StringNumber - Erlang - e r l a n g : c o o k b o o k

Testing Whether a String Represents an Integer

Problem

You want to determine whether a string is an integer

The io_lib:fread function is the easiest method. io_lib:fread can handle strings containing base 2 through 36 numbers into a number, though decimal is the default. If the conversion can't be performed, or if the string does not contain a number, io_lib:fread returns {error} (rather than {ok}. Here are some examples showing the proper format specifiers:

1> io_lib:fread("~d", "1234").
{ok,[1234],[]}
2> io_lib:fread("~16u", "abc").
{ok,[2748],[]}
3> io_lib:fread("~d", "abc").
{error,{fread,integer}}

This is only half the solution, however. io_lib:fread works for any kind of number, so technically, you should wrap the call in a call to the is_integer predicate:

4> Is_String_Int = fun(String) ->
4>     {ok,IntString,Stuff} = io_lib:fread("~d", String),
4>     IntStringHead = hd(IntString),
4>     is_integer(IntStringHead)
4> end.
#Fun<erl_eval.6.39074546>
5> Is_String_Int("77").
true

Discussion

Even this function is not perfect. It thinks "77.7" is an integer since it reads the 77 and drops the .7 prior to trying the is_integer predicate. Need to research this a bit more.

Is there a reason why the list_to_integer function is not used for this?

1> Is_String_Int = fun(String) ->
1>     case (catch list_to_integer(String)) of
1>         {'EXIT', _} -> false;
1>         Integer -> true
1>     end
1> end.
#Fun<erl_eval.6.56006484>
2> Is_String_Int("77.7").
false
3> Is_String_Int("77").
true

-- PhilipRobinson - 15 Jun 2006

Contributors

Based on work by GordonWeakliem and NoelWelsh.

-- BrentAFulgham - 23 Aug 2004

CookbookForm
TopicType:	Recipe
ParentTopic:	StringRecipes
TopicOrder:	200

e r l a n g : c o o k b o o k

Testing Whether a String Represents an Integer

Problem

Solution

Discussion

Contributors