How does one extract the original head of an expression?

Question

The expression Head[Plot[x, {x, 0, 1}]] returns Graphics. Might it be possible to extract the original head of an expression without evaluation transforming it into something else?

My ultimate objective is to be able to pass any expression say, f[x] as an argument arg to another function g[arg] and then within g do something like this:

IN:: f[x]:= x; g[arg] := Module[{head}, **Some other stuff**; head = Head@arg; head]; g[f@x]

OUT:: f

However, doing:

IN:: g[arg] := Module[{head}, **Some other stuff**; head = Head@arg; head]; g[Plot[x, {x, 0, 1}]]]

I get:

OUT:: Graphics

This also happens when setting the Attributes of g to HoldFirst etc.

Answer 1

In a practical scenario, you may be storing your expression in a variable. To be able to do so, it must be held unevaluated.

expr = Hold[Plot[x, {x, 0, 1}]]
(* Hold[Plot[x, {x, 0, 1}]] *)

Then you can simply use Part.

expr[[1, 0]]
(* Plot *)

Unevaluated will be useful (only) when the expression is inserted literally into Unevaluated.

Head@Unevaluated@Plot[x, {x, 0, 1}]
(* Plot *)

SetAttributes[fun, HoldAll]
fun[expr_] := Head@Unevaluated[expr]

fun[Plot[x, {x, 0, 1}]]
(* Plot *)

This does not work:

expr := Plot[x, {x, 0, 1}]

Head@Unevaluated[expr]
(* Symbol *)

Recommended reading:

• Working With Unevaluated Expressions