sml-examples/datatypes.sml

(* datatype example -- single and pair list *)
datatype ('a, 'b) element =
         Pair of 'a * 'b
         | Single of 'a;

fun sum_elem_list nil = 0
  | sum_elem_list (Single(x)::rest) = sum_elem_list rest
  | sum_elem_list (Pair(x, y)::rest) = y + (sum_elem_list rest);

sum_elem_list [Pair ("in", 6), Single "function", Pair ("as", 2)];