What is the difference between Go's named and anonymous functions?

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Named Functions in Go
  • • Characteristics of Named Functions
    • Example of a Named Function
• Anonymous Functions in Go
  • • Characteristics of Anonymous Functions
    • Example of an Anonymous Function
    • Example of an Immediately Invoked Anonymous Function
• Key Differences: Named vs Anonymous Functions
• Conclusion

Introduction

In Go, functions are essential for structuring code, and they come in two types: named functions and anonymous functions. Understanding the difference between them is crucial for writing clean and efficient Go programs.

Named Functions in Go

Named functions are defined with an explicit name and are typically used for structured, reusable code.

Characteristics of Named Functions

• Defined with the func keyword followed by a name.
• Can be called multiple times from different parts of the program.
• Can be used as methods attached to struct types.

Example of a Named Function

Output:

Anonymous Functions in Go

Anonymous functions (also called lambda functions or function literals) do not have a name and are often used for short-lived operations or when passing functions as arguments.

Characteristics of Anonymous Functions

• Declared without a name.
• Can be assigned to variables or used as function arguments.
• Useful for closures, where they capture surrounding variables.

Example of an Anonymous Function

Output:

Example of an Immediately Invoked Anonymous Function

Output:

Key Differences: Named vs Anonymous Functions

Feature	Named Functions	Anonymous Functions
Definition	Declared with a name.	No name, assigned to variables or used inline.
Reusability	Can be reused multiple times.	Typically used once or within a scope.
Use Case	General-purpose functions.	Closures, inline processing, and callback functions.
Method Binding	Can be used as methods for structs.	Cannot be directly used as methods.

Conclusion

Both named and anonymous functions in Go serve different purposes. Named functions are great for modular, reusable code, while anonymous functions are useful for closures, callbacks, and short-lived operations. Choosing the right type depends on your use case and the readability of your code.