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Subjects

JAVASCRIPTHTMLCSSPYTHONSQLJAVACPPCSHARPPHPTYPESCRIPTCRUBYGOSWIFTKOTLINRUSTRBASHSCALAOBJECTIVE-CDARTPERLLUAMATLABXMLJSONMARKDOWNASSEMBLYLATEXYAMLSOLIDITYBLOCKCHAIN

Topics

Lua Basics

Introduction to LuaInstalling LuaLua SyntaxLua CommentsLua VariablesLua Data TypesLua OperatorsLua String ManipulationLua Type Conversion

Control Structures

Lua If-Else StatementsLua While LoopsLua For LoopsLua Repeat-Until LoopsLua Break and ContinueLua Goto Statements

Functions

Lua Function BasicsLua Function ParametersLua Return ValuesLua Anonymous FunctionsLua ClosuresLua Recursion

Tables

Lua Table BasicsLua Table as ArraysLua Table as DictionariesLua Table ManipulationLua Table ConcatenationLua Table Sorting

Modules and Packages

Lua Module BasicsLua Require FunctionLua Creating ModulesLua Package SystemLua Standard Libraries

Object-Oriented Programming

Lua OOP ConceptsLua MetatablesLua Classes and ObjectsLua InheritanceLua Polymorphism

Error Handling

Lua Error Handling BasicsLua pcall FunctionLua xpcall FunctionLua assert FunctionLua Custom Error Messages

File I/O

Lua File Opening and ClosingLua File ReadingLua File WritingLua File SeekingLua Directory Operations

Coroutines

Lua Coroutine BasicsLua Coroutine StatesLua Coroutine FunctionsLua Coroutine YieldingLua Coroutine Resuming

Advanced Topics

Lua Garbage CollectionLua Weak TablesLua DebuggingLua Performance OptimizationLua C API BasicsLua SandboxingLua Bytecode

Lua Applications

Lua in Game DevelopmentLua Scripting in ApplicationsLua for Web DevelopmentLua in Embedded Systems

Lua Standard Libraries

Lua standard libraries are a collection of pre-written functions and modules that come bundled with the Lua programming language. These libraries provide essential functionality for common programming tasks, making development faster and more efficient.

Overview of Lua Standard Libraries

Lua's standard libraries offer a wide range of functions for various purposes, including string manipulation, table operations, mathematical computations, and file I/O. These libraries are automatically available in Lua programs without requiring additional imports.

Key Standard Libraries

  • string: For string manipulation
  • table: For working with Lua tables
  • math: For mathematical operations
  • io: For input/output operations
  • os: For operating system related functions

Using Standard Libraries

To use functions from standard libraries, you can call them directly or use the dot notation with the library name. Here's an example using the string library:

local str = "Hello, World!"
print(string.upper(str))  -- Outputs: HELLO, WORLD!
print(string.len(str))    -- Outputs: 13

Common Standard Library Functions

String Library

The string library provides powerful functions for string manipulation. Here's an example of string splitting:

local text = "apple,banana,cherry"
for fruit in string.gmatch(text, "[^,]+") do
    print(fruit)
end

Table Library

The table library offers functions for working with Lua tables. Here's how to sort a table:

local fruits = {"banana", "apple", "cherry"}
table.sort(fruits)
for _, fruit in ipairs(fruits) do
    print(fruit)
end

Best Practices

  • Familiarize yourself with the available standard library functions to avoid reinventing the wheel.
  • Use Lua Module Basics to organize your code when working with multiple libraries.
  • Consider performance implications when using certain library functions in critical sections of your code.

Extending Standard Libraries

While Lua's standard libraries are comprehensive, you can extend them or create your own libraries using Lua Creating Modules. This allows you to add custom functionality tailored to your specific needs.

Conclusion

Lua's standard libraries are a powerful asset in any Lua programmer's toolkit. By leveraging these built-in functions, you can write more efficient and maintainable code. As you progress in your Lua journey, exploring advanced topics like Lua Coroutine Basics and Lua Error Handling Basics will further enhance your programming skills.