Difference between Normal def defined function and Lambda

In this article, we will discuss the difference between normal def defined function and lambda in Python.

Def keyword​​​​​​​

In python, def defined functions are commonly used because of their simplicity. The def defined functions do not return anything if not explicitly returned whereas the lambda function does return an object. The def functions must be declared in the namespace. The def functions can perform any python task including multiple conditions, nested conditions or loops of any level, printing, importing libraries, raising Exceptions, etc. 

Example:

Python3

# Define function to calculate cube root
# using def keyword

def calculate_cube_root(x):
    return x**(1/3)

# Call the def function to calculate cube
# root and print it
print(calculate_cube_root(27))

# Define function to check if language is present in
# language list using def keyword
languages = ['Sanskrut', 'English', 'French', 'German']

def check_language(x):
    if x in languages:
        return True
    return False

# Call the def function to check if keyword 'English'
# is present in the languages list and print it
print(check_language('English'))

Output:

3.0
True

Lambda keyword

The lambda functions can be used without any declaration in the namespace. The lambda functions defined above are like single-line functions. These functions do not have parenthesis like the def defined functions but instead, take parameters after the lambda keyword as shown above. There is no return keyword defined explicitly because the lambda function does return an object by default.

Example:

Python3

# Define function using lambda for cube root
cube_root= lambda x: x**(1/3)

# Call the lambda function
print(cube_root(27))


languages = ['Sanskrut', 'English', 'French', 'German']


# Define function using lambda
l_check_language = lambda x: True if x in languages else False

# Call the lambda function
print(l_check_language('Sanskrut'))

Output:

3.0
True

Table of Difference Between def and Lambda

def defined functions	lambda functions
Easy to interpret	Interpretation might be tricky
Can consists of any number of execution statements inside the function definition	The limited operation can be performed using lambda functions
To return an object from the function, return should be explicitly defined	No need of using the return statement
Execution time is relatively slower for the same operation performed using lambda functions	Execution time of the program is fast for the same operation
Defined using the keyword def and holds a function name in the local namespace	Defined using the keyword lambda and does not compulsorily hold a function name in the local namespace