Range (Groovy 2.5.0)
Date: 2018-05-27

groovy.lang

## Interface Range<T extends java.lang.Comparable>

- All Superinterfaces:
    java.util.Collection<T>, java.lang.Iterable<T>, java.util.List<T>
  All Known Implementing Classes:
    EmptyRange, IntRange, NumberRange, ObjectRange

      public interface Range<T extends java.lang.Comparable>
      extends java.util.List<T>

  A Range represents the list of discrete items between some starting (or `from`) value and working up towards some ending (or `to`) value. For a reverse range, the list is obtained by starting at the `to` value and working down towards the `from` value. The concept of working up and working down is dependent on the range implementation. In the general case, working up involves successive calls to the first item's `next()` method while working down involves calling the `previous()` method. Optimized numerical ranges may apply numeric addition or subtraction of some numerical step size. Particular range implementations may also support the notion of inclusivity and exclusivity with respect to the ending value in the range. E.g. `1..3 == [1, 2, 3]`; but `1..<3 == [1, 2]`. In general, the second boundary may not be contained in the range, and `a..b` may produce a different set of elements than `(b..a).reversed()`. E.g. `1..2.5 == [1, 2]`; but `2.5..1 == [2.5, 1.5]`. Implementations can be memory efficient by storing just the `from` and `to` boundary values rather than eagerly creating all discrete items in the conceptual list. The actual discrete items can be lazily calculated on an as needed basis (e.g. when calling methods from the `java.util.List` interface or the additional `step` methods in the `Range` interface). In addition to the methods related to a Range's "discrete items" abstraction, there is a method, `containsWithinBounds` which, for numerical ranges, allows checking within the continuous interval between the Range's boundary values.

- - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Instance Methods Abstract Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `boolean` | `containsWithinBounds(java.lang.Object o)` Indicates whether an object is greater than or equal to the `from` value for the range and less than or equal to the `to` value.
    `T` | `getFrom()` The lower value in the range.
    `T` | `getTo()` The upper value in the range.
    `java.lang.String` | `inspect()`
    `boolean` | `isReverse()` Indicates whether this is a reverse range which iterates backwards starting from the to value and ending on the from value
    `java.util.List<T>` | `step(int step)` Forms a list by stepping through the range by the indicated interval.
    `void` | `step(int step, Closure closure)` Steps through the range, calling a closure for each item.

    - ### Methods inherited from interface java.util.List

      `add, add, addAll, addAll, clear, contains, containsAll, equals, get, hashCode, indexOf, isEmpty, iterator, lastIndexOf, listIterator, listIterator, remove, remove, removeAll, replaceAll, retainAll, set, size, sort, spliterator, subList, toArray, toArray`

    - ### Methods inherited from interface java.util.Collection

      `parallelStream, removeIf, stream`

    - ### Methods inherited from interface java.lang.Iterable

      `forEach`

- - ### Method Detail

    - #### getFrom

          T getFrom()

      The lower value in the range.
      Returns:
        the lower value in the range.

    - #### getTo

          T getTo()

      The upper value in the range.
      Returns:
        the upper value in the range

    - #### isReverse

          boolean isReverse()

      Indicates whether this is a reverse range which iterates backwards starting from the to value and ending on the from value
      Returns:
        `true` if this is a reverse range

    - #### containsWithinBounds

          boolean containsWithinBounds(java.lang.Object o)

      Indicates whether an object is greater than or equal to the `from` value for the range and less than or equal to the `to` value.

      This may be true even for values not contained in the range. Example: from = 1.5, to = 3, next() increments by 1 containsWithinBounds(2) == true contains(2) == false

      Parameters:
        `o` - the object to check against the boundaries of the range
      Returns:
        `true` if the object is between the from and to values

    - #### step

          void step(int step,
                    Closure closure)

      Steps through the range, calling a closure for each item.
      Parameters:
        `step` - the amount by which to step. If negative, steps through the range backwards.
        `closure` - the `Closure` to call

    - #### step

          java.util.List<T> step(int step)

      Forms a list by stepping through the range by the indicated interval.
      Parameters:
        `step` - the amount by which to step. If negative, steps through the range backwards.
      Returns:
        the list formed by stepping through the range by the indicated interval.

    - #### inspect

          java.lang.String inspect()

      Returns:
        the verbose `String` representation of this `Range` as would be typed into a console to create the `Range` instance