

          unix_write fd s 0 (String.length s - Uutf.Manual.dst_rem e);

          Uutf.Manual.dst e s 0 (String.length s);

          encode fd s e `Await

      in

      let rec loop fdi fdo ds es d e = match Uutf.decode d with

      | `Uchar _ as u -> encode fdo es e u; loop fdi fdo ds es d e

      | `End -> encode fdo es e `End

      | `Malformed _ -> encode fdo es e (`Uchar Uutf.u_rep); loop fdi fdo ds es d e

      | `Await ->

          let rec unix_read fd s j l = try Unix.read fd s j l with

          | Unix.Unix_error (Unix.EINTR, _, _) -> unix_read fd s j l

          in

          let rc = unix_read fdi ds 0 (String.length ds) in

          Uutf.Manual.src d ds 0 rc; loop fdi fdo ds es d e

      in

      let ds = String.create 65536 (* UNIX_BUFFER_SIZE in 4.0.0 *) in

      let es = String.create 65536 (* UNIX_BUFFER_SIZE in 4.0.0 *) in

      let d = Uutf.decoder ?nln ?encoding `Manual in

      let e = Uutf.encoder out_encoding `Manual in

      Uutf.Manual.dst e es 0 (String.length es);

      loop fdi fdo ds es d e