What is pattern matching in Scala?

What is pattern matching in Scala?

Pattern matching in Scala is a powerful feature that allows you to match values against patterns, making code more readable and concise.

Can you give me an example of pattern matching?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

val number = 5
number match {
  case 1 => "One"
  case 2 => "Two"
  case _ => "Not One or Two"
}

This matches the value of number and returns a string based on the match.

What are the benefits of using pattern matching?

Pattern matching improves code clarity, reduces boilerplate, and allows for more expressive handling of complex data structures.

Are there any limitations to pattern matching?

Yes, while powerful, pattern matching can become complex with deeply nested structures and may lead to performance issues if not used judiciously.