= EqualityTypeVariable

An equality type variable is a type variable that starts with two or
more primes, as in `''a` or `''b`.  The canonical use of equality type
variables is in specifying the type of the <<PolymorphicEquality#>>
function, which is `''a * ''a \-> bool`.  Equality type variables
ensure that polymorphic equality is only used on
<<EqualityType#,equality types>>, by requiring that at every use of a
polymorphic value, equality type variables are instantiated by
equality types.

For example, the following program is type correct because polymorphic
equality is applied to variables of type `''a`.

[source,sml]
----
fun f (x: ''a, y: ''a): bool = x = y
----

On the other hand, the following program is not type correct, because
polymorphic equality is applied to variables of type `'a`, which is
not an equality type.

[source,sml]
----
fun f (x: 'a, y: 'a): bool = x = y
----

MLton reports the following error, indicating that polymorphic
equality expects equality types, but didn't get them.

----
Error: z.sml 1.30-1.34.
  Function applied to incorrect argument.
    expects: [<equality>] * [<equality>]
    but got: ['a] * ['a]
    in: = (x, y)
----

As an example of using such a function that requires equality types,
suppose that `f` has polymorphic type `''a \-> unit`.  Then, `f 13` is
type correct because `int` is an equality type.  On the other hand,
`f 13.0` and `f (fn x \=> x)` are not type correct, because `real` and
arrow types are not equality types.  We can test these facts with the
following short programs.  First, we verify that such an `f` can be
applied to integers.

[source,sml]
----
functor Ok (val f: ''a -> unit): sig end =
   struct
      val () = f 13
      val () = f 14
   end
----

We can do better, and verify that such an `f` can be applied to
any integer.

[source,sml]
----
functor Ok (val f: ''a -> unit): sig end =
   struct
      fun g (x: int) = f x
   end
----

Even better, we don't need to introduce a dummy function name; we can
use a type constraint.

[source,sml]
----
functor Ok (val f: ''a -> unit): sig end =
   struct
      val _ = f: int -> unit
   end
----

Even better, we can use a signature constraint.

[source,sml]
----
functor Ok (S: sig val f: ''a -> unit end):
   sig val f: int -> unit end = S
----

This functor concisely verifies that a function of polymorphic type
`''a \-> unit` can be safely used as a function of type `int \-> unit`.

As above, we can verify that such an `f` can not be used at
non-equality types.

[source,sml]
----
functor Bad (S: sig val f: ''a -> unit end):
   sig val f: real -> unit end = S

functor Bad (S: sig val f: ''a -> unit end):
   sig val f: ('a -> 'a) -> unit end = S
----

MLton reports the following errors.

----
Error: z.sml 2.4-2.30.
  Variable in structure disagrees with signature (type): f.
    structure: val f: [<equality>] -> _
    defn at: z.sml 1.25-1.25
    signature: val f: [real] -> _
    spec at: z.sml 2.12-2.12
Error: z.sml 5.4-5.36.
  Variable in structure disagrees with signature (type): f.
    structure: val f: [<equality>] -> _
    defn at: z.sml 4.25-4.25
    signature: val f: [_ -> _] -> _
    spec at: z.sml 5.12-5.12
----


== Equality type variables in type and datatype declarations

Equality type variables can be used in type and datatype declarations;
however they play no special role.  For example,

[source,sml]
----
type 'a t = 'a * int
----

is completely identical to

[source,sml]
----
type ''a t = ''a * int
----

In particular, such a definition does _not_ require that `t` only be
applied to equality types.

Similarly,

[source,sml]
----
datatype 'a t = A | B of 'a
----

is completely identical to

[source,sml]
----
datatype ''a t = A | B of ''a
----
