Functions
CHAPTER 4
Functions
FUNCTIONS
A function is a block of organized, reusable code that is
used to perform a single, related action. Functions
provide better modularity for your application and a high
degree of code reusing.
As you already know, Python gives you many built-in
functions like print(), etc. but you can also create your
own functions. These functions are called user-defined
functions.
Defining a Function
You can define functions to provide the required functionality. Here are simple
rules to define a function in Python.
Function blocks begin with the keyword def followed by the function name
and parentheses ( ( ) ).
Any input parameters or arguments should be placed within these
parentheses. You can also define parameters inside these parentheses.
The first statement of a function can be an optional statement - the
documentation string of the function or docstring.
The code block within every function starts with a colon (:) and is indented.
The statement return [expression] exits a function, optionally passing back
an expression to the caller. A return statement with no arguments is the
same as return None.
Syntax
By default, parameters have a positional behavior and you
need to inform them in the same order that they were
defined.
Example
The following function takes a string as input parameter and
prints it on standard screen.
Example
we could define the function maxVal by the code
def maxVal(x, y):
if x > y:
return x
else:
return y
def is a reserved word that tells Python that a function is about to be
defined. The function name (maxVal in this example) is simply a
name that is used to refer to the function.
Calling a Function
Defining a function only gives it a name, specifies the parameters that are to
be included in the function and structures the blocks of code.
Once the basic structure of a function is finalized, you can execute it by calling
it from another function or directly from the Python prompt. Following is the
example to call printme() function −
Pass by reference vs value
All parameters (arguments) in the Python language are passed by reference. It
means if you change what a parameter refers to within a function, the change also
reflects back in the calling function. For example −
Pass by reference vs value
There is one more example where argument is being passed by reference and the
reference is being overwritten inside the called function.
Function Arguments
You can call a function by using the following types of formal
arguments −
Required arguments
Keyword arguments
Default arguments
Variable-length arguments
Required arguments
Required arguments are the arguments passed to a function in correct
positional order. Here, the number of arguments in the function call should
match exactly with the function definition.
To call the function printme(), you definitely need to pass one argument,
otherwise it gives a syntax error as follows −
Keyword arguments
Keyword arguments are related to the function calls. When you use keyword
arguments in a function call, the caller identifies the arguments by the parameter
name.
This allows you to skip arguments or place them out of order because the Python
interpreter is able to use the keywords provided to match the values with
parameters. You can also make keyword calls to the printme() function in the
following ways −
Keyword arguments
Default arguments
A default argument is an argument that assumes a default value if a value is
not provided in the function call for that argument.
The following example gives an idea on default arguments, it prints default
age if it is not passed −
Variable-length arguments
You may need to process a function for more arguments than you specified
while defining the function. These arguments are
called variable-length arguments and are not named in the function
definition, unlike required and default arguments.
Syntax for a function with non-keyword variable arguments is this −
Variable-length arguments
An asterisk (*) is placed before the variable name that holds the values of
all nonkeyword variable arguments. This tuple remains empty if no
additional arguments are specified during the function call.
Following is a simple example −
The Anonymous Functions
These functions are called anonymous because they are not declared in the standard
manner by using the def keyword. You can use the lambda keyword to create small
anonymous functions.
Lambda forms can take any number of arguments but return just one value in the
form of an expression.
They cannot contain commands or multiple expressions.
An anonymous function cannot be a direct call to print because lambda requires
an expression
Lambda functions have their own local namespace and cannot access variables
other than those in their parameter list and those in the global namespace.
Although it appears that lambda's are a one-line version of a function, they are not
equivalent to inline statements in C or C++, whose purpose is by passing function
stack allocation during invocation for performance reasons.
Syntax
The syntax of lambda functions contains only a single statement, which is as follows −
The return Statement
Scope of Variables
All variables in a program may not be accessible at all locations in that
program. This depends on where you have declared a variable.
The scope of a variable determines the portion of the program where you
can access a particular identifier. There are two basic scopes of variables
in Python −
Global variables
Local variables
Global vs. Local variables
Variables that are defined inside a function body have a local
scope, and those defined outside have a global scope.
This means that local variables can be accessed only inside
the function in which they are declared, whereas global
variables can be accessed throughout the program body by
all functions. When you call a function, the variables declared
inside it are brought into scope.
Global vs. Local variables
Following is a simple example
THANK YOU
