Built-in Functions

Every global function NEKOVA registers automatically, grouped by purpose.

Type conversion

Function	Description
`int(x)`	Convert to an integer. Raises a clear error on an unparsable string.
`float(x)`	Convert to a decimal number. Same clean-error behavior as `int()`.
`str(x)`	Convert to text.
`bool(x)`	Convert to a boolean.
`list(x)`	Convert to a list.
`dict()`	Create an empty dict.
`to_number(x)`	Convert to a number, tolerant of numeric strings.
`to_text(x)`	Convert to text.
`type_of(x)`	Returns the value's type as a string — `"int"`, `"str"`, `"list"`, `"dict"`, `"set"`, etc.
`isinstance(x, type)`	Check a value's type.
`callable(x)`	Check whether a value can be called.

Math

Function	Description
`abs(x)`	Absolute value.
`round(x)`	Round to the nearest integer.
`floor(x)` / `ceil(x)`	Round down / up.
`pow(x, y)`	`x` to the power of `y`.
`sqrt(x)`	Square root.
`sin(x)` / `cos(x)` / `tan(x)`	Trigonometric functions.
`log(x)` / `log10(x)`	Natural log / base-10 log.
`divmod(a, b)`	Returns `(quotient, remainder)` — pairs naturally with tuple destructuring.
`min(...)` / `max(...)`	Minimum / maximum of a list or arguments.
`sum(iterable)`	Sum of a list.
`random_num(a, b)`	A random number between `a` and `b`.

Collections

Function	Description
`len(x)` / `length(x)`	Length of a list, string, or dict — two names for the same thing.
`range(n)`	A range of numbers from 0 to `n - 1`.
`sorted(x)`	A sorted copy of a list.
`reversed(x)`	A reversed copy of a list.
`enumerate(x)`	Pairs of `(index, value)`.
`zip(a, b)`	Pairs values from two lists together.
`map(fn, x)` / `filter(fn, x)`	Transform / filter a list.
`all(x)` / `any(x)`	Whether every / any item is truthy.
`set_union(a, b)` / `set_intersection(a, b)` / `set_difference(a, b)`	Set operations.

Text

Function	Description
`chr(n)` / `ord(c)`	Character ↔ code point.
`hex(n)` / `oct(n)` / `bin(n)`	Number to hex/octal/binary string.

Dates

Function	Description
`date_now()` / `date_today()`	Current date/time.
`date_timestamp()`	Current Unix timestamp.
`date_format(d, fmt)`	Format a date.
`date_day_of_week(d)`	Day of the week for a date.
`date_add_days(d, n)`	Add `n` days to a date.
`date_diff_days(a, b)`	Days between two dates.

Files

Function	Description
`file_read(path)`	Read a file's contents.
`file_write(path, contents)`	Write to a file.
`file_append(path, contents)`	Append to a file.
`file_delete(path)`	Delete a file.
`file_exists(path)`	Whether a file exists.

Inside a sandbox, file access follows the sandbox's mode — strict blocks it entirely, relaxed allows reads.

Other

Function	Description
`doc(x)` / `doc(x, "name")`	Read a task, class, `init`, or method's docstring.
`print(x)`	Raw output, without NEKOVA's `show` formatting.
`input()` / `ask(prompt)`	Read a line from the user.
`sleep(seconds)`	Pause execution.
`connect(path)`	Open a database connection.
`sandbox_run(code)`	Run code inside a sandbox from within a running program.
`args`	Access command-line arguments passed to the running script.