Flecs v4.0
A fast entity component system (ECS) for C & C++
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Queries
Collaboration diagram for Queries:

Classes

struct  ecs_iter_t
 Iterator. More...
 
struct  ecs_query_desc_t
 Used with ecs_query_init(). More...
 
struct  ecs_query_count_t
 Struct returned by ecs_query_count(). More...
 

Macros

#define EcsSelf   (1llu << 63)
 Match on self.
 
#define EcsUp   (1llu << 62)
 Match by traversing upwards.
 
#define EcsTrav   (1llu << 61)
 Traverse relationship transitively.
 
#define EcsCascade   (1llu << 60)
 Sort results breadth first.
 
#define EcsDesc   (1llu << 59)
 Iterate groups in descending order.
 
#define EcsIsVariable   (1llu << 58)
 Term id is a variable.
 
#define EcsIsEntity   (1llu << 57)
 Term id is an entity.
 
#define EcsIsName   (1llu << 56)
 Term id is a name (don't attempt to lookup as entity).
 
#define EcsTraverseFlags   (EcsSelf|EcsUp|EcsTrav|EcsCascade|EcsDesc)
 All term traversal flags.
 
#define EcsTermRefFlags   (EcsTraverseFlags|EcsIsVariable|EcsIsEntity|EcsIsName)
 All term reference kind flags.
 
#define EcsQueryMatchPrefab   (1u << 1u)
 Query must match prefabs.
 
#define EcsQueryMatchDisabled   (1u << 2u)
 Query must match disabled entities.
 
#define EcsQueryMatchEmptyTables   (1u << 3u)
 Query must match empty tables.
 
#define EcsQueryNoData   (1u << 4u)
 Query won't provide component data.
 
#define EcsQueryIsInstanced   (1u << 5u)
 Query iteration is always instanced.
 
#define EcsQueryAllowUnresolvedByName   (1u << 6u)
 Query may have unresolved entity identifiers.
 
#define EcsQueryTableOnly   (1u << 7u)
 Query only returns whole tables (ignores toggle/member fields).
 

Typedefs

typedef struct ecs_query_desc_t ecs_query_desc_t
 Used with ecs_query_init().
 
typedef struct ecs_query_count_t ecs_query_count_t
 Struct returned by ecs_query_count().
 

Functions

bool ecs_term_ref_is_set (const ecs_term_ref_t *id)
 Test whether term id is set.
 
bool ecs_term_is_initialized (const ecs_term_t *term)
 Test whether a term is set.
 
bool ecs_term_match_this (const ecs_term_t *term)
 Is term matched on $this variable.
 
bool ecs_term_match_0 (const ecs_term_t *term)
 Is term matched on 0 source.
 
char * ecs_term_str (const ecs_world_t *world, const ecs_term_t *term)
 Convert term to string expression.
 
char * ecs_query_str (const ecs_query_t *query)
 Convert query to string expression.
 
ecs_query_tecs_query_init (ecs_world_t *world, const ecs_query_desc_t *desc)
 Create a query.
 
void ecs_query_fini (ecs_query_t *query)
 Delete a query.
 
int32_t ecs_query_find_var (const ecs_query_t *query, const char *name)
 Find variable index.
 
const char * ecs_query_var_name (const ecs_query_t *query, int32_t var_id)
 Get variable name.
 
bool ecs_query_var_is_entity (const ecs_query_t *query, int32_t var_id)
 Test if variable is an entity.
 
ecs_iter_t ecs_query_iter (const ecs_world_t *world, const ecs_query_t *query)
 Create a query iterator.
 
bool ecs_query_next (ecs_iter_t *it)
 Progress query iterator.
 
bool ecs_query_has (ecs_query_t *query, ecs_entity_t entity, ecs_iter_t *it)
 Match entity with query.
 
bool ecs_query_has_table (ecs_query_t *query, ecs_table_t *table, ecs_iter_t *it)
 Match table with query.
 
bool ecs_query_has_range (ecs_query_t *query, ecs_table_range_t *range, ecs_iter_t *it)
 Match range with query.
 
int32_t ecs_query_match_count (const ecs_query_t *query)
 Returns how often a match event happened for a cached query.
 
char * ecs_query_plan (const ecs_query_t *query)
 Convert query to a string.
 
char * ecs_query_plan_w_profile (const ecs_query_t *query, const ecs_iter_t *it)
 Convert query to string with profile.
 
const char * ecs_query_args_parse (ecs_query_t *query, ecs_iter_t *it, const char *expr)
 Populate variables from key-value string.
 
bool ecs_query_changed (ecs_query_t *query)
 Returns whether the query data changed since the last iteration.
 
void ecs_iter_skip (ecs_iter_t *it)
 Skip a table while iterating.
 
void ecs_iter_set_group (ecs_iter_t *it, uint64_t group_id)
 Set group to iterate for query iterator.
 
void * ecs_query_get_group_ctx (const ecs_query_t *query, uint64_t group_id)
 Get context of query group.
 
const ecs_query_group_info_tecs_query_get_group_info (const ecs_query_t *query, uint64_t group_id)
 Get information about query group.
 
ecs_query_count_t ecs_query_count (const ecs_query_t *query)
 Returns number of entities and results the query matches with.
 
bool ecs_query_is_true (const ecs_query_t *query)
 Does query return one or more results.
 

Detailed Description

Functions for working with ecs_query_t.

Functions for working with ecs_term_t and ecs_query_t.

Macro Definition Documentation

◆ EcsCascade

#define EcsCascade   (1llu << 60)

Sort results breadth first.

Can be combined with other term flags on the ecs_term_ref_t::id field.

Definition at line 682 of file flecs.h.

◆ EcsDesc

#define EcsDesc   (1llu << 59)

Iterate groups in descending order.

Can be combined with other term flags on the ecs_term_ref_t::id field.

Definition at line 688 of file flecs.h.

◆ EcsIsEntity

#define EcsIsEntity   (1llu << 57)

Term id is an entity.

Can be combined with other term flags on the ecs_term_ref_t::id field.

Definition at line 700 of file flecs.h.

◆ EcsIsName

#define EcsIsName   (1llu << 56)

Term id is a name (don't attempt to lookup as entity).

Can be combined with other term flags on the ecs_term_ref_t::id field.

Definition at line 706 of file flecs.h.

◆ EcsIsVariable

#define EcsIsVariable   (1llu << 58)

Term id is a variable.

Can be combined with other term flags on the ecs_term_ref_t::id field.

Definition at line 694 of file flecs.h.

◆ EcsQueryAllowUnresolvedByName

#define EcsQueryAllowUnresolvedByName   (1u << 6u)

Query may have unresolved entity identifiers.

Can be combined with other query flags on the ecs_query_desc_t::flags field.

Definition at line 1125 of file flecs.h.

◆ EcsQueryIsInstanced

#define EcsQueryIsInstanced   (1u << 5u)

Query iteration is always instanced.

Can be combined with other query flags on the ecs_query_desc_t::flags field.

Definition at line 1119 of file flecs.h.

◆ EcsQueryMatchDisabled

#define EcsQueryMatchDisabled   (1u << 2u)

Query must match disabled entities.

Can be combined with other query flags on the ecs_query_desc_t::flags field.

Definition at line 1101 of file flecs.h.

◆ EcsQueryMatchEmptyTables

#define EcsQueryMatchEmptyTables   (1u << 3u)

Query must match empty tables.

Can be combined with other query flags on the ecs_query_desc_t::flags field.

Definition at line 1107 of file flecs.h.

◆ EcsQueryMatchPrefab

#define EcsQueryMatchPrefab   (1u << 1u)

Query must match prefabs.

Can be combined with other query flags on the ecs_query_desc_t::flags field.

Definition at line 1095 of file flecs.h.

◆ EcsQueryNoData

#define EcsQueryNoData   (1u << 4u)

Query won't provide component data.

Can be combined with other query flags on the ecs_query_desc_t::flags field.

Definition at line 1113 of file flecs.h.

◆ EcsQueryTableOnly

#define EcsQueryTableOnly   (1u << 7u)

Query only returns whole tables (ignores toggle/member fields).

Can be combined with other query flags on the ecs_query_desc_t::flags field.

Definition at line 1131 of file flecs.h.

◆ EcsSelf

#define EcsSelf   (1llu << 63)

Match on self.

Can be combined with other term flags on the ecs_term_t::flags_ field.

Definition at line 664 of file flecs.h.

◆ EcsTermRefFlags

#define EcsTermRefFlags   (EcsTraverseFlags|EcsIsVariable|EcsIsEntity|EcsIsName)

All term reference kind flags.

Can be combined with other term flags on the ecs_term_ref_t::id field.

Definition at line 718 of file flecs.h.

◆ EcsTrav

#define EcsTrav   (1llu << 61)

Traverse relationship transitively.

Can be combined with other term flags on the ecs_term_ref_t::id field.

Definition at line 676 of file flecs.h.

◆ EcsTraverseFlags

#define EcsTraverseFlags   (EcsSelf|EcsUp|EcsTrav|EcsCascade|EcsDesc)

All term traversal flags.

Can be combined with other term flags on the ecs_term_ref_t::id field.

Definition at line 712 of file flecs.h.

◆ EcsUp

#define EcsUp   (1llu << 62)

Match by traversing upwards.

Can be combined with other term flags on the ecs_term_ref_t::id field.

Definition at line 670 of file flecs.h.

Function Documentation

◆ ecs_iter_set_group()

void ecs_iter_set_group ( ecs_iter_t * it,
uint64_t group_id )

Set group to iterate for query iterator.

This operation limits the results returned by the query to only the selected group id. The query must have a group_by function, and the iterator must be a query iterator.

Groups are sets of tables that are stored together in the query cache based on a group id, which is calculated per table by the group_by function. To iterate a group, an iterator only needs to know the first and last cache node for that group, which can both be found in a fast O(1) operation.

As a result, group iteration is one of the most efficient mechanisms to filter out large numbers of entities, even if those entities are distributed across many tables. This makes it a good fit for things like dividing up a world into cells, and only iterating cells close to a player.

The group to iterate must be set before the first call to ecs_query_next(). No operations that can add/remove components should be invoked between calling ecs_iter_set_group() and ecs_query_next().

Parameters
itThe query iterator.
group_idThe group to iterate.

◆ ecs_iter_skip()

void ecs_iter_skip ( ecs_iter_t * it)

Skip a table while iterating.

This operation lets the query iterator know that a table was skipped while iterating. A skipped table will not reset its changed state, and the query will not update the dirty flags of the table for its out columns.

Only valid iterators must be provided (next has to be called at least once & return true) and the iterator must be a query iterator.

Parameters
itThe iterator result to skip.

◆ ecs_query_args_parse()

const char * ecs_query_args_parse ( ecs_query_t * query,
ecs_iter_t * it,
const char * expr )

Populate variables from key-value string.

Convenience function to set query variables from a key-value string separated by comma's. The string must have the following format:

var_a: value, var_b: value

The key-value list may optionally be enclosed in parenthesis.

This function uses the script addon.

Parameters
queryThe query.
itThe iterator for which to set the variables.
exprThe key-value expression.
Returns
Pointer to the next character after the last parsed one.

◆ ecs_query_changed()

bool ecs_query_changed ( ecs_query_t * query)

Returns whether the query data changed since the last iteration.

The operation will return true after:

  • new entities have been matched with
  • new tables have been matched/unmatched with
  • matched entities were deleted
  • matched components were changed

The operation will not return true after a write-only (EcsOut) or filter (EcsInOutNone) term has changed, when a term is not matched with the current table (This subject) or for tag terms.

The changed state of a table is reset after it is iterated. If an iterator was not iterated until completion, tables may still be marked as changed.

If no iterator is provided the operation will return the changed state of the all matched tables of the query.

If an iterator is provided, the operation will return the changed state of the currently returned iterator result. The following preconditions must be met before using an iterator with change detection:

  • The iterator is a query iterator (created with ecs_query_iter())
  • The iterator must be valid (ecs_query_next() must have returned true)
  • The iterator must be instanced
Parameters
queryThe query (optional if 'it' is provided).
Returns
true if entities changed, otherwise false.

◆ ecs_query_count()

ecs_query_count_t ecs_query_count ( const ecs_query_t * query)

Returns number of entities and results the query matches with.

Only entities matching the $this variable as source are counted.

Parameters
queryThe query.
Returns
The number of matched entities.

◆ ecs_query_find_var()

int32_t ecs_query_find_var ( const ecs_query_t * query,
const char * name )

Find variable index.

This operation looks up the index of a variable in the query. This index can be used in operations like ecs_iter_set_var() and ecs_iter_get_var().

Parameters
queryThe query.
nameThe variable name.
Returns
The variable index.

◆ ecs_query_fini()

void ecs_query_fini ( ecs_query_t * query)

Delete a query.

Parameters
queryThe query.

◆ ecs_query_get_group_ctx()

void * ecs_query_get_group_ctx ( const ecs_query_t * query,
uint64_t group_id )

Get context of query group.

This operation returns the context of a query group as returned by the on_group_create callback.

Parameters
queryThe query.
group_idThe group for which to obtain the context.
Returns
The group context, NULL if the group doesn't exist.

◆ ecs_query_get_group_info()

const ecs_query_group_info_t * ecs_query_get_group_info ( const ecs_query_t * query,
uint64_t group_id )

Get information about query group.

This operation returns information about a query group, including the group context returned by the on_group_create callback.

Parameters
queryThe query.
group_idThe group for which to obtain the group info.
Returns
The group info, NULL if the group doesn't exist.

◆ ecs_query_has()

bool ecs_query_has ( ecs_query_t * query,
ecs_entity_t entity,
ecs_iter_t * it )

Match entity with query.

This operation matches an entity with a query and returns the result of the match in the "it" out parameter. An application should free the iterator resources with ecs_iter_fini() if this function returns true.

Usage:

if (ecs_query_has(q, e, &it)) {
}
void ecs_iter_fini(ecs_iter_t *it)
Cleanup iterator resources.
bool ecs_query_has(ecs_query_t *query, ecs_entity_t entity, ecs_iter_t *it)
Match entity with query.
Iterator.
Definition flecs.h:1025
Parameters
queryThe query.
entityThe entity to match
itThe iterator with matched data.
Returns
True if entity matches the query, false if not.

◆ ecs_query_has_range()

bool ecs_query_has_range ( ecs_query_t * query,
ecs_table_range_t * range,
ecs_iter_t * it )

Match range with query.

This operation matches a range with a query and returns the result of the match in the "it" out parameter. An application should free the iterator resources with ecs_iter_fini() if this function returns true.

The entire range must match the query for the operation to return true.

Usage:

ecs_table_range_t range = {
.table = table,
.offset = 1,
.count = 2
};
if (ecs_query_has_range(q, &range, &it)) {
}
bool ecs_query_has_range(ecs_query_t *query, ecs_table_range_t *range, ecs_iter_t *it)
Match range with query.
Parameters
queryThe query.
rangeThe range to match
itThe iterator with matched data.
Returns
True if range matches the query, false if not.

◆ ecs_query_has_table()

bool ecs_query_has_table ( ecs_query_t * query,
ecs_table_t * table,
ecs_iter_t * it )

Match table with query.

This operation matches a table with a query and returns the result of the match in the "it" out parameter. An application should free the iterator resources with ecs_iter_fini() if this function returns true.

Usage:

if (ecs_query_has_table(q, t, &it)) {
}
bool ecs_query_has_table(ecs_query_t *query, ecs_table_t *table, ecs_iter_t *it)
Match table with query.
Parameters
queryThe query.
tableThe table to match
itThe iterator with matched data.
Returns
True if table matches the query, false if not.

◆ ecs_query_init()

ecs_query_t * ecs_query_init ( ecs_world_t * world,
const ecs_query_desc_t * desc )

Create a query.

Parameters
worldThe world.
descThe descriptor (see ecs_query_desc_t)
Returns
The query.

◆ ecs_query_is_true()

bool ecs_query_is_true ( const ecs_query_t * query)

Does query return one or more results.

Parameters
queryThe query.
Returns
True if query matches anything, false if not.

◆ ecs_query_iter()

ecs_iter_t ecs_query_iter ( const ecs_world_t * world,
const ecs_query_t * query )

Create a query iterator.

Use an iterator to iterate through the entities that match an entity. Queries can return multiple results, and have to be iterated by repeatedly calling ecs_query_next() until the operation returns false.

Depending on the query, a single result can contain an entire table, a range of entities in a table, or a single entity. Iteration code has an inner and an outer loop. The outer loop loops through the query results, and typically corresponds with a table. The inner loop loops entities in the result.

Example:

ecs_iter_t it = ecs_query_iter(world, q);
while (ecs_query_next(&it)) {
Position *p = ecs_field(&it, Position, 0);
Velocity *v = ecs_field(&it, Velocity, 1);
for (int i = 0; i < it.count; i ++) {
p[i].x += v[i].x;
p[i].y += v[i].y;
}
}
bool ecs_query_next(ecs_iter_t *it)
Progress query iterator.
ecs_iter_t ecs_query_iter(const ecs_world_t *world, const ecs_query_t *query)
Create a query iterator.
int32_t count
Number of entities to iterate.
Definition flecs.h:1075

The world passed into the operation must be either the actual world or the current stage, when iterating from a system. The stage is accessible through the it.world member.

Example:

void MySystem(ecs_iter_t *it) {
ecs_query_t *q = it->ctx; // Query passed as system context
// Create query iterator from system stage
while (ecs_query_next(&qit)) {
// Iterate as usual
}
}
void * ctx
System context.
Definition flecs.h:1063
ecs_world_t * world
The world.
Definition flecs.h:1027
Queries are lists of constraints (terms) that match entities.
Definition flecs.h:760

If query iteration is stopped without the last call to ecs_query_next() returning false, iterator resources need to be cleaned up explicitly with ecs_iter_fini().

Example:

ecs_iter_t it = ecs_query_iter(world, q);
while (ecs_query_next(&it)) {
if (!ecs_field_is_set(&it, 0)) {
ecs_iter_fini(&it); // Free iterator resources
break;
}
for (int i = 0; i < it.count; i ++) {
// ...
}
}
bool ecs_field_is_set(const ecs_iter_t *it, int32_t index)
Test whether field is set.
Parameters
worldThe world.
queryThe query.
Returns
An iterator.
See also
ecs_query_next()

◆ ecs_query_match_count()

int32_t ecs_query_match_count ( const ecs_query_t * query)

Returns how often a match event happened for a cached query.

This operation can be used to determine whether the query cache has been updated with new tables.

Parameters
queryThe query.
Returns
The number of match events happened.

◆ ecs_query_next()

bool ecs_query_next ( ecs_iter_t * it)

Progress query iterator.

Parameters
itThe iterator.
Returns
True if the iterator has more results, false if not.
See also
ecs_query_iter()

◆ ecs_query_plan()

char * ecs_query_plan ( const ecs_query_t * query)

Convert query to a string.

This will convert the query program to a string which can aid in debugging the behavior of a query.

The returned string must be freed with ecs_os_free().

Parameters
queryThe query.
Returns
The query plan.

◆ ecs_query_plan_w_profile()

char * ecs_query_plan_w_profile ( const ecs_query_t * query,
const ecs_iter_t * it )

Convert query to string with profile.

To use this you must set the EcsIterProfile flag on an iterator before starting iteration:

it.flags |= EcsIterProfile

The returned string must be freed with ecs_os_free().

Parameters
queryThe query.
itThe iterator with profile data.
Returns
The query plan with profile data.

◆ ecs_query_str()

char * ecs_query_str ( const ecs_query_t * query)

Convert query to string expression.

Convert query to a string expression. The resulting expression can be parsed to create the same query.

Parameters
queryThe query.
Returns
The query converted to a string.

◆ ecs_query_var_is_entity()

bool ecs_query_var_is_entity ( const ecs_query_t * query,
int32_t var_id )

Test if variable is an entity.

Internally the query engine has entity variables and table variables. When iterating through query variables (by using ecs_query_variable_count()) only the values for entity variables are accessible. This operation enables an application to check if a variable is an entity variable.

Parameters
queryThe query.
var_idThe variable id.
Returns
Whether the variable is an entity variable.

◆ ecs_query_var_name()

const char * ecs_query_var_name ( const ecs_query_t * query,
int32_t var_id )

Get variable name.

This operation returns the variable name for an index.

Parameters
queryThe query.
var_idThe variable index.
Returns
The variable name.

◆ ecs_term_is_initialized()

bool ecs_term_is_initialized ( const ecs_term_t * term)

Test whether a term is set.

This operation can be used to test whether a term has been initialized with values or whether it is empty.

An application generally does not need to invoke this operation. It is useful when initializing a 0-initialized array of terms (like in ecs_term_desc_t) as this operation can be used to find the last initialized element.

Parameters
termThe term.
Returns
True when set, false when not set.

◆ ecs_term_match_0()

bool ecs_term_match_0 ( const ecs_term_t * term)

Is term matched on 0 source.

This operation checks whether a term is matched on a 0 source. A 0 source is a term that isn't matched against anything, and can be used just to pass (component) ids to a query iterator.

A term has a 0 source when:

Parameters
termThe term.
Returns
True if term has 0 source, false if not.

◆ ecs_term_match_this()

bool ecs_term_match_this ( const ecs_term_t * term)

Is term matched on $this variable.

This operation checks whether a term is matched on the $this variable, which is the default source for queries.

A term has a $this source when:

If ecs_term_t::src is not populated, it will be automatically initialized to the $this source for the created query.

Parameters
termThe term.
Returns
True if term matches $this, false if not.

◆ ecs_term_ref_is_set()

bool ecs_term_ref_is_set ( const ecs_term_ref_t * id)

Test whether term id is set.

Parameters
idThe term id.
Returns
True when set, false when not set.

◆ ecs_term_str()

char * ecs_term_str ( const ecs_world_t * world,
const ecs_term_t * term )

Convert term to string expression.

Convert term to a string expression. The resulting expression is equivalent to the same term, with the exception of And & Or operators.

Parameters
worldThe world.
termThe term.
Returns
The term converted to a string.