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%% File: l3tl.dtx
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% Copyright (C) 1990-2024 The LaTeX Project
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% The development version of the bundle can be found at
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%    https://github.com/latex3/latex3
%
% for those people who are interested.
%
%<*driver>
\documentclass[full,kernel]{l3doc}
\begin{document}
  \DocInput{\jobname.dtx}
\end{document}
%</driver>
% \fi
%
% \title{^^A
%   The \pkg{l3tl} module\\ Token lists^^A
% }
%
% \author{^^A
%  The \LaTeX{} Project\thanks
%    {^^A
%      E-mail:
%        \href{mailto:latex-team@latex-project.org}
%          {latex-team@latex-project.org}^^A
%    }^^A
% }
%
% \date{Released 2024-12-25}
%
% \maketitle
%
% \begin{documentation}
%
% \TeX{} works with tokens, and \LaTeX3 therefore provides a number of
% functions to deal with lists of tokens.  Token lists may be present
% directly in the argument to a function:
% \begin{verbatim}
%   \foo:n { a collection of \tokens }
% \end{verbatim}
% or may be stored in a so-called \enquote{tl~var} (\meta{tl~var}), which
% have the suffix \texttt{tl}: a token list variable can also be used as
% the argument to a function, for example
% \begin{verbatim}
%   \foo:N \l_some_tl
% \end{verbatim}
% In both cases, functions are available to test and manipulate the lists
% of tokens, and these have the module prefix \texttt{tl}.
% In many cases, functions which can be applied to token list variables
% are paired with similar functions for application to explicit lists
% of tokens: the two \enquote{views} of a token list are therefore collected
% together here.
%
% A token list (explicit, or stored in a variable) can be seen either
% as a list of \enquote{items},
% or a list of \enquote{tokens}. An item is whatever \cs{use:n} would
% grab as its argument: a single non-space token or a brace group,
% with optional leading explicit space characters (each item is thus
% itself a token list). A token is either a normal \texttt{N} argument,
% or \verb*| |, |{|, or |}| (assuming normal \TeX{} category codes).
% Thus for example
% \begin{verbatim}
%   { Hello } ~ world
% \end{verbatim}
% contains six items (\texttt{Hello}, \texttt{w}, \texttt{o}, \texttt{r},
% \texttt{l} and \texttt{d}), but thirteen tokens (|{|, \texttt{H}, \texttt{e},
% \texttt{l}, \texttt{l}, \texttt{o}, |}|, \verb*| |, \texttt{w}, \texttt{o},
% \texttt{r}, \texttt{l} and \texttt{d}).
% Functions which act on items are often faster than their analogue acting
% directly on tokens.
%
% \section{Creating and initialising token list variables}
%
% \begin{function}{\tl_new:N, \tl_new:c}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_new:N} \meta{tl~var}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Creates a new \meta{tl~var} or raises an error if the
%   name is already taken. The declaration is global. The
%   \meta{tl~var} is initially empty.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}
%   {
%     \tl_const:Nn, \tl_const:NV, \tl_const:Ne,
%     \tl_const:cn, \tl_const:cV, \tl_const:ce
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_const:Nn} \meta{tl~var} \Arg{tokens}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Creates a new constant \meta{tl~var} or raises an error
%   if the name is already taken. The value of the
%   \meta{tl~var} is set globally to the \meta{tokens}.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}{\tl_clear:N, \tl_clear:c, \tl_gclear:N, \tl_gclear:c}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_clear:N} \meta{tl~var}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Clears all entries from the \meta{tl~var}.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}
%   {\tl_clear_new:N, \tl_clear_new:c, \tl_gclear_new:N, \tl_gclear_new:c}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_clear_new:N} \meta{tl~var}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Ensures that the \meta{tl~var} exists globally by applying
%   \cs{tl_new:N} if necessary, then applies \cs[index=tl_clear:N]{tl_(g)clear:N} to leave
%   the \meta{tl~var} empty.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}
%   {
%     \tl_set_eq:NN,  \tl_set_eq:cN,  \tl_set_eq:Nc,  \tl_set_eq:cc,
%     \tl_gset_eq:NN, \tl_gset_eq:cN, \tl_gset_eq:Nc, \tl_gset_eq:cc
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_set_eq:NN} \meta{tl~var_1} \meta{tl~var_2}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Sets the content of \meta{tl~var_1} equal to that of
%   \meta{tl~var_2}.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[added = 2012-05-18]
%   {
%     \tl_concat:NNN,  \tl_concat:ccc,
%     \tl_gconcat:NNN, \tl_gconcat:ccc
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_concat:NNN} \meta{tl~var_1} \meta{tl~var_2} \meta{tl~var_3}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Concatenates the content of \meta{tl~var_2} and \meta{tl~var_3}
%   together and saves the result in \meta{tl~var_1}. The \meta{tl~var_2}
%   is placed at the left side of the new token list.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[EXP, pTF, added=2012-03-03]{\tl_if_exist:N, \tl_if_exist:c}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_if_exist_p:N} \meta{tl~var}
%     \cs{tl_if_exist:NTF} \meta{tl~var} \Arg{true code} \Arg{false code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Tests whether the \meta{tl~var} is currently defined.  This does not
%   check that the \meta{tl~var} really is a token list variable.
% \end{function}
%
% \section{Adding data to token list variables}
%
% \begin{function}
%   {
%     \tl_set:Nn, \tl_set:NV, \tl_set:Nv, \tl_set:No, \tl_set:Ne, \tl_set:Nf,
%     \tl_set:cn, \tl_set:cV, \tl_set:cv, \tl_set:co, \tl_set:ce, \tl_set:cf,
%     \tl_gset:Nn, \tl_gset:NV, \tl_gset:Nv,
%     \tl_gset:No, \tl_gset:Ne, \tl_gset:Nf,
%     \tl_gset:cn, \tl_gset:cV, \tl_gset:cv,
%     \tl_gset:co, \tl_gset:ce, \tl_gset:cf
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_set:Nn} \meta{tl~var} \Arg{tokens}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Sets \meta{tl~var} to contain \meta{tokens},
%   removing any previous content from the variable.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}
%   {
%     \tl_put_left:Nn,  \tl_put_left:NV,  \tl_put_left:Nv, \tl_put_left:Ne,
%     \tl_put_left:No,
%     \tl_put_left:cn,  \tl_put_left:cV,  \tl_put_left:cv, \tl_put_left:ce,
%     \tl_put_left:co,
%     \tl_gput_left:Nn, \tl_gput_left:NV, \tl_gput_left:Nv, \tl_gput_left:Ne,
%     \tl_gput_left:No,
%     \tl_gput_left:cn, \tl_gput_left:cV, \tl_gput_left:cv, \tl_gput_left:ce,
%     \tl_gput_left:co
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_put_left:Nn} \meta{tl~var} \Arg{tokens}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Appends \meta{tokens} to the left side of the current content of
%   \meta{tl~var}.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}
%   {
%     \tl_put_right:Nn,  \tl_put_right:NV,  \tl_put_right:Nv, \tl_put_right:Ne,
%     \tl_put_right:No,
%     \tl_put_right:cn,  \tl_put_right:cV,  \tl_put_right:cv, \tl_put_right:ce,
%     \tl_put_right:co,
%     \tl_gput_right:Nn, \tl_gput_right:NV, \tl_gput_right:Nv, \tl_gput_right:Ne,
%     \tl_gput_right:No,
%     \tl_gput_right:cn, \tl_gput_right:cV, \tl_gput_right:cv, \tl_gput_right:ce,
%     \tl_gput_right:co
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_put_right:Nn} \meta{tl~var} \Arg{tokens}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Appends \meta{tokens} to the right side of the current content of
%   \meta{tl~var}.
% \end{function}
%
% \section{Token list conditionals}
%
% \begin{function}[EXP,pTF, updated = 2019-09-04]
%   {\tl_if_blank:n, \tl_if_blank:e, \tl_if_blank:V, \tl_if_blank:o}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_if_blank_p:n} \Arg{token list}
%     \cs{tl_if_blank:nTF} \Arg{token list} \Arg{true code} \Arg{false code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Tests if the \meta{token list} consists only of blank spaces
%   (\emph{i.e.}~contains no item). The test is \texttt{true} if
%   \meta{token list} is zero or more explicit space characters
%   (explicit tokens with character code~$32$ and category code~$10$),
%   and is \texttt{false} otherwise.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[EXP,pTF]{\tl_if_empty:N, \tl_if_empty:c}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_if_empty_p:N} \meta{tl~var}
%     \cs{tl_if_empty:NTF} \meta{tl~var} \Arg{true code} \Arg{false code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Tests if the \meta{tl~var} is entirely empty
%   (\emph{i.e.}~contains no tokens at all).
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[added = 2012-05-24, updated = 2012-06-05, EXP,pTF]
%   {\tl_if_empty:n, \tl_if_empty:V, \tl_if_empty:o, \tl_if_empty:e}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_if_empty_p:n} \Arg{token list}
%     \cs{tl_if_empty:nTF} \Arg{token list} \Arg{true code} \Arg{false code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Tests if the \meta{token list} is entirely empty
%   (\emph{i.e.}~contains no tokens at all).
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[EXP,pTF]
%   {\tl_if_eq:NN, \tl_if_eq:Nc, \tl_if_eq:cN, \tl_if_eq:cc}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_if_eq_p:NN} \meta{tl~var_1} \meta{tl~var_2}
%     \cs{tl_if_eq:NNTF} \meta{tl~var_1} \meta{tl~var_2} \Arg{true code} \Arg{false code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Compares the content of \meta{tl~var_1} and \meta{tl~var_2} and
%   is logically \texttt{true} if the two contain the same list of
%   tokens (\emph{i.e.}~identical in both the list of characters they
%   contain and the category codes of those characters). Thus for example
%   \begin{verbatim}
%     \tl_set:Nn \l_tmpa_tl { abc }
%     \tl_set:Ne \l_tmpb_tl { \tl_to_str:n { abc } }
%     \tl_if_eq:NNTF \l_tmpa_tl \l_tmpb_tl { true } { false }
%   \end{verbatim}
%   yields \texttt{false}.
%   See also \cs{str_if_eq:nnTF} for a comparison that ignores category codes.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[TF, added = 2020-07-14]{\tl_if_eq:Nn, \tl_if_eq:cn}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_if_eq:NnTF} \meta{tl~var_1} \Arg{token list_2} \Arg{true code} \Arg{false code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Tests if the \meta{tl~var_1} and the \meta{token
%   list_2} contain the same list of tokens, both in respect of
%   character codes and category codes.  This conditional is not
%   expandable: see \cs{tl_if_eq:NNTF} for an expandable version when
%   both token lists are stored in variables, or \cs{str_if_eq:nnTF} if
%   category codes are not important.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[TF]
%   {
%     \tl_if_eq:nn, \tl_if_eq:nV, \tl_if_eq:ne, \tl_if_eq:Vn, \tl_if_eq:en,
%       \tl_if_eq:ee
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_if_eq:nnTF} \Arg{token list_1} \Arg{token list_2} \Arg{true code} \Arg{false code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Tests if \meta{token list_1} and \meta{token list_2} contain the
%   same list of tokens, both in respect of character codes and category
%   codes.  This conditional is not expandable: see \cs{tl_if_eq:NNTF}
%   for an expandable version when token lists are stored in variables,
%   or \cs{str_if_eq:nnTF} if category codes are not important.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[TF]
%   {
%     \tl_if_in:Nn, \tl_if_in:NV, \tl_if_in:No,
%     \tl_if_in:cn, \tl_if_in:cV, \tl_if_in:co
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_if_in:NnTF} \meta{tl~var} \Arg{token list} \Arg{true code} \Arg{false code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Tests if the \meta{token list} is found in the content of the
%   \meta{tl~var}. The \meta{token list} cannot contain
%   the tokens |{|, |}| or |#|
%   (more precisely, explicit character tokens with category code $1$
%   (begin-group) or $2$ (end-group), and tokens with category code $6$).
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[TF]
%   {
%     \tl_if_in:nn, \tl_if_in:Vn, \tl_if_in:VV, \tl_if_in:on, \tl_if_in:oo,
%     \tl_if_in:nV, \tl_if_in:no
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_if_in:nnTF} \Arg{token list_1} \Arg{token list_2} \Arg{true code} \Arg{false code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Tests if \meta{token list_2} is found inside \meta{token list_1}.
%   The \meta{token list_2} cannot contain the tokens |{|, |}| or |#|
%   (more precisely, explicit character tokens with category code $1$
%   (begin-group) or $2$ (end-group), and tokens with category code $6$).
%   The search does \emph{not} enter brace (category code $1$/$2$) groups.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[added = 2017-11-14, EXP,pTF]{\tl_if_novalue:n}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_if_novalue_p:n} \Arg{token list}
%     \cs{tl_if_novalue:nTF} \Arg{token list} \Arg{true code} \Arg{false code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Tests if the \meta{token list} and the special \cs{c_novalue_tl} marker
%   contain the same list of tokens, both in respect of character codes and
%   category codes. This means that
%   \cs{exp_args:No} \cs{tl_if_novalue:nTF} \texttt\{ \cs{c_novalue_tl} \texttt\} is 
%   logically \texttt{true} but \cs{tl_if_novalue:nTF} \texttt\{ \cs{c_novalue_tl} \texttt\}
%   is logically \texttt{false}.
%   This function is intended to allow construction
%   of flexible document interface structures in which missing optional
%   arguments are detected.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2011-08-13, EXP,pTF]
%   {\tl_if_single:N, \tl_if_single:c}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_if_single_p:N} \meta{tl~var}
%     \cs{tl_if_single:NTF} \meta{tl~var} \Arg{true code} \Arg{false code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Tests if the content of the \meta{tl~var} consists of a single \meta{item},
%   \emph{i.e.}~is a single normal token (neither an explicit space
%   character nor a begin-group character) or a single brace group,
%   surrounded by optional spaces on both sides. In other words, such a
%   token list has token count $1$ according to \cs{tl_count:N}.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2011-08-13, EXP,pTF]{\tl_if_single:n}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_if_single_p:n} \Arg{token list}
%     \cs{tl_if_single:nTF} \Arg{token list} \Arg{true code} \Arg{false code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Tests if the \meta{token list} has exactly one \meta{item}, \emph{i.e.}~is
%   a single normal token (neither an explicit space character nor a
%   begin-group character) or a single brace group, surrounded by
%   optional spaces on both sides. In other words, such a token list has
%   token count $1$ according to \cs{tl_count:n}.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[EXP,pTF]{\tl_if_single_token:n}
%   \begin{syntax}
%   \cs{tl_if_single_token_p:n} \Arg{token list}
%   \cs{tl_if_single_token:nTF} \Arg{token list} \Arg{true code} \Arg{false code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Tests if the token list consists of exactly one token, \emph{i.e.}~is
%   either a single space character or a single normal token.
%   Token groups (|{|\ldots|}|) are not single tokens.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[TF, added = 2024-12-08]
%   {
%     \tl_if_regex_match:nn, \tl_if_regex_match:Vn,
%     \tl_if_regex_match:nN, \tl_if_regex_match:VN,
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_if_regex_match:nnTF} \Arg{token list} \Arg{regex} \Arg{true code} \Arg{false code}
%     \cs{tl_if_regex_match:nNTF} \Arg{token list} \meta{regex~var} \Arg{true code} \Arg{false code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Tests whether the \meta{regular expression} matches any part
%   of the \meta{token list}. For instance,
%   \begin{verbatim}
%     \tl_if_regex_match:nnTF { abecdcx } { b [cde]* } { TRUE } { FALSE }
%     \tl_if_regex_match:nnTF { example } { [b-dq-w] } { TRUE } { FALSE }
%   \end{verbatim}
%   leaves \texttt{TRUE} then \texttt{FALSE} in the input stream.
%   Theses are alternative names for \cs{regex_match:nnTF} and friends,
%   with arguments re-ordered for \meta{token list} testing;
%   see \pkg{l3regex} chapter for more details of the \meta{regex}
%   format.
% \end{function}
%
% \subsection{Testing the first token}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2012-07-09, EXP, pTF]
%   {
%     \tl_if_head_eq_catcode:nN, \tl_if_head_eq_catcode:VN,
%     \tl_if_head_eq_catcode:eN, \tl_if_head_eq_catcode:oN
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_if_head_eq_catcode_p:nN} \Arg{token list} \meta{test token}
%     \cs{tl_if_head_eq_catcode:nNTF} \Arg{token list} \meta{test token}
%     ~~\Arg{true code} \Arg{false code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Tests if the first \meta{token} in the \meta{token list} has the
%   same category code as the \meta{test token}.  In the case where the
%   \meta{token list} is empty, the test is always \texttt{false}.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2012-07-09, EXP, pTF]
%   {
%     \tl_if_head_eq_charcode:nN, \tl_if_head_eq_charcode:VN,
%     \tl_if_head_eq_charcode:eN, \tl_if_head_eq_charcode:fN
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_if_head_eq_charcode_p:nN} \Arg{token list} \meta{test token}
%     \cs{tl_if_head_eq_charcode:nNTF} \Arg{token list} \meta{test token}
%     ~~\Arg{true code} \Arg{false code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Tests if the first \meta{token} in the \meta{token list} has the
%   same character code as the \meta{test token}.  In the case where the
%   \meta{token list} is empty, the test is always \texttt{false}.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2012-07-09, EXP, pTF]
%   {
%     \tl_if_head_eq_meaning:nN, \tl_if_head_eq_meaning:VN,
%     \tl_if_head_eq_meaning:eN
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_if_head_eq_meaning_p:nN} \Arg{token list} \meta{test token}
%     \cs{tl_if_head_eq_meaning:nNTF} \Arg{token list} \meta{test token}
%     ~~\Arg{true code} \Arg{false code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Tests if the first \meta{token} in the \meta{token list} has the
%   same meaning as the \meta{test token}.  In the case where
%   \meta{token list} is empty, the test is always \texttt{false}.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[added = 2012-07-08, EXP, pTF]{\tl_if_head_is_group:n}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_if_head_is_group_p:n} \Arg{token list}
%     \cs{tl_if_head_is_group:nTF} \Arg{token list} \Arg{true code} \Arg{false code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Tests if the first \meta{token} in the \meta{token list}
%   is an explicit begin-group character (with category code~$1$
%   and any character code), in other words, if the \meta{token list}
%   starts with a brace group. In particular, the test is \texttt{false}
%   if the \meta{token list} starts with an implicit token such as
%   \cs{c_group_begin_token}, or if it is empty.
%   This function is useful to implement actions on token lists on
%   a token by token basis.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[added = 2012-07-08, EXP, pTF]{\tl_if_head_is_N_type:n}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_if_head_is_N_type_p:n} \Arg{token list}
%     \cs{tl_if_head_is_N_type:nTF} \Arg{token list} \Arg{true code} \Arg{false code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Tests if the first \meta{token} in the \meta{token list}
%   is a normal \texttt{N}-type argument. In other words,
%   it is neither an explicit space character
%   (explicit token with character code~$32$ and category code~$10$)
%   nor an explicit begin-group character
%   (with category code~1 and any character code). An empty
%   argument yields \texttt{false}, as it does not have a normal
%   first token.
%   This function is useful to implement actions on token lists on
%   a token by token basis.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2012-07-08, EXP, pTF]{\tl_if_head_is_space:n}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_if_head_is_space_p:n} \Arg{token list}
%     \cs{tl_if_head_is_space:nTF} \Arg{token list} \Arg{true code} \Arg{false code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Tests if the first \meta{token} in the \meta{token list}
%   is an explicit space character
%   (explicit token with character code~$32$ and category code~$10$).
%   In particular, the test is \texttt{false} if the \meta{token list}
%   starts with an implicit token such as \cs{c_space_token}, or if it
%   is empty.
%   This function is useful to implement actions on token lists on
%   a token by token basis.
% \end{function}
%
% \section{Working with token lists as a whole}
%
% \subsection{Using token lists}
%
% \begin{function}[EXP]
%   {\tl_to_str:n, \tl_to_str:o, \tl_to_str:V, \tl_to_str:v, \tl_to_str:e}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_to_str:n} \Arg{token list}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Converts the \meta{token list} to a \meta{string}, leaving the
%   resulting character tokens in the input stream. A \meta{string}
%   is a series of tokens with category code $12$ (other) with the exception
%   of spaces, which retain category code $10$ (space).
%   The base function requires only a single expansion.
%   Its argument \emph{must} be braced.
%   \begin{texnote}
%     This is the \eTeX{} primitive \tn{detokenize}.
%     Converting a \meta{token list} to a \meta{string} yields a
%     concatenation of the string representations of every token in the
%     \meta{token list}.
%     The string representation of a control sequence is
%     \begin{itemize}
%       \item an escape character, whose character code is given by the
%         internal parameter \tn{escapechar}, absent if the
%         \tn{escapechar} is negative or greater than the largest
%         character code;
%       \item the control sequence name, as defined by \cs{cs_to_str:N};
%       \item a space, unless the control sequence name is a single
%         character whose category at the time of expansion of
%         \cs{tl_to_str:n} is not \enquote{letter}.
%     \end{itemize}
%     The string representation of an explicit character token is that
%     character, doubled in the case of (explicit) macro parameter
%     characters (normally |#|).
%     In particular, the string representation of a token list may
%     depend on the category codes in effect when it is evaluated, and
%     the value of the \tn{escapechar}: for instance |\tl_to_str:n {\a}|
%     normally produces the three character \enquote{backslash},
%     \enquote{lower-case a}, \enquote{space}, but it may also produce a
%     single \enquote{lower-case a} if the escape character is negative
%     and \texttt{a} is currently not a letter.
%   \end{texnote}
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[EXP]{\tl_to_str:N, \tl_to_str:c}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_to_str:N} \meta{tl~var}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Converts the content of the  \meta{tl~var} into a series of characters
%   with category code $12$ (other) with the exception of spaces, which
%   retain category code $10$ (space). This \meta{string} is then left
%   in the input stream. For low-level details, see the notes given for
%   \cs{tl_to_str:n}.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[EXP]{\tl_use:N, \tl_use:c}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_use:N} \meta{tl~var}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Recovers the content of a \meta{tl~var} and places it
%   directly in the input stream. An error is raised if the variable
%   does not exist or if it is invalid. Note that it is possible to use
%   a \meta{tl~var} directly without an accessor function.
% \end{function}
%
% \subsection{Counting and reversing token lists}
%
% \begin{function}[added = 2012-05-13, EXP]
%   {\tl_count:n, \tl_count:V, \tl_count:v, \tl_count:e, \tl_count:o}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_count:n} \Arg{token list}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Counts the number of \meta{items} in the \meta{token list} and leaves this
%   information in the input stream. Unbraced tokens count as one
%   element as do each token group (|{|\ldots|}|). This process
%   ignores any unprotected spaces within the \meta{token list}. See also
%   \cs{tl_count:N}. This function requires three expansions,
%   giving an \meta{integer denotation}.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[added = 2012-05-13, EXP]{\tl_count:N, \tl_count:c}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_count:N} \meta{tl~var}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Counts the number of \meta{items} in the \meta{tl~var}
%   and leaves this information in the input stream. Unbraced tokens
%   count as one element as do each token group (|{|\ldots|}|). This
%   process ignores any unprotected spaces within the \meta{tl~var}.
%   See also \cs{tl_count:n}. This function requires three expansions,
%   giving an \meta{integer denotation}.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[EXP, added = 2019-02-25]{\tl_count_tokens:n}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_count_tokens:n} \Arg{token list}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Counts the number of \TeX{} tokens in the \meta{token list} and leaves
%   this information in the input stream. Every token, including spaces and
%   braces, contributes one to the total; thus for instance, the token count of
%   |a~{bc}| is $6$.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2012-01-08, EXP]
%   {\tl_reverse:n, \tl_reverse:V, \tl_reverse:o, \tl_reverse:f, \tl_reverse:e}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_reverse:n} \Arg{token list}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Reverses the order of the \meta{items} in the \meta{token list},
%   so that \meta{item_1}\meta{item_2}\meta{item_3} \ldots \meta{item_n}
%   becomes \meta{item_n}\ldots \meta{item_3}\meta{item_2}\meta{item_1}.
%   This process preserves unprotected space within the
%   \meta{token list}. Tokens are not reversed within braced token
%   groups, which keep their outer set of braces.
%   In situations where performance is important,
%   consider \cs{tl_reverse_items:n}.
%   See also \cs{tl_reverse:N}.
%   \begin{texnote}
%     The result is returned within \tn{unexpanded}, which means that the token
%     list does not expand further when appearing in an \texttt{e}-type
%     or \texttt{x}-type argument expansion.
%   \end{texnote}
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2012-01-08]
%   {\tl_reverse:N, \tl_reverse:c, \tl_greverse:N, \tl_greverse:c}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_reverse:N} \meta{tl~var}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Sets the \meta{tl~var} to contain the result of reversing
%   the order of its \meta{items}, so
%   that \meta{item_1}\meta{item_2}\meta{item_3} \ldots \meta{item_n}
%   becomes \meta{item_n}\ldots \meta{item_3}\meta{item_2}\meta{item_1}.
%   This process preserves unprotected spaces within the
%   \meta{tl~var}. Braced token groups are copied without
%   reversing the order of tokens, but keep the outer set of braces.
%   This is equivalent to a combination of an assignment and
%   \cs{tl_reverse:V}.  See also \cs{tl_reverse_items:n} for improved
%   performance.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[added = 2012-01-08, EXP]{\tl_reverse_items:n}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_reverse_items:n} \Arg{token list}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Reverses the order of the \meta{items} in the \meta{token list},
%   so that \meta{item_1}\meta{item_2}\meta{item_3} \ldots \meta{item_n}
%   becomes \Arg{item_n} \ldots{} \Arg{item_3}\Arg{item_2}\Arg{item_1}.
%   This process removes any unprotected space within the
%   \meta{token list}. Braced token groups are copied without
%   reversing the order of tokens, and keep the outer set of braces.
%   Items which are initially not braced are copied with braces in
%   the result. In cases where preserving spaces is important,
%   consider the slower function \cs{tl_reverse:n}.
%   \begin{texnote}
%     The result is returned within \tn{unexpanded}, which means that the token
%     list does not expand further when appearing in an \texttt{e}-type
%     or \texttt{x}-type argument expansion.
%   \end{texnote}
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[added = 2011-07-09, updated = 2012-06-25, EXP]
%   {
%     \tl_trim_spaces:n, \tl_trim_spaces:V, \tl_trim_spaces:v,
%       \tl_trim_spaces:e,
%     \tl_trim_spaces:o
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_trim_spaces:n} \Arg{token list}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Removes any leading and trailing explicit space characters
%   (explicit tokens with character code~$32$ and category code~$10$)
%   from the \meta{token list} and leaves the result in the input
%   stream.
%   \begin{texnote}
%     The result is returned within \tn{unexpanded}, which means that the token
%     list does not expand further when appearing in an \texttt{e}-type
%     or \texttt{x}-type argument expansion.
%   \end{texnote}
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[added = 2018-04-12, EXP]
%   {\tl_trim_spaces_apply:nN, \tl_trim_spaces_apply:oN}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_trim_spaces_apply:nN} \Arg{token list} \meta{function}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Removes any leading and trailing explicit space characters (explicit
%   tokens with character code~$32$ and category code~$10$) from the
%   \meta{token list} and passes the result to the \meta{function} as an
%   \texttt{n}-type argument.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[added = 2011-07-09]
%   {
%     \tl_trim_spaces:N,  \tl_trim_spaces:c,
%     \tl_gtrim_spaces:N, \tl_gtrim_spaces:c
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_trim_spaces:N} \meta{tl~var}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Sets the \meta{tl~var} to contain the result of removing any leading
%   and trailing explicit space characters (explicit tokens with
%   character code~$32$ and category code~$10$) from its contents.
% \end{function}
%
% \subsection{Viewing token lists}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2021-04-29]{\tl_show:N, \tl_show:c}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_show:N} \meta{tl~var}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Displays the content of the \meta{tl~var} on the terminal.
%   \begin{texnote}
%     This is similar to the \TeX{} primitive \tn{show}, wrapped to a
%     fixed number of characters per line.
%   \end{texnote}
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2015-08-07]{\tl_show:n, \tl_show:e}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_show:n} \Arg{token list}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Displays the \meta{token list} on the terminal.
%   \begin{texnote}
%     This is similar to the \eTeX{} primitive \tn{showtokens}, wrapped
%     to a fixed number of characters per line.
%   \end{texnote}
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[added = 2014-08-22, updated = 2021-04-29]{\tl_log:N, \tl_log:c}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_log:N} \meta{tl~var}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Writes the content of the \meta{tl~var} in the log file.  See also
%   \cs{tl_show:N} which displays the result in the terminal.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[added = 2014-08-22, updated = 2015-08-07]
%   {\tl_log:n, \tl_log:e, \tl_log:x}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_log:n} \Arg{token list}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Writes the \meta{token list} in the log file.  See also
%   \cs{tl_show:n} which displays the result in the terminal.
% \end{function}
%
% \section{Manipulating items in token lists}
%
% \subsection{Mapping over token lists}
%
% All mappings are done at the current group level, \emph{i.e.}~any
% local assignments made by the \meta{function} or \meta{code} discussed
% below remain in effect after the loop.
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2012-06-29, rEXP]
%   {\tl_map_function:NN, \tl_map_function:cN}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_map_function:NN} \meta{tl~var} \meta{function}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Applies \meta{function} to every \meta{item} in the \meta{tl~var}.
%   The \meta{function} receives one argument for each iteration.
%   This may be a number of tokens if the \meta{item} was stored within
%   braces. Hence the \meta{function} should anticipate receiving
%   \texttt{n}-type arguments. See also \cs{tl_map_function:nN}.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2012-06-29, rEXP]{\tl_map_function:nN}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_map_function:nN} \Arg{token list} \meta{function}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Applies \meta{function} to every \meta{item} in the \meta{token list},
%   The \meta{function} receives one argument for each iteration.
%   This may be a number of tokens if the \meta{item} was stored within
%   braces. Hence the \meta{function} should anticipate receiving
%   \texttt{n}-type arguments. See also \cs{tl_map_function:NN}.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2012-06-29]
%   {\tl_map_inline:Nn, \tl_map_inline:cn}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_map_inline:Nn} \meta{tl~var} \Arg{inline function}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Applies the \meta{inline function} to every \meta{item} stored within the
%   \meta{tl~var}. The \meta{inline function} should consist of code which
%   receives the \meta{item} as |#1|. See also \cs{tl_map_function:NN}.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2012-06-29]{\tl_map_inline:nn}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_map_inline:nn} \Arg{token list} \Arg{inline function}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Applies the \meta{inline function} to every \meta{item} stored within the
%   \meta{token list}. The \meta{inline function}  should consist of code which
%   receives the \meta{item} as |#1|. See also \cs{tl_map_function:nN}.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[rEXP, added = 2019-09-02]
%   {\tl_map_tokens:Nn, \tl_map_tokens:cn, \tl_map_tokens:nn}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_map_tokens:Nn} \meta{tl~var} \Arg{code}
%     \cs{tl_map_tokens:nn} \Arg{token list} \Arg{code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Analogue of \cs{tl_map_function:NN} which maps several tokens
%   instead of a single function.  The \meta{code} receives each \meta{item} in
%   the \meta{tl~var} or in the \meta{token list} as a trailing brace group. For
%   instance,
%   \begin{verbatim}
%     \tl_map_tokens:Nn \l_my_tl { \prg_replicate:nn { 2 } }
%   \end{verbatim}
%   expands to twice each \meta{item} in the \meta{tl~var}: for each \meta{item} in
%   \cs[no-index]{l_my_tl} the function \cs{prg_replicate:nn} receives |2| and
%   \meta{item} as its two arguments.  The function
%   \cs{tl_map_inline:Nn} is typically faster but is not expandable.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2012-06-29]
%   {\tl_map_variable:NNn, \tl_map_variable:cNn}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_map_variable:NNn} \meta{tl~var} \meta{variable} \Arg{code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Stores each \meta{item} of the \meta{tl~var} in turn in the (token
%   list) \meta{variable} and applies the \meta{code}.  The \meta{code}
%   will usually make use of the \meta{variable}, but this is not
%   enforced.  The assignments to the \meta{variable} are local.  Its
%   value after the loop is the last \meta{item} in the \meta{tl~var},
%   or its original value if the \meta{tl~var} is blank.  See also
%   \cs{tl_map_inline:Nn}.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2012-06-29]{\tl_map_variable:nNn}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_map_variable:nNn} \Arg{token list} \meta{variable} \Arg{code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Stores each \meta{item} of the \meta{token list} in turn in the
%   (token list) \meta{variable} and applies the \meta{code}.  The
%   \meta{code} will usually make use of the \meta{variable}, but this
%   is not enforced.  The assignments to the \meta{variable} are local.
%   Its value after the loop is the last \meta{item} in the
%   \meta{tl~var}, or its original value if the \meta{tl~var} is blank.
%   See also \cs{tl_map_inline:nn}.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2012-06-29, rEXP]{\tl_map_break:}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_map_break:}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Used to terminate a \cs[no-index]{tl_map_\ldots} function before all
%   entries in the \meta{token list} have been processed. This
%   normally takes place within a conditional statement, for example
%   \begin{verbatim}
%     \tl_map_inline:Nn \l_my_tl
%       {
%         \str_if_eq:nnT { #1 } { bingo } { \tl_map_break: }
%         % Do something useful
%       }
%   \end{verbatim}
%   See also \cs{tl_map_break:n}.
%   Use outside of a \cs[no-index]{tl_map_\ldots} scenario leads to low
%   level \TeX{} errors.
%   \begin{texnote}
%     When the mapping is broken, additional tokens may be inserted
%     before further items are taken
%     from the input stream. This depends on the design of the mapping
%     function.
%   \end{texnote}
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2012-06-29, rEXP]{\tl_map_break:n}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_map_break:n} \Arg{code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Used to terminate a \cs[no-index]{tl_map_\ldots} function before all
%   entries in the \meta{token list} have been processed, inserting
%   the \meta{code} after the mapping has ended. This
%   normally takes place within a conditional statement, for example
%   \begin{verbatim}
%     \tl_map_inline:Nn \l_my_tl
%       {
%         \str_if_eq:nnT { #1 } { bingo }
%           { \tl_map_break:n { <code> } }
%         % Do something useful
%       }
%   \end{verbatim}
%   Use outside of a \cs[no-index]{tl_map_\ldots} scenario leads to low
%   level \TeX{} errors.
%   \begin{texnote}
%     When the mapping is broken, additional tokens may be inserted
%     before the \meta{code} is
%     inserted into the input stream.
%     This depends on the design of the mapping function.
%   \end{texnote}
% \end{function}
%
% \subsection{Head and tail of token lists}
%
% Functions which deal with either only the very first item (balanced
% text or single normal token) in a token list, or the remaining tokens.
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2012-09-09, EXP]
%   {\tl_head:N, \tl_head:n, \tl_head:V, \tl_head:v, \tl_head:f}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_head:n} \Arg{token list}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Leaves in the input stream the first \meta{item} in the
%   \meta{token list}, discarding the rest of the \meta{token list}.
%   All leading explicit space characters
%   (explicit tokens with character code~$32$ and category code~$10$)
%   are discarded; for example
%   \begin{verbatim}
%     \tl_head:n { abc }
%   \end{verbatim}
%   and
%   \begin{verbatim}
%     \tl_head:n { ~ abc }
%   \end{verbatim}
%   both leave |a| in the input stream. If the \enquote{head} is a
%   brace group, rather than a single token, the braces are removed, and
%   so
%   \begin{verbatim}
%     \tl_head:n { ~ { ~ ab } c }
%   \end{verbatim}
%   yields \verb*| ab|.
%   A blank \meta{token list} (see \cs{tl_if_blank:nTF}) results in
%   \cs{tl_head:n} leaving nothing in the input stream.
%   \begin{texnote}
%     The result is returned within \cs{exp_not:n}, which means that the token
%     list does not expand further when appearing in an \texttt{e}-type
%     or \texttt{x}-type argument expansion.
%   \end{texnote}
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[EXP]{\tl_head:w}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_head:w} \meta{token list} | { } | \cs{q_stop}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Leaves in the input stream the first \meta{item} in the
%   \meta{token list}, discarding the rest of the \meta{token list}.
%   All leading explicit space characters
%   (explicit tokens with character code~$32$ and category code~$10$)
%   are discarded.
%   A blank \meta{token list} (which consists only of space characters)
%   results in a low-level \TeX{} error, which may be avoided by the
%   inclusion of an empty group in the input (as shown), without the need
%   for an explicit test. Alternatively, \cs{tl_if_blank:nF} may be used to
%   avoid using the function with a \enquote{blank} argument.
%   This function requires only a single expansion, and thus is suitable for
%   use within an \texttt{o}-type expansion. In general, \cs{tl_head:n} should
%   be preferred if the number of expansions is not critical.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2012-09-01, EXP]
%   {\tl_tail:N, \tl_tail:n, \tl_tail:V, \tl_tail:v, \tl_tail:f}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_tail:n} \Arg{token list}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Discards all leading explicit space characters
%   (explicit tokens with character code~$32$ and category code~$10$)
%   and the first \meta{item} in the \meta{token list}, and leaves the
%   remaining tokens in the input stream.  Thus for example
%   \begin{verbatim}
%     \tl_tail:n { a ~ {bc} d }
%   \end{verbatim}
%   and
%   \begin{verbatim}
%     \tl_tail:n { ~ a ~ {bc} d }
%   \end{verbatim}
%   both leave \verb*| {bc}d| in the input stream.  A blank
%   \meta{token list} (see \cs{tl_if_blank:nTF}) results
%   in \cs{tl_tail:n} leaving nothing in the input stream.
%   \begin{texnote}
%     The result is returned within \cs{exp_not:n}, which means that the
%     token list does not expand further when appearing in an \texttt{e}-type
%     or \texttt{x}-type argument expansion.
%   \end{texnote}
% \end{function}
%
% If you wish to handle token lists where the first token may be a space, and
% this needs to be treated as the head/tail, this can be accomplished using
% \cs{tl_if_head_is_space:nTF}, for example
% \begin{verbatim}
%   \exp_last_unbraced:NNo
%     \cs_new:Npn \__mypkg_gobble_space:w \c_space_tl { }
%   \cs_new:Npn \mypkg_tl_head_keep_space:n #1
%     {
%       \tl_if_head_is_space:nTF {#1}
%         { ~ }
%         { \tl_head:n {#1} }
%     }
%   \cs_new:Npn \mypkg_tl_tail_keep_space:n #1
%     {
%       \tl_if_head_is_space:nTF {#1}
%         { \exp_not:o { \__mypkg_gobble_space:w #1 } }
%         { \tl_tail:n {#1} }
%     }
% \end{verbatim}
%
% \subsection{Items and ranges in token lists}
%
% \begin{function}[added = 2014-07-17, EXP]
%   {\tl_item:nn, \tl_item:Nn, \tl_item:cn}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_item:nn} \Arg{token list} \Arg{integer expression}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Indexing items in the \meta{token list} from~$1$ on the left, this
%   function evaluates the \meta{integer expression} and leaves the
%   appropriate item from the \meta{token list} in the input stream.
%   If the \meta{integer expression} is negative, indexing occurs from
%   the right of the token list, starting at $-1$ for the right-most item.
%   If the index is out of bounds, then the function expands to nothing.
%   \begin{texnote}
%     The result is returned within the \tn{unexpanded}
%     primitive (\cs{exp_not:n}), which means that the \meta{item}
%     does not expand further when appearing in an \texttt{e}-type
%     or \texttt{x}-type argument expansion.
%   \end{texnote}
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[EXP, added = 2016-12-06]
%   {\tl_rand_item:N, \tl_rand_item:c, \tl_rand_item:n}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_rand_item:N} \meta{tl~var}
%     \cs{tl_rand_item:n} \Arg{token list}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Selects a pseudo-random item of the \meta{token list}.  If the
%   \meta{token list} is blank, the result is empty.
%   \begin{texnote}
%     The result is returned within the \tn{unexpanded}
%     primitive (\cs{exp_not:n}), which means that the \meta{item}
%     does not expand further when appearing in an \texttt{e}-type
%     or \texttt{x}-type argument expansion.
%   \end{texnote}
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[EXP, added = 2017-02-17, updated = 2017-07-15]
%   {\tl_range:Nnn, \tl_range:nnn}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_range:Nnn} \meta{tl~var} \Arg{start index} \Arg{end index}
%     \cs{tl_range:nnn} \Arg{token list} \Arg{start index} \Arg{end index}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Leaves in the input stream the items from the \meta{start index} to the
%   \meta{end index} inclusive.  Spaces and braces are preserved between
%   the items returned (but never at either end of the list).
%   Here \meta{start index} and \meta{end index} should be \meta{integer expressions}.
%   For describing in detail the functions' behavior, let $m$ and $n$ be the start
%   and end index respectively. If either is $0$, the result is empty. A positive
%   index means `start counting from the left end', and a negative index means
%   `from the right end'. Let $l$ be the count of the token list.
%
%   The \emph{actual start point} is determined as $M=m$ if~$m>0$ and as $M=l+m+1$
%   if~$m<0$. Similarly the \emph{actual end point} is $N=n$ if~$n>0$ and $N=l+n+1$
%   if~$n<0$. If $M>N$, the result is empty. Otherwise it consists of all items from
%   position $M$ to position $N$ inclusive; for the purpose of this rule, we can
%   imagine that the token list extends at infinity on either side, with void items
%   at positions $s$ for $s\le0$ or $s>l$.
%
%   Spaces in between items in the actual range are preserved. Spaces at either end
%   of the token list will be removed anyway (think to the token list being passed to
%   |\tl_trim_spaces:n| to begin with.
%
%   Thus, with $l=7$ as in the examples below, all of the following are equivalent
%   and result in the whole token list
%   \begin{verbatim}
%     \tl_range:nnn { abcd~{e{}}fg } { 1 } { 7 }
%     \tl_range:nnn { abcd~{e{}}fg } { 1 } { 12 }
%     \tl_range:nnn { abcd~{e{}}fg } { -7 } { 7 }
%     \tl_range:nnn { abcd~{e{}}fg } { -12 } { 7 }
%   \end{verbatim}
%   Here are some more interesting examples. The calls
%   \begin{verbatim}
%     \iow_term:e { \tl_range:nnn { abcd{e{}}fg } { 2 } { 5 } }
%     \iow_term:e { \tl_range:nnn { abcd{e{}}fg } { 2 } { -3 } }
%     \iow_term:e { \tl_range:nnn { abcd{e{}}fg } { -6 } { 5 } }
%     \iow_term:e { \tl_range:nnn { abcd{e{}}fg } { -6 } { -3 } }
%   \end{verbatim}
%   are all equivalent and will print |bcd{e{}}| on the terminal; similarly
%   \begin{verbatim}
%     \iow_term:e { \tl_range:nnn { abcd~{e{}}fg } { 2 } { 5 } }
%     \iow_term:e { \tl_range:nnn { abcd~{e{}}fg } { 2 } { -3 } }
%     \iow_term:e { \tl_range:nnn { abcd~{e{}}fg } { -6 } { 5 } }
%     \iow_term:e { \tl_range:nnn { abcd~{e{}}fg } { -6 } { -3 } }
%   \end{verbatim}
%   are all equivalent and will print |bcd {e{}}| on the
%   terminal (note the space in the middle). To the contrary,
%   \begin{verbatim}
%     \tl_range:nnn { abcd~{e{}}f } { 2 } { 4 }
%   \end{verbatim}
%   will discard the space after `d'.
%
%   If we want to get the items from, say, the third to the last in a token
%   list |<tl>|, the call
%   is |\tl_range:nnn { <tl> } { 3 } { -1 }|. Similarly, for discarding
%   the last item, we can do |\tl_range:nnn { <tl> } { 1 } { -2 }|.
%
%^^A   The behavior of \cs{tl_range:Nnn} is exactly the same, acting on the
%^^A   contents of the tl variable.
%
%   \begin{texnote}
%     The result is returned within the \tn{unexpanded}
%     primitive (\cs{exp_not:n}), which means that the \meta{item}
%     does not expand further when appearing in an \texttt{e}-type
%     or \texttt{x}-type argument expansion.
%   \end{texnote}
% \end{function}
%
% \subsection{Sorting token lists}
%
% \begin{function}[added = 2017-02-06]
%   {\tl_sort:Nn, \tl_sort:cn, \tl_gsort:Nn, \tl_gsort:cn}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_sort:Nn} \meta{tl var} \Arg{comparison code}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Sorts the items in the \meta{tl var} according to the
%   \meta{comparison code}, and assigns the result to
%   \meta{tl var}. The details of sorting comparison are
%   described in Section~\ref{sec:l3sort:mech}.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[added = 2017-02-06, EXP]{\tl_sort:nN}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_sort:nN} \Arg{token list} \meta{conditional}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Sorts the items in the \meta{token list}, using the
%   \meta{conditional} to compare items, and leaves the result in the
%   input stream.  The \meta{conditional} should have signature |:nnTF|,
%   and return \texttt{true} if the two items being compared should be
%   left in the same order, and \texttt{false} if the items should be
%   swapped. The details of sorting comparison are
%   described in Section~\ref{sec:l3sort:mech}.
%   \begin{texnote}
%     The result is returned within \cs{exp_not:n}, which means that the
%     token list does not expand further when appearing in an
%     \texttt{e}-type or \texttt{x}-type argument expansion.
%   \end{texnote}
% \end{function}
%
% \section{Manipulating tokens in token lists}
%
% \subsection{Replacing tokens}
%
% Within token lists, replacement takes place at the top level: there is
% no recursion into brace groups (more precisely, within a group defined by
% a category code $1$/$2$ pair).
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2011-08-11]
%   {
%     \tl_replace_once:Nnn,  \tl_replace_once:NVn,  \tl_replace_once:NnV,
%     \tl_replace_once:Nen,  \tl_replace_once:Nne,  \tl_replace_once:Nee,
%     \tl_replace_once:cnn,  \tl_replace_once:cVn,  \tl_replace_once:cnV,
%     \tl_replace_once:cen,  \tl_replace_once:cne,  \tl_replace_once:cee,
%     \tl_greplace_once:Nnn, \tl_greplace_once:NVn, \tl_greplace_once:NnV,
%     \tl_greplace_once:Nen, \tl_greplace_once:Nne, \tl_greplace_once:Nee,
%     \tl_greplace_once:cnn, \tl_greplace_once:cVn, \tl_greplace_once:cnV,
%     \tl_greplace_once:cen, \tl_greplace_once:cne, \tl_greplace_once:cee
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_replace_once:Nnn} \meta{tl~var} \Arg{old tokens} \Arg{new tokens}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Replaces the first (leftmost) occurrence of \meta{old tokens} in the
%   \meta{tl~var} with \meta{new tokens}. \meta{Old tokens}
%   cannot contain |{|, |}| or |#|
%   (more precisely, explicit character tokens with category code $1$
%   (begin-group) or $2$ (end-group), and tokens with category code $6$).
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2011-08-11]
%   {
%     \tl_replace_all:Nnn,  \tl_replace_all:NVn,  \tl_replace_all:NnV,
%     \tl_replace_all:Nen,  \tl_replace_all:Nne,  \tl_replace_all:Nee,
%     \tl_replace_all:cnn,  \tl_replace_all:cVn,  \tl_replace_all:cnV,
%     \tl_replace_all:cen,  \tl_replace_all:cne,  \tl_replace_all:cee,
%     \tl_greplace_all:Nnn, \tl_greplace_all:NVn, \tl_greplace_all:NnV,
%     \tl_greplace_all:Nen, \tl_greplace_all:Nne, \tl_greplace_all:Nee,
%     \tl_greplace_all:cnn, \tl_greplace_all:cVn, \tl_greplace_all:cnV,
%     \tl_greplace_all:cen, \tl_greplace_all:cne, \tl_greplace_all:cee
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_replace_all:Nnn} \meta{tl~var} \Arg{old tokens} \Arg{new tokens}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Replaces all occurrences of \meta{old tokens} in the
%   \meta{tl~var} with \meta{new tokens}. \meta{Old tokens}
%   cannot contain |{|, |}| or |#|
%   (more precisely, explicit character tokens with category code $1$
%   (begin-group) or $2$ (end-group), and tokens with category code $6$).
%   As this function
%   operates from left to right, the pattern \meta{old tokens}
%   may remain after the replacement (see \cs{tl_remove_all:Nn}
%   for an example).
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[added = 2024-12-08]
%   {
%     \tl_regex_replace_once:Nnn, \tl_regex_replace_once:cnn,
%     \tl_regex_replace_once:NNn, \tl_regex_replace_once:cNn,
%     \tl_regex_greplace_once:Nnn, \tl_regex_greplace_once:cnn,
%     \tl_regex_greplace_once:NNn, \tl_regex_greplace_once:cNn
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_regex_replace_once:Nnn} \meta{tl~var} \Arg{regex} \Arg{replacement}
%     \cs{tl_regex_replace_once:NNn} \meta{tl~var} \meta{regex~var} \Arg{replacement}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Searches for the \meta{regular expression} in the contents of the
%   \meta{tl~var} and replaces the first match with the
%   \meta{replacement}. In the \meta{replacement},
%   |\0| represents the full match, |\1| represent the contents of the
%   first capturing group, |\2| of the second, \emph{etc.}
%   Theses are alternative names for \cs{regex_replace_once:nnN} and friends,
%   with arguments re-ordered for \meta{tl~var} setting;
%   See \pkg{l3regex} chapter for more details of the \meta{regex}
%   format.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[added = 2024-12-08]
%   {
%     \tl_regex_replace_all:Nnn, \tl_regex_replace_all:cnn,
%     \tl_regex_replace_all:NNn, \tl_regex_replace_all:cNn,
%     \tl_regex_greplace_all:Nnn, \tl_regex_greplace_all:cnn,
%     \tl_regex_greplace_all:NNn, \tl_regex_greplace_all:cNn
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_regex_replace_all:Nnn} \meta{tl~var} \Arg{regex} \Arg{replacement}
%     \cs{tl_regex_replace_all:NNn} \meta{tl~var} \meta{regex~var} \Arg{replacement}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Replaces all occurrences of the \meta{regular expression} in the
%   contents of the \meta{tl~var}
%   by the \meta{replacement}, where |\0| represents
%   the full match, |\1| represent the contents of the first capturing
%   group, |\2| of the second, \emph{etc.} Every match is treated
%   independently, and matches cannot overlap.
%   Theses are alternative names for \cs{regex_replace_all:nnN} and friends,
%   with arguments re-ordered for \meta{tl~var} setting;
%   see \pkg{l3regex} chapter for more details of the \meta{regex}
%   format.
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2011-08-11]
%   {
%     \tl_remove_once:Nn,  \tl_remove_once:NV,  \tl_remove_once:Ne,
%     \tl_remove_once:cn,  \tl_remove_once:cV,  \tl_remove_once:ce,
%     \tl_gremove_once:Nn, \tl_gremove_once:NV, \tl_gremove_once:Ne,
%     \tl_gremove_once:cn, \tl_gremove_once:cV, \tl_gremove_once:ce
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_remove_once:Nn} \meta{tl~var} \Arg{tokens}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Removes the first (leftmost) occurrence of \meta{tokens} from the
%   \meta{tl~var}. The \meta{tokens} cannot contain |{|, |}| or |#|
%   (more precisely, explicit character tokens with category code $1$
%   (begin-group) or $2$ (end-group), and tokens with category code $6$).
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2011-08-11]
%   {
%     \tl_remove_all:Nn,  \tl_remove_all:NV,  \tl_remove_all:Ne,
%     \tl_remove_all:cn,  \tl_remove_all:cV,  \tl_remove_all:ce,
%     \tl_gremove_all:Nn, \tl_gremove_all:NV, \tl_gremove_all:Ne,
%     \tl_gremove_all:cn, \tl_gremove_all:cV, \tl_gremove_all:ce,
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_remove_all:Nn} \meta{tl~var} \Arg{tokens}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Removes all occurrences of \meta{tokens} from the
%   \meta{tl~var}. The \meta{tokens} cannot contain |{|, |}| or |#|
%   (more precisely, explicit character tokens with category code $1$
%   (begin-group) or $2$ (end-group), and tokens with category code $6$).
%   As this function
%   operates from left to right, the pattern \meta{tokens}
%   may remain after the removal, for instance,
%   \begin{quote}
%     \cs{tl_set:Nn} \cs{l_tmpa_tl} |{abbccd}|
%     \cs{tl_remove_all:Nn} \cs{l_tmpa_tl} |{bc}|
%   \end{quote}
%   results in \cs{l_tmpa_tl} containing \texttt{abcd}.
% \end{function}
%
% \subsection{Reassigning category codes}
%
% These functions allow the rescanning of tokens: re-apply \TeX{}'s
% tokenization process to apply category codes different from those
% in force when the tokens were absorbed. Whilst this functionality is
% supported, it is often preferable to find alternative approaches
% to achieving outcomes rather than rescanning tokens (for example
% construction of token lists token-by-token with intervening category
% code changes or using \cs{char_generate:nn}).
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2015-08-11]
%   {
%     \tl_set_rescan:Nnn,  \tl_set_rescan:NnV, \tl_set_rescan:Nne,
%     \tl_set_rescan:Nno,
%     \tl_set_rescan:cnn,  \tl_set_rescan:cnV, \tl_set_rescan:cne,
%     \tl_set_rescan:cno,
%     \tl_gset_rescan:Nnn, \tl_gset_rescan:NnV, \tl_gset_rescan:Nne,
%     \tl_gset_rescan:Nno,
%     \tl_gset_rescan:cnn, \tl_gset_rescan:cnV, \tl_gset_rescan:cne,
%     \tl_gset_rescan:cno,
%   }
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_set_rescan:Nnn} \meta{tl~var} \Arg{setup} \Arg{tokens}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Sets \meta{tl~var} to contain \meta{tokens}, applying the category
%   code r\'{e}gime specified in the \meta{setup} before carrying out
%   the assignment. (Category codes applied to tokens not explicitly covered
%   by the \meta{setup} are those in force at the point of use of
%   \cs{tl_set_rescan:Nnn}.)
%   This allows the \meta{tl~var} to contain material
%   with category codes other than those that apply when \meta{tokens}
%   are absorbed.  The \meta{setup} is run within a group and may
%   contain any valid input, although only changes in category codes,
%   such as uses of \cs{cctab_select:N},
%   are relevant. See also \cs{tl_rescan:nn}.
%   \begin{texnote}
%     The \meta{tokens} are first turned into a string (using
%     \cs{tl_to_str:n}).  If the string contains one or more characters
%     with character code \tn{newlinechar} (set equal to
%     \tn{endlinechar} unless that is equal to $32$, before the user
%     \meta{setup}), then it is split into lines at these characters,
%     then read as if reading multiple lines from a file, ignoring
%     spaces (catcode $10$) at the beginning and spaces and tabs
%     (character code $32$ or $9$) at the end of every line.
%     Otherwise, spaces (and tabs) are retained at both ends of the
%     single-line string, as if it appeared in the middle of a line
%     read from a file.
%   \end{texnote}
% \end{function}
%
% \begin{function}[updated = 2015-08-11]{\tl_rescan:nn, \tl_rescan:nV}
%   \begin{syntax}
%     \cs{tl_rescan:nn} \Arg{setup} \Arg{tokens}
%   \end{syntax}
%   Rescans \meta{tokens} applying the category code r\'{e}gime
%   specified in the \meta{setup}, and leaves the resulting tokens in
%   the input stream. (Category codes applied to tokens not explicitly covered
%   by the \meta{setup} are those in force at the point of use of
%   \cs{tl_rescan:nn}.)
%   The \meta{setup} is run within a group and may
%   contain any valid input, although only changes in category codes,
%   such as uses of \cs{cctab_select:N},
%   are relevant.  See also \cs{tl_set_rescan:Nnn}, which is more
%   robust than using \cs{tl_set:Nn} in the \meta{tokens} argument of
%   \cs{tl_rescan:nn}.
%   \begin{texnote}
%     The \meta{tokens} are first turned into a string (using
%     \cs{tl_to_str:n}).  If the string contains one or more characters
%     with character code \tn{newlinechar} (set equal to
%     \tn{endlinechar} unless that is equal to $32$, before the user
%     \meta{setup}), then it is split into lines at these characters,
%     then read as if reading multiple lines from a file, ignoring
%     spaces (catcode $10$) at the beginning and spaces and tabs
%     (character code $32$ or $9$) at the end of every line.
%     Otherwise, spaces (and tabs) are retained at both ends of the
%     single-line string, as if it appeared in the middle of a line
%     read from a file.
%
%     Contrarily to the \tn{scantokens} \eTeX{} primitive, \cs{tl_rescan:nn}
%     tokenizes the whole string in the same category code regime rather
%     than one token at a time, so that directives such as \tn{verb}
%     that rely on changing category codes will not function properly.
%   \end{texnote}
% \end{function}
%
% \section{Constant token lists}
%
% \begin{variable}{\c_empty_tl}
%   Constant that is always empty.
% \end{variable}
%
% \begin{variable}[added = 2017-11-14]{\c_novalue_tl}
%   A marker for the absence of an argument. This constant |tl| can safely
%   be typeset (\emph{cf.}~\cs{q_nil}), with the result being |-NoValue-|.
%   It is important to note that \cs{c_novalue_tl} is constructed such that it
%   will \emph{not} match the simple text input |-NoValue-|, \emph{i.e.}
%   that
%   \begin{verbatim}
%     \tl_if_eq:NnTF \c_novalue_tl { -NoValue- }
%   \end{verbatim}
%   is logically \texttt{false}. The \cs{c_novalue_tl} marker is intended for
%   use in creating document-level interfaces, where it serves as an indicator
%   that an (optional) argument was omitted. In particular, it is distinct
%   from a simple empty |tl|.
% \end{variable}
%
% \begin{variable}{\c_space_tl}
%   An explicit space character contained in a token list (compare this with
%   \cs{c_space_token}). For use where an explicit space is required.
% \end{variable}
%
% \section{Scratch token lists}
%
% \begin{variable}{\l_tmpa_tl, \l_tmpb_tl}
%   Scratch token lists for local assignment. These are never used by
%   the kernel code, and so are safe for use with any \LaTeX3-defined
%   function. However, they may be overwritten by other non-kernel
%   code and so should only be used for short-term storage.
% \end{variable}
%
% \begin{variable}{\g_tmpa_tl, \g_tmpb_tl}
%   Scratch token lists for global assignment. These are never used by
%   the kernel code, and so are safe for use with any \LaTeX3-defined
%   function. However, they may be overwritten by other non-kernel
%   code and so should only be used for short-term storage.
% \end{variable}
%
% \end{documentation}
%
% \begin{implementation}
%
% \section{\pkg{l3tl} implementation}
%
%    \begin{macrocode}
%<*package>
%    \end{macrocode}
%
%    \begin{macrocode}
%<@@=tl>
%    \end{macrocode}
%
% A token list variable is a \TeX{} macro that holds tokens. By using the
% \eTeX{} primitive \tn{unexpanded} inside a \TeX{} \tn{edef} it is
% possible to store any tokens, including |#|, in this way.
%
% \subsection{Functions}
%
% \begin{macro}{\__kernel_tl_set:Nx,\__kernel_tl_gset:Nx}
%   These two are supplied to get better performance for macros which would
%   otherwise use \cs{tl_set:Ne} or \cs{tl_gset:Ne} internally.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_eq:NN \__kernel_tl_set:Nx  \cs_set_nopar:Npe
\cs_new_eq:NN \__kernel_tl_gset:Nx \cs_gset_nopar:Npe
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}{\tl_new:N, \tl_new:c}
%   Creating new token list variables is a case of checking for an
%   existing definition and doing the definition.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_new:N #1
  {
    \__kernel_chk_if_free_cs:N #1
    \cs_gset_eq:NN #1 \c_empty_tl
  }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_new:N { c }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_const:Nn, \tl_const:NV, \tl_const:Ne, \tl_const:Nx,
%     \tl_const:cn, \tl_const:cV, \tl_const:ce, \tl_const:cx
%   }
%   Constants are also easy to generate. They use \cs{cs_gset_nopar:Npe} instead
%   of \cs{__kernel_tl_gset:Nx} so that the correct scope checking for |c|,
%   instead of for |g|, is applied when
%   \cs{debug_on:n} |{ check-declarations }| is used.
%   Constant assignment functions are patched specially in \pkg{l3debug} to
%   apply such checks.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_const:Nn #1#2
  {
    \__kernel_chk_if_free_cs:N #1
    \cs_gset_nopar:Npe #1 { \__kernel_exp_not:w {#2} }
  }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_const:Nn { NV , Ne , c , cV , ce }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_const:Nn { Nx , cx }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}{\tl_clear:N, \tl_clear:c}
% \begin{macro}{\tl_gclear:N, \tl_gclear:c}
%   Clearing a token list variable means setting it to an empty value.
%   Error checking is sorted out by the parent function.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_clear:N  #1
  { \tex_let:D #1 = ~ \c_empty_tl }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_gclear:N #1
  { \tex_global:D \tex_let:D #1 ~ \c_empty_tl }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_clear:N  { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gclear:N { c }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}{\tl_clear_new:N, \tl_clear_new:c}
% \begin{macro}{\tl_gclear_new:N, \tl_gclear_new:c}
%   Clearing a token list variable means setting it to an empty value.
%   Error checking is sorted out by the parent function.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_clear_new:N  #1
  { \tl_if_exist:NTF #1 { \tl_clear:N #1 } { \tl_new:N #1 } }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_gclear_new:N #1
  { \tl_if_exist:NTF #1 { \tl_gclear:N #1 } { \tl_new:N #1 } }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_clear_new:N  { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gclear_new:N { c }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}{\tl_set_eq:NN, \tl_set_eq:Nc, \tl_set_eq:cN, \tl_set_eq:cc}
% \begin{macro}{\tl_gset_eq:NN, \tl_gset_eq:Nc, \tl_gset_eq:cN, \tl_gset_eq:cc}
%   For setting token list variables equal to each other.  To allow for
%   patching, the arguments have to be explicit.  In addition this
%   ensures that a braced second argument will not cause problems.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_set_eq:NN  #1#2
  { \tex_let:D #1 = ~ #2 }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_gset_eq:NN #1#2
  { \tex_global:D \tex_let:D #1 = ~ #2 }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_set_eq:NN { cN, Nc, cc }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gset_eq:NN { cN, Nc, cc }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}{\tl_concat:NNN, \tl_concat:ccc}
% \begin{macro}{\tl_gconcat:NNN, \tl_gconcat:ccc}
%   Concatenating token lists is easy.  When checking is turned on, all
%   three arguments must be checked: a token list |#2| or |#3| equal to
%   \cs{scan_stop:} would lead to problems later on.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_concat:NNN #1#2#3
  {
    \__kernel_tl_set:Nx #1
      {
        \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#2}
        \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#3}
      }
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_gconcat:NNN #1#2#3
  {
    \__kernel_tl_gset:Nx #1
      {
        \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#2}
        \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#3}
      }
  }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_concat:NNN  { ccc }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gconcat:NNN { ccc }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}[pTF]{\tl_if_exist:N, \tl_if_exist:c}
%   Copies of the \texttt{cs} functions defined in \pkg{l3basics}.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\prg_new_eq_conditional:NNn \tl_if_exist:N \cs_if_exist:N { TF , T , F , p }
\prg_new_eq_conditional:NNn \tl_if_exist:c \cs_if_exist:c { TF , T , F , p }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \subsection{Constant token lists}
%
% \begin{variable}{\c_empty_tl}
%   Never full. We need to define that constant before using \cs{tl_new:N}.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\tl_const:Nn \c_empty_tl { }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{variable}
%
% \begin{variable}{\c_novalue_tl}
%   A special marker: as we don't have |\char_generate:nn| yet, has to be
%   created the old-fashioned way.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\group_begin:
\tex_catcode:D `- = 11 ~
\tl_const:Ne \c_novalue_tl { - NoValue \token_to_str:N - }
\group_end:
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{variable}
%
% \begin{variable}{\c_space_tl}
%   A space as a token list (as opposed to as a character).
%    \begin{macrocode}
\tl_const:Nn \c_space_tl { ~ }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{variable}
%
% \subsection{Adding to token list variables}
%
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_set:Nn, \tl_set:NV, \tl_set:Nv, \tl_set:No, \tl_set:Ne, \tl_set:Nf, \tl_set:Nx,
%     \tl_set:cn, \tl_set:cV, \tl_set:cv, \tl_set:co, \tl_set:ce, \tl_set:cf, \tl_set:cx
%   }
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_gset:Nn, \tl_gset:NV, \tl_gset:Nv,
%     \tl_gset:No, \tl_gset:Ne, \tl_gset:Nf, \tl_gset:Nx,
%     \tl_gset:cn, \tl_gset:cV, \tl_gset:cv,
%     \tl_gset:co, \tl_gset:ce, \tl_gset:cf, \tl_gset:cx
%   }
%   By using \cs{exp_not:n} token list variables can contain |#| tokens,
%   which makes the token list registers provided by \TeX{}
%   more or less redundant. The \cs{tl_set:No} version is done
%   by hand as it is used quite a lot.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_set:Nn #1#2
  { \__kernel_tl_set:Nx #1 { \__kernel_exp_not:w {#2} } }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_set:No #1#2
  { \__kernel_tl_set:Nx #1 { \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#2} } }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_gset:Nn #1#2
  { \__kernel_tl_gset:Nx #1 { \__kernel_exp_not:w {#2} } }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_gset:No #1#2
  { \__kernel_tl_gset:Nx #1 { \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#2} } }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_set:Nn  {    NV , Nv , Ne , Nf }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_set:Nn  { c, cV , cv , ce , cf }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_set:No  { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_set:Nn  { Nx , cx }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gset:Nn {    NV , Nv , Ne , Nf }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gset:Nn { c, cV , cv , ce , cf }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gset:No { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gset:Nn { Nx , cx }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_put_left:Nn, \tl_put_left:NV, \tl_put_left:Nv, \tl_put_left:Ne,
%     \tl_put_left:No, \tl_put_left:Nx,
%     \tl_put_left:cn, \tl_put_left:cV, \tl_put_left:cv, \tl_put_left:ce,
%     \tl_put_left:co, \tl_put_left:cx
%   }
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_gput_left:Nn, \tl_gput_left:NV, \tl_gput_left:Nv, \tl_gput_left:Ne,
%     \tl_gput_left:No, \tl_gput_left:Nx,
%     \tl_gput_left:cn, \tl_gput_left:cV, \tl_gput_left:cv, \tl_gput_left:ce,
%     \tl_gput_left:co, \tl_gput_left:cx
%   }
% Adding to the left is done directly to gain a little performance.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_put_left:Nn #1#2
  {
    \__kernel_tl_set:Nx #1
      { \__kernel_exp_not:w {#2} \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#1} }
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_put_left:NV #1#2
  {
    \__kernel_tl_set:Nx #1
      { \exp_not:V #2 \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#1} }
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_put_left:Nv #1#2
  {
    \__kernel_tl_set:Nx #1
      { \exp_not:v {#2} \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#1} }
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_put_left:Ne #1#2
  {
    \__kernel_tl_set:Nx #1
      {
        \__kernel_exp_not:w \tex_expanded:D { {#2} }
        \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#1}
      }
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_put_left:No #1#2
  {
    \__kernel_tl_set:Nx #1
      {
        \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#2}
        \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#1}
      }
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_gput_left:Nn #1#2
  {
    \__kernel_tl_gset:Nx #1
      { \__kernel_exp_not:w {#2} \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#1} }
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_gput_left:NV #1#2
  {
    \__kernel_tl_gset:Nx #1
      { \exp_not:V #2 \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#1} }
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_gput_left:Nv #1#2
  {
    \__kernel_tl_gset:Nx #1
      { \exp_not:v {#2} \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#1} }
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_gput_left:Ne #1#2
  {
    \__kernel_tl_gset:Nx #1
      {
        \__kernel_exp_not:w \tex_expanded:D { {#2} }
        \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#1}
      }
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_gput_left:No #1#2
  {
    \__kernel_tl_gset:Nx #1
      {
        \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#2}
        \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#1}
      }
  }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_put_left:Nn  { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_put_left:NV  { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_put_left:Nv  { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_put_left:Ne  { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_put_left:No  { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_put_left:Nn  { Nx, cx }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gput_left:Nn { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gput_left:NV { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gput_left:Nv { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gput_left:Ne { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gput_left:No { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gput_left:Nn { Nx , cx }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_put_right:Nn, \tl_put_right:NV, \tl_put_right:Nv, \tl_put_right:Ne,
%     \tl_put_right:No, \tl_put_right:Nx,
%     \tl_put_right:cn, \tl_put_right:cV, \tl_put_right:cv, \tl_put_right:ce,
%     \tl_put_right:co, \tl_put_right:cx
%   }
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_gput_right:Nn, \tl_gput_right:NV, \tl_gput_right:Nv,  \tl_gput_right:Ne,
%     \tl_gput_right:No, \tl_gput_right:Nx,
%     \tl_gput_right:cn, \tl_gput_right:cV, \tl_gput_right:cv,  \tl_gput_right:ce,
%     \tl_gput_right:co, \tl_gput_right:cx
%   }
% The same on the right.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_put_right:Nn #1#2
  { \__kernel_tl_set:Nx #1 { \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN { #1 #2 } } }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_put_right:NV #1#2
  {
    \__kernel_tl_set:Nx #1
      { \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#1} \exp_not:V #2 }
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_put_right:Nv #1#2
  {
    \__kernel_tl_set:Nx #1
      { \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#1} \exp_not:v {#2} }
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_put_right:Ne #1#2
  {
    \__kernel_tl_set:Nx #1
      {
        \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#1}
        \__kernel_exp_not:w \tex_expanded:D { {#2} }
      }
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_put_right:No #1#2
  {
    \__kernel_tl_set:Nx #1
      {
        \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#1}
        \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#2}
      }
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_gput_right:Nn #1#2
  { \__kernel_tl_gset:Nx #1 { \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN { #1 #2 } } }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_gput_right:NV #1#2
  {
    \__kernel_tl_gset:Nx #1
      { \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#1} \exp_not:V #2 }
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_gput_right:Nv #1#2
  {
    \__kernel_tl_gset:Nx #1
      { \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#1} \exp_not:v {#2} }
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_gput_right:Ne #1#2
  {
    \__kernel_tl_gset:Nx #1
      {
        \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#1}
        \__kernel_exp_not:w \tex_expanded:D { {#2} }
      }
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_gput_right:No #1#2
  {
    \__kernel_tl_gset:Nx #1
      {
        \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#1}
        \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#2}
      }
  }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_put_right:Nn  { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_put_right:NV  { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_put_right:Nv  { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_put_right:Ne  { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_put_right:No  { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_put_right:Nn  { Nx , cx }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gput_right:Nn { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gput_right:NV { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gput_right:Nv { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gput_right:Ne { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gput_right:No { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gput_right:Nn { Nx, cx }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \subsection{Internal quarks and quark-query functions}
%
% \begin{variable}{\q_@@_nil,\q_@@_mark,\q_@@_stop}
%   Internal quarks.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\quark_new:N \q_@@_nil
\quark_new:N \q_@@_mark
\quark_new:N \q_@@_stop
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{variable}
%
% \begin{variable}{\q_@@_recursion_tail,\q_@@_recursion_stop}
%   Internal recursion quarks.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\quark_new:N \q_@@_recursion_tail
\quark_new:N \q_@@_recursion_stop
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{variable}
%
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_if_recursion_tail_break:nN}
% \begin{macro}[pTF]{\@@_if_recursion_tail_stop:n}
%   Functions to query recursion quarks.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\__kernel_quark_new_test:N \@@_if_recursion_tail_break:nN
\__kernel_quark_new_conditional:Nn \@@_quark_if_nil:n { TF }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \subsection{Reassigning token list category codes}
%
% \begin{variable}{\c_@@_rescan_marker_tl}
%   The rescanning code needs a special token list containing the same
%   character (chosen here to be a colon) with two different category
%   codes: it cannot appear in the tokens being rescanned since all
%   colons have the same category code.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\tl_const:Ne \c_@@_rescan_marker_tl { : \token_to_str:N : }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{variable}
%
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_set_rescan:Nnn, \tl_set_rescan:NnV, \tl_set_rescan:Nne,
%     \tl_set_rescan:Nno, \tl_set_rescan:Nnx,
%     \tl_set_rescan:cnn, \tl_set_rescan:cnV, \tl_set_rescan:cne,
%     \tl_set_rescan:cno, \tl_set_rescan:cnx,
%   }
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_gset_rescan:Nnn, \tl_gset_rescan:NnV, \tl_gset_rescan:Nne,
%     \tl_gset_rescan:Nno, \tl_gset_rescan:Nnx,
%     \tl_gset_rescan:cnn, \tl_gset_rescan:cnV, \tl_gset_rescan:cne,
%     \tl_gset_rescan:cno, \tl_gset_rescan:cnx
%   }
% \begin{macro}{\tl_rescan:nn, \tl_rescan:nV}
% \begin{macro}{\@@_rescan_aux:}
% \begin{macro}{\@@_set_rescan:NNnn, \@@_set_rescan_multi:nNN}
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_rescan:NNw}
%   In a group, after some initial setup explained below and the user
%   setup~|#3| (followed by \cs{scan_stop:} to be safe), there is a call
%   to \cs{@@_set_rescan:nNN}.  This shared auxiliary defined later
%   distinguishes single-line and multi-line ``files''.  In the simplest
%   case of multi-line files, it calls (with the same arguments)
%   \cs{@@_set_rescan_multi:nNN}, whose code is included here to help
%   understand the approach.  This function rescans its argument |#1|,
%   closes the group, and performs the assignment.
%
%   One difficulty when rescanning is that \tn{scantokens} treats the
%   argument as a file, and without the correct settings a \TeX{} error
%   occurs:
%   \begin{verbatim}
%    ! File ended while scanning definition of ...
%   \end{verbatim}
%   A related minor issue is a warning due to opening a group before the
%   \tn{scantokens} and closing it inside that temporary file; we avoid
%   that by setting \tn{tracingnesting}.  The standard solution to the
%   ``File ended'' error is to grab the rescanned tokens as a delimited
%   argument of an auxiliary, here \cs{@@_rescan:NNw}, that performs the
%   assignment, then let \TeX{} ``execute'' the end of file marker.  As
%   usual in delimited arguments we use \cs{prg_do_nothing:} to avoid
%   stripping an outer set braces: this is removed by using
%   \texttt{o}-expanding assignments.  The delimiter cannot appear
%   within the rescanned token list because it contains twice the same
%   character, with different catcodes.
%
%   For \cs{tl_rescan:nn} we cannot simply call \cs{@@_set_rescan:NNnn}
%   \cs{prg_do_nothing:} \cs{use:n} because that would leave the
%   end-of-file marker \emph{after} the result of rescanning.  If that
%   rescanned result is code that looks further in the input stream for
%   arguments, it would break.
%
%   For multi-line files the only subtlety is that \tn{newlinechar}
%   should be equal to \tn{endlinechar} because \tn{newlinechar}
%   characters become new lines and then become \tn{endlinechar}
%   characters when writing to an abstract file and reading back.  This
%   equality is ensured by setting \tn{newlinechar} equal to
%   \tn{endlinechar}.  Prior to this, \tn{endlinechar} is set to $-1$ if
%   it was $32$ (in particular true after \cs{ExplSyntaxOn}) to avoid
%   unreasonable line-breaks at every space for instance in error
%   messages triggered by the user setup.  Another side effect of
%   reading back from the file is that spaces (catcode $10$) are ignored
%   at the beginning of lines, and spaces and tabs (character code $32$
%   and $9$) are ignored at the end of lines.
%
%   The two \cs{if_false:} \ldots{} \cs{fi:} are there to prevent
%   alignment tabs to cause a change of tabular cell while rescanning.
%   We put the \enquote{opening} one after \cs{group_begin:} so that if
%   one accidentally \texttt{f}-expands \cs{tl_set_rescan:Nnn} braces
%   remain balanced.  This is essential in \texttt{e}-type arguments
%   when \tn{expanded} is not available.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_rescan:nn #1#2
  {
    \tl_set_rescan:Nnn \l_@@_internal_a_tl {#1} {#2}
    \exp_after:wN \@@_rescan_aux:
    \l_@@_internal_a_tl
  }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_rescan:nn { nV }
\exp_args:NNo \cs_new_protected:Npn \@@_rescan_aux:
  { \tl_clear:N \l_@@_internal_a_tl }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_set_rescan:Nnn
  { \@@_set_rescan:NNnn \tl_set:No }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_gset_rescan:Nnn
  { \@@_set_rescan:NNnn \tl_gset:No }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \@@_set_rescan:NNnn #1#2#3#4
  {
    \group_begin:
      \if_false: { \fi:
      \int_set_eq:NN \tex_tracingnesting:D \c_zero_int
      \int_compare:nNnT \tex_endlinechar:D = { 32 }
        { \int_set:Nn \tex_endlinechar:D { -1 } }
      \int_set_eq:NN \tex_newlinechar:D \tex_endlinechar:D
      #3 \scan_stop:
      \exp_args:No \@@_set_rescan:nNN { \tl_to_str:n {#4} } #1 #2
    \if_false: } \fi:
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \@@_set_rescan_multi:nNN #1#2#3
  {
    \tex_everyeof:D \exp_after:wN { \c_@@_rescan_marker_tl }
    \exp_after:wN \@@_rescan:NNw
    \exp_after:wN #2
    \exp_after:wN #3
    \exp_after:wN \prg_do_nothing:
    \tex_scantokens:D {#1}
  }
\exp_args:Nno \use:nn
  { \cs_new:Npn \@@_rescan:NNw #1#2#3 } \c_@@_rescan_marker_tl
  {
    \group_end:
    #1 #2 {#3}
  }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_set_rescan:Nnn  { NnV , Nne , c , cnV , cne }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_set_rescan:Nnn  { Nno , Nnx , cno , cnx }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gset_rescan:Nnn { NnV , Nne , c , cnV , cne }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gset_rescan:Nnn { Nno , Nnx , cno , cnx }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}{\@@_set_rescan:nNN}
% \begin{macro}{\@@_set_rescan_single:nnNN, \@@_set_rescan_single_aux:nnnNN}
% \begin{macro}[rEXP]{\@@_set_rescan_single_aux:w}
%   The function \cs{@@_set_rescan:nNN} calls \cs{@@_set_rescan_multi:nNN} or
%   \cs{@@_set_rescan_single:nnNN} |{ ' }| depending on whether its argument
%   is a single-line fragment of code/data or is made of multiple lines
%   by testing for the presence of a \tn{newlinechar} character.  If
%   \tn{newlinechar} is out of range, the argument is assumed to be a
%   single line.
%
%   For a single line, no \tn{endlinechar} should be added, so it is
%   set to $-1$, and spaces should not be removed.
%   Trailing spaces and tabs are a difficult matter, as \TeX{} removes
%   these at a very low level.  The only way to preserve them is to
%   rescan not the argument but the argument followed by a character
%   with a reasonable category code.  Here, $11$ (letter) and $12$ (other)
%   are accepted, as these are convenient, suitable for
%   delimiting an argument, and it is very unlikely that none of the
%   ASCII characters are in one of these categories.  To avoid
%   selecting one particular character to put at the end, whose
%   category code may have been modified, there is a loop through
%   characters from |'| (ASCII $39$) to |~| (ASCII $127$).  The choice
%   of starting point was made because this is the start of a very long
%   range of characters whose standard category is letter or other,
%   thus minimizing the number of steps needed by the loop (most often
%   just a single one).  If no valid character is found (very rare),
%   fall-back on \cs{@@_set_rescan_multi:nNN}.
%
%   Otherwise, once a valid character is found (let us use |'| in this
%   explanation) run some code very similar to \cs{@@_set_rescan_multi:nNN}
%   but with |'| added at both ends of the input.  Of course, we need to
%   define the auxiliary \cs{@@_set_rescan_single:NNww} on the fly to remove
%   the additional~|'| that is just before |::| (by which we mean
%   \cs{c_@@_rescan_marker_tl}).  Note that the argument must be
%   delimited by |'| with the current catcode; this is done thanks to
%   \cs{char_generate:nn}.  Yet another issue is that the rescanned
%   token list may contain a comment character, in which case the |'| we
%   expected is not there.  We fix this as follows: rather than just
%   |::| we set \tn{everyeof} to |::|\Arg{code1} |'::|\Arg{code2}
%   \cs{s_@@_stop}.  The auxiliary \cs{@@_set_rescan_single:NNww} runs the
%   \texttt{o}-expanding assignment, expanding either \meta{code1} or
%   \meta{code2} before its the main argument~|#3|.  In the typical case
%   without comment character, \meta{code1} is expanded, removing the
%   leading~|'|.  In the rarer case with comment character, \meta{code2}
%   is expanded, calling \cs{@@_set_rescan_single_aux:w}, which removes the
%   trailing |::|\Arg{code1} and the leading~|'|.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \@@_set_rescan:nNN #1
  {
    \int_compare:nNnTF \tex_newlinechar:D < 0
      { \use_ii:nn }
      {
        \exp_args:Nnf \tl_if_in:nnTF {#1}
          { \char_generate:nn { \tex_newlinechar:D } { 12 } }
      }
        { \@@_set_rescan_multi:nNN }
        {
          \int_set:Nn \tex_endlinechar:D { -1 }
          \@@_set_rescan_single:nnNN { `' }
        }
    {#1}
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \@@_set_rescan_single:nnNN #1
  {
    \int_compare:nNnTF
      { \char_value_catcode:n {#1} / 2 } = 6
      {
        \exp_args:Nof \@@_set_rescan_single_aux:nnnNN
          \c_@@_rescan_marker_tl
          { \char_generate:nn {#1} { \char_value_catcode:n {#1} } }
      }
      {
        \int_compare:nNnTF {#1} < { `\~ }
          {
            \exp_args:Nf \@@_set_rescan_single:nnNN
              { \int_eval:n { #1 + 1 } }
          }
          { \@@_set_rescan_multi:nNN }
      }
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \@@_set_rescan_single_aux:nnnNN #1#2#3#4#5
  {
    \tex_everyeof:D
      {
        #1 \use_none:n
        #2 #1 { \exp:w \@@_set_rescan_single_aux:w }
        \s_@@_stop
      }
    \cs_set:Npn \@@_rescan:NNw ##1##2##3 #2 #1 ##4 ##5 \s_@@_stop
      {
        \group_end:
        ##1 ##2 { ##4 ##3 }
      }
    \exp_after:wN \@@_rescan:NNw
    \exp_after:wN #4
    \exp_after:wN #5
    \tex_scantokens:D { #2 #3 #2 }
  }
\exp_args:Nno \use:nn
  { \cs_new:Npn \@@_set_rescan_single_aux:w #1 }
  \c_@@_rescan_marker_tl #2
  { \use_i:nn \exp_end: #1 }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \subsection{Modifying token list variables}
%
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_replace_once:Nnn,  \tl_replace_once:NVn,   \tl_replace_once:NnV,
%     \tl_replace_once:Nen,  \tl_replace_once:Nne,   \tl_replace_once:Nee,
%     \tl_replace_once:Nxn,  \tl_replace_once:Nnx,   \tl_replace_once:Nxx,
%     \tl_replace_once:cnn,  \tl_replace_once:cVn,   \tl_replace_once:cnV,
%     \tl_replace_once:cen,  \tl_replace_once:cne,   \tl_replace_once:cee,
%     \tl_replace_once:cxn,  \tl_replace_once:cnx,   \tl_replace_once:cxx
%   }
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_greplace_once:Nnn, \tl_greplace_once:NVn, \tl_greplace_once:NnV,
%     \tl_greplace_once:Nen, \tl_greplace_once:Nne, \tl_greplace_once:Nee,
%     \tl_greplace_once:Nxn, \tl_greplace_once:Nnx, \tl_greplace_once:Nxx,
%     \tl_greplace_once:cnn, \tl_greplace_once:cVn, \tl_greplace_once:cnV,
%     \tl_greplace_once:cen, \tl_greplace_once:cne, \tl_greplace_once:cee,
%     \tl_greplace_once:cxn, \tl_greplace_once:cnx, \tl_greplace_once:cxx
%   }
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_replace_all:Nnn,  \tl_replace_all:NVn,   \tl_replace_all:NnV,
%     \tl_replace_all:Nen,  \tl_replace_all:Nne,   \tl_replace_all:Nee,
%     \tl_replace_all:Nxn,  \tl_replace_all:Nnx,   \tl_replace_all:Nxx,
%     \tl_replace_all:cnn,  \tl_replace_all:cVn,   \tl_replace_all:cnV,
%     \tl_replace_all:cen,  \tl_replace_all:cne,   \tl_replace_all:cee,
%     \tl_replace_all:cxn,  \tl_replace_all:cnx,   \tl_replace_all:cxx
%   }
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_greplace_all:Nnn, \tl_greplace_all:NVn, \tl_greplace_all:NnV,
%     \tl_greplace_all:Nen, \tl_greplace_all:Nne, \tl_greplace_all:Nee,
%     \tl_greplace_all:Nxn, \tl_greplace_all:Nnx, \tl_greplace_all:Nxx,
%     \tl_greplace_all:cnn, \tl_greplace_all:cVn, \tl_greplace_all:cnV,
%     \tl_greplace_all:cen, \tl_greplace_all:cne, \tl_greplace_all:cee,
%     \tl_greplace_all:cxn, \tl_greplace_all:cnx, \tl_greplace_all:cxx
%   }
%   All of the \texttt{replace} functions call \cs{@@_replace:NnNNNnn}
%   with appropriate arguments.  The first two arguments are explained
%   later.  The next controls whether the replacement function calls
%   itself (\cs{@@_replace_next:w}) or stops (\cs{@@_replace_wrap:w})
%   after the first replacement.  Next comes an \texttt{e}-type
%   assignment function \cs{tl_set:Ne} or \cs{tl_gset:Ne} for local or
%   global replacements.  Finally, the three arguments \meta{tl~var}
%   \Arg{pattern} \Arg{replacement} provided by the user.  When
%   describing the auxiliary functions below, we denote the contents of
%   the \meta{tl~var} by \meta{token list}.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_replace_once:Nnn
  { \@@_replace:NnNNNnn \q_@@_mark ? \@@_replace_wrap:w \__kernel_tl_set:Nx  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_greplace_once:Nnn
  { \@@_replace:NnNNNnn \q_@@_mark ? \@@_replace_wrap:w \__kernel_tl_gset:Nx }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_replace_all:Nnn
  { \@@_replace:NnNNNnn \q_@@_mark ? \@@_replace_next:w \__kernel_tl_set:Nx  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_greplace_all:Nnn
  { \@@_replace:NnNNNnn \q_@@_mark ? \@@_replace_next:w \__kernel_tl_gset:Nx }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_replace_once:Nnn
  { NnV , Nne , NV , Ne , Nee , c , cnV , cne , cV , ce , cee }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_replace_once:Nnn
  { Nx , Nnx , Nxx , cxn , cnx , cxx }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_greplace_once:Nnn
  { NnV , Nne , NV , Ne , Nee , c , cnV , cne , cV , ce , cee }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_greplace_once:Nnn
  { Nx , Nnx , Nxx , cxn , cnx , cxx }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_replace_all:Nnn
  { NnV , Nne , NV , Ne , Nee , c , cnV , cne , cV , ce , cee }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_replace_all:Nnn
  { Nx , Nnx , Nxx , cxn , cnx , cxx }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_greplace_all:Nnn
  { NnV , Nne , NV , Ne , Nee , c , cnV , cne , cV , ce , cee }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_greplace_all:Nnn
  { Nx , Nnx , Nxx , cxn , cnx , cxx }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \@@_replace:NnNNNnn,
%     \@@_replace_auxi:NnnNNNnn,
%     \@@_replace_auxii:nNNNnn,
%     \@@_replace_next:w,
%     \@@_replace_next_aux:w,
%     \@@_replace_wrap:w,
%   }
%   To implement the actual replacement auxiliary
%   \cs{@@_replace_auxii:nNNNnn} we need a \meta{delimiter} with
%   the following properties:
%   \begin{itemize}
%     \item all occurrences of the \meta{pattern}~|#6| in
%       \enquote{\meta{token list} \meta{delimiter}} belong to the
%       \meta{token list} and have no overlap with the \meta{delimiter},
%     \item the first occurrence of the \meta{delimiter} in
%       \enquote{\meta{token list} \meta{delimiter}} is the trailing
%       \meta{delimiter}.
%   \end{itemize}
%   We first find the building blocks for the \meta{delimiter}, namely
%   two tokens \meta{A} and~\meta{B} such that \meta{A} does not appear
%   in~|#6| and |#6| is not~\meta{B} (this condition is trivial if |#6|
%   has more than one token).  Then we consider the delimiters
%   \enquote{\meta{A}} and \enquote{\meta{A} \meta{A}$^n$ \meta{B}
%     \meta{A}$^n$ \meta{B}}, for $n\geq 1$, where $\meta{A}^n$ denotes
%   $n$~copies of \meta{A}, and we choose as our \meta{delimiter} the
%   first one which is not in the \meta{token list}.
%
%   Every delimiter in the set obeys the first condition: |#6|~does not
%   contain~\meta{A} hence cannot be overlapping with the \meta{token
%     list} and the \meta{delimiter}, and it cannot be within the
%   \meta{delimiter} since it would have to be in one of the two
%   \meta{B} hence be equal to this single token (or empty, but this is
%   an error case filtered separately).  Given the particular form of
%   these delimiters, for which no prefix is also a suffix, the second
%   condition is actually a consequence of the weaker condition that the
%   \meta{delimiter} we choose does not appear in the \meta{token list}.
%   Additionally, the set of delimiters is such that a \meta{token list}
%   of $n$~tokens can contain at most $O(n^{1/2})$ of them, hence we
%   find a \meta{delimiter} with at most $O(n^{1/2})$ tokens in a time
%   at most $O(n^{3/2})$.  Bear in mind that these upper bounds are
%   reached only in very contrived scenarios: we include the case
%   \enquote{\meta{A}} in the list of delimiters to try, so that the
%   \meta{delimiter} is simply \cs{q_@@_mark} in the most common
%   situation where neither the \meta{token list} nor the \meta{pattern}
%   contains \cs{q_@@_mark}.
%
%   Let us now ahead, optimizing for this most common case.  First, two
%   special cases: an empty \meta{pattern}~|#6| is an error, and if
%   |#1|~is absent from both the \meta{token list}~|#5| and the
%   \meta{pattern}~|#6| then we can use it as the \meta{delimiter}
%   through \cs{@@_replace_auxii:nNNNnn} |{#1}|.  Otherwise, we end up
%   calling \cs{@@_replace:NnNNNnn} repeatedly with the first two
%   arguments \cs{q_@@_mark} |{?}|, |\?| |{??}|, |\??| |{???}|, and so on,
%   until |#6|~does not contain the control sequence~|#1|, which we take
%   as our~\meta{A}.  The argument~|#2| only serves to collect~|?|
%   characters for~|#1|.  Note that the order of the tests means that
%   the first two are done every time, which is wasteful (for instance,
%   we repeatedly test for the emptyness of~|#6|).  However, this is
%   rare enough not to matter.  Finally, choose~\meta{B} to be
%   \cs{q_@@_nil} or~\cs{q_@@_stop} such that it is not equal to~|#6|.
%
%   The \cs{@@_replace_auxi:NnnNNNnn} auxiliary receives \Arg{A} and
%   |{|\meta{A}$^n$\meta{B}|}| as its arguments, initially with $n=1$.
%   If \enquote{\meta{A} \meta{A}$^n$\meta{B} \meta{A}$^n$\meta{B}} is
%   in the \meta{token list} then increase~$n$ and try again.  Once it
%   is not anymore in the \meta{token list} we take it as our
%   \meta{delimiter} and pass this to the \texttt{auxii} auxiliary.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \@@_replace:NnNNNnn #1#2#3#4#5#6#7
  {
    \tl_if_empty:nTF {#6}
      {
        \msg_error:nne { kernel } { empty-search-pattern }
          { \tl_to_str:n {#7} }
      }
      {
        \tl_if_in:onTF { #5 #6 } {#1}
          {
            \tl_if_in:nnTF {#6} {#1}
              { \exp_args:Nc \@@_replace:NnNNNnn {#2} {#2?} }
              {
                \@@_quark_if_nil:nTF {#6}
                  { \@@_replace_auxi:NnnNNNnn #5 {#1} { #1 \q_@@_stop } }
                  { \@@_replace_auxi:NnnNNNnn #5 {#1} { #1 \q_@@_nil  } }
              }
          }
          { \@@_replace_auxii:nNNNnn {#1} }
          #3#4#5 {#6} {#7}
      }
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \@@_replace_auxi:NnnNNNnn #1#2#3
  {
    \tl_if_in:NnTF #1 { #2 #3 #3 }
      { \@@_replace_auxi:NnnNNNnn #1 { #2 #3 } {#2} }
      { \@@_replace_auxii:nNNNnn { #2 #3 #3 } }
  }
%    \end{macrocode}
%   The auxiliary \cs{@@_replace_auxii:nNNNnn} receives the following
%   arguments:
%   \begin{quote}
%     \Arg{delimiter} \meta{function} \meta{assignment} \\
%       \meta{tl~var} \Arg{pattern} \Arg{replacement}
%   \end{quote}
%   All of its work is done between
%   \cs{group_align_safe_begin:} and \cs{group_align_safe_end:} to avoid
%   issues in alignments.  It does the actual replacement within
%   |#3|~|#4|~|{...}|, an \texttt{e}-expanding \meta{assignment}~|#3| to
%   the \meta{tl~var}~|#4|.  The auxiliary \cs{@@_replace_next:w} is
%   called, followed by the \meta{token list}, some tokens including the
%   \meta{delimiter}~|#1|, followed by the \meta{pattern}~|#5|.
%   This auxiliary finds an argument delimited by~|#5| (the presence of
%   a trailing~|#5| avoids runaway arguments) and calls
%   \cs{@@_replace_wrap:w} to test whether this |#5| is found within the
%   \meta{token list} or is the trailing one.
%
%   If on the one hand it is found within the \meta{token list}, then
%   |##1| cannot contain the \meta{delimiter}~|#1| that we worked so
%   hard to obtain, thus \cs{@@_replace_wrap:w} gets~|##1| as its own
%   argument~|##1|, and protects it against
%   the \texttt{e}-expanding assignment.  It also finds \cs{exp_not:n}
%   as~|##2| and does nothing to it, thus letting through \cs{exp_not:n}
%   \Arg{replacement} into the assignment.  Note that
%   \cs{@@_replace_next:w} and \cs{@@_replace_wrap:w} are always called
%   followed by two empty brace groups.  These are safe because no
%   delimiter can match them.  They prevent losing braces when grabbing
%   delimited arguments, but require the use of \cs{exp_not:o} and
%   \cs{use_none:nn}, rather than simply \cs{exp_not:n}.
%   Afterwards, \cs{@@_replace_next:w} is called
%   to repeat the replacement, or \cs{@@_replace_wrap:w} if we only want
%   a single replacement.  In this second case, |##1| is the
%   \meta{remaining tokens} in the \meta{token list} and |##2| is some
%   \meta{ending code} which ends the assignment and removes the
%   trailing tokens |#5| using some \cs{if_false:} |{| \cs{fi:} |}|
%   trickery because~|#5| may contain any delimiter.
%
%   If on the other hand the argument~|##1| of \cs{@@_replace_next:w} is
%   delimited by the trailing \meta{pattern}~|#5|, then |##1| is
%   \enquote{\{ \} \{ \} \meta{token list} \meta{delimiter}
%     \Arg{ending code}}, hence \cs{@@_replace_wrap:w} finds
%   \enquote{\{ \} \{ \} \meta{token list}} as |##1| and the
%   \meta{ending code} as~|##2|.  It leaves the \meta{token list} into
%   the assignment and unbraces the \meta{ending code} which removes
%   what remains (essentially the \meta{delimiter} and
%   \meta{replacement}).
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \@@_replace_auxii:nNNNnn #1#2#3#4#5#6
  {
    \group_align_safe_begin:
    \cs_set:Npn \@@_replace_wrap:w ##1 #1 ##2
      { \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN { \use_none:nn ##1 } ##2 }
    \cs_set:Npe \@@_replace_next:w ##1 #5
      {
        \exp_not:N \@@_replace_wrap:w ##1
        \exp_not:n { #1 }
        \exp_not:n { \exp_not:n {#6} }
        \exp_not:n { #2 { } { } }
      }
    #3 #4
      {
        \exp_after:wN \@@_replace_next_aux:w
        #4
        #1
        {
          \if_false: { \fi: }
          \exp_after:wN \use_none:n \exp_after:wN { \if_false: } \fi:
        }
        #5
      }
    \group_align_safe_end:
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_replace_next_aux:w { \@@_replace_next:w { } { } }
\cs_new_eq:NN \@@_replace_wrap:w ?
\cs_new_eq:NN \@@_replace_next:w ?
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_regex_replace_once:Nnn, \tl_regex_replace_once:cnn,
%     \tl_regex_replace_once:NNn, \tl_regex_replace_once:cNn,
%     \tl_regex_greplace_once:Nnn, \tl_regex_greplace_once:cnn,
%     \tl_regex_greplace_once:NNn, \tl_regex_greplace_once:cNn
%   }
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_regex_replace_all:Nnn, \tl_regex_replace_all:cnn,
%     \tl_regex_replace_all:NNn, \tl_regex_replace_all:cNn,
%     \tl_regex_greplace_all:Nnn, \tl_regex_greplace_all:cnn,
%     \tl_regex_greplace_all:NNn, \tl_regex_greplace_all:cNn
%   }
%  Wrappers.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_regex_replace_once:Nnn #1#2#3
  { \regex_replace_once:nnN {#2} {#3} #1 }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_regex_replace_once:Nnn { c }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_regex_replace_once:NNn #1#2#3
  { \regex_replace_once:NnN #2 {#3} #1 }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_regex_replace_once:NNn { c }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_regex_replace_all:Nnn #1#2#3
  { \regex_replace_all:nnN {#2} {#3} #1 }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_regex_replace_all:Nnn { c }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_regex_replace_all:NNn #1#2#3
  { \regex_replace_all:NnN #2 {#3} #1 }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_regex_replace_all:NNn { c }
\group_begin:
  \cs_set_protected:Npn \@@_tmp:w #1#2#3
    {
      \cs_new_protected:cpe { tl_regex_greplace_ #1 :N #2 n } ##1##2##3
        {
          \group_begin:
            \tl_set_eq:NN \exp_not:N \l_@@_internal_a_tl ##1
            \exp_not:c { regex_replace_ #1 :Nn #2 }
              #3 {##2} {##3} \exp_not:N \l_@@_internal_a_tl
            \tl_gset_eq:NN ##1 \exp_not:N \l_@@_internal_a_tl
          \group_end:
        }
      \cs_generate_variant:cn { tl_regex_greplace_ #1 :N #2 n } { c }
    }
  \@@_tmp:w { once } n { }
  \@@_tmp:w { once } N \use:n
  \@@_tmp:w { all } n { }
  \@@_tmp:w { all } N \use:n
\group_end:
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_remove_once:Nn, \tl_remove_once:NV, \tl_remove_once:Ne,
%     \tl_remove_once:cn, \tl_remove_once:cV, \tl_remove_once:ce
%   }
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_gremove_once:Nn, \tl_gremove_once:NV,
%     \tl_gremove_once:cn, \tl_gremove_once:cV,
%   }
%   Removal is just a special case of replacement.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_remove_once:Nn #1#2
  { \tl_replace_once:Nnn #1 {#2} { } }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_gremove_once:Nn #1#2
  { \tl_greplace_once:Nnn #1 {#2} { } }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_remove_once:Nn  { NV , Ne , c , cV , ce }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gremove_once:Nn { NV , Ne , c , cV , ce }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_remove_all:Nn, \tl_remove_all:NV, \tl_remove_all:Ne,
%     \tl_remove_all:Nx,
%     \tl_remove_all:cn, \tl_remove_all:cV, \tl_remove_all:ce,
%     \tl_remove_all:cx,
%   }
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_gremove_all:Nn, \tl_gremove_all:NV, \tl_gremove_all:Ne,
%     \tl_gremove_all:Nx,
%     \tl_gremove_all:cn, \tl_gremove_all:cV, \tl_gremove_all:ce,
%     \tl_gremove_all:cx,
%   }
%   Removal is just a special case of replacement.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_remove_all:Nn #1#2
  { \tl_replace_all:Nnn #1 {#2} { } }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_gremove_all:Nn #1#2
  { \tl_greplace_all:Nnn #1 {#2} { } }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_remove_all:Nn  { NV , Ne , c , cV , ce }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_remove_all:Nn  { Nx , cx }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gremove_all:Nn { NV , Ne , c , cV , ce }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gremove_all:Nn { Nx , cx }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \subsection{Token list conditionals}
%
% \begin{macro}[pTF]{\tl_if_empty:N, \tl_if_empty:c}
%    These functions check whether the token list in the argument is
%    empty and execute the proper code from their argument(s).
%    \begin{macrocode}
\prg_new_conditional:Npnn \tl_if_empty:N #1 { p , T , F , TF }
  {
    \if_meaning:w #1 \c_empty_tl
      \prg_return_true:
    \else:
      \prg_return_false:
    \fi:
  }
\prg_generate_conditional_variant:Nnn \tl_if_empty:N
  { c } { p , T , F , TF }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}[pTF]{\tl_if_empty:n, \tl_if_empty:V, \tl_if_empty:e}
%   The \cs{if:w} triggers the expansion of \cs{tl_to_str:n} which converts the
%   argument to a string: this is empty if and only if the argument is.  Then
%   |\if:w \scan_stop: ... \scan_stop:| is \texttt{true} if and only if the
%   string |...| is empty.
%   It could be tempting to use |\if:w \scan_stop: #1 \scan_stop:| directly.
%   But this fails on a token list expanding to anything starting with
%   \cs{scan_stop:} leaving everything that follows in the input stream.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\prg_new_conditional:Npnn \tl_if_empty:n #1 { p , TF , T , F }
  {
    \if:w \scan_stop: \tl_to_str:n {#1} \scan_stop:
      \prg_return_true:
    \else:
      \prg_return_false:
    \fi:
  }
\prg_generate_conditional_variant:Nnn \tl_if_empty:n
  { V , e } { p , TF , T , F }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}[pTF,documented-as=\tl_if_empty:nTF]{\tl_if_empty:o}
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_if_empty_if:o}
%   The auxiliary function \cs{@@_if_empty_if:o} is for use
%   in various token list conditionals which reduce to testing
%   if a given token list is empty after applying a simple function
%   to it.
%   The test for emptiness is based on \cs{tl_if_empty:nTF}, but
%   the expansion is hard-coded for efficiency, as this auxiliary
%   function is used in several places.
%   We don't put \cs{prg_return_true:} and so on in the definition of
%   the auxiliary, because that would prevent an optimization applied to
%   conditionals that end with this code.
%   Also the |\@@_if_empty_if:o| is expanded once in |\tl_if_empty:oTF| for
%   efficiency as well (and to reduce code doubling).
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new:Npn \@@_if_empty_if:o #1
  {
    \if:w \scan_stop: \__kernel_tl_to_str:w \exp_after:wN {#1} \scan_stop:
  }
\exp_args:Nno \use:n
  { \prg_new_conditional:Npnn \tl_if_empty:o #1 { p , TF , T , F } }
  {
    \@@_if_empty_if:o {#1}
      \prg_return_true:
    \else:
      \prg_return_false:
    \fi:
  }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}[pTF]{\tl_if_blank:n, \tl_if_blank:V, \tl_if_blank:o}
% \begin{macro}{\@@_if_blank_p:NNw}
%   \TeX{} skips spaces when reading a non-delimited arguments. Thus,
%   a \meta{token list} is blank if and only if \cs{use_none:n}
%   \meta{token list} |?| is empty after one expansion.  The auxiliary
%   \cs{@@_if_empty_if:o} is a fast emptyness test, converting its
%   argument to a string (after one expansion) and using the test
%   \cs{if:w} \cs{scan_stop:} |...| \cs{scan_stop:}.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\exp_args:Nno \use:n
  { \prg_new_conditional:Npnn \tl_if_blank:n #1 { p , T , F , TF } }
  {
    \@@_if_empty_if:o { \use_none:n #1 ? }
      \prg_return_true:
    \else:
      \prg_return_false:
    \fi:
  }
\prg_generate_conditional_variant:Nnn \tl_if_blank:n
  { e , V , o } { p , T , F , TF }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}[pTF]{\tl_if_eq:NN, \tl_if_eq:Nc, \tl_if_eq:cN, \tl_if_eq:cc}
%   Returns \cs{c_true_bool} if and only if the two token list variables are
%   equal.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\prg_new_eq_conditional:NNn \tl_if_eq:NN \cs_if_eq:NN { p , T , F , TF }
\prg_generate_conditional_variant:Nnn \tl_if_eq:NN
  { Nc , c , cc } { p , TF , T , F }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{variable}{\l_@@_internal_a_tl, \l_@@_internal_b_tl}
%   Temporary storage.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\tl_new:N \l_@@_internal_a_tl
\tl_new:N \l_@@_internal_b_tl
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{variable}
%
% \begin{macro}[TF]{\tl_if_eq:Nn}
%   A simple store and compare routine.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\prg_new_protected_conditional:Npnn \tl_if_eq:Nn #1#2 { T , F , TF }
  {
    \group_begin:
      \tl_set:Nn \l_@@_internal_b_tl {#2}
      \exp_after:wN
    \group_end:
    \if_meaning:w #1 \l_@@_internal_b_tl
      \prg_return_true:
    \else:
      \prg_return_false:
    \fi:
  }
\prg_generate_conditional_variant:Nnn \tl_if_eq:Nn { c } { TF , T , F }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}[TF]
%   {
%     \tl_if_eq:nn, \tl_if_eq:nV, \tl_if_eq:ne, \tl_if_eq:Vn, \tl_if_eq:en,
%       \tl_if_eq:ee,
%     \tl_if_eq:xn, \tl_if_eq:nx, \tl_if_eq:xx, 
%   }
%   A simple store and compare routine.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\prg_new_protected_conditional:Npnn \tl_if_eq:nn #1#2 { T , F ,  TF }
  {
    \group_begin:
      \tl_set:Nn \l_@@_internal_a_tl {#1}
      \tl_set:Nn \l_@@_internal_b_tl {#2}
      \exp_after:wN
    \group_end:
    \if_meaning:w \l_@@_internal_a_tl \l_@@_internal_b_tl
      \prg_return_true:
    \else:
      \prg_return_false:
    \fi:
  }
\prg_generate_conditional_variant:Nnn \tl_if_eq:nn
  { nV , ne , nx , V, e , ee , x , xx }
  { TF , T , F }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}[TF]
%   {
%     \tl_if_in:Nn, \tl_if_in:NV, \tl_if_in:No,
%     \tl_if_in:cn, \tl_if_in:cV, \tl_if_in:co
%   }
%   See \cs{tl_if_in:nnTF} for further comments. Here we simply
%   expand the token list variable and pass it to \cs{tl_if_in:nnTF}.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_if_in:NnT  { \exp_args:No \tl_if_in:nnT  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_if_in:NnF  { \exp_args:No \tl_if_in:nnF  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_if_in:NnTF { \exp_args:No \tl_if_in:nnTF }
\prg_generate_conditional_variant:Nnn \tl_if_in:Nn
  { NV , No , c , cV , co } { T , F , TF }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}[TF]
%   {
%     \tl_if_in:nn, \tl_if_in:Vn, \tl_if_in:VV, \tl_if_in:on, \tl_if_in:oo,
%     \tl_if_in:nV, \tl_if_in:no
%   }
%   Once more, the test relies on the emptiness test for robustness.
%   The function \cs{@@_tmp:w} removes tokens until the first occurrence
%   of |#2|. If this does not appear in |#1|, then the final |#2| is removed,
%   leaving an empty token list. Otherwise some tokens remain, and the
%   test is \texttt{false}. See \cs{tl_if_empty:nTF} for details on
%   the emptiness test.
%
%   Treating correctly cases like
%   |\tl_if_in:nnTF {a state}{states}|, where |#1#2| contains |#2| before
%   the end, requires special care.
%   To cater for this case, we insert |{}{}| between the two token
%   lists. This marker may not appear in |#2| because of \TeX{} limitations
%   on what can delimit a parameter, hence we are safe. Using two brace
%   groups makes the test work also for empty arguments.
%   The \cs{if_false:} constructions are a faster way to do
%   \cs{group_align_safe_begin:} and \cs{group_align_safe_end:}.
%   The \cs{scan_stop:} ensures that \texttt{f}-expanding
%   \cs{tl_if_in:nnTF} does not lead to unbalanced braces.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\prg_new_protected_conditional:Npnn \tl_if_in:nn #1#2 { T  , F , TF }
  {
    \scan_stop:
    \if_false: { \fi:
    \cs_set:Npn \@@_tmp:w ##1 #2 { }
    \tl_if_empty:oTF { \@@_tmp:w #1 {} {} #2 }
      { \prg_return_false: } { \prg_return_true: }
    \if_false: } \fi:
  }
\prg_generate_conditional_variant:Nnn \tl_if_in:nn
  { V , VV , o , oo , nV , no } { T , F , TF }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}[pTF, EXP]{\tl_if_novalue:n}
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_if_novalue:w}
%   Tests whether |##1| matches |-NoValue-| exactly (with suitable
%   catcodes): this is similar to \cs{quark_if_nil:nTF}.  The first
%   argument of \cs{@@_if_novalue:w} is empty if and only if |##1|
%   starts with |-NoValue-|, while the second argument is empty if |##1|
%   is exactly |-NoValue-| or if it has a question mark just following
%   |-NoValue-|.  In this second case, however, the material after the
%   first |?!| remains and makes the emptyness test return
%   \texttt{false}.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_set_protected:Npn \@@_tmp:w #1
  {
    \prg_new_conditional:Npnn \tl_if_novalue:n ##1
      { p , T ,  F , TF }
      {
        \@@_if_empty_if:o { \@@_if_novalue:w {} ##1 {} ? ! #1 ? ? ! }
          \prg_return_true:
        \else:
          \prg_return_false:
        \fi:
      }
    \cs_new:Npn \@@_if_novalue:w ##1 #1 ##2 ? ##3 ? ! { ##1 ##2 }
  }
\exp_args:No \@@_tmp:w { \c_novalue_tl }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}[EXP,pTF]{\tl_if_single:N, \tl_if_single:c}
%   Expand the token list and feed it to \cs{tl_if_single:nTF}.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new:Npn \tl_if_single_p:N { \exp_args:No \tl_if_single_p:n }
\cs_new:Npn \tl_if_single:NT  { \exp_args:No \tl_if_single:nT  }
\cs_new:Npn \tl_if_single:NF  { \exp_args:No \tl_if_single:nF  }
\cs_new:Npn \tl_if_single:NTF { \exp_args:No \tl_if_single:nTF }
\prg_generate_conditional_variant:Nnn \tl_if_single:N {c} { p , T , F , TF }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}[EXP,pTF]{\tl_if_single:n}
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_if_single:nnw}
%   This test is similar to \cs{tl_if_empty:nTF}.  Expanding
%   \cs{use_none:nn} |#1| |??| once yields an empty result if |#1| is
%   blank, a single~|?| if |#1| has a single item, and otherwise yields
%   some tokens ending with |??|.  Then, \cs{__kernel_tl_to_str:w} makes sure
%   there are no odd category codes.  An earlier version would compare
%   the result to a single~|?| using string comparison, but the Lua call
%   is slow in \LuaTeX{}.  Instead, \cs{@@_if_single:nnw} picks the
%   second token in front of it.  If |#1| is empty, this token is
%   the trailing~|?| and the |\if:w| test yields \texttt{false}.  If
%   |#1| has a single item, the token is~|\scan_stop:| and the |\if:w| test
%   yields \texttt{true}.  Otherwise, it is one of the characters
%   resulting from \cs{tl_to_str:n}, and the |\if:w| test yields
%   \texttt{false}.  Note that \cs{if:w} and
%   \cs{__kernel_tl_to_str:w} are primitives that take care of
%   expansion.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\prg_new_conditional:Npnn \tl_if_single:n #1 { p , T , F , TF }
  {
    \if:w \scan_stop: \exp_after:wN \@@_if_single:nnw
        \__kernel_tl_to_str:w
          \exp_after:wN { \use_none:nn #1 ?? } \scan_stop: ? \s_@@_stop
      \prg_return_true:
    \else:
      \prg_return_false:
    \fi:
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_if_single:nnw #1#2#3 \s_@@_stop {#2}
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}[EXP,pTF]{\tl_if_single_token:n}
%   There are four cases: empty token list, token list starting with a
%   normal token, with a brace group, or with a space token.  If the
%   token list starts with a normal token, remove it and check for
%   emptiness.  For the next case, an empty token list is not a single
%   token.  Finally, we have a non-empty token list starting with a
%   space or a brace group.  Applying \texttt{f}-expansion yields an
%   empty result if and only if the token list is a single space.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\prg_new_conditional:Npnn \tl_if_single_token:n #1 { p , T , F , TF }
  {
    \tl_if_head_is_N_type:nTF {#1}
      { \@@_if_empty_if:o { \use_none:n #1 } }
      {
        \tl_if_empty:nTF {#1}
          { \if_false: }
          { \@@_if_empty_if:o { \exp:w \exp_end_continue_f:w #1 } }
      }
      \prg_return_true:
    \else:
      \prg_return_false:
    \fi:
  }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_if_regex_match:nn, \tl_if_regex_match:Vn,
%     \tl_if_regex_match:nN, \tl_if_regex_match:VN,
%   }
%    \begin{macrocode}
\prg_new_protected_conditional:Npnn \tl_if_regex_match:nn #1#2 { TF , T , F }
  {
    \regex_match:nnTF {#2} {#1}
      \prg_return_true: \prg_return_false:
  }
\prg_generate_conditional_variant:Nnn \tl_if_regex_match:nn
  { V } { TF , T , F }
\prg_new_protected_conditional:Npnn \tl_if_regex_match:nN #1#2 { TF , T , F }
  {
    \regex_match:nNTF {#2} #1
      \prg_return_true: \prg_return_false:
  }
\prg_generate_conditional_variant:Nnn \tl_if_regex_match:nN
  { V } { TF , T , F }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \subsection{Mapping over token lists}
%
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_map_function:nN, \tl_map_function:NN, \tl_map_function:cN,
%     \@@_map_function:Nnnnnnnnn, \@@_map_function_end:w,
%     \@@_use_none_delimit_by_s_stop:w
%   }
%   Expandable loop macro for token lists.  We use the internal scan
%   mark \cs{s_@@_stop} (defined later), which is not allowed to show up
%   in the token list |#1| since it is internal to \pkg{l3tl}.  This
%   allows us a very fast test of whether some \meta{item} is the
%   end-marker \cs{s_@@_stop}, namely call
%   \cs{@@_use_none_delimit_by_s_stop:w} \meta{item} \meta{function}
%   \cs{s_@@_stop}, which calls \meta{function} if the \meta{item} is
%   the end-marker.  To speed up the loop even more, only test one out
%   of eight items, and once we hit one of the eight end-markers,
%   go more slowly through the last few items of the list using
%   \cs{@@_map_function_end:w}.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new:Npn \tl_map_function:nN #1#2
  {
    \@@_map_function:Nnnnnnnnn #2 #1
      \s_@@_stop \s_@@_stop \s_@@_stop \s_@@_stop
      \s_@@_stop \s_@@_stop \s_@@_stop \s_@@_stop
    \prg_break_point:Nn \tl_map_break: { }
  }
\cs_new:Npn \tl_map_function:NN
  { \exp_args:No \tl_map_function:nN }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_map_function:NN { c }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_map_function:Nnnnnnnnn #1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#9
  {
    \@@_use_none_delimit_by_s_stop:w
      #9 \@@_map_function_end:w \s_@@_stop
    #1 {#2} #1 {#3} #1 {#4} #1 {#5} #1 {#6} #1 {#7} #1 {#8} #1 {#9}
    \@@_map_function:Nnnnnnnnn #1
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_map_function_end:w \s_@@_stop #1#2
  {
    \@@_use_none_delimit_by_s_stop:w #2 \tl_map_break: \s_@@_stop
    #1 {#2}
    \@@_map_function_end:w \s_@@_stop
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_use_none_delimit_by_s_stop:w #1 \s_@@_stop { }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}{\tl_map_inline:nn}
% \begin{macro}{\tl_map_inline:Nn, \tl_map_inline:cn}
%   The inline functions are straight forward by now. We use a little
%   trick with the counter \cs{g__kernel_prg_map_int} to make
%   them nestable. We can also make use of \cs{@@_map_function:Nnnnnnnnn}
%   from before.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_map_inline:nn #1#2
  {
    \int_gincr:N \g__kernel_prg_map_int
    \cs_gset_protected:cpn
      { @@_map_ \int_use:N \g__kernel_prg_map_int :w } ##1 {#2}
    \exp_args:Nc \@@_map_function:Nnnnnnnnn
      { @@_map_ \int_use:N \g__kernel_prg_map_int :w }
      #1
      \s_@@_stop \s_@@_stop \s_@@_stop \s_@@_stop
      \s_@@_stop \s_@@_stop \s_@@_stop \s_@@_stop
    \prg_break_point:Nn \tl_map_break:
      { \int_gdecr:N \g__kernel_prg_map_int }
  }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_map_inline:Nn
  { \exp_args:No \tl_map_inline:nn }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_map_inline:Nn { c }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_map_tokens:nn, \tl_map_tokens:Nn, \tl_map_tokens:cn,
%     \@@_map_tokens:nnnnnnnnn, \@@_map_tokens_end:w
%   }
%   Much like the function mapping.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new:Npn \tl_map_tokens:nn #1#2
  {
    \@@_map_tokens:nnnnnnnnn {#2} #1
      \s_@@_stop \s_@@_stop \s_@@_stop \s_@@_stop
      \s_@@_stop \s_@@_stop \s_@@_stop \s_@@_stop
    \prg_break_point:Nn \tl_map_break: { }
  }
\cs_new:Npn \tl_map_tokens:Nn
  { \exp_args:No \tl_map_tokens:nn }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_map_tokens:Nn { c }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_map_tokens:nnnnnnnnn #1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#9
  {
    \@@_use_none_delimit_by_s_stop:w
      #9 \@@_map_tokens_end:w \s_@@_stop
    \use:n {#1} {#2} \use:n {#1} {#3} \use:n {#1} {#4} \use:n {#1} {#5}
    \use:n {#1} {#6} \use:n {#1} {#7} \use:n {#1} {#8} \use:n {#1} {#9}
    \@@_map_tokens:nnnnnnnnn {#1}
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_map_tokens_end:w \s_@@_stop \use:n #1#2
  {
    \@@_use_none_delimit_by_s_stop:w #2 \tl_map_break: \s_@@_stop
    #1 {#2}
    \@@_map_tokens_end:w \s_@@_stop
  }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}{\tl_map_variable:nNn}
% \begin{macro}{\tl_map_variable:NNn, \tl_map_variable:cNn}
% \begin{macro}{\@@_map_variable:Nnn}
%   \cs{tl_map_variable:nNn} \Arg{token list} \meta{tl~var}
%   \Arg{action} assigns \meta{tl~var} to each element and executes
%   \meta{action}.  The assignment to \meta{tl~var} is done after the
%   quark test so that this variable does not get set to a quark.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_map_variable:nNn #1#2#3
  { \tl_map_tokens:nn {#1} { \@@_map_variable:Nnn #2 {#3} } }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \@@_map_variable:Nnn #1#2#3
  { \tl_set:Nn #1 {#3} #2 }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_map_variable:NNn
  { \exp_args:No \tl_map_variable:nNn }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_map_variable:NNn { c }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}{\tl_map_break:}
% \begin{macro}{\tl_map_break:n}
%   The break statements use the general \cs{prg_map_break:Nn}.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new:Npn \tl_map_break:
  { \prg_map_break:Nn \tl_map_break: { } }
\cs_new:Npn \tl_map_break:n
  { \prg_map_break:Nn \tl_map_break: }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \subsection{Using token lists}
%
% \begin{macro}{\tl_to_str:n, \tl_to_str:o, \tl_to_str:V, \tl_to_str:v, \tl_to_str:e}
%   Another name for a primitive: defined in \pkg{l3basics}.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_to_str:n { o , V , v , e }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}{\tl_to_str:N, \tl_to_str:c}
%    These functions return the replacement text of a token list as a
%    string.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new:Npn \tl_to_str:N #1 { \__kernel_tl_to_str:w \exp_after:wN {#1} }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_to_str:N { c }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}{\tl_use:N, \tl_use:c}
% Token lists which are simply not defined give a clear \TeX{}
% error here. No such luck for ones equal to \cs{scan_stop:} so
% instead a test is made and if there is an issue an error is forced.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new:Npn \tl_use:N #1
  {
    \tl_if_exist:NTF #1 {#1}
      {
        \msg_expandable_error:nnn
          { kernel } { bad-variable } {#1}
      }
  }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_use:N { c }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \subsection{Working with the contents of token lists}
%
% \begin{macro}{\tl_count:n, \tl_count:V, \tl_count:v, \tl_count:e, \tl_count:o}
% \begin{macro}{\tl_count:N, \tl_count:c}
% \begin{macro}{\@@_count:n}
%   Count number of elements within a token list or token list
%   variable. Brace groups within the list are read as a single
%   element. Spaces are ignored.
%   \cs{@@_count:n} grabs the element and replaces it by |+1|.
%   The |0| ensures that it works on an empty list.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new:Npn \tl_count:n #1
  {
    \int_eval:n
      { 0 \tl_map_function:nN {#1} \@@_count:n }
  }
\cs_new:Npn \tl_count:N #1
  {
    \int_eval:n
      { 0 \tl_map_function:NN #1 \@@_count:n }
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_count:n #1 { + 1 }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_count:n { V , v , e , o }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_count:N { c }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
%
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\tl_count_tokens:n}
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_act_count_normal:nN,
%     \@@_act_count_group:nn, \@@_act_count_space:n}
%   The token count is computed through an \cs{int_eval:n} construction.
%   Each \texttt{1+} is output to the \emph{left}, into the integer
%   expression, and the sum is ended by the \cs{exp_end:} inserted by
%   \cs{@@_act_end:wn} (which is technically implemented as  \cs{c_zero_int}).
%   Somewhat a hack!
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new:Npn \tl_count_tokens:n #1
  {
    \int_eval:n
      {
        \@@_act:NNNn
          \@@_act_count_normal:N
          \@@_act_count_group:n
          \@@_act_count_space:
          {#1}
      }
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_act_count_normal:N #1 { 1 + }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_act_count_space: { 1 + }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_act_count_group:n #1 { 2 + \tl_count_tokens:n {#1} + }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}{\tl_reverse_items:n}
% \begin{macro}{\@@_reverse_items:nwNwn}
% \begin{macro}{\@@_reverse_items:wn}
%    Reversal of a token list is done by taking one item at a time
%    and putting it after \cs{s_@@_stop}.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new:Npn \tl_reverse_items:n #1
  {
    \@@_reverse_items:nwNwn #1 ?
      \s_@@_mark \@@_reverse_items:nwNwn
      \s_@@_mark \@@_reverse_items:wn
      \s_@@_stop { }
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_reverse_items:nwNwn #1 #2 \s_@@_mark #3 #4 \s_@@_stop #5
  {
    #3 #2
      \s_@@_mark \@@_reverse_items:nwNwn
      \s_@@_mark \@@_reverse_items:wn
      \s_@@_stop { {#1} #5 }
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_reverse_items:wn #1 \s_@@_stop #2
  { \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN { \use_none:nn #2 } }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_trim_spaces:n, \tl_trim_spaces:V, \tl_trim_spaces:v,
%       \tl_trim_spaces:e,
%     \tl_trim_spaces:o, 
%   }
% \begin{macro}{\tl_trim_spaces_apply:nN, \tl_trim_spaces_apply:oN}
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \tl_trim_spaces:N, \tl_trim_spaces:c,
%     \tl_gtrim_spaces:N, \tl_gtrim_spaces:c
%   }
%   Trimming spaces from around the input is deferred to an internal
%   function whose first argument is the token list to trim, augmented
%   by an initial \cs{@@_trim_mark:}, and whose second argument is a
%   \meta{continuation}, which receives as a braced argument
%   \cs{@@_trim_mark:} \meta{trimmed token list}.  The control sequence
%   \cs{@@_trim_mark:} expands to nothing in a single expansion.  In the case
%   at hand, we take \cs{__kernel_exp_not:w} \cs{exp_after:wN} as our
%   continuation, so that space trimming behaves correctly within an
%   \texttt{e}-type or \texttt{x}-type expansion.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new:Npn \tl_trim_spaces:n #1
  {
    \@@_trim_spaces:nn
      { \@@_trim_mark: #1 }
      { \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN }
  }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_trim_spaces:n { V , v , e , o }
\cs_new:Npn \tl_trim_spaces_apply:nN #1#2
  { \@@_trim_spaces:nn { \@@_trim_mark: #1 } { \exp_args:No #2 } }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_trim_spaces_apply:nN { o }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_trim_spaces:N #1
  { \__kernel_tl_set:Nx #1 { \exp_args:No \tl_trim_spaces:n {#1} } }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_gtrim_spaces:N #1
  { \__kernel_tl_gset:Nx #1 { \exp_args:No \tl_trim_spaces:n {#1} } }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_trim_spaces:N  { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_gtrim_spaces:N { c }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}{\@@_trim_spaces:nn}
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \@@_trim_spaces_auxi:w, \@@_trim_spaces_auxii:w,
%     \@@_trim_spaces_auxiii:w, \@@_trim_spaces_auxiv:w
%   }
% \begin{macro}{\@@_trim_mark:}
%   Trimming spaces from around the input is done using delimited
%   arguments and \cs{@@_trim_mark:}, and to get spaces at odd places in the
%   definitions, we nest those in \cs{@@_tmp:w}, which then receives
%   a single space as its argument: |#1| is \verb*+ +.
%   Removing leading spaces is done with \cs{@@_trim_spaces_auxi:w},
%   which loops until \cs{@@_trim_mark:}\verb*+ + matches the end of the token
%   list: then |##1| is the token list and |##3| is
%   \cs{@@_trim_spaces_auxii:w}. This hands the relevant tokens to the
%   loop \cs{@@_trim_spaces_auxiii:w}, responsible for trimming
%   trailing spaces. The end is reached when \verb*+ + \cs{s_@@_nil}
%   matches the one present in the definition of \cs{tl_trim_spaces:n}.
%   Then \cs{@@_trim_spaces_auxiv:w} puts the token list into a group,
%   with a lingering \cs{@@_trim_mark:} at the start (which will expand to
%   nothing in one step of expansion), and feeds this to the
%   \meta{continuation}.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_set_protected:Npn \@@_tmp:w #1
  {
    \cs_new:Npn \@@_trim_spaces:nn ##1
      {
        \@@_trim_spaces_auxi:w
          ##1
          \s_@@_nil
          \@@_trim_mark: #1 { }
          \@@_trim_mark: \@@_trim_spaces_auxii:w
          \@@_trim_spaces_auxiii:w
          #1 \s_@@_nil
          \@@_trim_spaces_auxiv:w
        \s_@@_stop
      }
    \cs_new:Npn
        \@@_trim_spaces_auxi:w ##1 \@@_trim_mark: #1 ##2 \@@_trim_mark: ##3
      {
        ##3
        \@@_trim_spaces_auxi:w
        \@@_trim_mark:
        ##2
        \@@_trim_mark: #1 {##1}
      }
    \cs_new:Npn \@@_trim_spaces_auxii:w
        \@@_trim_spaces_auxi:w \@@_trim_mark: \@@_trim_mark: ##1
      {
        \@@_trim_spaces_auxiii:w
        ##1
      }
    \cs_new:Npn \@@_trim_spaces_auxiii:w ##1 #1 \s_@@_nil ##2
      {
        ##2
        ##1 \s_@@_nil
        \@@_trim_spaces_auxiii:w
      }
    \cs_new:Npn \@@_trim_spaces_auxiv:w ##1 \s_@@_nil ##2 \s_@@_stop ##3
      { ##3 { ##1 } }
    \cs_new:Npn \@@_trim_mark: {}
  }
\@@_tmp:w { ~ }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}
%   {\tl_sort:Nn, \tl_sort:cn, \tl_gsort:Nn, \tl_gsort:cn, \tl_sort:nN}
%   Implemented in \pkg{l3sort}.
% \end{macro}
%
% \subsection{The first token from a token list}
%
% \begin{macro}{\tl_head:N, \tl_head:n, \tl_head:V, \tl_head:v, \tl_head:f}
% \begin{macro}{\@@_head_auxi:nw, \@@_head_auxii:n}
% \begin{macro}{\tl_head:w,\@@_tl_head:w}
% \begin{macro}{\tl_tail:N, \tl_tail:n, \tl_tail:V, \tl_tail:v, \tl_tail:f}
%   Finding the head of a token list expandably always strips braces, which
%   is fine as this is consistent with for example mapping over a list. The
%   empty brace groups in \cs{tl_head:n} ensure that a blank argument gives an
%   empty result. The result is returned within the \tn{unexpanded} primitive.
%   The approach here is to use \cs{if_false:} to allow us to use |}| as
%   the closing delimiter: this is the only safe choice, as any other token
%   would not be able to parse it's own code. More detail in
%   \url{http://tex.stackexchange.com/a/70168}.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new:Npn \tl_head:n #1
  {
    \__kernel_exp_not:w \tex_expanded:D
      { { \if_false: { \fi: \@@_head_aux:n #1 { } } } }
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_head_aux:n #1
  {
    \__kernel_exp_not:w {#1}
    \exp_after:wN \use_none:n \exp_after:wN { \if_false: } \fi:
  }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_head:n { V , v , f }
\cs_new:Npn \tl_head:w #1#2 \q_stop {#1}
\cs_new:Npn \@@_tl_head:w #1#2 \s_@@_stop {#1}
\cs_new:Npn \tl_head:N { \exp_args:No \tl_head:n }
%    \end{macrocode}
%   To correctly leave the tail of a token list, it's important \emph{not} to
%   absorb any of the tail part as an argument. For example, the simple
%   definition
%   \begin{verbatim}
%     \cs_new:Npn \tl_tail:n #1 { \tl_tail:w #1 \q_stop }
%     \cs_new:Npn \tl_tail:w #1#2 \q_stop
%   \end{verbatim}
%   would give the wrong result for |\tl_tail:n { a { bc } }| (the braces would
%   be stripped). Thus the only safe way to proceed is to first check that
%   there is an item to grab (\emph{i.e.}~that the argument is not blank) and
%   assuming there is to dispose of the first item.  As with \cs{tl_head:n},
%   the result is protected from further expansion by \tn{unexpanded}.
%   While we could optimise the test here, this would leave some tokens
%   \enquote{banned} in the input, which we do not have with this definition.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\exp_args:Nno \use:n { \cs_new:Npn \tl_tail:n #1 }
  {
    \exp_after:wN \__kernel_exp_not:w
      \tl_if_blank:nTF {#1}
        { { } }
        { \exp_after:wN { \use_none:n #1 } }
  }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_tail:n { V , v , f }
\cs_new:Npn \tl_tail:N { \exp_args:No \tl_tail:n }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}[pTF]
%   {
%     \tl_if_head_eq_meaning:nN, \tl_if_head_eq_meaning:VN,
%     \tl_if_head_eq_meaning:eN
%   }
% \begin{macro}[pTF]
%   {
%     \tl_if_head_eq_charcode:nN, \tl_if_head_eq_charcode:VN,
%     \tl_if_head_eq_charcode:eN, \tl_if_head_eq_charcode:fN
%   }
% \begin{macro}[pTF]
%   {
%     \tl_if_head_eq_catcode:nN, \tl_if_head_eq_catcode:VN,
%     \tl_if_head_eq_catcode:eN, \tl_if_head_eq_catcode:oN
%   }
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_head_exp_not:w}
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_if_head_eq_empty_arg:w}
%   Accessing the first token of a token list is tricky in three cases:
%   when it has category code $1$ (begin-group token), when it is an
%   explicit space, with category code $10$ and character code $32$, or
%   when the token list is empty (obviously).
%
%   Forgetting temporarily about this issue we would use the following
%   test in \cs{tl_if_head_eq_charcode:nN}.  Here, \cs{tl_head:w} yields
%   the first token of the token list, then passed to \cs{exp_not:N}.
% \begin{verbatim}
% \if_charcode:w
%     \exp_after:wN \exp_not:N \tl_head:w #1 \q_nil \q_stop
%     \exp_not:N #2
% \end{verbatim}
%   The two first special cases are detected by testing if the token
%   list starts with an \texttt{N}-type token (the extra |?| sends empty
%   token lists to the \texttt{true} branch of this test).  In those
%   cases, the first token is a character, and since we only care about
%   its character code, we can use \cs{str_head:n} to access it (this
%   works even if it is a space character).  An empty argument
%   results in \cs{tl_head:w} leaving two token: |^| and
%   \cs{@@_if_head_eq_empty_arg:w} which will result in the \cs{if_charcode:w}
%   test being false and remove \cs{exp_not:N} and |#2|.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\prg_new_conditional:Npnn \tl_if_head_eq_charcode:nN #1#2 { p , T , F , TF }
  {
    \if_charcode:w
        \tl_if_head_is_N_type:nTF { #1 ? }
          { \@@_head_exp_not:w #1 { ^ \@@_if_head_eq_empty_arg:w } \s_@@_stop }
          { \str_head:n {#1} }
        \exp_not:N #2
      \prg_return_true:
    \else:
      \prg_return_false:
    \fi:
  }
\prg_generate_conditional_variant:Nnn \tl_if_head_eq_charcode:nN
  { V , e , f } { p , TF , T , F }
%    \end{macrocode}
%   For \cs{tl_if_head_eq_catcode:nN}, again we detect special cases
%   with a \cs{tl_if_head_is_N_type:n}.  Then we need to test if the
%   first token is a begin-group token or an explicit space token, and
%   produce the relevant token, either \cs{c_group_begin_token} or
%   \cs{c_space_token}.  Again, for an empty argument, a hack is used,
%   removing the token given by the user and leaving two tokens in the input
%   stream which will make the \cs{if_catcode:w} test return \texttt{false}.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\prg_new_conditional:Npnn \tl_if_head_eq_catcode:nN #1 #2 { p , T , F , TF }
  {
    \if_catcode:w
        \tl_if_head_is_N_type:nTF { #1 ? }
          { \@@_head_exp_not:w #1 { ^ \@@_if_head_eq_empty_arg:w } \s_@@_stop }
          {
            \tl_if_head_is_group:nTF {#1}
              \c_group_begin_token
              \c_space_token
          }
        \exp_not:N #2
      \prg_return_true:
    \else:
      \prg_return_false:
    \fi:
  }
\prg_generate_conditional_variant:Nnn \tl_if_head_eq_catcode:nN
  { V , e , o } { p , TF , T , F }
%    \end{macrocode}
%   For \cs{tl_if_head_eq_meaning:nN}, again, detect special cases.  In
%   the normal case, use \cs{tl_head:w}, with no \cs{exp_not:N} this
%   time, since \cs{if_meaning:w} causes no expansion.  With an empty
%   argument, the test is \texttt{true}, and \cs{use_none:nnn} removes
%   |#2| and \cs{prg_return_true:} and \cs{else:} (it is safe this way here as
%   in this case \cs{prg_new_conditional:Npnn} didn't optimize these two away).
%   In the special cases, we know that the first token is a character,
%   hence \cs{if_charcode:w} and \cs{if_catcode:w} together are enough.
%   We combine them in some order, hopefully faster than the reverse.
%   Tests are not nested because the arguments may contain unmatched
%   primitive conditionals.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\prg_new_conditional:Npnn \tl_if_head_eq_meaning:nN #1#2 { p , T , F , TF }
  {
    \tl_if_head_is_N_type:nTF { #1 ? }
      \@@_if_head_eq_meaning_normal:nN
      \@@_if_head_eq_meaning_special:nN
    {#1} #2
  }
\prg_generate_conditional_variant:Nnn \tl_if_head_eq_meaning:nN
  { V , e } { p , TF , T , F }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_if_head_eq_meaning_normal:nN #1 #2
  {
    \exp_after:wN \if_meaning:w
        \@@_tl_head:w #1 { ?? \use_none:nnn } \s_@@_stop #2
      \prg_return_true:
    \else:
      \prg_return_false:
    \fi:
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_if_head_eq_meaning_special:nN #1 #2
  {
    \if_charcode:w \str_head:n {#1} \exp_not:N #2
      \exp_after:wN \use_ii:nn
    \else:
      \prg_return_false:
    \fi:
    \use_none:n
    {
      \if_catcode:w \exp_not:N #2
                    \tl_if_head_is_group:nTF {#1}
                      { \c_group_begin_token }
                      { \c_space_token }
        \prg_return_true:
      \else:
        \prg_return_false:
      \fi:
    }
  }
%    \end{macrocode}
%
%   Both \cs{tl_if_head_eq_charcode:nN} and \cs{tl_if_head_eq_catcode:nN} will
%   need to get the first token of their argument and apply \cs{exp_not:N} to
%   it. \cs{@@_head_exp_not:w} does exactly that.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new:Npn \@@_head_exp_not:w #1 #2 \s_@@_stop
  { \exp_not:N #1 }
%    \end{macrocode}
%
%   If the argument of \cs{tl_if_head_eq_charcode:nN} and
%   \cs{tl_if_head_eq_catcode:nN} was empty \cs{@@_if_head_eq_empty_arg:w} will
%   be left in the input stream. This macro has to remove \cs{exp_not:N} and
%   the following token from the input stream to make sure no unbalanced
%   if-construct is created and leave tokens there which make the two tests
%   return \texttt{false}.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new:Npn \@@_if_head_eq_empty_arg:w \exp_not:N #1
  { ? }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}[pTF]{\tl_if_head_is_N_type:n}
% \begin{macro}[EXP]
%   {
%     \@@_if_head_is_N_type_auxi:w   ,
%     \@@_if_head_is_N_type_auxii:n ,
%   }
%   A token list can be empty, can start with an explicit space
%   character (catcode 10 and charcode 32), can start with a begin-group
%   token (catcode 1), or start with an \texttt{N}-type argument.  In
%   the first two cases, and when |#1~| starts with |{}~|,
%   \cs{@@_if_head_is_N_type_auxi:w} receives an empty argument hence
%   produces |f| and removes everything before the first
%   \cs{scan_stop:}.  In the third case (except when |#1~| starts with
%   |{}~|), the second auxiliary removes the first copy of~|#1| that was
%   used for the space test, then expands \cs{token_to_str:N} which hits
%   the leading begin-group token, leaving a single closing brace to be
%   compared with \cs{scan_stop:}.  In the last case,
%   \cs{token_to_str:N} does not change the brace balance so that only
%   \cs{scan_stop:} \cs{scan_stop:} remain, making the character code
%   test true.  One cannot optimize by
%   moving one of the \cs{scan_stop:} to the beginning: if |#1| contains
%   primitive conditionals, all of its occurrences must be dealt with before
%   the \cs{if:w} tries to skip the \texttt{true} branch of the
%   conditional.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\prg_new_conditional:Npnn \tl_if_head_is_N_type:n #1 { p , T , F , TF }
  {
    \if:w
        \if_false: { \fi: \@@_if_head_is_N_type_auxi:w #1 ~ }
        { \exp_after:wN { \token_to_str:N #1 } }
        \scan_stop: \scan_stop:
      \prg_return_true:
    \else:
      \prg_return_false:
    \fi:
  }
\exp_args:Nno \use:n { \cs_new:Npn \@@_if_head_is_N_type_auxi:w #1 ~ }
  {
    \tl_if_empty:nTF {#1}
      { f \exp_after:wN \use_none:nn }
      { \exp_after:wN \@@_if_head_is_N_type_auxii:n }
    \exp_after:wN { \if_false: } \fi:
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_if_head_is_N_type_auxii:n #1
  { \exp_after:wN \use_none:n \exp_after:wN }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}[EXP,pTF]{\tl_if_head_is_group:n}
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_if_head_is_group_fi_false:w}
%   Pass the first token of |#1| through \cs{token_to_str:N}, then check
%   for the brace balance.  The extra \texttt{?} caters for an empty
%   argument.  This could be made faster, but we need all brace tricks
%   to happen in one step of expansion, keeping the token list brace
%   balanced at all times.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\prg_new_conditional:Npnn \tl_if_head_is_group:n #1 { p , T , F , TF }
  {
    \if:w
        \exp_after:wN \use_none:n
          \exp_after:wN { \exp_after:wN { \token_to_str:N #1 ? } }
        \scan_stop: \scan_stop:
      \@@_if_head_is_group_fi_false:w
    \fi:
    \if_true:
      \prg_return_true:
    \else:
      \prg_return_false:
    \fi:
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_if_head_is_group_fi_false:w \fi: \if_true: { \fi: \if_false: }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}[EXP,pTF]{\tl_if_head_is_space:n}
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_if_head_is_space:w}
%   The auxiliary's argument is all that is before the first explicit
%   space in |\prg_do_nothing:#1?~|.  If that is a single~|\prg_do_nothing:| the
%   test yields \texttt{true}.  Otherwise, that is more than one token, and the
%   test yields \texttt{false}.  The work is done within braces (with an
%   |\if_false: { \fi: ... }| construction) both to hide potential
%   alignment tab characters from \TeX{} in a table, and to allow for
%   removing what remains of the token list after its first space.  The use of
%   \cs{if:w} ensures that the result of a single step of expansion directly
%   yields a balanced token list (no trailing closing brace).
%    \begin{macrocode}
\prg_new_conditional:Npnn \tl_if_head_is_space:n #1 { p , T , F , TF }
  {
    \if:w
        \if_false: { \fi: \@@_if_head_is_space:w \prg_do_nothing: #1 ? ~ }
        \scan_stop: \scan_stop:
      \prg_return_true:
    \else:
      \prg_return_false:
    \fi:
  }
\exp_args:Nno \use:n { \cs_new:Npn \@@_if_head_is_space:w #1 ~ }
  {
    \@@_if_empty_if:o {#1} \else: f \fi:
    \exp_after:wN \use_none:n \exp_after:wN { \if_false: } \fi:
  }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \subsection{Token by token changes}
%
% \begin{variable}{\s_@@_act_stop}
%   The \cs[no-index]{@@_act_\ldots{}} functions may be applied to any token list.
%   Hence, we use a private quark, to allow any token, even quarks,
%   in the token list.
%   Only \cs{s_@@_act_stop} may not appear in the token lists manipulated by
%   \cs{@@_act:NNNn} functions.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\scan_new:N \s_@@_act_stop
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{variable}
%
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_act:NNNn}
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_act_output:n, \@@_act_reverse_output:n}
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_act_loop:w}
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_act_normal:NwNNN}
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_act_group:nwNNN}
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_act_space:wwNNN}
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_act_end:wn}
% \begin{macro}[EXP]
%   {
%     \@@_act_if_head_is_space:nTF,
%     \@@_act_if_head_is_space:w,
%     \@@_act_if_head_is_space_true:w
%   }
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_use_none_delimit_by_q_act_stop:w}
%   To help control the expansion, \cs{@@_act:NNNn} should always
%   be preceded by \cs{exp:w} and ends by producing \cs{exp_end:}
%   once the result has been obtained. This way no internal token of it can be
%   accidentally end up in the input stream.
%   Because \cs{s_@@_act_stop} can't appear without braces around it in the
%   argument~|#1| of \cs{@@_act_loop:w}, we can use this marker to set up a fast
%   test for leading spaces.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_set_protected:Npn \@@_tmp:w #1
  {
    \cs_new:Npn \@@_act_if_head_is_space:nTF ##1
      {
        \@@_act_if_head_is_space:w
          \s_@@_act_stop ##1 \s_@@_act_stop \@@_act_if_head_is_space_true:w
          \s_@@_act_stop #1  \s_@@_act_stop \use_ii:nn
      }
    \cs_new:Npn \@@_act_if_head_is_space:w
        ##1 \s_@@_act_stop #1 ##2 \s_@@_act_stop
      {}
    \cs_new:Npn \@@_act_if_head_is_space_true:w
        \s_@@_act_stop #1 \s_@@_act_stop \use_ii:nn ##1 ##2
      {##1}
  }
\@@_tmp:w { ~ }
%    \end{macrocode}
%   (We expand the definition \cs{@@_act_if_head_is_space:nTF} when
%   setting up \cs{@@_act_loop:w}, so we can then undefine the auxiliary.)
%   In the loop, we check how the token list begins and act
%   accordingly. In the \enquote{group} case, we may have
%   reached \cs{s_@@_act_stop}, the end of the list. Then
%   leave \cs{exp_end:} and the result in the input stream,
%   to terminate the expansion of \cs{exp:w}.
%   Otherwise, apply the relevant function to the
%   \enquote{arguments}, |#3|
%   and to the head of the token list. Then repeat the loop.
%   The scheme is the same if the token list starts with an |N|-type
%   or with a space, making sure that
%   \cs{@@_act_space:wwNNN} gobbles the space.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\exp_args:Nne \use:n { \cs_new:Npn \@@_act_loop:w #1 \s_@@_act_stop }
  {
    \exp_not:o { \@@_act_if_head_is_space:nTF {#1} }
      \exp_not:N \@@_act_space:wwNNN
      {
        \exp_not:o { \tl_if_head_is_group:nTF {#1} }
          \exp_not:N \@@_act_group:nwNNN
          \exp_not:N \@@_act_normal:NwNNN
      }
    \exp_not:n {#1} \s_@@_act_stop
  }
\cs_undefine:N \@@_act_if_head_is_space:nTF
\cs_new:Npn \@@_act_normal:NwNNN #1 #2 \s_@@_act_stop #3
  {
    #3 #1
    \@@_act_loop:w #2 \s_@@_act_stop
    #3
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_use_none_delimit_by_s_act_stop:w #1 \s_@@_act_stop { }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_act_end:wn #1 \@@_act_result:n #2
  { \group_align_safe_end: \exp_end: #2 }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_act_group:nwNNN #1 #2 \s_@@_act_stop #3#4#5
  {
    \@@_use_none_delimit_by_s_act_stop:w #1 \@@_act_end:wn \s_@@_act_stop
    #5 {#1}
    \@@_act_loop:w #2 \s_@@_act_stop
    #3 #4 #5
  }
\exp_last_unbraced:NNo
  \cs_new:Npn \@@_act_space:wwNNN \c_space_tl #1 \s_@@_act_stop #2#3
  {
    #3
    \@@_act_loop:w #1 \s_@@_act_stop
    #2 #3
  }
%    \end{macrocode}
%   \cs{@@_act:NNNn} loops over tokens, groups, and spaces in |#4|.
%   |{\s_@@_act_stop}| serves as the end of token list marker, the |?| after it
%   avoids losing outer braces. The result is stored as an argument for the
%   dummy function \cs{@@_act_result:n}.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new:Npn \@@_act:NNNn #1#2#3#4
  {
    \group_align_safe_begin:
    \@@_act_loop:w #4 { \s_@@_act_stop } ? \s_@@_act_stop
    #1 #3 #2
    \@@_act_result:n { }
  }
%    \end{macrocode}
%   Typically, the output is done to the right of what was already output,
%   using \cs{@@_act_output:n}, but for the \cs{@@_act_reverse} functions,
%   it should be done to the left.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new:Npn \@@_act_output:n #1 #2 \@@_act_result:n #3
  { #2 \@@_act_result:n { #3 #1 } }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_act_reverse_output:n #1 #2 \@@_act_result:n #3
  { #2 \@@_act_result:n { #1 #3 } }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}[EXP]
%   {\tl_reverse:n, \tl_reverse:o, \tl_reverse:V, \tl_reverse:f, \tl_reverse:e}
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_reverse_normal:nN}
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_reverse_group_preserve:nn}
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_reverse_space:n}
%   The goal here is to reverse without losing spaces nor braces.
%   This is done using the general internal function \cs{@@_act:NNNn}.
%   Spaces and \enquote{normal} tokens are output on the left of the current
%   output. Grouped tokens are output to the left but without any reversal
%   within the group.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new:Npn \tl_reverse:n #1
  {
    \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN
      {
        \exp:w
        \@@_act:NNNn
          \@@_reverse_normal:N
          \@@_reverse_group_preserve:n
          \@@_reverse_space:
          {#1}
      }
  }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_reverse:n { o , V , f , e }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_reverse_normal:N
  { \@@_act_reverse_output:n }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_reverse_group_preserve:n #1
  { \@@_act_reverse_output:n { {#1} } }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_reverse_space:
  { \@@_act_reverse_output:n { ~ } }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}{\tl_reverse:N, \tl_reverse:c, \tl_greverse:N, \tl_greverse:c}
%   This reverses the list, leaving \cs{exp_stop_f:} in front,
%   which stops the \texttt{f}-expansion.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_reverse:N #1
  { \__kernel_tl_set:Nx #1 { \exp_args:No \tl_reverse:n { #1 } } }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_greverse:N #1
  { \__kernel_tl_gset:Nx #1 { \exp_args:No \tl_reverse:n { #1 } } }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_reverse:N  { c }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_greverse:N { c }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \subsection{Using a single item}
%
% \begin{macro}{\tl_item:nn, \tl_item:Nn, \tl_item:cn}
% \begin{macro}{\@@_item_aux:nn, \@@_item:nn}
%   The idea here is to find the offset of the item from the left, then use
%   a loop to grab the correct item. If the resulting offset is too large,
%   then \cs{@@_if_recursion_tail_break:nN} terminates the loop, and returns
%   nothing at all.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new:Npn \tl_item:nn #1#2
  {
    \exp_args:Nf \@@_item:nn
      { \exp_args:Nf \@@_item_aux:nn { \int_eval:n {#2} } {#1} }
    #1
    \q_@@_recursion_tail
    \prg_break_point:
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_item_aux:nn #1#2
  {
    \int_compare:nNnTF {#1} < 0
      { \int_eval:n { \tl_count:n {#2} + 1 + #1 } }
      {#1}
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_item:nn #1#2
  {
    \@@_if_recursion_tail_break:nN {#2} \prg_break:
    \int_compare:nNnTF {#1} = 1
      { \prg_break:n { \exp_not:n {#2} } }
      { \exp_args:Nf \@@_item:nn { \int_eval:n { #1 - 1 } } }
  }
\cs_new:Npn \tl_item:Nn { \exp_args:No \tl_item:nn }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_item:Nn { c }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}{\tl_rand_item:n, \tl_rand_item:N, \tl_rand_item:c}
%   Importantly \cs{tl_item:nn} only evaluates its argument once.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new:Npn \tl_rand_item:n #1
  {
    \tl_if_blank:nF {#1}
      { \tl_item:nn {#1} { \int_rand:nn { 1 } { \tl_count:n {#1} } } }
  }
\cs_new:Npn \tl_rand_item:N { \exp_args:No \tl_rand_item:n }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_rand_item:N { c }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}{\tl_range:Nnn, \tl_range:cnn, \tl_range:nnn}
% \begin{macro}
%   {
%     \@@_range:Nnnn, \@@_range:nnnNn, \@@_range:nnNn, \@@_range_skip:w,
%     \@@_range:w, \@@_range_skip_spaces:n, \@@_range_collect:nn,
%     \@@_range_collect:ff, \@@_range_collect_space:nw,
%     \@@_range_collect_N:nN, \@@_range_collect_group:nN,
%   }
%   To avoid checking for the end of the token list at every step, start
%   by counting the number $l$ of items and \enquote{normalizing} the
%   bounds, namely clamping them to the interval $[0,l]$ and dealing
%   with negative indices.  More precisely, \cs{@@_range_items:nnNn}
%   receives the number of items to skip at the beginning of the token
%   list, the index of the last item to keep, a function which is either
%   \cs{@@_range:w} or the token list itself.  If nothing should be kept,
%   leave |{}|: this stops the \texttt{f}-expansion of \cs{tl_head:f} and that
%   function produces an empty result.  Otherwise, repeatedly call
%   \cs{@@_range_skip:w} to delete |#1| items from the input stream (the
%   extra brace group avoids an off-by-one shift).  For the braced
%   version \cs{@@_range_braced:w} sets up
%   \cs{@@_range_collect_braced:w} which stores items one by one in an
%   argument after the semicolon. Depending on the first token of the tail,
%   either just move  it (if it is a space) or also decrement the number of
%   items left to find.  Eventually, the result is a brace group followed by
%   the rest of the token list, and \cs{tl_head:f} cleans up and gives the
%   result in \cs{exp_not:n}.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new:Npn \tl_range:Nnn { \exp_args:No \tl_range:nnn }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_range:Nnn { c }
\cs_new:Npn \tl_range:nnn { \@@_range:Nnnn \@@_range:w }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_range:Nnnn #1#2#3#4
  {
    \tl_head:f
      {
        \exp_args:Nf \@@_range:nnnNn
          { \tl_count:n {#2} } {#3} {#4} #1 {#2}
      }
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_range:nnnNn #1#2#3
  {
    \exp_args:Nff \@@_range:nnNn
      {
        \exp_args:Nf \@@_range_normalize:nn
          { \int_eval:n { #2 - 1 } } {#1}
      }
      {
        \exp_args:Nf \@@_range_normalize:nn
          { \int_eval:n {#3} } {#1}
      }
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_range:nnNn #1#2#3#4
  {
    \if_int_compare:w #2 > #1 \exp_stop_f: \else:
      \exp_after:wN { \exp_after:wN }
    \fi:
    \exp_after:wN #3
    \int_value:w \int_eval:n { #2 - #1 } \exp_after:wN ;
    \exp_after:wN { \exp:w \@@_range_skip:w #1 ; { } #4 }
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_range_skip:w #1 ; #2
  {
    \if_int_compare:w #1 > \c_zero_int
      \exp_after:wN \@@_range_skip:w
      \int_value:w \int_eval:n { #1 - 1 } \exp_after:wN ;
    \else:
      \exp_after:wN \exp_end:
    \fi:
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_range:w #1 ; #2
  {
    \exp_args:Nf \@@_range_collect:nn
      { \@@_range_skip_spaces:n {#2} } {#1}
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_range_skip_spaces:n #1
  {
    \tl_if_head_is_space:nTF {#1}
      { \exp_args:Nf \@@_range_skip_spaces:n {#1} }
      { { } #1 }
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_range_collect:nn #1#2
  {
    \int_compare:nNnTF {#2} = 0
      {#1}
      {
        \exp_args:No \tl_if_head_is_space:nTF { \use_none:n #1 }
          {
            \exp_args:Nf \@@_range_collect:nn
              { \@@_range_collect_space:nw #1 }
              {#2}
          }
          {
            \@@_range_collect:ff
              {
                \exp_args:No \tl_if_head_is_N_type:nTF { \use_none:n #1 }
                  { \@@_range_collect_N:nN }
                  { \@@_range_collect_group:nn }
                #1
              }
              { \int_eval:n { #2 - 1 } }
          }
      }
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_range_collect_space:nw #1 ~ { { #1 ~ } }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_range_collect_N:nN #1#2 { { #1 #2 } }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_range_collect_group:nn #1#2 { { #1 {#2} } }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \@@_range_collect:nn { ff }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_range_normalize:nn}
%   This function converts an \meta{index} argument into an explicit
%   position in the token list (a result of $0$ denoting \enquote{out of
%   bounds}).  Expects two explicit integer arguments: the \meta{index}
%   |#1| and the string count~|#2|.  If |#1| is negative, replace it by
%   $|#1| + |#2| + 1$, then limit to the range $[0, |#2|]$.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new:Npn \@@_range_normalize:nn #1#2
  {
    \int_eval:n
      {
        \if_int_compare:w #1 < \c_zero_int
          \if_int_compare:w #1 < -#2 \exp_stop_f:
            0
          \else:
            #1 + #2 + 1
          \fi:
        \else:
          \if_int_compare:w #1 < #2 \exp_stop_f:
            #1
          \else:
            #2
          \fi:
        \fi:
      }
  }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \subsection{Viewing token lists}
%
% \begin{macro}{\tl_show:N, \tl_show:c, \tl_log:N, \tl_log:c, \@@_show:NN}
%   Showing token list variables is done after checking that the
%   variable is defined (see \cs{__kernel_register_show:N}).
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_show:N { \@@_show:NN \tl_show:n }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_show:N { c }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_log:N { \@@_show:NN \tl_log:n }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_log:N { c }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \@@_show:NN #1#2
  {
    \__kernel_chk_defined:NT #2
      {
        \exp_args:Nf \tl_if_empty:nTF
          { \cs_prefix_spec:N #2 \cs_parameter_spec:N #2 }
          {
            \exp_args:Ne #1
              { \token_to_str:N #2 = \__kernel_exp_not:w \exp_after:wN {#2} }
          }
          {
            \msg_error:nneee { kernel } { bad-type }
              { \token_to_str:N #2 } { \token_to_meaning:N #2 } { tl }
          }
      }
  }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}{\tl_show:n, \tl_show:e, \tl_show:x, \@@_show:n}
% \begin{macro}[EXP]{\@@_show:w}
%   Many |show| functions are based on \cs{tl_show:n}.
%   The argument of \cs{tl_show:n} is line-wrapped using
%   \cs{iow_wrap:nnnN} but with a leading |>~| and trailing period, both
%   removed before passing the wrapped text to the \tn{showtokens}
%   primitive.  This primitive shows the result with a leading |>~| and
%   trailing period.
%
%   The token list \cs{l_@@_internal_a_tl} containing the result
%   of all these manipulations is displayed to the terminal using
%   \cs{tex_showtokens:D} and an odd \cs{exp_after:wN} which expand the
%   closing brace to improve the output slightly.  The calls to
%   \cs{__kernel_iow_with:Nnn} ensure that the \tn{newlinechar} is set to~$10$
%   so that the \cs{iow_newline:} inserted by the line-wrapping code
%   are correctly recognized by \TeX{}, and that \tn{errorcontextlines}
%   is $-1$ to avoid printing irrelevant context.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_show:n #1
  { \iow_wrap:nnnN { >~ \tl_to_str:n {#1} . } { } { } \@@_show:n }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_show:n { e , x }
\cs_new_protected:Npn \@@_show:n #1
  {
    \tl_set:Nf \l_@@_internal_a_tl { \@@_show:w #1 \s_@@_stop }
    \__kernel_iow_with:Nnn \tex_newlinechar:D { 10 }
      {
        \__kernel_iow_with:Nnn \tex_errorcontextlines:D { -1 }
          {
            \tex_showtokens:D \exp_after:wN \exp_after:wN \exp_after:wN
              { \exp_after:wN \l_@@_internal_a_tl }
          }
      }
  }
\cs_new:Npn \@@_show:w #1 > #2 . \s_@@_stop {#2}
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}{\tl_log:n, \tl_log:e, \tl_log:x}
%   Logging is much easier, simply line-wrap.  The |>~| and trailing
%   period is there to match the output of \cs{tl_show:n}.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \tl_log:n #1
  { \iow_wrap:nnnN { > ~ \tl_to_str:n {#1} . } { } { } \iow_log:n }
\cs_generate_variant:Nn \tl_log:n { e , x }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \begin{macro}{\__kernel_chk_tl_type:NnnT}
%   Helper for checking that |#1| has the correct internal structure to
%   be of a certain type.  Make sure that it is defined and that it is a
%   token list, namely a macro with no \tn{long} nor \tn{protected}
%   prefix.  Then compare |#1| to an attempt at reconstructing a valid
%   structure of the given type using |#2| (see implementation of
%   \cs{seq_show:N} for instance).  If that is successful run the
%   requested code~|#4|.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_new_protected:Npn \__kernel_chk_tl_type:NnnT #1#2#3#4
  {
    \__kernel_chk_defined:NT #1
      {
        \exp_args:Nf \tl_if_empty:nTF
          { \cs_prefix_spec:N #1 \cs_parameter_spec:N #1 }
          {
            \tl_set:Ne \l_@@_internal_a_tl {#3}
            \tl_if_eq:NNTF #1 \l_@@_internal_a_tl
              {#4}
              {
                \msg_error:nneeee { kernel } { bad-type }
                  { \token_to_str:N #1 } { \tl_to_str:N #1 }
                  {#2} { \tl_to_str:N \l_@@_internal_a_tl }
              }
          }
          {
            \msg_error:nneee { kernel } { bad-type }
              { \token_to_str:N #1 } { \token_to_meaning:N #1 } {#2}
          }
      }
  }
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{macro}
%
% \subsection{Internal scan marks}
%
% \begin{variable}{\s_@@_nil,\s_@@_mark,\s_@@_stop}
%   Internal scan marks. These are defined here at the end because the
%   code for \cs{scan_new:N} depends on some \pkg{l3tl} functions.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\scan_new:N \s_@@_nil
\scan_new:N \s_@@_mark
\scan_new:N \s_@@_stop
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{variable}
%
% \subsection{Scratch token lists}
%
% \begin{variable}{\g_tmpa_tl, \g_tmpb_tl}
%    Global temporary token list variables.
%    They are supposed to be set and used immediately,
%    with no delay between the definition and the use because you
%    can't count on other macros not to redefine them from under you.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\tl_new:N \g_tmpa_tl
\tl_new:N \g_tmpb_tl
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{variable}
%
% \begin{variable}{\l_tmpa_tl, \l_tmpb_tl}
%    These are local temporary token list variables. Be sure not to assume
%    that the value you put into them will survive for
%    long---see discussion above.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\tl_new:N \l_tmpa_tl
\tl_new:N \l_tmpb_tl
%    \end{macrocode}
% \end{variable}
%
% We finally clean up a temporary control sequence that we have used at
% various points to set up some definitions.
%    \begin{macrocode}
\cs_undefine:N \@@_tmp:w
%    \end{macrocode}
%
%    \begin{macrocode}
%</package>
%    \end{macrocode}
%
% \end{implementation}
%
% \PrintIndex