···

       
42
       
 
       
:   One element of the list *`l`*, e.g. `types.enum [ "left" "right" ]`.

     

       
43
       
 
       
    Multiple definitions cannot be merged.

     

       
44
       
 
       


     

       
0
       
 
       

     

       
0
       
 
       

     

       
0
       
 
       

     

       
45
       
 
       
`types.anything`

     

       
46
       
 
       


     

       
47
       
 
       
:   A type that accepts any value and recursively merges attribute sets

     
···

       
278
       
 
       
    user to affect all submodules in an `attrsOf submodule` at once. This is

     

       
279
       
 
       
    more convenient and discoverable than expecting the module user to

     

       
280
       
 
       
    type-merge with the `attrsOf submodule` option.

     

       
0
       
 
       

     

       
0
       
 
       

     

       
0
       
 
       

     

       
0
       
 
       

     

       
0
       
 
       

     

       
0
       
 
       

     

       
0
       
 
       

     

       
0
       
 
       

     

       
0
       
 
       

     

       
0
       
 
       

     

       
0
       
 
       

     

       
0
       
 
       

     

       
0
       
 
       

     

       
0
       
 
       

     

       
0
       
 
       

     

       
0
       
 
       

     

       
0
       
 
       

     

       
0
       
 
       

     

       
281
       
 
       


     

       
282
       
 
       
## Composed types {#sec-option-types-composed}

     

       
283
       
 
       


     

···

       
42
       
 
       
:   One element of the list *`l`*, e.g. `types.enum [ "left" "right" ]`.

     

       
43
       
 
       
    Multiple definitions cannot be merged.

     

       
44
       
 
       


     

       
45
       
+
       
    If you want to pair these values with more information, possibly of

     

       
46
       
+
       
    distinct types, consider using a [sum type](#sec-option-types-sums).

     

       
47
       
+
       


     

       
48
       
 
       
`types.anything`

     

       
49
       
 
       


     

       
50
       
 
       
:   A type that accepts any value and recursively merges attribute sets

     
···

       
281
       
 
       
    user to affect all submodules in an `attrsOf submodule` at once. This is

     

       
282
       
 
       
    more convenient and discoverable than expecting the module user to

     

       
283
       
 
       
    type-merge with the `attrsOf submodule` option.

     

       
284
       
+
       


     

       
285
       
+
       
## Union types {#sec-option-types-unions}

     

       
286
       
+
       


     

       
287
       
+
       
A union of types is a type such that a value is valid when it is valid for at least one of those types.

     

       
288
       
+
       


     

       
289
       
+
       
If some values are instances of more than one of the types, it is not possible to distinguish which type they are meant to be instances of. If that's needed, consider using a [sum type](#sec-option-types-sums).

     

       
290
       
+
       


     

       
291
       
+
       


     

       
292
       
+
       


     

       
293
       
+
       
## Sum types {#sec-option-types-sums}

     

       
294
       
+
       


     

       
295
       
+
       
A sum type can be thought of, conceptually, as a *`types.enum`* where each valid item is paired with a type, through some value syntax.

     

       
296
       
+
       
Nix does not have a built-in syntax for this pairing of a label and a type or value, so sum types may be represented in multiple ways.

     

       
297
       
+
       


     

       
298
       
+
       
If the built-in Nix value types provide enough distinction, you simplify your syntax with a [union type](#sec-option-types-unions) instead.

     

       
299
       
+
       


     

       
300
       
+
       


     

       
301
       
+
       


     

       
302
       
 
       


     

       
303
       
 
       
## Composed types {#sec-option-types-composed}

     

       
304