Function notation¶
Function notation enables the definition of functions. Function notation is also known as the lambda notation and the defined functions as lambdas.
Anonymity
Although the term lambda originated elsewhere as a name for an anonymous function, we use it to denote any function defined using the lambda notation.
In this usage a lambda assigned a name is still a lambda.
For example, if plus:{x+y}, then plus is a lambda.
Lambdas have datatype 100.
A lambda is defined as a pair of braces (curly brackets) enclosing an optional signature (a list of up to 8 argument names) followed by a zero or more expressions separated by semicolons.
Signature¶
q){[a;b] a2:a*a; b2:b*b; a2+b2+2*a*b}[20;4] / binary function
576Functions with 3 or fewer arguments may omit the signature and instead use default argument names x, y and z.
A lambda with a signature is signed; without, unsigned.
q){[x;y](x*x)+(y*y)+2*x*y}[20;4] / signed lambda
576
q){(x*x)+(y*y)+2*x*y}[20;4] / unsigned lambda
576Use x, y, and z only as names of the first three arguments
Using other names for the first arguments of a lambda often helps the reader. But using x, y, or z for any other argument sows confusion.
Rank¶
The rank of a function is the number of arguments it takes.
The rank of a signed lambda is the number of names in its signature.
The rank of an unsigned lambda is the here highest-numbered of the three default argument names x (1), y (2) and z (3) used in the function definition.
{[h;l;o;c].5*(h-l;c-o)} / rank 4
{x+y*10} / rank 2
{x+z*10} / rank 3Result¶
The result of the lambda is the result of the last statement evaluated. If the last statement is empty, the result is the generic null, which is not displayed.
q)f:{2*x;} / last statement is empty
q)f 10 / no result shown
q)(::)~f 10 / matches generic null
1bExplicit return¶
To terminate evaluation successfully and return a value, use an empty assignment, which is : with a value to its right and no variable to its left.
q)c:0
q)f:{a:6;b:7;:a*b;c::98}
q)f 0
42
q)c
0Abort¶
To abort evaluation immediately, use Signal, which is ' with a value to its right.
q)c:0
q)g:{a:6;b:7;'`TheEnd;c::98}
q)g 0
{a:6;b:7;'`TheEnd;c::98}
'TheEnd
q)c
0Name scope¶
Within the context of a function,
- name assignments with
:are local to it and end after evaluation - assignments with
::are global (in the session root) and persist after evaluation unless the name assigned is an argument or already defined as a local
q)a:b:0 / set globals a and b to 0
q)f:{a:10+3*x;b::100+a;} / f sets local a, global b
q)f 1 2 3 / apply f
q)a / global a is unchanged
0
q)b / global b is updated
113 116 119
q)b:42
q){[a;b]b::99;a+b}[10;20] / assignment is local
109
q)b
42
q){b:x=y;b::99;x+b}[10;20] / assignment is local
109
q)b
42References to names not assigned locally are resolved in the session root. Local assignments are strictly local: invisible to other functions applied during evaluation.
q)a:42 / assigned in root
q)f:{a+x}
q)f 1 / f reads a in root
43
q){a:1000;f x}1 / f reads a in root
43Local variables are identified on parsing and initialized as () (empty list). Assignments within code branches (never recommended) can produce unexpected results.
q)t:([]0 1)
q){select from t}[] / global t
x
-
0
1
q){if[x;t:([]`a`b)];select from t} 1b / local t
x
-
a
b
q) {if[x;t:([]`a`b)];select from t} 0b / local t is ()
'type
[4] {if[x;t:([]`a`b)];select from t}
^Within lambdas, read and set global variables with get and set
Multiline definition¶
In scripts function definitions can straddle multiple lines.
sqsum:{[a;b] / square of sum
a2:a*a;
b2:b*b;
a2+b2+2*a*b / implicit result
}Variables and constants¶
A lambda definition can include up to:
| in use | current | V3.5 | <V3.5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| arguments | 8 | 8 | 8 | |
| locals | \(m\) | 110 | 23 | 23 |
| globals | \(n\) | 110 | 31 | 31 |
| constants | \(239-(m+n)\) | 95 | 96 |