Scala function

last modified January 10, 2023

In this article we cover functions in Scala.

A function

A function is a mapping of zero or more input values to zero or more output values.

With functions, we can reduce code duplicity and increase its clarity. More complex tasks can be divided into simpler units using functions.

Functions can be assigned to variables, passed as arguments to functions or returned from other functions.

In Scala, there are two types of functions: val functions and def functions. There are some technical differences between these two types of functions. When needed, a def function is transformed into a val function with the underscore operator. The transformation is done often automatically so the distinction is somewhat blurred.

Scala main function

A main function is the entry point in a Scala application. It is decorated with the @main annotation.

main.scala

@main def main() =

println("main function is an entry point")

The name and the parameters of a main function are terminated with the = operator. The operator is followed with a block of body code. In Scala 3, white space is a part of the syntax. It is used to delimit the body of a function.

println(“main function is an entry point”)

The println is a built-in function, which prints the text to the terminal and adds a newline character.

$ scala main.scala main function is an entry point

A main function can take arguments.

main.scala

@main def main(args: String*) =

args.foreach(println)

In the program, the main function can take arbitrary number of string arguments.

$ scala main.scala an old falcon an old falcon

Returning values

Traditionally, the return keywords is used to return a value from a function. In Scala, the return keyword is optional.

main.scala

def square(x: Int): Int =

// return x * x
x * x

@main def main() =

println(square(5))

We define a square function.

def square(x: Int): Int =

The def keyword is followed by a name of the function. In square brackets, we provide the function parameters. The brackets are followed by the colon character and the data type of the returned value. After the = character, we provide the body of the function.

// return x * x x * x

In Scala, the return keywords is optional. The value of the last expression is automatically returned to the caller.

println(square(5))

We call the square function with a 5 number as its parameter. The computed value is printed to the console.

$ scala main.scala 25

Variable number of arguments

An asterisk is used to define variable number of arguments.

main.scala

def mysum(vals: Int*): Int =

var total = 0

for n <- vals do
    total += n

total

@main def main() =

val s1 = mysum(1, 2, 3)
val s2 = mysum(1, 2, 3, 4)
val s3 = mysum(1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

println(s1)
println(s2)
println(s3)

The program contains a definition of a sum function. The function can take any number of arguments. The arguments are available in the function body as a sequence of values.

def mysum(vals: Int*): Int =

var total = 0

for n <- vals do
    total += n

total

This is the definition of a custom mysum function. The vals is a sequence of integer values. With a for loop, we compute the final sum.

val s1 = mysum(1, 2, 3) val s2 = mysum(1, 2, 3, 4) val s3 = mysum(1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

We pass three, four, and five values to the function.

$ scala main.scala 6 10 15

Scala default function arguments

Scala function arguments may have default values; they are used if no value is provided for the argument.

main.scala

def power(x: Int, n: Int = 2): Int =

if n == 2 then
    x * x

var res = 1
var i = 0

while i < n do
    res *= x
    i += 1

res

@main def main() =

val r1 = power(3)
println(r1)

val r2 = power(3, 3)
println(r2)

We have a power function. The function has one argument with an implicit value. We can call the function with one or two arguments.

def power(x: Int, n: Int = 2): Int =

The second parameter of the power function is implicit. If it is not provided, its value is 2.

$ scala main.scala 9 27

Scala anonymous function

Anonymous functions do not have a name. In many cases, defining a named function is redundant.

main.scala

@main def main() =

val nums = List(1, 2, -3, -4, 5)

val pos = nums.filter(e => e > 0).map(e => e * 2)
println(pos)

val neg = nums.filter(_ < 0)
println(neg)

nums.foreach(e => print(s"$e "))
println

We have a list of integers. We call some filter, map, and foreach functions on the list.

val pos = nums.filter(e => e > 0).map(e => e * 2)

The filter and map are functions that work on the elements of the list. They take a predicate function (a function returning a boolean value) as a parameter. In our case, the predicates are anonymous functions.

val neg = nums.filter(_ < 0)

This is a shortened syntax.

$ scala main.scala List(2, 4, 10) List(-3, -4) 1 2 -3 -4 5

Scala val function

With val keyword, we define function types.

main.scala

val square = (x: Int) => x * x val triple: (x: Int) => Int = (x) => x * x * x

@main def main() =

val nums = List(1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

val res = square(3)
println(res)

val res2 = triple(5)
println(res2)

val res3 = nums.map(square)
println(res3)

val square2 = square
println(square2(5))

The program defines two val functions.

val square = (x: Int) => x * x

A function type is bound to the square identifier. The parameters of the functions are separated from its body with the fat arrow => operator. The type declaration for the square identifier is omitted, since Scala is able to infer it.

val triple: (x: Int) => Int = (x) => x * x * x

Here we omit the type for the function argument, but provide the type for the tripe identifier. (It is not possibe to omit both declaration.)

val res = square(3) println(res

val res2 = triple(5) println(res2)

val res3 = nums.map(square) println(res3)

The val functions are called exactly like def functions.

$ scala main.scala 9 125 List(1, 4, 9, 16, 25) 25

One difference between the val and def functions is that the def functions are always evaluated.

main.scala

val getNano = System.nanoTime def getNano2 = System.nanoTime

@main def main() =

println(getNano)
Thread.sleep(300)
println(getNano)

println("-----------------")

println(getNano2)
Thread.sleep(300)
println(getNano2)

The getNano and getNano2 functions return the current time in nanoseconds.

val getNano = System.nanoTime

The getNano function is evaluated once and subsequent calls return the same value.

def getNano2 = System.nanoTime

The getNano2 function is always evaluated.

$ scala main.scala 32724329770177 32724329770177

32724630310958 32724930546360

Scala nested function

A nested function, also called an inner function, is a function defined inside another function.

main.scala

def minmax(x: Int, y: Int) =

val min = (x: Int, y: Int) => if x < y then x else y
val max = (x: Int, y: Int) => if x > y then x else y

var mn = min(x, y)
var mx = max(x, y)

(mn, mx)

@main def main() =

val res = minmax(100, 13)
println(s"min: ${res._1} max: ${res._2}")

val res2 = minmax(0, -13)
println(s"min: ${res2._1} max: ${res2._2}")

In the program, we have the minmax function, which contains two nested functions: min and max.

$ scala main.scala min: 13 max: 100 min: -13 max: 0

Scala high-order function

High-order functions operate on other functions, either by taking them as arguments or by returning them.

main.scala

def process(data: List[Int], f: (e: Int) => Int): List[Int] =

data.map(f)

@main def main() =

val nums = List(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

val res1 = process(nums, e => e * e)
println(res1)

val res2 = process(nums, e => e + 1)
println(res2)

The process is a high-order function.

def process(data: List[Int], f: (e: Int) => Int): List[Int] =

data.map(f)

The process high-order function applies the function on the list.

val res1 = process(nums, e => e * e) … val res2 = process(nums, e => e + 1)

We pass two different anonymous functions to the process function.

$ scala main.scala List(1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36) List(2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Scala closure

A closure is an anonymous nested function which retains bindings to variables defined outside the body of the closure.

Closures can hold a unique state of their own. The state becomes isolated as we create new instances of the function.

main.scala

def intSeq(): () => Int =

var i = 0

return () => { i += 1; i }

@main def main() =

val nextInt = intSeq()

println(nextInt())
println(nextInt())
println(nextInt())
println(nextInt())

println("-------------------")

val nextInt2 = intSeq()
println(nextInt2())
println(nextInt2())

We have the intSeq function, which generates a sequence of integers. It returns a closure which increments the i variable.

def intSeq(): () => Int =

var i = 0

return () => { i += 1; i }

Variables defined in functions have a local function scope. However, in this case, the closure is bound to the i variable even after the intSeq function returns.

val nextInt = intSeq()

The intSeq function is called. It returns a function which increments a counter. The returned function closes over the variable i to form a closure. The closure is bound to the nextInt value.

println(nextInt()) println(nextInt()) println(nextInt()) println(nextInt())

We call the closure four times.

val nextInt2 = intSeq() println(nextInt2()) println(nextInt2())

The next call of the intSeq function returns a new closure. This new closure has its own distinct state.

$ scala main.scala 1 2 3 4

1 2

Scala extension function

Extension functions add functionality to an existing type. An extension function is created with the extension keyword.

main.scala

extension (value: Int)

def isOdd = value % 2 == 0
def isEven = value % 2 != 0

def times(f: Any => Unit, v: Any): Unit =

    var i = 0
    while i < value do
        f(v)
        i += 1

@main def main() =

val n = 4

println(n.isOdd)
println(n.isEven)

n.times(println, "falcon")

In the program, we add three extension function to the Int type.

extension (value: Int)

def isOdd = value % 2 == 0
def isEven = value % 2 != 0

def times(f: Any => Unit, v: Any): Unit =

    var i = 0
    while i < value do
        f(v)
        i += 1

The isOdd and isEven functions check if the integer is even or odd. The times function executes the given function n times.

$ scala main.scala true false falcon falcon falcon falcon

Scala member function

Member functions are functions defined within a Scala class.

main.scala

class Cat:

def talk() =
    println("meow")

@main def main() =

val missy = Cat()
missy.talk()

The talk function is defined in the Cat class.

val missy = Cat() missy.talk()

We create the Cat object and call the member function using the dot operator.

$ scala main.scala meow

In this article we have worked with Scala functions.