Parameters and Arguments in Python
Parameters are the variables listed in a function definition – they act as placeholders for the data the function will work with.
Arguments are the actual values you pass to the function when calling it. Understanding how to use different kinds of parameters makes your functions flexible and easy to use.
We'll cover positional arguments, keyword arguments, default values, variable-length arguments (*args and **kwargs), and best practices.
Positional Arguments
The simplest type – arguments are matched by position/order.
Keyword Arguments
Pass arguments by naming the parameter – order doesn't matter, code is clearer.
Default Parameters
Give parameters default values – they become optional when calling.
Variable-Length Arguments: *args
*args collects extra positional arguments into a tuple – perfect when you don't know how many there will be.
Variable-Length Keyword Arguments: **kwargs
**kwargs collects extra keyword arguments into a dictionary.
Combining Parameter Types
Order matters: positional → *args → keyword → **kwargs.
Quick Quiz
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