Elixir Lists

Introduction to Elixir Lists

Elixir lists are a fundamental data structure used to store collections of elements. Unlike arrays, lists in Elixir are linked lists, meaning each element points to the next, allowing for efficient prepending operations. This structure makes Elixir lists particularly suitable for recursive algorithms.

Creating Lists in Elixir

Creating a list in Elixir is straightforward. You can define a list by enclosing elements in square brackets, separated by commas.

Accessing List Elements

Accessing elements in a list is done using pattern matching. The head of the list can be accessed directly, and the tail can be obtained by excluding the head.

Common List Operations

Elixir provides several built-in functions for working with lists. Here are some of the most common operations:

• Concatenation: The ++ operator is used to join two lists.
• Subtraction: The -- operator removes elements from a list.
• Length: The length/1 function returns the number of elements in a list.

Recursive Operations on Lists

Due to their nature, lists in Elixir are ideal for recursive operations. Recursion is often used to traverse or transform lists. Let's see a simple example of recursive summation.

Using the Enum Module with Lists

The Enum module in Elixir provides a rich set of functions for working with enumerables. Lists are fully compatible with these functions, allowing for complex data manipulations with ease.

Conclusion

Elixir lists are versatile and powerful, offering a range of operations ideal for functional programming. Understanding how to create, access, and manipulate lists is essential for leveraging Elixir's full potential.