Currying is a very popular concept in functional programming, but it might sound confusing. This tutorial will help you understand what currying is and how it works. You will also learn how to use currying in JavaScript to help you make your code more readable and simpler.
A quick word about functions
Before we get to currying in JavaScript there is something important about functions you should know. In JavaScript, functions are treated as first-class citizens. This allows you to do some interesting things with them. You can assign functions to variables and you can also pass them as arguments.
Another thing you can also do is to return them. You can return functions from other functions. Not only you can return functions. You can also pass arguments into those returned functions. This all may sound trivial, but it is very important. It is thanks to this currying is possible.
// Example no.2:
// Alternative
function sumNumbers(num1, num2) {
// Pass the second argument
// to the returned function
return function() {
// Return the sum of all arguments
return num1 + num2
}
}
const sum = sumNumbers(11, 91)
sum()
// Output:
// 102
// Example no.2:
// Or, as a one-liner
const sumNumbers = (num1, num2) => () => num1 + num2
const sum = sumNumbers(52, 25)
sum()
// Output:
// 77
// Example no.3:
// Create a function that returns a function
function sumNumbers(num1, num2) {
// Pass the second argument
// to the returned function
return function() {
// Return the sum of all arguments
return num1 + num2
}
}
sumNumbers(5, 15)()
// Output:
// 20
Note: Just calling the sumNumbers() function with some numbers passed as arguments would not give you the result you are looking for. That function call would return the function that is returned from sumNumbers(). In order to get the result, the sum, you need to call the returned function as well.
One way to do this is by calling the function and assigning the returned value to a variable. This returned value will be the returned function. Now, you can call that variable, that returned function and get the result, the sum of numbers you passed. You can see this on the example number 1 and 2.
An alternative is to invoke, or call, both function. To do this, you add additional parentheses (()) after the first call. This is when you call the sumNumbers() function and assign it to a variable. This will call the sumNumbers() function, return the return function, and then call it as well. You can see this approach on the example number 3.
Currying made simple
Functions are first-class citizens. A function can return another function. You can pass arguments between those functions. Now, let's talk about currying. What is currying? Currying is a process of taking a function with multiple arguments and transforming it into a sequence of functions, each function taking a single argument.
The result is that instead of having myFunc(arg1, arg2, arg3) you have myFunc(arg1)(arg2)(arg3). In case of the sumNumbers() function, instead of sum(num1, num2), the syntax would now look like this: sum(num1)(num2). If you use more arguments, you add more parentheses. Have you noticed something interesting on this syntax?
// Simple example of calling syntax
// Create curried function
function myCurriedFunc(arg1) { /* ... */ }
// Call curried function
// One pair of parentheses for each returned function
myCurriedFunc(arg1)(arg2)(arg3)(arg4)(arg5)
You are also adding second pair parentheses after the function call, or more pairs. This looks very similar to what you saw on the example number 3, where you invoked the returned function immediately. So, this is how currying in JavaScript looks like when you invoke a curried function. Now, let's take a look under the hood.
Under the hood, part 1
Let's keep it simple, just enough. Imagine you have a function. This function returns another function. When you want to call both functions you add additional pair of parentheses after the first when you call the outermost function. This second pair of parentheses is for the second function, the function you return.
One simple way to think about this in a way that the second pair is another function call. In this case, it is calling the returned function. Here is the interesting thing. If the returned function also returns a function, all you just repeat the process. You add third pair of parentheses.
What if you return function event more times? All you have to do is to repeat the same process again and again. You add parentheses as many times as there are returned functions. One parentheses is for each returned function. This is the first part, how the additional parentheses work.
// Example of calling a function
// that returns one function
function myFunc() {
return function() {
return 'Hello'
}
}
// Calling the function
// One pair of parentheses
// for the outer function
// and one for each returned function
myFunc()()
// Output:
// 'Hello'
// Example of calling a function
// that returns two functions
function myFunc() {
return function() {
return function() {
return 'Hello'
}
}
}
// Calling the function
// One pair of parentheses
// for the outer function
// and one for each returned function
myFunc()()()
// Output:
// 'Hello'
// Example of calling a function
// that returns four functions
function myFunc() {
return function() {
return function() {
return function() {
return 'Hello'
}
}
}
}
// Calling the function
// One pair of parentheses
// for the outer function
// and one for each returned function
myFunc()()()()
// Output:
// 'Hello'
Depending on your knowledge of programming and JavaScript, there might still be some confusion how those additional parentheses work. What may help you is imagining those parentheses in a different form. Instead of seeing them all on a single line, imagine them being on separate lines, one parentheses per line.
Next, imagine there is a new variable created for each function call. The first function call is assigned to a new variable. Then, the same variable is called. This function call returns a new value. This value is the returned function. This function is assigned to a new variable.
This process of calling and assigning repeats as many times as there are returned functions. When the last function is called the final value is returned. This is, less or more, the same thing that happens when you use those parentheses lined up in a row. I hope that this explanation helps.
// Curried function
function myFunc(arg1) {
return function(arg2) {// First returned function
return function(arg3) {// Second returned function
return function(arg4) {// Third returned function
return `${arg1}, ${arg2}, ${arg3}, ${arg4}`
}
}
}
}
myFunc('arg1')('arg2')('arg3')('arg4')
// Output:
// 'arg1, arg2, arg3, arg4'
// Is similar to:
const firstReturnedFunc = myFunc('arg1')
const secondReturnedFunc = firstReturnedFunc('arg2')
const thirdReturnedFunc = secondReturnedFunc('arg3')
const finalValue = thirdReturnedFunc('arg4')
console.log(finalValue)
// Output:
// 'arg1, arg2, arg3, arg4'
Under the hood, part 2
The second part is about how to transform those arguments. Until now, you passed all arguments to a single function call, the first. This might be okay for now, but it can quickly become messy. Distributing those arguments to the function calls can help you make your code cleaner and easier to read, theoretically.
One good thing is that this transformation is very easy. There are only two changes you have to make. First, you have to stop defining all parameters in the first, outermost, function. Second, what you have to do instead, is to define those parameters for every returned function. Each of these function will take one of these parameters.
Then, the last returned function will do something with all those arguments and return something. This small change will allow you to pass all required arguments individually to each function call, one argument for each pair of parentheses. That's it. This is all the mystery there is about currying in JavaScript and in general.
// Example with two arguments
function myFunc(arg1) {
return function(arg2) {
return arg1 + arg2
}
}
// Calling the function
myFunc(15)(59)
// Output:
// 74
// One-line alternative
const myFunc = (arg1) => (arg2) => arg1 + arg2
// Example with three arguments
function myFunc(arg1) {
return function(arg2) {
return function(arg3) {
return arg1 * arg2 * arg3
}
}
}
// Calling the function
myFunc(3)(5)(7)
// Output:
// 105
// One-line alternative
const myFunc = (arg1) => (arg2) => (arg3) => arg1 * arg2 * arg3
// Example with four arguments
function myFunc(arg1) {
return function(arg2) {
return function(arg3) {
return function(arg4) {
return arg1 + arg2 + arg3 + arg4
}
}
}
}
// Calling the function
myFunc(56)(23)(13)(89)
// Output:
// 181
// One-line alternative
const myFunc = (arg1) => (arg2) => (arg3) => (arg4) => arg1 + arg2 + arg3 + arg4
Do you remember the sumNumbers() function from the beginning of this article? Let's rewrite it to a curried function. Since this function is very closed to a curried version this rewrite will be quick. The only thing you have to do is to distribute the parameters between the calls.
You have to take the num2 parameter from the outer function and use it as a parameter for the returned function. That's it. Now, you have a curried version of the sumNumbers() function.
// Before
function sumNumbers(num1, num2) {
return function() {
return num1 + num2
}
}
sumNumbers(52, 77)()
// Output:
// 129
// After
function sumNumbers(num1) {
return function(num2) {
return num1 + num2
}
}
sumNumbers(52)(77)
// Output:
// 102
Multiple arguments per call
So far, you've worked with examples that always used only one argument per call. This doesn't mean you have to always use only one argument. If you want to use more, you can. In that case, all you need to do is to decide which of your functions will accept those additional arguments.
When you decide, you have to add necessary new parameters to that function and you are ready to go. After this, when you call your curried function, you will be able to pass multiple arguments into specific function calls, pair of parentheses. If you do this, remember to use correct amount of parameters for each call.
// Example of multiple arguments per call
// This function will accept one parameter
function myFunc(arg1) {
// This function will also accept one parameter
return function(arg2) {
// This function will accept three parameters
return function(arg3, arg4, arg5) {
// This function will accept one parameter
return function(arg6) {
return arg1 * arg2 * arg3 * arg4 * arg5 * arg6
}
}
}
}
// Call myFunc
myFunc(1)(3)(5, 7, 9)(11)
// Output:
// 10395
Order of arguments matters
There is one thing you need to know about currying. The order of arguments matters. This may sound like a no-brainer, but it is still good to mention it. If you change the order of arguments you pass into individual function calls you also change which value will each function receive.
Depending on your curried function, this may change the result you will get. If you pass arguments of wrong data types you can also break your code. So, double-check you pass correct argument(s) to correct call. Also, double-check you are using correct number of arguments. That, too, can cause a lot of troubles.
Conclusion: What is currying in JavaScript is and how to use it
Currying is one of those cases where the name can be more confusing than the actual thing. I hope that this tutorial helped you understand what currying is and how it works. I also hope that the examples you've worked with in this article showed you how to use currying in JavaScript.
Top comments (10)
Hi there and thanks for your article.
I believe there is one mistake in your article in the first example you give. The second call to
sumNumbers()will produce a function. I think you meant to callsum()instead?I think you should try to add some
console.logcalls to really see what is the expected output so that we can try your examples at home.Thank you Amin. I will take a look at that mistake with sum(). I will also add console.log() statements in the future posts.
While I like your article, it's explanation is targeted towards beginners, code examples in this article have certain mistakes.
Please update this article's code examples since they might confuse beginners.
Here are some mistakes + suggestions:
Hi Cyras.
I don't know if anyone else pointed this out, but the function calls in the first few examples (the
sumNumbersones specifically), you calledsumNumbers, when you may have meant to call (the newly created)sum.Just a heads up on the mistake, since this is for beginners.
Hope this helps.
Cheers!
Thank you Catlin. I got lost in those calls and mistakenly used wrong identifier.
Not just "in javascript", this article does a good job at explaining currying in general. All of the code could easily be ported to most other relevant languages and the concept is universal to all languages that support functions.
This is a nice explanation of currying, but it is purely theoretical even with code examples. In my experience, for knowledge to truly stick it would help to give a real-world example or use case for the technique.
Hi Carlos. Thanks for your comment. Do you know about some good real-world examples of currying developers might use frequently?
wow, you had a lot of fun writing this 😊