# Description
This PR renames the conversion functions on `Value` to be more consistent.
It follows the Rust [API guidelines](https://rust-lang.github.io/api-guidelines/naming.html#ad-hoc-conversions-follow-as_-to_-into_-conventions-c-conv) for ad-hoc conversions.
The conversion functions on `Value` now come in a few forms:
- `coerce_{type}` takes a `&Value` and attempts to convert the value to
`type` (e.g., `i64` are converted to `f64`). This is the old behavior of
some of the `as_{type}` functions -- these functions have simply been
renamed to better reflect what they do.
- The new `as_{type}` functions take a `&Value` and returns an `Ok`
result only if the value is of `type` (no conversion is attempted). The
returned value will be borrowed if `type` is non-`Copy`, otherwise an
owned value is returned.
- `into_{type}` exists for non-`Copy` types, but otherwise does not
attempt conversion just like `as_type`. It takes an owned `Value` and
always returns an owned result.
- `coerce_into_{type}` has the same relationship with `coerce_{type}` as
`into_{type}` does with `as_{type}`.
- `to_{kind}_string`: conversion to different string formats (debug,
abbreviated, etc.). Only two of the old string conversion functions were
removed, the rest have been renamed only.
- `to_{type}`: other conversion functions. Currently, only `to_path`
exists. (And `to_string` through `Display`.)
This table summaries the above:
| Form | Cost | Input Ownership | Output Ownership | Converts `Value`
case/`type` |
| ---------------------------- | ----- | --------------- |
---------------- | -------- |
| `as_{type}` | Cheap | Borrowed | Borrowed/Owned | No |
| `into_{type}` | Cheap | Owned | Owned | No |
| `coerce_{type}` | Cheap | Borrowed | Borrowed/Owned | Yes |
| `coerce_into_{type}` | Cheap | Owned | Owned | Yes |
| `to_{kind}_string` | Expensive | Borrowed | Owned | Yes |
| `to_{type}` | Expensive | Borrowed | Owned | Yes |
# User-Facing Changes
Breaking API change for `Value` in `nu-protocol` which is exposed as
part of the plugin API.
1c49ca503a