Do You Know the Difference Between Imperative, Functional, and Reactive Programming?

Imperative, Functional, Functional Reactive: Do you know the difference?

Paradigms Imperative In the imperative approach, we have a sequence of instructions that describe step by step how the program’s state is modified. Let’s look on the example ⤵️ var value = 0 func increment() { value += 1 // Mutating the state } print(value) // 0 increment() print(value) // 1 In the code we have a mutable variable value and a function increment that mutates the state (value). We first print the initial value, then increment it, and finally print the updated value. ...

February 25, 2025 · 5 min · Maciej Gomolka

Imperative, Functional, Functional Reactive

Do You Know the Difference Between Imperative, Functional, and Reactive Programming? Test your understanding of imperative, functional, and functional reactive programming with this interactive quiz. These questions cover the key concepts from the main post to help you solidify your knowledge for your next interview. --- primary_color: green secondary_color: lightgray text_color: black shuffle_questions: false shuffle_answers: true --- # What is functional programming about? 1. [ ] Writing functions that may modify state as needed 1. [x] Avoiding side effects and state mutation 1. [ ] Relying on side effects to manage state transitions 1. [ ] Emphasizing object-oriented design patterns # In functional programming, why must functions avoid side effects? 1. [ ] To improve performance 1. [x] To prevent unpredictable state changes 1. [ ] To enable state mutation 1. [ ] To allow recursion # Which paradigm describes a sequence of instructions that modify the program’s state step by step? 1. [ ] Functional 1. [ ] Functional Reactive 1. [x] Imperative 1. [ ] Declarative # What is considered a side effect in a function? 1. [ ] Returning a computed value 1. [x] Modifying a variable outside its scope 1. [ ] Calling another pure function 1. [ ] Using recursion # How is state typically managed in functional programming? 1. [ ] By mutating global variables 1. [x] By transforming old state into new state 1. [ ] By ignoring state changes 1. [ ] By centralizing state in a single object # Which pattern is used by functional reactive programming? 1. [ ] Singleton 1. [ ] Factory 1. [ ] Delegate and Callback 1. [x] Publisher and Subscriber # What is the primary benefit of using pure functions? 1. [ ] They allow state mutations 1. [x] They are easier to test and debug 1. [ ] They increase code complexity 1. [ ] They require global variables # Examine the code below. Does it fully follow the functional programming principles? ```swift var value = 0 func increment(_ value: Int) -> Int { value + 1 } value = increment(value) print(value) ``` 1. [ ] Yes, it's correct 1. [ ] No, the function has side effects 1. [x] No, it mutates state by reassigning a mutable variable 1. [ ] No, it mutates the "value" variable inside the increment function Didn’t get the full result? No worries! All the answers are in the blog post HERE ...

Thinking emoji in the center, on two sides of the emoji, one option under consideration (left: flatMap, right: map + switchToLatests operators)

Combine: flatMap, map + switchToLatests (flatMapLatest) demystified

Intro Combine is a framework made by Apple designed to support us in writing code that could be way more complex if written in an imperative way. It’s often said that with great power comes great responsibility. Therefore, as developers, it’s essential for us to understand how to harness it, so it does not backfire. Today, we’re going to take a closer look 👀 at a few Combine operators, showcasing their practical application. ...

April 11, 2024 · 7 min · Maciej Gomolka