--- language: sorbet filename: learnsorbet.rb contributors: - ["Jeremy Kaplan", "https://jdkaplan.dev"] --- Sorbet is a type checker for Ruby. It adds syntax for method signatures that enable both static and runtime type checking. The easiest way to see it in action is in the playground at [sorbet.run](https://sorbet.run). Try copying in one of the sections below! Each top-level `class` or `module` is independent from the others. ```ruby # Every file should have a "typed sigil" that tells Sorbet how strict to be # during static type checking. # # Strictness levels (lax to strict): # # ignore: Sorbet won't even read the file. This means its contents are not # visible during type checking. Avoid this. # # false: Sorbet will only report errors related to constant resolution. This is # the default if no sigil is included. # # true: Sorbet will report all static type errors. This is the sweet spot of # safety for effort. # # strict: Sorbet will require that all methods, constants, and instance # variables have static types. # # strong: Sorbet will no longer allow anything to be T.untyped, even # explicitly. Almost nothing satisfies this. # typed: true # Include the runtime type-checking library. This lets you write inline sigs # and have them checked at runtime (instead of running Sorbet as RBI-only). # These runtime checks happen even for files with `ignore` or `false` sigils. require 'sorbet-runtime' class BasicSigs # Bring in the type definition helpers. You'll almost always need this. extend T::Sig # Sigs are defined with `sig` and a block. Define the return value type with # `returns`. # # This method returns a value whose class is `String`. These are the most # common types, and Sorbet calls them "class types". sig { returns(String) } def greet 'Hello, World!' end # Define parameter value types with `params`. sig { params(n: Integer).returns(String) } def greet_repeat(n) (1..n).map { greet }.join("\n") end # Define keyword parameters the same way. sig { params(n: Integer, sep: String).returns(String) } def greet_repeat_2(n, sep: "\n") (1..n).map { greet }.join(sep) end # Notice that positional/keyword and required/optional make no difference # here. They're all defined the same way in `params`. # For lots of parameters, it's nicer to use do..end and a multiline block # instead of curly braces. sig do params( str: String, num: Integer, sym: Symbol, ).returns(String) end def uhh(str:, num:, sym:) 'What would you even do with these?' end # For a method whose return value is useless, use `void`. sig { params(name: String).void } def say_hello(name) puts "Hello, #{name}!" end # Splats! Also known as "rest parameters", "*args", "**kwargs", and others. # # Type the value that a _member_ of `args` or `kwargs` will have, not `args` # or `kwargs` itself. sig { params(args: Integer, kwargs: String).void } def no_op(*args, **kwargs) if kwargs[:op] == 'minus' args.each { |i| puts(i - 1) } else args.each { |i| puts(i + 1) } end end # Most initializers should be `void`. sig { params(name: String).void } def initialize(name:) # Instance variables must have annotated types to participate in static # type checking. # The value in `T.let` is checked statically and at runtime. @upname = T.let(name.upcase, String) # Sorbet can infer this one! @name = name end # Constants also need annotated types. SORBET = T.let('A delicious frozen treat', String) # Class variables too. @@the_answer = T.let(42, Integer) # Sorbet knows about the `attr_*` family. sig { returns(String) } attr_reader :upname sig { params(write_only: Integer).returns(Integer) } attr_writer :write_only # You say the reader part and Sorbet will say the writer part. sig { returns(String) } attr_accessor :name end module Debugging extend T::Sig # Sometimes it's helpful to know what type Sorbet has inferred for an # expression. Use `T.reveal_type` to make type-checking show a special error # with that information. # # This is most useful if you have Sorbet integrated into your editor so you # can see the result as soon as you save the file. sig { params(obj: Object).returns(String) } def debug(obj) T.reveal_type(obj) # Revealed type: Object repr = obj.inspect # Remember that Ruby methods can be called without arguments, so you can # save a couple characters! T.reveal_type repr # Revealed type: String "DEBUG: " + repr end end module StandardLibrary extend T::Sig # Sorbet provides some helpers for typing the Ruby standard library. # Use T::Boolean to catch both `true` and `false`. # # For the curious, this is equivalent to # # T.type_alias { T.any(TrueClass, FalseClass) } # sig { params(str: String).returns(T::Boolean) } def confirmed?(str) str == 'yes' end # Remember that the value `nil` is an instance of NilClass. sig { params(val: NilClass).void } def only_nil(val:); end # To avoid modifying standard library classes, Sorbet provides wrappers to # support common generics. # # Here's the full list: # * T::Array # * T::Enumerable # * T::Enumerator # * T::Hash # * T::Range # * T::Set sig { params(config: T::Hash[Symbol, String]).returns(T::Array[String]) } def merge_values(config) keyset = [:old_key, :new_key] config.each_pair.flat_map do |key, value| keyset.include?(key) ? value : 'sensible default' end end # Sometimes (usually dependency injection), a method will accept a reference # to a class rather than an instance of the class. Use `T.class_of(Dep)` to # accept the `Dep` class itself (or something that inherits from it). class Dep; end sig { params(dep: T.class_of(Dep)).returns(Dep) } def dependency_injection(dep:) dep.new end # Blocks, procs, and lambdas, oh my! All of these are typed with `T.proc`. # # Limitations: # 1. All parameters are assumed to be required positional parameters. # 2. The only runtime check is that the value is a `Proc`. The argument types # are only checked statically. sig do params( data: T::Array[String], blk: T.proc.params(val: String).returns(Integer), ).returns(Integer) end def count(data, &blk) data.sum(&blk) end sig { returns(Integer) } def count_usage count(["one", "two", "three"]) { |word| word.length + 1 } end # If the method takes an implicit block, Sorbet will infer `T.untyped` for # it. Use the explicit block syntax if the types are important. sig { params(str: String).returns(T.untyped) } def implicit_block(str) yield(str) end # If you're writing a DSL and will execute the block in a different context, # use `bind`. sig { params(num: Integer, blk: T.proc.bind(Integer).void).void } def number_fun(num, &blk) num.instance_eval(&blk) end sig { params(num: Integer).void } def number_fun_usage(num) number_fun(10) { puts digits.join } end # If the block doesn't take any parameters, don't include `params`. sig { params(blk: T.proc.returns(Integer)).returns(Integer) } def doubled_block(&blk) 2 * blk.call end end module Combinators extend T::Sig # These methods let you define new types from existing types. # Use `T.any` when you have a value that can be one of many types. These are # sometimes known as "union types" or "sum types". sig { params(num: T.any(Integer, Float)).returns(Rational) } def hundreds(num) num.rationalize end # `T.nilable(Type)` is a convenient alias for `T.any(Type, NilClass)`. sig { params(val: T.nilable(String)).returns(Integer) } def strlen(val) val.nil? ? -1 : val.length end # Use `T.all` when you have a value that must satisfy multiple types. These # are sometimes known as "intersection types". They're most useful for # interfaces (described later), but can also describe helper modules. module Reversible extend T::Sig sig { void } def reverse # Pretend this is actually implemented end end module Sortable extend T::Sig sig { void } def sort # Pretend this is actually implemented end end class List include Reversible include Sortable end sig { params(list: T.all(Reversible, Sortable)).void } def rev_sort(list) # reverse from Reversible list.reverse # sort from Sortable list.sort end def rev_sort_usage rev_sort(List.new) end # Sometimes, actually spelling out the type every time becomes more confusing # than helpful. Use type aliases to make them easier to work with. JSONLiteral = T.type_alias { T.any(Float, String, T::Boolean, NilClass) } sig { params(val: JSONLiteral).returns(String) } def stringify(val) val.to_s end end module DataClasses extend T::Sig # Use `T::Struct` to create a new class with type-checked fields. It combines # the best parts of the standard Struct and OpenStruct, and then adds static # typing on top. # # Types constructed this way are sometimes known as "product types". class Matcher < T::Struct # Use `prop` to define a field with both a reader and writer. prop :count, Integer # Use `const` to only define the reader and skip the writer. const :pattern, Regexp # You can still set a default value with `default`. const :message, String, default: 'Found one!' # This is otherwise a normal class, so you can still define methods. # You'll still need to bring `sig` in if you want to use it though. extend T::Sig sig { void } def reset self.count = 0 end end sig { params(text: String, matchers: T::Array[Matcher]).void } def awk(text, matchers) matchers.each(&:reset) text.lines.each do |line| matchers.each do |matcher| if matcher.pattern =~ line Kernel.puts matcher.message matcher.count += 1 end end end end # Gotchas and limitations # 1. `const` fields are not truly immutable. They don't have a writer method, # but may be changed in other ways. class ChangeMe < T::Struct const :list, T::Array[Integer] end sig { params(change_me: ChangeMe).returns(T::Boolean) } def whoops!(change_me) change_me = ChangeMe.new(list: [1, 2, 3, 4]) change_me.list.reverse! change_me.list == [4, 3, 2, 1] end # 2. `T::Struct` inherits its equality method from `BasicObject`, which uses # identity equality (also known as "reference equality"). class Coordinate < T::Struct const :row, Integer const :col, Integer end sig { returns(T::Boolean) } def never_equal! p1 = Coordinate.new(row: 1, col: 2) p2 = Coordinate.new(row: 1, col: 2) p1 != p2 end # Define your own `#==` method to check the fields, if that's what you want. class Position < T::Struct extend T::Sig const :x, Integer const :y, Integer sig { params(other: Object).returns(T::Boolean) } def ==(other) # There's a real implementation here: # https://github.com/tricycle/sorbet-struct-comparable true end end # Use `T::Enum` to define a fixed set of values that are easy to reference. # This is especially useful when you don't care what the values _are_ as much # as you care that the set of possibilities is closed and static. class Crayon < T::Enum extend T::Sig # Initialize members with `enums`. enums do # Define each member with `new`. Each of these is an instance of the # `Crayon` class. Red = new Orange = new Yellow = new Green = new Blue = new Violet = new Brown = new Black = new # The default value of the enum is its name in all-lowercase. To change # that, pass a value to `new`. Gray90 = new('light-gray') end sig { returns(String) } def to_hex case self when Red then '#ff0000' when Green then '#00ff00' # ... else '#ffffff' end end end sig { params(crayon: Crayon, path: T::Array[Position]).void } def draw(crayon:, path:) path.each do |pos| Kernel.puts "(#{pos.x}, #{pos.y}) = " + crayon.to_hex end end # To get all the values in the enum, use `.values`. For convenience there's # already a `#serialize` to get the enum string value. sig { returns(T::Array[String]) } def crayon_names Crayon.values.map(&:serialize) end # Use the "deserialize" family to go from string to enum value. sig { params(name: String).returns(T.nilable(Crayon)) } def crayon_from_name(name) if Crayon.has_serialized?(name) # If the value is not found, this will raise a `KeyError`. Crayon.deserialize(name) end # If the value is not found, this will return `nil`. Crayon.try_deserialize(name) end end module FlowSensitivity extend T::Sig # Sorbet understands Ruby's control flow constructs and uses that information # to get more accurate types when your code branches. # You'll see this most often when doing nil checks. sig { params(name: T.nilable(String)).returns(String) } def greet_loudly(name) if name.nil? 'HELLO, YOU!' else # Sorbet knows that `name` must be a String here, so it's safe to call # `#upcase`. "HELLO, #{name.upcase}!" end end # The nils are a special case of refining `T.any`. sig { params(id: T.any(Integer, T::Array[Integer])).returns(T::Array[String]) } def database_lookup(id) if id.is_a?(Integer) # `ids` must be an Integer here. [id.to_s] else # `ids` must be a T::Array[Integer] here. id.map(&:to_s) end end # Sorbet recognizes these methods that narrow type definitions: # * is_a? # * kind_of? # * nil? # * Class#=== # * Class#< # * block_given? # # Because they're so common, it also recognizes these Rails extensions: # * blank? # * present? # # Be careful to maintain Sorbet assumptions if you redefine these methods! # Have you ever written this line of code? # # raise StandardError, "Can't happen" # # Sorbet can help you prove that statically (this is known as # "exhaustiveness") with `T.absurd`. It's extra cool when combined with # `T::Enum`! class Size < T::Enum extend T::Sig enums do Byte = new('B') Kibibyte = new('KiB') Mebibyte = new('MiB') # "640K ought to be enough for anybody" end sig { returns(Integer) } def bytes case self when Byte then 1 << 0 when Kibibyte then 1 << 10 when Mebibyte then 1 << 20 else # Sorbet knows you've checked all the cases, so there's no possible # value that `self` could have here. # # But if you _do_ get here somehow, this will raise at runtime. T.absurd(self) # If you're missing a case, Sorbet can even tell you which one it is! end end end # We're gonna need `puts` and `raise` for this next part. include Kernel # Sorbet knows that no code can execute after a `raise` statement because it # "never returns". sig { params(num: T.nilable(Integer)).returns(Integer) } def decrement(num) raise ArgumentError, '¯\_(ツ)_/¯' unless num num - 1 end class CustomError < StandardError; end # You can annotate your own error-raising methods with `T.noreturn`. sig { params(message: String).returns(T.noreturn) } def oh_no(message = 'A bad thing happened') puts message raise CustomError, message end # Infinite loops also don't return. sig { returns(T.noreturn) } def loading loop do %q(-\|/).each_char do |c| print "\r#{c} reticulating splines..." sleep 1 end end end # You may run into a situation where Sorbet "loses" your type refinement. # Remember that almost everything you do in Ruby is a method call that could # return a different value next time you call it. Sorbet doesn't assume that # any methods are pure (even those from `attr_reader` and `attr_accessor`). sig { returns(T.nilable(Integer)) } def answer rand > 0.5 ? 42 : nil end sig { void } def bad_typecheck if answer.nil? 0 else # But answer might return `nil` if we call it again! answer + 1 # ^ Method + does not exist on NilClass component of T.nilable(Integer) end end sig { void } def good_typecheck ans = answer if ans.nil? 0 else # This time, Sorbet knows that `ans` is non-nil. ans + 1 end end end module InheritancePatterns extend T::Sig # If you have a method that always returns the type of its receiver, use # `T.self_type`. This is common in fluent interfaces and DSLs. # # Warning: This feature is still experimental! class Logging extend T::Sig sig { returns(T.self_type) } def log pp self self end end class Data < Logging extend T::Sig sig { params(x: Integer, y: String).void } def initialize(x: 0, y: '') @x = x @y = y end # You don't _have_ to use `T.self_type` if there's only one relevant class. sig { params(x: Integer).returns(Data) } def setX(x) @x = x self end sig { params(y: String).returns(Data) } def setY(y) @y = y self end end # Ta-da! sig { params(data: Data).void } def chaining(data) data.setX(1).log.setY('a') end # If it's a class method (a.k.a. singleton method), use `T.attached_class`. # # No warning here. This one is stable! class Box extend T::Sig sig { params(contents: String, weight: Integer).void } def initialize(contents, weight) @contents = contents @weight = weight end sig { params(contents: String).returns(T.attached_class) } def self.pack(contents) new(contents, contents.chars.uniq.length) end end class CompanionCube < Box extend T::Sig sig { returns(String) } def pick_up "♥#{@contents}🤍" end end sig { returns(String) } def befriend CompanionCube.pack('').pick_up end # Sorbet has support for abstract classes and interfaces. It can check that # all the concrete classes and implementations actually define the required # methods with compatible signatures. # Here's an abstract class: class WorkflowStep extend T::Sig # Bring in the inheritance helpers. extend T::Helpers # Mark this class as abstract. This means it cannot be instantiated with # `.new`, but it can still be subclassed. abstract! sig { params(args: T::Array[String]).void } def run(args) pre_hook execute(args) post_hook end # This is an abstract method, which means it _must_ be implemented by # subclasses. Add a signature with `abstract` to an empty method to tell # Sorbet about it. # # If this implementation of the method actually gets called at runtime, it # will raise `NotImplementedError`. sig { abstract.params(args: T::Array[String]).void } def execute(args); end # The following non-abstract methods _can_ be implemented by subclasses, # but they're optional. sig { void } def pre_hook; end sig { void } def post_hook; end end class Configure < WorkflowStep extend T::Sig sig { void } def pre_hook puts 'Configuring...' end # To implement an abstract method, mark the signature with `override`. sig { override.params(args: T::Array[String]).void } def execute(args) # ... end end # And here's an interface: module Queue extend T::Sig # Bring in the inheritance helpers. extend T::Helpers # Mark this module as an interface. This adds the following restrictions: # 1. All of its methods must be abstract. # 2. It cannot have any private or protected methods. interface! sig { abstract.params(num: Integer).void } def push(num); end sig { abstract.returns(T.nilable(Integer)) } def pop; end end class PriorityQueue extend T::Sig # Include the interface to tell Sorbet that this class implements it. # Sorbet doesn't support implicitly implemented interfaces (also known as # "duck typing"). include Queue sig { void } def initialize @items = T.let([], T::Array[Integer]) end # Implement the Queue interface's abstract methods. Remember to use # `override`! sig { override.params(num: Integer).void } def push(num) @items << num @items.sort! end sig { override.returns(T.nilable(Integer)) } def pop @items.shift end end # If you use the `included` hook to get class methods from your modules, # you'll have to use `mixes_in_class_methods` to get them to type-check. module Mixin extend T::Helpers interface! module ClassMethods extend T::Sig sig { void } def whisk 'fskfskfsk' end end mixes_in_class_methods(ClassMethods) end class EggBeater include Mixin end EggBeater.whisk # Meringue! end module EscapeHatches extend T::Sig # Ruby is a very dynamic language, and sometimes Sorbet can't infer the # properties you already know to be true. Although there are ways to rewrite # your code so Sorbet can prove safety, you can also choose to "break out" of # Sorbet using these "escape hatches". # Once you start using `T.nilable`, Sorbet will start telling you _all_ the # places you're not handling nils. Sometimes, you know a value can't be nil, # but it's not practical to fix the sigs so Sorbet can prove it. In that # case, you can use `T.must`. sig { params(maybe_str: T.nilable(String)).returns(String) } def no_nils_here(maybe_str) # If maybe_str _is_ actually nil, this will error at runtime. str = T.must(maybe_str) str.downcase end # More generally, if you know that a value must be a specific type, you can # use `T.cast`. sig do params( str_or_ary: T.any(String, T::Array[String]), idx_or_range: T.any(Integer, T::Range[Integer]), ).returns(T::Array[String]) end def slice2(str_or_ary, idx_or_range) # Let's say that, for some reason, we want individual characters from # strings or sub-arrays from arrays. The other options are not allowed. if str_or_ary.is_a?(String) # Here, we know that `idx_or_range` must be a single index. If it's not, # this will error at runtime. idx = T.cast(idx_or_range, Integer) [str_or_ary.chars.fetch(idx)] else # Here, we know that `idx_or_range` must be a range. If it's not, this # will error at runtime. range = T.cast(idx_or_range, T::Range[Integer]) str_or_ary.slice(range) || [] end end # If you know that a method exists, but Sorbet doesn't, you can use # `T.unsafe` so Sorbet will let you call it. Although we tend to think of # this as being an "unsafe method call", `T.unsafe` is called on the receiver # rather than the whole expression. sig { params(count: Integer).returns(Date) } def the_future(count) # Let's say you've defined some extra date helpers that Sorbet can't find. # So `2.decades` is effectively `(2*10).years` from ActiveSupport. Date.today + T.unsafe(count).decades end # If this is a method on the implicit `self`, you'll have to make that # explicit to use `T.unsafe`. sig { params(count: Integer).returns(Date) } def the_past(count) # Let's say that metaprogramming defines a `now` helper method for # `Time.new`. Using it would normally look like this: # # now - 1234 # T.unsafe(self).now - 1234 end # There's a special type in Sorbet called `T.untyped`. For any value of this # type, Sorbet will allow it to be used for any method argument and receive # any method call. sig { params(num: Integer, anything: T.untyped).returns(T.untyped) } def nothing_to_see_here(num, anything) anything.digits # Is it an Integer... anything.upcase # ... or a String? # Sorbet will not be able to infer anything about this return value because # it's untyped. BasicObject.new end def see_here # It's actually nil! This will crash at runtime, but Sorbet allows it. nothing_to_see_here(1, nil) end # For a method without a sig, Sorbet infers the type of each argument and the # return value to be `T.untyped`. end # The following types are not officially documented but are still useful. They # may be experimental, deprecated, or not supported. module ValueSet extend T::Sig # A common pattern in Ruby is to have a method accept one value from a set of # options. Especially when starting out with Sorbet, it may not be practical # to refactor the code to use `T::Enum`. In this case, you can use `T.enum`. # # Note: Sorbet can't check this statically becuase it doesn't track the # values themselves. sig do params( data: T::Array[Numeric], shape: T.enum([:circle, :square, :triangle]) ).void end def plot_points(data, shape: :circle) data.each_with_index do |y, x| Kernel.puts "#{x}: #{y}" end end end module Generics extend T::Sig # Generics are useful when you have a class whose method types change based # on the data it contains or a method whose method type changes based on what # its arguments are. # A generic method uses `type_parameters` to declare type variables and # `T.type_parameter` to refer back to them. sig do type_parameters(:element) .params( element: T.type_parameter(:element), count: Integer, ).returns(T::Array[T.type_parameter(:element)]) end def repeat_value(element, count) count.times.each_with_object([]) do |elt, ary| ary << elt end end sig do type_parameters(:element) .params( count: Integer, block: T.proc.returns(T.type_parameter(:element)), ).returns(T::Array[T.type_parameter(:element)]) end def repeat_cached(count, &block) elt = block.call ary = [] count.times do ary << elt end ary end # A generic class uses `T::Generic.type_member` to define type variables that # can be like regular type names. class BidirectionalHash extend T::Sig extend T::Generic Left = type_member Right = type_member sig { void } def initialize @left_hash = T.let({}, T::Hash[Left, Right]) @right_hash = T.let({}, T::Hash[Right, Left]) end # Implement just enough to make the methods below work. sig { params(lkey: Left).returns(T::Boolean) } def lhas?(lkey) @left_hash.has_key?(lkey) end sig { params(rkey: Right).returns(T.nilable(Left)) } def rget(rkey) @right_hash[rkey] end end # To specialize a generic type, use brackets. sig do params( options: BidirectionalHash[Symbol, Integer], choice: T.any(Symbol, Integer), ).returns(T.nilable(String)) end def lookup(options, choice) case choice when Symbol options.lhas?(choice) ? choice.to_s : nil when Integer options.rget(choice).to_s else T.absurd(choice) end end # To specialize through inheritance, re-declare the `type_member` with # `fixed`. class Options < BidirectionalHash Left = type_member(fixed: Symbol) Right = type_member(fixed: Integer) end sig do params( options: Options, choice: T.any(Symbol, Integer), ).returns(T.nilable(String)) end def lookup2(options, choice) lookup(options, choice) end # There are other variance annotations you can add to `type_member`, but # they're rarely used. end ``` ## Additional resources - [Official Documentation](https://sorbet.org/docs/overview) - [sorbet.run](https://sorbet.run) - Playground