Reference library

Functions & basics

Reusable building blocks — parameters, returns, scope, and clear function design.

10 matches
Functions & basics easy

How to Create Functions with Default Parameters in Python

This code defines two Python functions using default parameters to handle missing arguments gracefully, demonstrating how to work with optional inputs and keyword arguments.

default-parameters functions arguments
Python
def greet(name="Guest", greeting="Hello", punctuation="!"):
    """Generate a greeting message using default parameters."""
    return f"{greeting}, {name}{punctuation}"


def create_profile(username="anonymous", age=0, city="Unknown", active=True):
    """Create a user profile dictionary with default values."""
    r…
14 0 Open
Functions & basics easy

How to Define a Function with Default Parameter Values in Python

This code demonstrates defining a Python function with default parameter values, showing how to call it with zero, one, or two arguments.

functions default-parameters arguments
Python
def greet(name: str = "World", punctuation: str = "!") -> str:
    """Return a greeting message using default parameter values."""
    message = f"Hello, {name}{punctuation}"
    return message


if __name__ == "__main__":
    # Call with no arguments – uses both defaults
    print(greet())

    # Call with one argume…
13 0 Open
Functions & basics easy

How to Parse Function Parameters with Defaults in Python

Create Python functions with default parameter values to make arguments optional and provide sensible fallbacks.

functions default-parameters arguments
Python
def greet(name, greeting="Hello", punctuation="!"):
    """Greet a person with customizable greeting and punctuation."""
    return f"{greeting}, {name}{punctuation}"

def describe_fruit(fruit, color="unknown", ripe=False):
    """Describe a fruit with optional attributes."""
    status = "ripe" if ripe else "not ripe…
14 0 Open
Functions & basics easy

How to Use Default Parameter Values in Python Functions

Shows how to define and call Python functions with default parameter values, including overriding some or all defaults and using keyword arguments.

functions default-parameters arguments
Python
def greet(name, greeting="Hello", punctuation="!"):
    """Return a greeting message using default parameters."""
    return f"{greeting}, {name}{punctuation}"

if __name__ == "__main__":
    # Using defaults
    print(greet("Alice"))
    
    # Overriding first default
    print(greet("Bob", "Hi"))
    
    # Overrid…
14 0 Open
Functions & basics easy

How to Use Default Parameter Values in Python Functions

This code demonstrates how to define a Python function with default parameters and call it with varying numbers of arguments to see the defaults applied.

functions parameters defaults
Python
def greet(name, greeting="Hello", punctuation="!"):
    message = f"{greeting}, {name}{punctuation}"
    print(message)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    greet("Alice")
    greet("Bob", "Hi")
    greet("Charlie", "Hey", "?")
13 0 Open
Functions & basics easy

How to Use Default Parameters in Python Functions

A beginner-friendly Python function that uses default parameters to compare two numbers with equal, greater, or less operations.

functions default-parameters comparison
Python
def compare(a, b, operation="equal"):
    if operation == "equal":
        return a == b
    elif operation == "greater":
        return a > b
    elif operation == "less":
        return a < b
    else:
        return f"Unknown operation: {operation}"

if __name__ == "__main__":
    print(compare(5, 5))
    print(com…
13 0 Open
Functions & basics easy

How to Use Default Parameters in Python Functions

Define a Python function with default parameters and call it using positional and keyword arguments.

functions default-parameters arguments
Python
def greet(name, greeting="Hello", punctuation="!"):
    """Concatenate a greeting message with default parameters."""
    return f"{greeting}, {name}{punctuation}"

if __name__ == "__main__":
    print(greet("Alice"))                 # Uses both defaults
    print(greet("Bob", "Hi"))             # Uses default punctua…
13 0 Open
Functions & basics easy

How to Use Default Parameters in Python Functions

Create a simple function with default parameters to build flexible, reusable greetings in Python.

functions default-parameters basics
Python
def greet(name, greeting="Hello", punctuation="!"):
    """Return a personalized greeting message."""
    return f"{greeting}, {name}{punctuation}"


if __name__ == "__main__":
    print(greet("Alice"))               
    print(greet("Bob", "Hi"))           
    print(greet("Charlie", greeting="Hey", punctuation="?"))…
14 0 Open
Functions & basics easy

How to use function defaults in Python

Define Python functions with default parameter values so callers can omit arguments and use sensible fallbacks.

functions default-parameters basics
Python
def greet(name="Guest", greeting="Hello", punctuation="!"):
    """Return a greeting message using default parameters."""
    return f"{greeting}, {name}{punctuation}"

def describe_pet(pet_name, animal_type="dog"):
    """Display information about a pet with a default animal type."""
    print(f"I have a {animal_type…
15 0 Open
Functions & basics easy

Python Function Default Parameters Explained with Examples

Learn how to define Python functions with default parameter values and call them with fewer arguments than declared.

functions default-parameters args
Python
def greet(name, greeting="Hello", punctuation="!"):
    return f"{greeting}, {name}{punctuation}"

def calculate_area(length, width=1, unit="sq units"):
    area = length * width
    return f"Area: {area} {unit}"

if __name__ == "__main__":
    print(greet("Alice"))
    print(greet("Bob", "Hi"))
    print(greet("Charl…
14 0 Open

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Functions & basics — Python code examples

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This page collects functions & basics snippets — short, copy-ready Python you can paste into our free online IDE and run without installing anything. Each sample includes a plain-English explanation and the full source code.

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Samples are quick reference — one concept per page. For step-by-step teaching, use our Python tutorials. To test yourself, try quizzes or coding challenges. Clean up style with the Python formatter.