Fold (aka Reduce) is Functional Form of Loop (2025)
What is the Purpose of Fold (aka reduce) Function
Usually, we think Reduce is useful only for niche purposes, such as total a list of numbers.
Actually, reduce is a general way for any possible algorithm you can write with loop, but in a functional style.
It simply pass the state of last iteration to the function.
- for advanced coders. functional programing.
- how you document the function matters.
- i learned about reduce aka fold in wolfram lang since 1992.
- have used it diff language for 30 years.
- but only till recent years, i realized, it was a general purpose loop construct in functional programing style.
- Wolfram language has also FoldWhile.
- That is like reduce but with a condition to stop.
- this is superb.
- this is added only in 2020.
- you wont find it in other programing languages.