---
id: unit-option-pattern-matching
title: Unit, Option, Pattern matching
---

Optionals are a pervasive programing pattern in OCaml. Since Michelson
and LIGO are both inspired by OCaml, *optional types* are available in
LIGO as well. Similarly, OCaml features a *unit* type, and LIGO
features it as well. Both the option type and the unit types are
instances of a more general kind of types: *variant types* (sometimes
called *sum types*).

## The unit type

The `unit` type in Michelson or LIGO is a predefined type that
contains only one value that carries no information. It is used when
no relevant information is required or produced. Here is how it used.

> 💡 Units come in handy when we try pattern matching on custom
> variants below.

<!--DOCUSAURUS_CODE_TABS-->
<!--Pascaligo-->

In PascaLIGO, the unique value of the `unit` type is `Unit`.
```pascaligo group=a
const n : unit = Unit
```

<!--CameLIGO-->

In CameLIGO, the unique value of the `unit` type is `()`, following
the OCaml convention.
```cameligo group=a
let n : unit = ()
```

<!--ReasonLIGO-->

In ReasonLIGO, the unique value of the `unit` type is `()`, following
the OCaml convention.
```reasonligo group=a
let n : unit = ();
```

<!--END_DOCUSAURUS_CODE_TABS-->

## Variant types

A variant type is a user-defined or a built-in type (in case of
options) that defines a type by cases, so a value of a variant type is
either this, or that or... The simplest variant type is equivalent to
the enumerated types found in Java, C++, JavaScript etc.

Here is how we define a coin as being either head or tail (and nothing
else):

<!--DOCUSAURUS_CODE_TABS-->
<!--Pascaligo-->
```pascaligo group=b
type coin is Head | Tail
const head : coin = Head (Unit) // Unit needed because of a bug
const tail : coin = Tail (Unit) // Unit needed because of a bug
```

<!--CameLIGO-->
```cameligo group=b
type coin = Head | Tail
let head : coin = Head
let tail : coin = Tail
```

<!--ReasonLIGO-->
```reasonligo group=b
type coin = | Head | Tail;
let head : coin = Head;
let tail : coin = Tail;
```
<!--END_DOCUSAURUS_CODE_TABS-->

The names `Head` and `Tail` in the definition of the type `coin` are
called *data constructors*, or *variants*.

In general, it is interesting for variants to carry some information,
and thus go beyond enumerated types. In the following, we show how to
define different kinds of users of a system.

<!--DOCUSAURUS_CODE_TABS-->

<!--Pascaligo-->
```pascaligo group=c
type id is nat

type user is
  Admin   of id
| Manager of id
| Guest

const u : user = Admin (1000n)
const g : user = Guest (Unit) // Unit needed because of a bug
```

<!--CameLIGO-->
```cameligo group=c
type id = nat

type user =
  Admin   of id
| Manager of id
| Guest

let u : user = Admin 1000n
let g : user = Guest
```

<!--ReasonLIGO-->
```reasonligo group=c
type id = nat;

type user =
| Admin   (id)
| Manager (id)
| Guest;

let u : user = Admin (1000n);
let g : user = Guest;
```

<!--END_DOCUSAURUS_CODE_TABS-->

Defining a variant can be extremely useful for building semantically
appealing contracts. We will learn how to use variants for "logic
purposes"' shortly.

## Optional values

The `option` type is a predefined variant type that is used to express
whether there is a value of some type or none. This is especially
useful when calling a *partial function*, that is, a function that is
not defined for some inputs. In that case, the value of the `option`
type would be `None`, otherwise `Some (v)`, where `v` is some
meaningful value *of any type*. An example in arithmetic is the
division operation:

<!--DOCUSAURUS_CODE_TABS-->
<!--Pascaligo-->
```pascaligo group=d
function div (const a : nat; const b : nat) : option (nat) is
  if b = 0n then (None: option (nat)) else Some (a/b)
```

<!--CameLIGO-->
```cameligo group=d
let div (a, b : nat * nat) : nat option =
  if b = 0n then (None: nat option) else Some (a/b)
```

<!--ReasonLIGO-->
```reasonligo group=d
let div = ((a, b) : (nat, nat)) : option (nat) =>
  if (b == 0n) { (None: option (nat)); } else { Some (a/b); };
```

<!--END_DOCUSAURUS_CODE_TABS-->


## Pattern matching

*Pattern matching* is similiar to the `switch` construct in
Javascript, and can be used to route the program's control flow based
on the value of a variant. Consider for example the definition of a
function `flip` that flips a coin, as defined above.

<!--DOCUSAURUS_CODE_TABS-->
<!--Pascaligo-->
```pascaligo group=e
type coin is Head | Tail

function flip (const c : coin) : coin is
  case c of
    Head -> Tail (Unit) // Unit needed because of a bug
  | Tail -> Head (Unit) // Unit needed because of a bug
  end
```

You can call the function `flip` by using the LIGO compiler like so:
```shell
ligo run-function
gitlab-pages/docs/language-basics/src/unit-option-pattern-matching/flip.ligo
flip "(Head (Unit))"
# Outputs: Tail(Unit)
```

<!--CameLIGO-->
```cameligo group=e
type coin = Head | Tail

let flip (c : coin) : coin =
  match c with
    Head -> Tail
  | Tail -> Head
```

You can call the function `flip` by using the LIGO compiler like so:
```shell
ligo run-function
gitlab-pages/docs/language-basics/src/unit-option-pattern-matching/flip.mligo
flip Head
# Outputs: Tail(Unit)
```

<!--ReasonLIGO-->
```reasonligo group=e
type coin = | Head | Tail;

let flip = (c : coin) : coin =>
  switch (c) {
  | Head => Tail
  | Tail => Head
  };
```

You can call the function `flip` by using the LIGO compiler like so:
```shell
ligo run-function
gitlab-pages/docs/language-basics/src/unit-option-pattern-matching/flip.religo
flip Head
# Outputs: Tail(Unit)
```

<!--END_DOCUSAURUS_CODE_TABS-->