timeout <-chan time.Time syntax in runner.go

[jhagege]

Hi, I don't understand what does this syntax mean in the struct on chapter 7, 'runner' example:

// Runner runs a set of tasks within a given timeout and can be
// shut down on an operating system interrupt.
type Runner struct {
	// interrupt channel reports a signal from the
	// operating system.
	interrupt chan os.Signal

	// complete channel reports that processing is done.
	complete chan error

	// timeout reports that time has run out.
	timeout <-chan time.Time

	// tasks holds a set of functions that are executed
	// synchronously in index order.
	tasks []func(int)
}

Why this is the only channel that gets the syntax -<chan time.Time ?

Thanks !

[ardan-bkennedy]

Channels can be declared to be one-directional. In this case I am saying the channel is a receive only channel

<-chan time.Time

If I wanted the channel to be send only then I would move the <- operator.

chan<- time.Time

Without this on the declaration the channel in bi-directional.