Range extraction/Format

From Rosetta Code

This is used in Range extraction and Range expansion.

A format for expressing an ordered list of integers is to use a comma separated list of either

  • individual integers
  • Or a range of integers denoted by the starting integer separated from the end integer in the range by a dash, '-'. (The range includes all integers in the interval including both endpoints)
  • The range syntax is to be used only for, and for every range that expands to more than two values.

Example
The list of integers:

-6, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20

Is accurately expressed by the range expression:

-6,-3-1,3-5,7-11,14,15,17-20

(And vice-versa).