What are type annotations in Haskell?

What are type annotations in Haskell?

Type annotations in Haskell specify the type of a variable or function explicitly, helping with type checking.

Can you give me an example of a type annotation?

Sure! For instance, you can annotate a function like this: add :: Int -> Int -> Int which means it takes two Ints and returns an Int.

Why are type annotations important?

They improve code readability, help catch errors at compile time, and assist in understanding the code's intent.

Do all Haskell functions need type annotations?

No, they are optional. Haskell has a strong type inference system that can often deduce types automatically.