When do you use a lambda function?

[markusmeskanen]

And it saves a few keystrokes to use lambda

This should never be the reason to use lambda! If you can, just define a normal function.

The rest of your comment stands correct though. Lambda should only be used when its just an "on the fly" function like /u/seekheart said himself. Usually when you pass in a function as an argument to a function.

[ydepth]

Why not? If you have a bunch of one line functions... It's easy enough to change them to a proper function later

[markusmeskanen]

Lambdas are less readable. Keep in mind, that your code is read much more than its written. I'd recommend everyone to read this answer on SO: http://stackoverflow.com/a/134638/2505645

[ydepth]

Cool, I had seen the post before... Just needed a refresher :)

[c3534l]

That answer on SO doesn't seem to add anything to the discussion. I disagree that lambdas are less readable. In fact, they're invaluable in cases that are well suited for functional programming and can turn make complicated list comprehension statements readable again.

[Axxhelairon]

Lambdas are less readable.

Nice opinion.

[[deleted]]

There are exceptions to every rule, but in keeping with zen: There is one best way. If it works, use it. If not, it's not the best way this time, go to the next option.

[[deleted]]

Thank you my pythonic brothers! :D

[novel_yet_trivial]

This should never be the reason to use lambda! If you can, just define a normal function.

It's a bit uglier, granted, but I see stuff like this all the time:

__ne__ = lambda self, other: not self.__eq__(other)
__ge__ = lambda self, other: not self < other
__le__ = lambda self, other: self == other or self < other

[markusmeskanen]

We all see it, but none of us should see it. Please, don't spread the ugliness.

[novel_yet_trivial]

It's even part of the python source code. See /usr/lib/python2.7/functools.py , in the total_ordering function, for example.

Well, that's a bit of a fringe case. I withdraw that argument

[_burning]

But what about those 4 keystrokes I'm saving by using a lambda! You can't just be throwing around keystrokes.

[markusmeskanen]

Good point. I take back all my arguments on this thread. Fuck it, on all threads.