Join the 2022 Full-Stack Web Dev Bootcamp!
Common dilemma when defining the methods of a struct.
In particular when deciding your method receivers, should you use pointer receivers or value receivers?
func (t *Type) Method() {} //pointer receiver
vs
func (t Type) Method() {} //value receiver
Method receivers can be assimilated to function arguments in their behavior, and everything applicable to passing a pointer or a value as a function argument still applies for method receivers.
When should you use pointer receivers
Modify the receiver
If you want to change the state of the receiver in a method, manipulating the value of it, use a pointer receiver. It’s not possible with a value receiver, which copies by value. Any modification to a value receiver is local to that copy.
Optimization
If the struct you’re defining the method on is very large, copying it would be far too expensive than using a value receiver.
Value receivers operate on a copy of the original type value. This means that there is a cost involved, especially if the struct is very large, and pointer received are more efficient.
When value receivers are better
If you don’t need to edit the receiver value, use a value receiver.
Value receivers are concurrency safe, while pointer receivers are not concurrency safe.
When you should make a tradeoff
There is a situation when you might want to use pointer receivers for methods where you’d normally use a value receiver, and it’s when you have other pointer receivers defined on that type, and for consistency you should use pointer receivers across all the methods.
Read more
Want to become a better Web Developer? Join the 2022 Web Development Bootcamp!