Which is more preferable to use: lambda functions or nested functions (‘def’)?

by

If you need to assign the lambda to a name, use a def instead. defs are just syntactic sugar for an assignment, so the result is the same, and they are a lot more flexible and readable.

lambdas can be used for use once, throw away functions which won’t have a name.

However, this use case is very rare. You rarely need to pass around unnamed function objects.

The builtins map() and filter() need function objects, but list comprehensions and generator expressions are generally more readable than those functions and can cover all use cases, without the need of lambdas.

For the cases you really need a small function object, you should use the operator module functions, like operator.add instead of lambda x, y: x + y

If you still need some lambda not covered, you might consider writing a def, just to be more readable. If the function is more complex than the ones at operator module, a def is probably better.

So, real world good lambda use cases are very rare.

More Related Contents:

  1. How are lambdas useful? [closed]
  2. python max function using ‘key’ and lambda expression
  3. No Multiline Lambda in Python: Why not?
  4. What does a semicolon do?
  5. Check if two Python functions are equal
  6. Python function define: A message will prompt up if missing entering an argument
  7. Python lambda’s binding to local values
  8. How do I create a list of lambdas (in a list comprehension/for loop)?
  9. Python function attributes – uses and abuses [closed]
  10. Why are trailing commas allowed in a list?
  11. When are parentheses required around a tuple?
  12. How do I create a Python function with optional arguments?
  13. What is :: (double colon) in Python when subscripting sequences?
  14. How to call function that takes an argument in a Django template?
  15. Advanced Nested List Comprehension Syntax
  16. Meaning of using commas and underscores with Python assignment operator? [duplicate]
  17. Extracting specific columns in numpy array
  18. Basic explanation of python functions
  19. python: how to get information about a function?
  20. Modifying function arguments
  21. What does ** (double star/asterisk) and * (star/asterisk) do for parameters in Python?
  22. Python decorator? – can someone please explain this? [duplicate]
  23. How to check whether optional function parameter is set
  24. Is there a function in python to split a word into a list? [duplicate]
  25. Callback function tkinter button with variable parameter [duplicate]
  26. Why doesn’t an import in an exec in a function work?
  27. “unpacking” a passed dictionary into the function’s name space in Python?
  28. Returning tuple with a single item from a function
  29. Finding Combinations to the provided Sum value
  30. Is it ok to skip “return None”?

Leave a Comment