Primitive operator: Difference between revisions

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Miraheze>Marshall
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A '''primitive operator''' is a kind of [[operator]] which is defined by the language. Like a [[primitive function]], a primitive operator is written with a single [[glyph]] in APL but may use multiple characters in other languages. The one exception to the single-glyph rule is the [[Outer Product]], which is written <source lang=apl inline>∘.</source>. While some languages consider the outer product to be a case of the [[dyadic operator]] [[Inner Product]] with a [[Jot]] as its left operand, others consider it to be a primitive [[monadic operator]] on its own.
A '''primitive operator''' is a kind of [[operator]] which is defined by the language. Like a [[primitive function]], a primitive operator is written with a single [[glyph]] in APL but may use multiple characters in other languages. The one exception to the single-glyph rule is the [[Outer Product]], which is written <source lang=apl inline>∘.</source>. While some dialects consider the outer product to be a case of the [[dyadic operator]] [[Inner Product]] with a [[Jot]] (which they interpret as <source lang=apl inline>⊂⍬</source>) as its left operand, others consider it to be a primitive [[monadic operator]] on its own.


Primitive operators have historically been very limited, a condition which has caused greater variety in modern operators than in functions as language designers have extended the scope of operators in different ways. [[Iverson notation]] did not have a unified concept of an operator, and considered everything which is now an APL operator to be a form of special syntax. [[APL\360]] generalized the concept of an operator, but defined only a small number of them: [[reduction]]s, [[scan]]s, [[inner product]]s, and [[outer product]]s. These operators applied only to primitive functions.
Primitive operators have historically been very limited, a condition which has caused greater variety in modern operators than in functions as language designers have extended the scope of operators in different ways. [[Iverson notation]] did not have a unified concept of an operator, and considered everything which is now an APL operator to be a form of special syntax. [[APL\360]] generalized the concept of an operator, but defined only a small number of them: [[reduction]]s, [[scan]]s, [[inner product]]s, and [[outer product]]s. These operators applied only to primitive functions.


Languages which are notable for introducing many primitive operators include [[SHARP APL]], [[J]], [[Dyalog APL]] (which has adopted some operators from J), and [[NARS2000]].
Dialects which are notable for introducing many primitive operators include [[SHARP APL]], [[J]], [[Dyalog APL]] (which has adopted some operators from J), and [[NARS2000]].


{{APL programming language}}
{{APL programming language}}

Revision as of 21:38, 4 November 2019

A primitive operator is a kind of operator which is defined by the language. Like a primitive function, a primitive operator is written with a single glyph in APL but may use multiple characters in other languages. The one exception to the single-glyph rule is the Outer Product, which is written ∘.. While some dialects consider the outer product to be a case of the dyadic operator Inner Product with a Jot (which they interpret as ⊂⍬) as its left operand, others consider it to be a primitive monadic operator on its own.

Primitive operators have historically been very limited, a condition which has caused greater variety in modern operators than in functions as language designers have extended the scope of operators in different ways. Iverson notation did not have a unified concept of an operator, and considered everything which is now an APL operator to be a form of special syntax. APL\360 generalized the concept of an operator, but defined only a small number of them: reductions, scans, inner products, and outer products. These operators applied only to primitive functions.

Dialects which are notable for introducing many primitive operators include SHARP APL, J, Dyalog APL (which has adopted some operators from J), and NARS2000.

Template:APL programming language