Value receiver
A value receiver is a method receiver declared as a non-pointer value, causing the method to operate on a copy of the receiver.
100 Go Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
A value receiver is a Go method receiver declared as a value, so the method operates on a copy of the receiver value.
- How it is used
- Guides method receiver choice when copying affects mutation, deferred calls, or synchronization.
- How deep it goes
- Traces observable effects of receiver copies through mutation, defer, and mutex use, while leaving detailed pointer-versus-value performance analysis aside.
- Examples
- Contrasts balance updates, deferred printing of `foo` versus `bar`, and a concurrent counter whose copied mutex fails to protect updates.
- What you can do after
- Diagnose/debug with it when a method fails to mutate its original receiver or copying a mutex causes a race.
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Learn Go with Pocket-Sized Projects
A value receiver is a method receiver passed as a value, so invoking the method operates on a copy of the receiver.
- How it is used
- Guides receiver selection when defining methods on Go structures.
- How deep it goes
- Explains copying, structure size, consistency, and pointer-field concerns, but defers detailed pointer-field behavior.
- Examples
- Uses the Game type, its mutable state, and its output pointer field to motivate pointer receivers instead.
- What you can do after
- Apply via Go by selecting value receivers for small structures and pointer receivers when mutation or pointer fields make copying unsuitable.
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Go in Action, Second Edition
A value receiver is a method receiver that operates on a copied value of its receiver type rather than on a pointer to that value.
- How it is used
- Uses value receivers for conversion methods that return new Measurement values while implementing a shared interface.
- How deep it goes
- Explains the design rationale and shows conversion implementations, but does not develop broader receiver or pointer semantics.
- Examples
- Demonstrates value receivers through metric and imperial weight and volume conversion methods.
- What you can do after
- Build conversion methods that return new values and satisfy a focused Convertible interface.
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Related concepts
- pointer receivercontrasts with · A pointer receiver is a method receiver whose parameter is a pointer to a value, allowing the method to access or modify that value.
- receiverkind of · A receiver is an entity that accepts a message or signal, or an object on which a method or command operates.
- lockinguses · Locking is a synchronization technique that restricts concurrent access to shared resources or protected operations.
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