In the classification of programming languages, an applicative programming language is built out of functions applied to arguments.
Applicative languages are functional, and applicative is often used as a synonym for functional.
[2] However, concatenative languages can be functional, while not being applicative.
[3] The semantics of applicative languages are based on beta reduction of terms, and Side effect such as mutation of state are not permitted.
[4] Lisp and ML are applicative programming languages.