⭐ FUNCTIONS IN PYTHON
✅ Definition
A function in Python is a reusable block of code that performs a specific task.
Functions help in code reusability, readability, and modular programming.
✔️Why use functions?
Avoid repeating code
Better structure
Easy debugging
Reusability
Clean and organized program
Break large problems into small parts
⭐ SYNTAX OF A FUNCTION
def function_name(parameters):
# body
return value
def → keyword to define a function
function_name → name of the function
parameters → input values (optional)
return → output (optional)
TYPES OF FUNCTIONS
Python has 2 basic types:
🔹 1. Built-in Functions
Built-in functions are functions that are already available in Python.
You can use them directly without importing any module.
Examples:
print()
len()
type()
range()
sum()
max(), min()
input()
sorted()
What is return in Python?
The return statement is used to send a value from a function back to the caller and end the
function execution.
👉 A function with return gives output that can be stored, reused, or processed further.
Return vs Print (Very Important ⭐)
return print
Sends value to caller Displays value
Can be stored in variable Cannot be reused
Ends function Does not end function
Types of User-Defined Functions
Based on arguments and return values, user-defined functions are classified into 4 types:
🔹 1. Function with NO Arguments and NO Return Value
🔹 Definition
Does not take any input
Does not return any output
Example:
def greet():
print("Welcome to Python")
greet()
Function with Arguments and NO Return Value
🔹 Definition
Takes input values
Does not return a value
Performs an action only
Example:
def add(a, b):
print(a + b)
add(10, 20)
Function with NO Arguments and WITH Return Value
🔹 Definition
Does not take input
Returns an output using return
Example:
def get_pi():
return 3.14
value = get_pi()
print(value)
4. Function with Arguments and WITH Return Value (MOST IMPORTANT ⭐)
🔹 Definition
Takes input
Returns output
Most commonly used in real projects
Example:
def square(num):
return num * num
print(square(5))
⭐ PARAMETERS vs ARGUMENTS
🔹 Parameters
Variables inside the function definition.
def add(a, b): # a, b → parameters
🔹 Arguments
Actual values passed to function.
add(10, 20) # 10, 20 → arguments
Parameters in Functions?
Parameters are variables written inside the function definition that receive values when the
function is called.
👉 They act like placeholders for data.
def add(a, b): # a and b are PARAMETERS
return a + b
add(10, 20) # 10 and 20 are ARGUMENTS
🔹 Types of Parameters in Python
Python supports 5 types of parameters:
1️⃣ Positional Parameters
2️⃣ Default Parameters
3️⃣ Keyword Parameters
4️⃣ Variable-Length Parameters
• *args
• **kwargs
5️⃣ Positional-only & Keyword-only (advanced)
1️⃣ Positional Parameters
Values are passed based on position/order.
def student(name, age):
print(name, age)
student("Jaya", 21)
Output:
Jaya 21
2️⃣ Default Parameters
A default value is assigned to a parameter.
If no argument is passed → default value is used.
Example:
def greet(name="User"):
print("Hello", name)
greet()
greet("Jaya") Hello User
Hello Jaya
3️⃣ Keyword Parameters
Arguments passed using parameter names.
Order does NOT matter.
Example:
def marks(math, science):
print(math, science)
marks(science=85, math=90)
Variable-Length Parameters
Used when number of arguments is unknown.
*args (Non-keyword variable length)
Accepts multiple values as a tuple.
Multiple positional arguments
Example:
def total(*nums):
print(nums)
total(10, 20, 30, 40) #(10,20,30,40)
**kwargs (Keyword variable length)
Accepts key-value pairs as a dictionary.
→ Multiple keyword arguments
Example:
def details(**info):
print(info)
details(name="Jaya", age=21, course="Python") {'name': 'Jaya', 'age': 21, 'course': 'Python'}
⭐ SMALL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
✔️1. Write a function to check even or odd
def check(n):
return "Even" if n % 2 == 0 else "Odd"
✔️2. Function to return factorial
def fact(n):
res = 1
for i in range(1, n+1):
res *= i
return res
✔️3. Function to count vowels
def vowels(s):
v = "aeiouAEIOU"
return sum(1 for ch in s if ch in v)