import ballerina/io;

type R record {
    int v;
};

final int N = getN();

function getN() returns int {
    return 100;
}

// Can access mutable state that is passed as a parameter.
isolated function set(R r) returns R {
    // Can access non-`isolated` module-level state only if the variable
    // is `final` and the type is a subtype of `readonly` or
    // `isolated object {}`.
    r.v = N;

    return r;
}

R r = {v: 0};

// This is not an `isolated` function.
function setGlobal(int n) {

    r.v = n;
}

public function main() {
    setGlobal(200);
    io:println(r);
    io:println(set(r));
}

Isolated functions

A call to an isolated function is concurrency-safe if it is called with arguments that are safe at least until the call returns.

A function defined as isolated:

  • has access to mutable state only through its parameters
  • has unrestricted access to immutable state
  • can only call functions that are isolated


Constraints are enforced at compile-time. isolated is a part of the function type. Weaker concept than pure function.

 
import ballerina/io;

type R record {
    int v;
};

final int N = getN();

function getN() returns int {
    return 100;
}

isolated function set(R r) returns R {

Can access mutable state that is passed as a parameter.

    r.v = N;

Can access non-isolated module-level state only if the variable is final and the type is a subtype of readonly or isolated object {}.

    return r;
}

R r = {v: 0};

function setGlobal(int n) {

This is not an isolated function.

    r.v = n;
}

public function main() {
    setGlobal(200);
    io:println(r);
    io:println(set(r));
}

bal run isolated_functions.bal
{"v":200}
{"v":100}