What is functional programming?

Functional programming is a coding language in which everything is in a mathematical function style. It is used on various applications and can be implemented on your daily programming tasks. Functional programming is becoming widespread in the industry and is crucial to learn because it is adaptable to the new data world.

Why is it important to learn about functional programming?

It's important to learn about functional programming because you will have knowledge that will let you have a boost in your career. Functional programming enables you to write programs with higher-order functions, design immutable data structures, and minimize side effects. Another reason to learn functional programming is because it is adaptive to the data world and is a key tool to have with new innovations and when working with big data.

What skills or experience do I need to already have, before learning functional programming?

To learn functional programming, you should already have some programming experience and experience in other programming languages like Javascript. You should also have some understanding of using the command line and have programs ready to use in order to apply this skill. Having experience in programming will allow you to have an easier understanding of functional programming and be able to use your prior knowledge in this new programming language.

How can online courses help me learn functional programming?

Online courses can help you learn functional programming by offering practical experience with Guided Projects and assignments. It gives you detailed lectures, readings, and assignments to help you gain an understanding of topics like the fundamentals of functional programming, Scala, Python, and graphic design. Online courses also allow you to have the flexibility and learn on your own time giving you a chance to review and practice the material learned.

What are the benefits of taking an online Functional Programming course?

Online Functional Programming courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Functional Programming skills. Choose from a wide range of Functional Programming courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Functional Programming courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Functional Programming, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Best Functional Programming Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Functional Programming Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Functional Programming in Scala
Skills you'll gain: Scala Programming, Apache Spark, Apache Hadoop, User Interface (UI), Programming Principles, Big Data, Software Design, Data Structures, Software Design Patterns, Functional Design, Data Manipulation, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Heat Maps, Data Visualization Software, Interactive Data Visualization, Distributed Computing, Computer Programming, Data Processing, Real Time Data, Performance Tuning
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
11K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Functional Programming Principles in Scala
Skills you'll gain: Scala Programming, Programming Principles, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Functional Design, Software Design Patterns, Computer Programming, Data Structures, Integrated Development Environments, Javascript, Algorithms, Computational Thinking
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
8.3K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Google
Functions and Conditional Statements
Skills you'll gain: Software Design, Computational Logic, Algorithms, Computer Programming
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Preview
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Functional Programming Principles in Scala (Scala 2 version)
Skills you'll gain: Scala Programming, Programming Principles, Data Structures, Functional Design, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Algorithms, Integrated Development Environments, Computer Programming Tools
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
64 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Vanderbilt University
Functional Programming with Java and Threads
Skills you'll gain: IntelliJ IDEA, Java Programming, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Java, Integrated Development Environments, Computer Programming, Open Source Technology, Programming Principles, Distributed Computing, Scalability, Functional Design, Algorithms
4.1
Rating, 4.1 out of 5 stars
12 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Pearson
Rust Programming Essentials
Skills you'll gain: System Programming, Rust (Programming Language), Data Structures, Relational Databases, Other Programming Languages, Databases, Data Access, Debugging, Programming Principles, Application Development, Secure Coding, SQL, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), C++ (Programming Language), Maintainability, Interoperability, Software Development, Command-Line Interface, Data Import/Export, File Management
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

What brings you to Coursera today?

Start my career

Change my career

Grow in my current role

Explore topics outside of work

Status: Preview
University of Washington
Programming Languages, Part A
Skills you'll gain: Software Installation, Programming Principles, Other Programming Languages, Functional Design, Computer Programming, Ruby (Programming Language), Theoretical Computer Science, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Computational Thinking
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
1.9K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Packt
Scala Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Data Structures
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Irvine
Programming with Google Go
Skills you'll gain: Go (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Algorithms, JSON, Programming Principles, OS Process Management, Functional Design, Data Structures, System Programming, Development Environment, Software Design, Remote Access Systems, Operating Systems, File Management, Program Development, Software Development Tools, Debugging, Computer Architecture
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
3K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Functional Programming in Scala Capstone
Skills you'll gain: Scala Programming, User Interface (UI), Heat Maps, Data Visualization Software, Interactive Data Visualization, Real Time Data, Big Data, Geospatial Mapping, Data Manipulation, Data Transformation, Apache Spark, Spatial Data Analysis, Web Applications
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
547 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Meta
Programming with JavaScript
Skills you'll gain: Jest (JavaScript Testing Framework), Web Development Tools, Javascript, Unit Testing, Web Applications, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Scripting Languages, Event-Driven Programming, Node.JS, Scripting, JSON, Computer Programming, Data Structures, Debugging, Package and Software Management, Program Development, Front-End Web Development, Functional Design
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
4.8K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Santa Cruz
C, Go, and C++: A Comprehensive Introduction to Programming
Skills you'll gain: C++ (Programming Language), Go (Programming Language), Debugging, C (Programming Language), Data Structures, C and C++, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Software Design Patterns, Computer Programming, Code Review, Unit Testing, Command-Line Interface, Data-oriented programming, Programming Principles, Integrated Development Environments, Algorithms, Graph Theory, Computer Science, File Systems, Computational Thinking
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
9.5K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months