114k views
5 votes
Enumerate and explain the disadvantages of functional programming compared to imperative programming.

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

Functional programming has disadvantages compared to imperative programming, including lack of predictability, efficiency concerns, and a steep learning curve.

Step-by-step explanation:

In functional programming, there are several disadvantages compared to imperative programming:

  1. Lack of predictability: Functional programs rely heavily on recursion and higher-order functions, which can make program flow difficult to understand and predict. This can make it challenging to debug and maintain functional code.
  2. Efficiency: Functional programming often involves heavy use of immutable data structures and recursion, which can be less efficient in terms of memory usage and runtime compared to imperative programming.
  3. Learning curve: Functional programming requires a different mindset and approach compared to imperative programming. It can be more challenging for programmers who are accustomed to imperative paradigms to understand and adopt functional programming concepts.
User Guillaume Boschini
by
8.5k points