gen_statem Behaviour — Erlang System Documentation v27.0

Search documentation of Erlang System Documentation

# View Source gen_statem Behaviour

It is recommended to read this section alongside `gen_statem` in STDLIB.

## Event-Driven State Machines

Established Automata Theory does not deal much with how a state transition is triggered, but assumes that the output is a function of the input (and the state) and that they are some kind of values.

For an Event-Driven State Machine, the input is an event that triggers a state transition and the output is actions executed during the state transition. Analogously to the mathematical model of a Finite State Machine, it can be described as a set of relations of the following form:

    State(S) x Event(E) -> Actions(A), State(S')

These relations are interpreted as follows: if we are in state `S` and event `E` occurs, we are to perform actions `A`, and make a transition to state `S'`. Notice that `S'` can be equal to `S`, and that `A` can be empty.

In `gen_statem` we define a state change as a state transition in which the new state `S'` is different from the current state `S`, where "different" means Erlang's strict inequality: `=/=` also known as "does not match". `gen_statem` does more things during state changes than during other state transitions.

As `A` and `S'` depend only on `S` and `E`, the kind of state machine described here is a Mealy machine (see, for example, the Wikipedia article Mealy machine).

Similar to most `gen_` behaviours, `gen_statem` keeps a server `Data` item besides the state. Because of this data item, and since there is no restriction on the number of states (assuming sufficient virtual machine memory), or on the number of distinct input events, a state machine implemented with this behaviour is Turing complete. But it feels mostly like an Event-Driven Mealy machine.

## When to use gen_statem

You should consider using `gen_statem` over `gen_server` if your process logic is convenient to describe as a state machine and you need any of these `gen_statem` key features:

- Co-located callback code for each state, for all Event Types , such as call, cast, and info
- Postponing Events - a substitute for selective receive
- Inserted Events - events from the state machine to itself; for purely internal events in particular
- State Enter Calls - callback on state entry co-located with the rest of each state's callback code
- Easy-to-use time-outs - State Time-Outs, Event Time-Outs, and Generic Time-Outs (named time-outs)

For simple state machines not needing these features, `gen_server` is perfectly suitable. It also has a smaller call overhead, but we are talking about something like 2 vs 3.3 microseconds call roundtrip time here, so if the server callback does just a little bit more than just replying, or if calls are not extremely frequent, that difference will be hard to notice.

## Callback Module

The callback module contains functions that implement the state machine. When an event occurs, the `gen_statem` behaviour engine calls a function in the callback module with the event, current state, and server data. This callback function performs the actions for the event, and returns the new state and server data as well as actions to be performed by the behaviour engine.

The behaviour engine holds the state machine state, server data, timer references, a queue of postponed messages, and other metadata. It receives all process messages, handles the system messages, and calls the callback module with machine specific events.

The callback module can be changed for a running server using any of the transition actions `{change_callback_module, NewModule}`, `{push_callback_module, NewModule}`, or `pop_callback_module`.

> #### Note

> Switching the callback module is a pretty esoteric thing to do...

> The origin for this feature is a protocol that after version negotiation branches off into quite different state machines depending on the protocol version. There might be other use cases. Beware that the new callback module completely replaces the previous callback module, so all relevant callback functions have to handle the state and data from the previous callback module.

## Callback Modes

The `gen_statem` behaviour supports two callback modes:

- `state_functions` - Events are handled by one callback function per state.

- `handle_event_function` - Events are handled by one single callback function.

The callback mode is a property of the callback module and is set at server start. It may be changed due to a code upgrade/downgrade, or when changing the callback module.

See the section State Callback that describes the event handling callback function(s).

The callback mode is selected by implementing a mandatory callback function `Module:callback_mode()` that returns one of the callback modes.

The `Module:callback_mode()` function may also return a list containing the callback mode and the atom `state_enter` in which case state enter calls are activated for the callback mode.

### Choosing the Callback Mode

The short version: choose `state_functions` - it is the one most like `gen_fsm`. But if you do not want the restriction that the state must be an atom, or if you do not want to write one state callback function per state, please read on...

The two callback modes give different possibilities and restrictions, with one common goal: to handle all possible combinations of events and states.

This can be done, for example, by focusing on one state at the time and for every state ensure that all events are handled. Alternatively, you can focus on one event at the time and ensure that it is handled in every state. You can also use a mix of these strategies.

With `state_functions`, you are restricted to use atom-only states, and the `gen_statem` engine branches depending on state name for you. This encourages the callback module to co-locate the implementation of all event actions particular to one state in the same place in the code, hence to focus on one state at the time.

This mode fits well when you have a regular state diagram, like the ones in this chapter, which describes all events and actions belonging to a state visually around that state, and each state has its unique name.

With `handle_event_function`, you are free to mix strategies, as all events and states are handled in the same callback function.

This mode works equally well when you want to focus on one event at the time or on one state at the time, but function `Module:handle_event/4` quickly grows too large to handle without branching to helper functions.

The mode enables the use of non-atom states, for example, complex states or even hierarchical states. See section Complex State. If, for example, a state diagram is largely alike for the client side and the server side of a protocol, you can have a state `{StateName,server}` or `{StateName,client}`, and make `StateName` determine where in the code to handle most events in the state. The second element of the tuple is then used to select whether to handle special client-side or server-side events.

## State Callback

The state callback is the callback function that handles an event in the current state, and which function that is depends on the callback mode:

- `state_functions` - The event is handled by: `Module:StateName(EventType, EventContent, Data)`

  This form is the one mostly used in the Example section.

- `handle_event_function` - The event is handled by: `Module:handle_event(EventType, EventContent, State, Data)`

  See section One State Callback for an example.

The state is either the name of the function itself or an argument to it. The other arguments are the `EventType` and the event dependent `EventContent`, both described in section Event Types and Event Content, and the current server `Data`.

State enter calls are also handled by the event handler and have slightly different arguments. See section State Enter Calls.

The state callback return values are defined in the description of `Module:StateName/3` in `gen_statem`, but here is a more readable list:

- `{next_state, NextState, NewData, Actions}` `{next_state, NextState, NewData}` Set next state and update the server data. If the `Actions` field is used, execute transition actions. An empty `Actions` list is equivalent to not returning the field.

  See section Transition Actions for a list of possible transition actions.

  If `NextState =/= State` this is a state change so the extra things `gen_statem` does are: the event queue is restarted from the oldest postponed event, any current state time-out is canceled, and a state enter call is performed, if enabled.

- `{keep_state, NewData, Actions}` `{keep_state, NewData}` Same as the `next_state` values with `NextState =:= State`, that is, no state change.

- `{keep_state_and_data, Actions}` `keep_state_and_data` Same as the `keep_state` values with `NextData =:= Data`, that is, no change in server data.

- `{repeat_state, NewData, Actions}` `{repeat_state, NewData}` `{repeat_state_and_data, Actions}` `repeat_state_and_data` Same as the `keep_state` or `keep_state_and_data` values, and if State Enter Calls are enabled, repeat the state enter call as if this state was entered again.

  If these return values are used from a state enter call the `OldState` does not change, but if used from an event handling state callback the new state enter call's `OldState` will be the current state.

- `{stop, Reason, NewData}` `{stop, Reason}` Stop the server with reason `Reason`. If the `NewData` field is used, first update the server data.

- `{stop_and_reply, Reason, NewData, ReplyActions}` `{stop_and_reply, Reason, ReplyActions}` Same as the `stop` values, but first execute the given transition actions that may only be reply actions.

### The First State

To decide the first state the `Module:init(Args)` callback function is called before any state callback is called. This function behaves like a state callback function, but gets its only argument `Args` from the `gen_statem` `start/3,4` or `start_link/3,4` function, and returns `{ok, State, Data}` or `{ok, State, Data, Actions}`. If you use the `postpone` action from this function, that action is ignored, since there is no event to postpone.

## Transition Actions

In the first section (Event-Driven State Machines), actions were mentioned as a part of the general state machine model. These general actions are implemented with the code that callback module `gen_statem` executes in an event-handling callback function before returning to the `gen_statem` engine.

There are more specific transition actions that a callback function can command the `gen_statem` engine to do after the callback function return. These are commanded by returning a list of actions in the return value from the callback function. These are the possible transition actions:

- `postpone` `{postpone, Boolean}` - If set postpone the current event, see section Postponing Events.

- `hibernate` `{hibernate, Boolean}` - If set hibernate the `gen_statem`, treated in section Hibernation.

- `{state_timeout, Time, EventContent}` `{state_timeout, Time, EventContent, Opts}` `{state_timeout, update, EventContent}` `{state_timeout, cancel}` - Start, update or cancel a state time-out, read more in sections Time-Outs and State Time-Outs.

- `{{timeout, Name}, Time, EventContent}` `{{timeout, Name}, Time, EventContent, Opts}` `{{timeout, Name}, update, EventContent}` `{{timeout, Name}, cancel}` - Start, update or cancel a generic time-out, read more in sections Time-Outs and Generic Time-Outs.

- `{timeout, Time, EventContent}` `{timeout, Time, EventContent, Opts}` `Time` - Start an event time-out, see more in sections Time-Outs and Event Time-Outs.

- `{reply, From, Reply}` - Reply to a caller, mentioned at the end of section All State Events.

- `{next_event, EventType, EventContent}` - Generate the next event to handle, see section Inserted Events.

- `{change_callback_module, NewModule}` - Change the callback module for the running server. This can be done during any state transition, whether it is a state change or not, but it can not be done from a state enter call.

- `{push_callback_module, NewModule}` - Push the current callback module to the top of an internal stack of callback modules and set the new callback module for the running server. Otherwise like `{change_callback_module, NewModule}` above.

- `pop_callback_module` - Pop the top module from the internal stack of callback modules and set it to be the new callback module for the running server. If the stack is empty the server fails. Otherwise like `{change_callback_module, NewModule}` above.

For details, see module `gen_statem` for type `action()`. You can, for example, reply to many callers, generate multiple next events, and set a time-out to use absolute instead of relative time (using the `Opts` field).

Out of these transition actions, the only immediate action is `reply` for replying to a caller. The other actions are collected and handled later during the state transition. Inserted Events are stored and inserted all together, and the rest set transition options where the last of a specific type override the previous. See the description of a state transition in module `gen_statem` for type `transition_option()`.

The different Time-Outs and `next_event` actions generate new events with corresponding Event Types and Event Content .

## Event Types and Event Content

Events are categorized in different event types. Events of all types are for a given state handled in the same callback function, and that function gets `EventType` and `EventContent` as arguments. The meaning of the `EventContent` depends on the `EventType`.

The following is a complete list of event types and from where they come:

- `cast` - Generated by `gen_statem:cast(ServerRef, Msg)` where `Msg` becomes the `EventContent`.

- `{call,From}` - Generated by `gen_statem:call(ServerRef, Request)` where `Request` becomes the `EventContent`. `From` is the reply address to use when replying either through the transition action `{reply,From,Reply}` or by calling `gen_statem:reply(From, Reply)` from the callback module.

- `info` - Generated by any regular process message sent to the `gen_statem` process. The process message becomes the `EventContent`.

- `state_timeout` - Generated by transition action `{state_timeout,Time,EventContent}` state timer timing out. Read more in sections Time-Outs and State Time-Outs.

- `{timeout,Name}` - Generated by transition action `{{timeout,Name},Time,EventContent}` generic timer timing out. Read more in sections Time-Outs and Generic Time-Outs.

- `timeout` - Generated by transition action `{timeout,Time,EventContent}` (or its short form `Time`) event timer timing out. Read more in sections Time-Outs and Event Time-Outs.

- `internal` - Generated by transition action `{next_event,internal,EventContent}`. All event types above can also be generated using the `next_event` action: `{next_event,EventType,EventContent}`.

## State Enter Calls

The `gen_statem` behaviour can if this is enabled, regardless of callback mode, automatically call the state callback with special arguments whenever the state changes so you can write state enter actions near the rest of the state transition rules. It typically looks like this:

    StateName(enter, OldState, Data) ->
        ... code for state enter actions here ...
        {keep_state, NewData};
    StateName(EventType, EventContent, Data) ->
        ... code for actions here ...
        {next_state, NewStateName, NewData}.

Since the state enter call is not an event there are restrictions on the allowed return value and State Transition Actions. You must not change the state, postpone this non-event, insert any events, or change the callback module.

The first state that is entered will get a state enter call with `OldState` equal to the current state.

You may repeat the state enter call using the `{repeat_state,...}` return value from the state callback. In this case `OldState` will also be equal to the current state.

Depending on how your state machine is specified, this can be a very useful feature, but it forces you to handle the state enter calls in all states. See also the State Enter Actions section.

## Time-Outs

Time-outs in `gen_statem` are started from a transition action during a state transition that is when exiting from the state callback.

There are 3 types of time-outs in `gen_statem`:

- `state_timeout` - There is one State Time-Out that is automatically canceled by a state change.

- `{timeout, Name}` - There are any number of Generic Time-Outs differing by their `Name`. They have no automatic canceling.

- `timeout` - There is one Event Time-Out that is automatically canceled by any event. Note that postponed and inserted events cancel this time-out just as external events do.

When a time-out is started any running time-out of the same type (`state_timeout`, `{timeout, Name}`, or `timeout`) is canceled, that is, the time-out is restarted with the new time.

All time-outs has an `EventContent` that is part of the transition action that starts the time-out. Different `EventContent`s does not create different time-outs. The `EventContent` is delivered to the state callback when the time-out expires.

### Canceling a Time-Out

Starting a time-out with the `infinity` time value ensures it never times out, essentially preventing it from even starting, and any running time-out with the same tag will be canceled. The `EventContent` will in this case be ignored, so it makes sense to set it to `undefined`.

A more explicit way to cancel a timer is to use a transition action on the form `{TimeoutType, cancel}` .

### Updating a Time-Out

While a time-out is running, its `EventContent` can be updated using a transition action on the form `{TimeoutType, update, NewEventContent}` .

If this feature is used while no such `TimeoutType` is running, a time-out event is immediately delivered as when starting a Time-Out Zero.

### Time-Out Zero

If a time-out is started with the time `0` it will actually not be started. Instead the time-out event will immediately be inserted to be processed after any events already enqueued, and before any not yet received external events. Note that some time-outs are automatically canceled so if you for example combine postponing an event in a state change with starting an event time-out with time `0` there will be no time-out event inserted since the event time-out is canceled by the postponed event that is delivered due to the state change.

## Example

A door with a code lock can be seen as a state machine. Initially, the door is locked. When someone presses a button, a `{button, Button}` event is generated. In the state diagram below, "Collect Buttons" means to store buttons up to as many as in the correct code; append to a length capped list. If correct, the door is unlocked for 10 seconds. If incorrect, we wait for a new button to be pressed.

    ---
    title: Code Lock State Diagram
    ---
    stateDiagram-v2
        state check_code <<choice>>

        [*]         --> locked : * do_lock()\n* Clear Buttons

        locked      --> check_code : {button, Button}\n* Collect Buttons
        check_code  --> locked     : Incorrect code
        check_code  --> open       : Correct code\n* do_unlock()\n* Clear Buttons\n* Set state_timeout 10 s

        open        --> open   : {button, Digit}
        open        --> locked : state_timeout\n* do_lock()

This code lock state machine can be implemented using `gen_statem` with the following callback module:

    -module(code_lock).
    -behaviour(gen_statem).
    -define(NAME, code_lock).

    -export([start_link/1]).
    -export([button/1]).
    -export([init/1,callback_mode/0,terminate/3]).
    -export([locked/3,open/3]).

    start_link(Code) ->
        gen_statem:start_link({local,?NAME}, ?MODULE, Code, []).

    button(Button) ->
        gen_statem:cast(?NAME, {button,Button}).

    init(Code) ->
        do_lock(),
        Data = #{code => Code, length => length(Code), buttons => []},
        {ok, locked, Data}.

    callback_mode() ->
        state_functions.

    locked(
      cast, {button,Button},
      #{code := Code, length := Length, buttons := Buttons} = Data) ->
        NewButtons =
            if
                length(Buttons) < Length ->
                    Buttons;
                true ->
                    tl(Buttons)
            end ++ [Button],
        if
            NewButtons =:= Code -> % Correct
    	    do_unlock(),
                {next_state, open, Data#{buttons := []},
                 [{state_timeout,10_000,lock}]}; % Time in milliseconds
    	true -> % Incomplete | Incorrect
                {next_state, locked, Data#{buttons := NewButtons}}
        end.

    open(state_timeout, lock,  Data) ->
        do_lock(),
        {next_state, locked, Data};
    open(cast, {button,_}, Data) ->
        {next_state, open, Data}.

    do_lock() ->
        io:format("Lock~n", []).
    do_unlock() ->
        io:format("Unlock~n", []).

    terminate(_Reason, State, _Data) ->
        State =/= locked andalso do_lock(),
        ok.

The code is explained in the next sections.

## Starting gen_statem

In the example in the previous section, `gen_statem` is started by calling `code_lock:start_link(Code)`:

    start_link(Code) ->
        gen_statem:start_link({local,?NAME}, ?MODULE, Code, []).

`start_link/1` calls function `gen_statem:start_link/4`, which spawns and links to a new process, a `gen_statem`.

- The first argument, `{local,?NAME}`, specifies the name. In this case, the `gen_statem` is locally registered as `code_lock` through the macro `?NAME`.

  If the name is omitted, the `gen_statem` is not registered. Instead its pid must be used. The name can also be specified as `{global,Name}`, then the `gen_statem` is registered using `global:register_name/2` in Kernel.

- The second argument, `?MODULE`, is the name of the callback module, that is, the module where the callback functions are located, which is this module.

  The interface functions (`start_link/1` and `button/1`) are located in the same module as the callback functions (`init/1`, `locked/3`, and `open/3`). It is normally good programming practice to have the client-side code and the server-side code contained in the same module.

- The third argument, `Code`, is a list of digits, which is the correct unlock code that is passed to callback function `init/1`.

- The fourth argument, `[]`, is a list of options. For the available options, see `gen_statem:start_link/3`.

If name registration succeeds, the new `gen_statem` process calls callback function `code_lock:init(Code)`. This function is expected to return `{ok, State, Data}`, where `State` is the initial state of the `gen_statem`, in this case `locked`; assuming that the door is locked to begin with. `Data` is the internal server data of the `gen_statem`. Here the server data is a map with key `code` that stores the correct button sequence, key `length` store its length, and key `buttons` that stores the collected buttons up to the same length.

    init(Code) ->
        do_lock(),
        Data = #{code => Code, length => length(Code), buttons => []},
        {ok, locked, Data}.

Function `gen_statem:start_link/3,4` is synchronous. It does not return until the `gen_statem` is initialized and is ready to receive events.

Function `gen_statem:start_link/3,4` must be used if the `gen_statem` is part of a supervision tree, that is, started by a supervisor. Another function, `gen_statem:start/3,4` can be used to start a standalone `gen_statem`, meaning it is not part of a supervision tree.

Function `Module:callback_mode/0` selects the `CallbackMode` for the callback module, in this case `state_functions`. That is, each state has its own handler function:

    callback_mode() ->
        state_functions.

## Handling Events

The function notifying the code lock about a button event is implemented using `gen_statem:cast/2`:

    button(Button) ->
        gen_statem:cast(?NAME, {button,Button}).

The first argument is the name of the `gen_statem` and must agree with the name used to start it. So, we use the same macro `?NAME` as when starting. `{button,Button}` is the event content.

The event is sent to the `gen_statem`. When the event is received, the `gen_statem` calls `StateName(cast, Event, Data)`, which is expected to return a tuple `{next_state, NewStateName, NewData}`, or `{next_state, NewStateName, NewData, Actions}`. `StateName` is the name of the current state and `NewStateName` is the name of the next state to go to. `NewData` is a new value for the server data of the `gen_statem`, and `Actions` is a list of actions to be performed by the `gen_statem` engine.

    locked(
      cast, {button,Button},
      #{code := Code, length := Length, buttons := Buttons} = Data) ->
        NewButtons =
            if
                length(Buttons) < Length ->
                    Buttons;
                true ->
                    tl(Buttons)
            end ++ [Button],
        if
            NewButtons =:= Code -> % Correct
    	    do_unlock(),
                {next_state, open, Data#{buttons := []},
                 [{state_timeout,10_000,lock}]}; % Time in milliseconds
    	true -> % Incomplete | Incorrect
                {next_state, locked, Data#{buttons := NewButtons}}
        end.

In state `locked`, when a button is pressed, it is collected with the previously pressed buttons up to the length of the correct code, then compared with the correct code. Depending on the result, the door is either unlocked and the `gen_statem` goes to state `open`, or the door remains in state `locked`.

When changing to state `open`, the collected buttons are reset, the lock unlocked, and a state timer for 10 seconds is started.

    open(cast, {button,_}, Data) ->
        {next_state, open, Data}.

In state `open`, a button event is ignored by staying in the same state. This can also be done by returning `{keep_state, Data}`, or in this case since `Data` is unchanged, by returning `keep_state_and_data`.

## State Time-Outs

When a correct code has been given, the door is unlocked and the following tuple is returned from `locked/2`:

    {next_state, open, Data#{buttons := []},
     [{state_timeout,10_000,lock}]}; % Time in milliseconds

10,000 is a time-out value in milliseconds. After this time (10 seconds), a time-out occurs. Then, `StateName(state_timeout, lock, Data)` is called. The time-out occurs when the door has been in state `open` for 10 seconds. After that the door is locked again:

    open(state_timeout, lock,  Data) ->
        do_lock(),
        {next_state, locked, Data};

The timer for a state time-out is automatically canceled when the state machine does a state change.

You can restart, cancel or update a state time-out. See section Time-Outs for details.

## All State Events

Sometimes events can arrive in any state of the `gen_statem`. It is convenient to handle these in a common state handler function that all state functions call for events not specific to the state.

Consider a `code_length/0` function that returns the length of the correct code. We dispatch all events that are not state-specific to the common function `handle_common/3`:

    ...
    -export([button/1,code_length/0]).
    ...

    code_length() ->
        gen_statem:call(?NAME, code_length).

    ...
    locked(...) -> ... ;
    locked(EventType, EventContent, Data) ->
        handle_common(EventType, EventContent, Data).

    ...
    open(...) -> ... ;
    open(EventType, EventContent, Data) ->
        handle_common(EventType, EventContent, Data).

    handle_common({call,From}, code_length, #{code := Code} = Data) ->
        {keep_state, Data,
         [{reply,From,length(Code)}]}.

Another way to do it is through a convenience macro `?HANDLE_COMMON/0`:

    ...
    -export([button/1,code_length/0]).
    ...

    code_length() ->
        gen_statem:call(?NAME, code_length).

    -define(HANDLE_COMMON,
        ?FUNCTION_NAME(T, C, D) -> handle_common(T, C, D)).
    %%
    handle_common({call,From}, code_length, #{code := Code} = Data) ->
        {keep_state, Data,
         [{reply,From,length(Code)}]}.

    ...
    locked(...) -> ... ;
    ?HANDLE_COMMON.

    ...
    open(...) -> ... ;
    ?HANDLE_COMMON.

This example uses `gen_statem:call/2`, which waits for a reply from the server. The reply is sent with a `{reply,From,Reply}` tuple in an action list in the `{keep_state, ...}` tuple that retains the current state. This return form is convenient when you want to stay in the current state but do not know or care about what it is.

If the common state callback needs to know the current state a function `handle_common/4` can be used instead:

    -define(HANDLE_COMMON,
        ?FUNCTION_NAME(T, C, D) -> handle_common(T, C, ?FUNCTION_NAME, D)).

## One State Callback

If callback mode `handle_event_function` is used, all events are handled in `Module:handle_event/4` and we can (but do not have to) use an event-centered approach where we first branch depending on event and then depending on state:

    ...
    -export([handle_event/4]).

    ...
    callback_mode() ->
        handle_event_function.

    handle_event(cast, {button,Button}, State, #{code := Code} = Data) ->
        case State of
    	locked ->
                #{length := Length, buttons := Buttons} = Data,
                NewButtons =
                    if
                        length(Buttons) < Length ->
                            Buttons;
                        true ->
                            tl(Buttons)
                    end ++ [Button],
                if
                    NewButtons =:= Code -> % Correct
                        do_unlock(),
                        {next_state, open, Data#{buttons := []},
                         [{state_timeout,10_000,lock}]}; % Time in milliseconds
                    true -> % Incomplete | Incorrect
                        {keep_state, Data#{buttons := NewButtons}}
                end;
    	open ->
                keep_state_and_data
        end;
    handle_event(state_timeout, lock, open, Data) ->
        do_lock(),
        {next_state, locked, Data};
    handle_event(
      {call,From}, code_length, _State, #{code := Code} = Data) ->
        {keep_state, Data,
         [{reply,From,length(Code)}]}.

    ...

## Stopping

### In a Supervision Tree

If the `gen_statem` is part of a supervision tree, no stop function is needed. The `gen_statem` is automatically terminated by its supervisor. Exactly how this is done is defined by a shutdown strategy set in the supervisor.

If it is necessary to clean up before termination, the shutdown strategy must be a time-out value and the `gen_statem` must in function `init/1` set itself to trap exit signals by calling `process_flag(trap_exit, true)`:

    init(Args) ->
        process_flag(trap_exit, true),
        do_lock(),
        ...

When ordered to shut down, the `gen_statem` then calls callback function `terminate(shutdown, State, Data)`.

In this example, function `terminate/3` locks the door if it is open, so we do not accidentally leave the door open when the supervision tree terminates:

    terminate(_Reason, State, _Data) ->
        State =/= locked andalso do_lock(),
        ok.

### Standalone gen_statem

If the `gen_statem` is not part of a supervision tree, it can be stopped using `gen_statem:stop/1`, preferably through an API function:

    ...
    -export([start_link/1,stop/0]).

    ...
    stop() ->
        gen_statem:stop(?NAME).

This makes the `gen_statem` call callback function `terminate/3` just like for a supervised server and waits for the process to terminate.

## Event Time-Outs

A time-out feature inherited from `gen_statem`'s predecessor `gen_fsm`, is an event time-out, that is, if an event arrives the timer is canceled. You get either an event or a time-out, but not both.

It is ordered by the transition action `{timeout,Time,EventContent}`, or just an integer `Time`, even without the enclosing actions list (the latter is a form inherited from `gen_fsm`).

This type of time-out is useful, for example, to act on inactivity. Let us restart the code sequence if no button is pressed for say 30 seconds:

    ...

    locked(timeout, _, Data) ->
        {next_state, locked, Data#{buttons := []}};
    locked(
      cast, {button,Button},
      #{code := Code, length := Length, buttons := Buttons} = Data) ->
    ...
    	true -> % Incomplete | Incorrect
                {next_state, locked, Data#{buttons := NewButtons},
                 30000} % Time in milliseconds
    ...

Whenever we receive a button event we start an event time-out of 30 seconds, and if we get an event type of `timeout` we reset the remaining code sequence.

An event time-out is canceled by any other event so you either get some other event or the time-out event. Therefore, canceling, restarting, or updating an event time-out is neither possible nor necessary. Whatever event you act on has already canceled the event time-out, so there is never a running event time-out while the state callback executes.

Note that an event time-out does not work well when you have for example a status call as in section All State Events, or handle unknown events, since all kinds of events will cancel the event time-out.

## Generic Time-Outs

The previous example of state time-outs only work if the state machine stays in the same state during the time-out time. And event time-outs only work if no disturbing unrelated events occur.

You may want to start a timer in one state and respond to the time-out in another, maybe cancel the time-out without changing states, or perhaps run multiple time-outs in parallel. All this can be accomplished with generic time-outs. They may look a little bit like event time-outs but contain a name to allow for any number of them simultaneously and they are not automatically canceled.

Here is how to accomplish the state time-out in the previous example by instead using a generic time-out named for example `open`:

    ...
    locked(
      cast, {button,Button},
      #{code := Code, length := Length, buttons := Buttons} = Data) ->
    ...
        if
            NewButtons =:= Code -> % Correct
    	    do_unlock(),
                {next_state, open, Data#{buttons := []},
                 [{{timeout,open},10_000,lock}]}; % Time in milliseconds
    ...

    open({timeout,open}, lock, Data) ->
        do_lock(),
        {next_state,locked,Data};
    open(cast, {button,_}, Data) ->
        {keep_state,Data};
    ...

Specific generic time-outs can just as state time-outs be restarted or canceled by setting it to a new time or `infinity`.

In this particular case we do not need to cancel the time-out since the time-out event is the only possible reason to do a state change from `open` to `locked`.

Instead of bothering with when to cancel a time-out, a late time-out event can be handled by ignoring it if it arrives in a state where it is known to be late.

You can restart, cancel, or update a generic time-out. See section Time-Outs for details.

## Erlang Timers

The most versatile way to handle time-outs is to use Erlang Timers; see `erlang:start_timer/3,4`. Most time-out tasks can be performed with the time-out features in `gen_statem`, but an example of one that cannot is if you should need the return value from `erlang:cancel_timer(Tref)`, that is, the remaining time of the timer.

Here is how to accomplish the state time-out in the previous example by instead using an Erlang Timer:

    ...
    locked(
      cast, {button,Button},
      #{code := Code, length := Length, buttons := Buttons} = Data) ->
    ...
        if
            NewButtons =:= Code -> % Correct
    	    do_unlock(),
    	    Tref =
                     erlang:start_timer(
                         10_000, self(), lock), % Time in milliseconds
                {next_state, open, Data#{buttons := [], timer => Tref}};
    ...

    open(info, {timeout,Tref,lock}, #{timer := Tref} = Data) ->
        do_lock(),
        {next_state,locked,maps:remove(timer, Data)};
    open(cast, {button,_}, Data) ->
        {keep_state,Data};
    ...

Removing the `timer` key from the map when we do a state change to `locked` is not strictly necessary since we can only get into state `open` with an updated `timer` map value. But it can be nice to not have outdated values in the state `Data`.

If you need to cancel a timer because of some other event, you can use `erlang:cancel_timer(Tref)`. Note that no time-out message will arrive after this (because the timer has been explicitly canceled), unless you have already postponed one earlier (see the next section), so ensure that you do not accidentally postpone such messages. Also note that a time-out message may arrive during a state callback that is canceling the timer, so you may have to read out such a message from the process mailbox, depending on the return value from `erlang:cancel_timer(Tref)`.

Another way to handle a late time-out can be to not cancel it, but to ignore it if it arrives in a state where it is known to be late.

## Postponing Events

If you want to ignore a particular event in the current state and handle it in a future state, you can postpone the event. A postponed event is retried after a state change, that is, `OldState =/= NewState`.

Postponing is ordered by the transition action `postpone`.

In this example, instead of ignoring button events while in the `open` state, we can postpone them and they are queued and later handled in the `locked` state:

    ...
    open(cast, {button,_}, Data) ->
        {keep_state,Data,[postpone]};
    ...

Since a postponed event is only retried after a state change, you have to think about where to keep a state data item. You can keep it in the server `Data` or in the `State` itself, for example by having two more or less identical states to keep a boolean value, or by using a complex state (see section Complex State) with callback mode `handle_event_function`. If a change in the value changes the set of events that is handled, the value should be kept in the State. Otherwise no postponed events will be retried since only the server `Data` changes.

This is not important if you do not postpone events. But if you later decide to start postponing some events, the design flaw of not having separate states when they should be, could become a hard-to-find bug.

### Fuzzy State Diagrams

It is not uncommon that a state diagram does not specify how to handle events that are not illustrated in a particular state in the diagram. Hopefully this is described in an associated text or from the context.

Possible actions: ignore as in drop the event (maybe log it) or deal with the event in some other state as in postpone it.

### Selective Receive

Erlang's selective `receive` statement is often used to describe simple state machine examples in straightforward Erlang code. The following is a possible implementation of the first example:

    -module(code_lock).
    -define(NAME, code_lock_1).
    -export([start_link/1,button/1]).

    start_link(Code) ->
        spawn(
          fun () ->
    	      true = register(?NAME, self()),
    	      do_lock(),
    	      locked(Code, length(Code), [])
          end).

    button(Button) ->
        ?NAME ! {button,Button}.

    locked(Code, Length, Buttons) ->
        receive
            {button,Button} ->
                NewButtons =
                    if
                        length(Buttons) < Length ->
                            Buttons;
                        true ->
                            tl(Buttons)
                    end ++ [Button],
                if
                    NewButtons =:= Code -> % Correct
                        do_unlock(),
    		    open(Code, Length);
                    true -> % Incomplete | Incorrect
                        locked(Code, Length, NewButtons)
                end
        end.

    open(Code, Length) ->
        receive
        after 10_000 -> % Time in milliseconds
    	    do_lock(),
    	    locked(Code, Length, [])
        end.

    do_lock() ->
        io:format("Locked~n", []).
    do_unlock() ->
        io:format("Open~n", []).

The selective receive in this case causes `open` to implicitly postpone any events to the `locked` state.

A catch-all receive should never be used from a `gen_statem` behaviour (or from any `gen_*` behaviour), as the receive statement is within the `gen_*` engine itself. `sys`-compatible behaviours must respond to system messages and therefore do that in their engine receive loop, passing non-system messages to the callback module. Using a catch-all receive can result in system messages being discarded, which in turn can lead to unexpected behaviour. If a selective receive must be used, great care should be taken to ensure that only messages pertinent to the operation are received. Likewise, a callback must return in due time to let the engine receive loop handle system messages, or they might time out, also leading to unexpected behaviour.

The transition action `postpone` is designed to model selective receives. A selective receive implicitly postpones any events not yet received, but the `postpone` transition action explicitly postpones a single received event.

Both mechanisms have the same theoretical time and memory complexity, but note that the selective receive language construct has smaller constant factors.

## State Enter Actions

Say you have a state machine specification that uses state enter actions. Although you can code this using inserted events (described in the next section), especially if only one or a few states have state enter actions, this is a perfect use case for the built in state enter calls.

You return a list containing `state_enter` from your `callback_mode/0` function and the `gen_statem` engine will call your state callback once with an event `(enter, OldState, ...)` whenever it does a state change. Then you just need to handle these event-like calls in all states.

    ...
    init(Code) ->
        process_flag(trap_exit, true),
        Data = #{code => Code, length = length(Code)},
        {ok, locked, Data}.

    callback_mode() ->
        [state_functions,state_enter].

    locked(enter, _OldState, Data) ->
        do_lock(),
        {keep_state,Data#{buttons => []}};
    locked(
      cast, {button,Button},
      #{code := Code, length := Length, buttons := Buttons} = Data) ->
    ...
        if
            NewButtons =:= Code -> % Correct
                {next_state, open, Data};
    ...

    open(enter, _OldState, _Data) ->
        do_unlock(),
        {keep_state_and_data,
         [{state_timeout,10_000,lock}]}; % Time in milliseconds
    open(state_timeout, lock, Data) ->
        {next_state, locked, Data};
    ...

You can repeat the state enter code by returning one of `{repeat_state, ...}`, `{repeat_state_and_data,_}`, or `repeat_state_and_data` that otherwise behaves exactly like their `keep_state` siblings. See the type `state_callback_result()` in the Reference Manual.

## Inserted Events

It can sometimes be beneficial to be able to generate events to your own state machine. This can be done with the transition action `{next_event,EventType,EventContent}`.

You can generate events of any existing type, but the `internal` type can only be generated through action `next_event`. Hence, it cannot come from an external source, so you can be certain that an `internal` event is an event from your state machine to itself.

One example for this is to pre-process incoming data, for example decrypting chunks or collecting characters up to a line break.

Purists may argue that this should be modeled with a separate state machine that sends pre-processed events to the main state machine.

However, for efficiency's sake, the small pre-processing state machine can be integrated into the common event handling of the main state machine. This integration involves using a few state data items to dispatch pre-processed events as internal events to the main state machine.

Using internal events also can make it easier to synchronize the state machines.

A variant of this is to use a complex state with one state callback, modeling the state with, for example, a tuple `{MainFSMState,SubFSMState}`.

To illustrate this we make up an example where the buttons instead generate down and up (press and release) events, and the lock responds to an up event only after the corresponding down event.

    ...
    -export([down/1, up/1]).
    ...
    down(Button) ->
        gen_statem:cast(?NAME, {down,Button}).

    up(Button) ->
        gen_statem:cast(?NAME, {up,Button}).

    ...

    locked(enter, _OldState, Data) ->
        do_lock(),
        {keep_state,Data#{buttons => []}};
    locked(
      internal, {button,Button},
      #{code := Code, length := Length, buttons := Buttons} = Data) ->
    ...

    handle_common(cast, {down,Button}, Data) ->
        {keep_state, Data#{button => Button}};
    handle_common(cast, {up,Button}, Data) ->
        case Data of
            #{button := Button} ->
                {keep_state,maps:remove(button, Data),
                 [{next_event,internal,{button,Button}}]};
            #{} ->
                keep_state_and_data
        end;
    ...

    open(internal, {button,_}, Data) ->
        {keep_state,Data,[postpone]};
    ...

If you start this program with `code_lock:start([17])` you can unlock with `code_lock:down(17), code_lock:up(17).`

## Example Revisited

This section includes the example after most of the mentioned modifications and some more using state enter calls, which deserves a new state diagram:

    ---
    title: Code Lock State Diagram Revisited
    ---
    stateDiagram-v2
        state enter_locked <<choice>>
        state enter_open   <<choice>>
        state check_code   <<choice>>

        [*] --> enter_locked

        enter_locked --> locked     : * do_lock()\n* Clear Buttons
        locked       --> check_code : {button, Button}\n* Collect Buttons
        locked       --> locked     : state_timeout\n* Clear Buttons
        check_code   --> locked     : Incorrect code\n* Set state_timeout 30 s
        check_code   --> enter_open : Correct code

        enter_open --> open         : * do_unlock()\n* Set state_timeout 10 s
        open       --> enter_locked : state_timeout

Notice that this state diagram does not specify how to handle a button event in the state `open`. So, you need to read in some side notes, that is, here: that unspecified events shall be postponed (handled in some later state). Also, the state diagram does not show that the `code_length/0` call must be handled in every state.

### Callback Mode: state_functions

Using state functions:

    -module(code_lock).
    -behaviour(gen_statem).
    -define(NAME, code_lock_2).

    -export([start_link/1,stop/0]).
    -export([down/1,up/1,code_length/0]).
    -export([init/1,callback_mode/0,terminate/3]).
    -export([locked/3,open/3]).

    start_link(Code) ->
        gen_statem:start_link({local,?NAME}, ?MODULE, Code, []).
    stop() ->
        gen_statem:stop(?NAME).

    down(Button) ->
        gen_statem:cast(?NAME, {down,Button}).
    up(Button) ->
        gen_statem:cast(?NAME, {up,Button}).
    code_length() ->
        gen_statem:call(?NAME, code_length).

    init(Code) ->
        process_flag(trap_exit, true),
        Data = #{code => Code, length => length(Code), buttons => []},
        {ok, locked, Data}.

    callback_mode() ->
        [state_functions,state_enter].

    -define(HANDLE_COMMON,
        ?FUNCTION_NAME(T, C, D) -> handle_common(T, C, D)).
    %%
    handle_common(cast, {down,Button}, Data) ->
        {keep_state, Data#{button => Button}};
    handle_common(cast, {up,Button}, Data) ->
        case Data of
            #{button := Button} ->
                {keep_state, maps:remove(button, Data),
                 [{next_event,internal,{button,Button}}]};
            #{} ->
                keep_state_and_data
        end;
    handle_common({call,From}, code_length, #{code := Code}) ->
        {keep_state_and_data,
         [{reply,From,length(Code)}]}.

    locked(enter, _OldState, Data) ->
        do_lock(),
        {keep_state, Data#{buttons := []}};
    locked(state_timeout, button, Data) ->
        {keep_state, Data#{buttons := []}};
    locked(
      internal, {button,Button},
      #{code := Code, length := Length, buttons := Buttons} = Data) ->
        NewButtons =
            if
                length(Buttons) < Length ->
                    Buttons;
                true ->
                    tl(Buttons)
            end ++ [Button],
        if
            NewButtons =:= Code -> % Correct
                {next_state, open, Data};
    	true -> % Incomplete | Incorrect
                {keep_state, Data#{buttons := NewButtons},
                 [{state_timeout,30000,button}]} % Time in milliseconds
        end;
    ?HANDLE_COMMON.

    open(enter, _OldState, _Data) ->
        do_unlock(),
        {keep_state_and_data,
         [{state_timeout,10_000,lock}]}; % Time in milliseconds
    open(state_timeout, lock, Data) ->
        {next_state, locked, Data};
    open(internal, {button,_}, _) ->
        {keep_state_and_data, [postpone]};
    ?HANDLE_COMMON.

    do_lock() ->
        io:format("Locked~n", []).
    do_unlock() ->
        io:format("Open~n", []).

    terminate(_Reason, State, _Data) ->
        State =/= locked andalso do_lock(),
        ok.

### Callback Mode: handle_event_function

This section describes what to change in the example to use one `handle_event/4` function. The previously used approach to first branch depending on event does not work that well here because of the state enter calls, so this example first branches depending on state:

    -export([handle_event/4]).

    callback_mode() ->
        [handle_event_function,state_enter].

    %%
    %% State: locked
    handle_event(enter, _OldState, locked, Data) ->
        do_lock(),
        {keep_state, Data#{buttons := []}};
    handle_event(state_timeout, button, locked, Data) ->
        {keep_state, Data#{buttons := []}};
    handle_event(
      internal, {button,Button}, locked,
      #{code := Code, length := Length, buttons := Buttons} = Data) ->
        NewButtons =
            if
                length(Buttons) < Length ->
                    Buttons;
                true ->
                    tl(Buttons)
            end ++ [Button],
        if
            NewButtons =:= Code -> % Correct
                {next_state, open, Data};
    	true -> % Incomplete | Incorrect
                {keep_state, Data#{buttons := NewButtons},
                 [{state_timeout,30000,button}]} % Time in milliseconds
        end;

    %%
    %% State: open
    handle_event(enter, _OldState, open, _Data) ->
        do_unlock(),
        {keep_state_and_data,
         [{state_timeout,10_000,lock}]}; % Time in milliseconds
    handle_event(state_timeout, lock, open, Data) ->
        {next_state, locked, Data};
    handle_event(internal, {button,_}, open, _) ->
        {keep_state_and_data,[postpone]};

    %% Common events
    handle_event(cast, {down,Button}, _State, Data) ->
        {keep_state, Data#{button => Button}};
    handle_event(cast, {up,Button}, _State, Data) ->
        case Data of
            #{button := Button} ->
                {keep_state, maps:remove(button, Data),
                 [{next_event,internal,{button,Button}},
                  {state_timeout,30000,button}]}; % Time in milliseconds
            #{} ->
                keep_state_and_data
        end;
    handle_event({call,From}, code_length, _State, #{length := Length}) ->
        {keep_state_and_data,
         [{reply,From,Length}]}.

Notice that postponing buttons from the `open` state to the `locked` state feels like a strange thing to do for a code lock, but it at least illustrates event postponing.

## Filter the State

The example servers so far in this chapter print the full internal state in the error log, for example, when killed by an exit signal or because of an internal error. This state contains both the code lock code and which digits that remain to unlock.

This state data can be regarded as sensitive, and maybe not what you want in the error log because of some unpredictable event.

Another reason to filter the state can be that the state is too large to print, as it fills the error log with uninteresting details.

To avoid this, you can format the internal state that gets in the error log and gets returned from `sys:get_status/1,2` by implementing function `Module:format_status/2`, for example like this:

    ...
    -export([init/1,terminate/3,format_status/2]).
    ...

    format_status(Opt, [_PDict,State,Data]) ->
        StateData =
    	{State,
    	 maps:filter(
    	   fun (code, _) -> false;
    	       (_, _) -> true
    	   end,
    	   Data)},
        case Opt of
    	terminate ->
    	    StateData;
    	normal ->
    	    [{data,[{"State",StateData}]}]
        end.

It is not mandatory to implement a `Module:format_status/2` function. If you do not, a default implementation is used that does the same as this example function without filtering the `Data` term, that is, `StateData = {State,Data}`, in this example containing sensitive information.

## Complex State

The callback mode `handle_event_function` enables using a non-atom state as described in section Callback Modes, for example, a complex state term like a tuple.

One reason to use this is when you have a state item that when changed should cancel the state time-out, or one that affects the event handling in combination with postponing events. We will go for the latter and complicate the previous example by introducing a configurable lock button (this is the state item in question), which in the `open` state immediately locks the door, and an API function `set_lock_button/1` to set the lock button.

Suppose now that we call `set_lock_button` while the door is open, and we have already postponed a button event that was the new lock button:

    1> code_lock:start_link([a,b,c], x).
    {ok,<0.666.0>}
    2> code_lock:button(a).
    ok
    3> code_lock:button(b).
    ok
    4> code_lock:button(c).
    ok
    Open
    5> code_lock:button(y).
    ok
    6> code_lock:set_lock_button(y).
    x
    % What should happen here?  Immediate lock or nothing?

We could say that the button was pressed too early so it is not to be recognized as the lock button. Or we can make the lock button part of the state so when we then change the lock button in the locked state, the change becomes a state change and all postponed events are retried, therefore the lock is immediately locked!

We define the state as `{StateName,LockButton}`, where `StateName` is as before and `LockButton` is the current lock button:

    -module(code_lock).
    -behaviour(gen_statem).
    -define(NAME, code_lock_3).

    -export([start_link/2,stop/0]).
    -export([button/1,set_lock_button/1]).
    -export([init/1,callback_mode/0,terminate/3]).
    -export([handle_event/4]).

    start_link(Code, LockButton) ->
        gen_statem:start_link(
            {local,?NAME}, ?MODULE, {Code,LockButton}, []).
    stop() ->
        gen_statem:stop(?NAME).

    button(Button) ->
        gen_statem:cast(?NAME, {button,Button}).
    set_lock_button(LockButton) ->
        gen_statem:call(?NAME, {set_lock_button,LockButton}).

    init({Code,LockButton}) ->
        process_flag(trap_exit, true),
        Data = #{code => Code, length => length(Code), buttons => []},
        {ok, {locked,LockButton}, Data}.

    callback_mode() ->
        [handle_event_function,state_enter].

    %% State: locked
    handle_event(enter, _OldState, {locked,_}, Data) ->
        do_lock(),
        {keep_state, Data#{buttons := []}};
    handle_event(state_timeout, button, {locked,_}, Data) ->
        {keep_state, Data#{buttons := []}};
    handle_event(
      cast, {button,Button}, {locked,LockButton},
      #{code := Code, length := Length, buttons := Buttons} = Data) ->
        NewButtons =
            if
                length(Buttons) < Length ->
                    Buttons;
                true ->
                    tl(Buttons)
            end ++ [Button],
        if
            NewButtons =:= Code -> % Correct
                {next_state, {open,LockButton}, Data};
    	true -> % Incomplete | Incorrect
                {keep_state, Data#{buttons := NewButtons},
                 [{state_timeout,30000,button}]} % Time in milliseconds
        end;

    %%
    %% State: open
    handle_event(enter, _OldState, {open,_}, _Data) ->
        do_unlock(),
        {keep_state_and_data,
         [{state_timeout,10_000,lock}]}; % Time in milliseconds
    handle_event(state_timeout, lock, {open,LockButton}, Data) ->
        {next_state, {locked,LockButton}, Data};
    handle_event(cast, {button,LockButton}, {open,LockButton}, Data) ->
        {next_state, {locked,LockButton}, Data};
    handle_event(cast, {button,_}, {open,_}, _Data) ->
        {keep_state_and_data,[postpone]};

    %%
    %% Common events
    handle_event(
      {call,From}, {set_lock_button,NewLockButton},
      {StateName,OldLockButton}, Data) ->
        {next_state, {StateName,NewLockButton}, Data,
         [{reply,From,OldLockButton}]}.

    do_lock() ->
        io:format("Locked~n", []).
    do_unlock() ->
        io:format("Open~n", []).

    terminate(_Reason, State, _Data) ->
        State =/= locked andalso do_lock(),
        ok.

## Hibernation

If you have many servers in one node and they have some state(s) in their lifetime in which the servers can be expected to idle for a while, and the amount of heap memory all these servers need is a problem, then the memory footprint of a server can be minimized by hibernating it through `proc_lib:hibernate/3`.

> #### Note

> It is rather costly to hibernate a process; see `erlang:hibernate/3`. It is not something you want to do after every event.

We can in this example hibernate in the `{open,_}` state, because what normally occurs in that state is that the state time-out after a while triggers a transition to `{locked,_}`:

    ...
    %%
    %% State: open
    handle_event(enter, _OldState, {open,_}, _Data) ->
        do_unlock(),
        {keep_state_and_data,
         [{state_timeout,10_000,lock}, % Time in milliseconds
          hibernate]};
    ...

The atom `hibernate` in the action list on the last line when entering the `{open,_}` state is the only change. If any event arrives in the `{open,_},` state, we do not bother to rehibernate, so the server stays awake after any event.

To change that we would need to insert action `hibernate` in more places. For example, the state-independent `set_lock_button` operation would have to use `hibernate` but only in the `{open,_}` state, which would clutter the code.

Another not uncommon scenario is to use the event time-out to trigger hibernation after a certain time of inactivity. There is also a server start option `{hibernate_after, Timeout}` for `start/3,4`, `start_link/3,4` or `enter_loop/4,5,6` that may be used to automatically hibernate the server.

This particular server probably does not use heap memory worth hibernating for. To gain anything from hibernation, your server would have to produce non-insignificant garbage during callback execution, for which this example server can serve as a bad example.

← Previous Page gen_server Behaviour
Next Page → gen_event Behaviour