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The Wolfram Language:
Fast Introduction for Programmers

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Applying Functions Video Version

It's very common to want to "map" a function over multiple expressions:

In[1]:=1
Map[f, {a, b, c, d}]
Out[1]=1

Notes for Python programmers:

Map in the Wolfram Language is like map in Python, except that it can operate on arbitrary expression trees of any depth.


/@ ("slash at") is a short notation for Map:

In[2]:=2
f /@ {a, b, c, d}
Out[2]=2

Notes for Java programmers:

Map in the Wolfram Language works similarly to the Stream.map method in Java, except that Map can be applied to any kind of expression.


This uses a pure function:

In[3]:=3
{#, #} & /@ {a, b, c, d}
Out[3]=3

Apply applies a function to multiple arguments:

In[1]:=1
Apply[f, {a, b, c, d}]
Out[1]=1

Notes for Python programmers:

Apply in the Wolfram Language is similar to the unpacking operator * in Python.


Expressions have "levels"—corresponding to the number of indices needed to extract a part. Functions like Map can operate at specific levels.

Notes for Java programmers:

"Levels" are another name for dimensions of an array, but generalized for all symbolic expressions. Multi-dimensional operations like this are not built into Java and would normally require loops.

Notes for Python programmers:

"Levels" are like dimensions of an array, but generalized for all symbolic expressions. Python's array functions are typically set up only for one-dimensional arrays.

Map defaults to operate at level 1:

In[1]:=1
Map[f, {{a, b}, {c, d}}]
Out[1]=1

This operates only at level 2:

In[2]:=2
Map[f, {{a, b}, {c, d}}, {2}]
Out[2]=2

@@ is equivalent to Apply, operating by default at level 0:

In[1]:=1
f @@ {{a, b}, {c, d}}
Out[1]=1

@@@ means "apply at level 1":

In[2]:=2
f @@@ {{a, b}, {c, d}}
Out[2]=2

@ means ordinary function application:

In[3]:=3
f@x
Out[3]=3

Which expression evaluates to g[{a, b, c}]?


Which one of these expressions evaluates to {{f[a], f[b]}, {f[c], f[d]}}?


Which of the following evaluates to {{{f[a], f[b]}}, {{f[c], f[d]}}}?

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