> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.boii.dev/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.boii.dev/old-docs/boii_utils/api/tables.md).

# Tables

Provides utility functions for working with tables, including printing, copying, comparison, and value checking.

***

## Accessing the Module

```lua
local TABLES <const> = exports.boii_utils:get("modules.tables")
```

***

## Shared

### print\_table(t, indent)

Recursively prints the contents of a table to the console. Useful for debugging nested data.

#### Parameters

| Name   | Type     | Description                        |
| ------ | -------- | ---------------------------------- |
| t      | `table`  | The table to print                 |
| indent | `string` | (Optional) Indentation for nesting |

#### Example

```lua
TABLES.print({ hello = "world", nested = { foo = true } })
```

***

### table\_contains(tbl, val)

Checks if a table contains a specific value.

#### Parameters

| Name | Type    | Description        |
| ---- | ------- | ------------------ |
| tbl  | `table` | Table to search in |
| val  | `any`   | Value to look for  |

#### Example

```lua
local found = TABLES.contains({1, 2, {3}}, 3) -- true
```

***

### deep\_copy(t)

Creates a deep copy of the given table.

#### Parameters

| Name | Type    | Description        |
| ---- | ------- | ------------------ |
| t    | `table` | Table to deep copy |

#### Example

```lua
local original = { a = 1, nested = { b = 2 } }
local copy = TABLES.deep_copy(original)
```

***

### deep\_compare(t1, t2)

Compares two tables deeply.

#### Parameters

| Name | Type    | Description  |
| ---- | ------- | ------------ |
| t1   | `table` | First table  |
| t2   | `table` | Second table |

#### Example

```lua
local is_same = TABLES.compare({ a = { b = 1 } }, { a = { b = 1 } }) -- true
```

***

### Notes

* These functions work on both flat and nested tables.
* `deep_copy` ensures references are not shared between the original and copied table.
* `deep_compare` checks keys and values recursively.


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.boii.dev/old-docs/boii_utils/api/tables.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.