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Data Class in Kotlin
Can you confidently answer questions like:
What is a data class in Kotlin?
Explain the purpose of the copy() function in a data class?
If not, then this article is for you! Data classes are one of the most commonly asked interview topics in Kotlin, And in this guide, we will understand the concept in a very easy and engaging way, you will get a detailed explanation of some important interview questions which are highly valuable for Android developers.
What are data classes?
Data Classes are special classes in Kotlin that are designed only to hold data. These classes automatically generate boilerplate code (equals()
, hashCode()
, toString()
, etc.), which has to be written manually in Java POJO classes.
Syntax:
data class ClassName(val property1: Type, val property2: Type, ...)
Features of Data Classes:
- Automatic Function Generation:
equals()
,hashCode()
,toString()
,copy()
andcomponentN()
functions are automatically generated. - Primary Constructor: Data class must have at least one property in the primary constructor.
- Properties Requirement: Properties declared in the primary constructor must be
val
orvar
. - Immutable by Default: If properties are…