gh-109218: Improve documentation for the complex() constructor (GH-119687)

* Remove the equivalence with real+imag*1j which can be incorrect in corner
  cases (non-finite numbers, the sign of zeroes).
* Separately document the three roles of the constructor: parsing a string,
  converting a number, and constructing a complex from components.
* Document positional-only parameters of complex(), float(), int() and bool()
  as positional-only.
* Add examples for complex() and int().
* Specify the grammar of the string for complex().
* Improve the grammar of the string for float().
* Describe more explicitly the behavior when real and/or imag arguments are
  complex numbers. (This will be deprecated in future.)

Doc/library/cmath.rst

@@ -43,10 +43,7 @@ Conversions to and from polar coordinates
 
 A Python complex number ``z`` is stored internally using *rectangular*
 or *Cartesian* coordinates.  It is completely determined by its *real
-part* ``z.real`` and its *imaginary part* ``z.imag``.  In other
+part* ``z.real`` and its *imaginary part* ``z.imag``.
-words::
-
-   z == z.real + z.imag*1j
 
 *Polar coordinates* give an alternative way to represent a complex
 number.  In polar coordinates, a complex number *z* is defined by the
@@ -90,7 +87,7 @@ rectangular coordinates to polar coordinates and back.
 .. function:: rect(r, phi)
 
    Return the complex number *x* with polar coordinates *r* and *phi*.
-   Equivalent to ``r * (math.cos(phi) + math.sin(phi)*1j)``.
+   Equivalent to ``complex(r * math.cos(phi), r * math.sin(phi))``.
 
 
 Power and logarithmic functions

Doc/library/functions.rst

@@ -141,10 +141,11 @@ are always available.  They are listed here in alphabetical order.
    See also :func:`format` for more information.
 
 
-.. class:: bool(x=False)
+.. class:: bool(object=False, /)
 
-   Return a Boolean value, i.e. one of ``True`` or ``False``.  *x* is converted
+   Return a Boolean value, i.e. one of ``True`` or ``False``.  The argument
-   using the standard :ref:`truth testing procedure <truth>`.  If *x* is false
+   is converted using the standard :ref:`truth testing procedure <truth>`.
+   If the argument is false
    or omitted, this returns ``False``; otherwise, it returns ``True``.  The
    :class:`bool` class is a subclass of :class:`int` (see :ref:`typesnumeric`).
    It cannot be subclassed further.  Its only instances are ``False`` and
@@ -153,7 +154,7 @@ are always available.  They are listed here in alphabetical order.
    .. index:: pair: Boolean; type
 
    .. versionchanged:: 3.7
-      *x* is now a positional-only parameter.
+      The parameter is now positional-only.
 
 .. function:: breakpoint(*args, **kws)
 
@@ -371,29 +372,73 @@ are always available.  They are listed here in alphabetical order.
       support for top-level ``await``, ``async for``, and ``async with``.
 
 
-.. class:: complex(real=0, imag=0)
+.. class:: complex(number=0, /)
-           complex(string)
+           complex(string, /)
+           complex(real=0, imag=0)
 
-   Return a complex number with the value *real* + *imag*\*1j or convert a string
+   Convert a single string or number to a complex number, or create a
-   or number to a complex number.  If the first parameter is a string, it will
+   complex number from real and imaginary parts.
-   be interpreted as a complex number and the function must be called without a
-   second parameter.  The second parameter can never be a string. Each argument
-   may be any numeric type (including complex).  If *imag* is omitted, it
-   defaults to zero and the constructor serves as a numeric conversion like
-   :class:`int` and :class:`float`.  If both arguments are omitted, returns
-   ``0j``.
 
+   Examples:
+
+   .. doctest::
+
+      >>> complex('+1.23')
+      (1.23+0j)
+      >>> complex('-4.5j')
+      -4.5j
+      >>> complex('-1.23+4.5j')
+      (-1.23+4.5j)
+      >>> complex('\t( -1.23+4.5J )\n')
+      (-1.23+4.5j)
+      >>> complex('-Infinity+NaNj')
+      (-inf+nanj)
+      >>> complex(1.23)
+      (1.23+0j)
+      >>> complex(imag=-4.5)
+      -4.5j
+      >>> complex(-1.23, 4.5)
+      (-1.23+4.5j)
+
+   If the argument is a string, it must contain either a real part (in the
+   same format as for :func:`float`) or an imaginary part (in the same
+   format but with a ``'j'`` or ``'J'`` suffix), or both real and imaginary
+   parts (the sign of the imaginary part is mandatory in this case).
+   The string can optionally be surrounded by whitespaces and the round
+   parentheses ``'('`` and ``')'``, which are ignored.
+   The string must not contain whitespace between ``'+'``, ``'-'``, the
+   ``'j'`` or ``'J'`` suffix, and the decimal number.
+   For example, ``complex('1+2j')`` is fine, but ``complex('1 + 2j')`` raises
+   :exc:`ValueError`.
+   More precisely, the input must conform to the :token:`~float:complexvalue`
+   production rule in the following grammar, after parentheses and leading and
+   trailing whitespace characters are removed:
+
+   .. productionlist:: float
+      complexvalue: `floatvalue` |
+                  : `floatvalue` ("j" | "J") |
+                  : `floatvalue` `sign` `absfloatvalue` ("j" | "J")
+
+   If the argument is a number, the constructor serves as a numeric
+   conversion like :class:`int` and :class:`float`.
    For a general Python object ``x``, ``complex(x)`` delegates to
-   ``x.__complex__()``.  If :meth:`~object.__complex__` is not defined then it falls back
+   ``x.__complex__()``.
-   to :meth:`~object.__float__`.  If :meth:`!__float__` is not defined then it falls back
+   If :meth:`~object.__complex__` is not defined then it falls back
+   to :meth:`~object.__float__`.
+   If :meth:`!__float__` is not defined then it falls back
    to :meth:`~object.__index__`.
 
-   .. note::
+   If two arguments are provided or keyword arguments are used, each argument
+   may be any numeric type (including complex).
+   If both arguments are real numbers, return a complex number with the real
+   component *real* and the imaginary component *imag*.
+   If both arguments are complex numbers, return a complex number with the real
+   component ``real.real-imag.imag`` and the imaginary component
+   ``real.imag+imag.real``.
+   If one of arguments is a real number, only its real component is used in
+   the above expressions.
 
-      When converting from a string, the string must not contain whitespace
+   If all arguments are omitted, returns ``0j``.
-      around the central ``+`` or ``-`` operator.  For example,
-      ``complex('1+2j')`` is fine, but ``complex('1 + 2j')`` raises
-      :exc:`ValueError`.
 
    The complex type is described in :ref:`typesnumeric`.
 
@@ -682,21 +727,38 @@ are always available.  They are listed here in alphabetical order.
    elements of *iterable* for which *function* is false.
 
 
-.. class:: float(x=0.0)
+.. class:: float(number=0.0, /)
+           float(string, /)
 
    .. index::
       single: NaN
       single: Infinity
 
-   Return a floating point number constructed from a number or string *x*.
+   Return a floating point number constructed from a number or a string.
+
+   Examples:
+
+   .. doctest::
+
+      >>> float('+1.23')
+      1.23
+      >>> float('   -12345\n')
+      -12345.0
+      >>> float('1e-003')
+      0.001
+      >>> float('+1E6')
+      1000000.0
+      >>> float('-Infinity')
+      -inf
 
    If the argument is a string, it should contain a decimal number, optionally
    preceded by a sign, and optionally embedded in whitespace.  The optional
    sign may be ``'+'`` or ``'-'``; a ``'+'`` sign has no effect on the value
    produced.  The argument may also be a string representing a NaN
-   (not-a-number), or positive or negative infinity.  More precisely, the
+   (not-a-number), or positive or negative infinity.
-   input must conform to the ``floatvalue`` production rule in the following
+   More precisely, the input must conform to the :token:`~float:floatvalue`
-   grammar, after leading and trailing whitespace characters are removed:
+   production rule in the following grammar, after leading and trailing
+   whitespace characters are removed:
 
    .. productionlist:: float
       sign: "+" | "-"
@@ -705,9 +767,10 @@ are always available.  They are listed here in alphabetical order.
       digit: <a Unicode decimal digit, i.e. characters in Unicode general category Nd>
       digitpart: `digit` (["_"] `digit`)*
       number: [`digitpart`] "." `digitpart` | `digitpart` ["."]
-      exponent: ("e" | "E") ["+" | "-"] `digitpart`
+      exponent: ("e" | "E") [`sign`] `digitpart`
-      floatnumber: number [`exponent`]
+      floatnumber: `number` [`exponent`]
-      floatvalue: [`sign`] (`floatnumber` | `infinity` | `nan`)
+      absfloatvalue: `floatnumber` | `infinity` | `nan`
+      floatvalue: [`sign`] `absfloatvalue`
 
    Case is not significant, so, for example, "inf", "Inf", "INFINITY", and
    "iNfINity" are all acceptable spellings for positive infinity.
@@ -723,26 +786,13 @@ are always available.  They are listed here in alphabetical order.
 
    If no argument is given, ``0.0`` is returned.
 
-   Examples::
-
-      >>> float('+1.23')
-      1.23
-      >>> float('   -12345\n')
-      -12345.0
-      >>> float('1e-003')
-      0.001
-      >>> float('+1E6')
-      1000000.0
-      >>> float('-Infinity')
-      -inf
-
    The float type is described in :ref:`typesnumeric`.
 
    .. versionchanged:: 3.6
       Grouping digits with underscores as in code literals is allowed.
 
    .. versionchanged:: 3.7
-      *x* is now a positional-only parameter.
+      The parameter is now positional-only.
 
    .. versionchanged:: 3.8
       Falls back to :meth:`~object.__index__` if :meth:`~object.__float__` is not defined.
@@ -926,17 +976,36 @@ are always available.  They are listed here in alphabetical order.
       with the result after successfully reading input.
 
 
-.. class:: int(x=0)
+.. class:: int(number=0, /)
-           int(x, base=10)
+           int(string, /, base=10)
 
-   Return an integer object constructed from a number or string *x*, or return
+   Return an integer object constructed from a number or a string, or return
-   ``0`` if no arguments are given.  If *x* defines :meth:`~object.__int__`,
+   ``0`` if no arguments are given.
-   ``int(x)`` returns ``x.__int__()``.  If *x* defines :meth:`~object.__index__`,
+
-   it returns ``x.__index__()``.  If *x* defines :meth:`~object.__trunc__`,
+   Examples:
+
+   .. doctest::
+
+      >>> int(123.45)
+      123
+      >>> int('123')
+      123
+      >>> int('   -12_345\n')
+      -12345
+      >>> int('FACE', 16)
+      64206
+      >>> int('0xface', 0)
+      64206
+      >>> int('01110011', base=2)
+      115
+
+   If the argument defines :meth:`~object.__int__`,
+   ``int(x)`` returns ``x.__int__()``.  If the argument defines :meth:`~object.__index__`,
+   it returns ``x.__index__()``.  If the argument defines :meth:`~object.__trunc__`,
    it returns ``x.__trunc__()``.
    For floating point numbers, this truncates towards zero.
 
-   If *x* is not a number or if *base* is given, then *x* must be a string,
+   If the argument is not a number or if *base* is given, then it must be a string,
    :class:`bytes`, or :class:`bytearray` instance representing an integer
    in radix *base*.  Optionally, the string can be preceded by ``+`` or ``-``
    (with no space in between), have leading zeros, be surrounded by whitespace,
@@ -966,7 +1035,7 @@ are always available.  They are listed here in alphabetical order.
       Grouping digits with underscores as in code literals is allowed.
 
    .. versionchanged:: 3.7
-      *x* is now a positional-only parameter.
+      The first parameter is now positional-only.
 
    .. versionchanged:: 3.8
       Falls back to :meth:`~object.__index__` if :meth:`~object.__int__` is not defined.
@@ -977,7 +1046,7 @@ are always available.  They are listed here in alphabetical order.
    .. versionchanged:: 3.11
       :class:`int` string inputs and string representations can be limited to
       help avoid denial of service attacks. A :exc:`ValueError` is raised when
-      the limit is exceeded while converting a string *x* to an :class:`int` or
+      the limit is exceeded while converting a string to an :class:`int` or
       when converting an :class:`int` into a string would exceed the limit.
       See the :ref:`integer string conversion length limitation
       <int_max_str_digits>` documentation.

Objects/clinic/complexobject.c.h

@@ -94,9 +94,12 @@ PyDoc_STRVAR(complex_new__doc__,
 "complex(real=0, imag=0)\n"
 "--\n"
 "\n"
-"Create a complex number from a real part and an optional imaginary part.\n"
+"Create a complex number from a string or numbers.\n"
 "\n"
-"This is equivalent to (real + imag*1j) where imag defaults to 0.");
+"If a string is given, parse it as a complex number.\n"
+"If a single number is given, convert it to a complex number.\n"
+"If the \'real\' or \'imag\' arguments are given, create a complex number\n"
+"with the specified real and imaginary components.");
 
 static PyObject *
 complex_new_impl(PyTypeObject *type, PyObject *r, PyObject *i);
@@ -157,4 +160,4 @@ skip_optional_pos:
 exit:
     return return_value;
 }
-/*[clinic end generated code: output=04e6261649967b30 input=a9049054013a1b77]*/
+/*[clinic end generated code: output=295ecfd71389d7fe input=a9049054013a1b77]*/

Objects/complexobject.c

@@ -911,14 +911,17 @@ complex.__new__ as complex_new
     real as r: object(c_default="NULL") = 0
     imag as i: object(c_default="NULL") = 0
 
-Create a complex number from a real part and an optional imaginary part.
+Create a complex number from a string or numbers.
 
-This is equivalent to (real + imag*1j) where imag defaults to 0.
+If a string is given, parse it as a complex number.
+If a single number is given, convert it to a complex number.
+If the 'real' or 'imag' arguments are given, create a complex number
+with the specified real and imaginary components.
 [clinic start generated code]*/
 
 static PyObject *
 complex_new_impl(PyTypeObject *type, PyObject *r, PyObject *i)
-/*[clinic end generated code: output=b6c7dd577b537dc1 input=f4c667f2596d4fd1]*/
+/*[clinic end generated code: output=b6c7dd577b537dc1 input=ff4268dc540958a4]*/
 {
     PyObject *tmp;
     PyNumberMethods *nbr, *nbi = NULL;