8.3. Simp sets🔗

A collection of rules used by the simplifier is called a simp set. A simp set is specified in terms of modifications from a default simp set. These modifications can include adding rules, removing rules, or adding a set of rules. The only modifier to the simp tactic causes it to start with an empty simp set, rather than the default one. Rules are added to the default simp set using the simp attribute.

attribute

The simp attribute adds a declaration to the default simp set. If the declaration is a definition, the definition is marked for unfolding; if it is a theorem, then the theorem is registered as a rewrite rule.

attr ::= ...
    | Theorems tagged with the `simp` attribute are used by the simplifier
(i.e., the `simp` tactic, and its variants) to simplify expressions occurring in your goals.
We call theorems tagged with the `simp` attribute "simp theorems" or "simp lemmas".
Lean maintains a database/index containing all active simp theorems.
Here is an example of a simp theorem.
```lean
@[simp] theorem ne_eq (a b : α) : (a ≠ b) = Not (a = b) := rfl
```
This simp theorem instructs the simplifier to replace instances of the term
`a ≠ b` (e.g. `x + 0 ≠ y`) with `Not (a = b)` (e.g., `Not (x + 0 = y)`).
The simplifier applies simp theorems in one direction only:
if `A = B` is a simp theorem, then `simp` replaces `A`s with `B`s,
but it doesn't replace `B`s with `A`s. Hence a simp theorem should have the
property that its right-hand side is "simpler" than its left-hand side.
In particular, `=` and `↔` should not be viewed as symmetric operators in this situation.
The following would be a terrible simp theorem (if it were even allowed):
```lean
@[simp] lemma mul_right_inv_bad (a : G) : 1 = a * a⁻¹ := ...
```
Replacing 1 with a * a⁻¹ is not a sensible default direction to travel.
Even worse would be a theorem that causes expressions to grow without bound,
causing simp to loop forever.

By default the simplifier applies `simp` theorems to an expression `e`
after its sub-expressions have been simplified.
We say it performs a bottom-up simplification.
You can instruct the simplifier to apply a theorem before its sub-expressions
have been simplified by using the modifier `↓`. Here is an example
```lean
@[simp↓] theorem not_and_eq (p q : Prop) : (¬ (p ∧ q)) = (¬p ∨ ¬q) :=
```

You can instruct the simplifier to rewrite the lemma from right-to-left:
```lean
attribute @[simp ←] and_assoc
```

When multiple simp theorems are applicable, the simplifier uses the one with highest priority.
The equational theorems of function are applied at very low priority (100 and below).
If there are several with the same priority, it is uses the "most recent one". Example:
```lean
@[simp high] theorem cond_true (a b : α) : cond true a b = a := rfl
@[simp low+1] theorem or_true (p : Prop) : (p ∨ True) = True :=
  propext <| Iff.intro (fun _ => trivial) (fun _ => Or.inr trivial)
@[simp 100] theorem ite_self {d : Decidable c} (a : α) : ite c a a = a := by
  cases d <;> rfl
```
simp
attr ::= ...
    | Theorems tagged with the `simp` attribute are used by the simplifier
(i.e., the `simp` tactic, and its variants) to simplify expressions occurring in your goals.
We call theorems tagged with the `simp` attribute "simp theorems" or "simp lemmas".
Lean maintains a database/index containing all active simp theorems.
Here is an example of a simp theorem.
```lean
@[simp] theorem ne_eq (a b : α) : (a ≠ b) = Not (a = b) := rfl
```
This simp theorem instructs the simplifier to replace instances of the term
`a ≠ b` (e.g. `x + 0 ≠ y`) with `Not (a = b)` (e.g., `Not (x + 0 = y)`).
The simplifier applies simp theorems in one direction only:
if `A = B` is a simp theorem, then `simp` replaces `A`s with `B`s,
but it doesn't replace `B`s with `A`s. Hence a simp theorem should have the
property that its right-hand side is "simpler" than its left-hand side.
In particular, `=` and `↔` should not be viewed as symmetric operators in this situation.
The following would be a terrible simp theorem (if it were even allowed):
```lean
@[simp] lemma mul_right_inv_bad (a : G) : 1 = a * a⁻¹ := ...
```
Replacing 1 with a * a⁻¹ is not a sensible default direction to travel.
Even worse would be a theorem that causes expressions to grow without bound,
causing simp to loop forever.

By default the simplifier applies `simp` theorems to an expression `e`
after its sub-expressions have been simplified.
We say it performs a bottom-up simplification.
You can instruct the simplifier to apply a theorem before its sub-expressions
have been simplified by using the modifier `↓`. Here is an example
```lean
@[simp↓] theorem not_and_eq (p q : Prop) : (¬ (p ∧ q)) = (¬p ∨ ¬q) :=
```

You can instruct the simplifier to rewrite the lemma from right-to-left:
```lean
attribute @[simp ←] and_assoc
```

When multiple simp theorems are applicable, the simplifier uses the one with highest priority.
The equational theorems of function are applied at very low priority (100 and below).
If there are several with the same priority, it is uses the "most recent one". Example:
```lean
@[simp high] theorem cond_true (a b : α) : cond true a b = a := rfl
@[simp low+1] theorem or_true (p : Prop) : (p ∨ True) = True :=
  propext <| Iff.intro (fun _ => trivial) (fun _ => Or.inr trivial)
@[simp 100] theorem ite_self {d : Decidable c} (a : α) : ite c a a = a := by
  cases d <;> rfl
```
simp Use this rewrite rule after entering the subterms  (?
       | <- ?)
attr ::= ...
    | Theorems tagged with the `simp` attribute are used by the simplifier
(i.e., the `simp` tactic, and its variants) to simplify expressions occurring in your goals.
We call theorems tagged with the `simp` attribute "simp theorems" or "simp lemmas".
Lean maintains a database/index containing all active simp theorems.
Here is an example of a simp theorem.
```lean
@[simp] theorem ne_eq (a b : α) : (a ≠ b) = Not (a = b) := rfl
```
This simp theorem instructs the simplifier to replace instances of the term
`a ≠ b` (e.g. `x + 0 ≠ y`) with `Not (a = b)` (e.g., `Not (x + 0 = y)`).
The simplifier applies simp theorems in one direction only:
if `A = B` is a simp theorem, then `simp` replaces `A`s with `B`s,
but it doesn't replace `B`s with `A`s. Hence a simp theorem should have the
property that its right-hand side is "simpler" than its left-hand side.
In particular, `=` and `↔` should not be viewed as symmetric operators in this situation.
The following would be a terrible simp theorem (if it were even allowed):
```lean
@[simp] lemma mul_right_inv_bad (a : G) : 1 = a * a⁻¹ := ...
```
Replacing 1 with a * a⁻¹ is not a sensible default direction to travel.
Even worse would be a theorem that causes expressions to grow without bound,
causing simp to loop forever.

By default the simplifier applies `simp` theorems to an expression `e`
after its sub-expressions have been simplified.
We say it performs a bottom-up simplification.
You can instruct the simplifier to apply a theorem before its sub-expressions
have been simplified by using the modifier `↓`. Here is an example
```lean
@[simp↓] theorem not_and_eq (p q : Prop) : (¬ (p ∧ q)) = (¬p ∨ ¬q) :=
```

You can instruct the simplifier to rewrite the lemma from right-to-left:
```lean
attribute @[simp ←] and_assoc
```

When multiple simp theorems are applicable, the simplifier uses the one with highest priority.
The equational theorems of function are applied at very low priority (100 and below).
If there are several with the same priority, it is uses the "most recent one". Example:
```lean
@[simp high] theorem cond_true (a b : α) : cond true a b = a := rfl
@[simp low+1] theorem or_true (p : Prop) : (p ∨ True) = True :=
  propext <| Iff.intro (fun _ => trivial) (fun _ => Or.inr trivial)
@[simp 100] theorem ite_self {d : Decidable c} (a : α) : ite c a a = a := by
  cases d <;> rfl
```
simp Use this rewrite rule before entering the subterms  (?
       | <- ?)
attr ::= ...
    | Theorems tagged with the `simp` attribute are used by the simplifier
(i.e., the `simp` tactic, and its variants) to simplify expressions occurring in your goals.
We call theorems tagged with the `simp` attribute "simp theorems" or "simp lemmas".
Lean maintains a database/index containing all active simp theorems.
Here is an example of a simp theorem.
```lean
@[simp] theorem ne_eq (a b : α) : (a ≠ b) = Not (a = b) := rfl
```
This simp theorem instructs the simplifier to replace instances of the term
`a ≠ b` (e.g. `x + 0 ≠ y`) with `Not (a = b)` (e.g., `Not (x + 0 = y)`).
The simplifier applies simp theorems in one direction only:
if `A = B` is a simp theorem, then `simp` replaces `A`s with `B`s,
but it doesn't replace `B`s with `A`s. Hence a simp theorem should have the
property that its right-hand side is "simpler" than its left-hand side.
In particular, `=` and `↔` should not be viewed as symmetric operators in this situation.
The following would be a terrible simp theorem (if it were even allowed):
```lean
@[simp] lemma mul_right_inv_bad (a : G) : 1 = a * a⁻¹ := ...
```
Replacing 1 with a * a⁻¹ is not a sensible default direction to travel.
Even worse would be a theorem that causes expressions to grow without bound,
causing simp to loop forever.

By default the simplifier applies `simp` theorems to an expression `e`
after its sub-expressions have been simplified.
We say it performs a bottom-up simplification.
You can instruct the simplifier to apply a theorem before its sub-expressions
have been simplified by using the modifier `↓`. Here is an example
```lean
@[simp↓] theorem not_and_eq (p q : Prop) : (¬ (p ∧ q)) = (¬p ∨ ¬q) :=
```

You can instruct the simplifier to rewrite the lemma from right-to-left:
```lean
attribute @[simp ←] and_assoc
```

When multiple simp theorems are applicable, the simplifier uses the one with highest priority.
The equational theorems of function are applied at very low priority (100 and below).
If there are several with the same priority, it is uses the "most recent one". Example:
```lean
@[simp high] theorem cond_true (a b : α) : cond true a b = a := rfl
@[simp low+1] theorem or_true (p : Prop) : (p ∨ True) = True :=
  propext <| Iff.intro (fun _ => trivial) (fun _ => Or.inr trivial)
@[simp 100] theorem ite_self {d : Decidable c} (a : α) : ite c a a = a := by
  cases d <;> rfl
```
simp prio

Custom simp sets are created with registerSimpAttr, which must be run during initialization by placing it in an Lean.Parser.Command.initialize : commandinitialize block. As a side effect, it creates a new attribute with the same interface as simp that adds rules to the custom simp set. The returned value is a SimpExtension, which can be used to programmatically access the contents of the custom simp set. The simp tactics can be instructed to use the new simp set by including its attribute name in the rule list.

🔗def
Lean.Meta.registerSimpAttr
  (attrName : Lean.Name) (attrDescr : String)
  (ref : Lean.Name := by exact decl_name%) :
  IO Lean.Meta.SimpExtension
🔗def
Lean.Meta.SimpExtension : Type