Guide · Open source
How to use functional-programming-jargon: a guide to its FP glossary
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
functional-programming-jargon is an open-source glossary of terms used in functional programming, written for developers who know JavaScript. Each entry gives a short definition and a small ES2015 JavaScript example. This guide shows you how to find and read entries, how to use the interactive graph and translations, and when to look elsewhere.
functional-programming-jargonhemanth/functional-programming-jargon · ★ 18.7k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Decide if you need the glossary. Use it when you meet an unfamiliar FP term. It is a reference of short definitions, not a course.
- 2Open the online version. Visit the interactive graph at hemanth.github.io/functional-programming-jargon. No install is needed.
- 3Clone the repository if you want local files. Run git clone https://github.com/hemanth/functional-programming-jargon to get a copy of the README and glossary.
- 4Find your term in the table of contents. Scroll the list of terms, such as Closure, Currying or Monad, and open the entry.
- 5Read the definition and the JavaScript example. Check the short definition, then trace the ES2015 example to see the term in code.
- 6Follow the further reading links. Use the linked Wikipedia pages or discussions when you want more depth on a term.
- 7Switch language if needed. Pick a translation from the README list if you want the glossary in another language.
What the project is and who it is for
The README describes the project as a glossary of functional programming vocabulary, such as closure, currying, monad and functor. Its goal is to make learning functional programming easier by explaining its jargon.
It suits developers who know JavaScript and keep meeting FP terms in libraries or articles, and students starting out with FP concepts. It is a reference of short definitions, not a full course, and it is not a tool you install.
- Good fit: quick term lookups while reading FP code or articles
- Good fit: a first vocabulary pass for students
- Not a fit: a step-by-step course or full tutorial
- Not a fit: readers who do not know JavaScript, since examples are in JavaScript
Get a copy of the repository
Nothing needs to be installed. The README lists no prerequisites. If you want a local copy of the files, clone the repository with the command below.
You can also read the glossary online without cloning, using the interactive graph version linked from the README.
git clone https://github.com/hemanth/functional-programming-jargonRead an entry and its example
The glossary is organised as a list of terms, each with a heading, a short definition and a JavaScript example. The table of contents lists terms in the order they appear, from Arity and Closure through to Functional Programming Libraries in JavaScript.
Read the definition first, then trace the example line by line. For instance, the Closure entry shows addTo returning a function that keeps x = 5, so addToFive(3) returns 8. Entries often link to further reading such as Wikipedia pages or discussions.
- Start with terms you keep seeing, such as Closure, Currying or Function Composition
- Follow cross-links, for example Partial Application points to Currying
- Use the Table of Contents to jump to a term
const addTo = x => y => x + y
const addToFive = addTo(5)
addToFive(3) // => 8Compare related terms side by side
Several terms are close in meaning, so reading them together helps. The README's Currying entry shows a curried sum, while Auto Currying describes a version that returns a function until enough arguments arrive. Partial Application is about pre-filling some arguments.
The Partial Application entry shows a partial helper and Function.prototype.bind as two ways to pre-fill arguments. Compare these with the Currying example to see the difference.
- Currying: one argument at a time
- Partial Application: pre-fill some arguments of an existing function
- Auto Currying: returns a function until the full argument count is passed, as with Lodash and Ramda's curry
const add3 = (a, b, c) => a + b + c
const add1More = add3.bind(null, 2, 3)Use the interactive graph and translations
The README links an interactive graph version at hemanth.github.io/functional-programming-jargon. It also lists translations into many languages, including Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Polish, French, Python World, Scala World, Rust World and Julia World.
If you want to read FP terms in your own language, pick the matching translation from the README list. These translations are separate projects maintained by other authors.
- Interactive Graph: hemanth.github.io/functional-programming-jargon
- Translations are listed in the README under Translations
Know the terms are drawn from the Fantasy Land spec
The README says that, where applicable, the document uses terms defined in the Fantasy Land spec. If you later read code that follows that spec, the glossary's definitions are the ones to match against.
Entries such as Monoid, Functor and Setoid are part of the wider FP vocabulary covered in the glossary, so this link helps when you move between the glossary and library documentation.
What people use it for
- Looking up closure or currying while reading a JavaScript FP library's source
- Checking what a term like functor or monad means before reading an FP article
- Studying the difference between Partial Application and Currying for a class
- Reading FP terms in Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese or another listed translation
Frequently asked questions
How do I install functional-programming-jargon?
You do not install it as software. The README gives one command to clone the repository, git clone https://github.com/hemanth/functional-programming-jargon, or you can read it online at the interactive graph.
Is functional-programming-jargon free to use?
The project is released under the MIT licence, according to the listing. You can read and use it as the licence allows.
What do I need to run functional-programming-jargon?
The README lists no prerequisites. The examples are in JavaScript (ES2015), so basic JavaScript knowledge helps you read them.
Is there a tutorial or course for functional programming?
No. The project is a glossary of short definitions and examples, not a full tutorial or course. It is best used as a reference alongside other learning material.
Can I read the glossary in another language?
Yes. The README lists translations including Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Polish, French, and several language-specific World versions such as Python World and Rust World.
Are there alternatives to functional-programming-jargon?
The listing states no comparable projects. Its README mentions the Fantasy Land spec, which the glossary uses for some terms, and links the interactive graph version.
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Our verdict
Use functional-programming-jargon if you know JavaScript and need quick, clear definitions of FP terms while reading code or articles. Pick a full course or tutorial instead if you want to learn functional programming step by step from the beginning.
Install options & downloads