Overuse of lambda expressions in Python

What are lambda expressions? 
A lambda expression is a special syntax to create functions without names. These functions are called lambda functions. These lambda functions can have any number of arguments but only one expression along with an implicit return statement. Lambda expressions return function objects. For Example consider the lambda expression:  

lambda (arguments) : (expression)

This lambda expression defines an unnamed function, which accepts two arguments and returns the sum of the two arguments. But how do we call an unnamed function? The above defined unnamed lambda function can be called as:  

(lambda x, y: x + y)(1, 2)

Code 1: 

Output: 

9
2

Though it is not encouraged, the function object returned by a lambda expression can be assigned to a variable. See the example below in which a variable sum is assigned a function object returned by a lambda expression. 
 

Output:  

11

Common uses of lambda expressions : 

• Since lambda functions are anonymous and do not require a name to be assigned, they are usually used to call functions(or classes) which require a function object as an argument. Defining separate functions for such function arguments is of no use because, the function definition is usually short and they are required only once or twice in the code. For example, the key argument of the inbuilt function, sorted(). 
   

• Output:

[0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9]

• Output:

[0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9]

• Lambda functions are inline functions and hence they are used whenever there is a need of repetitive function calls to reduce execution time. Some of the examples of such scenarios are the functions: map(), filter() and sorted(). For example, 
   

  
Pros and Cons of lambda functions : 
Pros of lambda functions: 
 

• Being anonymous, lambda functions can be easily passed without being assigned to a variable.
• Lambda functions are inline functions and thus execute comparatively faster.
• Many times lambda functions make code much more readable by avoiding the logical jumps caused by function calls. For example, read the following blocks of code. 
   

• Output:

5

• Output:

5

Cons on lambda functions: 

• Lambda functions can have only one expression.
• Lambda functions cannot have a docstring.
• Many times lambda functions make code difficult to read. For example, see the blocks of code given below. 
   

• Output:

three

• Output:

three

  
Misuse of Lambda expressions : 

• Assignment of lambda expressions : The official python style guide PEP8, strongly discourages the assignment of lambda expressions as shown in the example below.

func = lambda x, y, z: x*y + z

• Instead, it is recommended to write a one-liner function as,

def func(x, y, z): return x*y + z 

• While the second method encourages the fact that lambda functions are anonymous, it is also useful for tracebacks during debugging. Run the code below to see how def makes tracebacks much useful. 
   

• Wrapping lambda expressions around functions : Many times, lambda expressions are needlessly wrapped around functions as shown below.

nums = [-2, -1, 0, 1, 2]
sort = sorted(nums, key=lambda x: abs(x))

• While the above syntax is absolutely correct, programmers must understand that all functions in python can be passed as function objects. Hence the same code can(and should) be written as,

sort = sorted(nums, key=abs)

• Passing functions unnecessarily : Many times, programmers pass functions which perform only a single operation. See the following code.

nums = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
summation = reduce(lambda x, y: x + y, nums)

• The lambda function passed above performs only a single operation, adding the two arguments. The same result can be obtained by the using the built-in function sum, as shown below. 
   

nums = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
summation = sum(nums)

• Programmers should avoid using lambda expressions for common operations, because it is highly probable to have a built-in function providing the same results.

  
Overuse of lambda expressions : 

• Using lambda for non-trivial functions :Sometimes, simple functions can be non-trivial. See the code below.

• Output:

[{‘n’: 2, ‘r’: 0.01, ‘t’: 4, ‘p’: 100}, {‘n’: 5, ‘r’: 0.05, ‘t’: 2, ‘p’: 120}, {‘n’: 1, ‘r’: 0.04, ‘t’: 5, ‘p’: 150}] 
 

• Here, we are sorting the dictionaries on the basis of the compound interest. Now, see the code written below, which uses def.

• Output:

[{‘n’: 2, ‘r’: 0.01, ‘t’: 4, ‘p’: 100}, {‘n’: 5, ‘r’: 0.05, ‘t’: 2, ‘p’: 120}, {‘n’: 1, ‘r’: 0.04, ‘t’: 5, ‘p’: 150}] 
 

• Though both codes do the same thing, the second one which uses def is much more readable. The expression written here under the lambda might be simple, but it has a meaning(formula for compound interest). Hence, the expression is non-trivial and deserves a name. Using lambda expressions for non-trivial functions reduces the readability of the code.
• Using lambdas when multiple lines would help :If using a multiple line function makes the code more readable, using lambda expressions to reduce some lines of code is not worth it. For example, see the code below.

people = [(‘sam’, ‘M’, 18), (‘susan’, ‘F’, 22), (‘joy’, ‘M’, 21), (‘lucy’, ‘F’, 12)] 
sorted_people = sorted(people, key=lambda x: x[1]) 
 

• Also see the following code which uses def.

def Key(person):
    name, sex, age = person
    return sex
sorted_people = sorted(people, key=Key)

• See how tuple unpacking in the second block of code makes it much more readable and logical. Readability of the code should the be utmost priority of a programmer, working in a collaborative environment.
• Using lambda expressions for map and filter : Lambdas are very commonly used with map() and filter() as shown.

• Following is another block of code which uses generator expressions to achieve similar results.

• Unlike map() and filter(), generator expressions are general purpose features of python language. Thus generators enhance the readability of the code. While, map() and filter() require prior knowledge of these functions.
   
• Use of higher order functions : The functions which accept other function objects as arguments are called higher order functions (i.e. map() and filter()), which are common in functional programming. As stated above, lambda expressions are commonly used as the function arguments of higher order functions. Compare the two code blocks shown below. 
  Using high order function reduce()

nums = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
product = reduce(lambda x, y: x*y, nums, 1)

• Without using high order function

nums = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
def multiply(nums):
    prod = 1
    for number in nums:
        prod *= number
    return prod
product = multiply(nums)

• While the first block uses fewer lines of code and is not that difficult to understand, programmers with no background of functional programming will find the second block of code much readable. Unless practicing proper functional programming paradigm, passing one function to another function is not appreciated, as it can reduce readability.