What is Partial Application?
Partial application is the process of fixing a number of arguments to a function, producing another function of smaller arity (number of arguments). Unlike currying, partial application involves fixing a subset of arguments of a function and returning a new function with those arguments already set.
Understanding partial application practically
In the below implementation, the partial application is explained practically with the help of the JavaScript code.
function greet(greeting, name) {
return `${greeting}, ${name}!`;
}
const greetHello = greet.
bind(null, "Hello");
console.log(greetHello("Alice"));
Output
Hello, Alice!
Applications and features of partial application
- Creating specialized functions: Partial application allows for creating specialized versions of functions by fixing certain arguments, which can be useful in scenarios where certain arguments are often repeated.
- Code simplification: It simplifies code by reducing the need for redundant argument passing, especially when some arguments are fixed for multiple function calls.
- Improved readability: Partial application can improve code readability by making function calls more concise and focused on the specific task at hand.
Currying vs Partial Application in JavaScript
Currying and partial application are both techniques used in functional programming languages to manipulate functions. They both involve breaking down functions with multiple arguments into functions that take fewer arguments. However, they have subtle differences in their implementation and applications.
Table of Content
- What is Currying?
- What is Partial Application?
- Difference between currying and partial application
- Conclusion