built-in method
assertz/1
Description
assertz(Head)
assertz((Head:-Body))
Asserts a clause as the last one for a dynamic predicate.
When the predicate was not previously declared (using a scope directive), a dynamic predicate declaration is added to the object. In this case, the predicate scope depends on how this method is called:
assertz(Clause)
The predicate is dynamically declared as private.
::assertz(Clause)
The predicate is dynamically declared as protected.
Object::assertz(Clause)
The predicate is dynamically declared as public.
Note, however, that dynamically declaring a new predicate requires either a
local assert or the dynamic_declarations
compiler flag set to allow
when the object was created or compiled.
When the predicate indicator for Head
is declared in a uses/2 or
use_module/2 directive, the clause is asserted in the referenced
object or module. When the backend Prolog compiler supports a module system, the
predicate argument can also be module qualified.
This method may be used to assert clauses for predicates that are not declared dynamic for dynamic objects provided that the predicates are declared in this. This allows easy initialization of dynamically created objects when writing constructors.
Modes and number of proofs
assertz(+clause) - one
Errors
Head
is a variable:instantiation_error
Head
is a neither a variable nor a callable term:type_error(callable, Head)
Body
cannot be converted to a goal:type_error(callable, Body)
Head
, Name/Arity
, is that of a private predicate:permission_error(modify, private_predicate, Name/Arity)
Head
, Name/Arity
, is that of a protected predicate:permission_error(modify, protected_predicate, Name/Arity)
Head
, Name/Arity
, is that of a static predicate:permission_error(modify, static_predicate, Name/Arity)
Head
, Name/Arity
, does not match a declared predicate and the target object was created/compiled with support for dynamic declaration of predicates turned off:permission_error(create, predicate_declaration, Name/Arity)
Examples
assertz(Clause)
::assertz(Clause)
Object::assertz(Clause)
An example of asserting clauses in this and in self from a category:
:- category(attributes,
implements(attributes_protocol)).
:- private(attr_/1).
:- dynamic(attr_/1).
set_in_this(A, X) :-
assertz(attr_(A, X)).
set_in_self(A, X) :-
::assertz(attr_(A, X)).
...
An example of asserting clauses into another object with the predicates listed using a uses/2 directive (similar when using a use_module/2 directive):
:- object(reasoner(_KnowledgeBase_)).
:- uses(_KnowledgeBase_, [
foo/1, bar/1
]).
baz(X) :-
% compiled as _KnowledgeBase_::assertz(foo(X))
assertz(foo(X)).
foobar(Name, Argument) :-
Clause =.. [Name, Argument],
% runtime resolved to _KnowledgeBase_::assertz(Clause)
% when Name is either foo or bar
assertz(Clause).
...
See also
abolish/1, asserta/1, clause/2, retract/1, retractall/1 dynamic/0, dynamic/1, uses/2, use_module/2