Bing Question: What is the evaluation order for mcons in: mcons p q = p >>= \x -> q >>= \y -> return (x:y) -- Copilot / Bing Chat Questions / Answers (8/10)
You’ve raised an interesting point regarding the perceived ambiguity in the phrase “order of precedence” when it comes to the -> operator in Haskell. Let’s delve into this topic and clarify the nuances.
Operator Precedence and Associativity:
- In Haskell, operator precedence determines the order in which operators are evaluated. It ensures that expressions are parsed unambiguously.
- The associativity of an operator determines whether it is evaluated from left to right (left-associative) or from right to left (right-associative).
- The -> operator (function type constructor) has a specific precedence and associativity.
Function Type Constructor (->) Precedence:
- The -> operator has the highest precedence among all operators in Haskell.
- It is used to specify a function’s type signature, such as Int -> Int -> Float.
- Being right-associative, it means that function types associate from right to left. For example, Int -> Int -> Float is equivalent to Int -> (Int -> Float).
Parsing and Fixity:
- When parsing expressions, Haskell follows specific rules for each operator, including the -> operator.
- The compiler determines how to group expressions based on the fixity (precedence and associativity) of operators.
- Fixity declarations allow you to control how operators are parsed.
- Unfortunately, the Haskell 98 Report does not explicitly list the fixity of the -> operator.
Custom Operators and Readability:
- Custom operators (including symbolic ones) can indeed decrease readability and maintainability.
- When encountering unfamiliar operators, it’s challenging to deduce their meaning solely from their names.
- The arbitrary-looking names lack hints for understanding their purpose, especially for newcomers.
Using $ to Clarify Expressions:
- The $ operator is defined with very low precedence.
- Writing f $ x is equivalent to f x, but it helps avoid parentheses.
- By using $, you can explicitly indicate the evaluation order without relying on operator precedence.
Conclusion:
- While the -> operator has the highest precedence, its behavior is influenced by associativity and context.
- Fixity declarations (such as infixr 0 ->) can help control how operators are parsed.
- Understanding operator behavior and using $ judiciously can lead to more idiomatic and maintainable code.
In summary, the -> operator’s precedence is indeed high, but its behavior is nuanced due to associativity and parsing rules. Fixity declarations and careful usage of operators contribute to code clarity.
For more details, refer to the Haskell 98 Report.
Feel free to ask if you have further questions or need additional clarification! 😊
Learn more
1 stackoverflow.com
2 haskellsos.com
3 devhubby.com
4 studentprojectcode.com
5 stackoverflow.com
6 stackoverflow.com
7 codereview.stackexchange.com
8 kowainik.github.io
9 devtut.github.io
10 haskell.org
Answer link:
https://sl.bing.net/gHzlncNjtLw
