Question

The following statements call a function named show_data. Which of the statements passes arguments by position, and which passes keyword arguments? a) show_data(name='Kathryn', age=25) b) show_data('Kathryn', 25)

Short answer

Answer: In the given function calls, a) show_data(name='Kathryn', age=25) uses keyword arguments, and b) show_data('Kathryn', 25) uses positional arguments.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the function calls

There are two function calls, a) and b), which call the show_data function.

Determine the type of arguments in call a)

In call a), the arguments are given as: name='Kathryn', age=25. Here, each argument is preceded by the parameter name and an equal sign. Hence, these are keyword arguments.

Determine the type of arguments in call b)

In call b), the arguments are given as: 'Kathryn', 25. There are no parameter names preceding the values; rather, the values are directly provided. This means that these are positional arguments.

Summarize the findings

In the given function calls: a) show_data(name='Kathryn', age=25) uses keyword arguments. b) show_data('Kathryn', 25) uses positional arguments.

Key concepts

Function Arguments

In Python programming, functions are methods to organize blocks of code that perform a specific task. To execute a function, you need to provide information that the function needs to perform correctly. This information is passed into the function via arguments. Function arguments are values or variables that you pass to a function to be used within it. They play a key role in defining how a function should behave based on different inputs.

Arguments can be divided into several types, the most common being positional and keyword arguments. Understanding how these arguments work is crucial for writing efficient and effective code.

• Positional Arguments: These are the most basic type of arguments and are assigned in the order they are passed. The first argument goes to the first parameter in the function definition, the second goes to the second parameter, and so forth.
• Keyword Arguments: Instead of passing arguments in the order defined, you can specify each argument with a keyword, pairing each parameter with a specific value. This allows more flexibility in how you position your arguments.

By understanding function arguments deeply, you can write Python code that is more efficient, readable, and modular.

Keyword Arguments

Keyword arguments in Python are a way of specifying values to be passed into a function by associating a keyword with a corresponding value. This technique can greatly enhance the readability and flexibility of your code. When using keyword arguments, you provide a key-value pair for each argument. This signifies precisely which value corresponds to which parameter. For instance, in the function call `show_data(name='Kathryn', age=25)`, the keyword `name` clearly indicates that it is assigning the value 'Kathryn' to the `name` parameter. Using keyword arguments offers several benefits:

• Readability: It’s easier to understand what each value represents within the function call.
• Order-Negligence: You can pass arguments in any order, making your code more flexible.
• Default Value Handling: Keyword arguments allow you to override default parameters selectively without affecting the sequence of others.

The clarity and configurability that keyword arguments provide can simplify complex functions significantly. They are particularly useful when dealing with functions that have numerous parameters.

Positional Arguments

When you call a function using positional arguments in Python, you're providing values that match the order of parameters listed in the function’s definition. The order and quantity of these arguments must exactly match the order and quantity specified in the function declaration. This makes it critical to understand your function's parameter structure when using positional arguments. For example, if you have a function `show_data` defined as `show_data(name, age)`, calling this function with positional arguments like `show_data('Kathryn', 25)` will assign 'Kathryn' to `name` and 25 to `age`.

Key characteristics and considerations when using positional arguments include:

• Order-Dependent: The position or order of the arguments determines which parameter they will feed.
• Simplicity: They are usually simpler and quicker to write when the order of parameters is known and unchanging.
• Errors: Mismatching the order or number of arguments can result in unexpected behavior or errors.

Positional arguments are most effective when the function’s parameters are straightforward and when it’s crucial to follow a specific sequence of inputs. However, they can sometimes be less informative to someone unfamiliar with the parameter order.