[Tutor] lambda in python

[Steven D'Aprano]

john tsolox wrote:
> since in Java i can pass an anonymous class to a function, and this anon class has member functions that can contain a
> body of implementation codes having the full expression of permissible syntax (if,for,while...), my question is, after
> seeing various examples of lambda in python being ALL one-liners. These one-liners inside a lambda seems not to have the
> full permissible use of the full power of python language (if,for,while). Is this correct?
> 
> Is it correct to say, that within python lambda, you are not allowed to use 'if' ? pls enlighten...

Python lambda is syntactic sugar for an anonymous function, not a class.

Lambda is also limited to only a single expression. However, you can use 
the ternary if:

lambda x: x+1 if x < 0 else x-3

is almost the same as:

def func(x):
     if x < 0: return x+1
     else: return x-3



-- 
Steven