This package currently exports a tiny function base_numeric_type that
extracts the base numeric type from a numeric type T:
base_numeric_type(::Type{T}) where {T}base_numeric_type(x::T)
For example,
| Input Type | Output Type |
|---|---|
Float32 |
Float32 |
ComplexF32 |
Float32 |
Measurement{Float32} |
Float32 |
Dual{BigFloat} |
BigFloat |
Dual{ComplexF32} |
Float32 |
Rational{Int8} |
Int8 |
Quantity{Float32, ...} |
Float32 |
Quantity{Measurement{Float32}, ...} |
Float32 |
Package maintainers should write a specialized method for their type. For example, to define the base numeric type for a dual number, one could write:
import BaseType: base_numeric_type
base_numeric_type(::Type{Dual{T}}) where {T} = base_numeric_type(T)It is important to call base_numeric_type recursively like this to deal with
nested numeric types such as Quantity{Measurement{T}}.
The fallback behavior of base_numeric_type is to return the first type parameter,
or, if that type has parameters of its own (such as Dual{Complex{Float32}}),
to recursively take the first type parameter until a non-parameterized type is found.
This works for the vast majority of types, but it is still preferred
if package maintainers write a specialized method.