The term "f*" often refers to a family of programming languages that are functional in nature. These languages emphasize the use of functions as the primary building blocks for constructing programs. They allow developers to write code that is more concise and easier to understand, promoting a style of programming that avoids changing state and mutable data. One of the most notable languages in this family is F#, which is designed for the .NET framework. F# combines functional programming with object-oriented and procedural programming features, making it versatile for various applications, from data analysis to web development.