Meta-methods

Certain methods of the meta namespace may be implemented in a class or interface for overriding language behavior; those are referred to as meta-methods.

meta::call()

A static meta::call() method may be defined with any number of parameters and any result type, overriding the behavior of calling the class object.

meta static function call():T {}

A multi-method may be used, allowing for multiple call signatures.

meta::get()

Note: Overriding the property accessor with a possibly string or QName key type (including base types * and Object) will override all names (like .x), except when calling a method (like .m()). In that case, a class is said to be dynamic.

If the user needs to access an instance variable in such a case it is recommended to use a fixed expression as in

<?fixed={object.q::n}?>

meta function get(key:K):V {
    //
}

meta::set()

Note: Overriding the property accessor with a possibly string or QName key type (including base types * and Object) will override all names (like .x), except when calling a method (like .m()). In that case, a class is said to be dynamic.

meta function set(key:K, value:V):void {
    //
}

meta::delete()

Note: Overriding the property accessor with a possibly string or QName key type (including base types * and Object) will override all names (like .x), except when calling a method (like .m()). In that case, a class is said to be dynamic.

meta function delete(key:K):boolean {
    //
}

meta::has()

Overrides the behavior of the in operator.

meta function has(key:K):boolean {
    //
}

meta::getAttribute()

Overrides the behavior of the .@k accessor.

meta function getAttribute(key:K):V {
    //
}

meta::setAttribute()

Overrides the behavior of the .@k = v accessor.

meta function setAttribute(key:K, value:V):void {
    //
}

meta::deleteAttribute()

Overrides the behavior of the delete (...).@k accessor.

meta function deleteAttribute(key:K):boolean {
    //
}

meta::filter()

Overrides the behavior of the filter operator (.(test)).

meta function filter(testFn:function(T):boolean):E {
    //
}

meta::descendants()

Overrides the behavior of the descendants operator (..x). The parameter is expected to be typed string or QName.

meta function descendants(name:QName):E {
    //
}