Difference between [A: C] and [A[_]: C] context bounds

Question

I'm a newbie, according to my lectures : class Test [T: Comparing] means that it requires an implicit value of type Comparing[T] that can be used in the methods of that class. With this Higher kinded type notation

Question : What does this expression def notation[F[_]: Sync] : F[Unit] = ??? refer to ?

Answer 1

Consider the difference between concrete type and type constructor

Int         // concrete type
List[Int]   // concrete type
List        // type constructor

We represent the shape of the type constructor using notation F[_]

trait Foo[T]            // Foo takes any type
trait Bar[F[_]]         // Bar takes any type constructor

new Foo[Int] {}         // ok
new Foo[List[Int]] {}   // ok
new Foo[List] {}        // error

new Bar[Int] {}         // error
new Bar[List[Int]] {}   // error 
new Bar[List] {}        // ok

We could read type parameter clause [F[_]: Bar] as meaning

• method requires implicit value of type Bar[F] where F is a type constructor
• type constructor F has to be a member of the typeclass Bar

trait Bar[F[_]]

// make type constructor Foo a member of typeclass Bar
implicit val barOfFoo: Bar[Foo] = new Bar[Foo] { println("woohoo") }

def g[F[_]: Bar] = implicitly[Bar[F]]

g[Foo]        // ok
g[Int]        // error - type parameter is of incorrect shape
g[Foo[Int]]   // error - type parameter is of incorrect shape
g[List]       // error - type parameter is of correct shape but not a member of Bar

Applying the above concepts to def notation[F[_]: Sync] we see that type constructor F has to be a member of typeclass Sync in order to call notation.