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bytes_to_term(+String, -Term)

Converts String, which is supposed to be an encoding of a term, into Term.
String
A string produced by term_to_bytes/2.
Term
A variable.

Description

This predicate decodes strings produced by term_to_bytes/2 and reconstructs the encoded term. The string representation is machine-independent, can be stored in files, sent over networks etc. Note however that the string can contain arbitrary bytes, including NUL and control characters.

The predicate attempts to reconstruct the term with all its attached variable attributes and delayed goals. For this to be possible, the variable attributes and the predicates corresponding to delayed goals must all be defined in the environment where the term is reconstructed.

The term_to_bytes/bytes_to_term predicates differ from term_string/2 in that they do not create a human-readable representation, but are significantly faster and convert the term with all its attributes.

Modes and Determinism

Modules

This predicate is sensitive to its module context (tool predicate, see @/2).

Exceptions

(5) type error
String is not a string.

Examples

[eclipse]: term_to_bytes(s(X),String), bytes_to_term(String, Term).
String = "\000\000\000\b\001\002\013\001\001s\000\377\006\376\006\001X\000"
Term = s(X)
yes.



See Also

term_to_bytes / 2, copy_term / 2, copy_term / 3, writeq / 1, writeq / 2, write_canonical / 1, write_canonical / 2