Is this how you return an empty lambda from an `if...

# getting-started

[Lukasz Kalnik]

Is this how you return an empty lambda from an if ... else expression?
val myLambda: () -> Unit = if (condition) doSomethingLambda else {{}}

[Jurriaan Mous]

I would do else { Unit }

[Lukasz Kalnik]

Oh, nice

[Lukasz Kalnik]

Much more readable, thanks

[Lukasz Kalnik]

Other possibility is multiple lines:

if (condition) {
    doSomething
} else {
    {}
}

[Lukasz Kalnik]

Yeah, it still needs double braces anyway (also in single line...) ☝️

[Jurriaan Mous]

I was wrong with earlier reply after misreading it at first. It indeed needs the double braces..

[Lukasz Kalnik]

Yes, kind of weird...

[Lukasz Kalnik]

But I guess that's syntax limitation

[Jurriaan Mous]

You could define an empty function somewhere like:

fun emptyFunction() {}

And use

else ::emptyFunction

That is the only alternative I can think of now

[Lukasz Kalnik]

I think a lambda is simply an instance of a function type, but don't remember the exact name

[Lukasz Kalnik]

This also works, but also doesn't look super readable

val myLambda: () -> Unit = if (cond) lambda else fun() {}

[Jurriaan Mous]

Or else fun() = Unit but still not elegant indeed.

[Sam]

I’d use parentheses

[Sam]

if (condition) doSomethingLambda else ({})

[Jurriaan Mous]

Ah yes missed that one!