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A concatenative programming language is one in which all terms denote functions and the...

A concatenative programming language is one in which all terms denote functions and the juxtaposition of terms denotes function composition. The combination of a compositional semantics with a syntax that mirrors such a semantics makes concatenative languages highly amenable to algebraic manipulation and formal analysis. Much of the original work on concatenative language theory was carried out by Manfred von Thun. The properties of concatenative languages are the result of their compositional syntax and semantics: The first concatenative programming language was Forth, although Joy was the first language to call itself concatenative. Other concatenative languages are Cat, Enchilada, Factor, Onyx, PostScript, RPL, Stappl, and XY. Most existing concatenative languages are stack-based; this is not a requirement and other models have been proposed. Concatenative languages are currently used for embedded, desktop, and web programming, as target languages, and for research purposes. Most concatenative languages are dynamically typed, although Cat is statically typed and proposals for other typed languages have been made.