Elements of Functional Programming in PHP

ELEMENTS OF 
FUNCTIONAL PROGRAMMING 
IN PHP

JAREK JAKUBOWSKI
PYTHON DEVELOPER
SCALA ENTHUSIAST
PHP DEVELOPER
/jarek.jakubowski

FUNCTIONAL PHP
WHAT IS FUNCTIONAL PROGRAMMING?
1. Functions as primary citizens: 
- save them as variables 
- pass them as arguments 
- return them from another  
function
2. Lambda calculus: 
- closures (PHP >= 5.3) 
- generators (PHP >= 5.5)

FUNCTIONAL PHP
WHAT IS FUNCTIONAL PROGRAMMING?
$functionAsVariable = function (callable $functionAsArgument): callable {
return function () use ($functionAsArgument) {
return $functionAsArgument();
};
};
$foo = 'bar';
return $functionAsVariable(function () use ($foo): string {
return $foo;
})();

FUNCTIONAL PHP
YOU HAVE PROBABLY USED IT ALREADY
const functionAsVariable = arg => functionAsArgument => functionAsArgument(arg);
let foo = 'bar';
return functionAsVariable(foo)( (arg) => arg );
Modern JS (ES6):

FUNCTIONAL PHP
YOU HAVE PROBABLY USED IT ALREADY
$.ajax({
url: "demo_test.txt",
success: function (result) {
$("#div1").html(result);
},
error: function (xhr) {
alert("An error occured: " + xhr.status + " " + xhr.statusText);
}
});
Old JS (jQuery):

FUNCTIONAL PHP
YOU CAN USE IT ALREADY
use ReactPromisePromise;
(new Promise(file_get_contents('foo.txt')))
->then(function (string $result): string {
echo 'well done! '.$result;
})
->otherwise(function (Throwable $error) {
throw $error;
});
Adequate code in PHP:

FUNCTIONAL PHP
PROS (PHP)
▸ LESS ERRORS 
YOU HAVE TO HANDLE EVERY CASE 
Fatal error: Call to a member function on null
▸ METHOD CHAINING
▸ CONCURRENT (ASYNC) CODE
▸ IMMUTABILITY
▸ ES / DDD MADE EASY

FUNCTIONAL PHP
CONS (PHP)
▸ LESS READABLE CODE  
(PHP SYNTAX DOESN’T FIT BEST)
▸ NOT OBVIOUS FOR PHP DEVS 
(while JS Devs use it everyday)
▸ PERFORMANCE 
(but do we really care about it?)

TOOLS
FUNCTIONAL PHP
PhpSlang is a PHP library aiming to ﬁll the gaps  
between PHP and classical functional languages.
PHPSLANG
REACTPHP
ReactPHP is a low-level library for event-driven programming in PHP.
phpslang.io
reactphp.org

TOOLS
FUNCTIONAL PHP
Asynchronous & Fault-tolerant PHP Framework  
for Distributed Applications.
KRAKEN FRAMEWORK
IMMUTABLE.PHP
Immutable collections, with ﬁlter, map, join, sort, slice, and other methods.  
Well-suited for functional programming and memory-intensive applications.  
Runs especially fast in PHP7.
https://github.com/jkoudys/immutable.php
kraken-php.com

HOW?
FUNCTIONAL PHP
1. Forget about null checks
2. Forget about throwing Exceptions
3. Forget about variables
4. Forget about loops
5. Use async calls wherever you can
6. Avoid mutating the State

HOW?
FUNCTIONAL PHP

HOW?
public function displayLocalNumber(string $email): string
{
$user = $this->userRepository->findByEmail($email);
if (
! is_null($user)
&& ! is_null($user->getProfile())
&& ! is_null($user->getProfile()->getAddress())
&& ! is_null($user->getProfile()->getAddress()->getLocalNumber())
) {
return 'Local number is: ' .
$user->getProfile()->getAddress()->getLocalNumber();
} else {
return 'No sufficient data';
}
}
FUNCTIONAL PHP

HOW?
{
$user = $this->userRepository->findByEmail($email);
if (null !== $user) {
if (null !== $profile = $user->getProfile()) {
if (null !== $address = $profile->getAddress()) {
if (null !== $localNumber = $address->getLocalNumber()) {
return 'Local number is: ' . $localNumber;
}
}
}
}
return 'No sufficient data';
}
FUNCTIONAL PHP

HOW?
use PhpSlangOptionOption;
{
return Option::of($this->userRepository->findByEmail($email))
->flatMap(function(User $user): Option {
return Option::of($user->getProfile());
})
->flatMap(function(Profile $profile): Option {
return Option::of($profile->getAddress());
})
->flatMap(function(Address $address): Option {
return Option::of($address->getLocalNumber());
})
->map(function(int $localNumber): string {
})
->getOrElse('No sufficient data');
}
FUNCTIONAL PHP
1. Forget about null checks 
Use Option instead (Option can contain nothing or something)

HOW?
{
return $this->userRepository->findByEmail($email)
->flatMap(function(User $user): Option {
return $user->getProfile();
})
->flatMap(function(Profile $profile): Option {
return $profile->getAddress();
})
->flatMap(function(Address $address): Option {
return $address->getLocalNumber();
})
->map(function(int $localNumber): string {
})
->getOrElse('No sufficient data');
}
FUNCTIONAL PHP
1. Forget about null checks 
Return Option instead (Option can contain nothing or something)

OPTION
FUNCTIONAL PHP
Option can contain nothing or something
class Some extends Option {}
class None extends Option {}
/**
* @var Option<Some, None>
*/

OPTION
FUNCTIONAL PHP
1. Static constructor Option::of(mixed $value)
2. Map methods:
1. map(function(mixed $value): mixed {}): Option 
Option<string> => string 
Option<Option<string>> => Option<string>
2. ﬂatMap(function(mixed $value): Option {}): Option 
Option<string> => string 
Option<Option<string>> => string
3. Return methods:
1. getOrElse(mixed $returnWhenNull): mixed
2. getOrCall(callable $callWhenNull): mixed

OPTION
FUNCTIONAL PHP
Best practices:
1. Return Option whenever function might return null
2. Use map(Closure $expression) when $expression returns unpacked value 
map(function(): mixed): Option
3. Use flatMap(Closure $expression) when $expression returns value packed
in Option 
flatMap(function(): Option): Option
4. Don’t forget to call getOrCall() / getOrElse() at end! - only at this point all
defined expressions are evaluated

MAP() VS FLATMAP()
public function getUser(string $email): Option<User>
{
return Option::of($this->userRepository->findByEmail($email));
}
public function getUserNameOption(string $email): Option<string>
{
return $this->getUser($email)
->map(function (User $user): Option {
return Option::of($user->getName());
})
->getOrElse(new Some($email));
}
public function getUserNameFlat(string $email): string
{
return $this->getUser($email)
->flatMap(function (User $user): Option {
return Option::of($user->getName());
})
->getOrElse($email);
}
FUNCTIONAL PHP

HOW?
FUNCTIONAL PHP

HOW?
public function getUserName(string $email): ?string
{
try {
return $this->findUser($email)->getName();
} catch (InvalidArgumentException $e) {
return null;
}
}
private function findUser(string $email): User
{
$user = $this->userRepository->findBy(['email' => $email]);
if (!$user instanceof User) {
throw new InvalidArgumentException('User not found.');
}
return $user;
}
FUNCTIONAL PHP

HOW?
public function getUserName(string $email): ?string
{
try {
return $this->findUser($email)->getName();
} catch (InvalidArgumentException $e) {
return null;
}
}
private function findUser(string $email): User
{
$user = $this->userRepository->findBy(['email' => $email]);
if (!$user instanceof User) {
throw new InvalidArgumentException('User not found.');
}
return $user;
}
FUNCTIONAL PHP 2. Forget about throwing Exceptions

HOW?
public function getUserName(string $email): Option
{
return $this->findUser($email)
->right(function (User $user): Some {
return new Some($user->getName());
})
->left(function (): None {
return new None();
})
->get();
}
private function findUser(string $email): Either
{
return Option::of($this->userRepository->findBy(['email' => $email]))
->map(function (User $user) {
return new Right($user);
})
->getOrElse(function () {
return new Left('User not found.');
});
}
FUNCTIONAL PHP 2. Forget about throwing Exceptions: Use Either instead

EITHER
FUNCTIONAL PHP
abstract class Either
{
abstract public function left(Closure $expression): Either;
abstract public function right(Closure $expression): Either;
abstract public function flatLeft(Closure $expression): Either;
abstract public function flatRight(Closure $expression): Either;
public function get(): mixed {};
} 
class Right extends Either {}
class Left extends Either {}

EITHER
FUNCTIONAL PHP
Best practices:
1. Use Right of expected value, Left for unexpected/error
2. Use left(Closure $expression) / right(Closure $expression) when $expression returns unpacked value 
right(function(): mixed): Either
3. Use flatLeft(Closure $expression) / flatRight(Closure $expression) when $expression returns value
packed in either Right or Left 
flatRight(function(): Either): Either
4. flatRight() for chaining, right() on success, left() on error
5. Don’t forget to call get() at end! - only at this point all defined expressions are evaluated

HOW?
FUNCTIONAL PHP

HOW?
{
->flatRight(function (User $user) {
})
->flatLeft(function () {
return new None();
})
->get();
}
private function getUser(string $email): Either
{
})
});
}
FUNCTIONAL PHP
3. Forget about variables 
Avoid declaring them (I’ve already done it)

HOW?
{
->flatRight(function (User $user) {
})
->flatLeft(function () {
return new None();
})
->get();
}
private function getUser(string $email): Either
{
})
});
}
FUNCTIONAL PHP 3. Forget about variables: Avoid declaring them (I’ve already done it)

HOW?
FUNCTIONAL PHP

HOW?
$data = [1,2,3,4,5];
$result = [];
foreach ($data as $key => $value) {
$result[$key] = $value * 2;
}
$data = array_map(function (int $value): int {
return $value * 2;
}, $data);
$data = array_filter($data, function (int $value): bool {
return $value % 2 === 0;
});
$data = array_reduce($data, function (int $prev, int $value): int {
return $prev + $value;
}, 0);
return $data;
FUNCTIONAL PHP

HOW?
use PhpSlangCollectionParallelListCollection;
return ParallelListCollection::of([1,2,3,4,5])
->map(function (int $value): int {
return $value * 2;
})
->filter(function (int $value): bool {
return $value % 2 === 0;
})
->fold(0, function (int $prev, int $value): int {
return $prev + $value;
});
FUNCTIONAL PHP
4. Forget about loops 
Use Collection instead

COLLECTIONS
FUNCTIONAL PHP
Libraries which provide them:
1. Doctrine collections (incomplete functionality)
2. PhpSlang
3. Immutable.php
Collections provide unified API for PHP’s array_* functions and sometimes they are even faster than
native PHP. 
 
Methods:
1. filter() (array_filter)
2. map() (array_map)
3. reduce() / fold() (array_reduce)
4. sort() (usort)

HOW?
FUNCTIONAL PHP

HOW?
use function ClueReactBlockawaitAll;
/* use try-catch because ReactPHP's awaitAll uses Exceptions to escape loop
and PhpSlang's Future monad is not ready yet */
try {
$argumentsArray = awaitAll([
$this->getStatus($valuesArray[‘status']),
$this->getIdea($valuesArray['idea']),
$this->getUserFromToken(),
$valuesArray['reason'] ?? null
], LoopFactory::create());
return new Right($argumentsArray);
} catch (NotFoundHttpException $e) {
return new Left($e);
}
FUNCTIONAL PHP

HOW?
FUNCTIONAL PHP
6. Avoid mutating the State

$today = new DateTime();
$yesterday = $today->modify('-1 day');
echo "Yesterday was {$yesterday->format('l')}
and today is {$today->format('l')}";
FUNCTIONAL PHP
HOW? 6. Avoid mutating the State

$today = new DateTime();
and today is {$today->format('l')}";
// prints "Yesterday was Thursday and today is Thursday"
FUNCTIONAL PHP

$today = new DateTimeImmutable();
and today is {$today->format(‘l')}";
// prints "Yesterday was Thursday and today is Friday"
FUNCTIONAL PHP
Use Immutable Classes

REAL WORLD EXAMPLE
FUNCTIONAL PHP

HOW IS IT CALLED IN OTHER LANGUAGES?
FUNCTIONAL PHP
JS (ELM) PHP (PHPSLANG) SCALA (JAVASLANG)
Maybe (Just, Nothing) Option (Some, None) Option (Some, None)
Either (Right, Left) Either (Right, Left) Either (Right, Left)
Promise Promise (Future?) Future
async, await await, awaitAll Await.result

FURTHER READING
FUNCTIONAL PHP
▸ Functional Programming basics
▸ http://maciejpirog.github.io/ﬁshy/
▸ http://adit.io/posts/2013-04-17-functors,_applicatives,_and_monads_in_pictures.html
▸ https://medium.com/@cscalfani/so-you-want-to-be-a-functional-programmer-part-1-1f15e387e536
▸ Missing parts of PHP (maybe in 7.2…)
▸ https://wiki.php.net/rfc/generics (https://www.bountysource.com/issues/20553561-add-generics-support)
▸ https://wiki.php.net/rfc/immutability
▸ https://wiki.php.net/rfc/pipe-operator
▸ PhpSlang http://phpslang.io/
▸ https://php-slang.github.io/php-slang-docs/static/Introduction/Thinking_Functional.html
▸ https://php-slang.github.io/php-slang-docs/static/Usage/Essentials/Option.html
▸ ReactPHP http://reactphp.org/
▸ https://github.com/clue/php-block-react

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