Apply several transformation functions to string - scala

Question

Suppose I have 2 methods:
def a(s: String) = s + "..."
def b(s: String) = s + ",,,"
And I want to create 3rd method which will call both methods:
def c (s: String) = a(b(s))
How I can do it in idiomatic Scala way?
I think it's better to aggregate this functions into some List and then sequentially apply them:
List(a_, b_)

Answer 1

I think it's better to aggregate this functions into some List and
then sequentially apply them.
You get some help by specifying an expected type:
scala> val fs: List[String => String] = List(a,b)
fs: List[String => String] = List(<function1>, <function1>)
scala> fs.foldLeft("something")((s,f) => f(s))
res0: String = something...,,,

Answer 2

Here is how you can combine a set of functions into one:
// a() and b() are as defined in the question
// the following is equivalent to newfunc(x) = b(a(x))
val newFunc: String => String = List( a _, b _).reduce( _ andThen _ )
You can even create a generic function to combine them:
def functionChaining[A]( functions: A => A *): A => A = functions.reduce( _ andThen _ )
or using foldLeft:
def functionChaining[A]( functions: A => A *): A => A = functions.foldLeft( (x:A) => x )( _ andThen _ )
Here is an example of how to use this on the REPL:
scala> val newFunc: String => String = functionChaining( (x:String) => x + "---", (x:String) => x * 4)
scala> newFunc("|")
res12: String = |---|---|---|---

Answer 3

Many answers use andThen, but that will be give you
b(a(s))
Given that you want
a(b(s))
compose is the way to go (well, that or reversing the list, but what's the point?)
def c(s: String) = List[String => String](a, b).reduce(_ compose _)(s)
// or alternatively
def c(s: String) = List(a _, b _).reduce(_ compose _)(s)
As a result
c("foo") // foo,,,...
Now, speaking of what's idiomatic, I believe that
a(b(s))
is more idiomatic and readable than
List(a _, b _).reduce(_ compose _)(s)
This clearly depends on the number of functions you're composing. If you were to have
a(b(c(d(e(f(g(h(s))))))))
then
List[String => String](a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h).reduce(_ compose _)(s)
is probably neater and more idiomatic as well.

Answer 4

If you really think you need to do this:
val c = a _ andThen b
// (The signature is:)
val c:(String)=>String = a _ andThen b
or, more obviously:
def d(s:String) = a _ andThen b

Answer 5

If chained application is preferred then the below works. Caveats - Implicit syntax is a bit ugly; This being a structural type uses reflection.
object string {
implicit def aPimp(s: String) = new {
def a = "(a- " + s + " -a)"
}
implicit def bPimp(s: String) = new {
def b = "(b- " + s + " -b)"
}
}
scala> import string._
scala> "xyz".a.b
res0: String = (b- (a- xyz -a) -b)
scala> "xyz".b.a
res1: String = (a- (b- xyz -b) -a)
In my opinion, if not for the ugly syntax, this would be idiomatic scala.