Fix regexp-opt documentation (bug #17862)

* lisp/emacs-lisp/regexp-opt.el (regexp-opt):
* doc/lispref/searching.texi (Regexp Functions): Update PAREN doc.

2 files changed, 70 insertions, 28 deletions

diff --git a/doc/lispref/searching.texi b/doc/lispref/searching.texi
index acf3d0e9845..a335e89985f 100644
--- a/doc/lispref/searching.texi
+++ b/doc/lispref/searching.texi
@@ -948,26 +948,42 @@ possible.  A hand-tuned regular expression can sometimes be slightly
 more efficient, but is almost never worth the effort.}.
 @c E.g., see http://debbugs.gnu.org/2816
 
-If the optional argument @var{paren} is non-@code{nil}, then the
-returned regular expression is always enclosed by at least one
-parentheses-grouping construct.  If @var{paren} is @code{words}, then
-that construct is additionally surrounded by @samp{\<} and @samp{\>};
-alternatively, if @var{paren} is @code{symbols}, then that construct
-is additionally surrounded by @samp{\_<} and @samp{\_>}
-(@code{symbols} is often appropriate when matching
-programming-language keywords and the like).
-
-This simplified definition of @code{regexp-opt} produces a
-regular expression which is equivalent to the actual value
-(but not as efficient):
+The optional argument @var{paren} can be any of the following:
+
+a string
+    the resulting regexp is preceded by @var{paren} and followed by
+    @samp{\)}, e.g. use @samp{"\\(?1:"} to produce an explicitly
+    numbered group.
+
+@code{words}
+    the resulting regexp is surrounded by @samp{\<\(} and @samp{\)\>}.
+
+@code{symbols}
+    the resulting regexp is surrounded by @samp{\_<\(} and @samp{\)\_>}
+    (this is often appropriate when maching programming-language
+    keywords and the like).
+
+non-@code{nil}
+    the resulting regexp is surrounded by @samp{\(} and @samp{\)}.
+
+@code{nil}
+    the resulting regexp is surrounded by @samp{\(?:} and @samp{\)},
+    if it is necessary to ensure that a postfix operator appended to
+    it will apply to the whole expression.
+
+The resulting regexp of @code{regexp-opt} is equivalent to but usually
+more efficient than that of a simplified version:
 
 @example
-(defun regexp-opt (strings &optional paren)
-  (let ((open-paren (if paren "\\(" ""))
-        (close-paren (if paren "\\)" "")))
-    (concat open-paren
-            (mapconcat 'regexp-quote strings "\\|")
-            close-paren)))
+(defun simplified-regexp-opt (strings &optional paren)
+ (let ((parens (cond ((stringp paren)       (cons paren "\\)"))
+                     ((eq paren 'words)    '("\\<\\(" . "\\)\\>"))
+                     ((eq paren 'symbols) '("\\_<\\(" . "\\)\\_>"))
+                     ((null paren)          '("\\(?:" . "\\)"))
+                     (t                       '("\\(" . "\\)")))))
+   (concat (car paren)
+           (mapconcat 'regexp-quote strings "\\|")
+           (cdr paren))))
 @end example
 @end defun
 
diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/regexp-opt.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/regexp-opt.el
index b1e132a76e3..27db4773b1d 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/regexp-opt.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/regexp-opt.el
@@ -86,18 +86,44 @@
 ;;;###autoload
 (defun regexp-opt (strings &optional paren)
   "Return a regexp to match a string in the list STRINGS.
-Each string should be unique in STRINGS and should not contain any regexps,
-quoted or not.  If optional PAREN is non-nil, ensure that the returned regexp
-is enclosed by at least one regexp grouping construct.
-The returned regexp is typically more efficient than the equivalent regexp:
+Each string should be unique in STRINGS and should not contain
+any regexps, quoted or not.  Optional PAREN specifies how the
+returned regexp is surrounded by grouping constructs.
 
- (let ((open (if PAREN \"\\\\(\" \"\")) (close (if PAREN \"\\\\)\" \"\")))
-   (concat open (mapconcat \\='regexp-quote STRINGS \"\\\\|\") close))
+The optional argument PAREN can be any of the following:
 
-If PAREN is `words', then the resulting regexp is additionally surrounded
-by \\=\\< and \\>.
-If PAREN is `symbols', then the resulting regexp is additionally surrounded
-by \\=\\_< and \\_>."
+a string
+    the resulting regexp is preceded by PAREN and followed by
+    \\), e.g.  use \"\\\\(?1:\" to produce an explicitly numbered
+    group.
+
+`words'
+    the resulting regexp is surrounded by \\=\\<\\( and \\)\\>.
+
+`symbols'
+    the resulting regexp is surrounded by \\_<\\( and \\)\\_>.
+
+non-nil
+    the resulting regexp is surrounded by \\( and \\).
+
+nil
+    the resulting regexp is surrounded by \\(?: and \\), if it is
+    necessary to ensure that a postfix operator appended to it will
+    apply to the whole expression.
+
+The resulting regexp is equivalent to but usually more efficient
+than that of a simplified version:
+
+ (defun simplified-regexp-opt (strings &optional paren)
+   (let ((parens
+          (cond ((stringp paren)       (cons paren \"\\\\)\"))
+                ((eq paren 'words)    '(\"\\\\\\=<\\\\(\" . \"\\\\)\\\\>\"))
+                ((eq paren 'symbols) '(\"\\\\_<\\\\(\" . \"\\\\)\\\\_>\"))
+                ((null paren)          '(\"\\\\(?:\" . \"\\\\)\"))
+                (t                       '(\"\\\\(\" . \"\\\\)\")))))
+     (concat (car paren)
+             (mapconcat 'regexp-quote strings \"\\\\|\")
+             (cdr paren))))"
   (save-match-data
     ;; Recurse on the sorted list.
     (let* ((max-lisp-eval-depth 10000)