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  r85080 | antoine.pitrou | 2010-09-29 01:04:04 +0200 (mer., 29 sept. 2010) | 3 lines

  Various improvements to the docs of the buffer API
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Antoine Pitrou 2010-09-28 23:05:17 +00:00
parent a0a89b9006
commit 9207f1d634
1 changed files with 82 additions and 47 deletions

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@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
.. _bufferobjects:
Buffer Objects
--------------
Buffer API
----------
.. sectionauthor:: Greg Stein <gstein@lyra.org>
.. sectionauthor:: Benjamin Peterson
@ -17,30 +17,56 @@ functions can be used by an object to expose its data in a raw, byte-oriented
format. Clients of the object can use the buffer interface to access the
object data directly, without needing to copy it first.
Two examples of objects that support the buffer interface are bytes and
arrays. The bytes object exposes the character contents in the buffer
interface's byte-oriented form. An array can also expose its contents, but it
should be noted that array elements may be multi-byte values.
Examples of objects that support the buffer interface are :class:`bytes`,
:class:`bytearray` and :class:`array.array`. The bytes and bytearray objects
exposes their bytes contents in the buffer interface's byte-oriented form.
An :class:`array.array` can also expose its contents, but it should be noted
that array elements may be multi-byte values.
An example consumer of the buffer interface is the :meth:`~io.BufferedIOBase.write`
method of file objects: any object that can export a series of bytes through
the buffer interface can be written to a file. While :meth:`write` only
needs read-only access to the internal contents of the object passed to it,
other methods such as :meth:`~io.BufferedIOBase.readinto` need write access
to the contents of their argument. The buffer interface allows objects to
selectively allow or reject exporting of read-write and read-only buffers.
There are two ways for a consumer of the buffer interface to acquire a buffer
over a target object:
* call :cfunc:`PyObject_GetBuffer` with the right parameters;
* call :cfunc:`PyArg_ParseTuple` (or one of its siblings) with one of the
``y*``, ``w*`` or ``s*`` :ref:`format codes <arg-parsing>`.
In both cases, :cfunc:`PyBuffer_Release` must be called when the buffer
isn't needed anymore. Failure to do so could lead to various issues such as
resource leaks.
An example user of the buffer interface is the file object's :meth:`write`
method. Any object that can export a series of bytes through the buffer
interface can be written to a file. There are a number of format codes to
:cfunc:`PyArg_ParseTuple` that operate against an object's buffer interface,
returning data from the target object.
.. index:: single: PyBufferProcs
More information on the buffer interface is provided in the section
:ref:`buffer-structs`, under the description for :ctype:`PyBufferProcs`.
How the buffer interface is exposed by a type object is described in the
section :ref:`buffer-structs`, under the description for :ctype:`PyBufferProcs`.
Buffer objects are useful as a way to expose the data from another object's
buffer interface to the Python programmer. They can also be used as a zero-copy
Buffer objects
==============
Buffer objects are useful as a way to expose the binary data from another
object to the Python programmer. They can also be used as a zero-copy
slicing mechanism. Using their ability to reference a block of memory, it is
possible to expose any data to the Python programmer quite easily. The memory
could be a large, constant array in a C extension, it could be a raw block of
memory for manipulation before passing to an operating system library, or it
could be used to pass around structured data in its native, in-memory format.
Contrary to most data types exposed by the Python interpreter, buffer objects
are not :ctype:`PyObject` pointers but rather simple C structures. This
allows them to be created and copied very simply. When a generic wrapper
around a buffer object is needed, a :ref:`memoryview <memoryviewobjects>` object
can be created.
.. ctype:: Py_buffer
@ -133,18 +159,23 @@ Buffer related functions
.. cfunction:: int PyObject_CheckBuffer(PyObject *obj)
Return 1 if *obj* supports the buffer interface otherwise 0.
Return 1 if *obj* supports the buffer interface otherwise 0. When 1 is
returned, it doesn't guarantee that :cfunc:`PyObject_GetBuffer` will
succeed.
.. cfunction:: int PyObject_GetBuffer(PyObject *obj, Py_buffer *view, int flags)
Export *obj* into a :ctype:`Py_buffer`, *view*. These arguments must
never be *NULL*. The *flags* argument is a bit field indicating what
kind of buffer the caller is prepared to deal with and therefore what
kind of buffer the exporter is allowed to return. The buffer interface
allows for complicated memory sharing possibilities, but some caller may
not be able to handle all the complexity but may want to see if the
exporter will let them take a simpler view to its memory.
Export a view over some internal data from the target object *obj*.
*obj* must not be NULL, and *view* must point to an existing
:ctype:`Py_buffer` structure allocated by the caller (most uses of
this function will simply declare a local variable of type
:ctype:`Py_buffer`). The *flags* argument is a bit field indicating
what kind of buffer is requested. The buffer interface allows
for complicated memory layout possibilities; however, some callers
won't want to handle all the complexity and instead request a simple
view of the target object (using :cmacro:`PyBUF_SIMPLE` for a read-only
view and :cmacro:`PyBUF_WRITABLE` for a read-write view).
Some exporters may not be able to share memory in every possible way and
may need to raise errors to signal to some consumers that something is
@ -154,26 +185,31 @@ Buffer related functions
:cdata:`Py_buffer` structure is filled in with non-default values and/or
raise an error if the object can't support a simpler view of its memory.
0 is returned on success and -1 on error.
On success, 0 is returned and the *view* structure is filled with useful
values. On error, -1 is returned and an exception is raised; the *view*
is left in an undefined state.
The following table gives possible values to the *flags* arguments.
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Flag | Description |
+==============================+===================================================+
| :cmacro:`PyBUF_SIMPLE` | This is the default flag state. The returned |
| | buffer may or may not have writable memory. The |
| | format of the data will be assumed to be unsigned |
| | bytes. This is a "stand-alone" flag constant. It |
| .. cmacro:: PyBUF_SIMPLE | This is the default flag. The returned buffer |
| | exposes a read-only memory area. The format of |
| | data is assumed to be raw unsigned bytes, without |
| | any particular structure. This is a "stand-alone"|
| | flag constant. It |
| | never needs to be '|'d to the others. The exporter|
| | will raise an error if it cannot provide such a |
| | contiguous buffer of bytes. |
| | |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| :cmacro:`PyBUF_WRITABLE` | The returned buffer must be writable. If it is |
| | not writable, then raise an error. |
| .. cmacro:: PyBUF_WRITABLE | Like :cmacro:`PyBUF_SIMPLE`, but the returned |
| | buffer is writable. If the exporter doesn't |
| | support |
| | writable buffers, an error is raised. |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| :cmacro:`PyBUF_STRIDES` | This implies :cmacro:`PyBUF_ND`. The returned |
| .. cmacro:: PyBUF_STRIDES | This implies :cmacro:`PyBUF_ND`. The returned |
| | buffer must provide strides information (i.e. the |
| | strides cannot be NULL). This would be used when |
| | the consumer can handle strided, discontiguous |
@ -183,19 +219,17 @@ Buffer related functions
| | not possible (i.e. without the suboffsets). |
| | |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| :cmacro:`PyBUF_ND` | The returned buffer must provide shape |
| .. cmacro:: PyBUF_ND | The returned buffer must provide shape |
| | information. The memory will be assumed C-style |
| | contiguous (last dimension varies the |
| | fastest). The exporter may raise an error if it |
| | cannot provide this kind of contiguous buffer. If |
| | this is not given then shape will be *NULL*. |
| | |
| | |
| | |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
|:cmacro:`PyBUF_C_CONTIGUOUS` | These flags indicate that the contiguity returned |
|:cmacro:`PyBUF_F_CONTIGUOUS` | buffer must be respectively, C-contiguous (last |
|:cmacro:`PyBUF_ANY_CONTIGUOUS`| dimension varies the fastest), Fortran contiguous |
|.. cmacro:: PyBUF_C_CONTIGUOUS| These flags indicate that the contiguity returned |
| PyBUF_F_CONTIGUOUS| buffer must be respectively, C-contiguous (last |
| PyBUF_ANY_CONTIGUOUS| dimension varies the fastest), Fortran contiguous |
| | (first dimension varies the fastest) or either |
| | one. All of these flags imply |
| | :cmacro:`PyBUF_STRIDES` and guarantee that the |
@ -203,7 +237,7 @@ Buffer related functions
| | correctly. |
| | |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| :cmacro:`PyBUF_INDIRECT` | This flag indicates the returned buffer must have |
| .. cmacro:: PyBUF_INDIRECT | This flag indicates the returned buffer must have |
| | suboffsets information (which can be NULL if no |
| | suboffsets are needed). This can be used when |
| | the consumer can handle indirect array |
@ -213,7 +247,7 @@ Buffer related functions
| | |
| | |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| :cmacro:`PyBUF_FORMAT` | The returned buffer must have true format |
| .. cmacro:: PyBUF_FORMAT | The returned buffer must have true format |
| | information if this flag is provided. This would |
| | be used when the consumer is going to be checking |
| | for what 'kind' of data is actually stored. An |
@ -223,28 +257,28 @@ Buffer related functions
| | returned as *NULL* (which means ``'B'``, or |
| | unsigned bytes) |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| :cmacro:`PyBUF_STRIDED` | This is equivalent to ``(PyBUF_STRIDES | |
| .. cmacro:: PyBUF_STRIDED | This is equivalent to ``(PyBUF_STRIDES | |
| | PyBUF_WRITABLE)``. |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| :cmacro:`PyBUF_STRIDED_RO` | This is equivalent to ``(PyBUF_STRIDES)``. |
| .. cmacro:: PyBUF_STRIDED_RO | This is equivalent to ``(PyBUF_STRIDES)``. |
| | |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| :cmacro:`PyBUF_RECORDS` | This is equivalent to ``(PyBUF_STRIDES | |
| .. cmacro:: PyBUF_RECORDS | This is equivalent to ``(PyBUF_STRIDES | |
| | PyBUF_FORMAT | PyBUF_WRITABLE)``. |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| :cmacro:`PyBUF_RECORDS_RO` | This is equivalent to ``(PyBUF_STRIDES | |
| .. cmacro:: PyBUF_RECORDS_RO | This is equivalent to ``(PyBUF_STRIDES | |
| | PyBUF_FORMAT)``. |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| :cmacro:`PyBUF_FULL` | This is equivalent to ``(PyBUF_INDIRECT | |
| .. cmacro:: PyBUF_FULL | This is equivalent to ``(PyBUF_INDIRECT | |
| | PyBUF_FORMAT | PyBUF_WRITABLE)``. |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| :cmacro:`PyBUF_FULL_RO` | This is equivalent to ``(PyBUF_INDIRECT | |
| .. cmacro:: PyBUF_FULL_RO | This is equivalent to ``(PyBUF_INDIRECT | |
| | PyBUF_FORMAT)``. |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| :cmacro:`PyBUF_CONTIG` | This is equivalent to ``(PyBUF_ND | |
| .. cmacro:: PyBUF_CONTIG | This is equivalent to ``(PyBUF_ND | |
| | PyBUF_WRITABLE)``. |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| :cmacro:`PyBUF_CONTIG_RO` | This is equivalent to ``(PyBUF_ND)``. |
| .. cmacro:: PyBUF_CONTIG_RO | This is equivalent to ``(PyBUF_ND)``. |
| | |
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
@ -299,6 +333,7 @@ Buffer related functions
.. index::
object: memoryview
.. _memoryviewobjects:
MemoryView objects
==================