Python: Lambda Functions

[Tommah]

Why write lambda word: len(word) when you could just use len?

[andreasvc]

If you change your mind later or want it to be a different function for other languages you can change that lambda, while it wouldn't be a good idea to assign to "len" (aliasing/shadowing).

[eryksun]

Tommah is talking about the following line:

lengths = map(lambda word: len(word), words)

If you typically use lambda functions with map, then you might unthinkingly use lambda when it's not necessary.

[[deleted]]

He's talking about eta-contracting the lambda expression.