How can I implement partial application and function currying in Go?

Unleashing Go's Functional Power: Exploring Partial Application and Function Currying

In the realm of functional programming, partial application and function currying are powerful techniques that enable the creation of reusable and adaptable functions. This article delves into how these concepts can be implemented in Go, shedding light on their capabilities and practical applications.

Partial Application in Go

Partial application is the technique of creating a new function by providing some but not all of the arguments of an existing function. In Go, partial application can be achieved by using closures, as demonstrated in the following example:

package main

import "fmt"

func main() {
    add := func(a, b int) int {
        return a + b
    }

    // Partially applied function with argument 'a' bound to 2
    add2 := func(b int) int {
        return add(2, b)
    }

    fmt.Println(add2(5)) // Output: 7
}

In this example, the add2 function is created by partially applying the add function with the first argument fixed to 2. The resulting add2 function takes only one argument and returns the sum of it and 2.

Function Currying in Go

Function currying is a technique where a function that accepts multiple arguments is transformed into a series of nested functions, each accepting fewer arguments. Go supports function currying through the use of closures, as seen in the example below:

package main

import "fmt"

func addCurried(a int) func(b int) func(c int) int {
    return func(b int) func(c int) int {
        return func(c int) int {
            return a + b + c
        }
    }
}

func main() {
    add3 := addCurried(1)(2) // Curried function add3 = 1 + 2 + ?

    fmt.Println(add3(3)) // Output: 6
}

Here, the addCurried function returns a series of nested functions that gradually accept fewer arguments. The final nested function, add3, takes only one argument and returns the sum of it, 2, and 1.

Understanding partial application and function currying in Go empowers developers with the ability to create reusable functions that adapt to varying input requirements. By harnessing these techniques, Go can embrace the flexibility and modularity of functional programming, enriching its capabilities for complex problem-solving.

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