What Are Functions in Python?
Functions are reusable blocks of code that perform specific tasks. They are essential for organizing code and improving efficiency.
Key Concepts:
- Function Declaration: Use
def
to define a function.def greet(name): return f"Hello, {name}!"
- Function Call: Invoke a function with parentheses.
greet("Alice")
- Scope: Variables inside a function are local unless specified otherwise.
Types of Functions
1. Standard Functions
Regular functions defined with def
.
2. Lambda Functions
Anonymous functions created with lambda
.
Parameters & Return Values
Parameters:
- Positional arguments (required)
- Keyword arguments (named)
- Default arguments
Return Values:
Use return
to output results.
Advanced Techniques
1. Decorators
Enhance functions with additional functionality.
Read more about decorators 📚
2. Closures
Functions that capture variables from outer scopes.
3. Recursion
Functions that call themselves.
Common Errors
- Forgetting to include a colon after
def
- Incorrect indentation
- Missing parentheses in function calls
- Using
return
outside a function
Explore Python error handling 🔍
For deeper insights into Python functions, check out our Python Basics Tutorial or Python Documentation. 📖