Precedence of power operator

[Ionizing]

Hi, consider the short code

print(-2**2)

I would expect it prints -4 while it gives 4, meaning that -2**2 equals (-2) ** 2, which is contradict to the common precedence of negate and power (for example, Python and Fortran would print -4).

Is it an expected behaviour?

[schungx]

Yeah, that is because in Rhai uniary operators (such as negation and negative) bind tighter than binary operators...

It would be confusing otherwise:

-2 ** 2 = -4;
-2 * 2 = ?    // does - bind tighter than * but no as tight as **?

Binding ** tighter is a relic of math symbols where the index is written literally on top of the base in smaller type, meaning it is not written as a binary operator at all. That makes the interpretation make sense. However, in programming there is no distinction between an index and its base value. So -2 ** 2 is essentially exp(-2, 2).

[Ionizing]

Okay, would it possible to add a special hint to the document (Rhai book) to clarify this feature, in case someone else would come across this behaviour in the future ?