Functions: infix

Infix functions are functions that work like operators. That is, the name of the function goes between its two arguments, just as the * symbol goes between the two values to be multiplied. In fact, an operator and an infix function are really two different names for the same thing. You can create an operator, therefore, by defining an infix function.

Here is an example of an infix function that calculates the distance between two points. It uses the symbol >>> to represent the concept of distance. The points are represented by records.

  import "omfloat.xmd" unprefixed
  import "omtrig.xmd"  unprefixed
  
  declare record point
     field float x
     field float y
  
  
  define float infix-function
        value point a
     >>>
        value point b
  as
     return hypot (a:x - b:x, a:y - b:y)
  
  
  process
     local point Ghent
     local point Aix
  
     set Ghent:x to 137.5
     set Ghent:y to 83.2
  
     set Aix:x to 219.7
     set Aix:y to 345.9
  
     output "d" % Ghent >>> Aix