diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'doc/dbus-specification.xml')
| -rw-r--r-- | doc/dbus-specification.xml | 69 |
1 files changed, 39 insertions, 30 deletions
diff --git a/doc/dbus-specification.xml b/doc/dbus-specification.xml index 3828db7f..05597619 100644 --- a/doc/dbus-specification.xml +++ b/doc/dbus-specification.xml @@ -295,13 +295,50 @@ <para> The D-Bus protocol does not include type tags in the marshaled data; a block of marshaled values must have a known <firstterm>type - signature</firstterm>. The type signature is made up of <firstterm>type - codes</firstterm>. A type code is an ASCII character representing the + signature</firstterm>. The type signature is made up of zero or more + <firstterm id="term-single-complete-type">single complete + types</firstterm>, each made up of one or more + <firstterm>type codes</firstterm>. + </para> + + <para> + A type code is an ASCII character representing the type of a value. Because ASCII characters are used, the type signature will always form a valid ASCII string. A simple string compare determines whether two type signatures are equivalent. </para> + <para> + A single complete type is a sequence of type codes that fully describes + one type: either a basic type, or a single fully-described container type. + A single complete type is a basic type code, a variant type code, + an array with its element type, or a struct with its fields (all of which + are defined below). So the following signatures are not single complete + types: + <programlisting> + "aa" + </programlisting> + <programlisting> + "(ii" + </programlisting> + <programlisting> + "ii)" + </programlisting> + And the following signatures contain multiple complete types: + <programlisting> + "ii" + </programlisting> + <programlisting> + "aiai" + </programlisting> + <programlisting> + "(ii)(ii)" + </programlisting> + Note however that a single complete type may <emphasis>contain</emphasis> + multiple other single complete types, by containing a struct or dict + entry. + </para> + <sect2 id="basic-types"> <title>Basic types</title> @@ -385,34 +422,6 @@ </para> <para> - The phrase <firstterm>single complete type</firstterm> deserves some - definition. A single complete type is a basic type code, a variant type code, - an array with its element type, or a struct with its fields. - So the following signatures are not single complete types: - <programlisting> - "aa" - </programlisting> - <programlisting> - "(ii" - </programlisting> - <programlisting> - "ii)" - </programlisting> - And the following signatures contain multiple complete types: - <programlisting> - "ii" - </programlisting> - <programlisting> - "aiai" - </programlisting> - <programlisting> - "(ii)(ii)" - </programlisting> - Note however that a single complete type may <emphasis>contain</emphasis> - multiple other single complete types. - </para> - - <para> <literal>VARIANT</literal> has ASCII character 'v' as its type code. A marshaled value of type <literal>VARIANT</literal> will have the signature of a single complete type as part of the <emphasis>value</emphasis>. This signature will be followed by a |