Python Coding challenge - Day 498| What is the output of the following Python Code?

 

Code Explanation:

Line 1: Function Definition

def choose_fn(op):

This defines a function called choose_fn that takes one parameter op.

op is expected to be a string like 'add' or 'mul'.

Lines 2–5: Conditional Logic with Lambda Return

    if op == 'add':

        return lambda a, b: a + b

    elif op == 'mul':

        return lambda a, b: a * b

Case 1: op == 'add'

If op is 'add', it returns a lambda function that takes two arguments a and b, and returns their sum.

Case 2: op == 'mul'

If op is 'mul', it returns a lambda function that multiplies a and b.

These are examples of higher-order functions: functions that return other functions.

Line 6: Function Call

f = choose_fn('mul')

Calls choose_fn with the string 'mul'.

The condition op == 'mul' is true, so the function returns:

lambda a, b: a * b

This lambda is assigned to variable f.

Line 7: Call the Returned Lambda

print(f(4, 5))

Now, f is a lambda that does multiplication.

f(4, 5) → 4 * 5 → 20

So this prints:

Final Output:

20