iteratorNumber
outputs the current iteration index inside a For/While iterator subsystem
📝Syntax
Block type: iteratorNumber
📥Input Arguments
Parameter Description
input ports 0 input port(s) declared.
📤Output Arguments
Parameter Description
output ports 1 output port(s) declared.
📄Description

Description

Placed inside a For Iterator or While Iterator subsystem, this source block outputs the current iteration index of the enclosing loop: 1 on the first pass, 2 on the second, and so on. Outside an iterator subsystem it outputs 0.

The value lets the body of the loop depend on which pass is running (for example, building a running sum, or forming a loop-termination condition for a While Iterator).

Output(s)

Port Role Side
Port_1 Current 1-based iteration index (0 outside an iterator body). right

Block Characteristics

Block type iteratorNumber
Family Utility blocks
Phases OUTPUT
Code generation native only (not generated)

See For / While Iterator subsystems for the full loop semantics.

Implementation Sources

Manifestmodules/nflow_blocks/libraries/utility/library.json
{
  "id": "builtin.utility",
  "title": "Utility",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "format": "nflow-2",
  "metadata": {
    "author": "Allan CORNET",
    "created": "2026-03-21",
    "tool": "Nelson nflow"
  },
  "comment": "Utility blocks such as switches, comments, and subsystems",
  "license": "LGPL-3.0",
  "builtin": true,
  "blocks": [
    {
      "type": "comment",
      "label": "Comment",
      "icon": "comment.svg",
      "phases": [],
      "width": 220,
      "height": 120,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [],
      "defaultParams": {
        "CommentText": "",
        "ShowBorder": true
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "comment",
        "bodyClass": "block-body"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "switch",
      "label": "Switch",
      "icon": "switch.svg",
      "phases": [
        "ALGEBRAIC"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 80,
      "inputs": [
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 0,
          "side": "left"
        },
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "left"
        },
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 80,
          "side": "left"
        }
      ],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "Criteria": "ge",
        "Threshold": 0
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "math",
        "bodyClass": "block-body",
        "mathGroupClass": "switch-math"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "multiportSwitch",
      "label": "Multiport Switch",
      "icon": "multiportSwitch.svg",
      "phases": [
        "ALGEBRAIC"
      ],
      "width": 40,
      "height": 80,
      "inputs": [
        {
          "x": 20,
          "y": 0,
          "side": "top"
        },
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 20,
          "side": "left"
        },
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "left"
        },
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 60,
          "side": "left"
        }
      ],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 40,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "DataPortCount": 3
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "exports/multiportSwitch.svg",
        "svgMode": "element",
        "preserveAspectRatio": "none",
        "x": 0,
        "y": 0,
        "width": 40,
        "height": 90
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "toggleSwitch",
      "label": "Toggle Switch",
      "icon": "toggleSwitch.svg",
      "phases": [
        "OUTPUT"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 50,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 25,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "State": 0,
        "OnLabel": "ON",
        "OffLabel": "OFF",
        "OnValue": 1,
        "OffValue": 0
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "toggle"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "subsystem",
      "icon": "subsystem.svg",
      "label": "Subsystem",
      "phases": [
        "INIT",
        "OUTPUT",
        "ALGEBRAIC",
        "UPDATE"
      ],
      "width": 120,
      "height": 80,
      "inputs": [
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "left"
        }
      ],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 120,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "name": "Subsystem",
        "externalInputs": [],
        "externalOutputs": [],
        "subsystem": null
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "math",
        "bodyClass": "block-body",
        "mathGroupClass": "subsystem-math",
        "formula": "\\mathsf{Sub}"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "mux",
      "label": "Mux",
      "icon": "mux.svg",
      "phases": [
        "OUTPUT"
      ],
      "width": 8,
      "height": 40,
      "inputs": [
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 10,
          "side": "left"
        },
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 30,
          "side": "left"
        }
      ],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 8,
          "y": 20,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "Inputs": 2
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "demux",
      "label": "Demux",
      "icon": "demux.svg",
      "phases": [
        "OUTPUT"
      ],
      "width": 8,
      "height": 40,
      "inputs": [
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 20,
          "side": "left"
        }
      ],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 8,
          "y": 10,
          "side": "right"
        },
        {
          "x": 8,
          "y": 30,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "Outputs": 2
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "convert",
      "label": "Convert",
      "icon": "convert.svg",
      "phases": [
        "ALGEBRAIC"
      ],
      "width": 90,
      "height": 50,
      "inputs": [
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 25,
          "side": "left"
        }
      ],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 90,
          "y": 25,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "OutDataType": "double",
        "SaturateOnOverflow": true,
        "Rounding": "nearest"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "initialCondition",
      "label": "IC",
      "icon": "initialCondition.svg",
      "phases": [
        "ALGEBRAIC"
      ],
      "width": 90,
      "height": 50,
      "inputs": [
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 25,
          "side": "left"
        }
      ],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 90,
          "y": 25,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "InitialValue": 0
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "dataStoreMemory",
      "label": "Data Store Memory",
      "icon": "dataStoreMemory.svg",
      "phases": [
        "INIT"
      ],
      "width": 70,
      "height": 60,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [],
      "defaultParams": {
        "DataStoreName": "A",
        "InitialValue": 0
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "exports/dataStoreMemory.svg",
        "svgMode": "element",
        "preserveAspectRatio": "none",
        "x": 0,
        "y": 0,
        "width": 70,
        "height": 60
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "dataStoreWrite",
      "label": "Data Store Write",
      "icon": "dataStoreWrite.svg",
      "phases": [
        "INIT",
        "UPDATE"
      ],
      "width": 70,
      "height": 60,
      "inputs": [
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 30,
          "side": "left"
        }
      ],
      "outputs": [],
      "defaultParams": {
        "DataStoreName": "A"
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "exports/dataStoreWrite.svg",
        "svgMode": "element",
        "preserveAspectRatio": "none",
        "x": 0,
        "y": 0,
        "width": 70,
        "height": 60
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "dataStoreRead",
      "label": "Data Store Read",
      "icon": "dataStoreRead.svg",
      "phases": [
        "OUTPUT"
      ],
      "width": 70,
      "height": 60,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 70,
          "y": 30,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "DataStoreName": "A"
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "exports/dataStoreRead.svg",
        "svgMode": "element",
        "preserveAspectRatio": "none",
        "x": 0,
        "y": 0,
        "width": 70,
        "height": 60
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "selector",
      "label": "Selector",
      "icon": "selector.svg",
      "phases": [
        "ALGEBRAIC"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 50,
      "inputs": [
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 25,
          "side": "left"
        }
      ],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 25,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "Indices": "1"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "reshape",
      "label": "Reshape",
      "icon": "reshape.svg",
      "phases": [
        "INIT",
        "ALGEBRAIC"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 50,
      "inputs": [
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 25,
          "side": "left"
        }
      ],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 25,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "OutputDimensions": ""
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "concatenate",
      "label": "Concatenate",
      "icon": "concatenate.svg",
      "phases": [
        "ALGEBRAIC"
      ],
      "width": 60,
      "height": 60,
      "inputs": [
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 20,
          "side": "left"
        },
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "left"
        }
      ],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 60,
          "y": 30,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "ConcatenateDimension": 1
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "busCreator",
      "label": "Bus Creator",
      "icon": "busCreator.svg",
      "phases": [
        "ALGEBRAIC"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 70,
      "inputs": [
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 25,
          "side": "left"
        },
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 45,
          "side": "left"
        }
      ],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 35,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "BusType": "",
        "NonVirtual": false,
        "MemberNames": []
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "busSelector",
      "label": "Bus Selector",
      "icon": "busSelector.svg",
      "phases": [
        "ALGEBRAIC"
      ],
      "width": 85,
      "height": 70,
      "inputs": [
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 35,
          "side": "left"
        }
      ],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 85,
          "y": 25,
          "side": "right"
        },
        {
          "x": 85,
          "y": 45,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "SelectedSignals": [],
        "OutputAsBus": false
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "merge",
      "label": "Merge",
      "icon": "merge.svg",
      "phases": [
        "INIT",
        "ALGEBRAIC"
      ],
      "width": 40,
      "height": 80,
      "inputs": [
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 30,
          "side": "left"
        },
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 50,
          "side": "left"
        }
      ],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 40,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "InitialOutput": 0
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "exports/merge.svg",
        "svgMode": "element",
        "preserveAspectRatio": "none",
        "x": 0,
        "y": 0,
        "width": 40,
        "height": 80
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "functionCallGenerator",
      "label": "Function-Call Generator",
      "icon": "functionCallGenerator.svg",
      "phases": [
        "ALGEBRAIC"
      ],
      "width": 90,
      "height": 60,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 90,
          "y": 30,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "NumberOfIterations": 1
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "exports/functionCallGenerator.svg",
        "svgMode": "element",
        "preserveAspectRatio": "none",
        "x": 0,
        "y": 0,
        "width": 90,
        "height": 60
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "functionCallSplit",
      "label": "Function-Call Split",
      "icon": "functionCallSplit.svg",
      "phases": [],
      "width": 60,
      "height": 80,
      "inputs": [
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "left"
        }
      ],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 60,
          "y": 30,
          "side": "right"
        },
        {
          "x": 60,
          "y": 50,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {},
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "exports/functionCallSplit.svg",
        "svgMode": "element",
        "preserveAspectRatio": "none",
        "x": 0,
        "y": 0,
        "width": 60,
        "height": 80
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "iteratorNumber",
      "label": "Iterator Number",
      "icon": "iteratorNumber.svg",
      "phases": [
        "OUTPUT"
      ],
      "width": 70,
      "height": 50,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 70,
          "y": 25,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {},
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "exports/iteratorNumber.svg",
        "svgMode": "element",
        "preserveAspectRatio": "none",
        "x": 0,
        "y": 0,
        "width": 70,
        "height": 50
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "iteratorCondition",
      "label": "Iterator Condition",
      "icon": "iteratorCondition.svg",
      "phases": [
        "ALGEBRAIC"
      ],
      "width": 70,
      "height": 50,
      "inputs": [
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 25,
          "side": "left"
        }
      ],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 70,
          "y": 25,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {},
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "exports/iteratorCondition.svg",
        "svgMode": "element",
        "preserveAspectRatio": "none",
        "x": 0,
        "y": 0,
        "width": 70,
        "height": 50
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "width",
      "label": "Width",
      "icon": "width.svg",
      "phases": [
        "ALGEBRAIC"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 50,
      "inputs": [
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 25,
          "side": "left"
        }
      ],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 25,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {}
    },
    {
      "type": "signalConversion",
      "label": "Signal Conversion",
      "icon": "signalConversion.svg",
      "phases": [
        "ALGEBRAIC"
      ],
      "width": 90,
      "height": 50,
      "inputs": [
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 25,
          "side": "left"
        }
      ],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 90,
          "y": 25,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {}
    },
    {
      "type": "assignment",
      "label": "Assignment",
      "icon": "assignment.svg",
      "phases": [
        "ALGEBRAIC"
      ],
      "width": 90,
      "height": 60,
      "inputs": [
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 20,
          "side": "left"
        },
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "left"
        }
      ],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 90,
          "y": 30,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "Indices": [
          1
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "busAssignment",
      "label": "Bus Assignment",
      "icon": "busAssignment.svg",
      "phases": [
        "ALGEBRAIC"
      ],
      "width": 100,
      "height": 60,
      "inputs": [
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 20,
          "side": "left"
        },
        {
          "x": 0,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "left"
        }
      ],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 100,
          "y": 30,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "AssignedSignals": []
      }
    }
  ]
}
Runtimemodules/nflow_blocks/src/cpp/routing/iterator.cpp
//=============================================================================
// Copyright (c) 2016-present Allan CORNET (Nelson)
//=============================================================================
// This file is part of Nelson.
//=============================================================================
// LICENCE_BLOCK_BEGIN
// SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-3.0-or-later
// LICENCE_BLOCK_END
//=============================================================================
// Helper blocks for the For / While Iterator subsystems (see
// docs/iterator_subsystems.md). The iterative execution itself lives in the
// subsystem handler (ctrlKind 7 = forIterator, 8 = whileIterator); these two
// blocks are the body-side interface to it:
//
//   iteratorNumber    - a source that outputs the current 1-based iteration
//                       index, read from SimCtx::iterationIndex, which the
//                       subsystem handler sets on the inner context before each
//                       pass over the body.
//   iteratorCondition - a scalar pass-through whose input is the While loop's
//                       continue predicate. The subsystem handler reads the
//                       block's output after each iteration to decide whether to
//                       loop again; the pass-through lets the same signal also
//                       drive a scope/probe. Inert inside a For iterator.
//
// Native only: iterator subsystems have no code-generation lowering.
//=============================================================================
#include "SimEngineTypes.hpp"
#include "BlockRegistry.hpp"
#include "routing_blocks.hpp"
//=============================================================================
namespace Nelson {
namespace NFlow {
    //=============================================================================
    bool
    handleIteratorNumber(SimCtx& ctx, const Block& b, Phase phase)
    {
        if (phase != Phase::OUTPUT) {
            return false;
        }
        // 0 outside an iterator body (the default context), 1..N inside one.
        setOutput(ctx, b.nid, (double)ctx.iterationIndex);
        return false;
    }
    //=============================================================================
    bool
    handleIteratorCondition(SimCtx& ctx, const Block& b, Phase phase)
    {
        if (phase != Phase::ALGEBRAIC) {
            return false;
        }
        // Read the condition through the normal signal path (consistent with how
        // the upstream block wrote it) and stash it in this block's state, which
        // the subsystem handler reads back after each iteration -- avoiding any
        // legacy-slot vs signal-offset ambiguity. Mirror it on the output too so a
        // probe can observe it. An unconnected condition holds the loop.
        const double cond = hasInput(ctx, b.nid, 0) ? getInput(ctx, b.nid, 0, 1.0) : 1.0;
        ctx.blockState[b.nid].output = cond;
        setOutput(ctx, b.nid, cond);
        return false;
    }
    //=============================================================================
} // namespace NFlow
} // namespace Nelson
//=============================================================================
🔗See Also
iteratorConditionsubsystem
🕔Version History
Version Description
1.0.0 initial version
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