Proposal: Flow.collectLatest

Function signature

suspend fun <T> Flow<T>.collectLatest(action: suspend (value: T) -> Unit): Unit

Behavior

val flow = flowOf(1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
flow.collectLatest { value: Int -> // This lambda would be canceled if a new value is emitted although it hasn't been finished.
    delay(100)
    println(value) // So only '5' will be printed.
}

[elizarov]

Thanks. That is an interesting observation and it raises the whole set of issues with respect to naming. I wonder if we’ve making a mistaking of providing switchMap operator in the first place. Here I’ve recorded by thoughts: #1335

[BoxResin]

@LouisCAD The ability to skip equals may be replaced by Flow.distinctUntilChanged(). In combination with it, you can do the same thing.

For example:

val flow = flowOf(1, 2, 2, 3).delayEach(100)
flow.distinctUntilChanged().collectLatest {
    // Do something
}