`key`¶

key x     key[x]

Key of a dictionary¶

Where x is a dictionary (or the name of one), returns its key.

q)D:`q`w`e!(1 2;3 4;5 6)
q)key D
`q`w`e
q)key `D
`q`w`e

A namespace is a dictionary.

q)key `.
`D`daily`depth`mas`sym`date`nbbo...
q)key `.q
``neg`not`null`string`reciprocal`floor`ceiling`signum`mod`xbar`xlog`and`or`ea..

So is the default namespace.

q)key `                 / namespaces in the default namespace
`q`Q`h`o`util`rx
q)key `.                / objects in the default namespace
`a`s`b`t`deltas0`x`c

Keys of a keyed table¶

Where x is a keyed table (or the name of one), returns its key column/s.

q)K:([s:`q`w`e]g:1 2 3;h:4 5 6)
q)key K
s
-
q
w
e

keys, xkey
! Enkey, Unkey

Files in a folder¶

Where x is a directory handle returns a list of objects in the directory, sorted ascending.

q)key`:c:/q
`c`profile.q`sp.q`trade.q`w32

To select particular files, use like

q)f:key`:c:/q
q)f where f like "*.q"
`profile.q`sp.q`trade.q

Whether a folder exists¶

An empty folder returns an empty symbol vector; a non-existent folder returns an empty general list.

Whether a file exists¶

Where x is a file handle, returns the descriptor if the file exists, otherwise an empty list.

q)key`:c:/q/sp.q
`:c:/q/sp.q
q)key`:c:/q/notfound.q
()

Note that

an empty directory returns an empty symbol vector
a non-existent directory returns an empty general list

q)\ls foo
ls: cannot access foo: No such file or directory
'os
q)()~key`:foo
1b
q)\mkdir foo
q)key`:foo
`symbol$()

Whether a name is defined¶

Where x is a symbol atom that is not a file or directory descriptor, nor the name of a dictionary or keyed table, returns the original symbol if a variable of that name exists, otherwise an empty list. The name is interpreted relative to the current context if not fully qualified.

q)()~key`a        /now you don't see it
1b
q)a:1
q)key`a           /now you see it
`a
q)\d .foo
q.foo)key`a       /now you don't
q.foo)a:1 2!3 4
q.foo)key`a       /this one has keys
1 2
q.foo)key`.foo.a  /fully qualified name
1 2
q.foo)key`..a     /fully qualified name
`..a
q.foo)\d .
q)key`a
`a
q)key`.foo.a
1 2
q)key`..a
`..a

Target of a foreign key¶

Where x is a foreign-key column returns the name of the foreign-key table.

q)f:([f:1 2 3]v:`a`b`c)
q)x:`f$3 2
q)key x
`f

Type of a vector¶

Where x is a vector returns the name of its type as a symbol.

q)key each ("abc";101b;1 2 3h;1 2 3;1 2 3;1 2 3f)
`char`boolean`short`int`long`float
q)key 0#5
`long

Enumerator of a list¶

Where x is an enumerated list returns the name of the enumerating list.

q)ids:`a`b`c
q)x:`ids$`a`c
q)key x
`ids

`til`¶

Where x is a non-negative integer returns the same result as til.

q)key 10
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Metadata

key¶