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var keyword in Java

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The var reserved type name (not a Java keyword) was introduced in Java 10. Type inference is used in var keyword in which it detects automatically the datatype of a variable based on the surrounding context. The below examples explain where var is used and also where you can’t use it.

1. We can declare any datatype with the var keyword.

Java




// Java program to explain that
// var can used to declare any datatype
 
class Demo1 {
 
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
 
        // int
        var x = 100;
 
        // double
        var y = 1.90;
 
        // char
        var z = 'a';
 
        // string
        var p = "tanu";
 
        // boolean
        var q = false;
 
        // type inference is used in var keyword in which it
        // automatically detects the datatype of a variable
        System.out.println(x);
        System.out.println(y);
        System.out.println(z);
        System.out.println(p);
        System.out.println(q);
    }
}


Output

100
1.9
a
tanu
false

2. var can be used in a local variable declaration.

Java




// Java program to demonstrate that
// var can be used to declare a local variable
 
class Demo2 {
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
 
        // local variable
        var x = 100;
 
        // print x to the console
        System.out.println(x);
    }
}


Output

100

3. var cannot be used in an instance and global variable declaration.

Java




// Java program to demonstrate that
// var cannot be used to declare
// instance and global variables
 
class Demo3 {
 
    // instance variable
    var x = 50;
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        System.out.println(x);
    }
}


Output

prog.java:8: error: 'var' is not allowed here
    var x = 50;
    ^
1 error

4. var cannot be used as a Generic type.

Java




// Java program to demonstrate that
// var cannot be used as a Generic
// type
 
import java.util.*;
class Demo4 {
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
          // Generic list using var
        var<var> al = new ArrayList<>();
           
          // add elements
        al.add(10);
        al.add(20);
        al.add(30);
       
        // print the list
        System.out.println(al);
    }
}


Output

prog.java:10: error: 'var' is not allowed here
        var<var> al = new ArrayList<>();
            ^
1 error

5. var cannot be used with the generic type.

Java




// Java program to demonstrate that
// var cannot be used with Generic type
 
import java.util.*;
class Demo5 {
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
          // var used with Generic type
        var<Integer> al = new ArrayList<Integer>();
       
          // add elements
        al.add(10);
        al.add(20);
        al.add(30);
       
        // print the list
        System.out.println(al);
       
          // This is valid since type is decided
          // based on ArrayList<String>
          var list = new ArrayList<String>();
    }
}


Output

prog.java:9: error: illegal reference to restricted type 'var'
        var<Integer> al = new ArrayList<Integer>();
        ^
1 error

6. var cannot be used without explicit initialization.

Java




// Java program to demonstrate that
// var cannot be used without explicit
// initialization
 
import java.io.*;
 
class Demo6 {
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
 
        // declaration without
        // initialization
        var variable;
         
          // This is also not valid
        var variable = null;
    }
}


Output

prog.java:13: error: cannot infer type for local variable variable
        var variable;
            ^
  (cannot use 'var' on variable without initializer)
prog.java:16: error: cannot infer type for local variable variable
        var variable = null;
            ^
  (variable initializer is 'null')
2 errors

7. var cannot be used with Lambda Expression.

Java




// Java program to demonstrate that
// var cannot be used with Lambda
// Expression
 
import java.util.*;
 
interface myInt {
   
    int add(int a, int b);
}
class Demo7 {
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
       
          // var cannot be used since they
          // require explicit target type
        var obj = (a, b) -> (a + b);
 
          // calling add method
        System.out.println(obj.add(2, 3));
    }
}


prog.java:13: error: cannot infer type for local variable obj
          var obj = (a, b) -> {
              ^
  (lambda expression needs an explicit target-type)
1 error

8. var cannot be used for method parameters and return type.

Java




// Java program to explain that
// var cannot be used for a method
// parameters and return type
 
class Demo8 {
 
    // method1 using var
    // as a return type
    var method1() { return ("Inside Method1"); }
 
    // method2 using var for a
    // parameter
    void method2(var a) { System.out.println(a); }
 
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
 
        // create an instance
        Demo1 obj = new Demo1();
 
        // call method1
        var res = obj.method1();
 
        // call method2
        obj.method2();
    }
}


Output

prog.java:6: error: 'var' is not allowed here
    var method1()
    ^
prog.java:11: error: 'var' is not allowed here
    void method2(var a)
                 ^
2 errors


Last Updated : 22 Apr, 2023
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