Lambda Calculus: The Foundation

Master the purest form of computation

What You'll Learn

  • Abstract function syntax
  • β-reduction basics
  • Practical examples
(λx.x) y
y // identity function

What is λ-Calculus?

Lambda calculus is a minimalistic formal system for expressing computation. It features function definition, function application, and binding.

λx.x // identity function
Start simple, then build complexity: λx.x succ 1

Function Application

Apply function to argument:
(λx.x) y → y
Currying example:
(λx.λy.x) y z → y
Use the λ-calculator below to experiment!

Try It Yourself

Result appears here...
* Toy interpreter - handles basic β-reduction only