parameter

In Python, a parameter is a variable that you use in a function or method definition to accept input values, known as arguments, when the function is called.

Parameters allow you to create flexible and reusable functions by letting you specify the input data that the function should work with. When you define a function, you can include parameters in the function’s signature. You can use these parameters as variables within the function body to perform computations.

There are different types of parameters in Python:

Positional parameters must be passed in the order they are defined.
Keyword parameters are passed using the parameter name.
Parameters with default values have a default value that is used if no argument is provided.
A variable number of parameters allows you to pass an arbitrary number of arguments to a function.

Parameters vs Arguments

When defining a function, you specify parameters in its signature. They act as placeholders for the arguments. When you call the function, you provide the arguments that correspond to these parameters.

Example

Here’s an example that demonstrates how to use parameters in a Python function:

Python
      
    
def greet(name, greeting="Hello"):
    print(f"{greeting}, {name}!")

# Usage
greet("Alice")  # Output: Hello, Alice!
greet("Bob", "Hi")  # Output: Hi, Bob!

In this example, name is a positional parameter, while greeting is a parameter with a default value of "Hello". You can call the greet() function with just the name argument, or provide a custom value for greeting.