ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Eager evaluation

Have you ever been so excited to do something that you just couldn't wait any longer? Well, that's just like eager evaluation!

In computer programming, when we have a task to do, we need to give the computer very specific instructions on how to do it. However, sometimes we want the computer to start working on the task right away, even before it has all the information it needs. This is where eager evaluation comes in.

Eager evaluation means the computer starts working on a task as soon as it has some of the necessary information, instead of waiting until it has all the information it needs. This can make things go faster, because it doesn't waste time waiting around for more information.

Think of it like making a cake. Normally, you would gather all the ingredients before starting, but with eager evaluation, you might start mixing the ingredients together as soon as you have a few of them, even if you haven't gathered all of them yet. This can speed up the process, but it can also cause problems if you don't have all the ingredients you need or if you mix the wrong ones together.

Overall, eager evaluation can be a helpful tool in computer programming, but it's important to use it carefully and make sure you have all the information you need before the computer starts working.
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