functors

A functor is a concept from category theory, a branch of mathematics. In simple terms, you can think of a functor as a mapping between two different categories that preserves their structures. For example, if you have a collection of objects and arrows (or relationships) in one category, a functor translates those objects and arrows into another category while maintaining the way they relate to each other. This allows mathematicians to transfer insights and properties between different contexts, making it a powerful tool for understanding complex systems and relationships in various fields, including programming and logic.