Lisp function with default argument value

Question

I would like to have a CL function with a single argument, but also with a default argument value.

(defun test1 ((x 0))
  (+ x x))

would seem to be the syntax, but it doesn't work. The tutorials I'm seeing have the argument-default form like above only in use with &optional and &key. Is it possible to have just one function argument and it with a default?

What's the purpose of a default, if the parameter is not optional? — Rainer Joswig
– Rainer Joswig, Commented May 1, 2015 at 16:51
Every positional argument with a default has to be optional or else the default would never be used. — Sylwester
– Sylwester, Commented May 1, 2015 at 18:57

Joshua Taylor · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-22 11:37:57Z

20

You need to signal that it is an optional argument:

(defun test1 (&optional (x 0))
   (+ x x))

As written, you have specified an invalid lambda list and should hopefully have seen some diagnostics from the REPL.

edited Oct 22, 2015 at 11:37

Joshua Taylor

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answered May 1, 2015 at 16:31

Vatine

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