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The expression Head[Plot[x, {x, 0, 1}]] returns Graphics. Might it be possible to extract the original head of an expression without evaluation transforming it into something else?

My ultimate objective is to be able to pass any expression say, f[x] as an argument arg to another function g[arg] and then within g do something like this:

IN:: f[x]:= x; g[arg] := Module[{head}, **Some other stuff**; head = Head@arg; head]; g[f@x]

OUT:: f

However, doing:

IN:: g[arg] := Module[{head}, **Some other stuff**; head = Head@arg; head]; g[Plot[x, {x, 0, 1}]]]

I get:

OUT:: Graphics

This also happens when setting the Attributes of g to HoldFirst etc.

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  • $\begingroup$ That's because arg gets evaluated before being passed to Head. Try using Unevaluated: Head@Unevaluated@arg $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 12, 2017 at 9:51
  • $\begingroup$ It works! So simple too, thanks a lot. $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 12, 2017 at 9:56
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    $\begingroup$ Recommended reading: Working with unevaluated expressions. $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 12, 2017 at 10:06

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In a practical scenario, you may be storing your expression in a variable. To be able to do so, it must be held unevaluated.

expr = Hold[Plot[x, {x, 0, 1}]] (* Hold[Plot[x, {x, 0, 1}]] *)

Then you can simply use Part.

expr[[1, 0]] (* Plot *)

Unevaluated will be useful (only) when the expression is inserted literally into Unevaluated.

Head@Unevaluated@Plot[x, {x, 0, 1}] (* Plot *) SetAttributes[fun, HoldAll] fun[expr_] := Head@Unevaluated[expr] fun[Plot[x, {x, 0, 1}]] (* Plot *)

This does not work:

expr := Plot[x, {x, 0, 1}] Head@Unevaluated[expr] (* Symbol *)

Recommended reading:

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  • $\begingroup$ This is very useful! I have been going with Unevaluated for explicitly passing expressions to functions with Hold attributes, and then Part for modifying those expressions within functions. The reference is also very good. Thanks. $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 12, 2017 at 13:24

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