I am a bit confused by the Literal keyword and why it is necessary in F#. Reading the docs, it sounds to me that [<Literal>] is used to define a constant, however I am a bit confused how this constant differs from all other constants in F#.. Values that are intended to be constants can be marked with the Literal attribute. This attribute has the effect of causing a value to be compiled as a constant. When I think of a constant, I think of something which is immutable.... let x = "a" + "b" //this is a immutable value, its value is constant [<Literal>] let y = "a" + "b" //this is also a immutable value, but why is this a special constant? Is it because the 'normal' F# values are evaluated lazily and the [<Literal>] is not evaluated lazily..? is that what they mean with 'compiled as constant'..? or is there something else to it?