go/types: add Var.Kind() VarKind method

This CL adds an enum type, VarKind, that discriminates among
the various kinds of Var, and adds setter/getter methods
for Var's kind field.

Beware: NewVar has a weaker postcondition: the Var objects it
returns are not completely initialized and require a call to
Var.SetKind. This should only affect importers.

No changes are needed to the export data, since the kind can
always be deduced from the context when decoding.

See CL 645656 for the corresponding x/tools changes.

+ test, relnote, API

Updates golang/go#70250

Change-Id: Icde86ad22a880cde6f50bc12bf38004a5c6a1025
Reviewed-on: https://go-review.googlesource.com/c/go/+/645115
Reviewed-by: Robert Griesemer <gri@google.com>
LUCI-TryBot-Result: Go LUCI <golang-scoped@luci-project-accounts.iam.gserviceaccount.com>
Reviewed-by: Robert Findley <rfindley@google.com>

api/go1.25.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+pkg go/types, const FieldVar = 6 #70250
+pkg go/types, const FieldVar VarKind #70250
+pkg go/types, const LocalVar = 2 #70250
+pkg go/types, const LocalVar VarKind #70250
+pkg go/types, const PackageVar = 1 #70250
+pkg go/types, const PackageVar VarKind #70250
+pkg go/types, const ParamVar = 4 #70250
+pkg go/types, const ParamVar VarKind #70250
+pkg go/types, const RecvVar = 3 #70250
+pkg go/types, const RecvVar VarKind #70250
+pkg go/types, const ResultVar = 5 #70250
+pkg go/types, const ResultVar VarKind #70250
+pkg go/types, method (*Var) Kind() VarKind #70250
+pkg go/types, method (*Var) SetKind(VarKind) #70250
+pkg go/types, method (VarKind) String() string #70250
+pkg go/types, type VarKind uint8 #70250

doc/initial/6-stdlib/99-minor/0-heading.md

@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
 ### Minor changes to the library {#minor_library_changes}
 
+#### go/types
 
+The `Var.Kind` method returns an enumeration of type `VarKind` that
+classifies the variable (package-level, local, receiver, parameter,
+result, or struct field). See issue #70250.
+
+Callers of `NewVar` or `NewParam` are encouraged to call `Var.SetKind`
+to ensure that this attribute is set correctly in all cases.

src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/api_test.go

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"internal/goversion"
 	"internal/testenv"
 	"slices"
+	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"testing"
@@ -3061,3 +3062,48 @@ func TestVersionWithoutPos(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("check error was %q, want substring %q", got, want)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestVarKind(t *testing.T) {
+	f := mustParse(`package p
+
+var global int
+
+type T struct { field int }
+
+func (recv T) f(param int) (result int) {
+	var local int
+	local2 := 0
+	switch local3 := any(local).(type) {
+	default:
+		_ = local3
+	}
+	return local2
+}
+`)
+
+	pkg := NewPackage("p", "p")
+	info := &Info{Defs: make(map[*syntax.Name]Object)}
+	check := NewChecker(&Config{}, pkg, info)
+	if err := check.Files([]*syntax.File{f}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	var got []string
+	for _, obj := range info.Defs {
+		if v, ok := obj.(*Var); ok {
+			got = append(got, fmt.Sprintf("%s: %v", v.Name(), v.Kind()))
+		}
+	}
+	sort.Strings(got)
+	want := []string{
+		"field: FieldVar",
+		"global: PackageVar",
+		"local2: LocalVar",
+		"local: LocalVar",
+		"param: ParamVar",
+		"recv: RecvVar",
+		"result: ResultVar",
+	}
+	if !slices.Equal(got, want) {
+		t.Errorf("got:\n%s\nwant:\n%s", got, want)
+	}
+}

src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/assignments.go

@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ func (check *Checker) shortVarDecl(pos poser, lhs, rhs []syntax.Expr) {
 		}
 
 		// declare new variable
-		obj := NewVar(ident.Pos(), check.pkg, name, nil)
+		obj := newVar(LocalVar, ident.Pos(), check.pkg, name, nil)
 		lhsVars[i] = obj
 		if name != "_" {
 			newVars = append(newVars, obj)
@@ -577,7 +577,7 @@ func (check *Checker) shortVarDecl(pos poser, lhs, rhs []syntax.Expr) {
 	// create dummy variables where the lhs is invalid
 	for i, obj := range lhsVars {
 		if obj == nil {
-			lhsVars[i] = NewVar(lhs[i].Pos(), check.pkg, "_", nil)
+			lhsVars[i] = newVar(LocalVar, lhs[i].Pos(), check.pkg, "_", nil)
 		}
 	}
 

src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/builtins.go

@@ -1032,13 +1032,13 @@ func (check *Checker) applyTypeFunc(f func(Type) Type, x *operand, id builtinId)
 func makeSig(res Type, args ...Type) *Signature {
 	list := make([]*Var, len(args))
 	for i, param := range args {
-		list[i] = NewVar(nopos, nil, "", Default(param))
+		list[i] = NewParam(nopos, nil, "", Default(param))
 	}
 	params := NewTuple(list...)
 	var result *Tuple
 	if res != nil {
 		assert(!isUntyped(res))
-		result = NewTuple(NewVar(nopos, nil, "", res))
+		result = NewTuple(newVar(ResultVar, nopos, nil, "", res))
 	}
 	return &Signature{params: params, results: result}
 }

src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/call.go

@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func (check *Checker) funcInst(T *target, pos syntax.Pos, x *operand, inst *synt
 				}
 			}
 			gsig := NewSignatureType(nil, nil, nil, sig.params, sig.results, sig.variadic)
-			params = []*Var{NewVar(x.Pos(), check.pkg, "", gsig)}
+			params = []*Var{NewParam(x.Pos(), check.pkg, "", gsig)}
 			// The type of the argument operand is tsig, which is the type of the LHS in an assignment
 			// or the result type in a return statement. Create a pseudo-expression for that operand
 			// that makes sense when reported in error messages from infer, below.
@@ -875,7 +875,7 @@ func (check *Checker) selector(x *operand, e *syntax.SelectorExpr, def *TypeName
 				name = "_"
 			}
 		}
-		params = append([]*Var{NewVar(sig.recv.pos, sig.recv.pkg, name, x.typ)}, params...)
+		params = append([]*Var{NewParam(sig.recv.pos, sig.recv.pkg, name, x.typ)}, params...)
 		x.mode = value
 		x.typ = &Signature{
 			tparams:  sig.tparams,

src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/check.go

@@ -568,8 +568,8 @@ func (check *Checker) recordCommaOkTypesInSyntax(x syntax.Expr, t0, t1 Type) {
 			assert(tv.Type != nil) // should have been recorded already
 			pos := x.Pos()
 			tv.Type = NewTuple(
-				NewVar(pos, check.pkg, "", t0),
-				NewVar(pos, check.pkg, "", t1),
+				NewParam(pos, check.pkg, "", t0),
+				NewParam(pos, check.pkg, "", t1),
 			)
 			x.SetTypeInfo(tv)
 			p, _ := x.(*syntax.ParenExpr)

src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/context_test.go

@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ func TestContextHashCollisions(t *testing.T) {
 	{
 		// type unaryP = func[P any](_ P)
 		tparam := NewTypeParam(NewTypeName(nopos, nil, "P", nil), &emptyInterface)
-		params := NewTuple(NewVar(nopos, nil, "_", tparam))
+		params := NewTuple(NewParam(nopos, nil, "_", tparam))
 		unaryP = NewSignatureType(nil, nil, []*TypeParam{tparam}, params, nil, false)
 	}
 

src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/decl.go

@@ -844,7 +844,7 @@ func (check *Checker) declStmt(list []syntax.Decl) {
 
 			lhs0 := make([]*Var, len(s.NameList))
 			for i, name := range s.NameList {
-				lhs0[i] = NewVar(name.Pos(), pkg, name.Value, nil)
+				lhs0[i] = newVar(LocalVar, name.Pos(), pkg, name.Value, nil)
 			}
 
 			// initialize all variables

src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/interface.go

@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func NewInterfaceType(methods []*Func, embeddeds []Type) *Interface {
 	typ := (*Checker)(nil).newInterface()
 	for _, m := range methods {
 		if sig := m.typ.(*Signature); sig.recv == nil {
-			sig.recv = NewVar(m.pos, m.pkg, "", typ)
+			sig.recv = newVar(RecvVar, m.pos, m.pkg, "", typ)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ func (check *Checker) interfaceType(ityp *Interface, iface *syntax.InterfaceType
 				recvTyp = named
 			}
 		}
-		sig.recv = NewVar(f.Name.Pos(), check.pkg, "", recvTyp)
+		sig.recv = newVar(RecvVar, f.Name.Pos(), check.pkg, "", recvTyp)
 
 		m := NewFunc(f.Name.Pos(), check.pkg, name, sig)
 		check.recordDef(f.Name, m)

src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/issues_test.go

@@ -628,7 +628,7 @@ func TestIssue50646(t *testing.T) {
 func TestIssue55030(t *testing.T) {
 	// makeSig makes the signature func(typ...)
 	makeSig := func(typ Type) {
-		par := NewVar(nopos, nil, "", typ)
+		par := NewParam(nopos, nil, "", typ)
 		params := NewTuple(par)
 		NewSignatureType(nil, nil, nil, params, nil, true)
 	}

src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/object.go

@@ -331,28 +331,81 @@ func (obj *TypeName) IsAlias() bool {
 // A Variable represents a declared variable (including function parameters and results, and struct fields).
 type Var struct {
 	object
+	kind     VarKind
 	embedded bool // if set, the variable is an embedded struct field, and name is the type name
-	isField  bool // var is struct field
 	used     bool // set if the variable was used
 	origin   *Var // if non-nil, the Var from which this one was instantiated
 }
 
+// A VarKind discriminates the various kinds of variables.
+type VarKind uint8
+
+const (
+	_          VarKind = iota // (not meaningful)
+	PackageVar                // a package-level variable
+	LocalVar                  // a local variable
+	RecvVar                   // a method receiver variable
+	ParamVar                  // a function parameter variable
+	ResultVar                 // a function result variable
+	FieldVar                  // a struct field
+)
+
+var varKindNames = [...]string{
+	0:          "VarKind(0)",
+	PackageVar: "PackageVar",
+	LocalVar:   "LocalVar",
+	RecvVar:    "RecvVar",
+	ParamVar:   "ParamVar",
+	ResultVar:  "ResultVar",
+	FieldVar:   "FieldVar",
+}
+
+func (kind VarKind) String() string {
+	if 0 <= kind && int(kind) < len(varKindNames) {
+		return varKindNames[kind]
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("VarKind(%d)", kind)
+}
+
+// Kind reports what kind of variable v is.
+func (v *Var) Kind() VarKind { return v.kind }
+
+// SetKind sets the kind of the variable.
+// It should be used only immediately after [NewVar] or [NewParam].
+func (v *Var) SetKind(kind VarKind) { v.kind = kind }
+
 // NewVar returns a new variable.
 // The arguments set the attributes found with all Objects.
+//
+// The caller must subsequently call [Var.SetKind]
+// if the desired Var is not of kind [PackageVar].
 func NewVar(pos syntax.Pos, pkg *Package, name string, typ Type) *Var {
-	return &Var{object: object{nil, pos, pkg, name, typ, 0, colorFor(typ), nopos}}
+	return newVar(PackageVar, pos, pkg, name, typ)
 }
 
 // NewParam returns a new variable representing a function parameter.
+//
+// The caller must subsequently call [Var.SetKind] if the desired Var
+// is not of kind [ParamVar]: for example, [RecvVar] or [ResultVar].
 func NewParam(pos syntax.Pos, pkg *Package, name string, typ Type) *Var {
-	return &Var{object: object{nil, pos, pkg, name, typ, 0, colorFor(typ), nopos}, used: true} // parameters are always 'used'
+	return newVar(ParamVar, pos, pkg, name, typ)
 }
 
 // NewField returns a new variable representing a struct field.
 // For embedded fields, the name is the unqualified type name
 // under which the field is accessible.
 func NewField(pos syntax.Pos, pkg *Package, name string, typ Type, embedded bool) *Var {
-	return &Var{object: object{nil, pos, pkg, name, typ, 0, colorFor(typ), nopos}, embedded: embedded, isField: true}
+	v := newVar(FieldVar, pos, pkg, name, typ)
+	v.embedded = embedded
+	return v
+}
+
+// newVar returns a new variable.
+// The arguments set the attributes found with all Objects.
+func newVar(kind VarKind, pos syntax.Pos, pkg *Package, name string, typ Type) *Var {
+	// Function parameters are always 'used'.
+	used := kind == RecvVar || kind == ParamVar || kind == ResultVar
+	return &Var{object: object{nil, pos, pkg, name, typ, 0, colorFor(typ), nopos}, kind: kind, used: used}
 }
 
 // Anonymous reports whether the variable is an embedded field.
@@ -363,7 +416,7 @@ func (obj *Var) Anonymous() bool { return obj.embedded }
 func (obj *Var) Embedded() bool { return obj.embedded }
 
 // IsField reports whether the variable is a struct field.
-func (obj *Var) IsField() bool { return obj.isField }
+func (obj *Var) IsField() bool { return obj.kind == FieldVar }
 
 // Origin returns the canonical Var for its receiver, i.e. the Var object
 // recorded in Info.Defs.
@@ -526,7 +579,7 @@ func writeObject(buf *bytes.Buffer, obj Object, qf Qualifier) {
 		}
 
 	case *Var:
-		if obj.isField {
+		if obj.IsField() {
 			buf.WriteString("field")
 		} else {
 			buf.WriteString("var")

src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/recording.go

@@ -105,8 +105,8 @@ func (check *Checker) recordCommaOkTypes(x syntax.Expr, a []*operand) {
 			assert(tv.Type != nil) // should have been recorded already
 			pos := x.Pos()
 			tv.Type = NewTuple(
-				NewVar(pos, check.pkg, "", t0),
-				NewVar(pos, check.pkg, "", t1),
+				newVar(LocalVar, pos, check.pkg, "", t0),
+				newVar(LocalVar, pos, check.pkg, "", t1),
 			)
 			m[x] = tv
 			// if x is a parenthesized expression (p.X), update p.X

src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/resolver.go

@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ func (check *Checker) collectObjects() {
 				// declare all variables
 				values := syntax.UnpackListExpr(s.Values)
 				for i, name := range s.NameList {
-					obj := NewVar(name.Pos(), pkg, name.Value, nil)
+					obj := newVar(PackageVar, name.Pos(), pkg, name.Value, nil)
 					lhs[i] = obj
 
 					d := d1

src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/signature.go

@@ -117,8 +117,8 @@ func (check *Checker) funcType(sig *Signature, recvPar *syntax.Field, tparams []
 	}
 
 	// collect ordinary and result parameters
-	pnames, params, variadic := check.collectParams(ftyp.ParamList, true)
-	rnames, results, _ := check.collectParams(ftyp.ResultList, false)
+	pnames, params, variadic := check.collectParams(ParamVar, ftyp.ParamList)
+	rnames, results, _ := check.collectParams(ResultVar, ftyp.ResultList)
 
 	// declare named receiver, ordinary, and result parameters
 	scopePos := syntax.EndPos(ftyp) // all parameter's scopes start after the signature
@@ -258,13 +258,13 @@ func (check *Checker) collectRecv(rparam *syntax.Field, scopePos syntax.Pos) (*V
 	var recv *Var
 	if rname := rparam.Name; rname != nil && rname.Value != "" {
 		// named receiver
-		recv = NewParam(rname.Pos(), check.pkg, rname.Value, recvType)
+		recv = newVar(RecvVar, rname.Pos(), check.pkg, rname.Value, recvType)
 		// In this case, the receiver is declared by the caller
 		// because it must be declared after any type parameters
 		// (otherwise it might shadow one of them).
 	} else {
 		// anonymous receiver
-		recv = NewParam(rparam.Pos(), check.pkg, "", recvType)
+		recv = newVar(RecvVar, rparam.Pos(), check.pkg, "", recvType)
 		check.recordImplicit(rparam, recv)
 	}
 
@@ -322,10 +322,11 @@ func (check *Checker) recordParenthesizedRecvTypes(expr syntax.Expr, typ Type) {
 	}
 }
 
-// collectParams collects (but does not declare) all parameters of list and returns
-// the list of parameter names, corresponding parameter variables, and whether the
-// parameter list is variadic. Anonymous parameters are recorded with nil names.
-func (check *Checker) collectParams(list []*syntax.Field, variadicOk bool) (names []*syntax.Name, params []*Var, variadic bool) {
+// collectParams collects (but does not declare) all parameter/result
+// variables of list and returns the list of names and corresponding
+// variables, and whether the (parameter) list is variadic.
+// Anonymous parameters are recorded with nil names.
+func (check *Checker) collectParams(kind VarKind, list []*syntax.Field) (names []*syntax.Name, params []*Var, variadic bool) {
 	if list == nil {
 		return
 	}
@@ -341,7 +342,7 @@ func (check *Checker) collectParams(list []*syntax.Field, variadicOk bool) (name
 			prev = ftype
 			if t, _ := ftype.(*syntax.DotsType); t != nil {
 				ftype = t.Elem
-				if variadicOk && i == len(list)-1 {
+				if kind == ParamVar && i == len(list)-1 {
 					variadic = true
 				} else {
 					check.error(t, InvalidSyntaxTree, "invalid use of ...")
@@ -359,14 +360,14 @@ func (check *Checker) collectParams(list []*syntax.Field, variadicOk bool) (name
 				check.error(field.Name, InvalidSyntaxTree, "anonymous parameter")
 				// ok to continue
 			}
-			par := NewParam(field.Name.Pos(), check.pkg, name, typ)
+			par := newVar(kind, field.Name.Pos(), check.pkg, name, typ)
 			// named parameter is declared by caller
 			names = append(names, field.Name)
 			params = append(params, par)
 			named = true
 		} else {
 			// anonymous parameter
-			par := NewParam(field.Pos(), check.pkg, "", typ)
+			par := newVar(kind, field.Pos(), check.pkg, "", typ)
 			check.recordImplicit(field, par)
 			names = append(names, nil)
 			params = append(params, par)

src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/stmt.go

@@ -793,7 +793,7 @@ func (check *Checker) typeSwitchStmt(inner stmtContext, s *syntax.SwitchStmt, gu
 		check.openScope(clause, "case")
 		// If lhs exists, declare a corresponding variable in the case-local scope.
 		if lhs != nil {
-			obj := NewVar(lhs.Pos(), check.pkg, lhs.Value, T)
+			obj := newVar(LocalVar, lhs.Pos(), check.pkg, lhs.Value, T)
 			check.declare(check.scope, nil, obj, clause.Colon)
 			check.recordImplicit(clause, obj)
 			// For the "declared and not used" error, all lhs variables act as
@@ -904,7 +904,7 @@ func (check *Checker) rangeStmt(inner stmtContext, s *syntax.ForStmt, rclause *s
 			if ident, _ := lhs.(*identType); ident != nil {
 				// declare new variable
 				name := identName(ident)
-				obj = NewVar(ident.Pos(), check.pkg, name, nil)
+				obj = newVar(LocalVar, ident.Pos(), check.pkg, name, nil)
 				check.recordDef(ident, obj)
 				// _ variables don't count as new variables
 				if name != "_" {
@@ -912,7 +912,7 @@ func (check *Checker) rangeStmt(inner stmtContext, s *syntax.ForStmt, rclause *s
 				}
 			} else {
 				check.errorf(lhs, InvalidSyntaxTree, "cannot declare %s", lhs)
-				obj = NewVar(lhs.Pos(), check.pkg, "_", nil) // dummy variable
+				obj = newVar(LocalVar, lhs.Pos(), check.pkg, "_", nil) // dummy variable
 			}
 			assert(obj.typ == nil)
 

src/cmd/compile/internal/types2/universe.go

@@ -119,8 +119,8 @@ func defPredeclaredTypes() {
 		typ := NewNamed(obj, nil, nil)
 
 		// error.Error() string
-		recv := NewVar(nopos, nil, "", typ)
-		res := NewVar(nopos, nil, "", Typ[String])
+		recv := newVar(RecvVar, nopos, nil, "", typ)
+		res := newVar(ResultVar, nopos, nil, "", Typ[String])
 		sig := NewSignatureType(recv, nil, nil, nil, NewTuple(res), false)
 		err := NewFunc(nopos, nil, "Error", sig)
 

src/go/internal/gccgoimporter/parser.go

@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ func (p *parser) parseField(pkg *types.Package) (field *types.Var, tag string) {
 }
 
 // Param = Name ["..."] Type .
-func (p *parser) parseParam(pkg *types.Package) (param *types.Var, isVariadic bool) {
+func (p *parser) parseParam(kind types.VarKind, pkg *types.Package) (param *types.Var, isVariadic bool) {
 	name := p.parseName()
 	// Ignore names invented for inlinable functions.
 	if strings.HasPrefix(name, "p.") || strings.HasPrefix(name, "r.") || strings.HasPrefix(name, "$ret") {
@@ -289,13 +289,14 @@ func (p *parser) parseParam(pkg *types.Package) (param *types.Var, isVariadic bo
 		typ = types.NewSlice(typ)
 	}
 	param = types.NewParam(token.NoPos, pkg, name, typ)
+	param.SetKind(kind)
 	return
 }
 
 // Var = Name Type .
 func (p *parser) parseVar(pkg *types.Package) *types.Var {
 	name := p.parseName()
-	v := types.NewVar(token.NoPos, pkg, name, p.parseType(pkg))
+	v := types.NewVar(token.NoPos, pkg, name, p.parseType(pkg)) // (types.PackageVar)
 	if name[0] == '.' || name[0] == '<' {
 		// This is an unexported variable,
 		// or a variable defined in a different package.
@@ -589,10 +590,10 @@ func (p *parser) parseNamedType(nlist []any) types.Type {
 				p.expect('/')
 			}
 			p.expect('(')
-			receiver, _ := p.parseParam(pkg)
+			receiver, _ := p.parseParam(types.RecvVar, pkg)
 			p.expect(')')
 			name := p.parseName()
-			params, isVariadic := p.parseParamList(pkg)
+			params, isVariadic := p.parseParamList(types.ParamVar, pkg)
 			results := p.parseResultList(pkg)
 			p.skipInlineBody()
 			p.expectEOL()
@@ -713,7 +714,7 @@ func (p *parser) parseStructType(pkg *types.Package, nlist []any) types.Type {
 }
 
 // ParamList = "(" [ { Parameter "," } Parameter ] ")" .
-func (p *parser) parseParamList(pkg *types.Package) (*types.Tuple, bool) {
+func (p *parser) parseParamList(kind types.VarKind, pkg *types.Package) (*types.Tuple, bool) {
 	var list []*types.Var
 	isVariadic := false
 
@@ -722,7 +723,7 @@ func (p *parser) parseParamList(pkg *types.Package) (*types.Tuple, bool) {
 		if len(list) > 0 {
 			p.expect(',')
 		}
-		par, variadic := p.parseParam(pkg)
+		par, variadic := p.parseParam(kind, pkg)
 		list = append(list, par)
 		if variadic {
 			if isVariadic {
@@ -745,10 +746,12 @@ func (p *parser) parseResultList(pkg *types.Package) *types.Tuple {
 			return nil
 		}
 		taa, _ := p.parseTypeAfterAngle(pkg)
-		return types.NewTuple(types.NewParam(token.NoPos, pkg, "", taa))
+		param := types.NewParam(token.NoPos, pkg, "", taa)
+		param.SetKind(types.ResultVar)
+		return types.NewTuple(param)
 
 	case '(':
-		params, _ := p.parseParamList(pkg)
+		params, _ := p.parseParamList(types.ResultVar, pkg)
 		return params
 
 	default:
@@ -761,7 +764,7 @@ func (p *parser) parseFunctionType(pkg *types.Package, nlist []any) *types.Signa
 	t := new(types.Signature)
 	p.update(t, nlist)
 
-	params, isVariadic := p.parseParamList(pkg)
+	params, isVariadic := p.parseParamList(types.ParamVar, pkg)
 	results := p.parseResultList(pkg)
 
 	*t = *types.NewSignatureType(nil, nil, nil, params, results, isVariadic)

src/go/internal/gcimporter/ureader.go

@@ -399,32 +399,34 @@ func (r *reader) interfaceType() *types.Interface {
 func (r *reader) signature(recv *types.Var, rtparams, tparams []*types.TypeParam) *types.Signature {
 	r.Sync(pkgbits.SyncSignature)
 
-	params := r.params()
-	results := r.params()
+	params := r.params(types.ParamVar)
+	results := r.params(types.ResultVar)
 	variadic := r.Bool()
 
 	return types.NewSignatureType(recv, rtparams, tparams, params, results, variadic)
 }
 
-func (r *reader) params() *types.Tuple {
+func (r *reader) params(kind types.VarKind) *types.Tuple {
 	r.Sync(pkgbits.SyncParams)
 
 	params := make([]*types.Var, r.Len())
 	for i := range params {
-		params[i] = r.param()
+		params[i] = r.param(kind)
 	}
 
 	return types.NewTuple(params...)
 }
 
-func (r *reader) param() *types.Var {
+func (r *reader) param(kind types.VarKind) *types.Var {
 	r.Sync(pkgbits.SyncParam)
 
 	pos := r.pos()
 	pkg, name := r.localIdent()
 	typ := r.typ()
 
-	return types.NewParam(pos, pkg, name, typ)
+	param := types.NewParam(pos, pkg, name, typ)
+	param.SetKind(kind) // ∈ {Recv,Param,Result}Var
+	return param
 }
 
 // @@@ Objects
@@ -528,6 +530,7 @@ func (pr *pkgReader) objIdx(idx pkgbits.Index) (*types.Package, string) {
 					sig := fn.Signature()
 
 					recv := types.NewVar(fn.Pos(), fn.Pkg(), "", named)
+					recv.SetKind(types.RecvVar)
 					methods[i] = types.NewFunc(fn.Pos(), fn.Pkg(), fn.Name(), types.NewSignature(recv, sig.Params(), sig.Results(), sig.Variadic()))
 				}
 
@@ -647,7 +650,7 @@ func (r *reader) method() *types.Func {
 	pkg, name := r.selector()
 
 	rparams := r.typeParamNames()
-	sig := r.signature(r.param(), rparams, nil)
+	sig := r.signature(r.param(types.RecvVar), rparams, nil)
 
 	_ = r.pos() // TODO(mdempsky): Remove; this is a hacker for linker.go.
 	return types.NewFunc(pos, pkg, name, sig)

src/go/types/api_test.go

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"internal/goversion"
 	"internal/testenv"
 	"slices"
+	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"testing"
@@ -3124,3 +3125,49 @@ func TestVersionWithoutPos(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("check error was %q, want substring %q", got, want)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestVarKind(t *testing.T) {
+	fset := token.NewFileSet()
+	f, _ := parser.ParseFile(fset, "a.go", `package p
+
+var global int
+
+type T struct { field int }
+
+func (recv T) f(param int) (result int) {
+	var local int
+	local2 := 0
+	switch local3 := any(local).(type) {
+	default:
+		_ = local3
+	}
+	return local2
+}
+`, 0)
+
+	pkg := NewPackage("p", "p")
+	info := &Info{Defs: make(map[*ast.Ident]Object)}
+	check := NewChecker(&Config{}, fset, pkg, info)
+	if err := check.Files([]*ast.File{f}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	var got []string
+	for _, obj := range info.Defs {
+		if v, ok := obj.(*Var); ok {
+			got = append(got, fmt.Sprintf("%s: %v", v.Name(), v.Kind()))
+		}
+	}
+	sort.Strings(got)
+	want := []string{
+		"field: FieldVar",
+		"global: PackageVar",
+		"local2: LocalVar",
+		"local: LocalVar",
+		"param: ParamVar",
+		"recv: RecvVar",
+		"result: ResultVar",
+	}
+	if !slices.Equal(got, want) {
+		t.Errorf("got:\n%s\nwant:\n%s", got, want)
+	}
+}

src/go/types/assignments.go

@@ -569,7 +569,7 @@ func (check *Checker) shortVarDecl(pos positioner, lhs, rhs []ast.Expr) {
 		}
 
 		// declare new variable
-		obj := NewVar(ident.Pos(), check.pkg, name, nil)
+		obj := newVar(LocalVar, ident.Pos(), check.pkg, name, nil)
 		lhsVars[i] = obj
 		if name != "_" {
 			newVars = append(newVars, obj)
@@ -580,7 +580,7 @@ func (check *Checker) shortVarDecl(pos positioner, lhs, rhs []ast.Expr) {
 	// create dummy variables where the lhs is invalid
 	for i, obj := range lhsVars {
 		if obj == nil {
-			lhsVars[i] = NewVar(lhs[i].Pos(), check.pkg, "_", nil)
+			lhsVars[i] = newVar(LocalVar, lhs[i].Pos(), check.pkg, "_", nil)
 		}
 	}
 

src/go/types/builtins.go

@@ -1035,13 +1035,13 @@ func (check *Checker) applyTypeFunc(f func(Type) Type, x *operand, id builtinId)
 func makeSig(res Type, args ...Type) *Signature {
 	list := make([]*Var, len(args))
 	for i, param := range args {
-		list[i] = NewVar(nopos, nil, "", Default(param))
+		list[i] = NewParam(nopos, nil, "", Default(param))
 	}
 	params := NewTuple(list...)
 	var result *Tuple
 	if res != nil {
 		assert(!isUntyped(res))
-		result = NewTuple(NewVar(nopos, nil, "", res))
+		result = NewTuple(newVar(ResultVar, nopos, nil, "", res))
 	}
 	return &Signature{params: params, results: result}
 }

src/go/types/call.go

@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ func (check *Checker) funcInst(T *target, pos token.Pos, x *operand, ix *indexed
 				}
 			}
 			gsig := NewSignatureType(nil, nil, nil, sig.params, sig.results, sig.variadic)
-			params = []*Var{NewVar(x.Pos(), check.pkg, "", gsig)}
+			params = []*Var{NewParam(x.Pos(), check.pkg, "", gsig)}
 			// The type of the argument operand is tsig, which is the type of the LHS in an assignment
 			// or the result type in a return statement. Create a pseudo-expression for that operand
 			// that makes sense when reported in error messages from infer, below.
@@ -878,7 +878,7 @@ func (check *Checker) selector(x *operand, e *ast.SelectorExpr, def *TypeName, w
 				name = "_"
 			}
 		}
-		params = append([]*Var{NewVar(sig.recv.pos, sig.recv.pkg, name, x.typ)}, params...)
+		params = append([]*Var{NewParam(sig.recv.pos, sig.recv.pkg, name, x.typ)}, params...)
 		x.mode = value
 		x.typ = &Signature{
 			tparams:  sig.tparams,

src/go/types/context_test.go

@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ func TestContextHashCollisions(t *testing.T) {
 	{
 		// type unaryP = func[P any](_ P)
 		tparam := NewTypeParam(NewTypeName(nopos, nil, "P", nil), &emptyInterface)
-		params := NewTuple(NewVar(nopos, nil, "_", tparam))
+		params := NewTuple(NewParam(nopos, nil, "_", tparam))
 		unaryP = NewSignatureType(nil, nil, []*TypeParam{tparam}, params, nil, false)
 	}
 

src/go/types/decl.go

@@ -909,7 +909,7 @@ func (check *Checker) declStmt(d ast.Decl) {
 
 			lhs0 := make([]*Var, len(d.spec.Names))
 			for i, name := range d.spec.Names {
-				lhs0[i] = NewVar(name.Pos(), pkg, name.Name, nil)
+				lhs0[i] = newVar(LocalVar, name.Pos(), pkg, name.Name, nil)
 			}
 
 			// initialize all variables

src/go/types/interface.go

@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ func NewInterfaceType(methods []*Func, embeddeds []Type) *Interface {
 	typ := (*Checker)(nil).newInterface()
 	for _, m := range methods {
 		if sig := m.typ.(*Signature); sig.recv == nil {
-			sig.recv = NewVar(m.pos, m.pkg, "", typ)
+			sig.recv = newVar(RecvVar, m.pos, m.pkg, "", typ)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ func (check *Checker) interfaceType(ityp *Interface, iface *ast.InterfaceType, d
 				recvTyp = named
 			}
 		}
-		sig.recv = NewVar(name.Pos(), check.pkg, "", recvTyp)
+		sig.recv = newVar(RecvVar, name.Pos(), check.pkg, "", recvTyp)
 
 		m := NewFunc(name.Pos(), check.pkg, name.Name, sig)
 		check.recordDef(name, m)

src/go/types/issues_test.go

@@ -638,7 +638,7 @@ func TestIssue50646(t *testing.T) {
 func TestIssue55030(t *testing.T) {
 	// makeSig makes the signature func(typ...)
 	makeSig := func(typ Type) {
-		par := NewVar(nopos, nil, "", typ)
+		par := NewParam(nopos, nil, "", typ)
 		params := NewTuple(par)
 		NewSignatureType(nil, nil, nil, params, nil, true)
 	}

src/go/types/object.go

@@ -334,28 +334,81 @@ func (obj *TypeName) IsAlias() bool {
 // A Variable represents a declared variable (including function parameters and results, and struct fields).
 type Var struct {
 	object
+	kind     VarKind
 	embedded bool // if set, the variable is an embedded struct field, and name is the type name
-	isField  bool // var is struct field
 	used     bool // set if the variable was used
 	origin   *Var // if non-nil, the Var from which this one was instantiated
 }
 
+// A VarKind discriminates the various kinds of variables.
+type VarKind uint8
+
+const (
+	_          VarKind = iota // (not meaningful)
+	PackageVar                // a package-level variable
+	LocalVar                  // a local variable
+	RecvVar                   // a method receiver variable
+	ParamVar                  // a function parameter variable
+	ResultVar                 // a function result variable
+	FieldVar                  // a struct field
+)
+
+var varKindNames = [...]string{
+	0:          "VarKind(0)",
+	PackageVar: "PackageVar",
+	LocalVar:   "LocalVar",
+	RecvVar:    "RecvVar",
+	ParamVar:   "ParamVar",
+	ResultVar:  "ResultVar",
+	FieldVar:   "FieldVar",
+}
+
+func (kind VarKind) String() string {
+	if 0 <= kind && int(kind) < len(varKindNames) {
+		return varKindNames[kind]
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("VarKind(%d)", kind)
+}
+
+// Kind reports what kind of variable v is.
+func (v *Var) Kind() VarKind { return v.kind }
+
+// SetKind sets the kind of the variable.
+// It should be used only immediately after [NewVar] or [NewParam].
+func (v *Var) SetKind(kind VarKind) { v.kind = kind }
+
 // NewVar returns a new variable.
 // The arguments set the attributes found with all Objects.
+//
+// The caller must subsequently call [Var.SetKind]
+// if the desired Var is not of kind [PackageVar].
 func NewVar(pos token.Pos, pkg *Package, name string, typ Type) *Var {
-	return &Var{object: object{nil, pos, pkg, name, typ, 0, colorFor(typ), nopos}}
+	return newVar(PackageVar, pos, pkg, name, typ)
 }
 
 // NewParam returns a new variable representing a function parameter.
+//
+// The caller must subsequently call [Var.SetKind] if the desired Var
+// is not of kind [ParamVar]: for example, [RecvVar] or [ResultVar].
 func NewParam(pos token.Pos, pkg *Package, name string, typ Type) *Var {
-	return &Var{object: object{nil, pos, pkg, name, typ, 0, colorFor(typ), nopos}, used: true} // parameters are always 'used'
+	return newVar(ParamVar, pos, pkg, name, typ)
 }
 
 // NewField returns a new variable representing a struct field.
 // For embedded fields, the name is the unqualified type name
 // under which the field is accessible.
 func NewField(pos token.Pos, pkg *Package, name string, typ Type, embedded bool) *Var {
-	return &Var{object: object{nil, pos, pkg, name, typ, 0, colorFor(typ), nopos}, embedded: embedded, isField: true}
+	v := newVar(FieldVar, pos, pkg, name, typ)
+	v.embedded = embedded
+	return v
+}
+
+// newVar returns a new variable.
+// The arguments set the attributes found with all Objects.
+func newVar(kind VarKind, pos token.Pos, pkg *Package, name string, typ Type) *Var {
+	// Function parameters are always 'used'.
+	used := kind == RecvVar || kind == ParamVar || kind == ResultVar
+	return &Var{object: object{nil, pos, pkg, name, typ, 0, colorFor(typ), nopos}, kind: kind, used: used}
 }
 
 // Anonymous reports whether the variable is an embedded field.
@@ -366,7 +419,7 @@ func (obj *Var) Anonymous() bool { return obj.embedded }
 func (obj *Var) Embedded() bool { return obj.embedded }
 
 // IsField reports whether the variable is a struct field.
-func (obj *Var) IsField() bool { return obj.isField }
+func (obj *Var) IsField() bool { return obj.kind == FieldVar }
 
 // Origin returns the canonical Var for its receiver, i.e. the Var object
 // recorded in Info.Defs.
@@ -529,7 +582,7 @@ func writeObject(buf *bytes.Buffer, obj Object, qf Qualifier) {
 		}
 
 	case *Var:
-		if obj.isField {
+		if obj.IsField() {
 			buf.WriteString("field")
 		} else {
 			buf.WriteString("var")

src/go/types/recording.go

@@ -108,8 +108,8 @@ func (check *Checker) recordCommaOkTypes(x ast.Expr, a []*operand) {
 			assert(tv.Type != nil) // should have been recorded already
 			pos := x.Pos()
 			tv.Type = NewTuple(
-				NewVar(pos, check.pkg, "", t0),
-				NewVar(pos, check.pkg, "", t1),
+				newVar(LocalVar, pos, check.pkg, "", t0),
+				newVar(LocalVar, pos, check.pkg, "", t1),
 			)
 			m[x] = tv
 			// if x is a parenthesized expression (p.X), update p.X

src/go/types/resolver.go

@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ func (check *Checker) collectObjects() {
 
 				// declare all variables
 				for i, name := range d.spec.Names {
-					obj := NewVar(name.Pos(), pkg, name.Name, nil)
+					obj := newVar(PackageVar, name.Pos(), pkg, name.Name, nil)
 					lhs[i] = obj
 
 					di := d1

src/go/types/signature.go

@@ -140,8 +140,8 @@ func (check *Checker) funcType(sig *Signature, recvPar *ast.FieldList, ftyp *ast
 	}
 
 	// collect ordinary and result parameters
-	pnames, params, variadic := check.collectParams(ftyp.Params, true)
-	rnames, results, _ := check.collectParams(ftyp.Results, false)
+	pnames, params, variadic := check.collectParams(ParamVar, ftyp.Params)
+	rnames, results, _ := check.collectParams(ResultVar, ftyp.Results)
 
 	// declare named receiver, ordinary, and result parameters
 	scopePos := ftyp.End() // all parameter's scopes start after the signature
@@ -290,13 +290,13 @@ func (check *Checker) collectRecv(rparam *ast.Field, scopePos token.Pos) (*Var,
 	var recv *Var
 	if rname != nil && rname.Name != "" {
 		// named receiver
-		recv = NewParam(rname.Pos(), check.pkg, rname.Name, recvType)
+		recv = newVar(RecvVar, rname.Pos(), check.pkg, rname.Name, recvType)
 		// In this case, the receiver is declared by the caller
 		// because it must be declared after any type parameters
 		// (otherwise it might shadow one of them).
 	} else {
 		// anonymous receiver
-		recv = NewParam(rparam.Pos(), check.pkg, "", recvType)
+		recv = newVar(RecvVar, rparam.Pos(), check.pkg, "", recvType)
 		check.recordImplicit(rparam, recv)
 	}
 
@@ -350,10 +350,11 @@ func (check *Checker) recordParenthesizedRecvTypes(expr ast.Expr, typ Type) {
 	}
 }
 
-// collectParams collects (but does not declare) all parameters of list and returns
-// the list of parameter names, corresponding parameter variables, and whether the
-// parameter list is variadic. Anonymous parameters are recorded with nil names.
-func (check *Checker) collectParams(list *ast.FieldList, variadicOk bool) (names []*ast.Ident, params []*Var, variadic bool) {
+// collectParams collects (but does not declare) all parameter/result
+// variables of list and returns the list of names and corresponding
+// variables, and whether the (parameter) list is variadic.
+// Anonymous parameters are recorded with nil names.
+func (check *Checker) collectParams(kind VarKind, list *ast.FieldList) (names []*ast.Ident, params []*Var, variadic bool) {
 	if list == nil {
 		return
 	}
@@ -363,7 +364,7 @@ func (check *Checker) collectParams(list *ast.FieldList, variadicOk bool) (names
 		ftype := field.Type
 		if t, _ := ftype.(*ast.Ellipsis); t != nil {
 			ftype = t.Elt
-			if variadicOk && i == len(list.List)-1 && len(field.Names) <= 1 {
+			if kind == ParamVar && i == len(list.List)-1 && len(field.Names) <= 1 {
 				variadic = true
 			} else {
 				check.softErrorf(t, InvalidSyntaxTree, "invalid use of ...")
@@ -380,7 +381,7 @@ func (check *Checker) collectParams(list *ast.FieldList, variadicOk bool) (names
 					check.error(name, InvalidSyntaxTree, "anonymous parameter")
 					// ok to continue
 				}
-				par := NewParam(name.Pos(), check.pkg, name.Name, typ)
+				par := newVar(kind, name.Pos(), check.pkg, name.Name, typ)
 				// named parameter is declared by caller
 				names = append(names, name)
 				params = append(params, par)
@@ -388,7 +389,7 @@ func (check *Checker) collectParams(list *ast.FieldList, variadicOk bool) (names
 			named = true
 		} else {
 			// anonymous parameter
-			par := NewParam(ftype.Pos(), check.pkg, "", typ)
+			par := newVar(kind, ftype.Pos(), check.pkg, "", typ)
 			check.recordImplicit(field, par)
 			names = append(names, nil)
 			params = append(params, par)

src/go/types/stmt.go

@@ -752,7 +752,7 @@ func (check *Checker) stmt(ctxt stmtContext, s ast.Stmt) {
 			check.openScope(clause, "case")
 			// If lhs exists, declare a corresponding variable in the case-local scope.
 			if lhs != nil {
-				obj := NewVar(lhs.Pos(), check.pkg, lhs.Name, T)
+				obj := newVar(LocalVar, lhs.Pos(), check.pkg, lhs.Name, T)
 				check.declare(check.scope, nil, obj, clause.Colon)
 				check.recordImplicit(clause, obj)
 				// For the "declared and not used" error, all lhs variables act as
@@ -922,7 +922,7 @@ func (check *Checker) rangeStmt(inner stmtContext, s *ast.RangeStmt) {
 			if ident, _ := lhs.(*identType); ident != nil {
 				// declare new variable
 				name := identName(ident)
-				obj = NewVar(ident.Pos(), check.pkg, name, nil)
+				obj = newVar(LocalVar, ident.Pos(), check.pkg, name, nil)
 				check.recordDef(ident, obj)
 				// _ variables don't count as new variables
 				if name != "_" {
@@ -930,7 +930,7 @@ func (check *Checker) rangeStmt(inner stmtContext, s *ast.RangeStmt) {
 				}
 			} else {
 				check.errorf(lhs, InvalidSyntaxTree, "cannot declare %s", lhs)
-				obj = NewVar(lhs.Pos(), check.pkg, "_", nil) // dummy variable
+				obj = newVar(LocalVar, lhs.Pos(), check.pkg, "_", nil) // dummy variable
 			}
 			assert(obj.typ == nil)
 

src/go/types/universe.go

@@ -122,8 +122,8 @@ func defPredeclaredTypes() {
 		typ := NewNamed(obj, nil, nil)
 
 		// error.Error() string
-		recv := NewVar(nopos, nil, "", typ)
-		res := NewVar(nopos, nil, "", Typ[String])
+		recv := newVar(RecvVar, nopos, nil, "", typ)
+		res := newVar(ResultVar, nopos, nil, "", Typ[String])
 		sig := NewSignatureType(recv, nil, nil, nil, NewTuple(res), false)
 		err := NewFunc(nopos, nil, "Error", sig)