What is a Lambda Function?
A lambda function in Python is a small, anonymous function that can have any number of arguments but only one expression. Think of it as a ninja function —silent, quick, and efficient!
Why Use Lambda Functions?
- Saves space – No need for full
def
functions - Used for short operations – Great for quick calculations
- Works well inside other functions – Ideal for functional programming
Basic Lambda Syntax
A lambda function is written using the lambda
keyword:
lambda arguments: expression
Example:
add = lambda a, b: a + b
print(add(5, 3)) # Outputs: 8
Same as:
def add(a, b):
return a + b
Using Lambda Inside Functions
Lambdas are often used inside other functions:
def multiplier(n):
return lambda x: x * n
double = multiplier(2)
print(double(5)) # Outputs: 10
Lambda with map()
, filter()
, and sorted()
Lambdas shine in functions like map()
and filter()
.
numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
squared = list(map(lambda x: x**2, numbers))
print(squared) # Outputs: [1, 4, 9, 16, 25]
Filtering even numbers:
evens = list(filter(lambda x: x % 2 == 0, numbers))
print(evens) # Outputs: [2, 4]
Summary
Concept | Description |
---|---|
lambda |
Creates small anonymous functions |
Single Expression | Can only contain one expression |
Used in map() , filter() , sorted() |
Great for short tasks |
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