Question 1

What is a monad in simple terms?

Accepted Answer

A monad is a design pattern that handles side effects and chaining operations in functional programming. This glossary explains it with JavaScript examples, like using Option types with chain methods to manage nullable values without nested structures.

Question 2

How to implement function composition in JavaScript?

Accepted Answer

Function composition combines two functions where the output of one is the input of another. The glossary provides code snippets, such as const compose = (f, g) => (a) => f(g(a)), and shows how to use it with Math.floor and toString for practical results.

Question 3

Functional programming jargon vs Ramda documentation?

Accepted Answer

This glossary is a terminology reference with concise definitions and basic examples, while Ramda's documentation focuses on library-specific functions and APIs. Use the glossary to understand concepts, then apply them with Ramda for real-world JavaScript projects.

Question 4

What are pure functions and why are they important?

Accepted Answer

Pure functions have no side effects and always return the same output for the same input, making code predictable and easier to test. The glossary contrasts pure functions with impure ones using examples like greet(name) vs functions that depend on external state.

Question 5

How to learn functional programming using this resource?

Accepted Answer

Treat this glossary as a companion while coding or reading FP code—look up terms as you encounter them, and experiment with the JavaScript examples in your own projects. It's best paired with hands-on practice from tutorials or coding challenges.

Question 6

Difference between functor and applicative functor?

Accepted Answer

A functor has a map function to transform values, while an applicative functor adds an ap method to apply functions within contexts. The glossary illustrates this with array examples, showing how ap allows combining multiple functorial values.

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