[ Course Documents ] : [ Functional Programming ]

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Fundamentals of FP Languages

• The objective: mimic mathematical functions to the greatest extent possible

• The basic process of computation is fundamentally different than in an imperative language

• In an imperative language:
  • Operations are done, results are stored in variables for later use
  • Mgmt. of variables is a constant concern, source of complexity

• In an FPL:
  • Variables are not necessary, as is the case in mathematics
  • a function always produces the same result given the same parameters (referential transparency)