Functional Programming Interview Questions

Checkout Vskills Interview questions with answers in Functional Programming to prepare for your next job role. The questions are submitted by professionals to help you to prepare for the Interview.

Q.1 What is Functional Programming (FP)?

Functional Programming is a programming paradigm that treats computation as the evaluation of mathematical functions and avoids changing-state and mutable data.

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Q.2 What are the key principles of FP?

Key principles include immutability, first-class and higher-order functions, and declarative style.

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Q.3 Explain immutability in FP.

Immutability means once a data structure is created, it cannot be changed. Any updates result in a new structure.

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Q.4 What are first-class functions in FP?

First-class functions treat functions as first-class citizens, allowing them to be assigned to variables, passed as arguments, and returned from other functions.

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Q.5 What is a higher-order function in FP?

A higher-order function is a function that takes one or more functions as arguments or returns a function as its result.

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Q.6 Explain pure functions in FP.

Pure functions return the same output for the same input and have no side effects. They rely only on their input parameters.

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Q.7 What is referential transparency?

Referential transparency means that a function's result can be replaced with its value without changing the program's behavior.

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Q.8 What are side effects in FP, and why should they be minimized?

Side effects are changes that a function makes to its environment. Minimizing them ensures predictability and testability.

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Q.9 What is recursion, and why is it important in FP?

Recursion is a technique where a function calls itself. It's important in FP for solving problems iteratively without mutable state.

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Q.10 Explain pattern matching in FP.

Pattern matching involves matching data structures against a pattern and extracting components. It's commonly used in languages like Haskell.

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Q.11 What is currying, and how is it used in FP?

Currying is the process of transforming a function that takes multiple arguments into a series of functions that each take a single argument.

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Q.12 What are closures in FP, and why are they useful?

Closures are functions that "close over" their lexical scope, preserving the environment in which they were defined. They enable data encapsulation and higher-order functions.

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Q.13 Explain tail recursion and its importance.

Tail recursion is a specific form of recursion where the recursive call is the last operation in a function. It can be optimized by some compilers/interpreters, reducing stack usage.

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Q.14 What is lazy evaluation, and how does it work?

Lazy evaluation delays the evaluation of an expression until its value is actually needed, allowing for more efficient and potentially infinite data structures.

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Q.15 What is a monad in FP?

A monad is a design pattern used to manage side effects in a pure and composable way. It provides methods for sequencing computations.

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Q.16 Explain the concept of higher-kinded types in FP.

Higher-kinded types are type constructors that take other type constructors as arguments, enabling more generic and reusable code.

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Q.17 What is function composition, and why is it useful?

Function composition combines two or more functions to produce a new function. It's useful for creating complex transformations from simpler ones.

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Q.18 What is a functor in FP?

A functor is a type that can be mapped over using a function, preserving its structure while applying the function to its elements.

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Q.19 What is a monoid in FP?

A monoid is a set equipped with an associative binary operation and an identity element, often used in functional programming for combining values.

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Q.20 Explain the concept of category theory in FP.

Category theory provides abstract mathematical structures for understanding and reasoning about functions and transformations in FP.

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Q.21 What is memoization, and how can it optimize functions?

Memoization is a technique where a function's results are cached for specific inputs, avoiding redundant calculations and improving performance.

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Q.22 What is the difference between imperative and declarative programming?

Imperative programming focuses on how to achieve a result, while declarative programming focuses on what the result should be. FP is declarative.

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Q.23 What is the "map" function, and how is it used in FP?

The "map" function applies a given function to each element in a list or collection, returning a new collection with the transformed values.

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Q.24 What is the "filter" function, and how is it used in FP?

The "filter" function selects elements from a collection based on a given predicate, returning a new collection with the filtered values.

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Q.25 Explain the "reduce" function and its purpose in FP.

The "reduce" function combines elements of a collection into a single value using a binary function, often used for aggregation and summarization.

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Q.26 What is the difference between "map" and "foreach" in FP?

Map transforms a collection and returns a new one, while "foreach" performs an action on each element without modifying the collection.

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Q.27 What are lambda expressions (anonymous functions) in FP?

Lambda expressions are unnamed functions used to create short, disposable functions for specific tasks, often passed as arguments to higher-order functions.

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Q.28 How does FP handle error handling and exceptions differently from imperative programming?

FP typically uses algebraic data types, "Either," or "Option" types to represent and handle errors in a more structured and predictable way.

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Q.29 What is tail call optimization (TCO), and why is it important in FP?

TCO is an optimization technique that allows recursive functions to use a constant amount of stack space, preventing stack overflow errors.

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Q.30 Explain the concept of monad transformers in FP.

Monad transformers allow combining multiple monads to handle different effects, providing a modular approach to effectful computations.

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Q.31 What are algebraic data types (ADTs) in FP, and how are they defined?

ADTs define data structures using constructors and can be used to create complex, pattern-matched types.

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Q.32 What is referential transparency, and why is it important in FP?

Referential transparency ensures that a function's behavior is consistent and predictable, simplifying reasoning and testing.

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Q.33 Explain the concept of memoization in FP.

Memoization involves caching function results for specific inputs, reducing redundant computations and improving performance.

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Q.34 What is the difference between eager and lazy evaluation in FP?

Eager evaluation computes values immediately, while lazy evaluation delays computation until values are needed, enabling more efficient and infinite data structures.

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Q.35 What is the difference between a monoid and a semigroup in FP?

A monoid has an identity element, while a semigroup does not. Both have an associative binary operation.

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Q.36 What is a functor, and how does it relate to "map" in FP?

A functor is a type that can be mapped over using a function, similar to the "map" operation, which applies a function to elements inside the functor.

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Q.37 How does currying relate to partial application in FP?

Currying transforms a function that takes multiple arguments into a series of unary functions. Partial application applies a function to some of its arguments, returning a new function.

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Q.38 Explain the concept of function purity in FP.

Function purity means that a function's output depends solely on its input, with no side effects or external dependencies.

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Q.39 What is a monad, and how does it address side effects in FP?

A monad is a design pattern used to manage side effects by encapsulating them in a controlled manner, ensuring a pure and composable codebase.

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Q.40 What is the "Reader" monad, and how is it used in FP?

The "Reader" monad allows passing a shared environment (configuration or context) to functions without explicitly threading it through every function call.

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Q.41 What is the "State" monad, and how is it used in FP?

The "State" monad models stateful computations, allowing functions to read and modify a shared state in a controlled manner.

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Q.42 Explain the concept of type classes in FP.

Type classes define a set of functions that can be implemented for different types, providing ad-hoc polymorphism and code reuse in a type-safe manner.

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Q.43 What is parametric polymorphism, and how does it relate to generics in FP?

Parametric polymorphism allows functions and data structures to be generic over types, similar to generics in languages like Java or C#.

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Q.44 How can you achieve parallelism in FP?

Parallelism can be achieved by breaking down tasks into smaller units and executing them concurrently using constructs like "map" and "reduce."

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Q.45 What is function currying, and how does it work?

Function currying transforms a function that takes multiple arguments into a series of unary functions, each taking a single argument, simplifying partial application.

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Q.46 What are "type inference" and "type annotations" in FP?

Type inference automatically deduces the types of expressions, while type annotations provide explicit type information in code, enhancing safety and clarity.

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Q.47 What is the "Maybe" type, and how is it used for optional values in FP?

The "Maybe" type represents values that may or may not be present, providing a safe and explicit way to handle optional values.

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Q.48 How does FP handle concurrency and parallelism differently from imperative programming?

FP relies on immutability and functional constructs to manage state, making concurrent and parallel code less error-prone.

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Q.49 What is the purpose of the "fold" operation in FP?

The "fold" operation is used to reduce a collection to a single value by applying a binary function in a specified order. It's often used for aggregation and summarization.

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Q.50 What is the "Applicative" type class, and how is it used in FP?

The "Applicative" type class extends functors, providing a way to apply functions inside a context (e.g., "Maybe" or "Either") to values inside the same context.

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Q.51 What is the "Haskell" programming language, and why is it notable in FP?

Haskell is a purely functional, statically typed language known for its strong type system and advanced features for functional programming.

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Q.52 Explain the concept of "point-free" style in FP.

Point-free style focuses on defining functions without explicitly mentioning their arguments, using composition and higher-order functions.

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Q.53 What is the "IO" monad, and how does it handle input/output in FP?

The "IO" monad is used to model side effects, such as reading from or writing to external resources, in a pure and controlled manner.

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Q.54 How does memoization improve the efficiency of recursive functions in FP?

Memoization caches function results, avoiding redundant computations for the same inputs, which can significantly improve performance for recursive functions.

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Q.55 What are the advantages and disadvantages of using immutability in FP?

Advantages include predictability and testability, while disadvantages include potential performance overhead.

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Q.56 Explain the concept of "partial application" in FP.

Partial application involves applying a function to some of its arguments, creating a new function with fewer parameters. It's useful for creating specialized functions.

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Q.57 What is the "Writer" monad, and how is it used in FP?

The "Writer" monad is used for computations that produce a log or accumulate values alongside the main computation, allowing side-effect tracking.

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Q.58 What is the "Free" monad, and how can it simplify complex control flow in FP?

The "Free" monad abstracts control flow and allows constructing complex computations in a modular and interpretable way, separating concerns.

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Q.59 How does memoization contribute to time and space complexity in FP?

Memoization improves time complexity by avoiding redundant calculations but may increase space complexity due to caching.

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Q.60 Explain the concept of "function lifting" in FP.

Function lifting transforms a function that operates on values into a function that operates on functors, enabling operations on values within a context.

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Q.61 What are "monad laws," and why are they important in FP?

Monad laws are a set of properties that monads should satisfy, ensuring predictable and lawful behavior when working with monadic code.

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Q.62 How is type inference used to infer types in FP languages?

Type inference automatically deduces the types of expressions and variables in the absence of explicit type annotations, enhancing code conciseness.

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Q.63 Explain the concept of "fold left" and "fold right" operations in FP.

Fold left accumulates values from the left to the right in a collection, while "fold right" accumulates values from the right to the left.

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Q.64 What is a "thunk," and how is it used in lazy evaluation in FP?

A thunk is a delayed computation that is not evaluated until its result is needed, enabling lazy evaluation and potentially improving performance.

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Q.65 What is the role of "type classes" in type systems of FP languages?

Type classes define sets of operations that can be implemented for various types, enabling ad-hoc polymorphism and type-safe generic code.

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Q.66 Explain the concept of "pattern matching" and its advantages in FP.

Pattern matching allows matching data structures against patterns and extracting components, making code concise, readable, and error-resistant.

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Q.67 What is the "Reader" monad, and how does it facilitate dependency injection in FP?

The "Reader" monad provides a way to pass shared environment or configuration to functions without explicit parameter passing, improving modularity.

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Q.68 How does "function composition" simplify code in FP?

Function composition combines functions to create new ones, reducing the need for intermediate variables and making code more concise and declarative.

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Q.69 Explain the concept of "functor laws" and why they are important in FP.

Functor laws define properties that functors should satisfy, ensuring consistent behavior when mapping functions over data structures.

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Q.70 What is the purpose of "monadic error handling" in FP?

Monadic error handling allows for composing functions that return error-prone results while maintaining referential transparency and avoiding exceptions.

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Q.71 How can "tail recursion" optimize recursive functions in FP?

Tail recursion optimization ensures that recursive calls are the last operation in a function, preventing stack overflow errors and enabling efficient recursion.

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Q.72 What is the "Applicative" type class, and how is it used for concurrent computations in FP?

The "Applicative" type class allows applying functions inside a context (e.g., "Future" or "Task") to values inside the same context, enabling concurrent operations.

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Q.73 How does "monad transformers" help combine multiple monads in FP?

Monad transformers provide a way to combine the effects of multiple monads into a single monad, allowing for modular and composable code.

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Q.74 What are "algebraic data types" (ADTs) in FP, and how are they defined?

ADTs define data structures using constructors and can be used to create complex and pattern-matched types, ensuring type safety.

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Q.75 What is "referential transparency," and how does it impact code in FP?

Referential transparency ensures that a function's result can be replaced with its value without changing the program's behavior, simplifying reasoning.

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Q.76 How does "memoization" improve the efficiency of recursive functions in FP?

Memoization caches function results for specific inputs, reducing redundant computations and improving the performance of recursive functions.

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Q.77 What are the advantages and disadvantages of using "immutability" in FP?

Advantages include predictability and testability, while disadvantages include potential performance overhead.

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Q.78 Explain the concept of "partial application" in FP.

Partial application involves applying a function to some of its arguments, creating a new function with fewer parameters. It's useful for creating specialized functions.

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Q.79 What is the "Writer" monad, and how is it used for logging in FP?

The "Writer" monad is used for computations that produce logs or accumulate values alongside the main computation, enabling side-effect tracking.

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Q.80 What is the "Free" monad, and how can it simplify complex control flow in FP?

The "Free" monad abstracts control flow and allows constructing complex computations in a modular and interpretable way, separating concerns.

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Q.81 How does memoization contribute to time and space complexity in FP?

Memoization improves time complexity by avoiding redundant calculations but may increase space complexity due to caching.

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Q.82 Explain the concept of "function lifting" in FP.

Function lifting transforms a function that operates on values into a function that operates on functors, enabling operations on values within a context.

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Q.83 What are "monad laws," and why are they important in FP?

Monad laws are a set of properties that monads should satisfy, ensuring predictable and lawful behavior when working with monadic code.

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Q.84 How is type inference used to infer types in FP languages?

Type inference automatically deduces the types of expressions and variables in the absence of explicit type annotations, enhancing code conciseness.

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Q.85 Explain the concept of "fold left" and "fold right" operations in FP.

Fold left accumulates values from the left to the right in a collection, while "fold right" accumulates values from the right to the left.

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Q.86 What is a "thunk," and how is it used in lazy evaluation in FP?

A thunk is a delayed computation that is not evaluated until its result is needed, enabling lazy evaluation and potentially improving performance.

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Q.87 What is the role of "type classes" in type systems of FP languages?

Type classes define sets of operations that can be implemented for various types, enabling ad-hoc polymorphism and type-safe generic code.

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Q.88 Explain the concept of "pattern matching" and its advantages in FP.

Pattern matching allows matching data structures against patterns and extracting components, making code concise, readable, and error-resistant.

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Q.89 What is the "Reader" monad, and how does it facilitate dependency injection in FP?

The "Reader" monad provides a way to pass shared environment or configuration to functions without explicit parameter passing, improving modularity.

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Q.90 How does "function composition" simplify code in FP?

Function composition combines functions to create new ones, reducing the need for intermediate variables and making code more concise and declarative.

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Q.91 Explain the concept of "functor laws" and why they are important in FP.

Functor laws define properties that functors should satisfy, ensuring consistent behavior when mapping functions over data structures.

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Q.92 What is the purpose of "monadic error handling" in FP?

Monadic error handling allows for composing functions that return error-prone results while maintaining referential transparency and avoiding exceptions.

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Q.93 How can "tail recursion" optimize recursive functions in FP?

Tail recursion optimization ensures that recursive calls are the last operation in a function, preventing stack overflow errors and enabling efficient recursion.

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Q.94 What is the "Applicative" type class, and how is it used for concurrent computations in FP?

The "Applicative" type class allows applying functions inside a context (e.g., "Future" or "Task") to values inside the same context, enabling concurrent operations.

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Q.95 How does "monad transformers" help combine multiple monads in FP?

Monad transformers provide a way to combine the effects of multiple monads into a single monad, allowing for modular and composable code.

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Q.96 What are "algebraic data types" (ADTs) in FP, and how are they defined?

ADTs define data structures using constructors and can be used to create complex and pattern-matched types, ensuring type safety.

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Q.97 What is "referential transparency," and how does it impact code in FP?

Referential transparency ensures that a function's result can be replaced with its value without changing the program's behavior, simplifying reasoning.

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Q.98 How does "memoization" improve the efficiency of recursive functions in FP?

Memoization caches function results for specific inputs, reducing redundant computations and improving the performance of recursive functions.

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Q.99 What are the advantages and disadvantages of using "immutability" in FP?

Advantages include predictability and testability, while disadvantages include potential performance overhead.

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Q.100 Explain the concept of "partial application" in FP.

Partial application involves applying a function to some of its arguments, creating a new function with fewer parameters. It's useful for creating specialized functions.

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Q.101 What is the "Writer" monad, and how is it used for logging in FP?

The "Writer" monad is used for computations that produce logs or accumulate values alongside the main computation, enabling side-effect tracking.

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Q.102 What is the "Free" monad, and how can it simplify complex control flow in FP?

The "Free" monad abstracts control flow and allows constructing complex computations in a modular and interpretable way, separating concerns.

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Q.103 How does memoization contribute to time and space complexity in FP?

Memoization improves time complexity by avoiding redundant calculations but may increase space complexity due to caching.

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Q.104 Explain the concept of "function lifting" in FP.

Function lifting transforms a function that operates on values into a function that operates on functors, enabling operations on values within a context.

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Q.105 What are "monad laws," and why are they important in FP?

Monad laws are a set of properties that monads should satisfy, ensuring predictable and lawful behavior when working with monadic code.

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Q.106 How is type inference used to infer types in FP languages?

Type inference automatically deduces the types of expressions and variables in the absence of explicit type annotations, enhancing code conciseness.

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Q.107 Explain the concept of "fold left" and "fold right" operations in FP.

Fold left accumulates values from the left to the right in a collection, while "fold right" accumulates values from the right to the left.

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Q.108 What is a "thunk," and how is it used in lazy evaluation in FP?

A thunk is a delayed computation that is not evaluated until its result is needed, enabling lazy evaluation and potentially improving performance.

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Q.109 What is the role of "type classes" in type systems of FP languages?

Type classes define sets of operations that can be implemented for various types, enabling ad-hoc polymorphism and type-safe generic code.

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Q.110 Explain the concept of "pattern matching" and its advantages in FP.

Pattern matching allows matching data structures against patterns and extracting components, making code concise, readable, and error-resistant.

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