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.
 Python Functions
Creating a Function
In Python a function is defined using the def keyword:
Example
 Python Functions
Calling a Function
To call a function, use the function name followed by
parenthesis:

Example
 Python Functions
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.
 Python Functions
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.
Example:
This function expects 2 arguments, and gets 2 arguments:
 Python Functions
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.
Example:
This function expects 2 arguments, and gets 2 arguments:
 Python Functions
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:
 Python Functions
Keyword Arguments
• You can also send arguments with the key = value syntax.
• This way the order of the arguments does not matter.

Example:
 Python Functions
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:
If the number of keyword arguments is unknown, add a
double ** before the parameter name:
 Python Functions
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:
Example:
 Python Functions
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:
Example:
 Python Functions
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.
Example:
 Python Functions
Positional-Only Arguments
• You can specify that a function can have ONLY positional
arguments, or ONLY keyword arguments.
• To specify that a function can have only positional arguments,
add , / after the arguments:
Example:
 Python Functions
Keyword-Only Arguments
• To specify that a function can have only keyword arguments,
add *, before the arguments:

• Example:
 Python Functions
Combine Positional-Only and Keyword-Only
• You can combine the two argument types in the same
function.
• Any argument before the / , are positional-only, and any
argument after the *, are keyword-only.

Example:
 Python Functions
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.
• 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.
 Python Functions
Recursion
Example:
 Exercises
1. Function to Calculate Factorial: Write a Python function called factorial that takes a
non-negative integer as input and returns its factorial. Test your function with various
inputs.
2. Function to Check Palindrome: Write a Python function called is_palindrome that takes
a string as input and returns True if the string is a palindrome (reads the same forwards
and backwards), and False otherwise. Test your function with different strings.
3. Function to Generate Fibonacci Sequence: Write a Python function called fibonacci
that takes a positive integer n as input and returns a list containing the first n Fibonacci
numbers. Test your function by printing the Fibonacci sequence for different values of n.
4. Function to Convert Celsius to Fahrenheit: Write a Python function called
celsius_to_fahrenheit that takes a temperature in Celsius as input and returns the
equivalent temperature in Fahrenheit. Test your function with various temperatures.
5. Function to Count Vowels and Consonants: Write a Python function called
count_vowels_and_consonants that takes a string as input and returns a tuple
containing the count of vowels and consonants in the string. Test your function with
different strings.