Erlang Cheatsheet
Quick reference guide for Erlang — Concurrent, fault-tolerant telecom systems
Reviewed May 25, 2026. Privacy model: tool input is processed in your browser and is not uploaded to BytePane servers.
Table of Contents
Atoms & Tuples in Erlang provides essential functionality for building robust applications. Understanding these concepts helps you write cleaner, more maintainable code and follow Erlang best practices.
Key Concepts
- •Understanding atoms & tuples is essential for effective Erlang development. Master the fundamentals before moving to advanced patterns.
- •Best practices include writing clean, readable code with proper naming conventions and consistent formatting.
- •Refer to the official Erlang documentation for the latest syntax and API changes.
Pattern matching provides concise syntax for branching logic based on data structure. It replaces verbose if-else chains with declarative, exhaustive matching expressions.
Key Concepts
- •Understanding pattern matching is essential for effective Erlang development. Master the fundamentals before moving to advanced patterns.
- •Best practices include writing clean, readable code with proper naming conventions and consistent formatting.
- •Refer to the official Erlang documentation for the latest syntax and API changes.
Functions & Guards in Erlang provides essential functionality for building robust applications. Understanding these concepts helps you write cleaner, more maintainable code and follow Erlang best practices.
Key Concepts
- •Understanding functions & guards is essential for effective Erlang development. Master the fundamentals before moving to advanced patterns.
- •Best practices include writing clean, readable code with proper naming conventions and consistent formatting.
- •Refer to the official Erlang documentation for the latest syntax and API changes.
Related Cheatsheets
About Erlang
Erlang is a functional programming language created by Ericsson in 1986. It is primarily used for concurrent, fault-tolerant telecom systems. Erlang uses dynamic typing, which offers flexibility and rapid prototyping but requires careful attention to type-related bugs.
Why Use This Erlang Cheatsheet?
- ✓Quick Reference — Find syntax and patterns instantly without searching through documentation.
- ✓Organized by Topic — 10 sections covering all major Erlang concepts, from basics to advanced.
- ✓Source-Checked Notes — Highlights stable Erlang patterns, official documentation links, and production caveats reviewed for 2026.
- ✓Searchable — Use the search bar to jump to exactly the concept you need.
Getting Started with Erlang
Whether you're new to Erlang or an experienced developer looking for a quick reference, this cheatsheet covers the essential concepts you need. Start with the fundamentals like atoms & tuples and pattern matching, then progress to more advanced topics like supervisor trees and ets.
Erlang has been widely adopted since its creation in 1986, with a strong community and ecosystem. Files typically use the .erl extension. For the most comprehensive and up-to-date information, always refer to the official Erlang documentation alongside this cheatsheet.
Methodology & Sources for Erlang
How we compile Erlang cheatsheet content: Each entry is checked against official Erlang documentation, relevant specifications where available, and common production patterns. Examples are written to illustrate the concept clearly and should be verified against the exact version used in your project.
- Primary source: official Erlang documentation and language specification.
- Examples: reviewed for syntax shape and practical developer workflows.
- Use cases: selected from common production, documentation, and debugging scenarios.
- Common pitfalls: based on recurring implementation mistakes, docs caveats, and developer support patterns.
Authoritative sources:
- Stack Overflow — community Q&A reference
- MDN Web Docs (Mozilla) — open web standards
- W3C Standards — web platform specifications
- GitHub Open Source — implementation patterns
- NIST Computer Security Division — security best practices
- OWASP Security Standards — secure coding guidelines
Disclaimer: Cheatsheet content reflects standard usage patterns. Always verify with official documentation for your specific version. Code examples may need adaptation for your environment, dependencies, or framework version.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk · Last updated 2026
Standards, Specs & Security References for Erlang
For production code in Erlang, always verify against canonical specifications and security guidance — not just tutorials. Common runtime / language-version compatibility issues are addressed by:
Always cite the spec, not paraphrases:
- • W3C Standards (HTML/CSS)
- • ECMA-262 (JavaScript spec)
- • IETF RFCs (HTTP, JSON, base64, etc)
- • MDN Web Docs — practical reference
Avoid common vulnerabilities:
- • OWASP Top 10 — web security
- • OWASP Cheat Sheet Series
- • NIST SP 800 Series — security publications
- • MITRE CWE — Common Weakness Enumeration
Verify dependencies + audit:
- • npm Registry + `npm audit`
- • GitHub Security Advisories
- • NIST NVD (CVE Database)
- • Snyk Vulnerability DB
Modern toolchain references:
- • GitHub — Open Source Maintenance
- • Docker Documentation
- • Kubernetes Docs
- • Always pin versions in production lockfiles
ReDoS warning: Regex patterns with nested quantifiers can cause catastrophic backtracking. Test patterns with regex101.com and check OWASP ReDoS guidance before deploying user-input regex.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Erlang used for?
Erlang is primarily used for concurrent, fault-tolerant telecom systems. It was created by Ericsson in 1986. It follows the functional paradigm.
Is Erlang hard to learn?
Erlang has a moderate learning curve. Start with the basics covered in sections like Atoms & Tuples and Pattern Matching, then gradually work through more advanced topics. This cheatsheet helps by providing quick references for each concept.
How do I use this cheatsheet?
Use the search bar to find specific topics, click section headers to expand/collapse content, and use the table of contents for quick navigation. You can also expand or collapse all sections at once.