'final' variables

[Tyler Knott]

Lionello Lunesu Wrote:
> What's the use of "final" for variables? I'm saying "for variables" 
> because for methods the benefit is only too clear.
> 

Because the "const" keyword is being repurposed for read-only references to mutable or non-mutable data, we need a new keyword for non-mutable variables.  "final" fills that purpose nicely.  If the value of the variable is known at compile time, the compiler can constant-fold away the memory access to that variable for a small speed boost.  If the value is only determinable at runtime, that can still allow the compiler to make some optimizations that would not be possible with mutable variables.