The functional approach relies on several mathematical foundations adapted for the Java Virtual Machine:
: Functions that consistently produce the same output for the same input and have no side effects (e.g., they do not modify external state).
: Functions can be assigned to variables, passed as arguments, and returned from other functions.
Java implements these principles through specific syntax and API additions: Introduction to Functional Programming
: Focuses on what the program should accomplish rather than how to perform specific steps, abstracting away control flow like loops. 2. Key Implementation Features