Unit 5 (PY)

Python Functions
Python Functions is a block of related statements designed to perform a computational, logical,

or evaluative task. The idea is to put some commonly or repeatedly done tasks together and
make a function so that instead of writing the same code again and again for different inputs, we
can do the function calls to reuse code contained in it over and over again.
Functions can be both built-in or user-defined. It helps the program to be concise, non-
repetitive, and organized.
Syntax:
def function_name(parameters):
"""docstring"""
statement(s)
return expression
Creating a Function
We can create a Python function using the def keyword.
Example: Python Creating Function

# A simple Python function
def fun():
print("Welcome to GFG")
Calling a Function
After creating a function we can call it by using the name of the function followed by parenthesis
containing parameters of that particular function.
Example: Python Calling Function

# A simple Python function
def fun():
print("Welcome to GFG")
# Driver code to call a function

fun()
Output
Welcome to GFG
Arguments of a Function
Arguments are the values passed inside the parenthesis of the function. A function can have
any number of arguments separated by a comma.
Example: Python Function with arguments

In this example, we will create a simple function to check whether the number passed as an
argument to the function is even or odd.
# A simple Python function to check

# whether x is even or odd
def evenOdd(x):
if (x % 2 == 0):
print("even")
else:
print("odd")
# Driver code to call the function
evenOdd(2)
evenOdd(3)
Output
even
odd
Types of Arguments
Python supports various types of arguments that can be passed at the time of the function call.
Let’s discuss each type in detail.
Default arguments
A default argument is a parameter that assumes a default value if a value is not provided in the
function call for that argument. The following example illustrates Default arguments.
# Python program to demonstrate

# default arguments
def myFun(x, y=50):
print("x: ", x)
print("y: ", y)
# Driver code (We call myFun() with only

# argument)
myFun(10)
Output
('x: ', 10)
('y: ', 50)
Like C++ default arguments, any number of arguments in a function can have a default value.
But once we have a default argument, all the arguments to its right must also have default
values.
Keyword arguments
The idea is to allow the caller to specify the argument name with values so that caller does not
need to remember the order of parameters.
# Python program to demonstrate Keyword Arguments
def student(firstname, lastname):
print(firstname, lastname)
# Keyword arguments
student(firstname='Geeks', lastname='Practice')
student(lastname='Practice', firstname='Geeks')
Output
('Geeks', 'Practice')
('Geeks', 'Practice')
Variable-length arguments
In Python, we can pass a variable number of arguments to a function using special symbols.
There are two special symbols:
*args (Non-Keyword Arguments)

**kwargs (Keyword Arguments)
Example 1: Variable length non-keywords argument
# Python program to illustrate
# *args for variable number of arguments
def myFun(*argv):
for arg in argv:
print(arg)
myFun('Hello', 'Welcome', 'to', 'GeeksforGeeks')

Output
Hello
Welcome
to
GeeksforGeeks
Example 2: Variable length keyword arguments
# Python program to illustrate
# *kwargs for variable number of keyword arguments
def myFun(**kwargs):
for key, value in kwargs.items():
print("%s == %s" % (key, value))
# Driver code
myFun(first='Geeks', mid='for', last='Geeks')

Output
first == Geeks
mid == for
last == Geeks
Docstring
The first string after the function is called the Document string or Docstring in short. This is used
to describe the functionality of the function. The use of docstring in functions is optional but it is
considered a good practice.
The below syntax can be used to print out the docstring of a function:
Syntax: print(function_name.__doc__)
Example: Adding Docstring to the function
# A simple Python function to check
# whether x is even or odd
def evenOdd(x):
"""Function to check if the number is even or odd"""
if (x % 2 == 0):
print("even")
else:
print("odd")
# Driver code to call the function
print(evenOdd.__doc__)
Output
Function to check if the number is even or odd
The return statement
The function return statement is used to exit from a function and go back to the function caller
and return the specified value or data item to the caller.
Syntax: return [expression_list]

The return statement can consist of a variable, an expression, or a constant which is returned to
the end of the function execution. If none of the above is present with the return statement a
None object is returned.
Example: Python Function Return Statement
def square_value(num):
"""This function returns the square

value of the entered number"""
return num**2
print(square_value(2))
print(square_value(-4))
Output:
4
16
Is Python Function Pass by Reference or pass by value?
One important thing to note is, in Python every variable name is a reference. When we pass a
variable to a function, a new reference to the object is created. Parameter passing in Python is
the same as reference passing in Java.
Example:
# Here x is a new reference to same list lst
def myFun(x):
x[0] = 20
# Driver Code (Note that lst is modified

# after function call.
lst = [10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]

myFun(lst)
print(lst)
Output
[20, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]
When we pass a reference and change the received reference to something else, the
connection between the passed and received parameter is broken. For example, consider the
below program.
def myFun(x):
# After below line link of x with previous
# object gets broken. A new object is assigned
# to x.
x = [20, 30, 40]
# Driver Code (Note that lst is not modified

lst = [10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]

myFun(lst)
print(lst)
Output
[10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]
Another example to demonstrate that the reference link is broken if we assign a new value
(inside the function).
def myFun(x):
# After below line link of x with previous
# object gets broken. A new object is assigned
# to x.
x = 20
# Driver Code (Note that lst is not modified

x = 10
myFun(x)
print(x)
Output
10

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Python Functions

Python Functions is a block of related statements designed to perform a computational, logical,

Example: Python Creating Function

Example: Python Calling Function

# Driver code to call a function

Example: Python Function with arguments

# A simple Python function to check

# Driver code to call the function

# Python program to demonstrate

# Driver code (We call myFun() with only

# Python program to demonstrate Keyword Arguments

def student(firstname, lastname):

*args (Non-Keyword Arguments)

for arg in argv:

myFun('Hello', 'Welcome', 'to', 'GeeksforGeeks')

for key, value in kwargs.items():

print("%s == %s" % (key, value))

myFun(first='Geeks', mid='for', last='Geeks')

"""Function to check if the number is even or odd"""

# Driver code to call the function

Syntax: return [expression_list]

Example: Python Function Return Statement

"""This function returns the square

# Here x is a new reference to same list lst

# Driver Code (Note that lst is modified

lst = [10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]

# object gets broken. A new object is assigned

x = [20, 30, 40]

# Driver Code (Note that lst is not modified

lst = [10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]

# After below line link of x with previous

# object gets broken. A new object is assigned

# Driver Code (Note that lst is not modified

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