## 8.23 Generalized open statements

(Introduced in 4.08)

definition | ::= | ...
| ∣ | open module-expr
| ∣ | open! module-expr
specification | ::= | ...
| ∣ | open extended-module-path
| ∣ | open! extended-module-path
expr | ::= | ...
| ∣ | let open module-expr in expr
| ∣ | let open! module-expr in expr

This extension makes it possible to open any module expression in module structures and expressions. A similar mechanism is also available inside module types, but only for extended module paths (e.g. F(X).G(Y)).

For instance, a module can be constrained when opened with

     module M = struct let x = 0 let hidden = 1 end
     open (M:sig val x: int end)
     let y = hidden

    Error: Unbound value hidden

Another possibility is to immediately open the result of a functor application

       let sort (type x) (x:x list) =
         let open Set.Make(struct type t = x let compare=compare end) in
         elements (of_list x)
    val sort : 'a list -> 'a list = <fun>

Going further, this construction can introduce local components inside a structure,

     module M = struct
       let x = 0
       open! struct
         let x = 0
         let y = 1
       end
       let w = x + y
     end
    module M : sig val x : int val w : int end

One important restriction is that types introduced by open struct ... end cannot appear in the signature of the enclosing structure, unless they are defined equal to some non-local type. So:

     module M = struct
       open struct type 'a t = 'a option = None | Some of 'a end
       let x : int t = Some 1
     end
    module M : sig val x : int option end

is OK, but:

     module M = struct
       open struct type t = A end
       let x = A
     end
    Error: The type t/3742 introduced by this open appears in the signature
           File "exten.etex", line 3, characters 6-7:
             The value x has no valid type if t/3742 is hidden

is not because x cannot be given any type other than t, which only exists locally. Although the above would be OK if x too was local:

     module M: sig end = struct
       open struct
       type t = A
       end
       …
       open struct let x = A end
       …
     end
    module M : sig  end

Inside signatures, extended opens are limited to extended module paths,

     module type S = sig
       module F: sig end -> sig type t end
       module X: sig end
       open F(X)
       val f: t
     end
    module type S =
      sig
        module F : sig  end -> sig type t end
        module X : sig  end
        val f : F(X).t
      end

and not

      open struct type t = int end

In those situations, local substitutions(see 8.8.2) can be used instead.

Beware that this extension is not available inside class definitions:

    class c =
      let open Set.Make(Int) in
      ...