I’d start by the distinction that exists in Scala between def, val and var.

• def – defines an immutable label for the right side content which is lazily evaluated – evaluate by name.

• val – defines an immutable label for the right side content which is eagerly/immediately evaluated – evaluated by value.

• var – defines a mutable variable, initially set to the evaluated right side content.

Example, def

scala> def something = 2 + 3 * 4 
something: Int
scala> something  // now it's evaluated, lazily upon usage
res30: Int = 14

Example, val

scala> val somethingelse = 2 + 3 * 5 // it's evaluated, eagerly upon definition
somethingelse: Int = 17

Example, var

scala> var aVariable = 2 * 3
aVariable: Int = 6

scala> aVariable = 5
aVariable: Int = 5

According to above, labels from def and val cannot be reassigned, and in case of any attempt an error like the below one will be raised:

scala> something = 5 * 6
<console>:8: error: value something_= is not a member of object $iw
       something = 5 * 6
       ^

When the class is defined like:

scala> class Person(val name: String, var age: Int)
defined class Person

and then instantiated with:

scala> def personA = new Person("Tim", 25)
personA: Person

an immutable label is created for that specific instance of Person (i.e. ‘personA’). Whenever the mutable field ‘age’ needs to be modified, such attempt fails:

scala> personA.age = 44
personA.age: Int = 25

as expected, ‘age’ is part of a non-mutable label. The correct way to work on this consists in using a mutable variable, like in the following example:

scala> var personB = new Person("Matt", 36)
personB: Person = Person@59cd11fe

scala> personB.age = 44
personB.age: Int = 44    // value re-assigned, as expected

as clear, from the mutable variable reference (i.e. ‘personB’) it is possible to modify the class mutable field ‘age’.

I would still stress the fact that everything comes from the above stated difference, that has to be clear in mind of any Scala programmer.