[erlang-questions] pattern matching with records in a function

[Robert Virding]

As Attila has said the way to do this: 


handle_cast(#inputmsg{}=Msg, State) -> 
... ; 


The reason your example doesn't work is that #inputmsg{_='_'} expands so that all the fields will get the value of the ATOM '_' which is definitely not the same as the VARIABLE _. In this case there is actually no need to do anything as the compiler automatically puts the variable _ for all fields which aren't explicitly mentioned. 


The main use of the _='_' construct is when you want to create a match pattern for ets/mnesia which is tuple which is INTEPRETED as a pattern. Then it is useful to have a construct which sets all unmentioned fields to the value of the atom '_' which is interpreted as the don't care variable. 


It is irrelevant whether you write #inputmsg{}=Msg or Msg=#inputmsg{} , they are equivalent. I prefer the former, but many prefer the latter. 


Robert 

----- Original Message -----


Hi, 
I'm trying to use records in functions pattern matching but I'm not able. I want something like that: 



handle_cast(Msg = #inputmsg{_='_'}, State) -> 
do_something(Msg), 
{noreply, State}; 


Any idea? 
thanks. 
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