Lambda Expressions and Functional Programming
Lambda expressions are one of the most popular features introduced in C++11—they make anonymous functions first-class citizens, fundamentally changing how we use STL algorithms and callbacks. In this chapter, we start with the basic syntax of lambda expressions, dive deep into the semantics and pitfalls of the capture mechanism, explore the template capabilities of generic lambdas, understand the underlying mechanisms of std::function and std::invoke, and finally experience the elegance of higher-order functions, composition, and pipelines in functional programming patterns.