Working With Function
Function: - A function is a subprogram that act on data and
often return a value.
Python function types:-
1 = Built in function: - These are pre-define function and
always available for use. You have used some of them like -
len (), type (), int (), input () etc.
2 = Function defined in modules: - These functions are pre-
defined in particular models and can only be used when the
corresponding model is imported.
For example: - If we want to find the square root of any
number then we have import math module then call the
function - sqrt ()
3 = User defined functions: - These are define by the
programmer. As programmer you can create your own
function.
Defining function in python:-
Look figure carefully --
Function header: - The first line of the function definition
that beings with keyword Def and ends with a colon (:),
specifies the name of the function and its parameters.
Parameters: - Variables that are listed within the
parentheses of a function header.
Function body: - The block of statement/indented -
statement beneath function header that defines the action
performed by the function.
Indentation: - The blank space in the beginning of statement
within a block. All statements within same block have same
indentation.
Flow of execution: - The flow of execution refers to the order
in which statement are executed during a program run.
For example: -
def calcSum (x,y):
s=x+y
return s
num1 = float (input ("Enter the first number: "))
num2 = float (input("Enter the second number : "))
sum = calSum (num1,num2)
print("Sum of two given number is ",sum)
Argument: - The values being passed through a function call
statement are called argument (or actual parameters or
actual argument).
For example:-
def calcSum ( x , y ):
s=x+y
return s
print (calcSum ( 2 , 3 ))
a=5
b=6
print (calcSum ( a , b ))
d = 10
print (calcSum ( 9 , d ))
Here a , b , d , 2 , 3 , 9 are “arguments” which is used in
call function.
Parameters: - The values received in the function definition
header are called parameter (or formal parameters or formal
arguments).
For example: -
def calcSum ( x , y ):
Here x , y are “parameters”
Passing parameters:-
Python support three types of formal arguments/parameters:
1:- Positional argument (required arguments): - When the
functions call statement must match the number and order
of arguments as define in the functions definition this is
called the position argument matching.
For example:-
def check (a,b,c):
Then possible functions call for this can be:-
check ( x , y , z ) # 3 values( all variables) passed
check ( 2 , x , y ) # 3 values ( literal + variables ) passed
check ( 2 , 3 , 4 ) # 3 values ( all literal ) passed
Thus through such functions calls -
• The argument must be provided for all parameters
(required)
• The values of argument are matched with parameters,
position (order) wise (positional)
2:- Default arguments: - A parameter having defined value in
the function header is known as a default parameter.
For example:-
def interest( principal , time , rate = 10 ) :
If:-
si = interest ( 5400,2 ) #third argument missing
So the parameter principal get value 5400, time get 2 and
since the third argument rate is missing, so default value
0.10 is used for rate.
If:-
si = interest ( 6100 ,3 ,0.15 ) # no argument missing
So the parameter principal get value 6100, time get 3 and
the parameter rate gets value 0.15.
• That means the default values (values assigned in function
header) are considered only if no value is provided for that
parameter in the function call statement.
• Default argument are useful in situations where some
parameters always have same value.
You can understand more by seeing below examples:-
def interest ( prin , time , rate = 0.10) # legal
def interest ( prin , time = 2 , rate) # illegal ( default
parameter before required parameter )
def interest ( prin = 2000 ,time = 2 ,rate) # illegal
# (same reason as above)
def interest ( prin , time = 2 , rate = 0.10 ) # legal
def interest ( prin = 2000 , time = 2 , rate = 0.10) # legal
Some advantages of the default parameters are listed
below:-
• They can be used to add new parameters to the existing
functions.
• They can used to combine similar function into one.
3:- Keyword (or named ) arguments:-
Keyword arguments are the named arguments with assigned
values being passed in the function call statement.
For example:-
def interest ( prin , time , rate ) :
return prin * time * rate
print (interest ( prin = 2000 , time = 2 , rate 0.10 ))
print (interest ( time = 4 , prin = 2600 , rate = 0.09 ))
print (interest ( time = 2 , rate = 0.12 , prin = 2000 ))
• All the above functions call are valid now, even if the order
of arguments does not match.
Using multiple argument type together:-
Python allows you to combine multiple argument types in a
function call.
Rules for combining all three types of arguments:-
• And argument list must first contain positional (required)
arguments followed by any keyword argument.
• Keyword arguments should be taken from the required
arguments preferably.
• You cannot specify a value for an argument more than
once.
For example:-
def interest ( prin , cc , time = 2 , rate = 0.09 ):
return prin * time * rate
Thankyou !!!!!
