Welcome, eager learners! In the world of coding, Python has its own flair, known for its simplicity, versatility and readability. One such feature which truly defines Python’s philosophy of clean and efficient code is the lambda expression.
Table of contents
Understanding Lambda Expressions
Lambda expressions, often simply called lambdas, are small, anonymous functions, defined by the keyword ‘lambda’. Lambdas are unique and valuable as they allow us to write functions on the fly, without the need for a formal function definition.
The Purpose of Lambdas
Lambdas are highly efficient when we need to perform small tasks multiple times, or when implementing functions that are used once or a very limited times in your code, especially in code related scenarios like sorting, filtering or mapping data.
Why Learn Lambda Expressions
Learning about lambdas not only amplifies your skills as a Python coder, but adds a powerful tool to your coding arsenal, allowing you to write more versatile, efficient, and Pythonic code. As we delve deeper into the realms of Python like data analysis and game development, Lambdas prove to be invaluable.
Now that we have encapsulated the essence of Lambda expressions and their impact, it’s time to dig deep and start coding! Let’s continue our journey and get our hands dirty with some practical Lambda expression code examples.
Stay tuned, and let’s unravel the mystery of Lambda expressions, one line of code at a time.
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Creating and Using Lambda Expressions
Let’s start with the basics. The lambda functions are declared using the keyword ‘lambda’, followed by one or more arguments, a colon and an expression.
# Basic syntax lambda arguments : expression
We can use a lambda function to square a number. It’s that simple!
# Lambda to square a number square = lambda num : num ** 2 print(square(5)) # Output: 25
Lambda expressions can have multiple arguments as well.
# A lambda function with two arguments adder = lambda x, y : x + y print(adder(5, 3)) # Output: 8
Using Lambdas with Python In-built Functions
Lambda expressions truly shine when coupled with Python’s in-built functions. Here’s how you can utilise them:
# Lambda with in-built function filter() my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] even_list = list(filter(lambda x: (x%2 == 0), my_list)) print(even_list) # Output: [2, 4]
# Lambda with in-built function map() my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] squared_list = list(map(lambda x: x**2, my_list)) print(squared_list) # Output: [1, 4, 9, 16, 25]
# Lambda with in-built function reduce() from functools import reduce my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] product = reduce((lambda x, y: x * y), my_list) print(product) # Output: 120
Remember, the focus of learning lambda expressions is on writing cleaner and more Pythonic code. The more you practice, the easier it will be for you to write functions on the fly!
Digging Deeper with Lambda Expressions
Let’s take our learning to the next level by exploring some advanced use-cases of lambdas.
# Multiple expressions in a Lambda multiple_expression = lambda x : (x**2, x**3) print(multiple_expression(3)) # Output: (9, 27)
Lambda functions can also take no arguments.
# Lambda without any argument get_ten = lambda : 10 print(get_ten()) # Output: 10
Lambda expressions are also used heavily in the popular Python GUI toolkit Tkinter for callback functions.
# Equivalent functions using def and lambda def foo(x): return x ** 2 foo = lambda x: x ** 2 # Both of these are the same
Lambda expressions excel when dealing with list comprehension, dictionary comprehension, and set comprehension.
# Using lambda for list comprehension my_list = [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10] new_list = [(lambda x: x*x)(x) for x in my_list] print(new_list) # Output: [1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100]
# Using lambda for dictionary comprehension
my_dict = {i : (lambda x: x*x)(i) for i in range(1, 6)}
print(my_dict)
# Output: {1: 1, 2: 4, 3: 9, 4: 16, 5: 25}
# Using lambda for set comprehension
my_set = {(lambda x: x*x)(x) for x in my_list}
print(my_set)
# Output: {1, 4, 36, 100, 9, 16, 81, 49, 64, 25}From cleaning data to sorting, filtering or mapping it, lambdas stand as an efficient and swift tool to ease our work and enhance Python’s readability and efficiency. Always remember, practice and exploration are your best allies in consuming the power of lambda expressions.
Where to Go Next?
Now that you’ve dipped your toes into the world of lambda expressions and seen their power and versatility, it’s time to continue your journey towards Python mastery! Remember, the more you practice and experiment with your code, the better you’ll understand these concepts.
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Conclusion
Learning to effectively use lambda expressions in Python is an important milestone on your journey to becoming a Python expert. As we’ve seen, Lambdas can be invaluable for writing quick, clean, and efficient code on-the-fly, making them a must-have tool for any proficient Python programmer. Remember, mastery comes with practice. So, apply these skills in your projects to make them slick and Pythonic!
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