What are monads in functional programming?

What are monads in functional programming?

Monads are design patterns used to handle side effects and manage state in functional programming. They encapsulate values and provide a way to chain operations.

Can you give me an example of a monad?

Sure! The Maybe monad is a common example. It represents a value that might be present or absent, allowing safe operations without null checks.

How do monads help with side effects?

Monads help manage side effects by providing a controlled way to sequence operations, ensuring that side effects are handled in a predictable manner.

Are there different types of monads?

Yes, there are several types of monads, including Maybe, Either, and IO monads, each serving different purposes in functional programming.

How do I implement a monad in Haskell?

To implement a monad in Haskell, you need to define a type, implement the 'bind' and 'return' functions, and ensure they follow the monad laws.