When we write (in some language or another):
lengthOf(n)
We think of it as short for an english 'fill in the blanks' construction, like:
length of __
But when we write things like these:
isAnInteger(n)
appendTo(n,m)
We think of sentences like:
__ is an integer
append ___ to ___
So, it would seem more natural to allow function invocation expressions like:
(n)isAnInteger
append(n)to(m)
Where the 'function names' are something like:
_isAnInteger
append_to_
Can anyone name existing programming languages which allow this? I know object-oriented languages let the object be one argument at the front, but I am wondering about more flexible syntaxes.
Python Arbitrary Arguments Sometimes, we do not know in advance the number of arguments that will be passed into a function. Python allows us to handle this kind of situation through function calls with an arbitrary number of arguments. In the function definition, we use an asterisk (*) before the parameter name to denote this kind of argument.
Give an example. What are the types of function arguments in Python? Hence, we conclude that Python Function Arguments and its three types of arguments to functions. These are- default, keyword, and arbitrary arguments. Where default arguments help deal with the absence of values, keyword arguments let us use any order.
Sometimes, we do not know in advance the number of arguments that will be passed into a function. Python allows us to handle this kind of situation through function calls with an arbitrary number of arguments. In the function definition, we use an asterisk (*) before the parameter name to denote this kind of argument.
An argument is the value that are sent to the function when it is called. By default, a function must be called with the correct number of arguments. Meaning that if your function expects 2 arguments, you have to call the function with 2 arguments, not more, and not less.
Mixfix is the most general form of what is presented above as a Smalltalk syntax feature via Objective-C. Maude's "bubble" parsing is the most clearly documented implementation of this. More generally, google for "mixfix parsing".
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