Higher-order function is a function that takes one or more functions as arguments or returns a function as its result. It's a key concept in functional programming, allowing for code reuse and abstraction, kind of like how React components let you reuse UI code (but don't tell the frontend devs I said that).

How to use it in a sentence

• "I was trying to impress the new hire by using a higher-order function to filter and map the data, but they just looked at me like I was speaking Haskell."

• "When the PM asked me to explain higher-order functions, I told them it's like when they delegate tasks to their minions, except with functions."

If you actually want to learn more...

• Paul Graham's essay on Programming Bottom-Up discusses how higher-order functions can lead to more abstract and reusable code.

• This comprehensive resource page by Paul Graham includes links to various programming languages and tools, many of which support higher-order functions.

• While not directly related, this case study on modeling gene expression with broom shows how R's higher-order functions can be used for data analysis in bioinformatics.

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