Can python lambda contain the statement?

Question

Simply speaking notation of f = lambda : x * x for x in range(10). I have read that python is not a strict language, so that we can include additional if- statement or for clause there. You can refer to Deitel Python book which cover data science and AI for higher version.

Answer 1

your lambda cannot be parsed

perhaps you mean

f = lambda n: (x*x for x in range(n))

# f returns a generator expression, which can be unpacked by *

print(*f(5))

# if-else can be used in lambda
f = lambda n: (x*x if x%2==0 else x*x*x for x in range(n))

print(*f(20), sep='\n')

Answer 2

RuntimeTerror
You are limited to one expression.

True, you can make it long and complicated with multiple if else or by nesting other lambda inside it, but eventually it still have to be in one long expression and you often end up with code that is hard to read. Nice for flexing coding skill, but not on production code

It's better to use a regular functions for complicated cases.

Answer 3

In most cases, long and complicated are not directly proportional in python. If I'm correct, I think I've seen some of the python's source code using a long lambda expression themselves and calling the function on the same line by assigning the walrus operator to it. Regardless, it was easier to read.

It's been very long since I used python, I rarely remember the zen and especially with the recent update, I may be wrong about somethings

Answer 4

You can include as many statement in a single line in python if you know the way