Views: A Way for Pattern Matching to Cohabit with Data Abstraction

Abstract

Pattern matching and dta abstraction are important concepts in designing programs, but they do not it well together. Pattern matching depend on making public a free data type mpresentaiion, while data abstraction depends on hiding the repreentaiion. This paper proposes the vdws mechanism at a means of reconc'dlng this conflict. A view allows any type to be viewed at a free data type, thus combining the clarity of pattern matching with the eiclency of data abstraction.