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Learn Functional Programming in Python

Gain insights into functional programming in Python, learn about functions as objects, recursion, closures, and generators, and discover how to confidently apply these concepts to your projects.

4.9

95 Lessons

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Learn to implement functional programming in Python.
Understand the pros and cons of functional programming in Python.
Master the ways to obtain function objects.
Grasp the concept of mutability and recursion in Python.
Acquire skill of using closures as function factories.
Learn to differentiate between iterators and iterables.
Become competent in creating, reducing, and transforming iterables.
Master list comprehensions and generator comprehensions.
Implement function composition and partial application.
Get familiar with functors, applicatives, and monads.

Learning Roadmap

95 Lessons12 Quizzes3 Assessments2 Challenges

Introduction

Get familiar with functional programming in Python, its characteristics, advantages, and challenges.

Introduction to Functional Programming

Programming Paradigms

Functional Programming and Its Characteristics

Advantages and Disadvantages of Functional Programming

Quiz: Functional Programming

Functions as Objects

Discover the logic behind treating functions as first-class objects in Python.

Objects and Variables in Python

Storing Function Reference in a Variable

Aliases

Functions as Parameters and Return Values

Lambda Functions

Function Versions of Standard Operators

Summary: Sources of Function Objects

Quiz: Functions as Objects

Mutability

6 Lessons

Break apart the concepts of mutability in Python, understanding both mutable and immutable objects.

Recursion

8 Lessons

Break down complex ideas in recursion, factorials, limits, memoization, and list flattening.

Functional Programming in Python - Exam 1

Assessment

Closures

8 Lessons

Deepen your knowledge of closures, combining functions, and using functions versus classes.

Iterators

13 Lessons

Focus on iterators, iterables, lazy evaluation, creating custom iterators, and built-in functions.

Transforming Iterables

9 Lessons

Build on Python functions like enumerate, zip, filter, and map for iterable transformations.

Reducing Iterables

7 Lessons

Step through Python's reducing functions to transform iterables into single outcomes efficiently.

Functional Programming in Python - Exam 2

Assessment

Comprehensions

5 Lessons

Get started with creating lists using comprehensions, conditions, and nested structures in Python.

10.

Generators

7 Lessons

Go hands-on with generators in Python, enhancing iterator creation and memory efficiency.

11.

Partial Application and Currying

10 Lessons

Grasp the fundamentals of closures, partial application, currying, and function composition in Python.

12.

Functors and Monads

6 Lessons

Deepen your knowledge of functors, applicative functors, and monads in functional programming.

Functional Programming in Python - Exam 3

Assessment

13.

Useful Libraries

2 Lessons

Simplify complex topics in Python with Itertools, Functools, PyMonad, and Oslash libraries.

14.

Conclusion

Build on your functional programming skills with key concepts and continued exploration.

Wrap Up!

Certificate of Completion

Showcase your accomplishment by sharing your certificate of completion.

Developed by MAANG Engineers

ABOUT THIS COURSE

The functional programming paradigm can be a powerful tool, especially as it can be integrated seamlessly with procedural and object-oriented code in Python. In this course, you’ll learn what functional programming is, how it’s used, and the features of Python that support it. To start, you’ll learn how functions act as objects, the role of mutability, and how to perform recursion. In the latter half of the course, you’ll focus on closures, iterables & iterators, generators, and more. Throughout the course will be three exams which will test your understanding and really drive home what you’ve learned. By the end, you’ll have a new programming paradigm to add under your belt and have the confidence to start using functional programming in your own projects.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Martin McBride

I am a software developer, specialising in computer graphics, sound, and mathematical programming. I have been writing code since the 1980s in a wide variety of languages from assembler through to C++, Java and Python.

Learn more about Martin

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