The function get_compts(A) returns the components of the tensor_type A.

The function get_char(A) returns the index character of the tensor_type A.

The function get_rank(A) returns the rank of the tensor_type A.

These procedures are not absolutely necessary since the fields of any table can be accessed directly. However, they provide a uniform and controlled access of the information contained in the tensor_type data type.

These functions are part of the tensor package, and so can be used in the form get_compts(..) / get_char(..) only after performing the command with(tensor), or with(tensor, get_compts) / with(tensor, get_char).  These functions can always be accessed in the long form tensor[get_compts](..) / tensor[get_char](..).

$\mathrm{with}\left(\mathrm{tensor}\right)\:$

$T≔\mathrm{create}\left(\left[1\,-1\right]\,\mathrm{array}\left(\left[\left[w\,x\,0\right]\,\left[y\,z\,0\right]\,\left[0\,y^2\,xyw\right]\right]\right)\right)$

$T≔table\left(\left[\mathrm{compts}=\left[\begin{array}{ccc}w& x& 0\\ y& z& 0\\ 0& y^2& xyw\end{array}\right]\,\mathrm{index\_char}=\left[1\,\mathrm{-1}\right]\right]\right)$

$\mathrm{get\_compts}\left(T\right)$

$\left[\begin{array}{ccc}w& x& 0\\ y& z& 0\\ 0& y^2& xyw\end{array}\right]$

$\mathrm{get\_char}\left(T\right)$

$\left[1\,\mathrm{-1}\right]$

$\mathrm{get\_rank}\left(T\right)$

$2$