info \- Information about the state of the Tcl interpreter
.SH SYNOPSIS
\fBinfo \fIoption \fR?\fIarg arg ...\fR?
.BE
.SH DESCRIPTION
.PP
Available commands:
.\" METHOD: args
.TP
\fBinfo args \fIprocname\fR
.
Returns the names of the parameters to the procedure named \fIprocname\fR.
.\" METHOD: body
.TP
\fBinfo body \fIprocname\fR
.
Returns the body of the procedure named \fIprocname\fR.
.\" METHOD: class
.TP
\fBinfo class\fI subcommand class\fR ?\fIarg ...\fR
.
Returns information about the class named \fIclass\fR.
See \fBCLASS INTROSPECTION\fR below.
.\" METHOD: cmdcount
.TP
\fBinfo cmdcount\fR
.
Returns the total number of commands evaluated in this interpreter.
.\" METHOD: cmdtype
.TP
\fBinfo cmdtype \fIcommandName\fR
.VS TIP426
Returns a the type of the command named \fIcommandName\fR.
Built-in types are:
.RS
.IP \fBalias\fR

\fIcommandName\fR was created by \fBproc\fR.
.IP \fBinterp\fR
\fIcommandName\fR was created by \fBinterp create\fR.
.IP \fBzlibStream\fR
\fIcommandName\fR was created by \fBzlib stream\fR.
.RE
.VE TIP426
.\" METHOD: commands
.TP
\fBinfo commands \fR?\fIpattern\fR?
.
Returns the names of all commands visible in the current namespace.  If
\fIpattern\fR is given, returns only those names that match according to
\fBstring match\fR.  Only the last component of \fIpattern\fR is a pattern.
Other components identify a namespace.  See \fBNAMESPACE RESOLUTION\fR in the
\fBnamespace\fR(n) documentation.
.\" METHOD: complete
.TP
\fBinfo complete \fIcommand\fR
.
Returns 1 if \fIcommand\fR is a complete command, and \fB0\fR otherwise.
Typically used in line-oriented input environments
to allow users to type in commands that span multiple lines.
.\" METHOD: constant
.TP
\fBinfo constant \fIvarName\fR
.VS "TIP 677"
Returns 1 if \fIvarName\fR is a constant variable (see \fBconst\fR) and 0
otherwise.
.VE "TIP 677"
.\" METHOD: consts
.TP
\fBinfo consts\fR ?\fIpattern\fR?
.VS "TIP 677"
Returns the list of constant variables (see \fBconst\fR) in the current scope,
or the list of constant variables matching \fIpattern\fR (if that is provided)
in a manner similar to \fBinfo vars\fR.
.VE "TIP 677"
.\" METHOD: coroutine
.TP
\fBinfo coroutine\fR
.
Returns the name of the current \fBcoroutine\fR, or the empty
string if there is no current coroutine or the current coroutine
has been deleted.
.\" METHOD: default
.TP
\fBinfo default \fIprocname parameter varname\fR
.
If the parameter \fIparameter\fR for the procedure named \fIprocname\fR has a
default value, stores that value in \fIvarname\fR and returns \fB1\fR.
Otherwise, returns \fB0\fR.
.\" METHOD: errorstack
.TP
\fBinfo errorstack \fR?\fIinterp\fR?
.
Returns a description of the active command at each level for the
last error in the current interpreter, or in the interpreter named
\fIinterp\fR if given.
.RS

granularity.
.PP
This information is also present in the \fB\-errorstack\fR entry of the
options dictionary returned by 3-argument \fBcatch\fR; \fBinfo errorstack\fR
is a convenient way of retrieving it for uncaught errors at top-level in an
interactive \fBinterpreter\fR.
.RE
.\" METHOD: exists
.TP
\fBinfo exists \fIvarName\fR
.
Returns \fB1\fR if a variable named \fIvarName\fR is visible and has been
defined, and \fB0\fR otherwise.
.\" METHOD: frame
.TP
\fBinfo frame\fR ?\fIdepth\fR?
.
Returns the depth of the call to \fBinfo frame\fR itself.  Otherwise, returns a
dictionary describing the active command at the \fIdepth\fR, which counts all
commands visible to \fBinfo level\fR, plus commands that don't create a new
level, such as \fBeval\fR, \fBsource\fR, or \fIuplevel\fR. The frame depth is

than any dynamic outer scope.
.PP
The syntactic form \fB{*}\fR is handled like \fBeval\fR. I.e. if it
is given a literal list argument the system tracks the line number
within the list words as well, and otherwise all line numbers are
counted relative to the start of each word (smallest scope)
.RE
.\" METHOD: functions
.TP
\fBinfo functions \fR?\fIpattern\fR?
.
If \fIpattern\fR is not given, returns a list of all the math
functions currently defined.
If \fIpattern\fR is given, returns only those names that match
\fIpattern\fR according to \fBstring match\fR.
.\" METHOD: globals
.TP
\fBinfo globals \fR?\fIpattern\fR?
.
If \fIpattern\fR is not given, returns a list of all the names
of currently-defined global variables.
Global variables are variables in the global namespace.
If \fIpattern\fR is given, only those names matching \fIpattern\fR
are returned.  Matching is determined using the same rules as for
\fBstring match\fR.
.\" METHOD: hostname
.TP
\fBinfo hostname\fR
.
Returns the name of the current host.

.RS
.PP
This name is not guaranteed to be the fully-qualified domain
name of the host.  Where machines have several different names, as is
common on systems with both TCP/IP (DNS) and NetBIOS-based networking
installed, it is the name that is suitable for TCP/IP networking that
is returned.
.RE
.\" METHOD: level
.TP
\fBinfo level\fR ?\fIlevel\fR?
.
If \fInumber\fR is not given, the level this routine was called from.
Otherwise returns the complete command active at the given level.  If
\fInumber\fR is greater than \fB0\fR, it is the desired level.  Otherwise, it
is \fInumber\fR levels up from the current level.  A complete command is the
words in the command, with all subsitutions performed, meaning that it is a
list.  See \fBuplevel\fR for more information on levels.
.\" METHOD: library
.TP
\fBinfo library\fR
.
Returns the value of \fBtcl_library\fR, which is the name of the library
directory in which the scripts distributed with Tcl scripts are stored.
.\" METHOD: loaded
.TP
\fBinfo loaded \fR?\fIinterp\fR? ?\fIpackage\fR?
.
Returns the name of each file loaded in \fIinterp\fR va \fBload\fR as part of
\fIpackage\fR .  If \fIpackage\fR is not given, returns a list where each item
is the name of the loaded file and the name of the package for which the file
was loaded.  For a statically-loaded package the name of the file is the empty
string.  For \fIinterp\fR, the empty string is the current interpreter.
.\" METHOD: locals
.TP
\fBinfo locals \fR?\fIpattern\fR?
.
If \fIpattern\fR is given, returns the name of each local variable matching
\fIpattern\fR according to \fBstring match\fR.  Otherwise, returns the name of
each local variable.  A variables defined with the \fBglobal\fR, \fBupvar\fR or
\fBvariable\fR is not local.

.\" METHOD: nameofexecutable
.TP
\fBinfo nameofexecutable\fR
.
Returns the absolute pathname of the program for the current interpreter.  If
such a file can not be identified an empty string is returned.
.\" METHOD: object
.TP
\fBinfo object\fI subcommand object\fR ?\fIarg ...\fR
.
Returns information about the object named \fIobject\fR. \fIsubcommand\fR is
described \fBOBJECT INTROSPECTION\fR below.
.\" METHOD: patchlevel
.TP
\fBinfo patchlevel\fR
.
Returns the value of the global variable \fBtcl_patchLevel\fR, in which the
exact version of the Tcl library initially stored.
.\" METHOD: procs
.TP
\fBinfo procs \fR?\fIpattern\fR?
.
Returns the names of all visible procedures. If \fIpattern\fR is given, returns
only those names that match according to \fBstring match\fR.  Only the final
component in \fIpattern\fR is actually considered a pattern.  Any qualifying
components simply select a namespace.  See \fBNAMESPACE RESOLUTION\fR in the
\fBnamespace\fR(n) documentation.
.\" METHOD: script
.TP
\fBinfo script\fR ?\fIfilename\fR?
.
Returns the pathname of the innermost script currently being evaluated, or the
empty string if no pathname can be determined.  If \fIfilename\fR is given,
sets the return value of any future calls to \fBinfo script\fR for the duration
of the innermost active script.  This is useful in virtual file system
applications.
.\" METHOD: sharedlibextension
.TP
\fBinfo sharedlibextension\fR
.
Returns the extension used on this platform for names of shared libraries, e.g.
\fB.so\fR under Solaris.  Returns the empty string if shared libraries are not
supported on this platform.
.\" METHOD: tclversion
.TP
\fBinfo tclversion\fR
.
Returns the value of the global variable \fBtcl_version\fR, in which the
major and minor version of the Tcl library are stored.
.\" METHOD: vars
.TP
\fBinfo vars\fR ?\fIpattern\fR?
.
If \fIpattern\fR is not given, returns the names of all visible variables.  If
\fIpattern\fR is given, returns only those names that match according to
\fBstring match\fR.  Only the last component of \fIpattern\fR is a pattern.
Other components identify a namespace.  See \fBNAMESPACE RESOLUTION\fR in the
\fBnamespace\fR(n) documentation.  When \fIpattern\fR is a qualified name,
results are fully qualified.

A variable that has declared but not yet defined is included in the results.
.RS
.PP
A variable that has been declared but not yet given a value will be included in 
the results.
.RE
.SS "CLASS INTROSPECTION"
.PP
The following \fIsubcommand\fR values are supported by \fBinfo class\fR:
.\" METHOD: call
.TP
\fBinfo class call\fI class method\fR
.
Returns a description of the method implementations that are used to provide a
stereotypical instance of \fIclass\fR's implementation of \fImethod\fR
(stereotypical instances being objects instantiated by a class without having
any object-specific definitions added). This consists of a list of lists of

Note that there is no inspection of whether the method implementations
actually use \fBnext\fR to transfer control along the call chain,
.VS TIP500
and the call chains that this command files do not actually contain private
methods.
.VE TIP500
.RE
.\" METHOD: constructor
.TP
\fBinfo class constructor\fI class\fR
.
This subcommand returns a description of the definition of the constructor of
class \fIclass\fR. The definition is described as a two element list; the first
element is the list of arguments to the constructor in a form suitable for
passing to another call to \fBproc\fR or a method definition, and the second
element is the body of the constructor. If no constructor is present, this
returns the empty list.
.\" METHOD: definition
.TP
\fBinfo class definition\fI class method\fR
.
This subcommand returns a description of the definition of the method named
\fImethod\fR of class \fIclass\fR. The definition is described as a two element
list; the first element is the list of arguments to the method in a form
suitable for passing to another call to \fBproc\fR or a method definition, and
the second element is the body of the method.
.\" METHOD: definitionnamespace
.TP
\fBinfo class definitionnamespace\fI class\fR ?\fIkind\fR?
.VS TIP524
This subcommand returns the definition namespace for \fIkind\fR definitions of
the class \fIclass\fR; the definition namespace only affects the instances of
\fIclass\fR, not \fIclass\fR itself. The \fIkind\fR can be either
\fB\-class\fR to return the definition namespace used for \fBoo::define\fR, or
\fB\-instance\fR to return the definition namespace used for
\fBoo::objdefine\fR; the \fB\-class\fR kind is default (though this is only
actually useful on classes that are subclasses of \fBoo::class\fR).
.RS
.PP
If \fIclass\fR does not provide a definition namespace of the given kind,
this command returns the empty string. In those circumstances, the
\fBoo::define\fR and \fBoo::objdefine\fR commands look up which definition
namespace to use using the class inheritance hierarchy.
.RE
.VE TIP524
.\" METHOD: destructor
.TP
\fBinfo class destructor\fI class\fR
.
This subcommand returns the body of the destructor of class \fIclass\fR. If no
destructor is present, this returns the empty string.
.\" METHOD: filters
.TP
\fBinfo class filters\fI class\fR
.
This subcommand returns the list of filter methods set on the class.
.\" METHOD: forward
.TP
\fBinfo class forward\fI class method\fR
.
This subcommand returns the argument list for the method forwarding called
\fImethod\fR that is set on the class called \fIclass\fR.
.\" METHOD: instances
.TP
\fBinfo class instances\fI class\fR ?\fIpattern\fR?
.
This subcommand returns a list of instances of class \fIclass\fR. If the
optional \fIpattern\fR argument is present, it constrains the list of returned
instances to those that match it according to the rules of \fBstring match\fR.
.\" METHOD: methods
.TP
\fBinfo class methods\fI class\fR ?\fIoptions...\fR?
.
This subcommand returns a list of all public (i.e. exported) methods of the
class called \fIclass\fR. Any of the following \fIoption\fRs may be
given, controlling exactly which method names are returned:
.RS

be returned.
.IP \fBprivate\fR 3
Only methods with \fIprivate\fR scope (i.e., only callable from within this class's
methods) are to be returned.
.RE
.VE TIP500
.RE
.\" METHOD: methodtype
.TP
\fBinfo class methodtype\fI class method\fR
.
This subcommand returns a description of the type of implementation used for
the method named \fImethod\fR of class \fIclass\fR. When the result is
\fBmethod\fR, further information can be discovered with \fBinfo class
definition\fR, and when the result is \fBforward\fR, further information can
be discovered with \fBinfo class forward\fR.
.\" METHOD: mixins
.TP
\fBinfo class mixins\fI class\fR
.
This subcommand returns a list of all classes that have been mixed into the
class named \fIclass\fR.
.\" METHOD: properties
.TP
\fBinfo class properties\fI class\fR ?\fIoptions...\fR
.VS "TIP 558"
This subcommand returns a sorted list of properties defined on the class named
\fIclass\fR. The \fIoptions\fR define exactly which properties are returned:
.RS
.TP

.TP
\fB\-writable\fR
.
This option asks for the writable properties to be returned.  Only readable or
writable properties are returned, not both.
.RE
.VE "TIP 558"
.\" METHOD: subclasses
.TP
\fBinfo class subclasses\fI class\fR ?\fIpattern\fR?
.
This subcommand returns a list of direct subclasses of class \fIclass\fR. If
the optional \fIpattern\fR argument is present, it constrains the list of
returned classes to those that match it according to the rules of
\fBstring match\fR.
.\" METHOD: superclasses
.TP
\fBinfo class superclasses\fI class\fR
.
This subcommand returns a list of direct superclasses of class \fIclass\fR in
inheritance precedence order.
.\" METHOD: variables
.TP
\fBinfo class variables\fI class\fR ?\fB\-private\fR?
.
This subcommand returns a list of all variables that have been declared for
the class named \fIclass\fR (i.e. that are automatically present in the
class's methods, constructor and destructor).
.VS TIP500
If the \fB\-private\fR option is given, this lists the private variables
declared instead.
.VE TIP500
.SS "OBJECT INTROSPECTION"
.PP
The following \fIsubcommand\fR values are supported by \fBinfo object\fR:
.\" METHOD: call
.TP
\fBinfo object call\fI object method\fR
.
Returns a description of the method implementations that are used to provide
\fIobject\fR's implementation of \fImethod\fR.  This consists of a list of
lists of four elements, where each sublist consists of a word that describes
the general type of method implementation (being one of \fBmethod\fR for an

Note that there is no inspection of whether the method implementations
actually use \fBnext\fR to transfer control along the call chain,
.VS TIP500
and the call chains that this command files do not actually contain private
methods.
.VE TIP500
.RE
.\" METHOD: class
.TP
\fBinfo object class\fI object\fR ?\fIclassName\fR?
.
If \fIclassName\fR is not given, this subcommand returns class of the
\fIobject\fR object. If \fIclassName\fR is present, this subcommand returns a
boolean value indicating whether the \fIobject\fR is of that class.
.\" METHOD: creationid
.TP
\fBinfo object creationid\fI object\fR
.VS TIP500
Returns the unique creation identifier for the \fIobject\fR object. This
creation identifier is unique to the object (within a Tcl interpreter) and
cannot be controlled at object creation time or altered afterwards.
.RS
.PP
\fIImplementation note:\fR the creation identifier is used to generate unique
identifiers associated with the object, especially for private variables.
.RE
.VE TIP500
.\" METHOD: definition
.TP
\fBinfo object definition\fI object method\fR
.
This subcommand returns a description of the definition of the method named
\fImethod\fR of object \fIobject\fR. The definition is described as a two
element list; the first element is the list of arguments to the method in a
form suitable for passing to another call to \fBproc\fR or a method definition,
and the second element is the body of the method.
.\" METHOD: filters
.TP
\fBinfo object filters\fI object\fR
.
This subcommand returns the list of filter methods set on the object.
.\" METHOD: forward
.TP
\fBinfo object forward\fI object method\fR
.
This subcommand returns the argument list for the method forwarding called
\fImethod\fR that is set on the object called \fIobject\fR.
.\" METHOD: isa
.TP
\fBinfo object isa\fI category object\fR ?\fIarg\fR?
.
This subcommand tests whether an object belongs to a particular category,
returning a boolean value that indicates whether the \fIobject\fR argument
meets the criteria for the category. The supported categories are:
.RS

.TP
\fBinfo object isa typeof\fI object class\fR
.
This returns whether \fIclass\fR is the type of \fIobject\fR (i.e. whether
\fIobject\fR is an instance of \fIclass\fR or one of its subclasses, whether
direct or indirect).
.RE
.\" METHOD: methods
.TP
\fBinfo object methods\fI object\fR ?\fIoption...\fR?
.
This subcommand returns a list of all public (i.e. exported) methods of the
object called \fIobject\fR. Any of the following \fIoption\fRs may be
given, controlling exactly which method names are returned:
.RS

be returned.
.IP \fBprivate\fR 3
Only methods with \fIprivate\fR scope (i.e., only callable from within this object's
instance methods) are to be returned.
.RE
.VE TIP500
.RE
.\" METHOD: methodtype
.TP
\fBinfo object methodtype\fI object method\fR
.
This subcommand returns a description of the type of implementation used for
the method named \fImethod\fR of object \fIobject\fR. When the result is
\fBmethod\fR, further information can be discovered with \fBinfo object
definition\fR, and when the result is \fBforward\fR, further information can
be discovered with \fBinfo object forward\fR.
.\" METHOD: mixins
.TP
\fBinfo object mixins\fI object\fR
.
This subcommand returns a list of all classes that have been mixed into the
object named \fIobject\fR.
.\" METHOD: namespace
.TP
\fBinfo object namespace\fI object\fR
.
This subcommand returns the name of the internal namespace of the object named
\fIobject\fR.
.\" METHOD: properties
.TP
\fBinfo object properties\fI object\fR ?\fIoptions...\fR
.VS "TIP 558"
This subcommand returns a sorted list of properties defined on the object
named \fIobject\fR. The \fIoptions\fR define exactly which properties are
returned:
.RS

.TP
\fB\-writable\fR
.
This option asks for the writable properties to be returned. Only readable or
writable properties are returned, not both.
.RE
.VE "TIP 558"
.\" METHOD: variables
.TP
\fBinfo object variables\fI object\fRR ?\fB\-private\fR?
.
This subcommand returns a list of all variables that have been declared for
the object named \fIobject\fR (i.e. that are automatically present in the
object's methods).
.VS TIP500
If the \fB\-private\fR option is given, this lists the private variables
declared instead.
.VE TIP500
.\" METHOD: vars
.TP
\fBinfo object vars\fI object\fR ?\fIpattern\fR?
.
This subcommand returns a list of all variables in the private namespace of
the object named \fIobject\fR. If the optional \fIpattern\fR argument is
given, it is a filter (in the syntax of a \fBstring match\fR glob pattern)
that constrains the list of variables returned. Note that this is different