Master programming syntax, solve interactive challenges & run live code in Syntaxis Explore Arena →
menu_book Course Curriculum (OCaml) expand_more
Core Values
let bindings type inference integers and floats strings and chars tuples records variants polymorphic variants unit physical vs structural equality
Functions
function definitions anonymous functions currying partial application labeled arguments optional arguments recursive functions mutual recursion pipeline operator higher-order functions
Pattern Matching
match expressions function shorthand guards or-patterns as-patterns nested patterns record patterns list patterns variant patterns exhaustiveness
Collections
lists List.map List.fold_left List.filter arrays array mutation sequences maps sets hashtables
Types
type aliases parameterized types recursive types GADTs private types abstract types phantom types locally abstract types first-class modules existential packaging
Modules
module definitions module signatures module type functors include open local open module aliases nested modules generative functors
Effects and Errors
option result exceptions try with raise references mutable record fields lazy values effect handlers continuations
Tooling and I/O
print_endline Printf.printf file input file output Sys.argv Unix environment JSON pattern Dune test structure assertions resource cleanup
OCaml / Effects and Errors

references

Learn references in OCaml with a construct-specific explanation, unique example, engineering boundary, and mastery check.

10 min read • Advanced

references is a focused OCaml topic inside Effects and Errors. This lesson explains the construct itself, the state or value it operates on, and the observable result it produces.

Read the example as a small executable experiment. Identify the exact syntax that belongs to references, then change one input and predict the result before running it.

Topic-specific example

ocaml-07-06-references.ml
ocaml Try It Live 
let r = ref 0 in incr r; !r
Edge case / engineering note

references has rules that are easy to miss when the example is copied mechanically. Check the feature-specific boundary shown by this construct: scope, mutability, evaluation order, type constraints, lifetime, error behavior, compile-time restrictions, or resource cleanup where applicable.

Content source & attribution
Original Syntaxis Content · Original Syntaxis Content

Lesson quizzes

references Mastery Check →
← PREVIOUS
raise
NEXT →
mutable record fields