What is functional programming in Python?

What is functional programming in Python?

Functional programming is a programming paradigm that treats computation as the evaluation of mathematical functions. In Python, it emphasizes the use of functions as first-class citizens, meaning you can pass them around as arguments, return them from other functions, and assign them to variables.

Can you give me an example of a higher-order function?

Sure! A higher-order function is a function that takes another function as an argument or returns a function. For example, the map() function applies a given function to all items in an iterable. Here's a simple example:

def square(x):
    return x * x

numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4]
squared_numbers = list(map(square, numbers))
print(squared_numbers)  # Output: [1, 4, 9, 16]

What are some benefits of using functional programming?

Some benefits include improved code readability, easier debugging, and enhanced modularity. Functional programming can also lead to fewer side effects, making your code more predictable.

How does Python support functional programming?

Python supports functional programming through features like first-class functions, higher-order functions, lambda expressions, and built-in functions like map(), filter(), and reduce().