changeset 29234:0eb7646858e6

Add more comments about Knuth-Morris-Pratt algorithm.
author Bruno Haible <bruno@clisp.org>
date Wed, 26 Dec 2007 16:10:15 +0100
parents 6ae668043e37
children dcfae8124cd4
files ChangeLog lib/c-strcasestr.c lib/c-strstr.c lib/mbscasestr.c lib/mbsstr.c lib/memmem.c lib/strcasestr.c
diffstat 7 files changed, 299 insertions(+), 26 deletions(-) [+]
line wrap: on
line diff
--- a/ChangeLog	Wed Dec 26 16:02:46 2007 +0100
+++ b/ChangeLog	Wed Dec 26 16:10:15 2007 +0100
@@ -1,3 +1,12 @@
+2007-12-23  Bruno Haible  <bruno@clisp.org>
+
+	* lib/c-strcasestr.c: Add more comments.
+	* lib/c-strstr.c: Likewise.
+	* lib/mbscasestr.c: Likewise.
+	* lib/mbsstr.c: Likewise.
+	* lib/strcasestr.c: Likewise.
+	* lib/memmem.c: Likewise.
+
 2007-12-23  Bruno Haible  <bruno@clisp.org>
 
 	* tests/test-memmem.c: Include <string.h> first.
--- a/lib/c-strcasestr.c	Wed Dec 26 16:02:46 2007 +0100
+++ b/lib/c-strcasestr.c	Wed Dec 26 16:10:15 2007 +0100
@@ -43,34 +43,67 @@
   /* Fill the table.
      For 0 < i < m:
        0 < table[i] <= i is defined such that
-       rhaystack[0..i-1] == needle[0..i-1] and rhaystack[i] != needle[i]
-       implies
-       forall 0 <= x < table[i]: rhaystack[x..x+m-1] != needle[0..m-1],
+       forall 0 < x < table[i]: needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x],
        and table[i] is as large as possible with this property.
+     This implies:
+     1) For 0 < i < m:
+          If table[i] < i,
+          needle[table[i]..i-1] = needle[0..i-1-table[i]].
+     2) For 0 < i < m:
+          rhaystack[0..i-1] == needle[0..i-1]
+          and exists h, i <= h < m: rhaystack[h] != needle[h]
+          implies
+          forall 0 <= x < table[i]: rhaystack[x..x+m-1] != needle[0..m-1].
      table[0] remains uninitialized.  */
   {
     size_t i, j;
 
+    /* i = 1: Nothing to verify for x = 0.  */
     table[1] = 1;
     j = 0;
+
     for (i = 2; i < m; i++)
       {
+	/* Here: j = i-1 - table[i-1].
+	   The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] is known to hold
+	   for x < table[i-1], by induction.
+	   Furthermore, if j>0: needle[i-1-j..i-2] = needle[0..j-1].  */
 	unsigned char b = c_tolower ((unsigned char) needle[i - 1]);
 
 	for (;;)
 	  {
+	    /* Invariants: The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x]
+	       is known to hold for x < i-1-j.
+	       Furthermore, if j>0: needle[i-1-j..i-2] = needle[0..j-1].  */
 	    if (b == c_tolower ((unsigned char) needle[j]))
 	      {
+		/* Set table[i] := i-1-j.  */
 		table[i] = i - ++j;
 		break;
 	      }
+	    /* The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] also holds
+	       for x = i-1-j, because
+	         needle[i-1] != needle[j] = needle[i-1-x].  */
 	    if (j == 0)
 	      {
+		/* The inequality holds for all possible x.  */
 		table[i] = i;
 		break;
 	      }
+	    /* The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] also holds
+	       for i-1-j < x < i-1-j+table[j], because for these x:
+		 needle[x..i-2]
+		 = needle[x-(i-1-j)..j-1]
+		 != needle[0..j-1-(x-(i-1-j))]  (by definition of table[j])
+		    = needle[0..i-2-x],
+	       hence needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x].
+	       Furthermore
+		 needle[i-1-j+table[j]..i-2]
+		 = needle[table[j]..j-1]
+		 = needle[0..j-1-table[j]]  (by definition of table[j]).  */
 	    j = j - table[j];
 	  }
+	/* Here: j = i - table[i].  */
       }
   }
 
--- a/lib/c-strstr.c	Wed Dec 26 16:02:46 2007 +0100
+++ b/lib/c-strstr.c	Wed Dec 26 16:10:15 2007 +0100
@@ -42,34 +42,67 @@
   /* Fill the table.
      For 0 < i < m:
        0 < table[i] <= i is defined such that
-       rhaystack[0..i-1] == needle[0..i-1] and rhaystack[i] != needle[i]
-       implies
-       forall 0 <= x < table[i]: rhaystack[x..x+m-1] != needle[0..m-1],
+       forall 0 < x < table[i]: needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x],
        and table[i] is as large as possible with this property.
+     This implies:
+     1) For 0 < i < m:
+          If table[i] < i,
+          needle[table[i]..i-1] = needle[0..i-1-table[i]].
+     2) For 0 < i < m:
+          rhaystack[0..i-1] == needle[0..i-1]
+          and exists h, i <= h < m: rhaystack[h] != needle[h]
+          implies
+          forall 0 <= x < table[i]: rhaystack[x..x+m-1] != needle[0..m-1].
      table[0] remains uninitialized.  */
   {
     size_t i, j;
 
+    /* i = 1: Nothing to verify for x = 0.  */
     table[1] = 1;
     j = 0;
+
     for (i = 2; i < m; i++)
       {
+	/* Here: j = i-1 - table[i-1].
+	   The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] is known to hold
+	   for x < table[i-1], by induction.
+	   Furthermore, if j>0: needle[i-1-j..i-2] = needle[0..j-1].  */
 	unsigned char b = (unsigned char) needle[i - 1];
 
 	for (;;)
 	  {
+	    /* Invariants: The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x]
+	       is known to hold for x < i-1-j.
+	       Furthermore, if j>0: needle[i-1-j..i-2] = needle[0..j-1].  */
 	    if (b == (unsigned char) needle[j])
 	      {
+		/* Set table[i] := i-1-j.  */
 		table[i] = i - ++j;
 		break;
 	      }
+	    /* The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] also holds
+	       for x = i-1-j, because
+	         needle[i-1] != needle[j] = needle[i-1-x].  */
 	    if (j == 0)
 	      {
+		/* The inequality holds for all possible x.  */
 		table[i] = i;
 		break;
 	      }
+	    /* The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] also holds
+	       for i-1-j < x < i-1-j+table[j], because for these x:
+		 needle[x..i-2]
+		 = needle[x-(i-1-j)..j-1]
+		 != needle[0..j-1-(x-(i-1-j))]  (by definition of table[j])
+		    = needle[0..i-2-x],
+	       hence needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x].
+	       Furthermore
+		 needle[i-1-j+table[j]..i-2]
+		 = needle[table[j]..j-1]
+		 = needle[0..j-1-table[j]]  (by definition of table[j]).  */
 	    j = j - table[j];
 	  }
+	/* Here: j = i - table[i].  */
       }
   }
 
--- a/lib/mbscasestr.c	Wed Dec 26 16:02:46 2007 +0100
+++ b/lib/mbscasestr.c	Wed Dec 26 16:10:15 2007 +0100
@@ -48,34 +48,67 @@
   /* Fill the table.
      For 0 < i < m:
        0 < table[i] <= i is defined such that
-       rhaystack[0..i-1] == needle[0..i-1] and rhaystack[i] != needle[i]
-       implies
-       forall 0 <= x < table[i]: rhaystack[x..x+m-1] != needle[0..m-1],
+       forall 0 < x < table[i]: needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x],
        and table[i] is as large as possible with this property.
+     This implies:
+     1) For 0 < i < m:
+          If table[i] < i,
+          needle[table[i]..i-1] = needle[0..i-1-table[i]].
+     2) For 0 < i < m:
+          rhaystack[0..i-1] == needle[0..i-1]
+          and exists h, i <= h < m: rhaystack[h] != needle[h]
+          implies
+          forall 0 <= x < table[i]: rhaystack[x..x+m-1] != needle[0..m-1].
      table[0] remains uninitialized.  */
   {
     size_t i, j;
 
+    /* i = 1: Nothing to verify for x = 0.  */
     table[1] = 1;
     j = 0;
+
     for (i = 2; i < m; i++)
       {
+	/* Here: j = i-1 - table[i-1].
+	   The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] is known to hold
+	   for x < table[i-1], by induction.
+	   Furthermore, if j>0: needle[i-1-j..i-2] = needle[0..j-1].  */
 	unsigned char b = TOLOWER ((unsigned char) needle[i - 1]);
 
 	for (;;)
 	  {
+	    /* Invariants: The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x]
+	       is known to hold for x < i-1-j.
+	       Furthermore, if j>0: needle[i-1-j..i-2] = needle[0..j-1].  */
 	    if (b == TOLOWER ((unsigned char) needle[j]))
 	      {
+		/* Set table[i] := i-1-j.  */
 		table[i] = i - ++j;
 		break;
 	      }
+	    /* The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] also holds
+	       for x = i-1-j, because
+	         needle[i-1] != needle[j] = needle[i-1-x].  */
 	    if (j == 0)
 	      {
+		/* The inequality holds for all possible x.  */
 		table[i] = i;
 		break;
 	      }
+	    /* The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] also holds
+	       for i-1-j < x < i-1-j+table[j], because for these x:
+		 needle[x..i-2]
+		 = needle[x-(i-1-j)..j-1]
+		 != needle[0..j-1-(x-(i-1-j))]  (by definition of table[j])
+		    = needle[0..i-2-x],
+	       hence needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x].
+	       Furthermore
+		 needle[i-1-j+table[j]..i-2]
+		 = needle[table[j]..j-1]
+		 = needle[0..j-1-table[j]]  (by definition of table[j]).  */
 	    j = j - table[j];
 	  }
+	/* Here: j = i - table[i].  */
       }
   }
 
@@ -154,34 +187,67 @@
   /* Fill the table.
      For 0 < i < m:
        0 < table[i] <= i is defined such that
-       rhaystack[0..i-1] == needle[0..i-1] and rhaystack[i] != needle[i]
-       implies
-       forall 0 <= x < table[i]: rhaystack[x..x+m-1] != needle[0..m-1],
+       forall 0 < x < table[i]: needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x],
        and table[i] is as large as possible with this property.
+     This implies:
+     1) For 0 < i < m:
+          If table[i] < i,
+          needle[table[i]..i-1] = needle[0..i-1-table[i]].
+     2) For 0 < i < m:
+          rhaystack[0..i-1] == needle[0..i-1]
+          and exists h, i <= h < m: rhaystack[h] != needle[h]
+          implies
+          forall 0 <= x < table[i]: rhaystack[x..x+m-1] != needle[0..m-1].
      table[0] remains uninitialized.  */
   {
     size_t i, j;
 
+    /* i = 1: Nothing to verify for x = 0.  */
     table[1] = 1;
     j = 0;
+
     for (i = 2; i < m; i++)
       {
+	/* Here: j = i-1 - table[i-1].
+	   The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] is known to hold
+	   for x < table[i-1], by induction.
+	   Furthermore, if j>0: needle[i-1-j..i-2] = needle[0..j-1].  */
 	mbchar_t *b = &needle_mbchars[i - 1];
 
 	for (;;)
 	  {
+	    /* Invariants: The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x]
+	       is known to hold for x < i-1-j.
+	       Furthermore, if j>0: needle[i-1-j..i-2] = needle[0..j-1].  */
 	    if (mb_equal (*b, needle_mbchars[j]))
 	      {
+		/* Set table[i] := i-1-j.  */
 		table[i] = i - ++j;
 		break;
 	      }
+	    /* The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] also holds
+	       for x = i-1-j, because
+	         needle[i-1] != needle[j] = needle[i-1-x].  */
 	    if (j == 0)
 	      {
+		/* The inequality holds for all possible x.  */
 		table[i] = i;
 		break;
 	      }
+	    /* The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] also holds
+	       for i-1-j < x < i-1-j+table[j], because for these x:
+		 needle[x..i-2]
+		 = needle[x-(i-1-j)..j-1]
+		 != needle[0..j-1-(x-(i-1-j))]  (by definition of table[j])
+		    = needle[0..i-2-x],
+	       hence needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x].
+	       Furthermore
+		 needle[i-1-j+table[j]..i-2]
+		 = needle[table[j]..j-1]
+		 = needle[0..j-1-table[j]]  (by definition of table[j]).  */
 	    j = j - table[j];
 	  }
+	/* Here: j = i - table[i].  */
       }
   }
 
--- a/lib/mbsstr.c	Wed Dec 26 16:02:46 2007 +0100
+++ b/lib/mbsstr.c	Wed Dec 26 16:10:15 2007 +0100
@@ -45,34 +45,67 @@
   /* Fill the table.
      For 0 < i < m:
        0 < table[i] <= i is defined such that
-       rhaystack[0..i-1] == needle[0..i-1] and rhaystack[i] != needle[i]
-       implies
-       forall 0 <= x < table[i]: rhaystack[x..x+m-1] != needle[0..m-1],
+       forall 0 < x < table[i]: needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x],
        and table[i] is as large as possible with this property.
+     This implies:
+     1) For 0 < i < m:
+          If table[i] < i,
+          needle[table[i]..i-1] = needle[0..i-1-table[i]].
+     2) For 0 < i < m:
+          rhaystack[0..i-1] == needle[0..i-1]
+          and exists h, i <= h < m: rhaystack[h] != needle[h]
+          implies
+          forall 0 <= x < table[i]: rhaystack[x..x+m-1] != needle[0..m-1].
      table[0] remains uninitialized.  */
   {
     size_t i, j;
 
+    /* i = 1: Nothing to verify for x = 0.  */
     table[1] = 1;
     j = 0;
+
     for (i = 2; i < m; i++)
       {
+	/* Here: j = i-1 - table[i-1].
+	   The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] is known to hold
+	   for x < table[i-1], by induction.
+	   Furthermore, if j>0: needle[i-1-j..i-2] = needle[0..j-1].  */
 	unsigned char b = (unsigned char) needle[i - 1];
 
 	for (;;)
 	  {
+	    /* Invariants: The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x]
+	       is known to hold for x < i-1-j.
+	       Furthermore, if j>0: needle[i-1-j..i-2] = needle[0..j-1].  */
 	    if (b == (unsigned char) needle[j])
 	      {
+		/* Set table[i] := i-1-j.  */
 		table[i] = i - ++j;
 		break;
 	      }
+	    /* The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] also holds
+	       for x = i-1-j, because
+	         needle[i-1] != needle[j] = needle[i-1-x].  */
 	    if (j == 0)
 	      {
+		/* The inequality holds for all possible x.  */
 		table[i] = i;
 		break;
 	      }
+	    /* The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] also holds
+	       for i-1-j < x < i-1-j+table[j], because for these x:
+		 needle[x..i-2]
+		 = needle[x-(i-1-j)..j-1]
+		 != needle[0..j-1-(x-(i-1-j))]  (by definition of table[j])
+		    = needle[0..i-2-x],
+	       hence needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x].
+	       Furthermore
+		 needle[i-1-j+table[j]..i-2]
+		 = needle[table[j]..j-1]
+		 = needle[0..j-1-table[j]]  (by definition of table[j]).  */
 	    j = j - table[j];
 	  }
+	/* Here: j = i - table[i].  */
       }
   }
 
@@ -146,34 +179,67 @@
   /* Fill the table.
      For 0 < i < m:
        0 < table[i] <= i is defined such that
-       rhaystack[0..i-1] == needle[0..i-1] and rhaystack[i] != needle[i]
-       implies
-       forall 0 <= x < table[i]: rhaystack[x..x+m-1] != needle[0..m-1],
+       forall 0 < x < table[i]: needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x],
        and table[i] is as large as possible with this property.
+     This implies:
+     1) For 0 < i < m:
+          If table[i] < i,
+          needle[table[i]..i-1] = needle[0..i-1-table[i]].
+     2) For 0 < i < m:
+          rhaystack[0..i-1] == needle[0..i-1]
+          and exists h, i <= h < m: rhaystack[h] != needle[h]
+          implies
+          forall 0 <= x < table[i]: rhaystack[x..x+m-1] != needle[0..m-1].
      table[0] remains uninitialized.  */
   {
     size_t i, j;
 
+    /* i = 1: Nothing to verify for x = 0.  */
     table[1] = 1;
     j = 0;
+
     for (i = 2; i < m; i++)
       {
+	/* Here: j = i-1 - table[i-1].
+	   The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] is known to hold
+	   for x < table[i-1], by induction.
+	   Furthermore, if j>0: needle[i-1-j..i-2] = needle[0..j-1].  */
 	mbchar_t *b = &needle_mbchars[i - 1];
 
 	for (;;)
 	  {
+	    /* Invariants: The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x]
+	       is known to hold for x < i-1-j.
+	       Furthermore, if j>0: needle[i-1-j..i-2] = needle[0..j-1].  */
 	    if (mb_equal (*b, needle_mbchars[j]))
 	      {
+		/* Set table[i] := i-1-j.  */
 		table[i] = i - ++j;
 		break;
 	      }
+	    /* The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] also holds
+	       for x = i-1-j, because
+	         needle[i-1] != needle[j] = needle[i-1-x].  */
 	    if (j == 0)
 	      {
+		/* The inequality holds for all possible x.  */
 		table[i] = i;
 		break;
 	      }
+	    /* The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] also holds
+	       for i-1-j < x < i-1-j+table[j], because for these x:
+		 needle[x..i-2]
+		 = needle[x-(i-1-j)..j-1]
+		 != needle[0..j-1-(x-(i-1-j))]  (by definition of table[j])
+		    = needle[0..i-2-x],
+	       hence needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x].
+	       Furthermore
+		 needle[i-1-j+table[j]..i-2]
+		 = needle[table[j]..j-1]
+		 = needle[0..j-1-table[j]]  (by definition of table[j]).  */
 	    j = j - table[j];
 	  }
+	/* Here: j = i - table[i].  */
       }
   }
 
--- a/lib/memmem.c	Wed Dec 26 16:02:46 2007 +0100
+++ b/lib/memmem.c	Wed Dec 26 16:10:15 2007 +0100
@@ -45,34 +45,67 @@
   /* Fill the table.
      For 0 < i < m:
        0 < table[i] <= i is defined such that
-       rhaystack[0..i-1] == needle[0..i-1] and rhaystack[i] != needle[i]
-       implies
-       forall 0 <= x < table[i]: rhaystack[x..x+m-1] != needle[0..m-1],
+       forall 0 < x < table[i]: needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x],
        and table[i] is as large as possible with this property.
+     This implies:
+     1) For 0 < i < m:
+          If table[i] < i,
+          needle[table[i]..i-1] = needle[0..i-1-table[i]].
+     2) For 0 < i < m:
+          rhaystack[0..i-1] == needle[0..i-1]
+          and exists h, i <= h < m: rhaystack[h] != needle[h]
+          implies
+          forall 0 <= x < table[i]: rhaystack[x..x+m-1] != needle[0..m-1].
      table[0] remains uninitialized.  */
   {
     size_t i, j;
 
+    /* i = 1: Nothing to verify for x = 0.  */
     table[1] = 1;
     j = 0;
+
     for (i = 2; i < m; i++)
       {
+	/* Here: j = i-1 - table[i-1].
+	   The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] is known to hold
+	   for x < table[i-1], by induction.
+	   Furthermore, if j>0: needle[i-1-j..i-2] = needle[0..j-1].  */
 	unsigned char b = (unsigned char) needle[i - 1];
 
 	for (;;)
 	  {
+	    /* Invariants: The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x]
+	       is known to hold for x < i-1-j.
+	       Furthermore, if j>0: needle[i-1-j..i-2] = needle[0..j-1].  */
 	    if (b == (unsigned char) needle[j])
 	      {
+		/* Set table[i] := i-1-j.  */
 		table[i] = i - ++j;
 		break;
 	      }
+	    /* The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] also holds
+	       for x = i-1-j, because
+	         needle[i-1] != needle[j] = needle[i-1-x].  */
 	    if (j == 0)
 	      {
+		/* The inequality holds for all possible x.  */
 		table[i] = i;
 		break;
 	      }
+	    /* The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] also holds
+	       for i-1-j < x < i-1-j+table[j], because for these x:
+		 needle[x..i-2]
+		 = needle[x-(i-1-j)..j-1]
+		 != needle[0..j-1-(x-(i-1-j))]  (by definition of table[j])
+		    = needle[0..i-2-x],
+	       hence needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x].
+	       Furthermore
+		 needle[i-1-j+table[j]..i-2]
+		 = needle[table[j]..j-1]
+		 = needle[0..j-1-table[j]]  (by definition of table[j]).  */
 	    j = j - table[j];
 	  }
+	/* Here: j = i - table[i].  */
       }
   }
 
@@ -164,7 +197,7 @@
     size_t comparison_count = 0;
 
     /* Speed up the following searches of needle by caching its first
-       character.  */
+       byte.  */
     char b = *Needle++;
 
     for (;; Haystack++)
@@ -195,7 +228,7 @@
         outer_loop_count++;
         comparison_count++;
         if (*Haystack == b)
-          /* The first character matches.  */
+          /* The first byte matches.  */
           {
             const char *rhaystack = Haystack + 1;
             const char *rneedle = Needle;
--- a/lib/strcasestr.c	Wed Dec 26 16:02:46 2007 +0100
+++ b/lib/strcasestr.c	Wed Dec 26 16:10:15 2007 +0100
@@ -45,34 +45,67 @@
   /* Fill the table.
      For 0 < i < m:
        0 < table[i] <= i is defined such that
-       rhaystack[0..i-1] == needle[0..i-1] and rhaystack[i] != needle[i]
-       implies
-       forall 0 <= x < table[i]: rhaystack[x..x+m-1] != needle[0..m-1],
+       forall 0 < x < table[i]: needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x],
        and table[i] is as large as possible with this property.
+     This implies:
+     1) For 0 < i < m:
+          If table[i] < i,
+          needle[table[i]..i-1] = needle[0..i-1-table[i]].
+     2) For 0 < i < m:
+          rhaystack[0..i-1] == needle[0..i-1]
+          and exists h, i <= h < m: rhaystack[h] != needle[h]
+          implies
+          forall 0 <= x < table[i]: rhaystack[x..x+m-1] != needle[0..m-1].
      table[0] remains uninitialized.  */
   {
     size_t i, j;
 
+    /* i = 1: Nothing to verify for x = 0.  */
     table[1] = 1;
     j = 0;
+
     for (i = 2; i < m; i++)
       {
+	/* Here: j = i-1 - table[i-1].
+	   The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] is known to hold
+	   for x < table[i-1], by induction.
+	   Furthermore, if j>0: needle[i-1-j..i-2] = needle[0..j-1].  */
 	unsigned char b = TOLOWER ((unsigned char) needle[i - 1]);
 
 	for (;;)
 	  {
+	    /* Invariants: The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x]
+	       is known to hold for x < i-1-j.
+	       Furthermore, if j>0: needle[i-1-j..i-2] = needle[0..j-1].  */
 	    if (b == TOLOWER ((unsigned char) needle[j]))
 	      {
+		/* Set table[i] := i-1-j.  */
 		table[i] = i - ++j;
 		break;
 	      }
+	    /* The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] also holds
+	       for x = i-1-j, because
+	         needle[i-1] != needle[j] = needle[i-1-x].  */
 	    if (j == 0)
 	      {
+		/* The inequality holds for all possible x.  */
 		table[i] = i;
 		break;
 	      }
+	    /* The inequality needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x] also holds
+	       for i-1-j < x < i-1-j+table[j], because for these x:
+		 needle[x..i-2]
+		 = needle[x-(i-1-j)..j-1]
+		 != needle[0..j-1-(x-(i-1-j))]  (by definition of table[j])
+		    = needle[0..i-2-x],
+	       hence needle[x..i-1] != needle[0..i-1-x].
+	       Furthermore
+		 needle[i-1-j+table[j]..i-2]
+		 = needle[table[j]..j-1]
+		 = needle[0..j-1-table[j]]  (by definition of table[j]).  */
 	    j = j - table[j];
 	  }
+	/* Here: j = i - table[i].  */
       }
   }