höhereOrdnungFunktion

A höherOrdnungFunktion, or higher-order function, is a function that either takes one or more functions as arguments or returns a function as its result, or both. This concept is fundamental in functional programming and is supported by many modern programming languages. The ability to treat functions as first-class citizens, meaning they can be passed around and manipulated just like any other data type, is what enables higher-order functions.

Examples of higher-order functions include functions that map an operation over a collection of elements, such as `map` which applies a given function to each item in a list and returns a new list with the results. Another common example is `filter`, which takes a function and a collection, and returns a new collection containing only the elements for which the function returns true. `reduce` (also known as `fold`) is another, which applies a function cumulatively to the items of a collection, reducing it to a single value.

Higher-order functions promote code reusability and abstraction. They allow developers to express complex operations in a more concise and declarative way, separating the "what" from the "how." This leads to more modular and maintainable code. The concept is deeply intertwined with functional programming paradigms, enabling powerful techniques like function composition and currying. While the term originated in academic computer science, its practical applications are widespread in languages like JavaScript, Python, Scala, Haskell, and Lisp.