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<programming> In functional programming, a property of a function which allows it to be combined with other functions in a way that eliminates intermediate data structures, especially lists.
Phil Wadler's thesis gives the conditions for a function to be in listless form: each input list is traversed only once, one element at a time, from left to right. Each output list is generated once, one element at a time, from left to right. No other lists are generated or traversed.
Not all functions can be expressed in listless form (e.g. reverse).
(1995-02-22)
Nearby terms: list « list comprehension « List Enhanced « listless » Listproc » lists » Listserv
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