Closures in Scala

Before we begin discussing closures in Scala, let us have a quick look at a function. The function literal bill below accepts only one input parameter: netBill. However, the function calculates the final bill by adding a service charge to netBill.

val bill = (netBill: Double) => netBill*(1 + serviceCharge/100)

So if we try to compile the above function, Scala is going to complain that it does not know anything about serviceCharge.

We have one bounded variable: netBill. It is bound to the function call and takes its value from whatever is provided to the function. But serviceCharge is a free variable, and the function literal does not provide it with any value.

In order to execute our function literal, we need to provide a value to serviceCharge outside the function bill.

val serviceCharge = 14

And now, if we redefine our bill function again, then Scala will be quite happy with our declaration.

The function value created at runtime from this function literal bill is called a closure because we capture the binding of its free variable by closing the function. In the above example, we have captured the value of serviceCharge as 14.

The video tutorial highlights the concept in more detail with few more examples: