Initial algebraIn mathematics, an initial algebra is an initial object in the of F-algebras for a given endofunctor F. This initiality provides a general framework for induction and recursion. Consider the endofunctor F : Set → Set sending X to 1 + X, where 1 is the one-point (singleton) set, the terminal object in the category. An algebra for this endofunctor is a set X (called the carrier of the algebra) together with a function f : (1 + X) → X. Defining such a function amounts to defining a point and a function X → X.
CatamorphismIn , the concept of catamorphism (from the Ancient Greek: κατά "downwards" and μορφή "form, shape") denotes the unique homomorphism from an initial algebra into some other algebra. In functional programming, catamorphisms provide generalizations of folds of lists to arbitrary algebraic data types, which can be described as initial algebras. The dual concept is that of anamorphism that generalize unfolds. A hylomorphism is the composition of an anamorphism followed by a catamorphism.
CorecursionIn computer science, corecursion is a type of operation that is to recursion. Whereas recursion works analytically, starting on data further from a base case and breaking it down into smaller data and repeating until one reaches a base case, corecursion works synthetically, starting from a base case and building it up, iteratively producing data further removed from a base case. Put simply, corecursive algorithms use the data that they themselves produce, bit by bit, as they become available, and needed, to produce further bits of data.
Fold (higher-order function)In functional programming, fold (also termed reduce, accumulate, aggregate, compress, or inject) refers to a family of higher-order functions that analyze a recursive data structure and through use of a given combining operation, recombine the results of recursively processing its constituent parts, building up a return value. Typically, a fold is presented with a combining function, a top node of a data structure, and possibly some default values to be used under certain conditions.
