The key features of Erlang programming language include :
1. Concurrency and lightweight processes : Erlang is designed to handle concurrent programming effectively. It provides lightweight processes that are inexpensive to create and manage. These processes are isolated from each other and communicate through message passing, allowing for easy concurrency and parallelism.
2. Fault tolerance : Erlang has built-in mechanisms for building fault-tolerant systems. Processes can be linked together to monitor each other's state, and supervisors can automatically restart failed processes. This fault-tolerant design enables systems to recover from errors and failures gracefully.
3. Distributed computing : Erlang has strong support for distributed computing. It allows processes to be distributed across multiple nodes, which can be located on different machines or even in different geographical locations. Erlang provides tools and abstractions to handle network transparency and ensure reliable communication between distributed processes.
4. Hot code swapping : One of the unique features of Erlang is its ability to perform hot code swapping. It allows the replacement of code modules in a running system without stopping it. This feature enables seamless system upgrades and the ability to apply bug fixes or add new features without interrupting the system's operation.
5. Functional programming : Erlang is a functional programming language. It supports immutable data and pure functions, which promote code clarity, modularity, and ease of testing. Functional programming principles such as higher-order functions, pattern matching, and recursion are integral to Erlang's design.
6. Pattern matching : Erlang provides powerful pattern matching capabilities. It allows developers to match and deconstruct complex data structures easily. Pattern matching is used extensively for message passing, function clauses, and data manipulation, making Erlang code concise and expressive.
7. Garbage collection : Erlang has a built-in garbage collector that automatically manages memory allocation and deallocation. This relieves the developer from manual memory management tasks, making it easier to write correct and safe code.
8. OTP (Open Telecom Platform) : OTP is a set of libraries, design principles, and best practices that extend Erlang's capabilities for building robust and scalable systems. OTP provides a standardized framework for building fault-tolerant, distributed, and concurrent applications.
These key features make Erlang well-suited for developing highly concurrent, fault-tolerant, and scalable systems, particularly in domains such as telecommunications, distributed systems, real-time applications, and messaging platforms.
