Python to Scala Syntax Mapping

Variable Declarations

Python	Scala
x = 5	val x = 5 (immutable) or var x = 5 (mutable)
x: int = 5	val x: Int = 5
x, y = 1, 2	val (x, y) = (1, 2)

Prefer val over var unless mutation is required.

Type Mappings

Python	Scala
int	Int
float	Double
str	String
bool	Boolean
None	None (of type Option) or null
list[T]	List[T] or Seq[T]
dict[K, V]	Map[K, V]
set[T]	Set[T]
tuple[A, B]	(A, B) or Tuple2[A, B]
Optional[T]	Option[T]

Control Flow

Conditionals

# Python
if x > 0:
    result = "positive"
elif x < 0:
    result = "negative"
else:
    result = "zero"

// Scala - if is an expression
val result = if (x > 0) "positive"
             else if (x < 0) "negative"
             else "zero"

Loops

# Python for loop
for i in range(10):
    print(i)

for item in items:
    process(item)

for i, item in enumerate(items):
    print(f"{i}: {item}")

// Scala equivalents
for (i <- 0 until 10) println(i)

for (item <- items) process(item)

for ((item, i) <- items.zipWithIndex) println(s"$i: $item")

While loops

# Python
while condition:
    do_something()

// Scala
while (condition) {
  doSomething()
}

Comprehensions

# Python list comprehension
squares = [x ** 2 for x in range(10)]
evens = [x for x in numbers if x % 2 == 0]
pairs = [(x, y) for x in xs for y in ys]

// Scala for-comprehensions or map/filter
val squares = (0 until 10).map(x => x * x).toList
val evens = numbers.filter(_ % 2 == 0)
val pairs = for { x <- xs; y <- ys } yield (x, y)

Functions

# Python
def add(a: int, b: int) -> int:
    return a + b

# Lambda
square = lambda x: x ** 2

# Default arguments
def greet(name: str, greeting: str = "Hello") -> str:
    return f"{greeting}, {name}!"

// Scala
def add(a: Int, b: Int): Int = a + b

// Lambda
val square: Int => Int = x => x * x
// or shorter: val square = (x: Int) => x * x

// Default arguments
def greet(name: String, greeting: String = "Hello"): String =
  s"$greeting, $name!"

String Formatting

Python	Scala
f"Hello, {name}!"	s"Hello, $name!"
f"Value: {x:.2f}"	f"Value: $x%.2f"
f"{x + y}"	s"${x + y}"

Common Operators

Python	Scala
** (power)	math.pow(x, y) or use scala.math.pow
// (floor div)	x / y (for Int) or math.floor(x / y)
% (modulo)	%
and, or, not	&&, `
in	.contains()
is	eq (reference equality)
==	== (value equality)

Exception Handling

# Python
try:
    result = risky_operation()
except ValueError as e:
    handle_error(e)
finally:
    cleanup()

// Scala
import scala.util.{Try, Success, Failure}

// Pattern 1: try-catch
try {
  val result = riskyOperation()
} catch {
  case e: IllegalArgumentException => handleError(e)
} finally {
  cleanup()
}

// Pattern 2: Try monad (preferred for functional style)
val result = Try(riskyOperation()) match {
  case Success(value) => value
  case Failure(e) => handleError(e)
}

None/Null Handling

# Python
if value is None:
    return default
return process(value)

# Or
result = value if value is not None else default

// Scala - use Option
val result = optionValue match {
  case Some(v) => process(v)
  case None => default
}

// Or more concisely
val result = optionValue.map(process).getOrElse(default)