Cheatsheets / Learn Python 3

Functions

Function Parameters
Sometimes functions require input to provide data for def write_a_book(character, setting,
their code. This input is defined using parameters.
special_skill):
Parameters are variables that are defined in the
function definition. They are assigned the values which print(character + " is in " +
were passed as arguments when the function was setting + " practicing her " +
called, elsewhere in the code.
special_skill)
For example, the function definition defines parameters
for a character, a setting, and a skill, which are used as
inputs to write the first sentence of a book.

Multiple Parameters
Python functions can have multiple parameters. Just as def ready_for_school(backpack,
you wouldn’t go to school without both a backpack and
pencil_case):
a pencil case, functions may also need more than one
input to carry out their operations. if (backpack == 'full' and pencil_case
To define a function with multiple parameters, == 'full'):
parameter names are placed one after another,
print ("I'm ready for school!")
separated by commas, within the parentheses of the
function definition.

Functions
Some tasks need to be performed multiple times within # Define a function my_function() with
a program. Rather than rewrite the same code in
parameter x
multiple places, a function may be defined using the
def keyword. Function definitions may include
parameters, providing data input to the function. def my_function(x):
Functions may return a value using the return
return x + 1
keyword followed by the value to return.

# Invoke the function

print(my_function(2)) # Output: 3
print(my_function(3 + 5)) # Output: 9
Function Indentation
Python uses indentation to identify blocks of code. # Indentation is used to identify code
Code within the same block should be indented at the
blocks
same level. A Python function is one type of code
block. All code under a function declaration should be
indented to identify it as part of the function. There can def testfunction(number):
be additional indentation within a function to handle
# This code is part of testfunction
other statements such as for and if so long as the
lines are not indented less than the first line of the print("Inside the testfunction")
function code. sum = 0
for x in range(number):
# More indentation because 'for' has
a code block
# but still part of he function
sum += x
return sum
print("This is not part of testfunction")

Calling Functions
Python uses simple syntax to use, invoke, or call a doHomework()
preexisting function. A function can be called by writing
the name of it, followed by parentheses.
For example, the code provided would call the
doHomework() method.

Function Arguments
Parameters in python are variables — placeholders for def sales(grocery_store, item_on_sale,
the actual values the function needs. When the
cost):
function is called, these values are passed in as
arguments. print(grocery_store + " is selling " +
For example, the arguments passed into the function item_on_sale + " for " + cost)
.sales() are the “The Farmer’s Market”, “toothpaste”,
and “$1” which correspond to the parameters
grocery_store , item_on_sale , and cost . sales("The Farmer’s Market",
"toothpaste", "$1")
Function Keyword Arguments
Python functions can be defined with named def findvolume(length=1, width=1,
arguments which may have default values provided.
depth=1):
When function arguments are passed using their
names, they are referred to as keyword arguments. The print("Length = " + str(length))
use of keyword arguments when calling a function print("Width = " + str(width))
allows the arguments to be passed in any order — not
print("Depth = " + str(depth))
just the order that they were defined in the function. If
the function is invoked without a value for a specific return length * width * depth;
argument, the default value will be used.

findvolume(1, 2, 3)
findvolume(length=5, depth=2, width=4)
findvolume(2, depth=3, width=4)

Returning Multiple Values

Python functions are able to return multiple values def square_point(x, y, z):
using one return statement. All values that should be
x_squared = x * x
returned are listed after the return keyword and are
separated by commas. y_squared = y * y
In the example, the function square_point() returns z_squared = z * z
x_squared , y_squared , and z_squared . # Return all three values:
return x_squared, y_squared, z_squared

three_squared, four_squared, five_squared

= square_point(3, 4, 5)

The Scope of Variables

In Python, a variable defined inside a function is called a = 5
a local variable. It cannot be used outside of the scope
of the function, and attempting to do so without
defining the variable outside of the function will cause def f1():
an error. a = 2
In the example, the variable a is defined both inside
print(a)
and outside of the function. When the function f1() is
implemented, a is printed as 2 because it is locally
defined to be so. However, when printing a outside of print(a) # Will print 5
the function, a is printed as 5 because it is f1() # Will print 2
implemented outside of the scope of the function.
Returning Value from Function
A return keyword is used to return a value from a def check_leap_year(year):
Python function. The value returned from a function
if year % 4 == 0:
can be assigned to a variable which can then be used in
the program. return str(year) + " is a leap year."
In the example, the function check_leap_year else:
returns a string which indicates if the passed parameter
return str(year) + " is not a leap
is a leap year or not.
year."

year_to_check = 2018
returned_value =
check_leap_year(year_to_check)
print(returned_value) # 2018 is not a
leap year.

Global Variables
A variable that is defined outside of a function is called a = "Hello"
a global variable. It can be accessed inside the body of
a function.
In the example, the variable a is a global variable def prints_a():
because it is defined outside of the function prints_a . print(a)
It is therefore accessible to prints_a , which will print
the value of a .
# will print "Hello"
prints_a()

Parameters as Local Variables

Function parameters behave identically to a function’s def my_function(value):
local variables. They are initialized with the values
print(value)
passed into the function when it was called.
Like local variables, parameters cannot be referenced
from outside the scope of the function. # Pass the value 7 into the function
In the example, the parameter value is defined as
my_function(7)
part of the definition of my_function , and therefore
can only be accessed within my_function .
Attempting to print the contents of value from # Causes an error as `value` no longer
outside the function causes an error. exists
print(value)

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