Can a C# lambda expression have more than one statement?

Question

Can a C# lambda expression include more than one statement?

(Edit: As referenced in several of the answers below, this question originally asked about \"lines\" rath

Answer 1

Func<string, bool> test = (name) => 
{
   if (name == "yes") return true;
   else return false;
}

Answer 2

Sure:

List<String> items = new List<string>();

var results = items.Where(i => 
            {
                bool result;

                if (i == "THIS")
                    result = true;
                else if (i == "THAT")
                    result = true;
                else
                    result = false;

                return result;
            }
        );

Answer 3

You can put as many newlines as you want in a lambda expression; C# ignores newlines.

You probably meant to ask about multiple statements.

Multiple statements can be wrapped in braces.

See the documentation.

Answer 4

Since C# 7:

Single line statement:

int expr(int x, int y) => x + y + 1; 

Multiline statement:

int expr(int x, int y) { int z = 8; return x + y + z + 1; };

although these are called local functions I think this looks a bit cleaner than the following and is effectively the same

Func<int, int, int> a = (x, y) => x + y + 1;

Func<int, int, int> b = (x, y) => { int z = 8; return x + y + z + 1; };

Answer 5

(I'm assuming you're really talking about multiple statements rather than multiple lines.)

You can use multiple statements in a lambda expression using braces, but only the syntax which doesn't use braces can be converted into an expression tree:

// Valid
Func<int, int> a = x => x + 1;
Func<int, int> b = x => { return x + 1; };        
Expression<Func<int, int>> c = x => x + 1;

// Invalid
Expression<Func<int, int>> d = x => { return x + 1; };

Answer 6

From Lambda Expressions (C# Programming Guide):

The body of a statement lambda can consist of any number of statements; however, in practice there are typically no more than two or three.