ValueRenderer0.25.1

A value converter is a function that converts a value to another value immediately before the value is rendered (and after the value has been type-checked). The converted value is then rendered by the renderer's hardwired rendering logic.

When a converter returns a value of type Object, Collection, Map, or Pair, converters are recursively applied to the returned value's components (object properties, list elements, etc.).

At most one converter is applied per value. If multiple converters are applicable, a winner is chosen as follows:

• A converter with String key wins over a converter with Class key.
• Between converters with same key type, the converter defined earlier (according to the mapping's definition order) wins.

A converter's key specifies which values the converter should be applied to. A converter with Class key is applied to values of that exact class (but not to values of subclasses). A converter with String key is applied to values whose path matches the path spec described by the string.

Path specs can have the following components:

• ^ matches the top-level value passed to renderDocument() or renderValue() (often the module object)
• pigeon matches property pigeon at any hierarchy level
• [pigeon] matches map(ping) entry with String key "pigeon" at any hierarchy level
• * matches any property
• [*] matches any list(ing) element or map(ping) entry

Here are some examples of valid property paths:

• "server"
• "server.timeout"
• "^server.timeout" (matches server.timeout, but not racks[12345].server.timeout)
• "racks[12345].server"
• "racks[*].server

Paths are matched against path specs component-wise in reverse order. For example, paths server.timeout and racks[*].server.timeout both match path spec server.timeout, whereas path server.timeout.millis does not.

Some renderers impose restrictions on which types of values can be rendered as document.

A typical implementation of this method renders a document header/footer and otherwise delegates to renderValue().