Lambda functions are anonymous functions in Python. They allow you to define a small, one-line function without the need for a formal def keyword and a function name.
Example:
Imagine you want to double a number. Here's how you can do it with a regular function:
def double(x):
"""Doubles a number."""
return x * 2
result = double(5)
print(result) # Output: 10
This defines a function named double that takes a number (x) as input and returns its double.
Here's how you can achieve the same functionality using a Lambda function:
# Lambda function to double a number
double_lambda = lambda x: x * 2
result = double_lambda(5)
print(result) # Output: 10
Use Cases:
- Passing small functions as arguments to other functions.
- Sorting or filtering data based on a simple criterion.
- Creating throwaway functions used only once.