``` val a = 5 val b = 5.4 val c = 5.4321 ```

# getting-started

[Ayden]

val a = 5 
val b = 5.4
val c = 5.4321

[codyoss]

yes, it is infered when possible

[Steven McLaughlin]

You can see for yourself with something like this

println(a.javaClass.kotlin)
    println(b.javaClass.kotlin)
    println(c.javaClass.kotlin)

[karelpeeters]

Might as well go for a.javaClass.kotlin.java.kotlin then.

[diesieben07]

Those determine the runtime type, not the static type of the variable at compile time.

[Steven McLaughlin]

Ah, I think I misunderstood what he was asking

[Ayden]

@diesieben07 what's the difference between runtime type and static type?

[diesieben07]

val a: Any = 1 has runtime type Int but static type Any.

[Ayden]

So which mean if I define val a = 1
In runtime it shows Int but in static it is Any?

[diesieben07]

No, in that case the compiler will infer the type Int for a, so both static and runtime type will be Int. But take this more complicated example:

fun iReturnAny(): Any = 3
val a = iReturnAny()

Compiler will infer Any for a (because iReturnAny() returns Any), but runtime type will Int.

[Ayden]

Oh.

[Ayden]

This is clear.

[Ayden]

The static type will assign based on the return type of the function.

[Ayden]

However, the runtime type will infer as Int.

[diesieben07]

No. Runtime type is not inferred. Runtime type is the type of the value actually being there at runtime.
You can put anything into a variable of type Any. The static type will always be Any, but the runtime type could be String (if there is a string in there) or anything else.

[diesieben07]

Type inference happens at compile time and it only determines the static (compile time) type of something.

[Ayden]

Does it matter if the type infer on runtime or static?

[diesieben07]

Again: type inference only happens at compile time.

[diesieben07]

You can think of type inference as the compiler "typing the obvious for you"

[diesieben07]

val a = 3 - What type does a have? Well, it's an Int, "obviously", so let's "type that for you":
val a: Int = 3

[diesieben07]

That is type inference (basically)

[karelpeeters]

You can always check with Ctrl + Q on the variable.

[Ayden]

That's a great tip!