Learn Lambda Functions | Some Advanced Topics

Lambda functions, or anonymous functions, are a feature that allows you to create small, unnamed functions inline in your code. They are particularly useful when you need a simple function for a short period of time and don't want to define a separate named function.

Lambda functions are useful for several reasons:

Conciseness: Lambda functions allow you to write short and concise code. They are ideal for operations that can be expressed in a few lines.
Local Scope: They can capture variables from the surrounding scope, allowing you to use variables from the parent function within the lambda.
Flexibility: Lambdas can be passed as arguments to other functions, making them handy for functions like std::for_each, std::sort, etc.

How to create a lambda function?

We can use the following syntax to create lambda function:

[capture_clause](parameter_list) -> return_type {
    // function body
}

A capture clause in a lambda function allows you to specify which variables from the surrounding scope (outside the lambda function) can be accessed and used within the lambda function. There are 3 commonly types of capture clauses:

Capture Nothing []: The lambda function cannot access any variables from the surrounding scope.
Capture Specific Variables by Value [var1, var2, ...]: The lambda function can access specific variables from the surrounding scope by value.
Capture Specific Variables by Reference [&var1, &var2, ...]: The lambda function can access specific variables from the surrounding scope by reference.

main.cpp


              12345678910111213
            
#include <iostream>

int main()
{
    int multiplier = 2;
    
    // Lambda function capturing 'multiplier' by reference and with explicit return type (int)
    int result = [&multiplier](int num) -> int {
        return num * num * multiplier;
    }(5); // Invoking the lambda with argument 5
    
    std::cout << "Result: " << result << std::endl;
}

The function is constructed as follows:

The lambda function captures multiplier variable by reference [&multiplier].
The return type -> int specifies that the lambda function returns an integer.
The lambda is immediately invoked with the argument 5, and the result is stored in the result variable.

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Section 4. Chapter 4

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Lambda functions are useful for several reasons:

Conciseness: Lambda functions allow you to write short and concise code. They are ideal for operations that can be expressed in a few lines.
Local Scope: They can capture variables from the surrounding scope, allowing you to use variables from the parent function within the lambda.
Flexibility: Lambdas can be passed as arguments to other functions, making them handy for functions like std::for_each, std::sort, etc.

How to create a lambda function?

We can use the following syntax to create lambda function:

[capture_clause](parameter_list) -> return_type {
    // function body
}

Capture Nothing []: The lambda function cannot access any variables from the surrounding scope.
Capture Specific Variables by Value [var1, var2, ...]: The lambda function can access specific variables from the surrounding scope by value.
Capture Specific Variables by Reference [&var1, &var2, ...]: The lambda function can access specific variables from the surrounding scope by reference.

main.cpp


              12345678910111213
            
#include <iostream>

int main()
{
    int multiplier = 2;
    
    // Lambda function capturing 'multiplier' by reference and with explicit return type (int)
    int result = [&multiplier](int num) -> int {
        return num * num * multiplier;
    }(5); // Invoking the lambda with argument 5
    
    std::cout << "Result: " << result << std::endl;
}

The function is constructed as follows:

The lambda function captures multiplier variable by reference [&multiplier].
The return type -> int specifies that the lambda function returns an integer.
The lambda is immediately invoked with the argument 5, and the result is stored in the result variable.

Everything was clear?

Thanks for your feedback!

Section 4. Chapter 4

Lambda Functions

How to create a lambda function?

Awesome!

Lambda Functions

How to create a lambda function?