What are First-Class Functions in Programming Languages?

First-Class Functions in Programming Languages



First-class functions, in the context of programming languages, refer to the capability of treating functions as first-class citizens. This means that functions can be assigned to variables, passed as arguments to other functions, returned from functions, and stored in data structures, just like any other data types, such as integers, strings, or objects.


In languages that support first-class functions, functions have the following properties:

Assignable: You can assign a function to a variable, making it possible to reference and use the function through that variable.

Passable as arguments: Functions can be passed as arguments to other functions. This is a powerful feature that allows you to use functions as building blocks for more complex operations or to define custom behavior in certain situations.

Returnable: Functions can be returned as values from other functions. This enables higher-order functions, where a function can generate and return new functions.

Storable: Functions can be stored in data structures like arrays, lists, or dictionaries. This capability allows you to create data structures that contain a mix of data and functions.


First-class functions are a fundamental concept in functional programming, and they promote a more flexible and expressive coding style. Languages like Python, JavaScript, Lisp, and many others support first-class functions, which enables functional programming paradigms and various advanced programming techniques.

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