Python Arguments and Return Values

Introduction

In this lab, you will be transported to a mystical realm known as the Enchanted Forest. Deep within the forest lies the magical Spring of Wonders, guarded by the ancient spirit of the forest, the Guardian of the Magic Spring. Your quest is to navigate through the forest and interact with the Guardian to harness the powers of Python arguments and return values.

Skills Graph

Understanding Function Arguments

In this step, you will explore the concept of function arguments in Python. You will open a Python file /home/labex/project/function_args.py and define a function that takes multiple arguments. You will then call the function with different arguments and verify the output.

## ~/project/function_args.py

def greet(name, message):
    print(f"Hello, {name}! {message}")

greet("Alice", "Have a great day")

Run the script:

python3 function_args.py

The information below should be displayed on your terminal:

Hello, Alice! Have a great day

Returning Values from Functions

In this step, you will delve into returning values from functions in Python. Open a new Python file function_return.py and define a function that calculates the area of a rectangle based on length and width. You will then call the function and verify the returned value.

## ~/project/function_return.py

def calculate_area(length, width):
    return length * width

result = calculate_area(5, 4)
print(f"Area of the rectangle: {result}")

Run the script:

python3 function_return.py

The information below should be displayed on your terminal:

Area of the rectangle: 20

Summary

In this lab, you ventured into the mystical Enchanted Forest to unravel the secrets of Python arguments and return values. Through meticulously crafted steps, you gained a deeper understanding of how to work with function arguments and return values in Python, empowering you to harness the magical powers of Python programming.