Description
Return dependency head distance with a root convention.
Language-processing records depend on tokenization, indexing, null sentinels and text representation. A UTF-8 byte offset, UTF-16 index, dependency link or literal feature label can be handled precisely without inferring linguistic correctness or semantic equivalence.
Return dependency head distance with a root convention.
When to use this tool
Use Dependency Head Distance when checking a supplied linguistic annotation, span, alignment or text-offset convention.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter tokenIndex, headIndex, rootHead. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read signedDistance, absoluteDistance, defined. Inspect defined before interpreting the associated values.
Return dependency head distance with a root convention. Require nonnegative whole token/head indexes; when rootHead, return zero distances with defined false; otherwise signedDistance = head-token and absoluteDistance its magnitude.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| tokenIndex | Token Index | Required. Safe integer; minimum 0. |
| headIndex | Head Index | Required. Safe integer; minimum 0. |
| rootHead | Root Head | Required. Boolean. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| signedDistance | Signed Distance | Required. Safe integer. |
| absoluteDistance | Absolute Distance | Required. Safe integer. |
| defined | False for the supplied rootHead convention; both distance outputs are then zero placeholders. | Required. Boolean. |
{
"input": {
"tokenIndex": 5,
"headIndex": 2,
"rootHead": false
},
"output": {
"signedDistance": -3,
"absoluteDistance": 3,
"defined": true
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Zero at root is a placeholder rather than an actual head position; no dependency tree is validated.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use the appropriate tokenizer, Unicode and annotation-format conventions and validate the complete text or tree for full linguistic processing.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Dependency Projectivity Crossing Flag
Check whether two dependency arcs strictly cross.
- Alignment Null Support Share
Summarize alignment weight at supplied null indexes.