What is a lambda function in Python?

A lambda function in Python is indeed an anonymous function defined with the lambda keyword. These functions are typically used for short, simple operations that can be expressed in a single line of code. Lambda functions can take any number of arguments, but they can only have one expression. The advantage of using lambda functions is that they can be created at runtime without needing to formally define them using the standard def keyword, making them particularly useful in scenarios where you need a quick function for use, such as within functions like map, filter, or sorted.

The other options describe characteristics that do not apply to lambda functions. A named function is created using the def keyword, which does not capture the essence of anonymous functions. While some functions, including lambda functions, can indeed return a value, saying that a lambda function cannot return a value is false, as all functions in Python can return values. Additionally, lambda functions are not limited to taking only two arguments; they can accommodate any number of parameters, making them versatile for a variety of use cases.