What is type inference in Kotlin

Type inference in Kotlin is a mechanism that allows the compiler to automatically determine the data type of an expression based on its context. This means that in most cases, you don’t need to explicitly specify the type of variables or expressions, as the compiler will infer the correct type based on the available information.

Advantages of using type inference:

1. Conciseness: You don’t need to repeat the same data type twice – the compiler figures out which type is appropriate.
2. Reduced Errors: The compiler will keep track of type compatibility, reducing the likelihood of errors related to incorrect data types.
3. Improved Maintenance: If you suddenly decide to change a variable’s type, you won’t need to change it everywhere in the code. The compiler will update the types where necessary.

Example of using type inference in Kotlin:

fun main() {
    val name = "John" // The compiler infers that the type of the variable name is String
    val age = 30      // The compiler infers that the type of the variable age is Int

    val pi = 3.14     // The compiler infers that the type of the variable pi is Double
    val count = 10L   // The compiler infers that the type of the variable count is Long

    val isValid = true // The compiler infers that the type of the variable isValid is Boolean
}

It’s important to note that while type inference is very convenient, there might be cases where you need to explicitly specify the type, especially when an expression could have multiple possible types or when the compiler can’t definitively determine the type.