Kotlin data class
last modified January 29, 2024
In this article we introduce Kotlin data class.
A Kotlin data class is designed to hold data. For this purpose, much of the advanced functionality of standard classes is not needed. Groovy, F#, C# languages have records which are equivalent to Kotlin's data classes.
With data classes, we can considerably reduce the boilerplate code. Compiler
automatically creates the equals, hashCode,
toString, and copy functions.
A data class in Kotlin is created with the data class keywords.
The data classes must follow a couple of rules. The primary constructor needs to have at least one parameter. All primary constructor parameters must be marked as val or var. The data classes cannot be abstract, open, sealed or inner.
Kotlin data class simple example
The following is a simple example that uses a Kotlin data class.
package com.zetcode
data class User(val fname: String, val lname: String, val occupation: String)
fun main() {
val u = User("John", "Doe", "gardener")
println(u.lname)
println(u.fname)
println(u.occupation)
println(u)
}
We define a User data class with three fields.
data class User(val fname: String, val lname: String, val occupation: String)
Only one line of code is needed to define a data class.
println(u.lname) println(u.fname) println(u.occupation)
Kotlin creates three properties.
println(u)
Also, we have a convenience toString method defined, which is
called when we print the object to the console.
Doe John gardener User(fname=John, lname=Doe, occupation=gardener)
Parameterless constructor
If the generated class needs to have a parameterless constructor, default values for the properties have to be specified.
package com.zetcode
data class Student(var name: String = "", var favCol: String = "")
fun main() {
val s1 = Student()
s1.name = "Paul"
s1.favCol = "blue"
println(s1)
}
Providing default values for our Student constructor, we can create
an object with empty, parameterless constructor.
Kotlin data class copy
The copy function to copies an object, allowing us to alter some of
its properties while keeping the rest unchanged.
package com.zetcode
data class User(val fname: String, val lname: String, val occupation: String)
fun main() {
val u1 = User("John", "Doe", "gardener")
val u2 = u1.copy(fname = "Jane", occupation = "teacher")
println(u1)
println(u2)
println(u2.fname)
println(u2.lname)
println(u2.occupation)
}
With copy, we quickly create a new user that shares the
lname property.
User(fname=John, lname=Doe, occupation=gardener) User(fname=Jane, lname=Doe, occupation=teacher) Jane Doe teacher
Kotlin data class destructuring
Kotlin data classes support the destructuring operation. It allows us to pull object properties into variables.
package com.zetcode
data class User(val fname: String, val lname: String, val occupation: String)
fun main() {
val u = User("John", "Doe", "gardener")
val (fname, lname, occupation) = u
println("$fname $lname is a $occupation")
}
In the example, we destructure the three properties of the user object into three separate variables.
John Doe is a gardener
Kotlin data class filter
Data classes are well suited for data analysis.
package com.zetcode
data class User(val fname: String, val lname: String, val salary: Int)
fun main() {
val users = arrayOf(
User("John", "Doe", 1230),
User("Lucy", "Novak", 670),
User("Ben", "Walter", 2050),
User("Robin", "Brown", 2300),
User("Amy", "Doe", 1250),
User("Joe", "Draker", 1190),
User("Janet", "Doe", 980),
User("Albert", "Novak", 1930)
)
users.filter { it.salary < 1000 }.forEach { e -> println(e) }
}
In the example, we have a list of users. With filter, we find out
all users whose salaries are lower than 1000.
User(fname=Lucy, lname=Novak, salary=670) User(fname=Janet, lname=Doe, salary=980)
Kotlin Pair & Triple
Kotlin provides two standard data classes: Pair and
Triple.
package com.zetcode
fun main() {
val p1 = Pair(1, 2)
val p2 = Pair(3, 4)
val p3 = Pair(p1.first + p2.first, p2.second + p2.second)
println(p1)
println(p2)
println(p3)
val t1 = Triple(1, 2, 3)
val t2 = Triple(3, 4, 5)
val t3 = Triple(t1.first + t2.first, t1.second + t2.second,
t1.third + t2.third)
println(t1)
println(t2)
println(t3)
}
We can use the first, second, and third
properties to get to their values.
(1, 2) (3, 4) (4, 8) (1, 2, 3) (3, 4, 5) (4, 6, 8)
Source
Kotlin data classes - language reference
In this article we have covered data classes in Kotlin.
Author
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