title: What is the difference between a class and a type in Scala (and Java)?
body: <p><strong><em>Scala</em></strong></p>
  
  <p>Where can differences between a class and a type be observed in Scala and why is this distinction important?</p>
  
  <p>Is it only a consideration from the language design point-of-view or has it "practical" impact when programming Scala?</p>
  
  <p>Or is it fundamental to "securing the boundaries" of the type system (<code>Nothing</code>, <code>Null</code> come to my mind)?</p>
  
  <p><strong><em>Java</em></strong></p>
  
  <p>How many of the considerations/differences/problems mentioned above can also be recognized in Java?</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p>(See <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/468145/what-is-the-difference-between-type-and-class">What is the difference between Type and Class?</a> as a language-agnostic introduction.)</p>