The Wolfram Technology Guide


Technology Guide

More About Mathematica
Uniform Expression Model
PreviousNext
 
 
 

Diverse concepts are all represented with the uniform expression model.

Mathematica handles many different kinds of concepts: mathematical formulas, lists, and graphics, to name just a few. Although they often look very different, Mathematica represents all of these in one uniform way--as expressions.

This uniform expression model is a crucial unifying principle in Mathematica. The fact that every object in Mathematica has the same underlying structure makes it possible for Mathematica to cover so many areas with a comparatively small number of basic operations, and for each function (whether built-in or user defined) to be so powerful.

For example, there's no need for a special graphics manipulation language in Mathematica: the uniform expression model means that like every other kind of expression, graphics can be manipulated by "standard" expression manipulation functions. In a non-Mathematica system, graphics would have a different representation type from numerical quantities, so without special adaptation would need their own set of operations for manipulation.

Related Links
"The Importance of Symbolic Programming" by Roger Germundsson, director of research and development at Wolfram Research
Documentation: The unifying idea of Mathematica
The Mathematica Book: Section 2.1





© 2006 Wolfram Research, Inc.