Lisplike

Lisplike is an informal term used in programming to describe languages or dialects that adopt Lisp-like features in their syntax or design philosophy. The core idea is that such languages resemble Lisp in at least one major aspect—most commonly the use of S-expressions and prefix notation, or the emphasis on code as data and powerful macro systems.

Characteristics commonly associated with lisplike languages include S-expressions and prefix notation for function calls, homoiconicity (the property of code being data that can be manipulated as data), and macro systems that enable metaprogramming. Many lisplike languages feature a minimal core with built-in extensibility, first-class functions, and flexible or dynamic typing. They may also include an interactive development style via a read–eval–print loop (REPL). The specific implementations of these features vary, and lisplike languages can run on various runtimes such as the JVM, the .NET CLR, or custom virtual machines.

Examples often cited as lisplike include Scheme, Common Lisp, Clojure, Racket, Emacs Lisp, and Arc. Some of these languages preserve traditional Lisp syntax closely, while others blend Lisp-inspired ideas with features from other paradigms or ecosystems.

Etymology and scope: Lisplike is not a formal taxonomic category; there is no universal criterion. The label is used to group languages that share Lisp-inspired constructs—particularly macro systems and homoiconicity—rather than to imply complete compatibility with Lisp.

See also: Lisp, Lisp family, Homoiconicity, Macro (computer science), List processing.