JavaScript JoelThe intention of this post is not to say one paradigm is better than the other. It is just to show common imperative patterns you run into and their functional equivalents.
Sometimes things are easier to learn if you can relate it to something you are already familiar with and be given a map on how to transition back and forth.
Previously, I had done something similar at Functional vs Imperative Patterns in JavaScript
Map
map takes a list and runs a function on each item in the list, returning the same length list.
Imperative
const double = x => x * 2
const input = [ 1, 2, 3 ]
const output = []
for (let i = 0; i < input.length; i++) {
output.push(double(input[i]))
}
output //=> [ 2, 4, 6 ]
Functional
const double = x => x * 2
const input = [ 1, 2, 3 ]
const output = input.map(double)
output //=> [ 2, 4, 6 ]
Filter
filter takes a list and returns a list containing all items that match the predicate. In this example isEven is the predicate.
Imperative
const isEven = x => x % 2 === 0
const input = [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ]
const output = []
for (let i = 0; i < input.length; i++) {
if (isEven(input[i])) {
output.push(input[i])
}
}
output //=> [ 2, 4, 6 ]
Functional
const isEven = x => x % 2 === 0
const input = [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ]
const output = input.filter(isEven)
output //=> [ 2, 4, 6 ]
Reduce
reduce takes a list and returns any data structure. It could be another list or an object.
Simple
Imperative
const add = (x, y) => x + y
const input = [ 1, 2, 3 ]
const initial = 0
let output = initial
for (let i = 0; i < input.length; i++) {
output = add(output, input[i])
}
output //=> 6
Functional
const add = (x, y) => x + y
const input = [ 1, 2, 3 ]
const initial = 0
const output = input.reduce(add, initial)
output //=> 6
Complex
Imperative
const isEven = x => x % 2 === 0
const double = x => x * 2
const input = [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ]
const initial = []
let output = initial
for (let i = 0; i < input.length; i++) {
if (isEven(input[i])) {
output.push(double(input[i]))
}
}
output //=> [ 4, 8 ]
Functional
It could be written like (below) but know that it will iterate over the Array twice.
const isEven = x => x % 2 === 0
const double = x => x * 2
const input = [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ]
const initial = []
let output =
input
.filter(isEven)
.map(double)
output //=> [ 4, 8 ]
Alternatively, you can create a reducer that can both filter and map in a single iteration.
const isEven = x => x % 2 === 0
const double = x => x * 2
const input = [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ]
const initial = []
const reducer = (filter, map) => (acc, x) => {
if (filter(x)) {
acc.push(map(x))
}
return acc
}
const output = input.reduce(reducer(isEven, double), initial)
output //=> [ 4, 8 ]
End
I'm currently available for part time contract work (C#, JavaScript, React). Hit me up on Twitter or linkedin to get ahold of me.
My articles are very Functional JavaScript heavy, if you need more FP, follow me here, or on Twitter @joelnet!
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