Scribd
Upload
85 views

Python Data Science Toolbox I: User-Defined Functions

This document discusses Python functions and their use in data science. It covers defining basic functions without and with parameters, returning values from functions, using docstrings to document functions, defining functions that accept multiple parameters and return multiple values using tuples, and the basic structure of a Python function. The document is intended to teach fundamental function concepts and serve as an introduction to using functions for data analysis tasks.

Uploaded by

Rangapriya Dasan
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
85 views

Python Data Science Toolbox I: User-Defined Functions

This document discusses Python functions and their use in data science. It covers defining basic functions without and with parameters, returning values from functions, using docstrings to document functions, defining functions that accept multiple parameters and return multiple values using tuples, and the basic structure of a Python function. The document is intended to teach fundamental function concepts and serve as an introduction to using functions for data analysis tasks.

Uploaded by

Rangapriya Dasan
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
You are on page 1/ 22

PYTHON DATA SCIENCE TOOLBOX I

User-defined
functions
Python Data Science Toolbox I

You’ll learn:
● Define functions without parameters
● Define functions with one parameter
● Define functions that return a value
● Later: multiple arguments, multiple return values
Python Data Science Toolbox I

Built-in functions
● str()

In [1]: x = str(5)

In [2]: print(x)
'5'

In [3]: print(type(x))
<class 'str'>
Python Data Science Toolbox I

Defining a function
In [1]: def square(): Function header
...: new_value = 4 ** 2
...: print(new_value) Function body
(Indented)
In [2]: square()
16
Python Data Science Toolbox I

Function parameters
In [1]: def square(value): parameter
...: new_value = value ** 2
...: print(new_value)

In [2]: square(4) argument


16

In [3]: square(5)
25
Python Data Science Toolbox I

Return values from functions


● Return a value from a function using return

In [1]: def square(value):


...: new_value = value ** 2
...: return new_value

In [12]: num = square(4)

In [13]: print(num)
16
Python Data Science Toolbox I

Docstrings
● Docstrings describe what your function does
● Serve as documentation for your function
● Placed in the immediate line a!er the function header
● In between triple double quotes """

In [1]: def square(value):


...: """Return the square of a value."""
...: new_value = value ** 2
...: return new_value
PYTHON DATA SCIENCE TOOLBOX I

Let’s practice!
PYTHON DATA SCIENCE TOOLBOX I

Multiple parameters
and return values
Python Data Science Toolbox I

Multiple function parameters


● Accept more than 1 parameter:

In [1]: def raise_to_power(value1, value2):


...: """Raise value1 to the power of value2."""
...: new_value = value1 ** value2
...: return new_value

● Call function: # of arguments = # of parameters

In [2]: result = raise_to_power(2, 3)

In [3]: print(result)
8
Python Data Science Toolbox I

A quick jump into tuples


● Make functions return multiple values: Tuples!
● Tuples:
● Like a list - can contain multiple values
● Immutable - can’t modify values!
● Constructed using parentheses ()
In [1]: even_nums = (2, 4, 6)

In [2]: print(type(even_nums))
<class 'tuple'>
Python Data Science Toolbox I

Unpacking tuples
● Unpack a tuple into several variables:

In [1]: even_nums = (2, 4, 6)

In [2]: a, b, c = even_nums

In [3]: print(a)
2

In [4]: print(b)
4

In [5]: print(c)
6
Python Data Science Toolbox I

Accessing tuple elements


● Access tuple elements like you do with lists:

In [1]: even_nums = (2, 4, 6)

In [2]: print(even_nums[1])
4

In [3]: second_num = even_nums[1]

In [4]: print(second_num)
4

● Uses zero-indexing
Python Data Science Toolbox I

Returning multiple values


raise.py

def raise_both(value1, value2):


"""Raise value1 to the power of value2
and vice versa."""

new_value1 = value1 ** value2


new_value2 = value2 ** value1

new_tuple = (new_value1, new_value2)

return new_tuple

In [1]: result = raise_both(2, 3)

In [2]: print(result)
(8, 9)
PYTHON DATA SCIENCE TOOLBOX I

Let’s practice!
PYTHON DATA SCIENCE TOOLBOX I

Bringing it all
together
Python Data Science Toolbox I

You’ve learned:
● How to write functions
● Accept multiple parameters
● Return multiple values

● Up next: Functions for analyzing Twi!er data


Python Data Science Toolbox I

Basic ingredients of a function


raise.py

def raise_both(value1, value2): Function header


"""Raise value1 to the power of value2
and vice versa."""

new_value1 = value1 ** value2


Function body
new_value2 = value2 ** value1

new_tuple = (new_value1, new_value2)

return new_tuple
PYTHON DATA SCIENCE TOOLBOX I

Let’s practice!
PYTHON DATA SCIENCE TOOLBOX I

Congratulations!
Python Data Science Toolbox I

Next chapters:
● Functions with default arguments
● Functions that accept an arbitrary number of parameters
● Nested functions
● Error-handling within functions
● More function use in data science!
PYTHON DATA SCIENCE TOOLBOX I

See you in the


next chapter!

You might also like