[issue29352] provide the authorative source for s[i:j] negative slice indices (<-len(s)) behavior for standard sequences

[Akira Li]

New submission from Akira Li:

I've failed to find where the behavior for negative indices in s[i:j]
expression (i, j < -len(s)) for standard sequences (str, list, etc) is
formally defined.

The observed behavior implemented in PySlice_GetIndicesEx(): If "len(s)
+ i" or "len(s) + j" is negative, use 0. [1] I don't see it in the docs.

        if (*start < 0) *start += length;
        if (*start < 0) *start = (*step < 0) ? -1 : 0;
        ...
        if (*stop < 0) *stop += length;
        if (*stop < 0) *stop = (*step < 0) ? -1 : 0;

The tutorial mentions [2]:

> out of range slice indexes are handled gracefully when used for
> slicing"

slice.indices() documentation says [3]:

> Missing or out-of-bounds indices are handled in a manner consistent
> with regular slices.

Neither define it explicitly.

The behavior for the upper boundary is defined explicitly [4]:

> If *i* or *j* is greater than ``len(s)``, use ``len(s)``

I've added the documentation patch that defines the behavior for the
lower boundary too.

[1] Objects/sliceobject.c
[2] Doc/tutorial/introduction.rst
[3] Doc/reference/datamodel.rst
[4] Doc/library/stdtypes.rst

----------
assignee: docs at python
components: Documentation
files: docs-negative-slice-indices.patch
keywords: patch
messages: 286098
nosy: akira, docs at python
priority: normal
severity: normal
status: open
title: provide the authorative source for s[i:j] negative slice indices (<-len(s)) behavior for standard sequences
versions: Python 3.5, Python 3.6, Python 3.7
Added file: http://bugs.python.org/file46393/docs-negative-slice-indices.patch

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Python tracker <report at bugs.python.org>
<http://bugs.python.org/issue29352>
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