reversible "binary to number" predicate

Question

What is the best way to convert binary bits (it might be a list of 0/1, for example) into numbers in a reversible way. I've written a native predicate in swi, but is there better solution ? Best regards

Answer 1

Use CLP(FD) constraints, for example:

:- use_module(library(clpfd)).

binary_number(Bs0, N) :-
        reverse(Bs0, Bs),
        foldl(binary_number_, Bs, 0-0, _-N).

binary_number_(B, I0-N0, I-N) :-
        B in 0..1,
        N #= N0 + B*2^I0,
        I #= I0 + 1.

Example queries:

?- binary_number([1,0,1], N).
N = 5.

?- binary_number(Bs, 5).
Bs = [1, 0, 1] .

?- binary_number(Bs, N).
Bs = [],
N = 0 ;
Bs = [N],
N in 0..1 ;
etc.

Answer 2

The solution

This answer seeks to provide a predicate binary_number/2 that presents both logical-purity and the best termination properties. I've used when/2 in order to stop queries like canonical_binary_number(B, 10) from going into infinite looping after finding the first (unique) solution. There is a trade-off, of course, the program has redundant goals now.

canonical_binary_number([0], 0).
canonical_binary_number([1], 1).
canonical_binary_number([1|Bits], Number):-
    when(ground(Number),
         (Number > 1,
          Pow is floor(log(Number) / log(2)),
          Number1 is Number - 2 ^ Pow,
          (   Number1 > 1
           -> Pow1 is floor(log(Number1) / log(2)) + 1
           ;  Pow1 = 1
         ))),
    length(Bits, Pow),
    between(1, Pow, Pow1),
    length(Bits1, Pow1),
    append(Zeros, Bits1, Bits),
    maplist(=(0), Zeros),
    canonical_binary_number(Bits1, Number1),
    Number is Number1 + 2 ^ Pow.

binary_number(Bits, Number):-
    canonical_binary_number(Bits, Number).
binary_number([0|Bits], Number):-
    binary_number(Bits, Number).

Purity and termination

I claim that this predicate presents logical-purity from construction. I hope I got it right from these answers: one, two and three.

Any goal with proper arguments terminates. If arguments need to be checked, the simplest way to achieve this is using the built-in length/2:

binary_number(Bits, Number):-
    length(_, Number),
    canonical_binary_number(Bits, Number).

?- binary_number(Bits, 2+3).
ERROR: length/2: Type error: `integer' expected, found `2+3'
   Exception: (6) binary_number(_G1642009, 2+3) ? abort
% Execution Aborted
?- binary_number(Bits, -1).
ERROR: length/2: Domain error: `not_less_than_zero' expected, found `-1'
   Exception: (6) binary_number(_G1642996, -1) ? creep

Example queries

?- binary_number([1,0,1|Tail], N).
Tail = [],
N = 5 ;
Tail = [0],
N = 10 ;
Tail = [1],
N = 11 ;
Tail = [0, 0],
N = 20 .

?- binary_number(Bits, 20).
Bits = [1, 0, 1, 0, 0] ;
Bits = [0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0] ;
Bits = [0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0] ;
Bits = [0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0] ;
Bits = [0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0] .

?- binary_number(Bits, N).
Bits = [0],
N = 0 ;
Bits = [1],
N = 1 ;
Bits = [1, 0],
N = 2 ;
Bits = [1, 1],
N = 3 ;
Bits = [1, 0, 0],
N = 4 ;
Bits = [1, 0, 1],
N = 5 .