# type inference

CEFR C2 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/type-inference
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Definition

a feature in some computer programming languages where the computer automatically figures out the data type of a value. This means you do not have to write out every detail yourself because the system can guess it from the context.

For teachers: the automatic deduction of the data type of an expression in a programming language. This process allows for static typing without requiring explicit type declarations by the programmer, as the compiler or interpreter derives the type from the surrounding code.

## Examples

- Type inference makes the code much shorter and easier to read.
- Because the language supports type inference, the compiler knows that a variable assigned a whole number is an integer without being told.
- Advanced type inference algorithms, such as Hindley-Milner, allow for robust type safety in functional programming languages while maintaining the syntactic brevity typically associated with dynamic languages.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in the context of statically typed programming languages like Swift, Kotlin, or Haskell.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.