Skip to main content

Python Lambda Function

 

Python Lambda


A lambda function is a small anonymous function.

A lambda function can take any number of arguments, but can only have one expression.


Syntax

lambda arguments expression

The expression is executed and the result is returned:

Example

Add 10 to argument a, and return the result:

x = lambda a : a + 10
print(x(5))

Lambda functions can take any number of arguments:

Example

Multiply argument a with argument b and return the result:

x = lambda a, b : a * b
print(x(56))

Example

Summarize argument ab, and c and return the result:

x = lambda a, b, c : a + b + c
print(x(562))



Why Use Lambda Functions?

The power of lambda is better shown when you use them as an anonymous function inside another function.

Say you have a function definition that takes one argument, and that argument will be multiplied with an unknown number:

def myfunc(n):
  return lambda a : a * n

Use that function definition to make a function that always doubles the number you send in:

Example

def myfunc(n):
  return lambda a : a * n

mydoubler = myfunc(2)

print(mydoubler(11))

Or, use the same function definition to make a function that always triples the number you send in:

Example

def myfunc(n):
  return lambda a : a * n

mytripler = myfunc(3)

print(mytripler(11))

Or, use the same function definition to make both functions, in the same program:

Example

def myfunc(n):
  return lambda a : a * n

mydoubler = myfunc(2)
mytripler = myfunc(3)

print(mydoubler(11))
print(mytripler(11))

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Python Tuples

  Python  Tuples mytuple = ( "apple" ,  "banana" ,  "cherry" ) Tuple Tuples are used to store multiple items in a single variable. Tuple is one of 4 built-in data types in Python used to store collections of data, the other 3 are List, Set, and Dictionary, all with different qualities and usage. A tuple is a collection which is ordered and  unchangeable . Tuples are written with round brackets. Example Create a Tuple: thistuple = ( "apple" ,  "banana" ,  "cherry" ) print (thistuple) Tuple Items Tuple items are ordered, unchangeable, and allow duplicate values. Tuple items are indexed, the first item has index  [0] , the second item has index  [1]  etc. Ordered When we say that tuples are ordered, it means that the items have a defined order, and that order will not change. Unchangeable Tuples are unchangeable, meaning that we cannot change, add or remove items after the tuple has been created. Allow Duplicates Since tuples...

Python Lists

  Python  Lists mylist = [ "apple" ,  "banana" ,  "cherry" ] List Lists are used to store multiple items in a single variable. Lists are one of 4 built-in data types in Python used to store collections of data, the other 3 are  Tuple ,  Set , and  Dictionary , all with different qualities and usage. Lists are created using square brackets: Example Create a List: thislist = [ "apple" ,  "banana" ,  "cherry" ] print (thislist) List Items List items are ordered, changeable, and allow duplicate values. List items are indexed, the first item has index  [0] , the second item has index  [1]  etc. Ordered When we say that lists are ordered, it means that the items have a defined order, and that order will not change. If you add new items to a list, the new items will be placed at the end of the list. Changeable The list is changeable, meaning that we can change, add, and remove items in a list after it has been created. Allow Duplicat...

Python Getting Started

  Python  Getting Started Python Install Many PCs and Macs will have python already installed. To check if you have python installed on a Windows PC, search in the start bar for Python or run the following on the Command Line (cmd.exe): C:\Users\ Your Name >python --version To check if you have python installed on a Linux or Mac, then on linux open the command line or on Mac open the Terminal and type: python --version If you find that you do not have python installed on your computer, then you can download it for free from the following website:  https://www.python.org/ Python Quickstart Python is an interpreted programming language, this means that as a developer you write Python (.py) files in a text editor and then put those files into the python interpreter to be executed. The way to run a python file is like this on the command line: C:\Users\ Your Name >python helloworld.py Where "helloworld.py" is the name of your python file. Let's write our first Python fi...