What is the difference between functors and monads?

What is the difference between functors and monads?

Functors and monads are both concepts in functional programming. A functor is a type that can be mapped over, allowing you to apply a function to values wrapped in a context. A monad, on the other hand, is a more powerful abstraction that allows for chaining operations while managing side effects.

Can you give me an example of a functor?

Sure! In Haskell, the Maybe type is a functor. You can use the fmap function to apply a function to the value inside a Maybe, if it exists.

What about an example of a monad?

An example of a monad is the IO type in Haskell. It allows you to perform input/output operations while maintaining a functional approach, chaining operations together using the >>= operator.

Why are monads considered more complex than functors?

Monads are considered more complex because they not only allow for mapping functions over values but also handle chaining and side effects, which introduces additional rules and structures, such as the bind operation.