Why Can\'t Slices Be Used as Map Keys in Go?

Why Slices Are Not Supported as Map Keys in Go

Unlike arrays, Go slices are not value types. Copying a slice references the same backing array, making equality comparisons between slices ambiguous. When assigning a new slice value, changes made to the copy will also affect the original.

As a result, map keys that require equality checks must have a fixed notion of equality. While arrays offer element-wise equality, slices present options such as element-wise or backing store equality. Additionally, copying a map key, which may involve the backing array, introduces potential inconsistencies in behavior.

To avoid confusion and ensure consistency, Go has chosen not to support slices as map keys, despite their implementation using arrays.

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