Does using `const val` instead of `val` in a `comp...

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[juliocbcotta]

Does using const val instead of val in a companion object triggers any compilation/bytecode optimisation ?

[Shawn]

You can look at bytecode yourself, actually

[Shawn]

If you write a quick kotlin file and use a const val you’ll see that the compiler inserts the value (inlines) where the variable is used, kinda almost like a C macro if you’re familiar

[Shawn]

this is also why vals need to be const if you want to use them in annotations

[juliocbcotta]

So this cause a better memory usage, right? I think java compiler optimise static literals...

[gildor]

Not memory, val generates field and getter and called on runtime to get value, const val is inlined on compile time and generates only static field

[juliocbcotta]

So is the method count smaller when using const val?

[karelpeeters]

Yes, no getters will be generated.

[gildor]

Also, because constants are inlined, it allows compiler do some optimizations for code where constant is used