# Library Reference
## Global functions
These functions are globally available in [assign/ignore where expressions](03-monitoring-basics.md#using-apply-expressions),
[functions](17-language-reference.md#functions), [API filters](12-icinga2-api.md#icinga2-api-filters)
and the [Icinga 2 debug console](11-cli-commands.md#cli-command-console).
You can use the [Icinga 2 debug console](11-cli-commands.md#cli-command-console)
as a sandbox to test these functions before implementing
them in your scenarios.
### basename
Signature:
```
function basename(path)
```
Returns the filename portion of the specified path.
Example:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => var path = "/etc/icinga2/scripts/xmpp-notification.pl"
null
<2> => basename(path)
"xmpp-notification.pl"
```
### bool
Signature:
```
function bool(value)
```
Converts the value to a bool.
Example:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => bool(1)
true
<2> => bool(0)
false
```
### cidr_match
Signature:
```
function cidr_match(pattern, ip, mode)
```
Returns true if the CIDR pattern matches the IP address, false otherwise.
IPv4 addresses are converted to IPv4-mapped IPv6 addresses before being
matched against the pattern. The `mode` argument is optional and can be
either `MatchAll` (in which case all elements for an array have to match) or `MatchAny`
(in which case at least one element has to match). The default mode is `MatchAll`.
Example for a single IP address:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => host.address = "192.168.56.101"
null
<2> => cidr_match("192.168.56.0/24", host.address)
true
<3> => cidr_match("192.168.56.0/26", host.address)
false
```
Example for an array of IP addresses:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => host.vars.vhost_ips = [ "192.168.56.101", "192.168.56.102", "10.0.10.99" ]
null
<2> => cidr_match("192.168.56.0/24", host.vars.vhost_ips, MatchAll)
false
<3> => cidr_match("192.168.56.0/24", host.vars.vhost_ips, MatchAny)
true
```
### dirname
Signature:
```
function dirname(path)
```
Returns the directory portion of the specified path.
Example:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => var path = "/etc/icinga2/scripts/xmpp-notification.pl"
null
<2> => dirname(path)
"/etc/icinga2/scripts"
```
### escape_create_process_arg
Signature:
```
function escape_create_process_arg(text)
```
Escapes a string for use as an argument for CreateProcess(). Windows only.
### escape_shell_arg
Signature:
```
function escape_shell_arg(text)
```
Escapes a string for use as a single shell argument.
Example:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => escape_shell_arg("'$host.name$' '$service.name$'")
"''\\''$host.name$'\\'' '\\''$service.name$'\\'''"
```
### escape_shell_cmd
Signature:
```
function escape_shell_cmd(text)
```
Escapes shell meta characters in a string.
Example:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => escape_shell_cmd("/bin/echo 'shell test' $ENV")
"/bin/echo 'shell test' \\$ENV"
```
### get_time
Signature:
```
function get_time()
```
Returns the current UNIX timestamp as floating point number.
Example:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => get_time()
1480072135.633008
<2> => get_time()
1480072140.401207
```
### getenv
Signature:
```
function getenv(key)
```
Returns the value from the specified environment variable key.
Example:
```
$ MY_ENV_VAR=icinga2 icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
Type $help to view available commands.
<1> => getenv("MY_ENV_VAR")
"icinga2"
```
### glob
Signature:
```
function glob(pathSpec, type)
```
Returns an array containing all paths which match the
`pathSpec` argument.
The `type` argument is optional and specifies which types
of paths are matched. This can be a combination of the `GlobFile`
and `GlobDirectory` constants. The default value is `GlobFile | GlobDirectory`.
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => var pathSpec = "/etc/icinga2/conf.d/*.conf"
null
<2> => glob(pathSpec)
[ "/etc/icinga2/conf.d/app.conf", "/etc/icinga2/conf.d/commands.conf", ... ]
```
### glob\_recursive
Signature:
```
function glob_recursive(path, pattern, type)
```
Recursively descends into the specified directory and returns an array containing
all paths which match the `pattern` argument.
The `type` argument is optional and specifies which types
of paths are matched. This can be a combination of the `GlobFile`
and `GlobDirectory` constants. The default value is `GlobFile | GlobDirectory`.
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => var path = "/etc/icinga2/zones.d/"
null
<2> => var pattern = "*.conf"
null
<3> => glob_recursive(path, pattern)
[ "/etc/icinga2/zones.d/global-templates/templates.conf", "/etc/icinga2/zones.d/master/hosts.conf", ... ]
```
### intersection
Signature:
```
function intersection(array, array, ...)
```
Returns an array containing all unique elements which are common to all
specified arrays.
Example:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => var dev_notification_groups = [ "devs", "slack" ]
null
<2> => var host_notification_groups = [ "slack", "noc" ]
null
<3> => intersection(dev_notification_groups, host_notification_groups)
[ "slack" ]
```
### keys
Signature:
```
function keys(dict)
```
Returns an array containing the dictionary's keys.
**Note**: Instead of using this global function you are advised to use the type's
prototype method: [Dictionary#keys](18-library-reference.md#dictionary-keys).
Example:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => host.vars.disks["/"] = {}
null
<2> => host.vars.disks["/var"] = {}
null
<3> => host.vars.disks.keys()
[ "/", "/var" ]
```
### len
Signature:
```
function len(value)
```
Returns the length of the value, i.e. the number of elements for an array
or dictionary, or the length of the string in bytes.
**Note**: Instead of using this global function you are advised to use the type's
prototype method: [Array#len](18-library-reference.md#array-len), [Dictionary#len](18-library-reference.md#dictionary-len) and
[String#len](18-library-reference.md#string-len).
Example:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => host.groups = [ "linux-servers", "db-servers" ]
null
<2> => host.groups.len()
2.000000
<3> => host.vars.disks["/"] = {}
null
<4> => host.vars.disks["/var"] = {}
null
<5> => host.vars.disks.len()
2.000000
<6> => host.vars.os_type = "Linux/Unix"
null
<7> => host.vars.os_type.len()
10.000000
```
### log
Signature:
```
function log(value)
```
Writes a message to the log. Non-string values are converted to a JSON string.
Signature:
```
function log(severity, facility, value)
```
Writes a message to the log. `severity` can be one of `LogDebug`, `LogNotice`,
`LogInformation`, `LogWarning`, and `LogCritical`.
Non-string values are converted to a JSON string.
Example:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => log(LogCritical, "Console", "First line")
critical/Console: First line
null
<2> => var groups = [ "devs", "slack" ]
null
<3> => log(LogCritical, "Console", groups)
critical/Console: ["devs","slack"]
null
```
### match
Signature:
```
function match(pattern, value, mode)
```
Returns true if the wildcard (`?*`) `pattern` matches the `value`, false otherwise.
The `value` can be of the type [String](18-library-reference.md#string-type) or [Array](18-library-reference.md#array-type) (which
contains string elements).
The `mode` argument is optional and can be either `MatchAll` (in which case all elements
for an array have to match) or `MatchAny` (in which case at least one element has to match).
The default mode is `MatchAll`.
Example for string values:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => var name = "db-prod-sfo-657"
null
<2> => match("*prod-sfo*", name)
true
<3> => match("*-dev-*", name)
false
```
Example for an array of string values:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0-28)
<1> => host.vars.application_types = [ "web-wp", "web-rt", "db-local" ]
null
<2> => match("web-*", host.vars.application_types, MatchAll)
false
<3> => match("web-*", host.vars.application_types, MatchAny)
true
```
### number
Signature:
```
function number(value)
```
Converts the value to a number.
Example:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => number(false)
0.000000
<2> => number("78")
78.000000
```
### parse_performance_data
Signature:
```
function parse_performance_data(pd)
```
Parses a single performance data value from a string and returns a
[PerfdataValue](08-advanced-topics.md#advanced-value-types-perfdatavalue) object.
Example:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => var pd = "'time'=1480074205.197363;;;"
null
<2> => parse_performance_data(pd)
{
counter = false
crit = null
label = "time"
max = null
min = null
type = "PerfdataValue"
unit = ""
value = 1480074205.197363
warn = null
}
```
### path\_exists
Signature:
```
function path_exists(path)
```
Returns true if the specified path exists, false otherwise.
Example:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => var path = "/etc/icinga2/scripts/xmpp-notification.pl"
null
<2> => path_exists(path)
true
```
### random
Signature:
```
function random()
```
Returns a random value between 0 and RAND\_MAX (as defined in stdlib.h).
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => random()
1263171996.000000
<2> => random()
108402530.000000
```
### range
Signature:
```
function range(end)
function range(start, end)
function range(start, end, increment)
```
Returns an array of numbers in the specified range.
If you specify one parameter, the first element starts at `0`.
The following array numbers are incremented by `1` and stop before
the specified end.
If you specify the start and end numbers, the returned array
number are incremented by `1`. They start at the specified start
number and stop before the end number.
Optionally you can specify the incremented step between numbers
as third parameter.
Example:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => range(5)
[ 0.000000, 1.000000, 2.000000, 3.000000, 4.000000 ]
<2> => range(2,4)
[ 2.000000, 3.000000 ]
<3> => range(2,10,2)
[ 2.000000, 4.000000, 6.000000, 8.000000 ]
```
### regex
Signature:
```
function regex(pattern, value, mode)
```
Returns true if the regular expression `pattern` matches the `value`, false otherwise.
The `value` can be of the type [String](18-library-reference.md#string-type) or [Array](18-library-reference.md#array-type) (which
contains string elements).
The `mode` argument is optional and can be either `MatchAll` (in which case all elements
for an array have to match) or `MatchAny` (in which case at least one element has to match).
The default mode is `MatchAll`.
**Tip**: In case you are looking for regular expression tests try [regex101](https://regex101.com).
Example for string values:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => host.vars.os_type = "Linux/Unix"
null
<2> => regex("^Linux", host.vars.os_type)
true
<3> => regex("^Linux$", host.vars.os_type)
false
```
Example for an array of string values:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => host.vars.databases = [ "db-prod1", "db-prod2", "db-dev" ]
null
<2> => regex("^db-prod\\d+", host.vars.databases, MatchAny)
true
<3> => regex("^db-prod\\d+", host.vars.databases, MatchAll)
false
```
### sleep
Signature:
```
function sleep(interval)
```
Sleeps for the specified amount of time (in seconds).
### string
Signature:
```
function string(value)
```
Converts the value to a string.
**Note**: Instead of using this global function you are advised to use the type's
prototype method:
* [Number#to_string](18-library-reference.md#number-to_string)
* [Boolean#to_string](18-library-reference.md#boolean-to_string)
* [String#to_string](18-library-reference.md#string-to_string)
* [Object#to_string](18-library-reference.md#object-to-string) for Array and Dictionary types
* [DateTime#to_string](18-library-reference.md#datetime-tostring)
Example:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => 5.to_string()
"5"
<2> => false.to_string()
"false"
<3> => "abc".to_string()
"abc"
<4> => [ "dev", "slack" ].to_string()
"[ \"dev\", \"slack\" ]"
<5> => { "/" = {}, "/var" = {} }.to_string()
"{\n\t\"/\" = {\n\t}\n\t\"/var\" = {\n\t}\n}"
<6> => DateTime(2016, 11, 25).to_string()
"2016-11-25 00:00:00 +0100"
```
### typeof
Signature:
```
function typeof(value)
```
Returns the [Type](18-library-reference.md#type-type) object for a value.
Example:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => typeof(3) == Number
true
<2> => typeof("str") == String
true
<3> => typeof(true) == Boolean
true
<4> => typeof([ 1, 2, 3]) == Array
true
<5> => typeof({ a = 2, b = 3 }) == Dictionary
true
```
### union
Signature:
```
function union(array, array, ...)
```
Returns an array containing all unique elements from the specified arrays.
Example:
```
$ icinga2 console
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => var dev_notification_groups = [ "devs", "slack" ]
null
<2> => var host_notification_groups = [ "slack", "noc" ]
null
<3> => union(dev_notification_groups, host_notification_groups)
[ "devs", "noc", "slack" ]
```
## Scoped Functions
This chapter describes functions which are only available
in a specific scope.
### macro
Signature:
```
function macro("$macro_name$")
```
The `macro` function can be used to resolve [runtime macro](03-monitoring-basics.md#runtime-macros)
strings into their values.
The returned value depends on the attribute value which is resolved
from the specified runtime macro.
This function is only available in runtime evaluated functions, e.g.
for [custom variables](03-monitoring-basics.md#custom-variables-functions) which
use the [abbreviated lambda syntax](17-language-reference.md#nullary-lambdas).
This example sets the `snmp_address` custom variable
based on `$address$` and `$address6$`.
```
vars.snmp_address = {{
var addr_v4 = macro("$address$")
var addr_v6 = macro("$address6$")
if (addr_v4) {
return addr_v4
} else {
return "udp6:[" + addr_v6 + "]"
}
}}
```
More reference examples are available inside the [Icinga Template Library](10-icinga-template-library.md#icinga-template-library)
and the [object accessors chapter](08-advanced-topics.md#access-object-attributes-at-runtime).
## Object Accessor Functions
These functions can be used to retrieve a reference to another object by name.
### get_check_command
Signature:
```
function get_check_command(name);
```
Returns the CheckCommand object with the specified name, or `null` if no such CheckCommand object exists.
### get_event_command
Signature:
```
function get_event_command(name);
```
Returns the EventCommand object with the specified name, or `null` if no such EventCommand object exists.
### get_host
Signature:
```
function get_host(host_name);
```
Returns the Host object with the specified name, or `null` if no such Host object exists.
### get_host_group
Signature:
```
function get_host_group(name);
```
Returns the HostGroup object with the specified name, or `null` if no such HostGroup object exists.
### get_notification_command
Signature:
```
function get_notification_command(name);
```
Returns the NotificationCommand object with the specified name, or `null` if no such NotificationCommand object exists.
### get_object
Signature:
```
function get_object(type, name);
```
Returns the object with the specified type and name, or `null` if no such object exists. `type` must refer
to a type object.
### get_objects
Signature:
```
function get_objects(type);
```
Returns an array of objects whose type matches the specified type. `type` must refer
to a type object.
### get_service
Signature:
```
function get_service(host_name, service_name);
function get_service(host, service_name);
```
Returns the Service object with the specified host name or object and service name pair,
or `null` if no such Service object exists.
Example in the [debug console](11-cli-commands.md#cli-command-console)
which fetches the `disk` service object from the current Icinga 2 node:
```
$ ICINGA2_API_PASSWORD=icinga icinga2 console --connect 'https://root@localhost:5665/'
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => get_service(NodeName, "disk")
<2> => get_service(NodeName, "disk").__name
"icinga2-master1.localdomain!disk"
<3> => get_service(get_host(NodeName), "disk").__name
"icinga2-master1.localdomain!disk"
```
### get_service_group
Signature:
```
function get_service_group(name);
```
Returns the ServiceGroup object with the specified name, or `null` if no such ServiceGroup object exists.
### get_services
Signature:
```
function get_services(host_name);
function get_services(host);
```
Returns an [array](17-language-reference.md#array) of service objects for the specified host name or object,
or `null` if no such host object exists.
Example in the [debug console](11-cli-commands.md#cli-command-console)
which fetches all service objects from the current Icinga 2 node:
```
$ ICINGA2_API_PASSWORD=icinga icinga2 console --connect 'https://root@localhost:5665/'
Icinga 2 (version: v2.11.0)
<1> => get_services(NodeName).map(s => s.name)
[ "disk", "disk /", "http", "icinga", "load", "ping4", "ping6", "procs", "ssh", "users" ]
```
Note: [map](18-library-reference.md#array-map) takes a [lambda function](17-language-reference.md#lambdas) as argument. In this example
we only want to collect and print the `name` attribute with `s => s.name`.
This works in a similar fashion for a host object where you can extract all service states
in using the [map](18-library-reference.md#array-map) functionality:
```
<2> => get_services(get_host(NodeName)).map(s => s.state)
[ 2.000000, 2.000000, 2.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 2.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000 ]
```
### get_template
Signature:
```
function get_template(type, name);
```
Returns the template with the specified type and name, or `null` if no such object exists. `type` must refer
to a type object.
> **Note**
>
> Only the name and debug info attributes are available for templates accessed in the DSL.
> Object attributes are not available in this scope.
You can use this functionality to check whether a template exists e.g. on a satellite endpoint
and if not, import a different template.
```
object Host "icinga-agent47.localdomain" {
if (get_template(Host, "master-host-tmpl")) {
import "master-host-tmpl"
} else {
import "generic-host"
}
}
```
### get_templates
Signature:
```
function get_templates(type);
```
Returns an array of templates whose type matches the specified type. `type` must refer
to a type object.
> **Note**
>
> Only the name and debug info attributes are available for templates accessed in the DSL.
> Object attributes are not available in this scope.
You can use this function to iterate over all available template names, similar to what
the [templates API URL endpoint](12-icinga2-api.md#icinga2-api-config-templates) provides.
```
<1> => get_templates(Host).map(n => n.name)
[ "ssh-agent" ]
```
### get_time_period
Signature:
```
function get_time_period(name);
```
Returns the TimePeriod object with the specified name, or `null` if no such TimePeriod object exists.
### get_user
Signature:
```
function get_user(name);
```
Returns the User object with the specified name, or `null` if no such User object exists.
### get_user_group
Signature:
```
function get_user_group(name);
```
Returns the UserGroup object with the specified name, or `null` if no such UserGroup object exists.
## Json object
The global `Json` object can be used to encode and decode JSON.
### Json.decode
Signature:
```
function decode(x);
```
Decodes a JSON string.
### Json.encode
Signature:
```
function encode(x);
```
Encodes an arbitrary value into JSON.
## Math object
The global `Math` object can be used to access a number of mathematical constants
and functions.
### Math.E
Euler's constant.
### Math.LN2
Natural logarithm of 2.
### Math.LN10
Natural logarithm of 10.
### Math.LOG2E
Base 2 logarithm of E.
### Math.PI
The mathematical constant Pi.
### Math.SQRT1_2
Square root of 1/2.
### Math.SQRT2
Square root of 2.
### Math.abs
Signature:
```
function abs(x);
```
Returns the absolute value of `x`.
### Math.acos
Signature:
```
function acos(x);
```
Returns the arccosine of `x`.
### Math.asin
Signature:
```
function asin(x);
```
Returns the arcsine of `x`.
### Math.atan
Signature:
```
function atan(x);
```
Returns the arctangent of `x`.
### Math.atan2
Signature:
```
function atan2(y, x);
```
Returns the arctangent of the quotient of `y` and `x`.
### Math.ceil
Signature:
```
function ceil(x);
```
Returns the smallest integer value not less than `x`.
### Math.cos
Signature:
```
function cos(x);
```
Returns the cosine of `x`.
### Math.exp
Signature:
```
function exp(x);
```
Returns E raised to the `x`th power.
### Math.floor
Signature:
```
function floor(x);
```
Returns the largest integer value not greater than `x`.
### Math.isinf
Signature:
```
function isinf(x);
```
Returns whether `x` is infinite.
### Math.isnan
Signature:
```
function isnan(x);
```
Returns whether `x` is NaN (not-a-number).
### Math.log
Signature:
```
function log(x);
```
Returns the natural logarithm of `x`.
### Math.max
Signature:
```
function max(...);
```
Returns the largest argument. A variable number of arguments can be specified.
If no arguments are given, -Infinity is returned.
### Math.min
Signature:
```
function min(...);
```
Returns the smallest argument. A variable number of arguments can be specified.
If no arguments are given, +Infinity is returned.
### Math.pow
Signature:
```
function pow(x, y);
```
Returns `x` raised to the `y`th power.
### Math.random
Signature:
```
function random();
```
Returns a pseudo-random number between 0 and 1.
### Math.round
Signature:
```
function round(x);
```
Returns `x` rounded to the nearest integer value.
### Math.sign
Signature:
```
function sign(x);
```
Returns -1 if `x` is negative, 1 if `x` is positive
and 0 if `x` is 0.
### Math.sin
Signature:
```
function sin(x);
```
Returns the sine of `x`.
### Math.sqrt
Signature:
```
function sqrt(x);
```
Returns the square root of `x`.
### Math.tan
Signature:
```
function tan(x);
```
Returns the tangent of `x`.
## Array type
Inherits methods from the [Object type](18-library-reference.md#object-type).
### Array#add
Signature:
```
function add(value);
```
Adds a new value after the last element in the array.
### Array#all
Signature:
```
function all(func);
```
Returns true if the array contains only elements for which `func(element)`
is true, false otherwise.
### Array#any
Signature:
```
function any(func);
```
Returns true if the array contains at least one element for which `func(element)`
is true, false otherwise.
### Array#clear
Signature:
```
function clear();
```
Removes all elements from the array.
### Array#contains
Signature:
```
function contains(value);
```
Returns true if the array contains the specified value, false otherwise.
### Array#filter
Signature:
```
function filter(func);
```
Returns a copy of the array containing only the elements for which `func(element)`
is true.
### Array#freeze
Signature:
```
function freeze()
```
Disallows further modifications to this array. Trying to modify the array will result in an exception.
### Array#get
Signature:
```
function get(index);
```
Retrieves the element at the specified zero-based index.
### Array#join
Signature:
```
function join(separator);
```
Joins all elements of the array using the specified separator.
### Array#len
Signature:
```
function len();
```
Returns the number of elements contained in the array.
### Array#map
Signature:
```
function map(func);
```
Calls `func(element)` for each of the elements in the array and returns
a new array containing the return values of these function calls.
### Array#reduce
Signature:
```
function reduce(func);
```
Reduces the elements of the array into a single value by calling the provided
function `func` as `func(a, b)` repeatedly where `a` and `b` are elements of the array
or results from previous function calls.
### Array#remove
Signature:
```
function remove(index);
```
Removes the element at the specified zero-based index.
### Array#reverse
Signature:
```
function reverse();
```
Returns a new array with all elements of the current array in reverse order.
### Array#set
Signature:
```
function set(index, value);
```
Sets the element at the zero-based index to the specified value. The `index` must refer to an element
which already exists in the array.
### Array#shallow_clone
```
function shallow_clone();
```
Returns a copy of the array. Note that for elements which are reference values (e.g. objects such
as arrays and dictionaries) only the references are copied.
### Array#sort
Signature:
```
function sort(less_cmp);
```
Returns a copy of the array where all items are sorted. The items are
compared using the `<` (less-than) operator. A custom comparator function
can be specified with the `less_cmp` argument.
### Array#unique
Signature:
```
function unique();
```
Returns a copy of the array with all duplicate elements removed. The original order
of the array is not preserved.
## Boolean type
### Boolean#to_string
Signature:
```
function to_string();
```
The `to_string` method returns a string representation of the boolean value.
Example:
```
var example = true
example.to_string() /* Returns "true" */
```
## DateTime type
Inherits methods from the [Object type](18-library-reference.md#object-type).
### DateTime constructor
Signature:
```
function DateTime()
function DateTime(unixTimestamp)
function DateTime(year, month, day)
function DateTime(year, month, day, hours, minutes, seconds)
```
Constructs a new DateTime object. When no arguments are specified for the constructor a new
DateTime object representing the current time is created.
Example:
```
var d1 = DateTime() /* current time */
var d2 = DateTime(2016, 5, 21) /* midnight April 21st, 2016 (local time) */
```
### DateTime arithmetic
Subtracting two DateTime objects yields the interval between them, in seconds.
Example:
```
var delta = DateTime() - DateTime(2016, 5, 21) /* seconds since midnight April 21st, 2016 */
```
Subtracting a number from a DateTime object yields a new DateTime object that is further in the past:
Example:
```
var dt = DateTime() - 2 * 60 * 60 /* Current time minus 2 hours */
```
Adding a number to a DateTime object yields a new DateTime object that is in the future:
Example:
```
var dt = DateTime() + 24 * 60 * 60 /* Current time plus 24 hours */
```
### DateTime#format
Signature:
```
function format(fmt)
```
Returns a string representation for the DateTime object using the specified format string.
The format string may contain format conversion placeholders as specified in strftime(3).
Example:
```
var s = DateTime(2016, 4, 21).format("%A") /* Sets s to "Thursday". */
```
### DateTime#to_string
Signature:
```
function to_string()
```
Returns a string representation for the DateTime object. Uses a suitable default format.
Example:
```
var s = DateTime(2016, 4, 21).to_string() /* Sets s to "2016-04-21 00:00:00 +0200". */
```
## Dictionary type
Inherits methods from the [Object type](18-library-reference.md#object-type).
### Dictionary#clear
Signature:
```
function clear();
```
Removes all items from the dictionary.
### Dictionary#contains
Signature:
```
function contains(key);
```
Returns true if a dictionary item with the specified `key` exists, false otherwise.
### Dictionary#freeze
Signature:
```
function freeze()
```
Disallows further modifications to this dictionary. Trying to modify the dictionary will result in an exception.
### Dictionary#get
Signature:
```
function get(key);
```
Retrieves the value for the specified `key`. Returns `null` if they `key` does not exist
in the dictionary.
### Dictionary#keys
Signature:
```
function keys();
```
Returns a list of keys for all items that are currently in the dictionary.
### Dictionary#len
Signature:
```
function len();
```
Returns the number of items contained in the dictionary.
### Dictionary#remove
Signature:
```
function remove(key);
```
Removes the item with the specified `key`. Trying to remove an item which does not exist
is a no-op.
### Dictionary#set
Signature:
```
function set(key, value);
```
Creates or updates an item with the specified `key` and `value`.
### Dictionary#shallow_clone
Signature:
```
function shallow_clone();
```
Returns a copy of the dictionary. Note that for elements which are reference values (e.g. objects such
as arrays and dictionaries) only the references are copied.
### Dictionary#values
Signature:
```
function values();
```
Returns a list of values for all items that are currently in the dictionary.
## Function type
Inherits methods from the [Object type](18-library-reference.md#object-type).
### Function#call
Signature:
```
function call(thisArg, ...);
```
Invokes the function using an alternative `this` scope. The `thisArg` argument specifies the `this`
scope for the function. All other arguments are passed directly to the function.
Example:
```
function set_x(val) {
this.x = val
}
dict = {}
set_x.call(dict, 7) /* Invokes set_x using `dict` as `this` */
```
### Function#callv
Signature:
```
function callv(thisArg, args);
```
Invokes the function using an alternative `this` scope. The `thisArg` argument specifies the `this`
scope for the function. The items in the `args` array are passed to the function as individual arguments.
Example:
```
function set_x(val) {
this.x = val
}
var dict = {}
var args = [ 7 ]
set_x.callv(dict, args) /* Invokes set_x using `dict` as `this` */
```
## Number type
### Number#to_string
Signature:
```
function to_string();
```
The `to_string` method returns a string representation of the number.
Example:
```
var example = 7
example.to_string() /* Returns "7" */
```
## Object type
This is the base type for all types in the Icinga application.
### Object#clone
Signature:
```
function clone();
```
Returns a copy of the object. Note that for object elements which are
reference values (e.g. objects such as arrays or dictionaries) the entire
object is recursively copied.
### Object#to_string
Signature:
```
function to_string();
```
Returns a string representation for the object. Unless overridden this returns a string
of the format "Object of type ''" where is the name of the
object's type.
Example:
```
[ 3, true ].to_string() /* Returns "[ 3.000000, true ]" */
```
### Object#type
Signature:
String type;
Returns the object's type name. This attribute is read-only.
Example:
```
get_host("localhost").type /* Returns "Host" */
```
## String type
### String#contains
Signature:
```
function contains(str);
```
Returns `true` if the string `str` was found in the string. If the string
was not found, `false` is returned. Use [find](18-library-reference.md#string-find)
for getting the index instead.
Example:
```
"Hello World".contains("World") /* Returns true */
```
### String#find
Signature:
```
function find(str, start);
```
Returns the zero-based index at which the string `str` was found in the string. If the string
was not found, -1 is returned. `start` specifies the zero-based index at which `find` should
start looking for the string (defaults to 0 when not specified).
Example:
```
"Hello World".find("World") /* Returns 6 */
```
### String#len
Signature
```
function len();
```
Returns the length of the string in bytes. Note that depending on the encoding type of the string
this is not necessarily the number of characters.
Example:
```
"Hello World".len() /* Returns 11 */
```
### String#lower
Signature:
```
function lower();
```
Returns a copy of the string with all of its characters converted to lower-case.
Example:
```
"Hello World".lower() /* Returns "hello world" */
```
### String#replace
Signature:
```
function replace(search, replacement);
```
Returns a copy of the string with all occurences of the string specified in `search` replaced
with the string specified in `replacement`.
### String#reverse
Signature:
```
function reverse();
```
Returns a copy of the string in reverse order.
### String#split
Signature:
```
function split(delimiters);
```
Splits a string into individual parts and returns them as an array. The `delimiters` argument
specifies the characters which should be used as delimiters between parts.
Example:
```
"x-7,y".split("-,") /* Returns [ "x", "7", "y" ] */
```
### String#substr
Signature:
```
function substr(start, len);
```
Returns a part of a string. The `start` argument specifies the zero-based index at which the part begins.
The optional `len` argument specifies the length of the part ("until the end of the string" if omitted).
Example:
```
"Hello World".substr(6) /* Returns "World" */
```
### String#to_string
Signature:
```
function to_string();
```
Returns a copy of the string.
### String#trim
Signature:
```
function trim();
```
Removes trailing whitespaces and returns the string.
### String#upper
Signature:
```
function upper();
```
Returns a copy of the string with all of its characters converted to upper-case.
Example:
```
"Hello World".upper() /* Returns "HELLO WORLD" */
```
## Type type
Inherits methods from the [Object type](18-library-reference.md#object-type).
The `Type` type provides information about the underlying type of an object or scalar value.
All types are registered as global variables. For example, in order to obtain a reference to the `String` type the global variable `String` can be used.
### Type#base
Signature:
```
Type base;
```
Returns a reference to the type's base type. This attribute is read-only.
Example:
```
Dictionary.base == Object /* Returns true, because the Dictionary type inherits directly from the Object type. */
```
### Type#name
Signature:
```
String name;
```
Returns the name of the type.
### Type#prototype
Signature:
```
Object prototype;
```
Returns the prototype object for the type. When an attribute is accessed on an object that doesn't exist the prototype object is checked to see if an attribute with the requested name exists. If it does, the attribute's value is returned.
The prototype functionality is used to implement methods.
Example:
```
3.to_string() /* Even though '3' does not have a to_string property the Number type's prototype object does. */
```