Why are receivers passed by value in Go, despite the advantages of passing by reference?

Why Receivers Are Passed by Value in Go, Despite the Benefits of Passing by Reference

Many programmers might expect receivers to be passed by reference in Go, considering the advantages of modifying the original value in the calling scope. However, Go adopts a different approach by passing receivers by value.

Pass-by-Value Principle in Go

Go follows a consistent approach of passing everything by value. This means that functions always receive a copy of the passed argument, whether it's a primitive value or a complex type. The same principle applies to method receivers.

Reasons for Pass-by-Value Receivers

• Consistency: Pass-by-value is the default behavior for all arguments in Go, ensuring a consistent approach across the language.
• Efficiency: For small receivers, such as basic types or small structs, pass-by-value can be more efficient than pass-by-reference.
• Clarity: Value receivers offer a clear indication that the method does not modify the original value referenced by the receiver.

When to Use Pointer Receivers

In cases where the method modifies the original value, a pointer receiver is required. This ensures that changes made within the method are reflected in the calling scope. However, using pointer receivers can introduce complexity and decrease performance, so they should be used judiciously.

Conclusion

While pass-by-value receivers may initially seem counterintuitive, they align with Go's core principle of consistency, efficiency, and clarity. Understanding the rationale behind this approach helps programmers write more idiomatic and effective Go code.

The above is the detailed content of Why are receivers passed by value in Go, despite the advantages of passing by reference?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!