Anamorphism

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What Does Anamorphism Mean?

Anamorphism is a specific mathematical and computer science concept that works with values to develop models. This type of idea focuses on the specific coding based on the mathematics of creating these models. Mathematicians and coders use anamorphisms as part of a process largely unfamiliar to the lay person.

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Techopedia Explains Anamorphism

Specifically, experts define anamorphism as based on the idea of unfolds in lists. A list is an abstract data type with order values. An unfold takes a seed value and develops a list. Folds and unfolds can represent sophisticated models that use the process of recursion. These are typically either presented through detailed and elegant mathematical equations, or in a particular computer programming language, according to the context and use of the anamorphism in question. Anamorphisms can be applied to different types of structures such as a tree data structure or a traditional list. Developers can use commands like “unspool” to implement an anamorphism in code.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.