Word for having no impact on state
In computer science and mathematics, the word idempotent is used to describe a process that can be repeated any number of times, always leading to the same, predictable outcome.
Is there a single word for the similar concept of "having no side effects"? A word to describe a process that can be repeated any number of times without ever changing the state of the world (or system) around it? If I were to fabricate such a word it would be something cumbersome like enviroimpotent.
Such a word would be extremely useful in situations like this question, where there are imprecise and confusing phrases like
A pure function is idempotent and has no side effects...but really it can't have any effect on the state of the system, not just unintended...* continued babbling about semantics *
I imagine usage like
A pocket calculator's arithmetic is ___; using it to estimate how much post-tax money you'll have after winning the lottery will do nothing to improve your odds.
or
A voting booth should operate ____ly. A vote being cast for a candidate that results in that candidate being displayed higher for the next voter would be a severe flaw.
single-word-requests
asked 12 hours ago
IndigenuityIndigenuity
1916
|
show 5 more comments
In computer science and mathematics, the word idempotent is used to describe a process that can be repeated any number of times, always leading to the same, predictable outcome.
Is there a single word for the similar concept of "having no side effects"? A word to describe a process that can be repeated any number of times without ever changing the state of the world (or system) around it? If I were to fabricate such a word it would be something cumbersome like enviroimpotent.
Such a word would be extremely useful in situations like this question, where there are imprecise and confusing phrases like
A pure function is idempotent and has no side effects...but really it can't have any effect on the state of the system, not just unintended...* continued babbling about semantics *
I imagine usage like
A pocket calculator's arithmetic is ___; using it to estimate how much post-tax money you'll have after winning the lottery will do nothing to improve your odds.
or
A voting booth should operate ____ly. A vote being cast for a candidate that results in that candidate being displayed higher for the next voter would be a severe flaw.
single-word-requests
asked 12 hours ago
IndigenuityIndigenuity
1916
1
That's what the concept of pure function is. This is needed because in computer science the name function is used for callable pieces of code instead of functions in the mathematical sense.
– mama
12 hours ago
Yes it is a necessary concept. The problem is that there isn't a concise way (that I know of) to accurately convey the concept
– Indigenuity
12 hours ago
Many pocket calculators' functions aren't pure functions. Press+,1and then each time that you press=you add 1 to the number in the screen. The state changes each time, until eventually reaching the terminal stateERROR.
– mama
12 hours ago
Perhaps a poor example then. I struggled to find examples without getting too pedantic or deeply involved in the philosophical argument about whether it's even possible to do anything without changing the world in some way. Any physical (and most abstract) actions will have some effect on a system. In the case of the calculator, I tried to emphasize the specific context of affecting an external state, or a real side effect. The voting booth was intended to cover internal state from one moment to the next.
– Indigenuity
12 hours ago
The same way that to convey what a function is in mathematics requires giving the full definition. You can only say it with one word, function, when your interlocutor already knows the concept. A concept that took centuries to shape and that even today most calculus books get/use it wrong.
– mama
12 hours ago
|
show 5 more comments
In computer science and mathematics, the word idempotent is used to describe a process that can be repeated any number of times, always leading to the same, predictable outcome.
Is there a single word for the similar concept of "having no side effects"? A word to describe a process that can be repeated any number of times without ever changing the state of the world (or system) around it? If I were to fabricate such a word it would be something cumbersome like enviroimpotent.
Such a word would be extremely useful in situations like this question, where there are imprecise and confusing phrases like
A pure function is idempotent and has no side effects...but really it can't have any effect on the state of the system, not just unintended...* continued babbling about semantics *
I imagine usage like
A pocket calculator's arithmetic is ___; using it to estimate how much post-tax money you'll have after winning the lottery will do nothing to improve your odds.
or
A voting booth should operate ____ly. A vote being cast for a candidate that results in that candidate being displayed higher for the next voter would be a severe flaw.
single-word-requests
asked 12 hours ago
IndigenuityIndigenuity
1916
In computer science and mathematics, the word idempotent is used to describe a process that can be repeated any number of times, always leading to the same, predictable outcome.
Is there a single word for the similar concept of "having no side effects"? A word to describe a process that can be repeated any number of times without ever changing the state of the world (or system) around it? If I were to fabricate such a word it would be something cumbersome like enviroimpotent.
Such a word would be extremely useful in situations like this question, where there are imprecise and confusing phrases like
A pure function is idempotent and has no side effects...but really it can't have any effect on the state of the system, not just unintended...* continued babbling about semantics *
I imagine usage like
A pocket calculator's arithmetic is ___; using it to estimate how much post-tax money you'll have after winning the lottery will do nothing to improve your odds.
or
A voting booth should operate ____ly. A vote being cast for a candidate that results in that candidate being displayed higher for the next voter would be a severe flaw.
single-word-requests
single-word-requests
asked 12 hours ago
IndigenuityIndigenuity
1916
asked 12 hours ago
IndigenuityIndigenuity
1916
asked 12 hours ago
IndigenuityIndigenuity
1916
asked 12 hours ago
IndigenuityIndigenuity
1916
asked 12 hours ago
IndigenuityIndigenuity
1916
1916
1
That's what the concept of pure function is. This is needed because in computer science the name function is used for callable pieces of code instead of functions in the mathematical sense.
– mama
12 hours ago
Yes it is a necessary concept. The problem is that there isn't a concise way (that I know of) to accurately convey the concept
– Indigenuity
12 hours ago
Many pocket calculators' functions aren't pure functions. Press+,1and then each time that you press=you add 1 to the number in the screen. The state changes each time, until eventually reaching the terminal stateERROR.
– mama
12 hours ago
Perhaps a poor example then. I struggled to find examples without getting too pedantic or deeply involved in the philosophical argument about whether it's even possible to do anything without changing the world in some way. Any physical (and most abstract) actions will have some effect on a system. In the case of the calculator, I tried to emphasize the specific context of affecting an external state, or a real side effect. The voting booth was intended to cover internal state from one moment to the next.
– Indigenuity
12 hours ago
The same way that to convey what a function is in mathematics requires giving the full definition. You can only say it with one word, function, when your interlocutor already knows the concept. A concept that took centuries to shape and that even today most calculus books get/use it wrong.
– mama
12 hours ago
|
show 5 more comments
1
That's what the concept of pure function is. This is needed because in computer science the name function is used for callable pieces of code instead of functions in the mathematical sense.
– mama
12 hours ago
Yes it is a necessary concept. The problem is that there isn't a concise way (that I know of) to accurately convey the concept
– Indigenuity
12 hours ago
Many pocket calculators' functions aren't pure functions. Press+,1and then each time that you press=you add 1 to the number in the screen. The state changes each time, until eventually reaching the terminal stateERROR.
– mama
12 hours ago
Perhaps a poor example then. I struggled to find examples without getting too pedantic or deeply involved in the philosophical argument about whether it's even possible to do anything without changing the world in some way. Any physical (and most abstract) actions will have some effect on a system. In the case of the calculator, I tried to emphasize the specific context of affecting an external state, or a real side effect. The voting booth was intended to cover internal state from one moment to the next.
– Indigenuity
12 hours ago
The same way that to convey what a function is in mathematics requires giving the full definition. You can only say it with one word, function, when your interlocutor already knows the concept. A concept that took centuries to shape and that even today most calculus books get/use it wrong.
– mama
12 hours ago
1
1
That's what the concept of pure function is. This is needed because in computer science the name function is used for callable pieces of code instead of functions in the mathematical sense.
– mama
12 hours ago
That's what the concept of pure function is. This is needed because in computer science the name function is used for callable pieces of code instead of functions in the mathematical sense.
– mama
12 hours ago
Yes it is a necessary concept. The problem is that there isn't a concise way (that I know of) to accurately convey the concept
– Indigenuity
12 hours ago
Yes it is a necessary concept. The problem is that there isn't a concise way (that I know of) to accurately convey the concept
– Indigenuity
12 hours ago
Many pocket calculators' functions aren't pure functions. Press
+, 1 and then each time that you press = you add 1 to the number in the screen. The state changes each time, until eventually reaching the terminal state ERROR.– mama
12 hours ago
Many pocket calculators' functions aren't pure functions. Press
+, 1 and then each time that you press = you add 1 to the number in the screen. The state changes each time, until eventually reaching the terminal state ERROR.– mama
12 hours ago
Perhaps a poor example then. I struggled to find examples without getting too pedantic or deeply involved in the philosophical argument about whether it's even possible to do anything without changing the world in some way. Any physical (and most abstract) actions will have some effect on a system. In the case of the calculator, I tried to emphasize the specific context of affecting an external state, or a real side effect. The voting booth was intended to cover internal state from one moment to the next.
– Indigenuity
12 hours ago
Perhaps a poor example then. I struggled to find examples without getting too pedantic or deeply involved in the philosophical argument about whether it's even possible to do anything without changing the world in some way. Any physical (and most abstract) actions will have some effect on a system. In the case of the calculator, I tried to emphasize the specific context of affecting an external state, or a real side effect. The voting booth was intended to cover internal state from one moment to the next.
– Indigenuity
12 hours ago
The same way that to convey what a function is in mathematics requires giving the full definition. You can only say it with one word, function, when your interlocutor already knows the concept. A concept that took centuries to shape and that even today most calculus books get/use it wrong.
– mama
12 hours ago
The same way that to convey what a function is in mathematics requires giving the full definition. You can only say it with one word, function, when your interlocutor already knows the concept. A concept that took centuries to shape and that even today most calculus books get/use it wrong.
– mama
12 hours ago
|
show 5 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
Perhaps the concept you are looking for is decoupled. Try googling “bad code smells”, and you should find a few specific terms that apply to your situation.
answered 4 hours ago
Global CharmGlobal Charm
2,6712412
add a comment |
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Perhaps the concept you are looking for is decoupled. Try googling “bad code smells”, and you should find a few specific terms that apply to your situation.
answered 4 hours ago
Global CharmGlobal Charm
2,6712412
add a comment |
Perhaps the concept you are looking for is decoupled. Try googling “bad code smells”, and you should find a few specific terms that apply to your situation.
answered 4 hours ago
Global CharmGlobal Charm
2,6712412
add a comment |
Perhaps the concept you are looking for is decoupled. Try googling “bad code smells”, and you should find a few specific terms that apply to your situation.
answered 4 hours ago
Global CharmGlobal Charm
2,6712412
Perhaps the concept you are looking for is decoupled. Try googling “bad code smells”, and you should find a few specific terms that apply to your situation.
answered 4 hours ago
Global CharmGlobal Charm
2,6712412
answered 4 hours ago
Global CharmGlobal Charm
2,6712412
answered 4 hours ago
Global CharmGlobal Charm
2,6712412
answered 4 hours ago
Global CharmGlobal Charm
2,6712412
2,6712412
add a comment |
add a comment |
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1
That's what the concept of pure function is. This is needed because in computer science the name function is used for callable pieces of code instead of functions in the mathematical sense.
– mama
12 hours ago
Yes it is a necessary concept. The problem is that there isn't a concise way (that I know of) to accurately convey the concept
– Indigenuity
12 hours ago
Many pocket calculators' functions aren't pure functions. Press
+,1and then each time that you press=you add 1 to the number in the screen. The state changes each time, until eventually reaching the terminal stateERROR.– mama
12 hours ago
Perhaps a poor example then. I struggled to find examples without getting too pedantic or deeply involved in the philosophical argument about whether it's even possible to do anything without changing the world in some way. Any physical (and most abstract) actions will have some effect on a system. In the case of the calculator, I tried to emphasize the specific context of affecting an external state, or a real side effect. The voting booth was intended to cover internal state from one moment to the next.
– Indigenuity
12 hours ago
The same way that to convey what a function is in mathematics requires giving the full definition. You can only say it with one word, function, when your interlocutor already knows the concept. A concept that took centuries to shape and that even today most calculus books get/use it wrong.
– mama
12 hours ago