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# String interpolation
String interpolation is a language feature where a [string], [path], or [attribute name][attribute set] can contain expressions enclosed in `${ }` (dollar-sign with curly brackets).
Such a construct is called *interpolated string*, and the expression inside is an [interpolated expression](#interpolated-expression).
[string]: ./types.md#type-string
[path]: ./types.md#type-path
[attribute set]: ./types.md#attribute-set
> **Syntax**
>
> *interpolation_element* → `${` *expression* `}`
## Examples
### String
Rather than writing
```nix
"--with-freetype2-library=" + freetype + "/lib"
```
(where `freetype` is a [derivation]), you can instead write
[derivation]: @docroot@/glossary.md#gloss-derivation
```nix
"--with-freetype2-library=${freetype}/lib"
```
The latter is automatically translated to the former.
A more complicated example (from the Nix expression for [Qt](http://www.trolltech.com/products/qt)):
```nix
configureFlags = "
-system-zlib -system-libpng -system-libjpeg
${if openglSupport then "-dlopen-opengl
-L${mesa}/lib -I${mesa}/include
-L${libXmu}/lib -I${libXmu}/include" else ""}
${if threadSupport then "-thread" else "-no-thread"}
";
```
Note that Nix expressions and strings can be arbitrarily nested;
in this case the outer string contains various interpolated expressions that themselves contain strings (e.g., `"-thread"`), some of which in turn contain interpolated expressions (e.g., `${mesa}`).
To write a literal `${` in an regular string, escape it with a backslash (`\`).
> **Example**
>
> ```nix
> "echo \${PATH}"
> ```
>
> "echo ${PATH}"
To write a literal `${` in an indented string, escape it with two single quotes (`''`).
> **Example**
>
> ```nix
> ''
> echo ''${PATH}
> ''
> ```
>
> "echo ${PATH}\n"
`$${` can be written literally in any string.
> **Example**
>
> In Make, `$` in file names or recipes is represented as `$$`, see [GNU `make`: Basics of Variable Reference](https://www.gnu.org/software/make/manual/html_node/Reference.html#Basics-of-Variable-References).
> This can be expressed directly in the Nix language strings:
>
> ```nix
> ''
> MAKEVAR = Hello
> all:
> @export BASHVAR=world; echo $(MAKEVAR) $${BASHVAR}
> ''
> ```
>
> "MAKEVAR = Hello\nall:\n\t@export BASHVAR=world; echo $(MAKEVAR) $\${BASHVAR}\n"
See the [documentation on strings][string] for details.
### Path
Rather than writing
```nix
./. + "/" + foo + "-" + bar + ".nix"
```
or
```nix
./. + "/${foo}-${bar}.nix"
```
you can instead write
```nix
./${foo}-${bar}.nix
```
### Attribute name
<!--
FIXME: these examples are redundant with the main page on attribute sets.
figure out what to do about that
-->
Attribute names can be interpolated strings.
> **Example**
>
> ```nix
> let name = "foo"; in
> { ${name} = 123; }
> ```
>
> { foo = 123; }
Attributes can be selected with interpolated strings.
> **Example**
>
> ```nix
> let name = "foo"; in
> { foo = 123; }.${name}
> ```
>
> 123
# Interpolated expression
An expression that is interpolated must evaluate to one of the following:
- a [string]
- a [path]
- an [attribute set] that has a `__toString` attribute or an `outPath` attribute
- `__toString` must be a function that takes the attribute set itself and returns a string
- `outPath` must be a string
This includes [derivations](./derivations.md) or [flake inputs](@docroot@/command-ref/new-cli/nix3-flake.md#flake-inputs) (experimental).
A string interpolates to itself.
A path in an interpolated expression is first copied into the Nix store, and the resulting string is the [store path] of the newly created [store object](@docroot@/store/store-object.md).
[store path]: @docroot@/store/store-path.md
> **Example**
>
> ```console
> $ mkdir foo
> ```
>
> Reference the empty directory in an interpolated expression:
>
> ```nix
> "${./foo}"
> ```
>
> "/nix/store/2hhl2nz5v0khbn06ys82nrk99aa1xxdw-foo"
A derivation interpolates to the [store path] of its first [output](./derivations.md#attr-outputs).
> **Example**
>
> ```nix
> let
> pkgs = import <nixpkgs> {};
> in
> "${pkgs.hello}"
> ```
>
> "/nix/store/4xpfqf29z4m8vbhrqcz064wfmb46w5r7-hello-2.12.1"
An attribute set interpolates to the return value of the function in the `__toString` applied to the attribute set itself.
> **Example**
>
> ```nix
> let
> a = {
> value = 1;
> __toString = self: toString (self.value + 1);
> };
> in
> "${a}"
> ```
>
> "2"
An attribute set also interpolates to the value of its `outPath` attribute.
> **Example**
>
> ```nix
> let
> a = { outPath = "foo"; };
> in
> "${a}"
> ```
>
> "foo"
If both `__toString` and `outPath` are present in an attribute set, `__toString` takes precedence.
> **Example**
>
> ```nix
> let
> a = { __toString = _: "yes"; outPath = throw "no"; };
> in
> "${a}"
> ```
>
> "yes"
If neither is present, an error is thrown.
> **Example**
>
> ```nix
> let
> a = {};
> in
> "${a}"
> ```
>
> error: cannot coerce a set to a string: { }
>
> at «string»:4:2:
>
> 3| in
> 4| "${a}"
> | ^
|
