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tutorials/tour/_posts/2017-02-13-singleton-objects.md

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next-page: xml-processing
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previous-page: pattern-matching
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assumed-knowledge: classes, methods, private-methods, packages
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---
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Methods and values that aren't associated with individual instances of a [class](classes.html) belong in *singleton objects*, denoted by using the keyword `object` instead of `class`.
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A singleton object is an instance of a new class. There is exactly one instance of each singleton object. They do not have constructors so they cannot be instantiated.
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# Defining a singleton object
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Like with classes, the simplest form of an object is the keyword `object` and an identifier:
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```tut
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object Box
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```
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package test
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object Blah {
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def sum(l: List[Int]): Int = l.sum
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}
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Here's an example of an object with a method:
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```
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package logging
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This `sum` method is available globally, and can be referred to, or imported, as `test.Blah.sum`.
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Singleton objects are sort of a shorthand for defining a single-use class, which can't directly be instantiated, and a `val` member at the point of definition of the `object`, with the same name. Indeed, like `val`s, singleton objects can be defined as members of a [trait](traits.html) or class, though this is atypical.
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A singleton object can extend classes and traits. In fact, a [case class](case-classes.html) with no [type parameters](generic-classes.html) will by default create a singleton object of the same name, with a [`Function*`](http://www.scala-lang.org/api/current/scala/Function1.html) trait implemented.
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object Logger {
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def info(message: String): Unit = println(s"INFO: $message")
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}
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```
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The method `info` can be imported from anywhere in the program. Creating utility methods like this is a common use case for singleton objects (however, more sophisticated logging techniques exist). Let's see how to use `info` in another package:
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## Companions ##
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```
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import logging.Logger.info
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Most singleton objects do not stand alone, but instead are associated with a class of the same name. The “singleton object of the same name” of a case class, mentioned above, is an example of this. When this happens, the singleton object is called the *companion object* of the class, and the class is called the *companion class* of the object.
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class Project(name: String, daysToComplete: Int)
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[Scaladoc](https://wiki.scala-lang.org/display/SW/Introduction) has special support for jumping between a class and its companion: if the big “C” or “O” circle has its edge folded up at the bottom, you can click the circle to jump to the companion.
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val project1 = new Project("TPS Reports", 1)
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val project2 = new Project("Website redesign", 5)
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info("Created projects") // Prints "INFO: Created projects"
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```
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A class and its companion object, if any, must be defined in the same source file. Like this:
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The `info` method becomes visible in the scope of the package using `import logging.Logger.info`. You could also use `import logging.Logger._` to import everything from Logger.
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```tut
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class IntPair(val x: Int, val y: Int)
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## Companion objects
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object IntPair {
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import math.Ordering
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A singleton object with the same name as a class is called a _companion object_. Conversely, the class is the object's companion class. The companion class and object can access each other's private members. Use a companion object for methods and values which are not specific to instances of the companion class.
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```
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import scala.math._
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implicit def ipord: Ordering[IntPair] =
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Ordering.by(ip => (ip.x, ip.y))
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class Circle(val radius: Double) {
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def area: Double = Circle.calculateArea(radius)
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}
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```
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It's common to see typeclass instances as [implicit values](implicit-parameters.html), such as `ipord` above, defined in the companion, when following the typeclass pattern. This is because the companion's members are included in the default implicit search for related values.
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object Circle {
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def calculateArea(radius: Double): Double = Pi * pow(radius, 2.0)
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}
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## Notes for Java programmers ##
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val circle1 = new Circle(5.0)
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`static` is not a keyword in Scala. Instead, all members that would be static, including classes, should go in a singleton object instead. They can be referred to with the same syntax, imported piecemeal or as a group, and so on.
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circle1.area
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```
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Frequently, Java programmers define static members, perhaps `private`, as implementation aids for their instance members. These move to the companion, too; a common pattern is to import the companion object's members in the class, like so:
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The `class Circle` contains the val `radius` which is specific to each instance whereas the `object Circle` contains the method `calculateArea` which is the same for every instance.
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A common pattern to simplify calls to the companion object's members from the companion class is to import everything:
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```
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class X {
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import X._
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import java.time.LocalDateTime;
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import java.time.DayOfWeek
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def blah = foo
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object Event {
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private def _isOnTheWeekend(date: LocalDateTime) = Array(DayOfWeek.SATURDAY, DayOfWeek.SUNDAY).contains(date.getDayOfWeek)
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}
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object X {
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private def foo = 42
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class Event(name: String, date: LocalDateTime) {
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import Event._
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def isOnTheWeekend: Boolean = _isOnTheWeekend(date)
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}
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val event = new Event("Dotty Days", LocalDateTime.of(2020, 2, 2, 9, 0, 0))
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event.isOnTheWeekend // true
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```
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This illustrates another feature: in the context of `private`, a class and its companion are friends. `object X` can access private members of `class X`, and vice versa. To make a member *really* private to one or the other, use `private[this]`.
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The `class Event` imports `_isOnTheWeekend` from the `object Event`. To make a member inaccessible from its companion class, use `private[this]`.
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Note: If a class or object has a companion, both must be defined in the same file. To define them in the REPL, you must enter `:paste` and then paste in the class and companion object code.
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For Java convenience, methods, including `var`s and `val`s, defined directly in a singleton object also have a static method defined in the companion class, called a *static forwarder*. Other members are accessible via the `X$.MODULE$` static field for `object X`.
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If you move everything to a companion object and find that all you have left is a class you don't want to be able to instantiate, simply delete the class. Static forwarders will still be created.
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## Notes for Java programmers ##
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`static` is not a keyword in Scala. Instead, all members that would be static, including classes, should go in a singleton object instead.
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When using a companion object from Java code, the members will be defined in a companion class with a `static` modifier. This is called _static forwarding_. It occurs even if you haven't defined a companion class yourself.

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