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GHC 10.0.0.20260917 · lts/ghc-10.0.x · fc4e598 · 2026-10-11

Moduleghc-10.0.0.20260917GHC2024

GHC.Rename.Utils

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Throw an error message if a user attempts to quantify an inferred type variable in a place where specificity cannot be observed. For example, forall {a}. [a] -> [a] would be rejected to the inferred type variable {a}, but forall a. [a] -> [a] would be accepted. See Note [Unobservably inferred type variables].

Examines a non-outermost type for foralls or contexts, which are assumed to be nested. For example, in the following declaration:

instance forall a. forall b. C (Either a b)

The outermost forall a is fine, but the nested forall b is not. We invoke noNestedForallsContextsErr on the type forall b. C (Either a b) to catch the nested forall and create a suitable error message. noNestedForallsContextsErr returns Just err_msg if such a forall or context is found, and returns Nothing otherwise.

This is currently used in the following places:

  • In GADT constructor types (in rnConDecl). See Note [GADT abstract syntax] (Wrinkle: No nested foralls or contexts) in GHC.Hs.Type.

  • In instance declaration types (in rnClsIntDecl and rnSrcDerivDecl in GHC.Rename.Module and renameSig in GHC.Rename.Bind). See Note [No nested foralls or contexts in instance types] in GHC.Hs.Type.