Difference Between Arguments and Parameters in Python

The concept of arguments and parameters are part of Functions in Python. Therefore, before moving further let us learn how to create a function and parameterised function.

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.

Create a Function

Example

Let us create a basic function ?

# Define a function
def sample():
   print("Inside a Function")

# Function call
sample()

Output

Inside a Function

Create a Parameterized Function

Here, we are creating a function with a parameter ?

# Creating a Parameterised Function
def sample(str):
   print("Car = ", str)

# Function calls
sample("Tesla")
sample("Audi")
sample("BMW")
sample("Toyota")

Output

('Car = ', 'Tesla')
('Car = ', 'Audi')
('Car = ', 'BMW')
('Car = ', 'Toyota')

Parameters

Parameters are defined by the names that appear in a function definition. Parameters define what kind of arguments a function can accept. Therefore, according to the above example of a Parameterized Function, the following is a parameter i.e. str ?

# Function Definition
def sample(str):

Arguments

Arguments are the values actually passed to a function when calling it. . Therefore, according to the above example of a Parameterized Function, the following are the arguments i.e Tesla, Audi, BMW and Toyota ?

# Function calls
sample("Tesla")
sample("Audi")
sample("BMW")
sample("Toyota")

Example

Let's see an example ?

# Function Definition
def sample(name, rank):
   print("Employee Name = ",name)
   print("Employee Rank = ",rank)

# Function call
sample(rank = 3,name = "Tim")

Output

Employee Name = Tim
Employee Rank = 3

Above, the name and rank are parameters of the sample() function.

The 3 and Tim and arguments of the sample() function.

Let us see another example, wherein we have **kwargs as well as a parameter ?

def func(foo, bar=None, **kwargs):
   pass

Output

func(10, bar=20, extra=somevar)

Above, the foo, bar, and kwargs are parameters of the func().

the values 10, 20, and somevar are arguments of the func().