| Fields | Computer science • Mathematics • Physics |
| Status | Niche but influential concept in computer science |
| Emphasis | Symbolic manipulation of data structures and computation |
| Paradigm | Functional programming |
| Popularized | 1970s |
| Popular languages | Formula • Algebra • Lovelace |
| Underpinning theories | Abstract algebra • Category theory • Lambda calculus |
| Complex algorithms and simulations | enabled |
