I'm exploring "advanced" uses of OCaml functions and I'm wondering how I can write a function with variable number of arguments.
For example, a function like:
let sum x1,x2,x3,.....,xn = x1+x2,+x3....+xn
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2 Answers
With a bit of type hackery, sure:
let sum f = f 0
let arg x acc g = g (acc + x)
let z a = a
And the (ab)usage:
# sum z;;
- : int = 0
# sum (arg 1) z;;
- : int = 1
# sum (arg 1) (arg 2) (arg 3) z;;
- : int = 6
Neat, huh? But don't use this - it's a hack.
For an explanation, see this page (in terms of SML, but the idea is the same).
2 Comments
Goswin von Brederlow
I wouldn't use this because passing an int list is the better way. But very nice use of higher level functions and continuation passing style.
OCaml is strongly typed, and many techniques used in other (untyped) languages are inapplicable. In my opinion (after 50 years of programming) this is a very good thing, not a problem.
The clearest way to handle a variable number of arguments of the same type is to pass a list:
# let sum l = List.fold_left (+) 0 l;;
val sum : int list -> int = <fun>
# sum [1;2;3;4;5;6];;
- : int = 21
2 Comments
MaxPlankton
"many techniques used in other (untyped) languages are inapplicable." Are you saying variadic functions aren't possible in strongly typed languages?
José Castillo Lema
A list does not allow you to pass variables with different types. I.e.: on Clojure:
user=> (defn greet [& arg] (str arg))