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by pansa2 442 days ago
> > For function parameters, doesn't it depend on how the parameter is used?

> I don't think so, but maybe there's specific circumstances I don't know of?

I don't know specific circumstances either, but I presume they exist because of things like Dart's `covariant` keyword [0], which makes function parameters covariant instead of contravariant.

[0] https://dart.dev/language/type-system#covariant-keyword
2 comments
sparkie 442 days ago
The use case would be where the arguments are expected to be filled in by the function - ie, as additional return types.

Consider if we have `A <= B <= C`, and a function:

    int Copy([out] Array<B> dest, [in] Array<B> src);
Given some potential inputs:

    Buffer<A> asrc = ...
    Buffer<B> bsrc = ...
    Buffer<C> csrc = ...

    Buffer<A> adest = allocate(...)
    Buffer<B> bdest = allocate(...)
    Buffer<C> cdest = allocate(...)
The following should be true:

    Copy(adest, asrc); // No! - How would Copy know how to copy `A` values when it only knows about `B`?
    Copy(adest, bsrc); // No! - src argument is OK, but how can it downcast them to `A`?
    Copy(adest, csrc); // No! - Same as above, and src elements must be at least `B`s`.
    
    Copy(bdest, asrc); // Ok. - Any `A` in the src are interpreted as `B`s.
    Copy(bdest, bsrc); // Ok, - all values are interpreted as `B`s.
    Copy(bdest, csrc); // No! - Argument elements must be at least `B`s`.
    
    Copy(cdest, asrc); // Ok - values are interpreted as `B`s in src, and as `C`s in dest.
    Copy(cdest, bsrc); // Ok
    Copy(cdest, csrc); // No! Argument elements must be at least `B`s`.
If the `dest` argument were contravariant, it would permit invalid copies and forbid valid ones.

    Copy(adest, asrc); // pass (wrong)
    Copy(adest, bsrc); // pass (wrong)
    Copy(adest, csrc); // fail
    
    Copy(bdest, asrc); // pass
    Copy(bdest, bsrc); // pass
    Copy(bdest, csrc); // fail
    
    Copy(cdest, asrc); // fail (wrong)
    Copy(cdest, bsrc); // fail (wrong)
    Copy(cdest, csrc); // fail
In a purely functional setting, you should not need a covariant parameter type because all writes would end up in the return type.

    copy : Array<B> -> Array<B>
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kragen 442 days ago
Maybe this is intentionally introducing logical unsoundness into Dart's type system for pragmatic purposes, perhaps supplemented with some implicit dynamic checks?
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