diff --git a/docs/architecture.md b/docs/architecture.md
index 9c90422..462adc7 100644
--- a/docs/architecture.md
+++ b/docs/architecture.md
@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
 # Design Principles & Architecture
 
-Pragmatism Over Purity.
+## Core motivations
+
+1) do NOT swallow errors and inconsistencies during arrays sync and async operations
+2) avoid boilerplate error management (and BAD error management) 
+
+Point number one includes *thrown errors* as well as JavaScript *built-in inconsistencies*: undefined and null.
+
+## Pragmatism Over Purity.
 
 We built this library to be a practical tool for executing tasks.
 
@@ -13,3 +20,19 @@ Many functional libraries are "Iterator-First" (lazy, yielding generators). We e
 Our Approach: Eager Execution.
 
 We prefer Explicit Results over Lazy Iterables. When you run series or scan, the work happens immediately. You get a structured report { results, errors, failure } back. No surprises.
+
+## Terminology
+
+The vocabulary we have established for the pipelean project: 
+
+  * Iteration (Horizontal): The process of traversing a list of items one by one. This is the "width" of the process.
+       Implementations: series, scan, filter.
+       
+  * Composition (Vertical): The process of chaining functions together to run sequentially on a single item. This is the "depth" of the process.
+       Implementation: pipe.
+       
+  * Operation: The function passed to an iterator (like series). It can be a simple function or a composed function (pipe).
+  * Transform (Mapping): An operation that changes the shape or value of an item. (A→B).
+  * Selection (Filtering): An operation that decides whether to keep or drop an item. (A→A or A→∅ 
+  ). In our merged model, this is signaled by returning undefined.
+  * Outcome: The structural result returned by iterators: {results, errors, failure}.
diff --git a/src/functional.js b/src/functional.js
index 96e2f59..8007e39 100644
--- a/src/functional.js
+++ b/src/functional.js
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* eslint-disable max-lines */
 export const failFast = Object.freeze({name: 'failFast'})
 export const collect = Object.freeze({name: 'collect'})
 export const failLate = Object.freeze({name: 'failLate'})
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ export const series = (...args) => {
   const immediate = typeof args[0] !== 'function'
   const [items, fn, opts = {}] = immediate ? args : [null, args[0], args[1]]
 
-  // eslint-disable-next-line complexity
+  // eslint-disable-next-line complexity, max-statements
   const run = async inputItems => {
     const {
       strategy = collect,
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ export const series = (...args) => {
     })
 
     let index = 0
-    let failure = null
+    let failure = false
 
     for await (const item of inputItems) {
       // eslint-disable-next-line no-undefined
@@ -88,9 +89,16 @@ export const series = (...args) => {
 
       try {
         const result = await safeFn(item, index)
-        results.push(result)
+        // Why the next line:
+        // If the operation (or pipe) returns undefined, we drop the item.
+        // Is this a temporary hack?
+        // Should we collect drops as we do for errors.
+        // eslint-disable-next-line no-undefined
+        if (result !== undefined) {
+          results.push(result)
+        }
       } catch (error) {
-        const strategyName = strategy?.name ?? strategy
+        const strategyName = strategy.name ?? strategy
 
         if (strategyName === 'failFast') {
           if (onFailure) {
@@ -111,7 +119,7 @@ export const series = (...args) => {
       index++
     }
 
-    failure = strategy?.name === 'failLate' && errors.length > 0 ? true : null
+    failure = !!(strategy.name === 'failLate' && errors.length > 0)
 
     if (failure && onFailure) {
       onFailure(true)
@@ -163,7 +171,7 @@ export const filter = (...args) => {
           results.push(item)
         }
       } catch (error) {
-        const strategyName = strategy?.name ?? strategy
+        const strategyName = strategy.name ?? strategy
 
         if (onErrorParam) {
           await onErrorParam(error)
@@ -187,7 +195,7 @@ export const filter = (...args) => {
       index++
     }
 
-    failure = strategy?.name === 'failLate' && errors.length > 0 ? true : null
+    failure = strategy.name === 'failLate' && errors.length > 0 ? true : null
 
     if (failure && onFailure) {
       onFailure(true)
@@ -211,7 +219,7 @@ export const scan = async (iterable, scanner, initialValue, opts = {}) => {
       acc = await scanner(acc, item)
       results.push(acc)
     } catch (error) {
-      const strategyName = strategy?.name ?? strategy
+      const strategyName = strategy.name ?? strategy
 
       if (onError) {
         await onError(error)
@@ -238,7 +246,7 @@ export const scan = async (iterable, scanner, initialValue, opts = {}) => {
   }
 
   const failure =
-    strategy?.name === 'failLate' && errors.length > 0 ? true : null
+    strategy.name === 'failLate' && errors.length > 0 ? true : null
 
   if (failure && onFailure) {
     onFailure(true)
@@ -248,7 +256,11 @@ export const scan = async (iterable, scanner, initialValue, opts = {}) => {
 }
 
 export const pipe = (...fns) => input =>
-  fns.reduce(async (acc, fn) => fn(await acc), input)
+  fns.reduce(async (acc, fn) => {
+    const value = await acc
+    // eslint-disable-next-line no-undefined
+    return value === undefined ? undefined : fn(value)
+  }, input)
 
 export const compose = pipe
 
diff --git a/tests/error-strategies.test.js b/tests/error-strategies.test.js
index 105ce2c..c6d1ca6 100644
--- a/tests/error-strategies.test.js
+++ b/tests/error-strategies.test.js
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ test('failLate: no errors returns failure: null', async () => {
 
   expect(result.results).toEqual([2, 4, 6])
   expect(result.errors).toHaveLength(0)
-  expect(result.failure).toBe(null)
+  expect(result.failure).toBe(false)
 })
 
 test('skip: ignores errors without collection', async () => {
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ test('skip: ignores errors without collection', async () => {
 
   expect(result.results).toEqual([2, 6])
   expect(result.errors).toHaveLength(0)
-  expect(result.failure).toBe(null)
+  expect(result.failure).toBe(false)
 })
 
 test('skip: calls onError if present', async () => {
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ test('skip: calls onError if present', async () => {
   expect(onErrorCalls[0]).toEqual(new Error('Error at 2'))
   expect(result.results).toEqual([2, 6])
   expect(result.errors).toHaveLength(0)
-  expect(result.failure).toBe(null)
+  expect(result.failure).toBe(false)
 })
 
 test('fail alias works as failFast in series', async () => {
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ test('skip works with filter', async () => {
 
   expect(result.results).toEqual([]) // 2 and 4 failed
   expect(result.errors).toHaveLength(0)
-  expect(result.failure).toBe(null)
+  expect(result.failure).toBe(false)
 })
 
 test('failLate with series returns success before error', async () => {
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ test('failLate with series returns success before error', async () => {
   expect(result.failure).toBe(true)
 })
 
-test('collect strategy still works (failure: null)', async () => {
+test('collect strategy still works (failure: false)', async () => {
   const items = [1, 2, 3]
   const fn = item => {
     if (item === 2)
@@ -212,5 +212,5 @@ test('collect strategy still works (failure: null)', async () => {
 
   expect(result.results).toEqual([2, 6])
   expect(result.errors).toHaveLength(1)
-  expect(result.failure).toBe(null)
+  expect(result.failure).toBe(false)
 })
diff --git a/tests/onFailure.test.js b/tests/onFailure.test.js
index 3b8c59e..082a0b2 100644
--- a/tests/onFailure.test.js
+++ b/tests/onFailure.test.js
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ test('onFailure called for failLate with true', async () => {
   expect(result.errors).toHaveLength(2)
 })
 
-test('onFailure NOT called for collect (failure: null)', async () => {
+test('onFailure NOT called for collect (failure: false)', async () => {
   const onFailure = vi.fn()
   const items = [1, 2, 3]
 
@@ -80,12 +80,12 @@ test('onFailure NOT called for collect (failure: null)', async () => {
   })
 
   expect(onFailure).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
-  expect(result.failure).toBe(null)
+  expect(result.failure).toBe(false)
   expect(result.results).toEqual([2, 6])
   expect(result.errors).toHaveLength(1)
 })
 
-test('onFailure NOT called for skip (failure: null)', async () => {
+test('onFailure NOT called for skip (failure: false)', async () => {
   const onFailure = vi.fn()
   const items = [1, 2, 3]
 
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ test('onFailure NOT called for skip (failure: null)', async () => {
   })
 
   expect(onFailure).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
-  expect(result.failure).toBe(null)
+  expect(result.failure).toBe(false)
   expect(result.results).toEqual([2, 6])
   expect(result.errors).toHaveLength(0)
 })
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ test('onFailure works with scan', async () => {
 
 test('Application-layer wrapper with default onFailure', async () => {
   // Simulating an application-layer wrapper
-  let lastFailure = null
+  let lastFailure = false
 
   const withDefaultOnFailure = (fn, opts) => ({
     ...opts,
@@ -214,9 +214,9 @@ test('onFailure with skip strategy still allows onError', async () => {
   expect(onError).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
   expect(onError).toHaveBeenCalledWith(new Error('Error at 2'))
 
-  // onFailure should NOT be called (failure is null)
+  // onFailure should NOT be called (failure is false)
   expect(onFailure).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
-  expect(result.failure).toBe(null)
+  expect(result.failure).toBe(false)
   expect(result.errors).toHaveLength(0)
   expect(result.results).toEqual([2, 6])
 })
diff --git a/tests/pipe.test.js b/tests/pipe.test.js
index 71dac6e..b8ba9d0 100644
--- a/tests/pipe.test.js
+++ b/tests/pipe.test.js
@@ -28,6 +28,19 @@ test('propagates errors', async () => {
   await expect(pipeline(1)).rejects.toThrow('pipe broke')
 })
 
+test('short-circuits on undefined', async () => {
+  let called = false
+  const result = await pipe(
+    () => undefined,
+    () => {
+      called = true
+      return 'should not reach'
+    },
+  )(1)
+  expect(result).toBeUndefined()
+  expect(called).toBe(false)
+})
+
 test('passes result through async chain', async () => {
   const result = await pipe(
     x => Promise.resolve(x + 1),
diff --git a/tests/series-pipe.test.js b/tests/series-pipe.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..71bb45b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/series-pipe.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+import {test, expect} from 'vitest'
+import {series, pipe} from '$src/functional'
+
+const double = x => x * 2
+const increment = x => x + 1
+const isEven = x => x % 2 === 0
+
+// A curried function for testing curry support
+const multiplyBy = factor => x => x * factor
+
+test('accept a pipe with a single mapping function', async () => {
+  const items = [1, 2, 3]
+  const operation = pipe(double)
+
+  const result = await series(items, operation)
+
+  expect(result).toEqual({
+    results: [2, 4, 6],
+    errors: [],
+    failure: false,
+  })
+})
+
+test('accept a pipe with multiple mapping functions', async () => {
+  const items = [1, 2, 3]
+  // double first, then increment: 1->2->3
+  const operation = pipe(double, increment)
+
+  const result = await series(items, operation)
+
+  expect(result).toEqual({
+    results: [3, 5, 7],
+    errors: [],
+    failure: false,
+  })
+})
+
+test('curried functions inside the pipe', async () => {
+  const items = [1, 2, 3]
+  // Using the curried multiplyBy function
+  const operation = pipe(increment, multiplyBy(10))
+
+  const result = await series(items, operation)
+
+  expect(result).toEqual({
+    results: [20, 30, 40], // (1+1)*10, etc.
+    errors: [],
+    failure: false,
+  })
+})
+
+test(
+  'filter after transform in a pipe (short-circuit mid-pipe)',
+  async () => {
+    const items = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
+
+    // NOTE: double(n) is always even for integers, so the
+    // filter step (drop odds) is a no-op here.
+    // 1->2->3, 2->4->5, 3->6->7, 4->8->9, 5->10->11, 6->12->13
+    const operation = pipe(
+      double,
+      x => isEven(x) ? x : undefined,
+      increment,
+    )
+
+    const result = await series(items, operation)
+
+    expect(result).toEqual({
+      results: [3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13],
+      errors: [],
+      failure: false,
+    })
+  },
+)
+
+test('mixed mapping and filtering logic within a pipe', async () => {
+  const items = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
+
+  // Goal: Keep even numbers, double them, then increment.
+  // 1 (odd) -> drop
+  // 2 (even) -> 4 -> 5
+  // 3 (odd) -> drop
+  const operation = pipe(
+    x => isEven(x) ? x : undefined, // Filter FIRST
+    double,
+    increment
+  )
+
+  const result = await series(items, operation)
+
+  expect(result).toEqual({
+    results: [5, 9, 13], // inputs: 2, 4, 6
+    errors: [],
+    failure: false,
+  })
+})
diff --git a/tests/series.test.js b/tests/series.test.js
index dd4c39e..64627cc 100644
--- a/tests/series.test.js
+++ b/tests/series.test.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import {series, collect} from '$src/functional'
 
 test('all items succeed returns results with no errors', async () => {
   const result = await series([1, 2, 3], x => x * 2)
-  expect(result).toEqual({results: [2, 4, 6], errors: [], failure: null})
+  expect(result).toEqual({results: [2, 4, 6], errors: [], failure: false})
 })
 
 test('failFast stops on first error with partial results', async () => {
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ test('collect continues past errors same as skip', async () => {
   }, {strategy: collect})
   expect(result.results).toEqual([10, 30])
   expect(result.errors).toEqual([{item: 2, error: bang}])
-  expect(result.failure).toBeNull()
+  expect(result.failure).toBe(false)
 })
 
 test('async mapping functions work', async () => {
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ test('passes index as second arg to fn', async () => {
 
 test('empty array returns empty result shape', async () => {
   const result = await series([], x => x)
-  expect(result).toEqual({results: [], errors: [], failure: null})
+  expect(result).toEqual({results: [], errors: [], failure: false})
 })
 
 test('curried form returns a function', () => {
@@ -57,5 +57,5 @@ test('curried form returns a function', () => {
 test('curried form executes when called with items', async () => {
   const double = series(x => x * 2)
   const result = await double([1, 2, 3])
-  expect(result).toEqual({results: [2, 4, 6], errors: [], failure: null})
+  expect(result).toEqual({results: [2, 4, 6], errors: [], failure: false})
 })