NAME

Bio::Symbol::SymbolI - Interface for a Symbol

SYNOPSIS

# get a Bio::Symbol::SymbolI object somehow

my ($name,$token) = ($symbol->name, $symbol->token);
my @symbols       = $symbol->symbols;
my $matches       = $symbol->matches;

DESCRIPTION

Symbol represents a single token in the sequence. Symbol can have multiple synonyms or matches within the same Alphabet, which makes possible to represent ambiguity codes and gaps.

Symbols can be also composed from ordered list other symbols. For example, codons can be represented by single Symbol using a compound Alphabet made from three DNA Alphabets.

This module was implemented for the purposes of meeting the BSANE/BioCORBA spec 0.3 only.

FEEDBACK

Mailing Lists

User feedback is an integral part of the evolution of this and other Bioperl modules. Send your comments and suggestions preferably to the Bioperl mailing list. Your participation is much appreciated.

bioperl-l@bioperl.org                  - General discussion
http://bioperl.org/wiki/Mailing_lists  - About the mailing lists

Reporting Bugs

Report bugs to the Bioperl bug tracking system to help us keep track of the bugs and their resolution. Bug reports can be submitted via the web:

http://bugzilla.open-bio.org/

AUTHOR - Jason Stajich

Email jason@bioperl.org

APPENDIX

The rest of the documentation details each of the object methods. Internal methods are usually preceded with a _

Bio::Symbol::SymbolI interface methods

name

Title   : name
Usage   : my $name = $symbol->name();
Function: Get/Set Descriptive name for Symbol
Returns : string
Args    : (optional) string

token

Title   : token
Usage   : my $token = $self->token();
Function: Get/Set token for this symbol
Example : Letter A,C,G,or T for a DNA alphabet Symbol
Returns : string
Args    : (optional) string

symbols

Title   : symbols
Usage   : my @symbols = $self->symbols();
Function: Get/Set Symbols this Symbol is composed from
Example : A codon is composed of 3 DNA symbols
Returns : Array of Bio::Symbol::SymbolI objects
Args    : (optional) Array of Bio::Symbol::SymbolI objects

matches

Title   : matches
Usage   : my $matchalphabet = $symbol->matches();
Function: Get/Set (Sub) alphabet of symbols matched by this symbol
          including the symbol itself (i.e. if symbol is DNA
          ambiguity code W then the matches contains symbols for W
          and T)
Returns : Bio::Symbol::AlphabetI
Args    : (optional) Bio::Symbol::AlphabetI

equals

Title   : equals
Usage   : if( $symbol->equals($symbol2) ) { }
Function: Tests if a symbol is equal to another 
Returns : Boolean
Args    : Bio::Symbol::SymbolI