Equatable: meaning, definitions and examples
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equatable
[ ɪˈkwɪtəbl ]
programming concept
Equatable refers to a characteristic of an object or a data structure that allows it to be compared for equality with another object. In programming, particularly in languages like Swift and Dart, when a type is equatable, it provides a way to define how two instances of that type can be checked for equality. This is often done by implementing an equality operator or method that specifies the criteria for equality, usually based on the values of their properties. Adopting equatable in your code leads to more predictable behavior when managing collections and helps avoid bugs related to unintentional reference comparisons.
Synonyms
comparable, identical, matching.
Examples of usage
- The class must implement Equatable to be comparable.
- Using Equatable makes unit testing easier.
- Equatable types help maintain data integrity.
Translations
Translations of the word "equatable" in other languages:
🇵🇹 equivalente
🇮🇳 समान
🇩🇪 vergleichbar
🇮🇩 setara
🇺🇦 еквівалентний
🇵🇱 porównywalny
🇯🇵 等価な
🇫🇷 équivalent
🇪🇸 equivalente
🇹🇷 eşdeğer
🇰🇷 동등한
🇸🇦 مكافئ
🇨🇿 rovnocenný
🇸🇰 rovnocenný
🇨🇳 等价的
🇸🇮 enakovreden
🇮🇸 jafngilt
🇰🇿 тең
🇬🇪 გამოადვილებული
🇦🇿 bərabər
🇲🇽 equivalente
Etymology
The term 'equatable' is derived from the word 'equate', which comes from the Latin word 'aequatus', meaning 'made equal'. The prefix 'equa-' is related to equality or being equal. The concept of equatability started gaining prominence in the field of mathematics and logic, where the notion of equality is fundamental. In programming, the need for types to be equatable emerged with the introduction of object-oriented paradigms, necessitating a standardized method for comparing instances. The evolution of programming languages has led to the incorporation of equatable interfaces or protocols, allowing developers to define equality in meaningful ways specific to their data types.