width
Outputs the number of elements (width) of its input signal, as a scalar.
📝Syntax
Block type: width
📥Input Arguments
Parameter Description
input ports 1 input port(s) declared.
📤Output Arguments
Parameter Description
output ports 1 output port(s) declared.
📄Description

Outputs the number of elements (width) of its input signal, as a scalar.

Module nflow_blocks
Library Utility
Type width
Label Width

Description

Outputs the number of elements of the input signal as a scalar constant (Width). A modeling / introspection aid, e.g. to drive a gain or a loop bound by a bus or vector width. The output is always scalar regardless of the input width. Interpreter-only: the code generator flattens vector signals to scalar wires before per-block emission, so a model containing a width block is reported as not code-generatable.

Ports

Input(s)

Port Role Side Position
Port_1 Numeric signal read by the block. left x=0, y=25

Output(s)

Port Role Side Position
Port_1 Numeric signal produced by the block. right x=80, y=25

Parameters

Parameter Default value
none

Block Characteristics

Block type width
Family Utility
Rendered size 80 x 50
Phases ALGEBRAIC
Internal state or history no
Signal data type double numeric values

Algorithms

Extended Capabilities

Native runtime only (this block is not code-generated).

Code generation: supported for C and Rust.

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/width.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
//=============================================================================
// width: outputs the number of elements of its input signal as a scalar. A
// modeling / introspection aid (e.g. to drive a gain by the signal width). The
// output is always scalar regardless of the input width. Interpreter-only: the
// code generator flattens vector signals to scalar wires before per-block
// emission, so the width is not recoverable in generated code.
//=============================================================================
#include "SimEngineTypes.hpp"
#include "BlockRegistry.hpp"
#include "routing_blocks.hpp"
//=============================================================================
bool
Nelson::NFlow::handleWidth(SimCtx& ctx, const Block& b, Phase phase)
{
    if (phase != Phase::ALGEBRAIC) {
        return false;
    }
    SigView u = getInputSig(ctx, b.nid, 0);
    const int w = (u.width > 0) ? u.width : 0;
    setOutput(ctx, b.nid, static_cast<double>(w));
    return false;
}
//=============================================================================
💡Examples
A constant [10 20 30] (width 3) into a width block outputs 3.
d.blocks={ struct('id','c','type','constant','inputs',0,'outputs',1,'params',struct('Value',[10 20 30])), struct('id','wd','type','width','inputs',1,'outputs',1,'params',struct()), struct('id','w','type','toWorkspace','inputs',1,'outputs',0,'params',struct('VariableName','y','SaveFormat','Array')) };
d.connections={ struct('from','c','to','wd','fromIndex',0,'toIndex',0), struct('from','wd','to','w','fromIndex',0,'toIndex',0) };
d.sampleTime=0.1; d.duration=0.2; d.solver='discrete'; d.variables=struct();
r=jsondecode(__nflow_simulate__(jsonencode(d)));
🔗See Also
muxdemux
🕔Version History
Version Description
1.0.0 initial version
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