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# Functional Programming Jargon



Functional programming (FP) provides many advantages, and its popularity has been increasing as a result. However, each

programming paradigm comes with its own unique jargon and FP is no exception. By providing a glossary, we hope to make

learning FP easier.



Examples are presented in [Go](https://go.dev/).



Where applicable, this document uses terms defined in

the [Fantasy Land spec](https://github.com/fantasyland/fantasy-land)



__Translations__



* [Portuguese](https://github.com/alexmoreno/jargoes-programacao-funcional)

* [Spanish](https://github.com/idcmardelplata/functional-programming-jargon/tree/master)

* [Chinese](https://github.com/shfshanyue/fp-jargon-zh)

* [Bahasa Indonesia](https://github.com/wisn/jargon-pemrograman-fungsional)

* [Python World](https://github.com/jmesyou/functional-programming-jargon.py)

* [Scala World](https://github.com/ikhoon/functional-programming-jargon.scala)

* [Rust World](https://github.com/JasonShin/functional-programming-jargon.rs)

* [Korean](https://github.com/sphilee/functional-programming-jargon)

* [Polish](https://github.com/Deloryn/functional-programming-jargon)

* [Haskell Turkish](https://github.com/mrtkp9993/functional-programming-jargon)

* [Haskell Russian](https://github.com/epogrebnyak/functional-programming-jargon)

* [Julia World](https://github.com/Moelf/functional-programming-jargon.jl)



__Table of Contents__



* [Arity](#arity)

* [Higher-Order Functions (HOF)](#higher-order-functions-hof)

* [Closure](#closure)

* [Partial Application](#partial-application)

* [Currying](#currying)

* [Auto Currying](#auto-currying)

* [Function Composition](#function-composition)

* [Continuation](#continuation)

* [Pure Function](#pure-function)

* [Side effects](#side-effects)

* [Idempotent](#idempotent)

* [Point-Free Style](#point-free-style)

* [Predicate](#predicate)

* [Contracts](#contracts)

* [Category](#category)

* [Value](#value)

* [Constant](#constant)

    * [Constant Function](#constant-function)

    * [Constant Functor](#constant-functor)

    * [Constant Monad](#constant-monad)

* [Functor](#functor)

* [Pointed Functor](#pointed-functor)

* [Lift](#lift)

* [Referential Transparency](#referential-transparency)

* [Equational Reasoning](#equational-reasoning)

* [Lambda](#lambda)

* [Lambda Calculus](#lambda-calculus)

* [Lazy evaluation](#lazy-evaluation)

* [Monoid](#monoid)

* [Monad](#monad)

* [Comonad](#comonad)

* [Applicative Functor](#applicative-functor)

* [Morphism](#morphism)

    * [Endomorphism](#endomorphism)

    * [Isomorphism](#isomorphism)

    * [Homomorphism](#homomorphism)

    * [Catamorphism](#catamorphism)

    * [Anamorphism](#anamorphism)

    * [Hylomorphism](#hylomorphism)

    * [Paramorphism](#paramorphism)

    * [Apomorphism](#apomorphism)

* [Setoid](#setoid)

* [Semigroup](#semigroup)

* [Foldable](#foldable)

* [Lens](#lens)

* [Type Signatures](#type-signatures)

* [Algebraic data type](#algebraic-data-type)

    * [Sum type](#sum-type)

    * [Product type](#product-type)

* [Option](#option)

* [Function](#function)

* [Partial function](#partial-function)

* [Functional Programming Libraries in JavaScript](#functional-programming-libraries-in-javascript)



## Arity



The number of arguments a function takes. From words like unary, binary, ternary, etc.



```go

sum := func (a, b int) { return a + b}

// The arity of sum is 2 (binary)

inc := func (a int) { return a + 1}

// The arity of inc is 1 (unary)

zero := func () { return 0}

// The arity of zero is 0 (nullary)

```



__Further reading__



* [Arity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arity) on wikipedia.



## Higher-Order Functions (HOF)



A function which takes a function as an argument and/or returns a function.



```js

const filter = (predicate, xs) => xs.filter(predicate)

```



```js

const is = (type) => (x) => Object(x) instanceof type

```



```js

filter(is(Number), [0, '1', 2, null]) // [0, 2]

```



## Closure



A closure is a scope which captures local variables of a function for access even after the execution has moved out of

the block in which it is defined.

This allows the values in the closure to be accessed by returned functions.



```js

const addTo = x => y => x + y

var addToFive = addTo(5)

addToFive(3) // => 8

```



In this case the `x` is retained in `addToFive`'s closure with the value `5`. `addToFive` can then be called with

the `y`

to get back the sum.



__Further reading/Sources__



* [Lambda Vs Closure](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/220658/what-is-the-difference-between-a-closure-and-a-lambda)

* [JavaScript Closures highly voted discussion](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/111102/how-do-javascript-closures-work)



## Partial Application



Partially applying a function means creating a new function by pre-filling some arguments to the original function.



```js

// Helper to create partially applied functions

// Takes a function and some arguments

const partial = (f, ...args) =>

    // returns a function that takes the rest of the arguments

    (...moreArgs) =>

        // and calls the original function with all of them

        f(...args, ...moreArgs)



// Something to apply

const add3 = (a, b, c) => a + b + c



// Partially applying `2` and `3` to `add3` gives you a one-argument function

const fivePlus = partial(add3, 2, 3) // (c) => 2 + 3 + c



fivePlus(4) // 9

```



You can also use `Function.prototype.bind` to partially apply a function in JS:



```js

const add1More = add3.bind(null, 2, 3) // (c) => 2 + 3 + c

```



Partial application helps create simpler functions from more complex ones by baking in data when you have

it. [Curried](#currying) functions are automatically partially applied.



## Currying



The process of converting a function that takes multiple arguments into a function that takes them one at a time.



Each time the function is called it only accepts one argument and returns a function that takes one argument until all

arguments are passed.



```js

const sum = (a, b) => a + b



const curriedSum = (a) => (b) => a + b



curriedSum(40)(2) // 42.



const add2 = curriedSum(2) // (b) => 2 + b



add2(10) // 12



```



## Auto Currying



Transforming a function that takes multiple arguments into one that if given less than its correct number of arguments

returns a function that takes the rest. When the function gets the correct number of arguments it is then evaluated.



lodash & Ramda have a `curry` function that works this way.



```js

const add = (x, y) => x + y



const curriedAdd = _.curry(add)

curriedAdd(1, 2) // 3

curriedAdd(1) // (y) => 1 + y

curriedAdd(1)(2) // 3

```



__Further reading__



* [Favoring Curry](http://fr.umio.us/favoring-curry/)

* [Hey Underscore, You're Doing It Wrong!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3svKOdZijA)



## Function Composition



The act of putting two functions together to form a third function where the output of one function is the input of the

other. This is one of the most important ideas of functional programming.



```js

const compose = (f, g) => (a) => f(g(a)) // Definition

const floorAndToString = compose((val) => val.toString(), Math.floor) // Usage

floorAndToString(121.212121) // '121'

```



## Continuation



At any given point in a program, the part of the code that's yet to be executed is known as a continuation.



```js

const printAsString = (num) => console.log(`Given ${num}`)



const addOneAndContinue = (num, cc) => {

    const result = num + 1

    cc(result)

}



addOneAndContinue(2, printAsString) // 'Given 3'

```



Continuations are often seen in asynchronous programming when the program needs to wait to receive data before it can

continue. The response is often passed off to the rest of the program, which is the continuation, once it's been

received.



```js

const continueProgramWith = (data) => {

    // Continues program with data

}



readFileAsync('path/to/file', (err, response) => {

    if (err) {

        // handle error

        return

    }

    continueProgramWith(response)

})

```



## Pure Function



A function is pure if the return value is only determined by its input values, and does not produce side effects. The

function must always return the same result when given the same input.



```js

const greet = (name) => `Hi, ${name}`



greet('Brianne') // 'Hi, Brianne'

```



As opposed to each of the following:



```js

window.name = 'Brianne'



const greet = () => `Hi, ${window.name}`



greet() // "Hi, Brianne"

```



The above example's output is based on data stored outside the function...



```js

let greeting



const greet = (name) => {

    greeting = `Hi, ${name}`

}



greet('Brianne')

greeting // "Hi, Brianne"

```



... and this one modifies state outside the function.



## Side effects



A function or expression is said to have a side effect if apart from returning a value, it interacts with (reads from or

writes to) external mutable state.



```js

const differentEveryTime = new Date()

```



```js

console.log('IO is a side effect!')

```



## Idempotent



A function is idempotent if reapplying it to its result does not produce a different result.



```js

Math.abs(Math.abs(10))

```



```js

sort(sort(sort([2, 1])))

```



## Point-Free Style



Writing functions where the definition does not explicitly identify the arguments used. This style usually

requires [currying](#currying) or other [Higher-Order functions](#higher-order-functions-hof). A.K.A Tacit programming.



```js

// Given

const map = (fn) => (list) => list.map(fn)

const add = (a) => (b) => a + b



// Then



// Not point-free - `numbers` is an explicit argument

const incrementAll = (numbers) => map(add(1))(numbers)



// Point-free - The list is an implicit argument

const incrementAll2 = map(add(1))

```



Point-free function definitions look just like normal assignments without `function` or `=>`. It's worth mentioning that

point-free functions are not necessarily better than their counterparts, as they can be more difficult to understand

when complex.



## Predicate



A predicate is a function that returns true or false for a given value. A common use of a predicate is as the callback

for array filter.



```js

const predicate = (a) => a > 2



;[1, 2, 3, 4].filter(predicate) // [3, 4]

```



## Contracts



A contract specifies the obligations and guarantees of the behavior from a function or expression at runtime. This acts

as a set of rules that are expected from the input and output of a function or expression, and errors are generally

reported whenever a contract is violated.



```js

// Define our contract : int -> boolean

const contract = (input) => {

    if (typeof input === 'number') return true

    throw new Error('Contract violated: expected int -> boolean')

}



const addOne = (num) => contract(num) && num + 1



addOne(2) // 3

addOne('some string') // Contract violated: expected int -> boolean

```



## Category



A category in category theory is a collection of objects and morphisms between them. In programming, typically types

act as the objects and functions as morphisms.



To be a valid category 3 rules must be met:



1. There must be an identity morphism that maps an object to itself.

   Where `a` is an object in some category,

   there must be a function from `a -> a`.

2. Morphisms must compose.

   Where `a`, `b`, and `c` are objects in some category,

   and `f` is a morphism from `a -> b`, and `g` is a morphism from `b -> c`;

   `g(f(x))` must be equivalent to `(g • f)(x)`.

3. Composition must be associative

   `f • (g • h)` is the same as `(f • g) • h`



Since these rules govern composition at very abstract level, category theory is great at uncovering new ways of

composing things.



As an example we can define a category Max as a class



```js



class Max {

    constructor(a) {

        this.a = a

    }



    id() {

        return this

    }



    compose(b) {

        return this.a > b.a ? this : b

    }



    toString() {

        return `Max(${this.a})`

    }

}



new Max(2).compose(new Max(3)).compose(new Max(5)).id().id() // => Max(5)

```



__Further reading__



* [Category Theory for Programmers](https://bartoszmilewski.com/2014/10/28/category-theory-for-programmers-the-preface/)



## Value



Anything that can be assigned to a variable.



```js

5

Object.freeze({name: 'John', age: 30}) // The `freeze` function enforces immutability.

;(a) => a

;[1]

undefined

```



## Constant



A variable that cannot be reassigned once defined.



```js

const five = 5

const john = Object.freeze({name: 'John', age: 30})

```



Constants are [referentially transparent](#referential-transparency). That is, they can be replaced with the values that

they represent without affecting the result.



With the above two constants the following expression will always return `true`.



```js

john.age + five === ({name: 'John', age: 30}).age + (5)

```



### Constant Function



A [curried](#currying) function that ignores its second argument:



```js

const constant = a => () => a



;[1, 2].map(constant(0)) // => [0, 0]

```



### Constant Functor



Object whose `map` doesn't transform the contents. See [Functor](#functor)



```js

  Constant(1).map(n => n + 1) // => Constant(1)

```



### Constant Monad



Object whose `chain` doesn't transform the contents. See [Monad](#monad)



```js

  Constant(1).chain(n => Constant(n + 1)) // => Constant(1)

```



## Functor



An object that implements a `map` function that takes a function which is run on the contents of that object. A functor

must adhere to two rules:



__Preserves identity__



```

object.map(x => x) ≍ object

```



__Composable__



```

object.map(compose(f, g)) ≍ object.map(g).map(f)

```



(`f`, `g` are arbitrary functions)



A common functor in JavaScript is `Array` since it abides to the two functor rules:



```js

;[1, 2, 3].map(x => x) // = [1, 2, 3]

```



and



```js

const f = x => x + 1

const g = x => x * 2



;[1, 2, 3].map(x => f(g(x))) // = [3, 5, 7]

;[1, 2, 3].map(g).map(f) // = [3, 5, 7]

```



## Pointed Functor



An object with an `of` function that puts _any_ single value into it.



ES2015 adds `Array.of` making arrays a pointed functor.



```js

Array.of(1) // [1]

```



## Lift



Lifting is when you take a value and put it into an object like a [functor](#pointed-functor). If you lift a function

into an [Applicative Functor](#applicative-functor) then you can make it work on values that are also in that functor.



Some implementations have a function called `lift`, or `liftA2` to make it easier to run functions on functors.



```js

const liftA2 = (f) => (a, b) => a.map(f).ap(b) // note it's `ap` and not `map`.



const mult = a => b => a * b



const liftedMult = liftA2(mult) // this function now works on functors like array



liftedMult([1, 2], [3]) // [3, 6]

liftA2(a => b => a + b)([1, 2], [3, 4]) // [4, 5, 5, 6]

```



Lifting a one-argument function and applying it does the same thing as `map`.



```js

const increment = (x) => x + 1



lift(increment)([2]) // [3]

;[2].map(increment) // [3]

```



Lifting simple values can be simply creating the object.



```js

Array.of(1) // => [1]

```



## Referential Transparency



An expression that can be replaced with its value without changing the

behavior of the program is said to be referentially transparent.



Given the function greet:



```js

const greet = () => 'Hello World!'

```



Any invocation of `greet()` can be replaced with `Hello World!` hence greet is

referentially transparent. This would be broken if greet depended on external

state like configuration or a database call. See also [Pure Function](#pure-function) and

[Equational Reasoning](#equational-reasoning).



## Equational Reasoning



When an application is composed of expressions and devoid of side effects,

truths about the system can be derived from the parts. You can also be confident

about details of your system without having to go through every function.



```js

const grainToDogs = compose(chickenIntoDogs, grainIntoChicken)

const grainToCats = compose(dogsIntoCats, grainToDogs)

```



In the example above, if you know that `chickenIntoDogs` and `grainIntoChicken`

are pure then you know that the composition is pure. This can be taken further

when more is known about the functions (associative, commutative, idempotent, etc...)



## Lambda



An anonymous function that can be treated like a value.



```js

;(function (a) {

    return a + 1

})



;(a) => a + 1

```



Lambdas are often passed as arguments to Higher-Order functions.



```js

;[1, 2].map((a) => a + 1) // [2, 3]

```



You can assign a lambda to a variable.



```js

const add1 = (a) => a + 1

```



## Lambda Calculus



A branch of mathematics that uses functions to create

a [universal model of computation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambda_calculus).



## Lazy evaluation



Lazy evaluation is a call-by-need evaluation mechanism that delays the evaluation of an expression until its value is

needed. In functional languages, this allows for structures like infinite lists, which would not normally be available

in an imperative language where the sequencing of commands is significant.



```js

const rand = function* () {

    while (1 < 2) {

        yield Math.random()

    }

}

```



```js

const randIter = rand()

randIter.next() // Each execution gives a random value, expression is evaluated on need.

```



## Monoid



An object with a function that "combines" that object with another of the same type (semigroup) which has an "identity"

value.



One simple monoid is the addition of numbers:



```js

1 + 1 // 2

```



In this case number is the object and `+` is the function.



When any value is combined with the "identity" value the result must be the original value. The identity must also be

commutative.



The identity value for addition is `0`.



```js

1 + 0 // 1

0 + 1 // 1

1 + 0 === 0 + 1

```



It's also required that the grouping of operations will not affect the result (associativity):



```js

1 + (2 + 3) === (1 + 2) + 3 // true

```



Array concatenation also forms a monoid:



```js

;[1, 2].concat([3, 4]) // [1, 2, 3, 4]

```



The identity value is empty array `[]`



```js

;[1, 2].concat([]) // [1, 2]

```



As a counterexample, subtraction does not form a monoid because there is no commutative identity value:



```js

0 - 4 === 4 - 0 // false

```



## Monad



A monad is an object with [`of`](#pointed-functor) and `chain` functions. `chain` is like [`map`](#functor) except it

un-nests the resulting nested object.



```js

// Implementation

Array.prototype.chain = function (f) {

    return this.reduce((acc, it) => acc.concat(f(it)), [])

}



// Usage

Array.of('cat,dog', 'fish,bird').chain((a) => a.split(',')) // ['cat', 'dog', 'fish', 'bird']



// Contrast to map

Array.of('cat,dog', 'fish,bird').map((a) => a.split(',')) // [['cat', 'dog'], ['fish', 'bird']]

```



`of` is also known as `return` in other functional languages.

`chain` is also known as `flatmap` and `bind` in other languages.



## Comonad



An object that has `extract` and `extend` functions.



```js

const CoIdentity = (v) => ({

    val: v,

    extract() {

        return this.val

    },

    extend(f) {

        return CoIdentity(f(this))

    }

})

```



Extract takes a value out of a functor.



```js

CoIdentity(1).extract() // 1

```



Extend runs a function on the comonad. The function should return the same type as the comonad.



```js

CoIdentity(1).extend((co) => co.extract() + 1) // CoIdentity(2)

```



## Applicative Functor



An applicative functor is an object with an `ap` function. `ap` applies a function in the object to a value in another

object of the same type.



```js

// Implementation

Array.prototype.ap = function (xs) {

    return this.reduce((acc, f) => acc.concat(xs.map(f)), [])

}



// Example usage

;[(a) => a + 1].ap([1]) // [2]

```



This is useful if you have two objects, and you want to apply a binary function to their contents.



```js

// Arrays that you want to combine

const arg1 = [1, 3]

const arg2 = [4, 5]



// combining function - must be curried for this to work

const add = (x) => (y) => x + y



const partiallyAppliedAdds = [add].ap(arg1) // [(y) => 1 + y, (y) => 3 + y]

```



This gives you an array of functions that you can call `ap` on to get the result:



```js

partiallyAppliedAdds.ap(arg2) // [5, 6, 7, 8]

```



## Morphism



A transformation function.



### Endomorphism



A function where the input type is the same as the output.



```js

// uppercase :: String -> String

const uppercase = (str) => str.toUpperCase()



// decrement :: Number -> Number

const decrement = (x) => x - 1

```



### Isomorphism



A pair of transformations between 2 types of objects that is structural in nature and no data is lost.



For example, 2D coordinates could be stored as an array `[2,3]` or object `{x: 2, y: 3}`.



```js

// Providing functions to convert in both directions makes them isomorphic.

const pairToCoords = (pair) => ({x: pair[0], y: pair[1]})



const coordsToPair = (coords) => [coords.x, coords.y]



coordsToPair(pairToCoords([1, 2])) // [1, 2]



pairToCoords(coordsToPair({x: 1, y: 2})) // {x: 1, y: 2}

```



### Homomorphism



A homomorphism is just a structure preserving map. In fact, a functor is just a homomorphism between categories as it

preserves the original category's structure under the mapping.



```js

A.of(f).ap(A.of(x)) == A.of(f(x))



Either.of(_.toUpper).ap(Either.of('oreos')) == Either.of(_.toUpper('oreos'))

```



### Catamorphism



A `reduceRight` function that applies a function against an accumulator and each value of the array (from right-to-left)

to reduce it to a single value.



```js

const sum = xs => xs.reduceRight((acc, x) => acc + x, 0)



sum([1, 2, 3, 4, 5]) // 15

```



### Anamorphism



An `unfold` function. An `unfold` is the opposite of `fold` (`reduce`). It generates a list from a single value.



```js

const unfold = (f, seed) => {

    function go(f, seed, acc) {

        const res = f(seed)

        return res ? go(f, res[1], acc.concat([res[0]])) : acc

    }



    return go(f, seed, [])

}

```



```js

const countDown = n => unfold((n) => {

    return n <= 0 ? undefined : [n, n - 1]

}, n)



countDown(5) // [5, 4, 3, 2, 1]

```



### Hylomorphism



The combination of anamorphism and catamorphism.



### Paramorphism



A function just like `reduceRight`. However, there's a difference:



In paramorphism, your reducer's arguments are the current value, the reduction of all previous values, and the list of

values that formed that reduction.



```js

// Obviously not safe for lists containing `undefined`,

// but good enough to make the point.

const para = (reducer, accumulator, elements) => {

    if (elements.length === 0) {

        return accumulator

    }



    const head = elements[0]

    const tail = elements.slice(1)



    return reducer(head, tail, para(reducer, accumulator, tail))

}



const suffixes = list => para(

    (x, xs, suffxs) => [xs, ...suffxs],

    [],

    list

)



suffixes([1, 2, 3, 4, 5]) // [[2, 3, 4, 5], [3, 4, 5], [4, 5], [5], []]

```



The third parameter in the reducer (in the above example, `[x, ... xs]`) is kind of like having a history of what got

you to your current acc value.



### Apomorphism



it's the opposite of paramorphism, just as anamorphism is the opposite of catamorphism. Whereas with paramorphism, you

combine with access to the accumulator and what has been accumulated, apomorphism lets you `unfold` with the potential

to return early.



## Setoid



An object that has an `equals` function which can be used to compare other objects of the same type.



Make array a setoid:



```js

Array.prototype.equals = function (arr) {

    const len = this.length

    if (len !== arr.length) {

        return false

    }

    for (let i = 0; i < len; i++) {

        if (this[i] !== arr[i]) {

            return false

        }

    }

    return true

}



;[1, 2].equals([1, 2]) // true

;[1, 2].equals([0]) // false

```



## Semigroup



An object that has a `concat` function that combines it with another object of the same type.



```js

;[1].concat([2]) // [1, 2]

```



## Foldable



An object that has a `reduce` function that applies a function against an accumulator and each element in the array (

from left to right) to reduce it to a single value.



```js

const sum = (list) => list.reduce((acc, val) => acc + val, 0)

sum([1, 2, 3]) // 6

```



## Lens ##



A lens is a structure (often an object or function) that pairs a getter and a non-mutating setter for some other data

structure.



```js

// Using [Ramda's lens](http://ramdajs.com/docs/#lens)

const nameLens = R.lens(

    // getter for name property on an object

    (obj) => obj.name,

    // setter for name property

    (val, obj) => Object.assign({}, obj, {name: val})

)

```



Having the pair of get and set for a given data structure enables a few key features.



```js

const person = {name: 'Gertrude Blanch'}



// invoke the getter

R.view(nameLens, person) // 'Gertrude Blanch'



// invoke the setter

R.set(nameLens, 'Shafi Goldwasser', person) // {name: 'Shafi Goldwasser'}



// run a function on the value in the structure

R.over(nameLens, uppercase, person) // {name: 'GERTRUDE BLANCH'}

```



Lenses are also composable. This allows easy immutable updates to deeply nested data.



```js

// This lens focuses on the first item in a non-empty array

const firstLens = R.lens(

    // get first item in array

    xs => xs[0],

    // non-mutating setter for first item in array

    (val, [__, ...xs]) => [val, ...xs]

)



const people = [{name: 'Gertrude Blanch'}, {name: 'Shafi Goldwasser'}]



// Despite what you may assume, lenses compose left-to-right.

R.over(compose(firstLens, nameLens), uppercase, people) // [{'name': 'GERTRUDE BLANCH'}, {'name': 'Shafi Goldwasser'}]

```



Other implementations:



* [partial.lenses](https://github.com/calmm-js/partial.lenses) - Tasty syntax sugar and a lot of powerful features

* [nanoscope](http://www.kovach.me/nanoscope/) - Fluent-interface



## Type Signatures



Often functions in JavaScript will include comments that indicate the types of their arguments and return values.



There's quite a bit of variance across the community, but they often follow the following patterns:



```js

// functionName :: firstArgType -> secondArgType -> returnType



// add :: Number -> Number -> Number

const add = (x) => (y) => x + y



// increment :: Number -> Number

const increment = (x) => x + 1

```



If a function accepts another function as an argument it is wrapped in parentheses.



```js

// call :: (a -> b) -> a -> b

const call = (f) => (x) => f(x)

```



The letters `a`, `b`, `c`, `d` are used to signify that the argument can be of any type. The following version of `map`

takes a function that transforms a value of some type `a` into another type `b`, an array of values of type `a`, and

returns an array of values of type `b`.



```js

// map :: (a -> b) -> [a] -> [b]

const map = (f) => (list) => list.map(f)

```



__Further reading__



* [Ramda's type signatures](https://github.com/ramda/ramda/wiki/Type-Signatures)

* [Mostly Adequate Guide](https://drboolean.gitbooks.io/mostly-adequate-guide/content/ch7.html#whats-your-type)

* [What is Hindley-Milner?](http://stackoverflow.com/a/399392/22425) on Stack Overflow



## Algebraic data type



A composite type made from putting other types together. Two common classes of algebraic types are [sum](#sum-type)

and [product](#product-type).



### Sum type



A Sum type is the combination of two types together into another one. It is called sum because the number of possible

values in the result type is the sum of the input types.



JavaScript doesn't have types like this, but we can use `Set`s to pretend:



```js

// imagine that rather than sets here we have types that can only have these values

const bools = new Set([true, false])

const halfTrue = new Set(['half-true'])



// The weakLogic type contains the sum of the values from bools and halfTrue

const weakLogicValues = new Set([...bools, ...halfTrue])

```



Sum types are sometimes called union types, discriminated unions, or tagged unions.



There's a [couple](https://github.com/paldepind/union-type) [libraries](https://github.com/puffnfresh/daggy) in JS which

help with defining and using union types.



Flow includes [union types](https://flow.org/en/docs/types/unions/) and TypeScript

has [Enums](https://www.typescriptlang.org/docs/handbook/enums.html) to serve the same role.



### Product type



A **product** type combines types together in a way you're probably more familiar with:



```js

// point :: (Number, Number) -> {x: Number, y: Number}

const point = (x, y) => ({x, y})

```



It's called a product because the total possible values of the data structure is the product of the different values.

Many languages have a tuple type which is the simplest formulation of a product type.



See also [Set theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set_theory).



## Option



Option is a [sum type](#sum-type) with two cases often called `Some` and `None`.



Option is useful for composing functions that might not return a value.



```js

// Naive definition



const Some = (v) => ({

    val: v,

    map(f) {

        return Some(f(this.val))

    },

    chain(f) {

        return f(this.val)

    }

})



const None = () => ({

    map(f) {

        return this

    },

    chain(f) {

        return this

    }

})



// maybeProp :: (String, {a}) -> Option a

const maybeProp = (key, obj) => typeof obj[key] === 'undefined' ? None() : Some(obj[key])

```



Use `chain` to sequence functions that return `Option`s



```js



// getItem :: Cart -> Option CartItem

const getItem = (cart) => maybeProp('item', cart)



// getPrice :: Item -> Option Number

const getPrice = (item) => maybeProp('price', item)



// getNestedPrice :: cart -> Option a

const getNestedPrice = (cart) => getItem(cart).chain(getPrice)



getNestedPrice({}) // None()

getNestedPrice({item: {foo: 1}}) // None()

getNestedPrice({item: {price: 9.99}}) // Some(9.99)

```



`Option` is also known as `Maybe`. `Some` is sometimes called `Just`. `None` is sometimes called `Nothing`.



## Function



A **function** `f :: A => B` is an expression - often called arrow or lambda expression - with **exactly one (

immutable)** parameter of type `A` and **exactly one** return value of type `B`. That value depends entirely on the

argument, making functions context-independent, or [referentially transparent](#referential-transparency). What is

implied here is that a function must not produce any hidden [side effects](#side-effects) - a function is

always [pure](#pure-function), by definition. These properties make functions pleasant to work with: they are entirely

deterministic and therefore predictable. Functions enable working with code as data, abstracting over behaviour:



```js

// times2 :: Number -> Number

const times2 = n => n * 2



;[1, 2, 3].map(times2) // [2, 4, 6]

```



## Partial function



A partial function is a [function](#function) which is not defined for all arguments - it might return an unexpected

result or may never terminate. Partial functions add cognitive overhead, they are harder to reason about and can lead to

runtime errors. Some examples:



```js

// example 1: sum of the list

// sum :: [Number] -> Number

const sum = arr => arr.reduce((a, b) => a + b)

sum([1, 2, 3]) // 6

sum([]) // TypeError: Reduce of empty array with no initial value



// example 2: get the first item in list

// first :: [A] -> A

const first = a => a[0]

first([42]) // 42

first([]) // undefined

// or even worse:

first([[42]])[0] // 42

first([])[0] // Uncaught TypeError: Cannot read property '0' of undefined



// example 3: repeat function N times

// times :: Number -> (Number -> Number) -> Number

const times = n => fn => n && (fn(n), times(n - 1)(fn))

times(3)(console.log)

// 3

// 2

// 1

times(-1)(console.log)

// RangeError: Maximum call stack size exceeded

```



### Dealing with partial functions



Partial functions are dangerous as they need to be treated with great caution. You might get an unexpected (wrong)

result or run into runtime errors. Sometimes a partial function might not return at all. Being aware of and treating all

these edge cases accordingly can become very tedious.

Fortunately a partial function can be converted to a regular (or total) one. We can provide default values or use guards

to deal with inputs for which the (previously) partial function is undefined. Utilizing the [`Option`](#Option) type, we

can yield either `Some(value)` or `None` where we would otherwise have behaved unexpectedly:



```js

// example 1: sum of the list

// we can provide default value so it will always return result

// sum :: [Number] -> Number

const sum = arr => arr.reduce((a, b) => a + b, 0)

sum([1, 2, 3]) // 6

sum([]) // 0



// example 2: get the first item in list

// change result to Option

// first :: [A] -> Option A

const first = a => a.length ? Some(a[0]) : None()

first([42]).map(a => console.log(a)) // 42

first([]).map(a => console.log(a)) // console.log won't execute at all

// our previous worst case

first([[42]]).map(a => console.log(a[0])) // 42

first([]).map(a => console.log(a[0])) // won't execte, so we won't have error here

// more of that, you will know by function return type (Option)

// that you should use `.map` method to access the data and you will never forget

// to check your input because such check become built-in into the function



// example 3: repeat function N times

// we should make function always terminate by changing conditions:

// times :: Number -> (Number -> Number) -> Number

const times = n => fn => n > 0 && (fn(n), times(n - 1)(fn))

times(3)(console.log)

// 3

// 2

// 1

times(-1)(console.log)

// won't execute anything

```



Making your partial functions total ones, these kinds of runtime errors can be prevented. Always returning a value will

also make for code that is both easier to maintain and to reason about.



## Functional Programming Libraries in JavaScript



* [mori](https://github.com/swannodette/mori)

* [Immutable](https://github.com/facebook/immutable-js/)

* [Immer](https://github.com/mweststrate/immer)

* [Ramda](https://github.com/ramda/ramda)

* [ramda-adjunct](https://github.com/char0n/ramda-adjunct)

* [ramda-extension](https://github.com/tommmyy/ramda-extension)

* [Folktale](http://folktale.origamitower.com/)

* [monet.js](https://cwmyers.github.io/monet.js/)

* [lodash](https://github.com/lodash/lodash)

* [Underscore.js](https://github.com/jashkenas/underscore)

* [Lazy.js](https://github.com/dtao/lazy.js)

* [maryamyriameliamurphies.js](https://github.com/sjsyrek/maryamyriameliamurphies.js)

* [Haskell in ES6](https://github.com/casualjavascript/haskell-in-es6)

* [Sanctuary](https://github.com/sanctuary-js/sanctuary)

* [Crocks](https://github.com/evilsoft/crocks)

* [Fluture](https://github.com/fluture-js/Fluture)

* [fp-ts](https://github.com/gcanti/fp-ts)



---



__P.S:__ This repo is successful due to the

wonderful [contributions](https://github.com/hemanth/functional-programming-jargon/graphs/contributors)!