Adam Smyczek wrote:
data SampleType = A | B Int | C String | D -- .... etc. sampleTypes = [A, B 5, C "test"] :: [SampleType] How do I find for example element A in the sampleTypes list?
There have been many useful replies. But since Adam originally announced that this is a "beginner question", I think some perspective is in order. In Haskell, there is often no need at all for boolean-valued functions to deconstruct a data structure. Usually pattern matching does the job beautifully, and you structure your program to exploit that. In the case that you do need them, though, the previous responses are excellent suggestions. In my experience, the ways that I get data out of an ADT, from most common to most rare, are: 1. Just use pattern matching 2. Use record syntax to get selector functions 3. Define an Eq instance 4. Define per-constructor modifiers when the ADT is used as state in a state monad (this one is admittedly a pain in the neck) I can't remember the last time I needed to write a function like "isA" - it almost never comes up. My opinion, YMMV. Regards, Yitz