In programming languages, Identifiers are used for identification purpose. In Scala, an identifier can be a class name, method name, variable name or an object name.
For example :
class GFG{
var a: Int = 20
}
object Main {
def main(args: Array[String]) {
var ob = new GFG();
}
}In the above program we have 6 idtentifiers:
- GFG: Class name
- a: Variable name
- Main: Object name
- main: Method name
- args: Variable name
- ob: Object name
Rules for defining Java Scala
There are certain rules for defining a valid Scala identifier. These rules must be followed, otherwise we get a compile-time error.
- Scala identifiers are case-sensitive.
- Scala does not allows you to use keyword as an identifier.
- Reserved Words can’t be used as an identifier like $ etc.
- Scala only allowed those identifiers which are created using below four types of identifiers.
- There is no limit on the length of the identifier, but it is advisable to use an optimum length of 4 – 15 letters only.
- Identifiers should not start with digits([0-9]). For example “123geeks” is a not a valid Scala identifier.
Example:
// Scala program to demonstrate// Identifiers object Main { // Main method def main(args: Array[String]) { // Valid Identifiers var `name` = "Siya"; var _age = 20; var Branch = "Computer Science"; println("Name:" +`name`); println("Age:" +_age); println("Branch:" +Branch); }} |
Output:
Name:Siya Age:20 Branch:Computer Science
In the above example, valid identifers are:
Main, main, args, `name`, _age, Branch, +
and keywords are:
Object, def, var, println
Types of Scala identifers
Scala supports four types of identifiers:
- Alphanumeric Identifiers: These identifiers are those identifiers which start with a letter(capital or small letter) or an underscore and followed by letters, digits, or underscores.
Example of valid alphanumeric identifiers:
_GFG, geeks123, _1_Gee_23, Geeks
Example of Invalid alphanumeric identifiers:
123G, $Geeks, -geeks
Example:
// Scala program to demonstrate// Alphanumeric IdentifiersobjectMain{// Main methoddefmain(args:Array[String]){// main, _name1, and Tuto_rial are// valid alphanumeric identifiersvar_name1:String="GeeksforGeeks"varTuto_rial:String="Scala"println(_name1);println(Tuto_rial);}}Output:
GeeksforGeeks Scala
- Operator Identifiers: These are those identifiers which contain one or more operator character like +, :, ?, ~, or # etc.
Example of vaild operator identifiers:+, ++
Example:
// Scala program to demonstrate// Operator IdentifiersobjectMain{// Main methoddefmain(args:Array[String]){// main, x, y, and sum are valid// alphanumeric identifiersvarx:Int=20;vary:Int=10;// Here, + is a operator identifer// which is used to add two valuesvarsum=x + y;println("Display the result of + identifier:");println(sum);}}Output:
Display the result of + identifier: 30
- Mixed Identifiers: These are those identifiers which contains alphanumeric identifiers followed by undersoce and an operator identifier.
Example of vaild mixed identifiers:unary_+, sum_=
Example:
// Scala program to demonstrate// Mixed IdentifiersobjectMain{// Main methoddefmain(args:Array[String]){// num_+ is a valid mixed identifiervarnum_+=20;println("Display the result of mixed identifier:");println(num_+);}}Output:
Display the result of mixed identifier: 20
- Literal Identifiers: These are those identifers in which an arbitrary string enclosed with back ticks (`….`) .
Example of vaild mixed identifiers:`Geeks`, `name`
Example:
// Scala program to demonstrate// Literal IdentifiersobjectMain{// Main methoddefmain(args:Array[String]){// `name` and `age` are valid literal identifiersvar`name`="Siya"var`age`=20println("Name:"+`name`);println("Age:"+`age`);}}Output:
Name:Siya Age:20
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