terminal operations

Terminal operations refer to the final actions taken on data structures, such as lists or streams, that produce a result or side effect. In programming, these operations transform or retrieve data, concluding a sequence of computations. For example, counting items, summing numbers, or generating a list are terminal operations because they provide a final output. Unlike intermediate operations that create new versions of data structures for further processing, terminal operations yield a definitive outcome, marking the end of data processing. They are essential in turning data flow into meaningful results.