Context Bounds
A context bound is a shorthand for expressing the common pattern of a context parameter that depends on a type parameter. Using a context bound, the maximum function of the last section can be written like this:
def maximum[T: Ord](xs: List[T]): T = xs.reduceLeft(max)
A bound like : Ord on a type parameter T of a method or class indicates a context parameter using Ord[T]. The context parameter(s) generated from context bounds are added as follows:
- If the method parameters end in an implicit parameter list or using clause, context parameters are added in front of that list.
- Otherwise they are added as a separate parameter clause at the end.
Example:
def f[T: C1 : C2, U: C3](x: T)(using y: U, z: V): R
would expand to
def f[T, U](x: T)(using _: C1[T], _: C2[T], _: C3[U], y: U, z: V): R
Context bounds can be combined with subtype bounds. If both are present, subtype bounds come first, e.g.
def g[T <: B : C](x: T): R = ...
Migration
To ease migration, context bounds in Dotty map in Scala 3.0 to old-style implicit parameters for which arguments can be passed either with a (using ...) clause or with a normal application. From Scala 3.1 on, they will map to context parameters instead, as is described above.
If the source version is future-migration, any pairing of an evidence context parameter stemming from a context bound with a normal argument will give a migration warning. The warning indicates that a (using ...) clause is needed instead. The rewrite can be done automatically under -rewrite.
Syntax
TypeParamBounds ::= [SubtypeBounds] {ContextBound}
ContextBound ::= ‘:’ Type