Error with definition covariant and contravariant types

Question

I have code:

class A {
    override def toString = "object class A"
}

class B extends A {
    override def toString = "object class B"
}

class Cell[+T](init: T) {
    private[this] var current: T = init
    def get: T = current
    def set(x: T) { current = x }
}

val cB = new Cell[B](new B)
println(cB.get)
val cA: Cell[A] = cB
println(cA.get)

but I have error in line: def set(x: T) { current = x }

error: covariant type T occurs in contravariant position in type T of value x def set(x: T) { current = x }

Explain, please

In addition to the insightful answers, why do you need the explicit private reference and getter/setter? Scala does this for you: `class Cell[+T](val t: T) {...}` — Jens Hoffmann, Jan 11 '13 at 12:37

Kim Stebel · Accepted Answer · 2013-01-11T13:14:36.310

Contravariant positions for a type are (among others) any positions that allow you to pass an instance of that type to a method. So all method parameter types are in contravariant positions. Since you declared T as covariant ( +T), the compiler won't allow this. Your only options are:

make T invariant
modify the set method such that it returns a new instance of Cell and Cell thus becomes immutable.
remove the set method, also making Cell immutable

If the compiler allowed you to have a set method as you implemented it, that would make the type system unsafe, since it would allow you to write:

val cs:Cell[String] = new Cell("")
val ca:Cell[Any] = cs
ca.set(5)
val s:String = cs.get //boom

Should be `ca.set(5)` instead of `cs.set(5)` – Jens Hoffmann Jan 11 '13 at 13:02 — Jens Hoffmann, Jan 11 '13 at 13:02

score 4 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:04

The short answer is that you cannot have a mutable container which is covariant. Assuming this compiled, then in your example, the last two lines could read:

val cA: Call[A] = cB
cA.set(new A)

The first line would be allowed, because a Cell[B] is a Cell[A] due to the use of +T. And then the second line is allowed too - because of course you can set a Cell[A] to hold an A.

But now, cB.get returns an instance of A, not a B! This doesn't make any sense, and there is no way to resolve this contradiction while still allowing covariance in Cell's type parameter.

For a longer, more formal/comprehensive answer, see this question: Scala covariance/contravariance

Error with definition covariant and contravariant types

2 Answers2