Typesimilarity
Typesimilarity is a measure used in type systems and related domains to quantify how closely two types resemble each other. It is not a strict notion of equality but a gradient that can reflect compatibility, potential for interchangeability, or shared structure. The concept is particularly relevant in type inference, generic programming, refactoring, and data interoperability, where recognizing similar types can reduce manual annotations and support safe transformations.
Two broad perspectives influence typesimilarity. Structural similarity compares the concrete shape of types, such as field
Common methods to quantify similarity include structural comparisons (graph or tree representations of type definitions, measuring
Applications span code analysis and tooling, including type inference guidance, safe refactoring, API compatibility checks, and