gistfile1.clj

;; What's a partial function?

(partial + 1)

;; this partial function is a function which returns a function whose operator is "addition" and whose first parameter is 1

;; let's give this a name to give you some intution.

(def inc (partial + 1))

;; we all know what inc does, it inc(rements) a value! 

;; (inc 1) returns 2! 

;; we defined incrementing in terms of a partially "called" function - addition normally needs at least two arguments - it's a binary operation.
;; but since we used partial, it only needs at least 1 argument now, since the first argument to addition is already defined!

(inc 10)
11

(inc 15)
16

;; and so on. 

(defn inc
  [n]
  (+ n 1))

;; is how you could define a function which performs the same thing. But using a partial function is a powerful abstraction, it allows us to extend
;; already implemented functions in a natural way