Home / Edit Concepts - Variable Argument Count (varargs)

Log in to edit

Concepts - Variable Argument Count (varargs)

<cat>Dev.Lua</cat>
<title>Concepts - Variable Argument Count (varargs)</title>

# Variadic Functions

Functions that take a variable amount of arguments are called `variadic`.

<br/>

## Example

The `print` function logs any number of values you supply it to the console.

```Lua
print( 'These' , 'are' , 'a' , 'lot' , 'of' , 'arguments' , 1 , 2 , 3 )
``` 

<br/>

## Declaration

Variadic arguments can be declared with the name  
`...` at the ends of a function's list of arguments.

```Lua
function ( first , second , ... )
```

Calling the function with `( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 )` results in:

- `first` = `1`
- `second` = `2`
- `...` = `3 , 4`

<br/>

## Usage

You can use supply `...` as an argument to another function.

```Lua
sum( 1 , 2 , ... , 5 ) -- Same as sum( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 )
```

<br/>

## Unpacking

You can also create variadic arguments by <page text = 'unpacking' >Global.unpack</page> a table.

```Lua
unpack({ 3 , 4 }) -- Same as `3 , 4`
```

<br/>

## Packing

The opposite can be achieved by <page text = 'packing' >table.Pack</page> a table.

```Lua
local arguments = table.Pack( ... ) -- Same as { 3 , 4 }
```

```Lua
local arguments = { ... } -- Shorthand Syntax
```

<br/>

---

<br/>


<example name = 'Summation' >

	<description>

		Adds up a variable numbers of values.

	</description>

	<code>

function sum ( ... )
  
    local total = 0
    
    for _ , value in ipairs({ ... }) do
        total = total + value
    end
    
    return total
end

	</code>

	<code name = 'Test' >

print(sum(1,2,3))

	</code>

	<output>6</output>

</example>

<br/>

---

<br/>

<example name = 'Average' >

	<description>

		Finds the mean of a variable numbers of values  
		using the previous example's summation function.

	</description>

   	<code name = 'Function' >

function average ( ... )
    return sum( ... ) / #{ ... }
end

	</code>

	<code name = 'Test' >

print(average(1,2,3))

	</code>

   <output>2.0</output>
</example>

Garry's Mod Wiki

Player Guides

Getting Started 13

Sandbox Tools 3

Game Modes 4

Server Hosting 9

Other Topics 7

Developer Guides

Getting Started 10

Lua Programming 25

Game Systems 10

Gamemode Creation 6

HUD and User Interface 15

Scripted Entities and Weapons 9

NPCs and AI 2

Map and Level Design 3

Models, Textures and Animation 6

Addons and Steam Workshop 4

Binary Modules 5

Other Topics 12

Developer Reference

Globals 327

Classes 45

Libraries 88

achievements
- BalloonPopped
- Count
- EatBall
- GetCount
- GetDesc
- GetGoal
- GetName
- IncBaddies
- IncBystander
- IncGoodies
- IsAchieved
- Remover
- SpawnedNPC
- SpawnedProp
- SpawnedRagdoll
- SpawnMenuOpen
ai
ai_schedule
- New
ai_task
- New
baseclass
- Get
- Set
bit
- arshift
- band
- bnot
- bor
- bswap
- bxor
- lshift
- rol
- ror
- rshift
- tobit
- tohex
cam
- ApplyShake
- End
- End2D
- End3D
- End3D2D
- EndOrthoView
- GetModelMatrix
- IgnoreZ
- PopModelMatrix
- PushModelMatrix
- Start
- Start2D
- Start3D
- Start3D2D
- StartOrthoView
chat
- AddText
- Close
- GetChatBoxPos
- GetChatBoxSize
- Open
- PlaySound
cleanup
- Add
- CC_AdminCleanup
- CC_Cleanup
- GetList
- GetTable
- Register
- ReplaceEntity
- UpdateUI
concommand
- Add
- AutoComplete
- GetTable
- Remove
- Run
constraint
construct
- Magnet
- SetPhysProp
controlpanel
- Clear
- Get
cookie
- Delete
- GetNumber
- GetString
- Set
coroutine
- create
- isyieldable
- resume
- running
- status
- wait
- wrap
- yield
cvars
debug
- debug
- getfenv
- gethook
- getinfo
- getlocal
- getmetatable
- getregistry
- getupvalue
- setfenv
- sethook
- setlocal
- setmetatable
- setupvalue
- Trace
- traceback
- upvalueid
- upvaluejoin
debugoverlay
- Axis
- Box
- BoxAngles
- Cross
- EntityTextAtPosition
- Grid
- Line
- ScreenText
- Sphere
- SweptBox
- Text
- Triangle
derma
dragndrop
draw
- DrawText
- GetFontHeight
- NoTexture
- RoundedBox
- RoundedBoxEx
- SimpleText
- SimpleTextOutlined
- Text
- TextShadow
- TexturedQuad
- WordBox
drive
- CalcView
- CreateMove
- DestroyMethod
- End
- FinishMove
- GetMethod
- Move
- PlayerStartDriving
- PlayerStopDriving
- Register
- Start
- StartMove
duplicator
effects
- BeamRingPoint
- Bubbles
- BubbleTrail
- Create
- GetList
- Register
engine
ents
file
- Append
- AsyncRead
- CreateDir
- Delete
- Exists
- Find
- IsDir
- Open
- Read
- Rename
- Size
- Time
- Write
frame_blend
game
gameevent
- Listen
gamemode
- Call
- Get
- Register
gmod
- GetGamemode
gmsave
gui
GWEN
halo
hammer
- SendCommand
hook
- Add
- Call
- GetTable
- Remove
- Run
http
- Fetch
- Post
input
jit
- opt
  - start
- util
  - funcbc
  - funcinfo
  - funck
  - funcuvname
  - ircalladdr
  - traceexitstub
  - traceinfo
  - traceir
  - tracek
  - tracemc
  - tracesnap
- arch
- os
- version
- version_num
- attach
- flush
- off
- on
- status
killicon
- Add
- AddAlias
- AddFont
- AddTexCoord
- Draw
- Exists
- GetSize
- Render
language
- Add
- GetPhrase
list
- Add
- Contains
- Get
- GetForEdit
- GetTable
- HasEntry
- Set
markup
- Color
- Escape
- Parse
math
- ease
  - InBack
  - InBounce
  - InCirc
  - InCubic
  - InElastic
  - InExpo
  - InOutBack
  - InOutBounce
  - InOutCirc
  - InOutCubic
  - InOutElastic
  - InOutExpo
  - InOutQuad
  - InOutQuart
  - InOutQuint
  - InOutSine
  - InQuad
  - InQuart
  - InQuint
  - InSine
  - OutBack
  - OutBounce
  - OutCirc
  - OutCubic
  - OutElastic
  - OutExpo
  - OutQuad
  - OutQuart
  - OutQuint
  - OutSine
- huge
- pi
- tau
- abs
- acos
- AngleDifference
- Approach
- ApproachAngle
- asin
- atan
- atan2
- BinToInt
- BSplinePoint
- calcBSplineN
- ceil
- CHSpline
- Clamp
- cos
- cosh
- CubicBezier
- deg
- Dist
- Distance
- DistanceSqr
- EaseInOut
- exp
- Factorial
- floor
- fmod
- frexp
- IntToBin
- ldexp
- log
- log10
- max
- min
- mod
- modf
- NormalizeAngle
- pow
- QuadraticBezier
- rad
- Rand
- random
- randomseed
- Remap
- Round
- sin
- sinh
- SnapTo
- sqrt
- tan
- tanh
- TimeFraction
- Truncate
matproxy
- ActiveList
- ProxyList
- Add
- Call
- Init
- ShouldOverrideProxy
menu
- RecordFrame
menubar
- Init
- IsParent
- ParentTo
mesh
- AdvanceVertex
- Begin
- Color
- End
- Normal
- Position
- Quad
- QuadEasy
- Specular
- TangentS
- TangentT
- TexCoord
- UserData
- VertexCount
motionsensor
navmesh
net
- ReadVars
- Receivers
- WriteVars
- Abort
- Broadcast
- BytesLeft
- BytesWritten
- Incoming
- ReadAngle
- ReadBit
- ReadBool
- ReadColor
- ReadData
- ReadDouble
- ReadEntity
- ReadFloat
- ReadHeader
- ReadInt
- ReadMatrix
- ReadNormal
- ReadPlayer
- ReadString
- ReadTable
- ReadType
- ReadUInt
- ReadUInt64
- ReadVector
- Receive
- Send
- SendOmit
- SendPAS
- SendPVS
- SendToServer
- Start
- WriteAngle
- WriteBit
- WriteBool
- WriteColor
- WriteData
- WriteDouble
- WriteEntity
- WriteFloat
- WriteInt
- WriteMatrix
- WriteNormal
- WritePlayer
- WriteString
- WriteTable
- WriteType
- WriteUInt
- WriteUInt64
- WriteVector
notification
numpad
- Activate
- Deactivate
- FromButton
- OnDown
- OnUp
- Register
- Remove
- Toggle
os
- clock
- date
- difftime
- time
package
- loaded
- seeall
permissions
- AskToConnect
- Connect
- EnableVoiceChat
- GetAll
- Grant
- IsGranted
- Revoke
physenv
player
- CreateNextBot
- GetAll
- GetBots
- GetByAccountID
- GetByID
- GetBySteamID
- GetBySteamID64
- GetByUniqueID
- GetCount
- GetHumans
- Iterator
player_manager
presets
- Add
- BadNameAlert
- Exists
- GetTable
- OverwritePresetPrompt
- Remove
- Rename
properties
render
resource
saverestore
- AddRestoreHook
- AddSaveHook
- LoadEntity
- LoadGlobal
- PreRestore
- PreSave
- ReadTable
- ReadVar
- SaveEntity
- SaveGlobal
- WritableKeysInTable
- WriteTable
- WriteVar
scripted_ents
- Alias
- Get
- GetList
- GetMember
- GetSpawnable
- GetStored
- GetType
- IsBasedOn
- OnLoaded
- Register
search
- AddProvider
- GetResults
serverlist
sound
- Add
- AddSoundOverrides
- EmitHint
- Generate
- GetLoudestSoundHint
- GetProperties
- GetTable
- Play
- PlayFile
- PlayURL
spawnmenu
sql
- Begin
- Commit
- IndexExists
- LastError
- Query
- QueryRow
- QueryValue
- SQLStr
- TableExists
steamworks
string
- byte
- CardinalToOrdinal
- char
- Comma
- dump
- EndsWith
- Explode
- find
- format
- FormattedTime
- FromColor
- GetChar
- GetExtensionFromFilename
- GetFileFromFilename
- GetPathFromFilename
- gfind
- gmatch
- gsub
- Implode
- Interpolate
- JavascriptSafe
- Left
- len
- lower
- match
- NiceSize
- NiceTime
- PatternSafe
- rep
- Replace
- reverse
- Right
- SetChar
- Split
- StartsWith
- StartWith
- StripExtension
- sub
- ToColor
- ToMinutesSeconds
- ToMinutesSecondsMilliseconds
- ToTable
- Trim
- TrimLeft
- TrimRight
- upper
surface
system
- AppTime
- BatteryPower
- FlashWindow
- GetCountry
- HasFocus
- IsLinux
- IsOSX
- IsWindowed
- IsWindows
- SteamTime
- UpTime
table
- Add
- ClearKeys
- CollapseKeyValue
- concat
- Copy
- CopyFromTo
- Count
- DeSanitise
- Empty
- FindNext
- FindPrev
- Flip
- ForceInsert
- foreach
- foreachi
- GetFirstKey
- GetFirstValue
- GetKeys
- GetLastKey
- GetLastValue
- getn
- GetWinningKey
- HasValue
- Inherit
- insert
- IsEmpty
- IsSequential
- KeyFromValue
- KeysFromValue
- LowerKeyNames
- maxn
- MemberValuesFromKey
- Merge
- move
- Pack
- Random
- remove
- RemoveByValue
- Reverse
- Sanitise
- Shuffle
- sort
- SortByKey
- SortByMember
- SortDesc
- ToString
team
- AddScore
- BestAutoJoinTeam
- GetAllTeams
- GetClass
- GetColor
- GetName
- GetPlayers
- GetScore
- GetSpawnPoint
- GetSpawnPoints
- Joinable
- NumPlayers
- SetClass
- SetColor
- SetScore
- SetSpawnPoint
- SetUp
- TotalDeaths
- TotalFrags
- Valid
timer
- Adjust
- Check
- Create
- Destroy
- Exists
- Pause
- Remove
- RepsLeft
- Simple
- Start
- Stop
- TimeLeft
- Toggle
- UnPause
umsg
- Angle
- Bool
- Char
- End
- Entity
- Float
- Long
- PoolString
- Short
- Start
- String
- Vector
- VectorNormal
undo
- AddEntity
- AddFunction
- Create
- Do_Undo
- Finish
- GetTable
- MakeUIDirty
- ReplaceEntity
- SetCustomUndoText
- SetPlayer
- SetupUI
usermessage
utf8
- charpattern
- char
- codepoint
- codes
- force
- GetChar
- len
- offset
- sub
util
vgui
video
- Record
weapons
- Get
- GetList
- GetStored
- IsBasedOn
- OnLoaded
- Register
widgets
- PlayerTick
- RenderMe

Hooks 10

Game Events 38

Panels 128

ContentHeader
- OpenMenu
- ToTable
ContentIcon
ContentSidebar
ContextBase
ControlPanel
ControlPresets
DAdjustableModelPanel
DAlphaBar
DBinder
DBubbleContainer
- OpenForPos
DButton
DCategoryList
- Add
- AddItem
- UnselectAll
DCheckBox
- OnChange
- GetChecked
- IsEditing
- SetChecked
- SetValue
- Toggle
DCheckBoxLabel
- OnChange
- GetChecked
- GetIndent
- SetBright
- SetChecked
- SetConVar
- SetDark
- SetFont
- SetIndent
- SetTextColor
- SetValue
- Toggle
DCollapsibleCategory
DColorButton
- GetColor
- GetDrawBorder
- GetID
- GetSelected
- IsDown
- SetColor
- SetDrawBorder
- SetID
DColorCombo
DColorCube
- OnUserChanged
- GetBaseRGB
- GetHue
- GetRGB
- SetBaseRGB
- SetColor
- SetHue
- SetRGB
- TranslateValues
- UpdateColor
DColorMixer
- ValueChanged
- ConVarThink
- DoConVarThink
- GetAlphaBar
- GetColor
- GetConVarA
- GetConVarB
- GetConVarG
- GetConVarR
- GetPalette
- GetVector
- GetWangs
- SetAlphaBar
- SetBaseColor
- SetColor
- SetConVarA
- SetConVarB
- SetConVarG
- SetConVarR
- SetLabel
- SetPalette
- SetVector
- SetWangs
- UpdateColor
- UpdateConVar
- UpdateConVars
DColorPalette
DColumnSheet
DComboBox
DDragBase
DDrawer
- Close
- GetOpenSize
- GetOpenTime
- Open
- SetOpenSize
- SetOpenTime
- Toggle
DEntityProperties
DExpandButton
- GetExpanded
- SetExpanded
DFileBrowser
- OnDoubleClick
- OnRightClick
- OnSelect
- Clear
- GetBaseFolder
- GetCurrentFolder
- GetFileTypes
- GetFolderNode
- GetModels
- GetName
- GetOpen
- GetPath
- GetSearch
- SetBaseFolder
- SetCurrentFolder
- SetFileTypes
- SetModels
- SetName
- SetOpen
- SetPath
- SetSearch
- Setup
- SetupFiles
- SetupTree
- ShowFolder
- SortFiles
DForm
- AddItem
- Button
- CheckBox
- ComboBox
- ControlHelp
- GetAutoSize
- GetSpacing
- Help
- ListBox
- NumberWang
- NumSlider
- PanelSelect
- PropSelect
- Rebuild
- SetAutoSize
- SetName
- SetSpacing
- TextEntry
DFrame
DGrid
- AddItem
- GetCols
- GetColWide
- GetItems
- GetRowHeight
- RemoveItem
- SetCols
- SetColWide
- SetRowHeight
- SortByMember
DHorizontalDivider
- GetDividerWidth
- GetDragging
- GetHoldPos
- GetLeft
- GetLeftMin
- GetLeftWidth
- GetMiddle
- GetRight
- GetRightMin
- SetDividerWidth
- SetDragging
- SetHoldPos
- SetLeft
- SetLeftMin
- SetLeftWidth
- SetMiddle
- SetRight
- SetRightMin
- StartGrab
DHorizontalScroller
DHScrollBar
- AddScroll
- AnimateTo
- BarScale
- GetHideButtons
- GetOffset
- GetScroll
- Grip
- SetHideButtons
- SetScroll
- SetUp
DHTML
DHTMLControls
DIconBrowser
DIconLayout
DImage
DImageButton
DKillIcon
- GetName
- SetName
DLabel
DLabelEditable
DLabelURL
DListBox
DListBoxItem
DListView
DListView_Column
DListView_Line
- OnRightClick
- OnSelect
- DataLayout
- GetAltLine
- GetColumnText
- GetID
- GetListView
- GetSortValue
- GetValue
- IsLineSelected
- SetAltLine
- SetColumnText
- SetID
- SetListView
- SetSelected
- SetSortValue
- SetValue
DMenu
DMenuBar
DMenuOption
- AddSubMenu
- GetChecked
- GetIsCheckable
- GetMenu
- GetRadio
- OnChecked
- SetChecked
- SetIsCheckable
- SetMenu
- SetRadio
- SetSubMenu
- ToggleCheck
DMenuOptionCVar
DModelPanel
- LayoutEntity
- PostDrawModel
- PreDrawModel
- DrawModel
- GetAmbientLight
- GetAnimated
- GetAnimSpeed
- GetCamPos
- GetColor
- GetEntity
- GetFOV
- GetLookAng
- GetLookAt
- GetModel
- RunAnimation
- SetAmbientLight
- SetAnimated
- SetAnimSpeed
- SetCamPos
- SetColor
- SetDirectionalLight
- SetEntity
- SetFOV
- SetLookAng
- SetLookAt
- SetModel
- StartScene
DModelSelect
- SetHeight
- SetModelList
DModelSelectMulti
- AddModelList
DNotify
- AddItem
- GetAlignment
- GetItems
- GetLife
- GetSpacing
- SetAlignment
- SetLife
- SetSpacing
- Shuffle
DNumberScratch
- OnValueChanged
- DrawNotches
- DrawScreen
- GetActive
- GetDecimals
- GetFloatValue
- GetFraction
- GetMax
- GetMin
- GetRange
- GetShouldDrawScreen
- GetTextValue
- GetZoom
- IdealZoom
- IsEditing
- LockCursor
- PaintScratchWindow
- SetActive
- SetDecimals
- SetFloatValue
- SetFraction
- SetMax
- SetMin
- SetShouldDrawScreen
- SetValue
- SetZoom
- UpdateConVar
DNumberWang
- OnValueChanged
- GetDecimals
- GetFloatValue
- GetFraction
- GetInterval
- GetMax
- GetMin
- GetTextArea
- GetValue
- HideWang
- SetDecimals
- SetFloatValue
- SetFraction
- SetInterval
- SetMax
- SetMin
- SetMinMax
- SetValue
DNumSlider
- OnValueChanged
- GetDecimals
- GetDefaultValue
- GetMax
- GetMin
- GetRange
- GetTextArea
- GetValue
- IsEditing
- ResetToDefaultValue
- SetConVar
- SetDark
- SetDecimals
- SetDefaultValue
- SetMax
- SetMin
- SetMinMax
- SetValue
- TranslateSliderValues
- UpdateNotches
- ValueChanged
DPanel
DPanelList
DPanelOverlay
DPanelSelect
DPanPanel
DProgress
- GetFraction
- SetFraction
DProperties
DProperty_Combo
DProperty_Float
- GetDecimals
DProperty_Generic
- GetRow
- SetRow
- Setup
- ValueChanged
DProperty_VectorColor
- Setup
- SetValue
DPropertySheet
DRGBPicker
- OnChange
- GetPosColor
- GetRGB
- SetRGB
DScrollPanel
- AddItem
- Clear
- GetCanvas
- GetPadding
- GetVBar
- InnerWidth
- PerformLayoutInternal
- Rebuild
- ScrollToChild
- SetCanvas
- SetPadding
DShape
DSizeToContents
- GetSizeX
- GetSizeY
- SetSizeX
- SetSizeY
DSlider
DSprite
- GetColor
- GetHandle
- GetMaterial
- GetRotation
- SetColor
- SetHandle
- SetMaterial
- SetRotation
DTab
DTextEntry
DTileLayout
- OnModified
- ClearTiles
- ConsumeTiles
- Copy
- CopyContents
- FindFreeTile
- FitsInTile
- GetBaseSize
- GetBorder
- GetMinHeight
- GetSpaceX
- GetSpaceY
- GetTile
- Layout
- LayoutTiles
- SetBaseSize
- SetBorder
- SetMinHeight
- SetSpaceX
- SetSpaceY
- SetTile
DTooltip
DTree
DTree_Node
DVerticalDivider
- DoConstraints
- GetBottom
- GetBottomMin
- GetDividerHeight
- GetDragging
- GetHoldPos
- GetMiddle
- GetTop
- GetTopHeight
- GetTopMax
- GetTopMin
- SetBottom
- SetBottomMin
- SetDividerHeight
- SetDragging
- SetHoldPos
- SetMiddle
- SetTop
- SetTopHeight
- SetTopMax
- SetTopMin
- StartGrab
DVScrollBar
- AddScroll
- AnimateTo
- BarScale
- GetHideButtons
- GetOffset
- GetScroll
- Grip
- SetHideButtons
- SetScroll
- SetUp
IconEditor
ImageCheckBox
- GetChecked
- Set
- SetChecked
- SetMaterial
Material
- SetAlpha
- SetMaterial
MatSelect
SpawnIcon
SpawnmenuContentPanel
TextEntry
- OnKeyCodeTyped
- OnTextChanged
AchievementIcon
AvatarImage
Awesomium
Button
CheckButton
ContentSidebarToolbox
CtrlListBox
DCategoryHeader
DListLayout
DListView_ColumnPlain
DListView_DraggerBar
DListViewHeaderLabel
DListViewLabel
DListViewLine
DNumPad
DProperty_Boolean
DProperty_Entity
DProperty_Int
DScrollBarGrip
DTree_Node_Button
EditablePanel
fingerposer
FingerVar
Frame
HTML
Label
ModelImage
PanelList
PresetEditor
PropSelect
RadioButton
RichText
SlideBar
Slider
TGAImage
URLLabel

Enums 99

Structs 63

Shaders 14

Other References 28