Is there an auto keyword in Delphi?

Question

I'm learning Delphi myself.. I have seen the auto variable type that can do some degree of magic in C++. Is there an auto a variable type, or something similar to this, in Delphi?

Answer 1

auto in C++ is used to let the compiler infer a variable's data type based on what type of value is used to initialize it.

In Delphi 10.3 and later, type inference is available only on an inline variable:

Additionally, the compiler can now in several circumstances infer the type of a variable at its inline declaration location, by looking to the type of the value assigned to it.

procedure Test;
begin
  var I := 22;
  ShowMessage (I.ToString);
end; 

The type of the r-value expression (that is, what comes after the :=) is analyzed to determine the type of the variable. Some of the data types are “expanded” to a larger type, as in the case above where the numeric value 22 (a ShortInt) is expanded to Integer. As a general rule, if the right hand expression type is an integral type and smaller than 32 bits, the variable will be declared as a 32-bit Integer. You can use an explicit type if you want a specific, smaller, numeric type.