Shorthand letters can be used with single dashes on the command line.
Boolean shorthand flags can be combined with other shorthand flags.
The default set of command-line flags is controlled by
top-level functions. The FlagSet type allows one to define
independent sets of flags, such as to implement subcommands
in a command-line interface. The methods of FlagSet are
analogous to the top-level functions for the command-line
flag set.
## Setting no option default values for flags
After you create a flag it is possible to set the pflag.NoOptDefVal for
the given flag. Doing this changes the meaning of the flag slightly. If
a flag has a NoOptDefVal and the flag is set on the command line without
an option the flag will be set to the NoOptDefVal. For example given:
``` go
var ip = flag.IntP("flagname", "f", 1234, "help message")
flag.Lookup("flagname").NoOptDefVal = "4321"
```
Would result in something like
| Parsed Arguments | Resulting Value |
| ------------- | ------------- |
| --flagname=1357 | ip=1357 |
| --flagname | ip=4321 |
| [nothing] | ip=1234 |
## Command line flag syntax
```
--flag // boolean flags, or flags with no option default values
--flag x // only on flags without a default value
--flag=x
```
Unlike the flag package, a single dash before an option means something
different than a double dash. Single dashes signify a series of shorthand
letters for flags. All but the last shorthand letter must be boolean flags
or a flag with a default value
```
// boolean or flags where the 'no option default value' is set
-f
-f=true
-abc
but
-b true is INVALID
// non-boolean and flags without a 'no option default value'
-n 1234
-n=1234
-n1234
// mixed
-abcs "hello"
-absd="hello"
-abcs1234
```
Flag parsing stops after the terminator "--". Unlike the flag package,
flags can be interspersed with arguments anywhere on the command line
before this terminator.
Integer flags accept 1234, 0664, 0x1234 and may be negative.
Boolean flags (in their long form) accept 1, 0, t, f, true, false,
TRUE, FALSE, True, False.
Duration flags accept any input valid for time.ParseDuration.
## Mutating or "Normalizing" Flag names
It is possible to set a custom flag name 'normalization function.' It allows flag names to be mutated both when created in the code and when used on the command line to some 'normalized' form. The 'normalized' form is used for comparison. Two examples of using the custom normalization func follow.
**Example #1**: You want -, _, and . in flags to compare the same. aka --my-flag == --my_flag == --my.flag
``` go
func wordSepNormalizeFunc(f *pflag.FlagSet, name string) pflag.NormalizedName {
from := []string{"-", "_"}
to := "."
for _, sep := range from {
name = strings.Replace(name, sep, to, -1)
}
return pflag.NormalizedName(name)
}
myFlagSet.SetNormalizeFunc(wordSepNormalizeFunc)
```
**Example #2**: You want to alias two flags. aka --old-flag-name == --new-flag-name
``` go
func aliasNormalizeFunc(f *pflag.FlagSet, name string) pflag.NormalizedName {
switch name {
case "old-flag-name":
name = "new-flag-name"
break
}
return pflag.NormalizedName(name)
}
myFlagSet.SetNormalizeFunc(aliasNormalizeFunc)
```
## Deprecating a flag or its shorthand
It is possible to deprecate a flag, or just its shorthand. Deprecating a flag/shorthand hides it from help text and prints a usage message when the deprecated flag/shorthand is used.
**Example #1**: You want to deprecate a flag named "badflag" as well as inform the users what flag they should use instead.
```go
// deprecate a flag by specifying its name and a usage message
flags.MarkDeprecated("badflag", "please use --good-flag instead")
```
This hides "badflag" from help text, and prints `Flag --badflag has been deprecated, please use --good-flag instead` when "badflag" is used.
**Example #2**: You want to keep a flag name "noshorthandflag" but deprecate its shortname "n".
```go
// deprecate a flag shorthand by specifying its flag name and a usage message
flags.MarkShorthandDeprecated("noshorthandflag", "please use --noshorthandflag only")
```
This hides the shortname "n" from help text, and prints `Flag shorthand -n has been deprecated, please use --noshorthandflag only` when the shorthand "n" is used.
Note that usage message is essential here, and it should not be empty.
## Hidden flags
It is possible to mark a flag as hidden, meaning it will still function as normal, however will not show up in usage/help text.
**Example**: You have a flag named "secretFlag" that you need for internal use only and don't want it showing up in help text, or for its usage text to be available.
```go
// hide a flag by specifying its name
flags.MarkHidden("secretFlag")
```
## Disable sorting of flags
`pflag` allows you to disable sorting of flags for help and usage message.