Case classes #

Scala uses case class for classes mainly made to hold data (structures). Case classes are defined like normal classes except that all their parameters are, by default, class members.

case class Person(name: String, age: Int)

val user = Person("Bob", 21)

Comparison #

Instances of case classes are compared by structure and not by reference:

val person1 = Person("Bob", 21)
val person2 = Person("Bob", 21)
val person2 = Person("Alice", 21)

println(person1 == person2)     // true
println(person1 == person3)     // false

Copy #

Case classes instances can be copied using the method .copy() where you can optionnaly change the members:

val bob = Person("Bob", 21)
val alice = bob.copy(name = "Alice")        // Person("Alice", 21)