In Python, understanding function parameters and arguments is crucial to writing effective and efficient code. When calling a function, we pass values known as arguments to the function through its parameter list.
While these two concepts might seem interchangeable, there are subtle differences between them. Let’s dive deep into both parameters and arguments in Python.
Function Parameters
Parameters define what input a function expects. They act as placeholders for the actual values passed during a function call. There are several types of parameters in Python:
Required Positional Parameters
These are the most basic type of parameters. Their position matters since order determines which value gets assigned to which variable. Here’s an example:
def greet(name):
print(f"Hello, {name}!")
greet("Alice") # Output: Hello, Alice!
