Lambda can have only one expression then why it takes if/else in an expression

Asked Nov 14 '19 at 05:46

Active Nov 14 '19 at 05:46

Viewed 19 times

I read that lambda can have any number of arguments and it must have only one expression

Take a look at the below code

from functools import reduce
a = [1,2,3,4,5]
result = reduce(lambda x,y: x if x > y else y, a)
print(result)

Output

In the above expression, lambda is having if and else both. Is it considered as only one expression ?

asked Nov 14 '19 at 05:46

Nitesh

1

Yes, that's one expression that always produces one result. What exactly is confusing about that? – Mad Physicist Nov 14 '19 at 05:48
I thought if and else both makes two expressions. – Nitesh Nov 14 '19 at 05:48
2

This isn't if/else, this is python's ternary operator, like C's `?:` – Mad Physicist Nov 14 '19 at 05:49
1

Note that a formal if-else fails: `reduce(lambda x,y: if x > y: x else: y, a)` – Tim Biegeleisen Nov 14 '19 at 05:49
I got the point now. Thanks a lot. If you want you can post this in answer section and i will upvote and approve – Nitesh Nov 14 '19 at 05:50

0 Answers0