listing25.go

// Code listing 25: https://play.golang.org/p/zb93qzV6iN3

// Go supports [_anonymous functions_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_function),
// which can form <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closure_(computer_science)"><em>closures</em></a>.
// Anonymous functions are useful when you want to define
// a function inline without having to name it.

package main

import "fmt"

// This function `intSeq` returns another function, which
// we define anonymously in the body of `intSeq`. The
// returned function _closes over_ the variable `i` to
// form a closure.
func intSeq() func() int {
    i := 0
    return func() int {
        i++
        return i
    }
}

func main() {

    // We call `intSeq`, assigning the result (a function)
    // to `nextInt`. This function value captures its
    // own `i` value, which will be updated each time
    // we call `nextInt`.
    nextInt := intSeq()

    // See the effect of the closure by calling `nextInt`
    // a few times.
    fmt.Println(nextInt())
    fmt.Println(nextInt())
    fmt.Println(nextInt())

    // To confirm that the state is unique to that
    // particular function, create and test a new one.
    newInts := intSeq()
    fmt.Println(newInts())
}