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    What you are doing with dispatch[processingType](data) has nothing to do with functional programming. This is just a hashmap with syntactic sugar to call a defined method on the underlying value. Languages which support functions as first-class citizens is what you are looking for. You can do the same thing in C# and C++ and these languages are by no way functional in nature. Commented Oct 9, 2021 at 22:03
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    I have changed my description as suggested because it is more precise. However, I must say that there is no precise definition for what is functional programming. Many would accept the only requirement is functions as values, since that opens the door of high-order programming. Others might require more: immutability, recursion (as in recursive style, tail recursion, recursive data structures), laziness, mathematical syntax, pure functions, etc. Languages like C++, C# and Java have ways to provide functions as values, so some might debate they are functional programming languages. Commented Oct 10, 2021 at 15:44
  • @bash0r, odd statement there. C# supports functions as first-class citizens, has recently added tuples, records, pattern matching and natural function types to the language and work is underway in discriminated unions for a future release. Yet still some folk like yourself claim it is "by no way functional in nature". In my view, you are mistaken and C# is well on it's way to being a true multi-paradigm language. Commented Oct 11, 2021 at 9:21