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Python Function and Recursion

This document provides an overview of Python functions, including their definition, how to call them, and the use of parameters and arguments. It explains concepts such as arbitrary arguments (*args), keyword arguments (**kwargs), default parameter values, and recursion. Additionally, it highlights the importance of correctly managing the number of arguments and the return statement in functions.

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4 views

Python Function and Recursion

This document provides an overview of Python functions, including their definition, how to call them, and the use of parameters and arguments. It explains concepts such as arbitrary arguments (*args), keyword arguments (**kwargs), default parameter values, and recursion. Additionally, it highlights the importance of correctly managing the number of arguments and the return statement in functions.

Uploaded by

ranseldulagan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Python Functions

Python Functions

• A function is a block of code which only runs when it is called.


• You can pass data, known as parameters, into a function.
• A function can return data as a result.
Creating a Function

• In Python a function is defined using the def keyword


Calling a Function

• To call a function, use the function name followed by parenthesis:


Arguments

• Information can be passed into functions as arguments.


• Arguments are specified after the function name, inside
the parentheses. You can add as many arguments as you
want, just separate them with a comma.
• The following example has a function with one argument
(fname). When the function is called, we pass along a
first name, which is used inside the function to print the
full name:
Example:

Arguments are often shortened to args in Python documentations.


Parameters or Arguments?

The terms parameter and argument can be used for the


same thing: information that are passed into a function.

From a function's perspective:


A parameter is the variable listed inside the parentheses in the
function definition.
An argument is the value that is sent to the function when it is
called.
Number of Arguments

By default, a function must be called with the correct number of arguments. Meaning that
if your function expects 2 arguments, you have to call the function with 2 arguments, not
more, and not less.

If you try to call the function with 1 or 3 arguments, you will get an error:
Number of Arguments

Example
This function expects 2 arguments, but gets only 1:
Arbitrary Arguments, *args

• If you do not know how many arguments that will be passed into your
function, add a * before the parameter name in the function definition.
• This way the function will receive a tuple of arguments, and can access
the items accordingly:

Example
If the number of arguments is unknown, add a * before the parameter name:
Example:

If the number of arguments is unknown, add a * before the


parameter name:

Arbitrary Arguments are often shortened to *args in Python documentations.


Keyword Arguments

• You can also send arguments with the key = value syntax.
• This way the order of the arguments does not matter.

The phrase Keyword Arguments are often shortened to kwargs in Python


documentations.
Arbitrary Keyword Arguments, **kwargs

• If you do not know how many keyword arguments that will be passed
into your function, add two asterisk: ** before the parameter name in
the function definition.

• This way the function will receive a dictionary of arguments, and can access
the items accordingly:
Example

Arbitrary Kword Arguments are often shortened to **kwargs in Python documentations.


Default Parameter Value

The following example shows how to use a default parameter value.


If we call the function without argument, it uses the default value:
Passing a List as an Argument

You can send any data types of argument to a function (string, number, list,
dictionary etc.), and it will be treated as the same data type inside the
function.
E.g. if you send a List as an argument, it will still be a List when it reaches the
function:
Return Value

To let a function return a value, use the return statement:


The pass Statement

Function definitions cannot be empty, but if you for some reason have a function definition
with no content, put in the pass statement to avoid getting an error.
Recursion

Python also accepts function recursion, which means a defined function can call
itself.

Recursion is a common mathematical and programming concept. It means that a


function calls itself. This has the benefit of meaning that you can loop through data
to reach a result.

The developer should be very careful with recursion as it can be quite easy to slip
into writing a function which never terminates, or one that uses excess amounts of
memory or processor power. However, when written correctly recursion can be a
very efficient and mathematically-elegant approach to programming.
Recursion

In this example, tri_recursion() is a function


that we have defined to call itself
("recurse"). We use the k variable as the
data, which decrements (-1) every time we
recurse. The recursion ends when the
condition is not greater than 0 (i.e. when it
is 0).

To a new developer it can take some time to


work out how exactly this works, best way
to find out is by testing and modifying it.
THANK YOU!

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