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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.

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Overview

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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.

The functional programming paradigm can be a powerful tool, especially as it can be integrated seamlessly with procedural and ob...Show More

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

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.

Learn to implement functional programming in Python.

TAKEAWAY SKILLS

Recursion

Functional Programming

Mutability

Closures

Iterators

Transforming Iterables

Reducing Iterables

Comprehensions

Generators

Partial Application

Currying

Functors

Monads

Content

95 Lessons12 Quizzes3 Assessments2 Challenges

Introduction

5 Lessons

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

8 Lessons

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.

Mutability in Python

The Problem With Mutable Objects: Accidental Modification

Changing Immutable Objects

The Problem With Immutable Objects

Summary: Mutability in Python

Quiz: Mutability in Python

Recursion

8 Lessons

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

Introducing Recursion

Factorials

Recursion Limits and Tail Recursion

Inefficient Recursion: Fibonacci Numbers

Functional Programming in Python - Exam 1

Assessment

Closures

8 Lessons

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

What Is a Closure?

Creating Anonymous Functions

Composing Functions

Using Closures Instead of Classes

Using Classes Instead of Closures

Closure Inspection

Summary: Closures

Quiz: Closures

Iterators

13 Lessons

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

What Is an Iterator?

Iterables and For Loops

Iterators vs Iterables

Iterators Use Lazy Evaluation

Sequences

Realising an Iterator

Unpacking an Iterable

Creating Your Own Iterator

Exercise: Create a Fibonacci Iterator

Solution Review: Create a Fibonacci Iterator

Built-In Functions

Summary: Iterators

Quiz: Iterators

Transforming Iterables

9 Lessons

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

Zip

Map

Summary: Transforming Iterables

Quiz: Transforming Iterables

Reducing Iterables

7 Lessons

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

Min

Summary: Reducing Iterables

Quiz: Reducing Iterables

Functional Programming in Python - Exam 2

Assessment

Comprehensions

5 Lessons

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

List Comprehensions

List Comprehensions Using Conditions

Nested Comprehensions

Summary: Comprehensions

Quiz: Comprehensions

10.

Generators

7 Lessons

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

How a Generator Works: Alphabet Iterator

Exercise: Generator for Fibonacci Numbers

Solution Review: Generator for Fibonacci Numbers

Chaining Iterators

Generator Comprehensions

Summary: Generators

Quiz: Generators

11.

Partial Application and Currying

10 Lessons

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

Closures and Partial Application

Partial Application With functools.partial

Applying Keyword Arguments

Currying

When to Use Currying?

Composition

Creating a Compose Function

Libraries Supporting Composition

Summary: Partial Application and Currying

Quiz: Partial Application and Currying

12.

Functors and Monads

6 Lessons

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

Introducing Functors, Applicatives, and Monads

Functors

Applicative Functors

Monads

Summary: Functors and Monads

Quiz: Functors and Monads

Functional Programming in Python - Exam 3

Assessment

13.

Useful Libraries

2 Lessons

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

Itertools

Functools, PyMonad, and Oslash

14.

Conclusion

1 Lessons

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.

Course Author:

Martin McBride

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