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POWhat does the `forall` keyword in Haskell/GHC do?
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copied!<p>I'm beginning to understand how the <code>forall</code> keyword is used in so-called "existential types" like this:</p> <pre><code>data ShowBox = forall s. Show s => SB s </code></pre> <p>This is only a subset, however, of how <code>forall</code> is used and I simply cannot wrap my mind around its use in things like this:</p> <pre><code>runST :: forall a. (forall s. ST s a) -> a </code></pre> <p>Or explaining why these are different:</p> <pre><code>foo :: (forall a. a -> a) -> (Char,Bool) bar :: forall a. ((a -> a) -> (Char, Bool)) </code></pre> <p>Or the whole <code>RankNTypes</code> stuff...</p> <p>I tend to prefer clear, jargon-free English rather than the kinds of language which are normal in academic environments. Most of the explanations I attempt to read on this (the ones I can find through search engines) have these problems:</p> <ol> <li>They're incomplete. They explain one part of the use of this keyword (like "existential types") which makes me feel happy until I read code that uses it in a completely different way (like <code>runST</code>, <code>foo</code> and <code>bar</code> above).</li> <li>They're densely packed with assumptions that I've read the latest in whatever branch of discrete math, category theory or abstract algebra is popular this week. (If I never read the words "consult the paper <em>whatever</em> for details of implementation" again, it will be too soon.)</li> <li>They're written in ways that frequently turn even simple concepts into tortuously twisted and fractured grammar and semantics.</li> </ol> <p>So...</p> <p>On to the actual question. Can anybody completely explain the <code>forall</code> keyword in clear, plain English (or, if it exists somewhere, point to such a clear explanation which I've missed) that doesn't assume I'm a mathematician steeped in the jargon?</p> <hr> <p><em>Edited to add:</em></p> <p>There were two stand-out answers from the higher-quality ones below, but unfortunately I can only choose one as best. <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3071136/what-does-the-forall-keyword-in-haskell-ghc-do/3071365#3071365">Norman's answer</a> was detailed and useful, explaining things in a way that showed some of the theoretical underpinnings of <code>forall</code> and at the same time showing me some of the practical implications of it. <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3071136/what-does-the-forall-keyword-in-haskell-ghc-do/3071932#3071932">yairchu's answer</a> covered an area nobody else mentioned (scoped type variables) and illustrated all of the concepts with code and a GHCi session. Were it possible to select both as best, I would. Unfortunately I can't and, after looking over both answers closely, I've decided that yairchu's slightly edges out Norman's because of the illustrative code and attached explanation. This is a bit unfair, however, because really I needed both answers to understand this to the point that <code>forall</code> doesn't leave me with a faint sense of dread when I see it in a type signature.</p>

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