MODULE II

Python Functions

Dr.R.Anitha , AP(Sel.)/ECE
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.
 A function is a block of organized, reusable code that is
used to perform a single, related action.
 Functions provides better modularity for your application
and a high degree of code reusing.
 Python has many built-in functions like print() etc. but can
also create your own functions. These functions are called
user-defined functions
Types of function
 Built-in library function:
◦ These are Standard functions in Python that are
available to use.
 User-defined function:
◦ We can create our own functions based on our
requirements.
Defining a Function
Here are simple rules to define a function in Python:
 Function blocks begin with the keyword def followed by

the function name and parentheses ( ( ) ).

 Any input parameters or arguments should be placed

within these parentheses. You can also define parameters

inside these parentheses.
 The first statement of a function can be an optional

statement - the documentation string of the function or

docstring.
 The code block within every function starts with a colon

(:) and is indented.

 The statement return [expression] exits a function,
optionally passing back an expression to the caller. A
return statement with no arguments is the same as return
None.
Syntax:
def functionname( parameters ):
"function_docstring"
function_suite
return [expression]
By default, parameters have a positional behavior,
and you need to inform them in the same order that
they were defined.
Calling a Function
 Following is the example to call printme() function:
 def printme( str ):
print(str)
return;
printme("I'm first call to user defined
function!");
printme("Again second call to the same
function");

 This would produce following result:

I'm first call to user defined function!
Again second call to the same function
Pass by reference vs value
All parameters (arguments) in the Python language are
passed by reference. It means if you change what a
parameter refers to within a function, the change also
reflects back in the calling function. For example:
 def changeme( mylist ):

mylist.append([1,2,3,4]);
print ("Values inside the function: ", mylist)
return
mylist = [10,20,30];
changeme( mylist );
print ("Values outside the function: ", mylist)

 So this would produce following result:

Values inside the function: [10, 20, 30, [1, 2, 3, 4]]
Values outside the function: [10, 20, 30, [1, 2, 3, 4]]
There is one more example where argument is being passed by
reference but inside the function, but the reference is being
over-written.
 def changeme( mylist ):

mylist = [1,2,3,4];
print ("Values inside the function: ", mylist)
return
mylist = [10,20,30];
changeme( mylist );
print ("Values outside the function: ", mylist)

 The parameter mylist is local to the function changeme.

Changing mylist within the function does not affect mylist.
The function accomplishes nothing and finally this would
produce following result:
Values inside the function: [1, 2, 3, 4]
Values outside the function: [10, 20, 30]
Function Arguments:
A function by using the following types of formal
arguments::
◦ Required arguments
◦ Keyword arguments
◦ Default arguments
◦ Variable-length arguments
Required arguments:
 Required arguments are the arguments passed to a

function in correct positional order.

 def printme( str ):

print (str);
return;
printme();

 This would produce following result:

TypeError: printme() missing 1 required positional
argument: 'str'
Keyword arguments:
 Keyword arguments are related to the function

calls. When you use keyword arguments in a

function call, the caller identifies the arguments by
the parameter name.
 This allows you to skip arguments or place them out

of order because the Python interpreter is able to

use the keywords provided to match the values with
parameters.
 def printme( str ):

print (str);
return;
printme( str = "My string");
 This would produce following result:

My string
Following example gives more clear picture. Note,
here order of the parameter does not matter:
def printinfo( name, age ):
print ("Name: ", name)
print ("Age ", age)
return

printinfo( age=50, name="miki" )

 This would produce following result:

Name: miki
Age 50
Default arguments:
 A default argument is an argument that assumes a

default value if a value is not provided in the function

call for that argument.
 Following example gives idea on default arguments, it

would print default age if it is not passed:

 def printinfo( name, age = 35 ):

print ("Name: ", name);

print ("Age ", age);
return;
printinfo( age=50, name="miki" );
printinfo( name="miki" );
 This would produce following result:

Name: miki
Age 50
Name: miki
Age 35
Variable-length arguments:
 You may need to process a function for more

arguments than you specified while defining the

function. These arguments are called variable-
length arguments and are not named in the function
definition, unlike required and default arguments.
 The general syntax for a function with non-keyword

variable arguments is this:

def functionname([formal_args,] *var_args_tuple ):
"function_docstring"
function_suite
return [expression]
 An asterisk (*) is placed before the variable name
that will hold the values of all nonkeyword variable
arguments. This tuple remains empty if no
additional arguments are specified during the
function call. For example:
def printinfo( arg1, *vartuple ):
print ("Output is: ")
print (arg1)
for var in vartuple:
print (var)
return;
printinfo( 10 );
printinfo( 70, 60, 50 );
 This would produce following result:
Output is:
10
Output is:
70
60
50
The Anonymous Functions:
You can use the lambda keyword to create small anonymous
functions. These functions are called anonymous because
they are not declared in the standard manner by using the
def keyword.
 Lambda forms can take any number of arguments but

return just one value in the form of an expression. They

cannot contain commands or multiple expressions.
 An anonymous function cannot be a direct call to print

because lambda requires an expression.

 Lambda functions have their own local namespace and

cannot access variables other than those in their

parameter list and those in the global namespace.
 Although it appears that lambda's are a one-line version

of a function, they are not equivalent to inline statements

in C or C++, whose purpose is by passing function stack
allocation during invocation for performance reasons.

 Syntax:
lambda [arg1 [,arg2,.....argn]]:expression
Example:
 Following is the example to show how lambda form

of function works:
 sum = lambda arg1, arg2: arg1 + arg2;

print ("Value of total : ", sum( 10, 20 ))

print ("Value of total : ", sum( 20, 20 ))
 This would produce following result:

Value of total : 30
Value of total : 40

 #example of lambda function

 x = lambda a : a + 10
 print(x(5))
 This would produce following result:
 15
Scope of Variables:
 All variables in a program may not be accessible at all
locations in that program. This depends on where you
have declared a variable.
 The scope of a variable determines the portion of the
program where you can access a particular identifier.
There are two basic scopes of variables in Python:
Global variables
Local variables
 Global vs. Local variables:
 Variables that are defined inside a function body have a
local scope, and those defined outside have a global
scope.
 This means that local variables can be accessed only
inside the function in which they are declared whereas
global variables can be accessed throughout the program
body by all functions. When you call a function, the
variables declared inside it are brought into scope.
 Example:
 def sum( arg1, arg2 ):
#Add both the parameters"
total = arg1 + arg2;
print ("Inside the function local total : ", total)
return total;
# Now you can call sum function
sum( 10, 20 );
print ("Outside the function global total : ", total)
 This would produce following result:
Inside the function local total : 30
Outside the function global total : 0