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mp-units/docs/framework/basic_concepts.rst
2021-03-05 11:31:46 +01:00

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.. namespace:: units
Basic Concepts
==============
The most important concepts in the library are `Unit`, `Dimension`,
`Quantity`, `QuantityPoint`, `QuantityKind`, and `QuantityPointKind`:
.. image:: /_static/img/concepts.png
:align: center
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[<abstract>Dimension|
[base_dimension<Symbol, Unit>]<-[exponent<Dimension, Num, Den>]
[derived_dimension<Child, Unit, Exponent...>]<-[exponent<Dimension, Num, Den>]
[exponent<Dimension, Num, Den>]<-[derived_dimension<Child, Unit, Exponent...>]
]
[<abstract>Quantity|
[quantity<Dimension, Unit, Rep>]
]
[<abstract>QuantityPoint|
[quantity_point<Dimension, Unit, Rep>]
]
[<abstract>QuantityKind|
[quantity_kind<Kind, Unit, Rep>]
]
[<abstract>QuantityPointKind|
[quantity_point_kind<PointKind, Unit, Rep>]
]
[<abstract>Unit]<-[Dimension]
[Dimension]<-[Quantity]
[Unit]<-[Quantity]
[Quantity]<-[QuantityPoint]
[<abstract>Kind]<-[QuantityKind]
[Dimension]<-[Kind]
[Quantity]<-[QuantityKind]
[<abstract>PointKind]<-[QuantityPointKind]
[Kind]<-[PointKind]
[QuantityKind]<-[QuantityPointKind]
`Unit` is a basic building block of the library. Every dimension works with
a concrete hierarchy of units. Such hierarchy defines a reference unit and
often a few scaled versions of it. Examples: ``second``, ``metre``, ``kilometre_per_hour``.
`Dimension` concept matches a dimension of either a base or derived quantity.
`base_dimension` is instantiated with a unique symbol identifier and a base
unit. `derived_dimension` is a list of exponents of either base or other
derived dimensions. Examples: ``si::dim_time``, ``si::dim_length``, ``si::dim_speed``.
`Quantity` is a concrete amount of a unit for a specified dimension with a
specific representation. Examples: ``quantity<si::dim_time, si::second, int>``,
``si::length<si::metre, int>``, ``si::speed<si::kilometre_per_hour>``.
`QuantityPoint` is an absolute `Quantity` with respect to some origin.
Examples: timestamp (as opposed to duration), absolute temperature
(as opposed to temperature difference).
`QuantityKind` is a `Quantity` with more specific usage. Examples:
distance (``horizonal_kind``) and height (``vertical_kind``) are different kinds
of a length quantity.
`QuantityPointKind` is an absolute `QuantityKind` with respect to some origin.
Examples: altitude is a quantity point of ``vertical_kind`` (as opposed to
height).