Difference between initialization of empty ArrayBuffer using either "ArrayBuffer.empty[A]" or "ArrayBuffer[A]()" in Scala

Question

I have just started learning Scala and I came across two syntax to initialize an empty ArrayBuffer which are :

ArrayBuffer.empty[A]
ArrayBuffer\[A]()

Is there any difference or preference in terms of usage of them as both are producing the same result when elements are added and played around with?

jwvh · Accepted Answer · 2020-04-06 07:11:37Z

3

They are the same, as witnessed by the source code:

def empty[A]: ArrayBuffer[A] = new ArrayBuffer[A]()

Not all types offer the <type>[Element]() form of initialization (see Option for example) but <type>.empty[Element] is pretty universal so it can be used even if it appears redundant and verbose.

edited Apr 6, 2020 at 7:11

answered Apr 6, 2020 at 6:27

jwvh

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1 Comment

Tim Over a year ago

I've deleted my answer to avoid duplication, but you might want to mention that in 2.12 apply calls empty rather than the other way round.

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