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A covariant type parameter preserves subtyping: if $A<:B$, then PartialFn[T,A] <: PartialFn[T,B] when its second parameter is covariant. In Scala the class annotation is +U. A mapping that produces a narrower output can be used where a broader output is expected. Covariance describes a type relationship; it does not convert stored values or make mutation through a widened reference safe.^[ref]

The plus marks a covariant type parameter: if $S<:T$, then Iterator[S] <: Iterator[T]. An iterator producing a subtype's values can be used where an iterator of the supertype is required. For example, a string iterator can be viewed as an iterator of AnyRef, because strings are reference values. The direction is appropriate for a producer: calling next() gives a value valid at the wider type. It would not be safe to expose an ordinary insertion method accepting arbitrary wider-type values into a subtype-only collection. This is a subtyping relationship, not a request to transform each produced value.^[ref]