map()

Functional

Applies a function to every item of an iterable and returns an iterator of results.

Signature

map(function, iterable, ...)

Returns

map

Example

nums = [1, 2, 3, 4]
squared = list(map(lambda x: x**2, nums))
print(squared)  # [1, 4, 9, 16]

About map()

map is a Python functional function with the signature map(function, iterable, ...). Applies a function to every item of an iterable and returns an iterator of results. It returns a value of type map.

Python provides a rich set of built-in functions and standard library modules that cover common programming tasks. Understanding these functions helps you write more idiomatic, efficient Python code. The mapfunction is commonly used in data processing, web development, scripting, and automation tasks.

When working with map(), consider edge cases like empty inputs, None values, and type mismatches. Python's duck typing means many built-in functions work with any object that implements the required protocol (e.g., __len__ for len(), __iter__ for iteration). This flexibility is a key strength of Python's design philosophy.

Related Functions

filter()zip()list()