>> Unless the languages forces functions to be pure [...]
>
> What do you mean by "pure function"? And which languages enforce such a
> thing?
>
A pure function is one which has no side effects, and which, for any 
particular set of argument values always returns the same value (ie: is 
deterministic).

Some functions in Microsoft's T-SQL language are enforced as pure.

Bob Ammerman
RAm Systems

-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist