10/03/2020 Learn Python 3: Functions Reference Guide | Codecademy

Learn Python 3
Functions
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Function Parameters
Sometimes functions require input to provide data for their code. This input is
de ned using parameters.

Parameters are variables that are de ned in the function de nition. They are
assigned the values which were passed as arguments when the function was
called, elsewhere in the code.

For example, the function de nition de nes parameters for a character, a

setting, and a skill, which are used as inputs to write the rst sentence of a
book.

def write_a_book(character, setting, special_skill):

print(character + " is in " +
setting + " practicing her " +
special_skill)

Multiple Parameters
Python functions can have multiple parameters. Just as you wouldn’t go to
school without both a backpack and a pencil case, functions may also need
more than one input to carry out their operations.

To de ne a function with multiple parameters, parameter names are placed one

after another, separated by commas, within the parentheses of the function
de nition.

def ready_for_school(backpack, pencil_case):

if (backpack == 'full' and pencil_case == 'full'):
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print ("I'm ready for school!")

Python Functions
Some tasks need to be performed multiple times within a program. Rather than
rewrite the same code in multiple places, a function may be de ned using the
def keyword. Function de nitions may include parameters, providing data
input to the function.

Functions may return a value using the return keyword followed by the value
to return.

In the example, a function my_function is de ned with the parameter x . The

function returns a value that takes the parameter and adds 1 to it. It is then
invoked multiple times with different input values.

# define a function my_function() with parameter x

def my_function(x):
return x + 1

# invoke our function

print(my_function(2)) # outputs: 3
print(my_function(3 + 5)) # outputs: 9

Function Indentation
Python uses indentation to identify blocks of code. Code within the same block
should be indented at the same level. A Python function is one type of code
block. All code under a function declaration should be indented to identify it as
part of the function. There can be additional indentation within a function to
handle other statements such as for and if so long as the lines are not
indented less than the rst line of the function code.

# Indentation is used to identify code blocks

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def testfunction(number):
# This code is part of testfunction
print("Inside the testfunction")
sum = 0
for x in range(number):
# More indentation because 'for' has a code block
# but still part of he function
sum += x
return sum
print("This is not part of testfunction")

Calling Functions
Python uses simple syntax to use, invoke, or call a preexisting function. A
function can be called by writing the name of it, followed by parentheses.

For example, the code provided would call the doHomework() method.

doHomework()

Function Arguments
Parameters in python are variables — placeholders for the actual values the
function needs. When the function is called, these values are passed in as
arguments.

For example, the arguments passed into the function .sales() are the “The
Farmer’s Market”, “toothpaste”, and “$1” which correspond to the parameters
grocery_store , item_on_sale , and cost .

def sales(grocery_store, item_on_sale, cost):

print(grocery_store + " is selling " + item_on_sale + " for " +
cost)

sales("The Farmer’s Market", "toothpaste", "$1")

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Function Keyword Arguments

Python functions can be de ned with named arguments which may have
default values provided. When function arguments are passed using their
names, they are referred to as keyword arguments. The use of keyword
arguments when calling a function allows the arguments to be passed in any
order — not just the order that they were de ned in the function. If the function
is invoked without a value for a speci c argument, the default value will be
used.

def findvolume(length=1, width=1, depth=1):

print("Length = " + str(length))
print("Width = " + str(width))
print("Depth = " + str(depth))
return length * width * depth;

findvolume(1, 2, 3)
findvolume(length=5, depth=2, width=4)
findvolume(2, depth=3, width=4)

Returning Multiple Values

Python functions are able to return multiple values using one return
statement. All values that should be returned are listed after the return
keyword and are separated by commas.

In the example, the function square_point() returns x_squared , y_squared ,

and z_squared .

def square_point(x, y, z):

x_squared = x * x
y_squared = y * y
z_squared = z * z
# Return all three values:
return x_squared, y_squared, z_squared

three_squared, four_squared, five_squared = square_point(3, 4, 5)

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The Scope of Variables

In Python, a variable de ned inside a function is called a local variable. It cannot
be used outside of the scope of the function, and attempting to do so without
de ning the variable outside of the function will cause an error.

In the example, the variable a is de ned both inside and outside of the
function. When the function f1() is implemented, a is printed as 2 because
it is locally de ned to be so. However, when printing a outside of the function,
a is printed as 5 because it is implemented outside of the scope of the
function.

a = 5

def f1():
a = 2
print(a)

print(a) # Will print 5

f1() # Will print 2

Returning Value from Function

A return keyword is used to return a value from a Python function. The value
returned from a function can be assigned to a variable which can then be used
in the program.

In the example, the function check_leap_year returns a string which indicates

if the passed parameter is a leap year or not.

def check_leap_year(year):
if year % 4 == 0:
return str(year) + " is a leap year."
else:
return str(year) + " is not a leap year."

year_to_check = 2018
returned_value = check_leap_year(year_to_check)
print(returned_value) # 2018 is not a leap year.

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Global Variables
A variable that is de ned outside of a function is called a global variable. It can
be accessed inside the body of a function.

In the example, the variable a is a global variable because it is de ned outside

of the function prints_a . It is therefore accessible to prints_a , which will
print the value of a .

a = "Hello"

def prints_a():
print(a)

# will print "Hello"

prints_a()

Parameters as Local Variables

Function parameters behave identically to a function’s local variables. They are
initialized with the values passed into the function when it was called.

Like local variables, parameters cannot be referenced from outside the scope of
the function.

In the example, the parameter value is de ned as part of the de nition of

my_function , and therefore can only be accessed within my_function .
Attempting to print the contents of value from outside the function causes an
error.

def my_function(value):
print(value)

# Pass the value 7 into the function

my_function(7)

# Causes an error as `value` no longer exists

print(value)

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