Common Lisp function behavior: What does the expression (list-length <list>) return when evaluated at the top level of the REPL?

Introduction / Context:
Lisp lists and list-processing functions are foundational for AI and symbolic programming. The function list-length is used to determine how many cons cells are in a proper list. Knowing precisely what it returns prevents confusion with predicates or list-copying utilities.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The form is (list-length ).
• We consider standard Common Lisp semantics for proper lists.
• We assume is a well-formed finite list for this question.

Concept / Approach:
In Common Lisp, list-length computes the number of elements in a proper list and returns an integer. It is not a predicate (it does not return t/nil based solely on emptiness) and does not produce a new copy of the list. Predicates like null check for emptiness, and functions such as copy-list duplicate lists.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify the function’s role: measure cardinality of a list.Recall: (list-length nil) returns 0, not t.Confirm that no new list structure is created; only a count is computed.Therefore, it returns the length as an integer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Evaluate examples: (list-length '(a b c)) → 3; (list-length nil) → 0. This verifies the behavior and differentiates it from predicates and copying functions.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Copy list: behavior of copy-list, not list-length.

Returns t if empty: that is null, not list-length.

All of the above: mixes mutually exclusive behaviors.

None of the above: incorrect because returning the length is correct.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing truthy/falsey values with numeric counts, and forgetting that an empty list has length 0 rather than returning a boolean.

Final Answer:
returns the length of