Extension Functions and the Apply Function
In the vast ecosystem of modern programming languages, Kotlin stands out as a beacon of innovation and pragmatism. Its carefully crafted design not only addresses the limitations of its predecessors but also introduces powerful features that transform the way developers approach everyday programming challenges. In this chapter, we’ll dive into some of these features.
Extension functions represent one of the most significant advancements in object-oriented programming in recent years. These functions allow developers to extend the capabilities of existing classes without needing to inherit from them or modify their original source code. Imagine being able to add new methods to system classes or third-party libraries as if they were an intrinsic part of those classes. This capability not only improves code readability and maintainability but also opens new possibilities for designing fluent and expressive APIs.
On the other hand...