Functional programming is a paradigm that uses pure functions and immutable data structures to create reliable software. It contrasts with imperative programming by focusing on what a program should achieve rather than how it does so. Key concepts include treating functions as first-class citizens, favoring recursion over loops, and ensuring functions have no side effects. Languages like Haskell, Lisp, Scala, and Erlang are tailored to functional programming, offering robust frameworks for complex problems.
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Functional programming emphasizes the use of pure mathematical functions to build software applications
Functional programming utilizes immutable data structures to enhance the reliability and maintainability of code
Functional programming differs from imperative programming by focusing on what a program should accomplish rather than how it operates
Pure functions are deterministic and lack side effects, making them a cornerstone of functional programming
Immutability stipulates that data structures cannot be changed once created in functional programming
Functions are treated as first-class citizens in functional programming, allowing them to be passed as arguments, returned as values, and assigned to variables
Haskell is a renowned functional programming language known for its elegant recursive functions and strict adherence to functional programming principles
Erlang is a functional programming language with robust support for higher-order functions, recursion, and a focus on concurrency and fault tolerance
JavaScript incorporates functional programming concepts such as first-class functions and higher-order functions for array manipulation
Java 8 introduced lambda expressions and functional interfaces, allowing for a more functional approach within an object-oriented context
Python supports functional constructs through functions like `map` and `filter` and lambda expressions, making it easier to apply functions to collections
Functional programming involves composing software from pure functions, avoiding mutable state and minimizing side effects
Emphasizing immutability and statelessness helps prevent issues associated with changing state in functional programming
Function composition allows for the construction of complex functions by combining simpler ones in functional programming
Haskell and Erlang exemplify the practical applications of functional programming, showcasing the power and adaptability of the paradigm in solving diverse programming challenges
Pure functional programming languages like Haskell, Clean, and Mercury strictly enforce functional programming principles, resulting in highly reliable and testable code
Other languages such as JavaScript, Java, and Python offer mechanisms to incorporate functional programming concepts into their paradigms, showcasing the flexibility and adaptability of functional programming