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I don't think there are any formal names for the various versions you list. First of all, please note that output in a programming context most often refers to printing something on a screen or to...
Answer
#2: Post edited
by
Lundin
·
2023-08-10T11:53:26Z (9 months ago)
- I don't think there are any formal names for the various versions you list.
- First of all, please note that _output_ in a programming context most often refers to printing something on a screen or to a file, or updating graphics. "Function output" is not a common programming term - almost every language instead terms such function _return value_ or perhaps "result".
- That being said, some semi-formal, widely accepted "language-agnostic" terms do exist:
- - _Procedure_ or _subroutine_ often refers to functions which do not return anything. I think this might originate from Pascal and/or Ada. [C family languages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_C-family_programming_languages) tend _not_ to use either of these terms but call everything functions.
- - _Re-entrant_ refers to a function which can be safely used in a multi-thread program, because it has no side effects.
- - _Thread-safe_ refers to a function which can be safely used in a mult-thread program. It has side effects, but those are guarded with semaphore/mutex or similar.
- - _Member function_ or _method_ is something that interacts with a given object. It may have side effects, including updating the object data.
- Many OO languages also support "read-only" member functions, which are guaranteed not to modify the current object (but may contain other side effects). _Immutable objects_ is another common term used for objects that are never modified after creation - and so a function taking an immutable object as parameter cannot/will not modify that object (but may contain other side effects).
- I don't think there are any formal names for the various versions you list.
- First of all, please note that _output_ in a programming context most often refers to printing something on a screen or to a file, or updating graphics. "Function output" is not a common programming term - almost every language instead terms such function _return value_ or perhaps "result".
- That being said, some semi-formal, widely accepted "language-agnostic" terms do exist:
- - _Procedure_ or _subroutine_ often refers to functions which do not return anything. I think this might originate from Pascal and/or Ada. [C family languages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_C-family_programming_languages) tend _not_ to use either of these terms but call everything functions.
- - _Re-entrant_ refers to a function which can be safely used in a multi-thread program, because it has no side effects.
- - _Thread-safe_ refers to a function which can be safely used in a mult-thread program. It has side effects, but those are guarded with semaphore/mutex or similar.
- - _No-op_ is often used informally to describe functions which do not perform anything and have no side effects. Likely originating from the common assembler `nop` instruction (no operation, do nothing).
- - _Member function_ or _method_ is something that interacts with a given object. It may have side effects, including updating the object data.
- Many OO languages also support "read-only" member functions, which are guaranteed not to modify the current object (but may contain other side effects). _Immutable objects_ is another common term used for objects that are never modified after creation - and so a function taking an immutable object as parameter cannot/will not modify that object (but may contain other side effects).
#1: Initial revision
by
Lundin
·
2023-08-10T11:49:08Z (9 months ago)
I don't think there are any formal names for the various versions you list. First of all, please note that _output_ in a programming context most often refers to printing something on a screen or to a file, or updating graphics. "Function output" is not a common programming term - almost every language instead terms such function _return value_ or perhaps "result". That being said, some semi-formal, widely accepted "language-agnostic" terms do exist: - _Procedure_ or _subroutine_ often refers to functions which do not return anything. I think this might originate from Pascal and/or Ada. [C family languages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_C-family_programming_languages) tend _not_ to use either of these terms but call everything functions. - _Re-entrant_ refers to a function which can be safely used in a multi-thread program, because it has no side effects. - _Thread-safe_ refers to a function which can be safely used in a mult-thread program. It has side effects, but those are guarded with semaphore/mutex or similar. - _Member function_ or _method_ is something that interacts with a given object. It may have side effects, including updating the object data. Many OO languages also support "read-only" member functions, which are guaranteed not to modify the current object (but may contain other side effects). _Immutable objects_ is another common term used for objects that are never modified after creation - and so a function taking an immutable object as parameter cannot/will not modify that object (but may contain other side effects).