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Python - Lambda function to find the smaller value between two elements

Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025
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The lambda function is an anonymous function. It can have any number of arguments but it can only have one expression.

Syntax lambda arguments : expression

In this article, we will learn how to find the smaller value between two elements using the Lambda function.

Example:

Input : 2 5
Output : 2

Input : 7 5
Output : 5

Method 1: Using lambda and min() method

Python3
# lambda function to return minimum of
# two elements a, b are the arguments and
# min() method is the expression here.
get_min = lambda a, b : min(a,b)

print(get_min(5, 8))

Output:

5

Explanation: The a,b are passed to the lambda function and min() method is used as an expression to return the minimum element.

Method 2: Using lambda and ternary operator

Python3
# lambda function to return minimum of two elements
# a, b are the arguments and ternary
# operator is used to compare two elements
get_min = lambda a, b : a if a < b else b

print(get_min(5, 8))

Output:

5

Explanation: a, b are the arguments and ternary operator is used for comparing two elements

Method 3 :Using Tuple and lambda 

Python3
# Two lambda functions will be stored
# in tuple such that 1st element is b
# and 2nd element will be b.
# if [a<b] is true it return 1 and
# element with index 1 will print
# else if [a<b] is false it return 0,
# so element with index 0 will print
a = 5
b = 8
print((lambda: b, lambda: a)[a < b]())

Output:

5

Explanation: 

Two lambda functions will be stored in a tuple such that 1st element is b and 2nd element will be b. if [a<b] is true it return 1 and element with index 1 will print else if [a<b] is false it return 0, so element with index 0 will print.


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