Lambda Expression In Java 8 Features

Last updated on February 29th, 2024

This feature is introduced in Java 8. This feature is concise lines of code and enables functional programming.

Lambda Expression:

  • It is an anonymous function
  • Without return type
  • Without modifiers
  • With special symbol “->” arrow

Example:

public  void m(){
    System.out.println("Hello");
     }
() -> System.out.println("Hello");

If the lambda expression method body contains one line then curly “{}” braces are optional and contains multiple lines then curly braces are mandatory.

() -> System.out.println("Hello");

Example:

public  void m(int a,int b){
   System.out.println(a*b);
     }
  (int a,int b)  -> System.out.println(a*b);

Sometimes the compiler can guess the type of parameter automatically. In that case, we don’t need to specify the type of parameter explicitly.

(a,b) -> System.out.println(a*b);

Example:

public int square(int n) {
      return n * n;
   }
   (n) -> {
      return n * n;
   }

Without curly “{}” braces we don’t need to specify “return” explicitly. But with curly “{}” braces “return” is mandatory.

(n) -> n*n;

If the input parameter is single then the parenthesis “()” is optional.

n -> n*n;

Note: Lambda Expression is used to provide an implementation of an interface which is a Functional Interface. Lambda Expression will not generate a “.class ”  file due to this performance increase.

Example:

interface Square {
  void square(int x);
}
//Implementation class of interface
class SquareImpl implements Square {

  @Override
  public void square(int x) {
    System.out.println("Square Of No. is:" + x * x);

  }

}

public class Test {

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    Square sq = new SquareImpl();
    sq.square(10);

  }
}

Output:

Square Of No. is:100
  • In the above example without Lambda Expression, we can implement an Interface through the extra class implementation of an Interface.
  • In the above example, the “Square” interface has a single abstract method. So, the “Square” interface is a Functional Interface.
  • In this example it also generates an extra “.class” file i.e., SquareImpl.class.

Example:

interface Square {
  void square(int x);
}

public class Test {

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    //Anonymous Inner class
    Square sq = new Square() {

      @Override
      public void square(int x) {
        System.out.println("Square Of No. is:" + x * x);

      }
    };
    sq.square(10);

  }

}

Output: 

Square Of No. is:100
  • In the above example, we can implement an interface with an anonymous inner class.
  • In the above example it also generates an extra “.class” file.
  • In the above example length of code is decreased as compared to the extra implementation of an interface.

Example:

interface Square {
  void square(int x);
}
public class Test {

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    //Lambda Expression
    Square sq = (x) -> System.out.println("Square Of No. is:" + x * x);
    sq.square(10);
  }
}

Output: 

  • In the above example, we can implement that interface through Lambda Expression because the “Square” interface is a Functional Interface. Here we can concise the code through this Java 8 feature.
  • Lambda Expression is enabling functional programming in the code.
  • Lambda Expression helps without generating an extra class to implement the functional interface.
  • Lambda Expression helps without generating an anonymous inner class to implement the functional interface.
  • In the above example not generating an extra “.class” file.
  • In the above example length of code decreases as compared to the extra implementation class and an anonymous inner class of functional interface.

Conclusion:

This topic is explained What is Lambda Expression? How can we write Lambda Expression? How to identify Lambda Expression? How to use Lambda Expression?

Leave a Comment