Dynamic Values ============== {{#include ../links.md}} A `Dynamic` value can be _any_ type. However, under [`sync`], all types must be `Send + Sync`. Use [`type_of()`] to Get Value Type ---------------------------------- Because [`type_of()`] a `Dynamic` value returns the type of the actual value, it is usually used to perform type-specific actions based on the actual value's type. ```rust let mystery = get_some_dynamic_value(); if type_of(mystery) == "i64" { print("Hey, I got an integer here!"); } else if type_of(mystery) == "f64" { print("Hey, I got a float here!"); } else if type_of(mystery) == "string" { print("Hey, I got a string here!"); } else if type_of(mystery) == "bool" { print("Hey, I got a boolean here!"); } else if type_of(mystery) == "array" { print("Hey, I got an array here!"); } else if type_of(mystery) == "map" { print("Hey, I got an object map here!"); } else if type_of(mystery) == "Fn" { print("Hey, I got a function pointer here!"); } else if type_of(mystery) == "TestStruct" { print("Hey, I got the TestStruct custom type here!"); } else { print("I don't know what this is: " + type_of(mystery)); } ``` Functions Returning `Dynamic` ---------------------------- In Rust, sometimes a `Dynamic` forms part of a returned value - a good example is an [array] which contains `Dynamic` elements, or an [object map] which contains `Dynamic` property values. To get the _real_ values, the actual value types _must_ be known in advance. There is no easy way for Rust to decide, at run-time, what type the `Dynamic` value is (short of using the `type_name` function and match against the name). Type Checking and Casting ------------------------ A `Dynamic` value's actual type can be checked via the `is` method. The `cast` method then converts the value into a specific, known type. Alternatively, use the `try_cast` method which does not panic but returns `None` when the cast fails. ```rust let list: Array = engine.eval("...")?; // return type is 'Array' let item = list[0]; // an element in an 'Array' is 'Dynamic' item.is::() == true; // 'is' returns whether a 'Dynamic' value is of a particular type let value = item.cast::(); // if the element is 'i64', this succeeds; otherwise it panics let value: i64 = item.cast(); // type can also be inferred let value = item.try_cast::().unwrap(); // 'try_cast' does not panic when the cast fails, but returns 'None' ``` Type Name --------- The `type_name` method gets the name of the actual type as a static string slice, which can be `match`-ed against. ```rust let list: Array = engine.eval("...")?; // return type is 'Array' let item = list[0]; // an element in an 'Array' is 'Dynamic' match item.type_name() { // 'type_name' returns the name of the actual Rust type "i64" => ... "alloc::string::String" => ... "bool" => ... "path::to::module::TestStruct" => ... } ``` Conversion Traits ---------------- The following conversion traits are implemented for `Dynamic`: * `From` (`i32` if [`only_i32`]) * `From` (if not [`no_float`]) * `From` * `From` * `From` * `From` * `From>` (into an [array]) * `From>` (into an [object map]).