API docs for Lua's `string` module. ## string.byte(s, i?, j?) Returns the numeric codes of characters in string `s` from position `i` to `j`. If `j` is not provided, defaults to `i`. Example: ```lua print(string.byte("Hello", 1)) -- prints: 72 (ASCII code for 'H') ``` ## string.char(...) Returns a string from given ASCII codes. Example: ```lua print(string.char(72)) -- prints: H ``` ## string.find(s, pattern, init?, plain?) Looks for the first match of `pattern` in string `s`. Returns start and end indices of match. Example: ```lua local start, end_ = string.find("Hello", "l") print(start) -- prints: 3 (first 'l' position) ``` ## string.gsub(s, pattern, repl, n?) Returns a copy of `s` in which all (or the first `n`) occurrences of `pattern` have been replaced by `repl`. Example: ```lua -- Simple string replacement local result, count = string.gsub("hello world", "hello", "hi") print(result, count) -- prints: hi world 1 -- Multiple replacements with limit result = string.gsub("hello hello hello", "hello", "hi", 2) print(result) -- prints: hi hi hello -- Function replacement result = string.gsub("hello world", "(h)ello", function(h) return string.upper(h) .. "i" end) print(result) -- prints: Hi world -- Pattern with magic characters result = string.gsub("hello.world", "%.", "-") print(result) -- prints: hello-world ``` ## string.match(s, pattern, init?) Returns the captures from the first match of `pattern` in string `s`. Example: ```lua -- Basic pattern matching print(string.match("hello", "h")) -- prints: h -- Multiple captures local day, month, year = string.match("2024-03-14", "(%d+)-(%d+)-(%d+)") print(day, month, year) -- prints: 2024 03 14 -- With init position print(string.match("hello world", "(world)", 7)) -- prints: world -- Pattern characters print(string.match("123", "%d+")) -- prints: 123 print(string.match("abc123", "%a+")) -- prints: abc print(string.match(" abc", "%s+")) -- prints: " " ``` ## string.gmatch(s, pattern) Returns an iterator function that returns successive captures from pattern matches in string `s`. Example: ```lua local words = {} for word in string.gmatch("hello world lua", "%w+") do table.insert(words, word) end print(words[1], words[2], words[3]) -- prints: hello world lua ``` ## string.len(s) Returns the length of string `s`. Example: ```lua print(string.len("Hello")) -- prints: 5 ``` ## string.lower(s) Returns a copy of `s` with all characters converted to lowercase. Example: ```lua print(string.lower("Hello")) -- prints: hello ``` ## string.upper(s) Returns a copy of `s` with all characters converted to uppercase. Example: ```lua print(string.upper("Hello")) -- prints: HELLO ``` ## string.rep(s, n, sep?) Returns a string that is the concatenation of `n` copies of string `s`. Example: ```lua print(string.rep("Hello", 3)) -- prints: HelloHelloHello ``` ## string.reverse(s) Returns a string with the characters of `s` in reverse order. Example: ```lua print(string.reverse("hello")) -- prints: olleh print(string.reverse("")) -- prints: "" (empty string) ``` ## string.sub(s, i, j?) Returns the substring of `s` from position `i` to `j`. Example: ```lua print(string.sub("Hello", 2, 4)) -- prints: ell ``` ## string.split(s, sep) Splits string `s` using separator `sep` and returns a table of substrings. Example: ```lua local parts = string.split("a,b,c", ",") for i, part in ipairs(parts) do print(part) end -- Output: -- a -- b -- c ``` # Non-standard Extensions ## string.startswith(s, prefix) Returns true if string `s` starts with `prefix`. Example: ```lua print(string.startswith("hello world", "hello")) -- prints: true print(string.startswith("hello world", "world")) -- prints: false ``` ## string.endswith(s, suffix) Returns true if string `s` ends with `suffix`. Example: ```lua print(string.endswith("hello world", "world")) -- prints: true print(string.endswith("hello world", "hello")) -- prints: false ```