A function that takes other functions as arguments, returns a function as its result, or both. These functions enable powerful abstractions and are fundamental to functional programming paradigms.
The term 'higher order' comes from mathematics, specifically higher-order logic developed in the late 19th century. In computing, it was adopted in the 1950s with LISP to describe functions that operate on other functions, elevating them to a 'higher order' of abstraction.
Higher-order functions are like managers in a company - instead of doing the actual work themselves, they coordinate and direct other functions (workers) to get the job done. They're the conductors of the programming orchestra, telling other functions when and how to play!
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