Lambda Expression

Lambda表达式是求值为函数的表达式，需要指明两部分：参数和返回表达式，其格式为

lambda <parameters>: <return expression>

While both lambda expressions and def statements create function objects, there are some notable differences. lambda expressions work like other expressions; much like a mathematical expression just evaluates to a number and does not alter the current environment, a lambda expression evaluates to a function without changing the current environment. Let's take a closer look.

Lambda表达式和def语句都创建了函数对象，它们有一些显著的不同。Lambda表达式更像一个数学表达式，仅求值一个数字结果，不改变当前环境（定义了一个不在当前环境中与某个name绑定的函数）。

	lambda	def
Type	Expression that evaluates to a value	Statement that alters the environment
Result of execution	Creates an anonymous lambda function with no intrinsic name.	Creates a function with an intrinsic name and binds it to that name in the current environment.
Effect on the environment	Evaluating a lambda expression does not create or modify any variables.	Executing a def statement both creates a new function object and binds it to a name in the current environment.
Usage	A lambda expression can be used anywhere that expects an expression, such as in an assignment statement or as the operator or operand to a call expression.	After executing a def statement, the created function is bound to a name. You should use this name to refer to the function anywhere that expects an expression.
Example

# A lambda expression by itself does not alter
# the environment
lambda x: x * x

# We can assign lambda functions to a name
# with an assignment statement
square = lambda x: x * x
square(3)

# Lambda expressions can be used as an operator
# or operand
negate = lambda f, x: -f(x)
negate(lambda x: x * x, 3)

def square(x):
    return x * x

# A function created by a def statement
# can be referred to by its intrinsic name
square(3