An Introduction to Java 8 Lambda Expressions

Lambda expressions are a powerful and versatile feature of the Java programming language. If you're new to Java 8, you may be wondering what lambda expressions are and how to use them. In this blog post, we will provide an introduction to Java 8 lambda expressions, and we'll show you how to use them to write concise and elegant code. We'll cover the basics of lambda expressions, including their syntax and how they are used, and we'll provide examples of how to use lambda expressions in common scenarios. So, if you're new to Java 8 and want to learn more about lambda expressions, this post is for you.

What are lambda expressions?

Lambda expressions are a feature of the Java programming language that was introduced in Java 8. A lambda expression is a way to define a function or method without giving it a name or defining it in a class. Lambda expressions are written in a compact and concise syntax, and they can be used to replace anonymous inner classes.

Lambda expressions are a functional programming construct, and they allow you to write code in a functional-style. This means that you can use lambda expressions to define functions that can be passed as arguments to other functions, and you can use them to operate on collections of data in a declarative and efficient way.

The Syntax of Lambda Expressions

The syntax of lambda expressions is simple and concise. A lambda expression consists of three parts:

The lambda operator: This is the "arrow" symbol (->), which separates the parameters of the lambda expression from its body.

The parameters: These are the input arguments that are passed to the lambda expression. The parameters are enclosed in parentheses, and they can be zero, one, or more in number.

The body: This is the code that is executed when the lambda expression is called. The body can be a single expression or a block of statements, and it is enclosed in curly braces.
Here is an example of a lambda expression:

(x, y) -> x + y

This lambda expression takes two integer arguments (x and y) and returns their sum. The lambda operator separates the parameters from the body, and the body is a single expression (x + y) that calculates the sum of the parameters.