Go's Type Inference Algorithm

7
votes

What type inference algorithm does the Go compiler use?

I tried looking this up on golang but I can't find documentation. I am tempted to assume that it would be Hindley-Milner, but I would like to know for sure

1
gotype-inference
What algorithm inference algorithm do you use to assume it would be Hindley-Milner ? – Denys Séguret

1 Answers

21
votes

Go certainly doesn't use Hindley-Milner. Why would you think that? In fact, Go doesn't have type inference in general, only with the := construct, and that uses the extremely simple rule of taking the evaluated type of the right-hand side and applying it to the newly-declared variable on the left. It's actually pretty darn similar to C++11's auto keyword (except without the rules on handling const and references).