feat(extmark): stack multiple highlight groups in hl_group

This has been possible in the "backend" for a while but
API was missing.

Followup: we will need a `details2=true` mode for `nvim_get_hl_id_by_name`
to return information in a way forward compatible with even further
enhancements.

runtime/doc/api.txt

@@ -2660,6 +2660,8 @@ nvim_buf_set_extmark({buffer}, {ns_id}, {line}, {col}, {opts})
                     and below highlight groups can be supplied either as a
                     string or as an integer, the latter of which can be
                     obtained using |nvim_get_hl_id_by_name()|.
+                    Multiple highlight groups can be stacked by passing an
+                    array (highest priority last).
                   • hl_eol : when true, for a multiline highlight covering the
                     EOL of a line, continue the highlight for the rest of the
                     screen line (just like for diff and cursorline highlight).

runtime/doc/news.txt

@@ -188,6 +188,7 @@ API
 • |nvim_echo()| `err` field to print error messages and `chunks` accepts
   highlight group IDs.
 • |nvim_open_win()| `relative` field can be set to "laststatus" and "tabline".
+• |nvim_buf_set_extmark()| `hl_group` field can be an array of layered groups
 
 DEFAULTS
 

runtime/lua/vim/_meta/api.lua

@@ -595,6 +595,9 @@ function vim.api.nvim_buf_line_count(buffer) end
 --- - hl_group : highlight group used for the text range. This and below
 ---     highlight groups can be supplied either as a string or as an integer,
 ---     the latter of which can be obtained using `nvim_get_hl_id_by_name()`.
+---
+---     Multiple highlight groups can be stacked by passing an array (highest
+---     priority last).
 --- - hl_eol : when true, for a multiline highlight covering the
 ---            EOL of a line, continue the highlight for the rest
 ---            of the screen line (just like for diff and

runtime/lua/vim/_meta/api_keysets.lua

@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ error('Cannot require a meta file')
 --- @field end_line? integer
 --- @field end_row? integer
 --- @field end_col? integer
---- @field hl_group? integer|string
+--- @field hl_group? any
 --- @field virt_text? any[]
 --- @field virt_text_pos? string
 --- @field virt_text_win_col? integer

src/nvim/api/extmark.c

@@ -385,6 +385,9 @@ Array nvim_buf_get_extmarks(Buffer buffer, Integer ns_id, Object start, Object e
 ///               - hl_group : highlight group used for the text range. This and below
 ///                   highlight groups can be supplied either as a string or as an integer,
 ///                   the latter of which can be obtained using |nvim_get_hl_id_by_name()|.
+///
+///                   Multiple highlight groups can be stacked by passing an array (highest
+///                   priority last).
 ///               - hl_eol : when true, for a multiline highlight covering the
 ///                          EOL of a line, continue the highlight for the rest
 ///                          of the screen line (just like for diff and
@@ -499,6 +502,7 @@ Integer nvim_buf_set_extmark(Buffer buffer, Integer ns_id, Integer line, Integer
   DecorVirtText virt_lines = DECOR_VIRT_LINES_INIT;
   char *url = NULL;
   bool has_hl = false;
+  bool has_hl_multiple = false;
 
   buf_T *buf = find_buffer_by_handle(buffer, err);
   if (!buf) {
@@ -551,8 +555,33 @@ Integer nvim_buf_set_extmark(Buffer buffer, Integer ns_id, Integer line, Integer
     col2 = (int)val;
   }
 
-  hl.hl_id = (int)opts->hl_group;
+  if (HAS_KEY(opts, set_extmark, hl_group)) {
-  has_hl = hl.hl_id > 0;
+    if (opts->hl_group.type == kObjectTypeArray) {
+      Array arr = opts->hl_group.data.array;
+      if (arr.size >= 1) {
+        hl.hl_id = object_to_hl_id(arr.items[0], "hl_group item", err);
+        if (ERROR_SET(err)) {
+          goto error;
+        }
+      }
+      for (size_t i = 1; i < arr.size; i++) {
+        int hl_id = object_to_hl_id(arr.items[i], "hl_group item", err);
+        if (ERROR_SET(err)) {
+          goto error;
+        }
+        if (hl_id) {
+          has_hl_multiple = true;
+        }
+      }
+    } else {
+      hl.hl_id = object_to_hl_id(opts->hl_group, "hl_group", err);
+      if (ERROR_SET(err)) {
+        goto error;
+      }
+    }
+    has_hl = hl.hl_id > 0;
+  }
+
   sign.hl_id = (int)opts->sign_hl_group;
   sign.cursorline_hl_id = (int)opts->cursorline_hl_group;
   sign.number_hl_id = (int)opts->number_hl_group;
@@ -794,6 +823,21 @@ Integer nvim_buf_set_extmark(Buffer buffer, Integer ns_id, Integer line, Integer
       }
     }
 
+    if (has_hl_multiple) {
+      Array arr = opts->hl_group.data.array;
+      for (size_t i = arr.size - 1; i > 0; i--) {  // skip hl_group[0], handled as hl.hl_id below
+        int hl_id = object_to_hl_id(arr.items[i], "hl_group item", err);
+        if (hl_id > 0) {
+          DecorSignHighlight sh = DECOR_SIGN_HIGHLIGHT_INIT;
+          sh.hl_id = hl_id;
+          sh.flags = opts->hl_eol ? kSHHlEol : 0;
+          sh.next = decor_indexed;
+          decor_indexed = decor_put_sh(sh);
+          decor_flags |= MT_FLAG_DECOR_HL;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
     DecorInline decor = DECOR_INLINE_INIT;
     if (decor_alloc || decor_indexed != DECOR_ID_INVALID || url != NULL
         || schar_high(hl.conceal_char)) {

src/nvim/api/keysets_defs.h

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ typedef struct {
   Integer end_line;
   Integer end_row;
   Integer end_col;
-  HLGroupID hl_group;
+  Object hl_group;
   Array virt_text;
   String virt_text_pos;
   Integer virt_text_win_col;

test/functional/ui/decorations_spec.lua

@@ -834,6 +834,9 @@ describe('extmark decorations', function()
       [42] = {undercurl = true, special = Screen.colors.Red};
       [43] = {background = Screen.colors.Yellow, undercurl = true, special = Screen.colors.Red};
       [44] = {background = Screen.colors.LightMagenta};
+      [45] = { background = Screen.colors.Red, special = Screen.colors.Red, foreground = Screen.colors.Red };
+      [46] = { background = Screen.colors.Blue, foreground = Screen.colors.Blue, special = Screen.colors.Red };
+      [47] = { background = Screen.colors.Green, foreground = Screen.colors.Blue, special = Screen.colors.Red };
     }
 
     ns = api.nvim_create_namespace 'test'
@@ -1924,6 +1927,46 @@ describe('extmark decorations', function()
     ]]}
   end)
 
+  it('highlight can combine multiple groups', function()
+    screen:try_resize(50, 3)
+    command('hi Group1 guibg=Red guifg=Red guisp=Red')
+    command('hi Group2 guibg=Blue guifg=Blue')
+    command('hi Group3 guibg=Green')
+    insert([[example text]])
+    api.nvim_buf_set_extmark(0, ns, 0, 0, { end_row=1, hl_group = {} })
+    screen:expect([[
+      example tex^t                                      |
+      {1:~                                                 }|
+                                                        |
+    ]])
+
+    api.nvim_buf_clear_namespace(0, ns, 0, -1)
+    api.nvim_buf_set_extmark(0, ns, 0, 0, { end_row=1, hl_group = {'Group1'} })
+    screen:expect([[
+      {45:example tex^t}                                      |
+      {1:~                                                 }|
+                                                        |
+    ]])
+    api.nvim_buf_clear_namespace(0, ns, 0, -1)
+    api.nvim_buf_set_extmark(0, ns, 0, 0, { end_row = 1, hl_group = {'Group1', 'Group2'} })
+    screen:expect([[
+      {46:example tex^t}                                      |
+      {1:~                                                 }|
+                                                        |
+    ]])
+    api.nvim_buf_clear_namespace(0, ns, 0, -1)
+    api.nvim_buf_set_extmark(0, ns, 0, 0, { end_row = 1, hl_group = {'Group1', 'Group2', 'Group3'}, hl_eol=true })
+    screen:expect([[
+      {47:example tex^t                                      }|
+      {1:~                                                 }|
+                                                        |
+    ]])
+
+    eq('Invalid hl_group: hl_group item',
+       pcall_err(api.nvim_buf_set_extmark, 0, ns, 0, 0, { end_row = 1, hl_group = {'Group1', 'Group2', {'fail'}}, hl_eol=true }))
+  end)
+
+
   it('highlight works after TAB with sidescroll #14201', function()
     screen:try_resize(50, 3)
     command('set nowrap')