Programming Elixir ≥ 1.6

Functions Can Return Functions

Here’s some strange code:

iex> fun1 = fn -> fn -> "Hello" end end
#Function<12.17052888 in :erl_eval.expr/5>
iex> fun1.()
#Function<12.17052888 in :erl_eval.expr/5>
iex> fun1.().()
"Hello"

The strange thing is the first line. It’s hard to read, so let’s spread it out.

fun1 = fn ->
          fn ->
             "Hello"
          end
       end

The variable fun1 is bound to a function. That function takes no parameters, and its body is a second function definition. That second function also takes no parameters, and it evaluates the string "Hello".

When we call the outer function (using fun1.()), it returns the inner function. When we call that (fun1.().()) the inner function is evaluated and “Hello” is returned. ...