The programming paradigm based on function calls is known as functional programming. In this paradigm, computations are treated as the evaluation of mathematical functions, avoiding changing states or mutable data. This approach promotes higher-order functions and enables functions to be first-class citizens, allowing them to be passed as arguments or returned as values. Prominent languages that support this paradigm include Haskell and Scala, offering a different perspective on programming that emphasizes immutability and function composition.