---
title: "Discussion on \"Declarative vs. Imperative Programming\" | Hashnode"
description: "Discussion on \"Declarative vs. Imperative Programming\". If you've worked with functional programming at all, chances are you've heard the terms \"declarative\" and \"imperative\" at some point. These two terms are mental models, or programming paradigms, which is just fancy computer science jargon for saying ..."
url: "https://hashnode.com/posts/declarative-vs-imperative-programming/6005317d848f4c3b9a0f0efe"
---

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# [Declarative vs. Imperative Programming](https://blog.alyssaholland.me/declarative-vs-imperative-programming?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed)

If you've worked with functional programming at all, chances are you've heard the terms "declarative" and "imperative" at some point. These two terms are mental models, or programming paradigms, which is just fancy computer science jargon for saying ...

Jan 18, 2021 · 7 min read · blog.alyssaholland.me  
Updated Feb 16, 2021  
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## Written by

[Alyssa Holland](https://hashnode.com/@AlyssaCodes)

@AlyssaCodes

  
[View profile](https://hashnode.com/@AlyssaCodes)

Programming. Productivity. Positivity

Welcome to my blog 👋🏽 I'm a Front-End Developer with a passion for learning! I write about Programming 👩🏽‍💻 and Productivity Tips ✅

## Responses 3

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[JC Lee](https://hashnode.com/@ljc_dev)

[Feb 16, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/declarative-vs-imperative-programming/6005317d848f4c3b9a0f0efe/comment/602ba936dcc0ea054c2a11b0)

Great article 😀✨!! I didn't know what declarative and imperative meant.

[Alyssa Holland](https://hashnode.com/@AlyssaCodes)

[Feb 16, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/declarative-vs-imperative-programming/6005317d848f4c3b9a0f0efe/comment/602ba936dcc0ea054c2a11b0#reply-602bcfd732d1f9071e0bdb3f)

Thank you! Happy to hear you learned something new! 😃

[Favourite Jome](https://hashnode.com/@Favourite)

[Feb 16, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/declarative-vs-imperative-programming/6005317d848f4c3b9a0f0efe/comment/602b8c09dcc0ea054c2a0f14)

Hello Alyssa, Very informative article. I noticed a statement in the declarative example section.

> "Below is an imperative way to take a list of musicians and create a new array of names."

I think you meant declarative way.

P.S Thanks for sharing

[Alyssa Holland](https://hashnode.com/@AlyssaCodes)

[Feb 16, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/declarative-vs-imperative-programming/6005317d848f4c3b9a0f0efe/comment/602b8c09dcc0ea054c2a0f14#reply-602b9b6fcc91ac05270ef95e)

Good catch! Thanks for informing me of that typo. It has been fixed.

[Maxi Contieri](https://hashnode.com/@mcsee)

[Jan 18, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/declarative-vs-imperative-programming/6005317d848f4c3b9a0f0efe/comment/60059cbb7b30c23b714ab513)

Loved this article.

I disagree with you in one point. I am more pessimistic and I think most programmers think in a imperative way because they were taught to be in _full control_ and make premature optimization.

It is a pity but I hope this will change someday in the future. Imperative programmers are at more danger of being replaced with machines than declarative ones.

[Alyssa Holland](https://hashnode.com/@AlyssaCodes)

[Jan 18, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/declarative-vs-imperative-programming/6005317d848f4c3b9a0f0efe/comment/60059cbb7b30c23b714ab513#reply-6005a40d7b30c23b714ab5e3)

Hey Maxi, that is a fair point you make about programmers thinking in an imperative way.

Thanks for the reading the article and sharing your insight on the topic!