# Why separate TYPE and CLASS keywords in modern Fortran?

**URL:** <https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/why-separate-type-and-class-keywords-in-modern-fortran/10978>\
**Category:** Advocacy\
**Created:** [June 17, 2026, 9:24pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/why-separate-type-and-class-keywords-in-modern-fortran/10978 "2026-06-17T21:24:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 64

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**Author:** ![ivanpribec](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/fortran-lang.discourse.group/ivanpribec/32/3290_2.png) [@ivanpribec](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/ivanpribec)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 5:15pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/why-separate-type-and-class-keywords-in-modern-fortran/10978/64 "2026-07-03T17:15:59Z")

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> [@rgaelzer](#):
>
> A finalizer is called during assignment with a structure constructor? I recall reading in Metcalf’s book that they are not finalized.

There was discussion of this here: [Should associate trigger automatic finalization? - #6 by Reinhold\_Bader](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/should-associate-trigger-automatic-finalization/2324/6)

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