NAME

       PPIx::Regexp::Token::Reference - Represent a reference to a capture

SYNOPSIS

        use PPIx::Regexp::Dumper;
        PPIx::Regexp::Dumper->new( 'qr{\1}smx' )
            ->print();

INHERITANCE

       "PPIx::Regexp::Token::Reference" is a PPIx::Regexp::Token.

       "PPIx::Regexp::Token::Reference" is the parent of PPIx::Regexp::Token::Backreference,
       PPIx::Regexp::Token::Condition and PPIx::Regexp::Token::Recursion.

DESCRIPTION

       This abstract class represents a reference to a capture buffer, either numbered or named. It should never
       be instantiated, but it provides a number of methods to its subclasses.

METHODS

       This class provides the following public methods. Methods not documented here are private, and
       unsupported in the sense that the author reserves the right to change or remove them without notice.

   absolute
        print "The absolute reference is ", $ref->absolute(), "\n";

       This method returns the absolute number of the capture buffer referred to. This is the same as number()
       for unsigned numeric references. If the reference is to a named buffer, "undef" is returned.

   is_named
        $ref->is_named and print "named reference\n";

       This method returns true if the reference is named rather than numbered.

   is_relative
        $ref->is_relative()
            and print "relative numbered reference\n";

       This method returns true if the reference is numbered and it is a relative number (i.e. if it is signed).

   name
        print "The name is ", $ref->name(), "\n";

       This method returns the name of the capture buffer referred to. In the case of a reference to a numbered
       capture (i.e. "is_named" returns false), this method returns "undef".

   number
        print "The number is ", $ref->number(), "\n";

       This method returns the number of the capture buffer referred to. In the case of a reference to a named
       capture (i.e. "is_named" returns true), this method returns "undef".

SUPPORT

       Support is by the author. Please file bug reports at <http://rt.cpan.org>, or in electronic mail to the
       author.

AUTHOR

       Thomas R. Wyant, III wyant at cpan dot org

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

       Copyright (C) 2009-2018 by Thomas R. Wyant, III

       This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl
       5.10.0. For more details, see the full text of the licenses in the directory LICENSES.

       This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but without any warranty; without even
       the implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.