CODEWITHSUNDEEP
pythonpython-3.6
Drux
Drux

Reputation: 12670

Python conditional expression with one branch instead of two

The following lambda returns empty "" for filenames without a slash (e.g. "local.txt"):

lambda filename: os.path.dirname(filename)

I would like to ensure (in very concise syntax) that the lambda always returns a proper directory name, i.e. "." instead of "".

Is there more concise way for doing this than the following:

lambda filename: os.path.dirname(filename) if os.path.dirname(filename) != "" else "."

IMO it would be nice if os.path.dirname would not have to be specified (perhaps even evaluated) twice. A conditional expression with one branch instead of two (if such a construct exists) could support come in handy.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 44

Answers (1)

Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams
Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams

Reputation: 798814

Take advantage of or's coalescing behavior:

lambda filename: os.path.dirname(filename) or "."

Upvotes: 1

Related Questions