-
Input & Output (IO) – Haskell
In Haskell, input and output (IO) work a bit differently than in imperative languages. Since Haskell is a purely functional language, functions are expected to be pure, meaning they should produce the same output given the same input and have no side effects. However, input and output inherently involve side effects, which poses a unique…
-
Types vs. Typeclasses – Haskell
In Haskell, types and typeclasses are distinct but related concepts that play key roles in the language’s type system. Here’s a breakdown of their differences: Types A type in Haskell describes the kind of data a value holds. Types are used to enforce that functions receive and return values of expected kinds, ensuring type safety.…
-
Type Constructor – Haskell
In Haskell, a type constructor is a function that takes one or more types as arguments and produces a new type. Type constructors are similar to data constructors, but while data constructors create values, type constructors create types. They’re particularly useful for defining parametric types, which are types that take type parameters (such as lists,…
-
Record Syntax – Haskell
In Haskell, records provide a way to create data types with named fields, making it easier to work with complex data structures. Record syntax is particularly useful when you have a data structure with multiple fields, as it allows you to access, modify, and create values in a more readable and convenient way. In this…
-
Why Functional Programming Languages Emphasize Immutability
Functional programming (FP) languages like Haskell, Erlang, and certain aspects of languages like Scala and Swift emphasize immutability—a concept where data cannot be modified after it is created. Instead of altering data, new data structures are created to represent updated information. This article explores why immutability is central to functional programming, its advantages, and its…
-
What’s the difference between a set, a map and a list in Haskell?
In Haskell, sets, maps, and lists are three different types of data structures, each with its own characteristics and use cases. Here’s a breakdown of their differences and when to use each: 1. List (Data.List) You’re dealing with potentially infinite data streams or recursive structures. Definition: A list is a linear sequence of elements in…
-
Data.Set Module – Haskell
In Haskell, managing unique elements in a collection is a common task. The Data.Set module provides a powerful way to store and manipulate sets—collections of unique, unordered elements. With Data.Set, you can perform operations like union, intersection, and difference efficiently, thanks to its implementation as a balanced binary tree. In this article, we’ll explore the…
-
Data.Map Module – Haskell
In Haskell, efficient data management is key, and the Data.Map module provides a powerful way to store and operate on key-value pairs. If you’re working on tasks involving lookups, associations, or any map-like structure, Data.Map is your go-to library. It offers a variety of functions to create, update, and query maps, all while providing efficient…
-
Data.Char Module – Haskell
In Haskell, working with characters is common, especially when processing text or creating parsers. The Data.Char module is Haskell’s go-to library for character manipulation, offering a wide array of functions to classify, convert, and operate on characters. In this article, we’ll dive into the essentials of the Data.Char module, exploring its most useful functions and…
-
Data.List Module – Haskell
The Data.List module in Haskell provides a comprehensive set of functions for working with lists. While Haskell’s Prelude already includes basic list operations, Data.List extends these with a powerful suite of tools for manipulating and querying lists, allowing you to perform complex operations with ease. In this article, we’ll explore the core functions of Data.List,…
