Lecture 8

Question 1

Function

Answer 1

Is a reusable block of code that can be executed on an as needed basis

Question 2

What do we use functions for?

Answer 2

To help organize code
Make code more modular, and therefore scalable
Make debugging easier
Avoid repetition
Support code sharing

Question 3

Function calling

Answer 3

A function is called when the program requests to run the code in the function, calling a function, interrupts the linear flow of a program the program will:
Jump to another place in the file
Execute the function code
Return back to the main part of the program where the function was called

Question 4

Fuction syntax

Answer 4

def <function>(argument info):
<function></function></function>

<end>
<main>
<function name(arguments)>
</main></end>

Question 5

Preliminary observations about functions

Answer 5

Function definitions must appear before function calls in the file
There can be multiple calls to the same function within a program
Arguments can be sent by value or as variables in function calls
Variables sent as arguments do not have to have the same name as the argument name in the function declaration

Question 6

Default arguments

Answer 6

Arguments that have default values if they are admitted during a function call

Question 7

Keyword arguments

Answer 7

Arguments referenced by name rather than position during function call

Question 8

Preliminary observations about default/keyword arguments

Answer 8

Default arguments must appear at the end of the argument list in the function definition. Only default arguments can be omitted.
Keyword arguments must use the same argument name in the function call as the function definition. Only the last arguments in the argument list can be keyword arguments, though they can be provided in any order.

Question 9

Functions have access to

Answer 9

• Arguments in the function definition
• variables defined within the function, local variables
• variables defined in the main program before the function call global variables

Question 10

Functions can change

Answer 10

• argument values and local variables
• Global variables, but only when declared with the global keyword in the function

Question 11

Arbitrary arguments

Answer 11

If the number of arguments being sent to a function is variable, use a* before the argument

Question 12

Arbitrary keyword arguments

Answer 12

If the number of keyword arguments being sent to a function is variable use a ** before the argument name

Question 13

Mixing arguments

Answer 13

The following order must be followed in both of the function, definition and function call
1) positional arguments
2) default arguments
3) keyword argument
4) arbitrary arguments
5) arbitrary keyword

Question 14

Return

Answer 14

Return to the function to immediately return to the function that called it and return the value that is to the right of return