Strict Evaluation
Strict evaluation is a programming language evaluation strategy where function arguments are evaluated before the function is applied, and expressions are computed as soon as they are bound to variables. It is the default evaluation model in most mainstream programming languages, such as Java, Python, and C++, ensuring predictable execution order and side effects. This approach contrasts with lazy evaluation, where computation is deferred until the result is actually needed.
Developers should understand strict evaluation because it underpins the behavior of widely used languages, enabling predictable control flow, efficient resource usage in imperative programming, and straightforward debugging due to immediate execution. It is essential for performance-critical applications, real-time systems, and scenarios where side effects (like I/O operations) must occur in a specific, deterministic sequence, such as in financial transactions or embedded systems.