Sequences

Introduction

Sequences are very much like lists. However, from a pragmatic perspective, one should imagine they may be infinite. That's the key intuition to understanding and using sequences. To achieve this, sequence elements are computed on demand and not stored in memory. Perhaps more frequently, sequences also allow for reducing memory consumption from linear to constant space

One way to look at a value of type 'a Seq.t is to consider it as a list, but it contains a twist when it's not empty: its tail is frozen. To understand this analogy, consider how sequences are defined in the standard library:

type 'a node =
  | Nil
  | Cons of 'a * 'a t
and 'a t = unit -> 'a node

This is the mutually recursive definition of two types: Seq.node, which is almost the same as list:

type 'a list =
  | []
  | (::) of 'a * 'a list

and Seq.t, which is merely a type alias for unit -> 'a Seq.node. The whole point of this definition is Seq.Cons second component's type, which is a function returning a sequence while its list counterpart is a list. Let's compare the constructors of list and Seq.node:

1. Empty lists and sequences are defined the same way, a constructor without any parameters: Seq.Nil and [].
2. Non-empty lists and sequences are both pairs whose former member is a piece of data.
3. However, the latter member in lists is recursively a list, while in sequences, it is a function returning a Seq.node.

A value of type Seq.t is “frozen” because the data it contains isn't immediately available. A unit value has to be supplied to recover it, which we may see as “unfreezing.” However, unfreezing only gives access to the tip of the sequence, since the second argument of Seq.Cons is a function too.

Frozen-by-function tails explain why sequences may be considered potentially infinite. Until a Seq.Nil value has been found in the sequence, one can't say for sure if some will ever appear. The sequence could be a stream of incoming requests in a server, readings from an embedded sensor, or system logs. All have unforeseeable termination, and it is easier to consider them potentially infinite.

In OCaml, any value a of type t can be turned into a constant function by writing fun _ -> a or fun () -> a. The latter function is called a thunk. Using this terminology, Seq.t values are thunks. With the analogy used earlier, a is frozen in its thunk.

Here is how to build seemingly infinite sequences of integers:

# let rec ints n : int Seq.t = fun () -> Seq.Cons (n, ints (n + 1));;
val ints : int -> int Seq.t = <fun>

The function ints n looks as if building the infinite sequence (n; n + 1; n + 2; n + 3;...). In reality, since machine integers have bounds, the sequence isn't indefinitely increasing. When reaching max_int, it will circle down to min_int.

The OCaml standard library contains a module on sequences called Seq. It contains a Seq.iter function, which has the same behaviour as List.iter. Writing this:

# Seq.iter print_int (ints 0);;

in an OCaml toplevel means “print integers forever,” and you have to press Ctrl-C to interrupt the execution. The following code is the same infinite loop without any output:

# Seq.iter ignore (ints 0);;

The key point is: it doesn't leak memory. This example is running in constant space. It is effectively nothing more than an infinite loop, which can be confirmed by monitoring the space consumption of the program and by noticing that it spins forever without crashing. Whereas a version of this with a list let rec ints n = n :: ints (n + 1) would allocate a list of length proportional to the running time, and thus would crash by running out of memory pretty quickly.

Example

The Seq module of the OCaml standard library contains the definition of the function Seq.take, which returns a specified number of elements from the beginning of a sequence. Here is a simplified implementation:

let rec take n seq () =
  if n <= 0 then
    Seq.Nil
  else
    match seq () with
    | Seq.Cons (x, seq) -> Seq.Cons (x, take (n - 1) seq)
    | _ -> Seq.Nil

take n seq returns, at most, the n first elements of the sequence seq. If seq contains less than n elements, an identical sequence is returned. In particular, if seq is empty, or n is negative, an empty sequence is returned.

Observe the first line of take. It is the common pattern for recursive functions over sequences. The last two parameters are:

• a sequence called seq
• a unit value

When executed, the function begins by unfreezing seq (that is, calling seq ()) and then pattern matching to look inside the data made available. However, this does not happen unless a unit parameter is passed to take. Writing take 10 seq does not compute anything. It is a partial application and returns a function needing a unit to produce a result.

This can be used to print integers without looping forever, as shown previously:

# Seq.ints 0 |> Seq.take 43 |> List.of_seq;;
- : int list =
[0; 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21;
 22; 23; 24; 25; 26; 27; 28; 29; 30; 31; 32; 33; 34; 35; 36; 37; 38; 39; 40;
 41; 42]

The Seq module also has a function Seq.filter:

# Seq.filter;;
- : ('a -> bool) -> 'a Seq.t -> 'a Seq.t = <fun>

It builds a sequence of elements satisfying a condition.

Using Seq.filter, taking inspiration from the trial division algorithm, it is possible to define a function which seemingly generates the list of all primes numbers.

let rec trial_div seq () = match seq () with
  | Seq.Cons (m, seq) -> Seq.Cons (m, trial_div (Seq.filter (fun n -> n mod m > 0) seq))
  | seq -> seq
let primes = Seq.ints 2 |> trial_div;;
val trial_div : int Seq.t -> int Seq.t = <fun>
val primes : int Seq.t = <fun>

For instance, here is the list of 100 first prime numbers:

# primes |> Seq.take 100 |> List.of_seq;;
- : int list =
[2; 3; 5; 7; 11; 13; 17; 19; 23; 29; 31; 37; 41; 43; 47; 53; 59; 61; 67; 71;
 73; 79; 83; 89; 97; 101; 103; 107; 109; 113; 127; 131; 137; 139; 149; 151;
 157; 163; 167; 173; 179; 181; 191; 193; 197; 199; 211; 223; 227; 229; 233;
 239; 241; 251; 257; 263; 269; 271; 277; 281; 283; 293; 307; 311; 313; 317;
 331; 337; 347; 349; 353; 359; 367; 373; 379; 383; 389; 397; 401; 409; 419;
 421; 431; 433; 439; 443; 449; 457; 461; 463; 467; 479; 487; 491; 499; 503;
 509; 521; 523; 541]

The function trial_div is recursive in OCaml and common sense. It is defined using the rec keyword and calls itself. However, some call that kind of function corecursive. This word is used to emphasise that, although it may not terminate, it can indefinitely produce valid output.

Unfolding Sequences

Standard higher-order iteration functions are available on sequences. For instance:

• Seq.iter
• Seq.map
• Seq.fold_left

All those are also available for Array, List, and Set and behave essentially the same. Observe that there is no fold_right function. Since OCaml 4.11, there is something which isn't (yet) available on other types: unfold. Here is how it is implemented:

let rec unfold f x () = match f x with
  | None -> Seq.Nil
  | Some (x, seq) -> Seq.Cons (x, unfold f seq)

And here is its type:

val unfold : ('a -> ('b * 'a) option) -> 'a -> 'b Seq.t = <fun>

Unlike previously mentioned iterators, Seq.unfold does not have a sequence parameter, but a sequence result. unfold provides a general means to build sequences. The result returned by Seq.unfold f x is the sequence built by accumulating the results of successive calls to f until it returns None. This is:

(fst p₀, fst p₁, fst p₂, fst p₃, fst p₄, ...)

where Some p₀ = f x and Some pₙ₊₁ = f (snd pₙ).

For instance, Seq.ints can be implemented using Seq.unfold in a fairly compact way:

# let ints = Seq.unfold (fun n -> Some (n, n + 1));;
val ints : int -> int Seq.t = <fun>

As a fun fact, one should observe map over sequences can be implemented using Seq.unfold. Here is how to write it:

# let map f = Seq.unfold (fun seq -> seq |> Seq.uncons |> Option.map (fun (x, seq) -> (f x, seq)));;
val map : ('a -> 'b) -> 'a Seq.t -> 'b Seq.t = <fun>

Here is a quick check:

# Seq.ints 0 |> map (fun x -> x * x) |> Seq.take 10 |> List.of_seq;;
- : int list = [0; 1; 4; 9; 16; 25; 36; 49; 64; 81]

The function Seq.uncons returns the head and tail of a sequence if it is not empty. Otherwise, it returns None.

Using this function:

let input_line_opt chan =
  try Some (input_line chan, chan)
  with End_of_file -> None

It is possible to read a file using Seq.unfold:

let cin = open_in "README.md" in
cin |> Seq.unfold input_line_opt |> Seq.iter print_endline;
close_in cin

Sequences Are Functions

The Seq module contains this definition:

val cons : 'a -> 'a Seq.t -> 'a Seq.t

Although Seq.cons x seq and Seq.Cons (x, seq) are the same, Seq.cons is a function and Seq.Cons is a variant's constructor, which is not the same in OCaml. This can lead to subtle bugs. This section illustrates this.

Although this looks like a possible way to define the Fibonacci sequence:

# let rec fibs m n = Seq.cons m (fibs n (n + m));;
val fibs : int -> int -> int Seq.t = <fun>

It actually isn't. It's an unending recursion which blows away the stack.

# fibs 0 1;;
Stack overflow during evaluation (looping recursion?).

This definition is behaving as expected (spot the differences, there are four):

# let rec fibs m n () = Seq.Cons (m, fibs n (n + m));;
val fibs : int -> int -> int Seq.t = <fun>

It can be used to produce some Fibonacci numbers:

# fibs 0 1 |> Seq.take 10 |> List.of_seq;;
- : int list = [0; 1; 1; 2; 3; 5; 8; 13; 21; 34]

Why is it so? The key difference lies in the recursive call fibs n (n + m). In the former definition, the application is complete because fibs is provided with all the arguments it expects. In the latter definition, the application is partial because the () argument is missing. Since evaluation is eager in OCaml, in the former case, evaluation of the recursive call is triggered and a non-terminating looping occurs. In contrast, in the latter case, the partially applied function is immediately returned as a closure.

Sequences are functions, as stated by their type:

# #show Seq.t;;
type 'a t = unit -> 'a Seq.node

Functions working with sequences must be written accordingly.

• Sequence consumer: partially applied function parameter
• Sequence producer: partially applied function result

When code dealing with sequences does not behave as expected, like if it is crashing or hanging, there's a fair chance a mistake like in the first definition of fibs was made.

Sequences for Conversions

Throughout the standard library, sequences are used as a bridge to perform conversions between many datatypes. For instance, here are the signatures of some of those functions:

• Lists

  val List.of_seq : 'a list -> 'a Seq.t
  val List.to_seq : 'a Seq.t -> 'a list
  

• Arrays

  val Array.of_seq : 'a array -> 'a Seq.t
  val Array.to_seq : 'a Seq.t -> 'a array
  

• Strings

  val String.of_seq : string -> char Seq.t
  val String.to_seq : char Seq.t -> string
  

Similar functions are also provided for sets, maps, hash tables (Hashtbl), and others. When implementing a datatype module, it is advised to expose to_seq and of_seq functions.

Miscellaneous Considerations

There are a couple of related libraries, all providing means to handle large flows of data:

• Rizo I Streaming
• Simon Cruanes and Gabriel Radanne Iter
• Simon Cruanes OSeq (an extension of Seq with more functions)
• Jane Street Base.Sequence

There used to be a module called Stream in the OCaml standard library. It was removed in 2021 with the release of OCaml 4.14. Beware books and documentation written before may still mention it.