Modules

Mix.install([
  {:jason, "~> 1.4"},
  {:kino, "~> 0.9", override: true},
  {:youtube, github: "brooklinjazz/youtube"},
  {:hidden_cell, github: "brooklinjazz/hidden_cell"}
])

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Review Questions

Upon completing this lesson, a student should be able to answer the following questions.

• How do you define a module?
• How do you use public vs private named functions?
• What is scope and how does it relate to modules?
• What is function arity?
• How do you read module documentation and run doctests?

Modules

As you create more and more functions, it becomes necessary to organize them. That’s just one of the many reasons to use a module. A module is more or less a “bag of functions”. We use them to organize and group related functions together.

We use the defmodule keyword to define a module like so.

defmodule MyModule do
end

Don’t worry about the output {:module, MyModule, <<70, 79, 82, 49, 0, 0, 4, ...>>, nil}. That’s just how Elixir represents modules internally, and it’s not important for our understanding.

Let’s break down the code above.

1. defmodule a keyword that means “define module”.
2. MyModule is the name of this module. It can be any valid name, and should be CapitalCase which is often called PascalCase. you’ll often hear the name of the module referred to as the namespace that functions are organized under.
3. do a keyword that separates the module name and its internal implementation.
4. end a keyword that finishes the module definition.

Modules define functions inside of them. Each function has a name, so they are called named functions. You can define functions inside a module using the following syntax.

defmodule ModuleName do
  def function_name do
    "return value"
  end
end

Let’s break down the named function above.

1. def this means “define function”. The function name in this example is function_name but it could be any valid function name.
2. do a keyword that separates the function head and the function body.
3. "return value" this is the function body. This function returns the string "return value", but it could return any Elixir term.
4. end is a keyword that ends the function definition.

Calling Named Functions

To call a named function, you use round brackets ().

ModuleName.function_name()

Arguments And Parameters

You can provide arguments to a function when you call it. These arguments are bound to parameters in the function definition.

defmodule ArgsAndParamsExample do
  def call(param) do
    IO.inspect(param, label: "Called with the following argument")
  end
end

ArgsAndParamsExample.call("argument")

Multiple Arguments And Params

You can define multiple parameters in a function, each separated by a comma. The names of parameters follow the same naming rules as variables.

We can use binding() to get a keyword list of all bound values. We commonly use this to conveniently inspect our code.

defmodule MultiParamExample do
  def call(param1, param2, param3) do
    IO.inspect(binding(), label: "Called with the following bindings")
  end
end

Your Turn

Call the MutliParamExample.call/3 function with different arguments.

Internal Module Functions

A module can use its own functions without using the module’s name before the function.

defmodule InternalExample do
  def internal do
    IO.inspect("Internal was called")
  end

  def public do
    InternalExample.internal()
    internal()
    "public finished executing"
  end
end

InternalExample.public()

The world outside of the module must use the module name to know which function to execute.

InternalExample.public()

The module name is optional inside of the module. However, we must include the module name when using the module’s function outside of the module. For example, the following will raise an error.

public()

Private Functions

Modules can access other module functions.

defmodule Speaker do
  def speak() do
    "hi there"
  end
end

defmodule Listener do
  def listen() do
    "I heard you say: " <> Speaker.speak()
  end
end

Listener.listen()

However, sometimes a module must keep a function private for internal use only. It may be for security reasons or because you don’t think the function should be used anywhere but internally. Often it communicates to other developers how to use your module.

You can create a private module function with defp instead of def. You’ll notice that below the Speaker.think/0 function is undefined to the outside world.

defmodule PrivateThoughts do
  defp think() do
    "I really want to say hi..."
  end
end

PrivateThoughts.think()

We use private functions internally in the module, which means that public functions could expose their values.

defmodule ThoughtfulSpeaker do
  defp think() do
    IO.inspect("I really want to say hi...")
  end

  def speak() do
    think()
    "hi there"
  end
end

ThoughtfulSpeaker.speak()

Callback Functions

Similar to anonymous functions, we can pass named functions as callback functions, however we have to explicitly provide the functions arity using the capture operator &.

defmodule HigherOrder do
  def higher_order_function(callback) do
    callback.()
  end
end

defmodule Callback do
  def callback_function do
    "I was called!"
  end
end

HigherOrder.higher_order_function(&Callback.callback_function/0)

Notice we cannot simply pass Callback.callback_function as an argument.

HigherOrder.higher_order_function(Callback.callback_function())

Alternatively, we can wrap the callback function in an anonymous function.

HigherOrder.higher_order_function(fn -> Callback.callback_function() end)

Namespaces

You can use modules to organize functions under a single namespace. This allows you to create many unique namespaces with their own functions to organize the functionality of your program.

flowchart
  A[Namespace]
  B[Namespace]
  C[Namespace]
  A1[Function]
  A2[Function]
  A3[Function]
  B1[Function]
  B2[Function]
  B3[Function]
  C1[Function]
  C2[Function]
  C3[Function]
  A --> A1
  A --> A2
  A --> A3
  B --> B1
  B --> B2
  B --> B3
  C --> C1
  C --> C2
  C --> C3

SubModules

Sometimes you need to further split the functions in a module. This can be because the module is too large, or because the module has multiple separate responsibilities and it’s more clear to separate them.

flowchart
  Module --> SubModule
  SubModule --> a[Function]
  SubModule --> b[Function]
  SubModule --> c[Function]

To create submodules, you can separate module names with a period ..

defmodule Languages.English do
  def greeting do
    "Hello"
  end
end

Languages.English.greeting()

Your Turn

Create a submodule under the Languages module with a greeting/0 function that returns a greeting in another language. You may choose the language and the name of the submodule.

Example solution

defmodule Languages.Spanish do
  def greeting do
    "Hola"
  end
end

Enter your solution below.

Nested Modules

It’s also possible, though not very common, to define a module inside another module. This will automatically nest the namespaces.

defmodule NestedLanguages do
  defmodule English do
    def greeting do
      "Hello"
    end
  end

  defmodule Spanish do
    def greeting do
      "Hola"
    end
  end
end

NestedLanguages.English.greeting()

NestedLanguages.Spanish.greeting()

Module Attributes

While modules are mostly used to group functions, we can also include compile-time data inside the module that our functions can all use.

We use the @ symbol to define a compile-time module attribute.

defmodule Hero do
  @name "Spider-Man"
  @nemesis "Green Goblin"

  def introduce do
    "Hello, my name is #{@name}!"
  end

  def catchphrase do
    "I'm your friendly neighborhood #{@name}!"
  end

  def defeat do
    "I #{@name} will defeat you #{@nemesis}!"
  end
end

Hero.introduce()

Hero.catchphrase()

Hero.defeat()

We can use module attributes to avoid significant code repetition where many functions all need to use the same value.

Your Turn

Change the module attributes for the Hero module above to match your favourite super hero and villain. Re-evaluate the Hero module, then re-evaluate each function call to see the output change.

Module Scope

Modules and functions close themselves to the outside world. We call this scope. Modules, functions, and many other similar constructs in Elixir are lexically scoped.

That means that variables defined in one scope cannot be accessed in another scope.

  flowchart
    subgraph Top Level Scope
      A[top level variable]
      subgraph Module Scope
        B[module variable]
        subgraph Function Scope
          C[function variable]
        end
      end
    end

Notice how the following example has an error because we cannot access the variable top_level_scope.

top_level_scope = 1

defmodule ModuleScope1 do
  def function_scope do
    top_level_scope
  end
end

The same is true for the module scope. However, it’s uncommon to bind variables in the module scope. Generally we use module attributes instead.

defmodule ModuleScope2 do
  module_scope = 2

  def function_scope do
    module_scope
  end
end

To use a variable, it must be bound in the same scope.

top_level_scope = "top level scope"
IO.inspect(top_level_scope)

defmodule CorrectModuleScope do
  module_scope = "module scope"
  IO.inspect(module_scope)

  def function_scope do
    function_scope = "function scope"
    IO.inspect(function_scope)
  end
end

CorrectModuleScope.function_scope()

Multiple Function Clauses

Elixir allows us to define multiple functions with the same name but that expect different parameters, either with different arity or different values.

defmodule MultipleFunctionClauses do
  def my_function do
    "arity is 0"
  end

  def my_function(_param1) do
    "arity is 1"
  end

  def my_function(_param1, _param2) do
    "arity is 2"
  end
end

MultipleFunctionClauses.my_function(1)

Each function clause has a different arity. We can treat each function with a different arity as a completely separate function. In Elixir, we ofen refer to functions by their name and arity.

So above we define MultipleFunctionClauses.find_arity/1, MultipleFunctionClauses.find_arity/2, and MultipleFunctionClauses.find_arity/3 functions.

Your Turn

Create a Math module with add/2 and add/3 functions. Each should add all of its parameters together.

Math.add(2, 5) # 7
Math.add(1, 2, 3) # 6

Example solution

defmodule Math do
  def add(int1, int2, int3) do
    int1 + int2 + int3
  end

  def add(int1, int2) do
    int1 + int2
  end
end

Default Arguments

You can provide default arguments to functions using the \\ syntax after the parameter and then the default value.

defmodule DefaultArgsExample do
  def call(param \\ "default argument") do
    param
  end
end

DefaultArgsExample.call()

If desired, you can override the default value.

DefaultArgsExample.call("overridden argument")

Multiple parameters can have default values.

defmodule MutlipleDefaultArgs do
  def all_defaults(param1 \\ "default argument 1", param2 \\ "default argument 2") do
    binding()
  end

  def some_defaults(param1 \\ "default arg 1", param2) do
    binding()
  end
end

MutlipleDefaultArgs.all_defaults()

We can even provide default arguments for only some parameters in the function.

MutlipleDefaultArgs.some_defaults("overridden argument")

This sometimes results in some confusion with the function’s arity, and the number of arguments passed into the function. For example, the MutlipleDefaultArgs.some_defaults/2 function above has an arity of 2, despite only being called with one argument.

Your Turn

In the Elixir cell below, define a module Greeting module with a hello/1 function that uses a default argument. The hello/1 function should return Hello name! where name is some default value that you choose.

Greeting.hello()
"Hello Jon!"

Greeting.hello("Andrew")
"Hello Andrew!"

Documentation

We can document modules using @doc and @moduledoc module attributes with a multiline string.

@moduledoc should describe the module at a high level. @doc should document a single function in the module.

defmodule DocumentedModule do
  @moduledoc """
  Documented Module

  Explanation of the module
  """

  @doc """
  Explanation of the documented function 1
  """
  def documented_function1 do
  end

  @doc """
  Explanation of the documented function 1
  """
  def documented_function2 do
  end
end

Doctests

Often documentation contains examples of how the code should behave. Livebook automatically runs these examples to ensure the module is working correctly.

By starting a line with iex> in the documentation, we declare that the code example should be executable. This represents the IEx Shell which we will learn more about in a future lesson.

We often use these doctests to provide test feedback for exercises. You’ll want to get comfortable reading this feedback.

defmodule DoctestExample do
  @moduledoc """
  DoctestExample

  Explains doctests with examples
  """

  @doc """
  Returns a personalized greeting for one person.

  ## Examples

    iex> DoctestExample.hello()
    "Hello Jon!"

    iex> DoctestExample.hello("Bill")
    "Hello Bill!"
  """
  def hello(name \\ "Jon") do
    "Hello #{name}!"
  end
end

Failing Doctests

If the doctests fail, you’ll see a failure message and explanation of why.

defmodule DoctestFailure do
  @moduledoc """
  DoctestFailure

  Explains doctest failures with examples
  """

  @doc """
  Purposely fails doctest

  ## Examples

    iex> DoctestFailure.test()
    "expected return value"
  """
  def test do
    "actual return value"
  end
end

The result displays information about where the test failed, and what the expected vs actual result of the function was.

You can use this feedback to debug your exercises.

Your Turn

Fix the failing DoctestFailure module so that it’s doctests pass.

Crashing Doctests

Unfortunately, if the doctest causes code to crash, it usually won’t display nicely formatted test results. Instead, it will either crash Livebook, or cause tests not to run.

If this is the case, you either have to fix your code, or remove/comment the crashing doctest.

Your Turn

Uncomment the following code and evaluate the cell to see an example. Re-comment your code to avoid crashing the livebook as you continue with the lesson.

# defmodule DoctestCrash Do
# @moduledoc """
# DoctestCrash

# Explains Doctest Crashes With Examples
# """

# @doc """
# Purposely Crashes Doctest Using Invalid Pattern Matching

# ## Examples

# iex> {} = DoctestCrash.crash()
# "2"
# """
# def crash do

# end
# end

Your Turn

Use @doc and @moduledoc to document the Math module you previously created in this lesson.

Commit Your Progress

DockYard Academy now recommends you use the latest Release rather than forking or cloning our repository.

Run git status to ensure there are no undesirable changes. Then run the following in your command line from the curriculum folder to commit your progress.

$ git add .
$ git commit -m "finish Modules reading"
$ git push

We’re proud to offer our open-source curriculum free of charge for anyone to learn from at their own pace.

We also offer a paid course where you can learn from an instructor alongside a cohort of your peers. We will accept applications for the June-August 2023 cohort soon.

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