# Reducers explained (through Python)

DevFeed: [Reducers explained (through Python)](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/reducers-explained-through-python-32155.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://adambard.com/blog/reducers-explained-through-python/>)

Published: 2013-07-07T00:00:00Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Adam Bard](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/adam-bard.md>)

Topics: [Python](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/python.md>), [Clojure](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/clojure.md>), [Elixir](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/elixir.md>), [Library](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/library.md>), [Code](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/code.md>), [Programming](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/programming.md>)

Tags: [clojure](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/clojure.md>), [code](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/code.md>), [collections](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/collections.md>), [elixir](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/elixir.md>), [filter](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/filter.md>), [functional](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/functional.md>), [libraries](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/libraries.md>), [list](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/list.md>), [pipeline](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/pipeline.md>), [programming](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/programming.md>), [python](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/python.md>), [recursion](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/recursion.md>), [reduce](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/reduce.md>)

## AI overview

This tutorial explains reducers through Python. It introduces reduce or fold as a fundamental collection operator, shows how map and filter can be built from it, and describes how reducers combine collection operations into a single pass instead of repeatedly iterating over a list.

## Source excerpt

Last year, Clojure introduced a new library called core.reducers, which represented a new, efficient way to deal with operations across collections in functional languages. It's since been picked up by Elixir, and libraries have been written for some other languages. Today, I want to explain a bit about what reducers are, why they exist, and how they can be more efficient than other functional methods of handling collections, and help you write your code more prettier.