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Eta conversion

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Haskell theoretical foundations

General:
Mathematics - Category theory
Research - Curry/Howard/Lambek

Lambda calculus:
Alpha conversion - Beta reduction
Eta conversion - Lambda abstraction

Other:
Recursion - Combinatory logic
Chaitin's construction - Turing machine
Relational algebra

An eta conversion (also written η-conversion) is adding or dropping of abstraction over a function. For example, the following two values are equivalent under η-conversion: 
\x -> abs x
and 
abs

Converting from the first to the second would constitute an eta reduction, and moving from the second to the first would be an eta abstraction. The term 'eta conversion' can refer to the process in either direction.

Extensive use of η-reduction can lead to Pointfree programming. It is also typically used in certain compile-time optimisations.

See also

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Category: Glossary