first-steps5 min

Working with Text

Text is everywhere in programs — names, messages, labels, output. In Clean Language, text is called a string, and there are a few things you'll do with strings constantly. Let's cover them all.

The most useful thing right away is string interpolation — putting a variable's value directly inside text using {}:

start:
    string name = "Alice"
    integer age = 28

    print("Hello, my name is {name} and I am {age} years old.")

Hello, my name is Alice and I am 28 years old.

Much nicer than joining pieces together manually. Anything inside {} gets inserted right there in the text.

Here are the string operations you'll reach for most often:

start:
    string message = "  Hello, Clean Language!  "

    print(message.trim())
    print(message.trim().toUpperCase())
    print(message.trim().toLowerCase())
    print(message.trim().length().toString())
    print(message.contains("Clean").toString())
    print(message.replace("Clean", "Beautiful").trim())

Hello, Clean Language!
HELLO, CLEAN LANGUAGE!
hello, clean language!
22
true
Hello, Beautiful Language!

Notice how you can chain operations — .trim().toUpperCase() — each one feeds into the next. It reads almost like a sentence.

Quick recap

Use {variableName} inside a string to insert a value — no joining needed
.trim() removes extra spaces from both ends
.toUpperCase() and .toLowerCase() change the case
.length() returns how many characters are in the string
.contains(word) checks if a string includes something
.replace(old, new) swaps text out
Chain operations: .trim().toUpperCase()