Predecessor inherited language features

F# inherits the core of the features associated with its functional-first nature from ML and OCaml. This means that its chief fashion of expressing computations is via the definition and application of functions.

F# functions are first-class entities

The ability to define and apply functions is a common feature of many programming languages. However, F# follows ML and other functional programming languages in treating functions similarly to, say, numeric values. The ways of treating functions in F# go well beyond the limits usually associated with stored-program computer concept:

  • Functions can be used as arguments to other functions; the latter are higher-order functions in this case
  • Functions can be returned ...

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