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Introduction To Py

This document provides an introduction to functions in Python. It discusses how functions allow programmers to decompose complex problems into smaller, more manageable subtasks, promoting reusability, readability and maintainability of code. The document outlines the basics of defining user-defined functions in Python using the def keyword, including how to pass arguments, return values, and handle optional and arbitrary arguments. It also discusses the differences between local and global variables in functions. A number of exercises are provided to help reinforce function concepts.

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rojananth
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19 views

Introduction To Py

This document provides an introduction to functions in Python. It discusses how functions allow programmers to decompose complex problems into smaller, more manageable subtasks, promoting reusability, readability and maintainability of code. The document outlines the basics of defining user-defined functions in Python using the def keyword, including how to pass arguments, return values, and handle optional and arbitrary arguments. It also discusses the differences between local and global variables in functions. A number of exercises are provided to help reinforce function concepts.

Uploaded by

rojananth
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to Python

Dr. Tharaka Ilayperuma


Functions
Functions
Developing a software application is a complex task
• We identify requirements using different means, for instance, through interviews.
• We then translate the requirements into a piece of code using a programming language – a program may
contain thousands of lines of code

How do you solve a complex task?


we usually do it by decomposing the problem into a manageable sub tasks
• these sub tasks may also include common parts

Functions provide us means to manage complexity of programming by dividing the code into
blocks that will:
• Allows to have code blocks with well-defined roles
• Promote reusability and minimise redundancy
• Increase readability
• easy maintenance
Functions
Python Functions

User-defined
Built-in Functions
Functions
e.g.
• print()
• len()
• range()
Full list of functions available at
https://docs.python.org/3/library/functions.html
User defined functions
Function name parameters

keywords def <function_name>(arg1, arg2, ..., argN):


optional
<statements> Your code goes here
return <value>

def creates a function and assigns it a name def sum_two_numbers(a, b):


return sends a result back to the caller c = a + b
return c
Remember to give your function a short but descriptive name
def sum_two_numbers(a, b):
c = a + b
print(c)

Call function by name. e.g. sum_two_numbers(5, 6) def sum_two_numbers(a, b):


return a + b
Coding Functions (1)
A return without a value simply returns None, the default result)

If return is not present, the function exits when the control flow falls off the end of the
function body
Coding Functions (2)

Arguments are passed by position, unless you say otherwise, and they match from left to
right

can also pass arguments by name with name=value keyword syntax, and unpack
arbitrarily many arguments to send with *pargs and **kargs starred-argument notation
Functions - examples

sum_numbers()
Exercise 1

1. Write a python function to return the number of letters in a string


Functions with optional arguments
You can define optional arguments in following ways

def example2(arg1,arg2 = <value>):


<Statements>
return

The above defines the default value to an argument. This value will be taken in case you don’t pass a value
when you invoke the function.

Arbitrary arguments
defined by using *
Functions with optional arguments (2)
def example2(arg1,**arg2): dictionary of keyword arguments defined by using **
print(arg1)
for key, value in arg2.items():
print(f’{key}: {value}’)

These have (key: value) pairs


More on Functions
All python functions return a value regardless of whether there is a return statement or
not. Returns NULL if there is no return statement or no return value

You need to define the function before calling it. i.e. define your functions at the
beginning of your program

The variables that are defined inside the function are local to that function. i.e. they
cannot be accessed outside the function

The variables that are defined outside the function are called a global variable. How to
change a value of global variable inside a function?

Use the keyword global to define a global variable inside a function

Two functions cannot have the same name. If two functions are declared with the same
name the latter will override the prior function
global and local variables
global variable

local variable
creating global variables inside functions

global variable

global variable
Flow of Execution with Functions

def sum_two_numbers(a, b): Enter 1st number:


c = a + b Enter 2nd number:
return c c = a + b calculation takes place
p = int(input(“Enter 1st number: ”)) value c is returned
q = int(input(“Enter 2st number: ”)) result is assigned the value c
Result is printed
result = sum_two_numbers(p, q)
print(result)
Exercise 2

Write a function to get two inputs; first name, last name and print the full name
Exercise 3

Write a Python program to reverse a string (hint: use slicing)


Exercise 4

Write a function to calculate salary of an employee when the following arguments are
given

name, employee type (full time, part time) , basic salary, hourly rate, number of hours

You should get employee name, type, basic salary, hourly rate , and number of hours (as
may be the case) as user input outside the function and pass the relevant values to the
function to calculate the salary
Exercise 5

Write a python function to get the substrings of the following string

“Introduction to Python”
Exercise 6

Write a python function to get the substrings of the following string

“Introduction-to-Python”
Questions?

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