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Python Functions Tutorial
course content

Course Content

Python Functions Tutorial

Python Functions Tutorial

1. What is Function in Python?
What Is Function?Challenge: Building functionsArgumentsReturn ValueFunction BodyBuilt-in Functions
2. Positional and Optional Arguments
Positional ArgumentsChallenge: Positional ArgumentsOptional ArgumentsChallenge: Optional Arguments
3. Arbitrary Arguments
Arbitrary ArgumentsArbitrary Keyword ArgumentsCombination of Positional and Optional Arguments
4. Function Return Value Specification
Single Return ValueMultiple Return ValuesNone Return ValueGenerator FunctionsChallenge: Traffic lights
5. Recursion and Lambda Functions
RecursionChallenge: PyramidLambda FunctionsImmediately Invoked Lambda ExpressionWriting Effective and Maintainable Functions

bookArguments

In Python, function arguments are the inputs you give to a function when you call it. They let you provide data or values that the function can work with. These arguments can be individual values or objects like lists, tuples, dictionaries, or custom objects.

For instance, when we use the print() function, we provide a string as an argument. Here's another example:

Assume that we want to write the function that calculates the sum of two different numbers and prints the result. To do it we have to pass these two numbers to the function. We have to do it using () brackets.


              
123456789

            
# Specify two arguments of the function
def sum_of_two_numbers(num_1, num_2):
	# Use arguments to calculate sum
	result = num_1 + num_2
    # Print the result
	print(f'Sum of two numbers is {result}')
 
# Call the function 
sum_of_two_numbers(2, 10)
copy

Note

You may noticed that we use letter f at the beginning of the string as the argument of print() function. Such construction is called f-string. In Python source code, an f-string is a literal string, prefixed with f , which contains expressions inside braces.

We have passed num_1 and num_2 as an arguments of the function and then used them to calculate the sum. We can set an arbitrary number of function arguments. Next, you will solve a problem with 4 function arguments.
Now let's consider an example when we use a list as an argument of the function:


              
123456789101112131415

            
# Define the function `calculate_list_sum`
def calculate_list_sum(list):
    # Initialize the total sum to 0
    total = 0
    # Iterate through each number in the list
    for num in list:
        # Add the current number to the total sum
        total += num
    # Print the total sum
    print(total)

# Create a list of numbers
my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
# Call the function 
calculate_list_sum(my_list)
copy

Task

Assume that you have to calculate perimeter of the triangle with sides a, b and c. Write the function with calculates perimeter and prints it in console.

Switch to desktopSwitch to desktop for real-world practiceContinue from where you are using one of the options below
Everything was clear?

How can we improve it?

Thanks for your feedback!

Section 1. Chapter 3
toggle bottom row

bookArguments

In Python, function arguments are the inputs you give to a function when you call it. They let you provide data or values that the function can work with. These arguments can be individual values or objects like lists, tuples, dictionaries, or custom objects.

For instance, when we use the print() function, we provide a string as an argument. Here's another example:

Assume that we want to write the function that calculates the sum of two different numbers and prints the result. To do it we have to pass these two numbers to the function. We have to do it using () brackets.


              
123456789

            
# Specify two arguments of the function
def sum_of_two_numbers(num_1, num_2):
	# Use arguments to calculate sum
	result = num_1 + num_2
    # Print the result
	print(f'Sum of two numbers is {result}')
 
# Call the function 
sum_of_two_numbers(2, 10)
copy

Note

You may noticed that we use letter f at the beginning of the string as the argument of print() function. Such construction is called f-string. In Python source code, an f-string is a literal string, prefixed with f , which contains expressions inside braces.

We have passed num_1 and num_2 as an arguments of the function and then used them to calculate the sum. We can set an arbitrary number of function arguments. Next, you will solve a problem with 4 function arguments.
Now let's consider an example when we use a list as an argument of the function:


              
123456789101112131415

            
# Define the function `calculate_list_sum`
def calculate_list_sum(list):
    # Initialize the total sum to 0
    total = 0
    # Iterate through each number in the list
    for num in list:
        # Add the current number to the total sum
        total += num
    # Print the total sum
    print(total)

# Create a list of numbers
my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
# Call the function 
calculate_list_sum(my_list)
copy

Task

Assume that you have to calculate perimeter of the triangle with sides a, b and c. Write the function with calculates perimeter and prints it in console.

Switch to desktopSwitch to desktop for real-world practiceContinue from where you are using one of the options below
Everything was clear?

How can we improve it?

Thanks for your feedback!

Section 1. Chapter 3
toggle bottom row

bookArguments

In Python, function arguments are the inputs you give to a function when you call it. They let you provide data or values that the function can work with. These arguments can be individual values or objects like lists, tuples, dictionaries, or custom objects.

For instance, when we use the print() function, we provide a string as an argument. Here's another example:

Assume that we want to write the function that calculates the sum of two different numbers and prints the result. To do it we have to pass these two numbers to the function. We have to do it using () brackets.


              
123456789

            
# Specify two arguments of the function
def sum_of_two_numbers(num_1, num_2):
	# Use arguments to calculate sum
	result = num_1 + num_2
    # Print the result
	print(f'Sum of two numbers is {result}')
 
# Call the function 
sum_of_two_numbers(2, 10)
copy

Note

You may noticed that we use letter f at the beginning of the string as the argument of print() function. Such construction is called f-string. In Python source code, an f-string is a literal string, prefixed with f , which contains expressions inside braces.

We have passed num_1 and num_2 as an arguments of the function and then used them to calculate the sum. We can set an arbitrary number of function arguments. Next, you will solve a problem with 4 function arguments.
Now let's consider an example when we use a list as an argument of the function:


              
123456789101112131415

            
# Define the function `calculate_list_sum`
def calculate_list_sum(list):
    # Initialize the total sum to 0
    total = 0
    # Iterate through each number in the list
    for num in list:
        # Add the current number to the total sum
        total += num
    # Print the total sum
    print(total)

# Create a list of numbers
my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
# Call the function 
calculate_list_sum(my_list)
copy

Task

Assume that you have to calculate perimeter of the triangle with sides a, b and c. Write the function with calculates perimeter and prints it in console.

Switch to desktopSwitch to desktop for real-world practiceContinue from where you are using one of the options below
Everything was clear?

How can we improve it?

Thanks for your feedback!

In Python, function arguments are the inputs you give to a function when you call it. They let you provide data or values that the function can work with. These arguments can be individual values or objects like lists, tuples, dictionaries, or custom objects.

For instance, when we use the print() function, we provide a string as an argument. Here's another example:

Assume that we want to write the function that calculates the sum of two different numbers and prints the result. To do it we have to pass these two numbers to the function. We have to do it using () brackets.


              
123456789

            
# Specify two arguments of the function
def sum_of_two_numbers(num_1, num_2):
	# Use arguments to calculate sum
	result = num_1 + num_2
    # Print the result
	print(f'Sum of two numbers is {result}')
 
# Call the function 
sum_of_two_numbers(2, 10)
copy

Note

You may noticed that we use letter f at the beginning of the string as the argument of print() function. Such construction is called f-string. In Python source code, an f-string is a literal string, prefixed with f , which contains expressions inside braces.

We have passed num_1 and num_2 as an arguments of the function and then used them to calculate the sum. We can set an arbitrary number of function arguments. Next, you will solve a problem with 4 function arguments.
Now let's consider an example when we use a list as an argument of the function:


              
123456789101112131415

            
# Define the function `calculate_list_sum`
def calculate_list_sum(list):
    # Initialize the total sum to 0
    total = 0
    # Iterate through each number in the list
    for num in list:
        # Add the current number to the total sum
        total += num
    # Print the total sum
    print(total)

# Create a list of numbers
my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
# Call the function 
calculate_list_sum(my_list)
copy

Task

Assume that you have to calculate perimeter of the triangle with sides a, b and c. Write the function with calculates perimeter and prints it in console.

Switch to desktopSwitch to desktop for real-world practiceContinue from where you are using one of the options below
Section 1. Chapter 3
Switch to desktopSwitch to desktop for real-world practiceContinue from where you are using one of the options below
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