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But what is the use of understanding monoids, other than as a step towards understanding monads? No criticism... I read all of these submissions. But the ones

by gavinpc 12y ago

But what is the use of understanding monoids, other than as a step towards understanding monads? No criticism... I read all of these submissions. But the ones which only cover monoids [0] leave me wondering, Okay, now what? So I guess the confusion is mine. [0] Other than to say that monads are "very different things".

ZenoArrow 12y ago
> "But what is the use of understanding monoids, other than as a step towards understanding monads?" I'm sorry, but I don't follow. It's just terminology for communicating more efficiently with other programmers (and mathematicians, in this case). They're both a group of ideas with a label. Why would one group only serve to introduce the second group?
- gavinpc 12y ago
  You're completely right — I stand corrected. The OP covers practical usages at the end of the piece, as well as in a follow-up piece for that sole purpose. Thanks.