← Back to Topics

Anonymous Functions Debate

The cluster centers on discussions about the pros and cons of nameless or anonymous functions versus named functions, first-class functions treated as values, and related concepts like Uniform Function Call Syntax.

📉 Falling 0.5x Programming Languages
6,899
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#4975
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
19
2008
40
2009
118
2010
166
2011
225
2012
285
2013
393
2014
426
2015
401
2016
384
2017
438
2018
396
2019
410
2020
453
2021
488
2022
518
2023
645
2024
531
2025
539
2026
24

Top Contributors

kazinator (34) eru (30) masklinn (30) lmm (22) steveklabnik (21)

Keywords

RFC UFCS www.php loom.cc wikipedia.org IO function functions behavior returned class understood signature calling proposal add

Sample Comments

seniorsassycat • Feb 15, 2014 • View on HN

What are the best practices for assigning functions to variables?

andrewcooke • Dec 12, 2009 • View on HN

you're right. i should have said "first class functions" (which narrows the field somewhat).

tuespetre • Aug 16, 2018 • View on HN

Am... am I a function? Oh my god

xyst • Apr 25, 2020 • View on HN

how about "single function" instead?

Kalanos • Jan 26, 2022 • View on HN

never understood why this was better/ how it was different from regular functions. just seems like bugs/vulns waiting to happen

pseudalopex • Aug 25, 2017 • View on HN

What's rough about giving a function a name?

anentropic • Sep 28, 2018 • View on HN

How exactly does not naming your functions make your code more powerful and less complex?

samatman • May 28, 2020 • View on HN

Sounds like you would enjoy Uniform Function Call Syntax!https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Function_Call_Syntax

twistedpair • Apr 30, 2014 • View on HN

First class functions blow many peoples' minds.

wtetzner • Oct 12, 2017 • View on HN

No, it's just some sugar over plain old functions.