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122

answers:

1

For example, how can I write an expression where the following is implicitly applied:

implicit def intsToString(x: Int, y: Int) = "test"

val s: String = ... //?

Thanks

+11  A: 

Implicit functions of one argument are used to automatically convert values to an expected type. These are known as Implicit Views. With two arguments, it doesn't work or make sense.

You could apply an implicit view to a TupleN:

implicit def intsToString( xy: (Int, Int)) = "test"
val s: String = (1, 2)

You can also mark the final parameter list of any function as implicit.

def intsToString(implicit x: Int, y: Int) = "test"
implicit val i = 0
val s: String = intsToString

Or, combining these two usages of implicit:

implicit def intsToString(implicit x: Int, y: Int) = "test"
implicit val i = 0
val s: String = implicitly[String]

However it's not really useful in this case.

UPDATE

To elaborate on Martin's comment, this is possible.

implicit def foo(a: Int, b: Int) = 0
// ETA expansion results in:
// implicit val fooFunction: (Int, Int) => Int = (a, b) => foo(a, b)

implicitly[(Int, Int) => Int]
retronym
Do you imply ( :-) ) that my original def (which doesn't have implicit parameter list) cannot be invoked implicitly? (That would mean that the "implicit" keyword is completely meaningless in my example - if no code could ever observe a difference). Is that really the case? Or is this intended as a partial answer, in the sense of "hey, at least these cases work"?
Dimitris Andreou
Correct. I know of know way in the current language that this could be invoked. A compiler warning could be helpful to communicate this fact.
retronym
The original function cannot be used as an implicit conversion, because it takes two parameters. However, it can still be used as an implicit argument for another method. So the `implicit' modifier does have a useful meaning here.
Martin Odersky
Indeed! I've updated the answer.
retronym
Wow. Thanks Martin, I got a warm feeling now, experiencing the orthogonality of constructs at work - indeed, all functions are values, so what you say can only make sense. Implicit defs are also implicit values. Nice.
Dimitris Andreou
"Implicit defs are also implicit values." I'm going to tweet that. :-)
Daniel