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Python Function Tutorial with Examples

  1. Python Function
  2. Function examples
  3. Function with required parameters
  4. Function with default parameters
  5. Function with Variable-Length parameter
  6. Anonymous function

1. Python Function

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Function is a special command block, it is named and it helps program code to be more easily to read, and it is called to use in different places in the program. The function is a reuseable command block.
Syntax:
** function syntax **
def functionName( parameters ):
   "Short description of the function"
   codes ...
   return [expression]
  • A function starts with word "def" (define) and followed by the function's name.
  • Next, it is the list of parameters in the brackets () and colon (:), the function can include 0, 1 or parameters, the parameters are separated by comma.
  • The first line of the function body is a short description of the function (optional).
return statement:
The return statement is used to returns a value (or an expression), or "nothing". When the return statement is run, function will end. Return is a statement not required in the function body.
Example
Description
return 3
Function return a value, and ends
return
Function return nothing, and ends
Parameters:
Function includes 0, 1 or parameters separated by comma. There are four types of parameters:
  • Required Parameter
  • Default parameter
  • Variable-Length Parameter
  • Keyword Parameter

2. Function examples

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For example, a function has a parameter, and returns "Nothing".
functionExample1.py
# Define a function:
def sayHello(name)  : 
    # If name is empty or null.
    if not name   : 
        print( "Hello every body!" ) 
    # If name is not empty and not null.
    else :          
        print( "Hello " + name)

# Call function, pass parameters to function.
sayHello("") 
sayHello("Python");  
sayHello("Java");
Output:
Hello every body!
Hello Python
Hello Java
Next is the example of a function that has a parameter and returns the value.
functionExample2.py
# Define a function:
def getGreeting(name)  :

    # If name is empty or null (None).
    if not name   :
        # Returns a value.
        # And function ends here.
        return "Hello every body!"
    
    # If name is not empty and not null (not None),
    # this code will be executed.
    return "Hello " + name

# Call function, pass parameters to function.
greeting = getGreeting("") 
print(greeting)  
greeting = getGreeting("Python") 
print(greeting)
Output:
Hello every body!
Hello Python

3. Function with required parameters

The following example defines the showInfo function having 2 parameters. Both of the parameters are required. When you call for the function, you need to provide 2 parameters to the function. Conversely program will throw an error.
requiredParameterExample.py
def showInfo(name, gender):
    print ("Name: ", name);
    print ("Gender: ", gender);

# Valid  
showInfo("Tran", "Male")  
# Invalid ==> Error!!
showInfo("Tran")

4. Function with default parameters

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Function can have a lot of parameters, including the required parameters and ones with default values.
The showInfo function below has three parameters (name, gender = "Male", country = "US"):
  • Name is a required parameter.
  • Gender is the parameter with default value "Male".
  • Country is a parameter with the default value "US".
defaultParameterExample.py
def showInfo(name, gender = "Male", country ="US"):
    print ("Name: ", name)
    print ("Gender: ", gender)
    print ("Country: ", country)

# Valid    
showInfo("Aladdin", "Male", "India")  
print (" ------ ")
# Valid  
showInfo("Tom", "Male")
print (" ------ ")
# Valid  
showInfo("Jerry")
print (" ------ ")
# Valid  
showInfo(name = "Tintin", country ="France")
print (" ------ ")
Output:
Name: Aladdin
Gender: Male
Country: India
 ------
Name: Tom
Gender: Male
Country: US
 ------
Name: Jerry
Gender: Male
Country: US
 ------
Name: Tintin
Gender: Male
Country: France
 ------

5. Function with Variable-Length parameter

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Variable-length Parameter is a special parameter. When calling for function, you can pass 0, 1 or values to that parameter.

Note: "Variable-length Parameter" must always be the last parameter of the function.
Example:
SumValues function has three parameters:
  • Parameters a, b are required.
  • Parameters *others are "Variable-Length Parameters".
variableLengthParameterExample.py
def sumValues(a, b, *others): 
    retValue = a + b
    
    # 'others' parameter like an array.
    for other in others :
        retValue = retValue + other
        
    return retValue
How to call for functions:
testVariableLengthParameter.py
from variableLengthParameterExample import sumValues

# Pass: *others = []
a = sumValues(10, 20) 
print("sumValues(10, 20) = ", a);

# Pass: *others = [1]
a = sumValues(10, 20, 1);  
print("sumValues(10, 20, 1 ) = ", a);

# Pass: *others = [1,2]
a = sumValues(10, 20, 1, 2);  
print("sumValues(10, 20, 1 , 2) = ", a);

# Pass: *others = [1,2,3,4,5]
a = sumValues(10, 20, 1, 2,3,4,5);  
print("sumValues(10, 20, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) = ", a);
Output:
sumValues(10, 20) = 30
sumValues(10, 20, 1) = 31
sumValues(10, 20, 1, 2) = 33
sumValues(10, 20, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) = 45

6. Anonymous function

Functions are called anonymous if they are not defined in the usual way by the def keyword, which uses the lambda keyword.
  • Anonymous functions can have 0 or more parameters, but only one expression in the body of the function. The value of the expression is the return value of the function. But do not use the keyword 'return'.
  • List of parameters separated by commas, and not enclosed in parenthesis ( ).
  • In the anonymous function's body, you can not access external variables, you can only access its parameters.
  • An anonymous function cannot be a direct call to print because lambda requires an expression
Syntax:
* syntax *
lambda [arg1 [,arg2,.....argn]]  :  expression
Example:
lambdaFunctionExample.py
# Declare a variable: hello = an anonymous function have no parameter.
hello = lambda  : "Hello"

# Declare a variable: mySum = an anonymous function with 2 parameters.
mySum = lambda a, b : a + b 

a= hello() 
print (a) 

a = mySum(10, 20) 
print (a)
Output:
Hello
30
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