Kotlin Tip #11: Prefer Data Classes for Classes Meant to Hold Data — 100 Kotlin Tips in 100 Days
Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram
Tip #10: Prefer Immutable Collections
Kotlin provides a special type of class to simplify the handling of data by automatically generating boilerplate code that would otherwise need to be written manually.
Traditionally, classes meant to hold data require methods like equals(), hashCode(), toString(), copy(), and component functions for destructuring. Implementing these methods manually for every data-holding class is tedious and error-prone.
To automatically generate these implementations and reduce boilerplate code, Kotlin introduces Data Classes. These classes are declared with the data keyword. Here's a simple example:
data class User(val name: String, val age: Int)With just this one line, Kotlin automatically provides an equals() function to compare two User objects:
A hashCode() function for hash-based collections:
A toString() function for readable object representation:
And functions for copying (copy()) and destructuring objects (componentN()):
This automation not only enhances the readability and maintainability of the code but also aligns with Kotlin’s philosophy of reducing verbosity and focusing on functionality.
I hope you have enjoyed the eleventh tip of our series! Don’t forget to subscribe and stay tuned for more Kotlin tips!
Stay curious!
Tip #12: Learn About Lambda Expressions
Contribute
Writing takes time and effort. I love writing and sharing knowledge, but I also have bills to pay. If you like my work, please, consider donating through Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/RaphaelDeLio
Or by sending me BitCoin: 1HjG7pmghg3Z8RATH4aiUWr156BGafJ6Zw
Follow Me on Social Media
Stay connected and dive deeper into the world of Kotlin with me! Follow my journey across all major social platforms for exclusive content, tips, and discussions.
