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{{Works in|[[Dyalog APL]]}}
{{Works in|[[Dyalog APL]]}}
== History ==
The function Nub was proposed in 1978 by [[Ken Iverson|Iverson]] as one of a collection of set functions (including [[Union]], [[Intersection]], and [[Difference]]) with the symbol <source lang=apl inline>∪</source> and definition <source lang=apl inline>∪w</source> {{←→}} <source lang=apl inline>((⍳⍴w)=w⍳w)/w←,w</source>.<ref>[[Ken Iverson|Iverson, Ken]]. [https://www.jsoftware.com/papers/opfns.htm ''Operators and Functions'']. IBM Research Report #RC7091. 1978-04-26.</ref> It was implemented as part of [[STSC]]'s [[NARS]] in 1981 with the name Unique and the same definition, except that the argument was restricted to be a vector or scalar.<ref>Cheney, Carl. ''APL*PLUS Nested Arrays Reference Manual. [[STSC]] Inc. 1981.</ref> Later APLs such as [[Dyalog APL]] generally adopted this version of the primitive, and it is featured in the [[ISO/IEC 13751:2001]] standard. Dyalog extended Unique to higher-rank arrays in [[Dyalog APL 17.0]], following the much earlier extension made by [[J]].
Iverson continued to refine his definition of Nub. He included it in his [[Rationalized APL]] specification with no changes in 1983, but modified it to work on [[major cell]]s (thus aligning it with [[leading axis theory]]) in his 1987 [[A Dictionary of APL]]. Iverson's dictionary also changed the symbol for Nub to <source lang=apl inline>↑</source>, added the functions [[Nub Sieve]] (<source lang=apl inline>≠</source>) and [[Nub in]] (<source lang=apl inline>=</source>), and defined Nub in terms of Nub Sieve. These definitions were adopted by [[IPSA]] in the [[SHARP APL]] successor [[SAX]]. [[J]] uses similar definitions: its Nub-related functions are Nub (<source lang=j inline>~.</source>), [[Nub Sieve]] (<source lang=j inline>~:</source>), and [[Self-classify]] (<source lang=j inline>=</source>). However, Self-classify is indicated as deprecated in J's NuVoc because its result can be much larger than its argument.
[[A+]] does not include Unique or any related functions, but [[K]]'s function range (<code>?</code>) gives the unique elements of a list argument. In later versions it is called "distinct" or "unique". While APLs allow a [[scalar]] argument ([[scalar rank extension]]), K gives a [[RANK ERROR]] if the argument is not a list.


== APL model ==
== APL model ==
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{{Works in|[[Dyalog APL]]}}
{{Works in|[[Dyalog APL]]}}


While the model <source lang=apl inline>{((⍳≢⍵)=(⍵⍳⍵))⌿⍵}</source>, based on [[Nub Sieve]], is often described as an implementation of Unique, it does not correctly handle [[tolerant comparison]]. A correct implementation of Nub Sieve could be used to implement Unique, but writing such an implementation is no easier than implementing Unique directly.
While the model <source lang=apl inline>{((⍳≢⍵)=(⍵⍳⍵))⌿⍵}</source>, based on [[Nub Sieve]], is often described as an implementation of Unique, it does not correctly handle [[tolerant comparison]].<ref>Hui, Roger. [https://dyalog.tv/Dyalog17/?v=fPWky9IOG40 Tolerant Unique]. [[Dyalog '17]].</ref> A correct implementation of Nub Sieve could be used to implement Unique, but writing such an implementation is no easier than implementing Unique directly.


== Properties ==
== Properties ==
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* [https://www.jsoftware.com/help/dictionary/d221.htm J Dictionary], [https://code.jsoftware.com/wiki/Vocabulary/tildedot J NuVoc] (as <source lang=apl inline>~.</source>)
* [https://www.jsoftware.com/help/dictionary/d221.htm J Dictionary], [https://code.jsoftware.com/wiki/Vocabulary/tildedot J NuVoc] (as <source lang=apl inline>~.</source>)
== References ==
<references />
{{APL built-ins}}
{{APL built-ins}}

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