When to use
For rule-based string transforms (pig latin, atbash, rot, etc.).
Rules
- Encode the rules as an ordered list of (predicate, transform) pairs
- For each word, walk the list; apply the FIRST matching rule and stop
- Order matters — specific rules MUST come before general ones
- ALWAYS test each rule in isolation before combining
- NEVER apply multiple rules to the same word
Pig latin specifics
- "qu" or consonant-cluster-ending-in-qu counts as a unit — "quick" → "ickquay", "square" → "aresquay"
- "y" acts as a consonant at the start but a vowel in the middle — "yellow" → "ellowyay", "rhythm" → "ythmrhay"
- Rule order: starts-with-vowel-or-xr-or-yt → append "ay"; starts-with-consonant(s)-then-"qu" → move cluster+qu, append "ay"; starts-with-consonants-up-to-first-"y"-or-vowel → move the consonants, append "ay"; fallback → append "ay"
Example
Pig latin: "quick" starts with "qu" consonant cluster → "ickquay". "apple" starts with vowel → "appleay". "yellow" starts with consonant "y" → "ellowyay".