Sign In
Sign In

Functions in Python

Functions in Python
Hostman Team
Technical writer
Python
02.04.2025
Reading time: 8 min

Functions in Python are blocks of reusable code that you can access by calling the function name and passing arguments. Using functions in Python significantly simplifies a programmer's work because, instead of writing code repeatedly, one can simply call a function.

How to Create a Function in Pyhton

Let's start with an example and then move on to the explanation:

def multiply(first, second):
   return first * second

We have just written a function that performs a simple task: it multiplies the values (arguments) passed to it. These values can then be entered after the function name in the program to get the product of the factors. Now, enter the following in IDLE:

>>> multiply(7, 8)

Arguments can include not only whole numbers but also decimal numbers, for example:

>>> multiply(7.4, 8.2)
60.68

Now, let's break down the code. Here, we define a Python function using the def keyword and the function name. In parentheses, we specify parameters that will accept various arguments from user input. A colon must follow the closing parenthesis, after which a new line with indentation starts the function body, describing what the function does. If you're writing code in an editor, the indentation will be added automatically.

We used the return operator, which explicitly returns arguments. Note that after return, there is an instruction on what the program should do with the arguments. In this case, it multiplies them.

Practical Example of Using Python Functions

Here, we will demonstrate how Python functions help optimize routine tasks. The following example is simplified but illustrative. By understanding how functions work, you can learn to solve your own tasks, which will become more complex and interesting as you progress in the language.

Let's say we opened a bookstore and purchased a cash register, and the cashier had already issued receipts for the first customers. Initially, a receipt might look like this:

print("Learn Now, LLC")
print("Programming Book", end=" ")
print(1, end=" pcs. ")
print(50, end=" euro")
print("\nAdvanced Programming Book", end=" ")
print(1, end=" pcs. ")
print(100, end=" euro")
print("\nTotal:", 150, end=" euro")
print("\nThank you for your purchase!")

Output:

Learn Now, LLC
Programming Book 1 pcs. 50 euro
Advanced Programming Book 1 pcs. 100 euro
Total: 150 euro
Thank you for your purchase!

Now, imagine that a whole stack of books has been purchased, and the number of customers is increasing daily. While you manually calculate the total for one customer, others start getting impatient. This is where automation comes in. 

Let's say someone buys seven different books, with some books purchased in multiple copies:

def check(book_attr):
    total = 0
    print("Learn Now, LLC")
    for book in book_attr:
        a = book[0]
        b = book[1]
        c = book[2]
        print(f"{a} ({b} pcs.) - {c} euro")
        total += b * c
    print(f"\nTotal: {total} euro")
    print("Thank you for your purchase!")
book_attr = [
    ("Programming Book", 2, 50),
    ("Advanced Programming Book", 2, 100),
    ("Programming Book 80 lvl", 2, 195),
    ("Beginner's Guide to Python", 1, 120),
    ("You Can Become a Programmer", 1, 98),
    ("Functional Programming in Python", 1, 95),
    ("Secrets of Clean Code", 1, 80),
]

As we can see, new variables appeared, and the purchase list was placed in a separate block. Now, when generating a new receipt, all we need to do for automatic total calculation is enter the book names, quantities, and prices per unit. Once all items are entered, we call our function with the parameter formatted as a tuple above:

check(book_attr)

This produces the following output:

Learn Now, LLC
Programming Book (2 pcs.) - 50 euro
Advanced Programming Book (2 pcs.) - 100 euro
Programming Book 80 lvl (2 pcs.) - 195 euro
Beginner's Guide to Python (1 pcs.) - 120 euro
You Can Become a Programmer (1 pcs.) - 98 euro
Functional Programming in Python (1 pcs.) - 95 euro
Secrets of Clean Code (1 pcs.) - 80 euro

Total: 1083 euro  
Thank you for your purchase!  

That's it! The total amount was calculated automatically. Let’s break down the code:

  • The variable total stores the purchase total and changes as new values are added to the tuple.
  • A for loop is used to define a set of variables that store the following values:
    • a: product name
    • b: quantity
    • c: price per unit
  • Next, we give the print command. The letter f in print statements (which is itself a built-in function, by the way) means that f-strings are used. For now, it's enough to know that they are a convenient formatting method, and the code is self-explanatory.
  • The next line should not be surprising: it calculates the total by multiplying the quantity of each item by its price and adding the result to the running total.
  • Finally, we use another f-string for text formatting, and we have already discussed the tuple block that stores the necessary data for purchase calculations.

Features of Functions in Python

Key Advantages:

  • No need to repeat specific blocks of code, which can sometimes be quite large.
  • Functions can be called as many times as needed, even consecutively.
  • When divided into multiple functional blocks, large programs become much easier to track.

There are almost no downsides to functions in Python, except that they may not always be convenient. In some cases, it is easier to use generators, as certain functions (e.g., filter) may return iterators, requiring additional code to process them.

For example, if we enter the following in IDLE:

>>> numbers = [2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14]
>>> filter(lambda num: num >= 10, numbers)

We get this result:

<filter object at 0x00000000030C3220>

To correctly display elements that meet the condition, we need to wrap this expression as follows:

>>> list(filter(lambda num: num >= 10, numbers))
[10, 12, 14]

Built-in Functions in Python

You have almost certainly used them in your first Python lesson. Here’s an example:

print("Hello, World!")

The print function is a built-in function, and "Hello, World!" is its argument.

Python has hundreds, even thousands, of built-in functions, especially when additional libraries are included. You don't need to know all of them; you can always check the documentation if you encounter an unfamiliar function. However, you will need to learn some common built-in functions, as these core elements are essential for writing any useful program.

Here are some commonly used built-in functions:

  • len returns the length (number of elements) of a sequence such as a string, list, tuple, range, or array:

flowers = ["bellflower", "cornflower", "buttercup", "forget-me-not", "daisy"]
len(flowers)

Output: 5

  • str converts numbers into strings (since Python does not allow direct concatenation of strings and numbers):

year = 2008
"Euro " + str(year)

Output: 'Euro 2008'

  • int converts strings into integers. It also rounds floating-point numbers to the nearest integer, always towards zero:

int(554.995)

Output: 554

  • float converts integer values into floating-point numbers, which can be useful for certain calculations:

float(55)

Output: 55.0

  • tuple converts lists into tuples:

flowers = ["bellflower", "cornflower", "buttercup", "forget-me-not", "daisy"]
tuple(flowers)

Output:

('bellflower', 'cornflower', 'buttercup', 'forget-me-not', 'daisy')
  • dict allows you to create dictionaries. Here’s an example of creating a dictionary from a list of tuples using dict:

clubs = [('Barcelona', 1), ('Juventus', 3), ('Liverpool', 2), ('Real Madrid', 5), ('Bayern München', 4)]
dict(clubs)

Output:

{'Barcelona': 1, 'Juventus': 3, 'Liverpool': 2, 'Real Madrid': 5, 'Bayern München': 4}
  • range creates number sequences, which can be useful for iterating through numeric values:

for number in range(0, 30, 3):
    print(number)

Output:

0
3
6
9
12
15
18
21
24
27

The range function takes three parameters:

  • The first two define the range limits.
  • The third (optional) parameter specifies the step.

In this case, numbers from 0 to 30 are printed in steps of 3. The upper bound is not included in the output. To include it, the range should be extended slightly:

for number in range(0, 31, 3):
    print(number)

Output:

0
3
…
27
30

Using the Result of One Function in Another Python Function

Finally, let’s look at another interesting technique. Since functions in Python are objects, they can be passed as arguments to other functions and referenced.

def check(company="Learn Now"):
    """Allows inserting different company names in the receipt"""
    print(f"{company}, LLC")

Let’s enter the name of another company:

check("Enlightenment")

Output:

Enlightenment, LLC

Now, let’s pass the created function to the built-in help function to learn what it does:

help(check)

Output:

Help on function check in module __main__:

check(company='Learn Now')
    Allows inserting different company names in the receipt

As we can see, it is quite simple.

What We Learned

In this tutorial, we explored how functions work in Python 3 and learned how to create and use them. We discussed built-in tools and examined an example of passing functions as objects to other functions.

By studying functions more deeply, you will appreciate their usefulness even when writing relatively small applications.

Python
02.04.2025
Reading time: 8 min

Similar

Python

How to Delete Characters from a String in Python

When writing Python code, developers often need to modify string data. Common string modifications include: Removing specific characters from a sequence Replacing characters with others Changing letter case Joining substrings into a single sequence In this guide, we will focus on the first transformation—deleting characters from a string in Python. It’s important to note that strings in Python are immutable, meaning that any method or function that modifies a string will return a new string object with the changes applied. Methods for Deleting Characters from a String This section covers the main methods in Python used for deleting characters from a string. We will explore the following methods: replace() translate() re.sub() For each method, we will explain the syntax and provide practical examples. replace() The first Pyhton method we will discuss is replace(). It is used to replace specific characters in a string with others. Since strings are immutable, replace() returns a new string object with the modifications applied. Syntax: original_string.replace(old, new[, count]) Where: original_string – The string where modifications will take place old – The substring to be replaced new – The substring that will replace old count (optional) – The number of occurrences to replace (if omitted, all occurrences will be replaced) First, let’s remove all spaces from the string "H o s t m a n": example_str = "H o s t m a n" result_str = example_str.replace(" ", "") print(result_str) Output: Hostman We can also use the replace() method to remove newline characters (\n). example_str = "\nHostman\nVPS" print(f'Original string: {example_str}') result_str = example_str.replace("\n", " ") print(f'String after adjustments: {result_str}') Output: Original string: Hostman VPS String after adjustments: Hostman VPS The replace() method has an optional third argument, which specifies the number of replacements to perform. example_str = "Hostman VPS Hostman VPS Hostman VPS" print(f'Original string: {example_str}') result_str = example_str.replace("Hostman VPS", "", 2) print(f'String after adjustments: {result_str}') Output: Original string: Hostman VPS Hostman VPS Hostman VPS String after adjustments: Hostman VPS Here, only two occurrences of "Hostman VPS" were removed, while the third occurrence remained unchanged. We have now explored the replace() method and demonstrated its usage in different situations. Next, let’s see how we can delete and modify characters in a string using translate(). translate( The Python translate() method functions similarly to replace() but with additional flexibility. Instead of replacing characters one at a time, it allows mapping multiple characters using a dictionary or translation table. The method returns a new string object with the modifications applied. Syntax: original_string.translate(mapping_table) In the first example, let’s remove all occurrences of the $ symbol in a string and replace them with spaces: example_str = "Hostman$Cloud$—$Cloud$Service$Provider." print(f'Original string: {example_str}') result_str = example_str.translate({ord('$'): ' '}) print(f'String after adjustments: {result_str}') Output: Original string: Hostman$Cloud$—$Cloud$Service$Provider. String after adjustments: Hostman Cloud — Cloud Service Provider. To improve code readability, we can define the mapping table before calling translate(). This is useful when dealing with multiple replacements: example_str = "\nHostman%Cloud$—$Cloud$Service$Provider.\n" print(f'Original string: {example_str}') # Define translation table example_table = {ord('\n'): None, ord('$'): ' ', ord('%'): ' '} result_str = example_str.translate(example_table) print(f'String after adjustments: {result_str}') Output: Original string: Hostman%Cloud$—$Cloud$Service$Provider. String after adjustments: Hostman Cloud — Cloud Service Provider. re.sub() In addition to replace() and translate(), we can use regular expressions for more advanced character removal and replacement. Python's built-in re module provides the sub() method, which searches for a pattern in a string and replaces it. Syntax: re.sub(pattern, replacement, original_string [, count=0, flags=0]) pattern – The regular expression pattern to match replacement – The string or character that will replace the matched pattern original_string – The string where modifications will take place count (optional) – Limits the number of replacements (default is 0, meaning replace all occurrences) flags (optional) – Used to modify the behavior of the regex search Let's remove all whitespace characters (\s) using the sub() method from the re module: import re example_str = "H o s t m a n" print(f'Original string: {example_str}') result_str = re.sub('\s', '', example_str) print(f'String after adjustments: {result_str}') Output: Original string: H o s t m a nString after adjustments: Hostman Using Slices to Remove Characters In addition to using various methods to delete characters, Python also allows the use of slices. As we know, slices extract a sequence of characters from a string. To delete characters from a string by index in Python, we can use the following slice: example_str = "\nHostman \nVPS" print(f'Original string: {example_str}') result_str = example_str[1:9] + example_str[10:] print(f'String after adjustments: {result_str}') In this example, we used slices to remove newline characters. The output of the code: Original string:HostmanVPSString after adjustments: Hostman VPS Apart from using two slice parameters, you can also use a third one, which specifies the step size for index increments. For example, if we set the step to 2, it will remove every odd-indexed character in the string. Keep in mind that indexing starts at 0. Example: example_str = "Hostman Cloud" print(f'Original string: {example_str}') result_str = example_str[::2] print(f'String after adjustments: {result_str}') Output: Original string: Hostman CloudString after adjustments: HsmnCod Conclusion In this guide, we learned how to delete characters from a string in Python using different methods, including regular expressions and slices. The choice of method depends on the specific task. For example, the replace() method is suitable for simpler cases, while re.sub() is better for more complex situations.
23 August 2025 · 5 min to read
Python

Command-Line Option and Argument Parsing using argparse in Python

Command-line interfaces (CLIs) are one of the quickest and most effective means of interacting with software. They enable you to provide commands directly which leads to quicker execution and enhanced features. Developers often build CLIs using Python for several applications, utilities, and automation scripts, ensuring they can dynamically process user input. This is where the Python argparse module steps in. The argparse Python module streamlines the process of managing command-line inputs, enabling developers to create interactive and user-friendly utilities. As part of the standard library, it allows programmers to define, process, and validate inputs seamlessly without the need for complex logic. This article will discuss some of the most important concepts, useful examples, and advanced features of the argparse module so that you can start building solid command-line tools right away. How to Use Python argparse for Command-Line Interfaces This is how to use argparse in your Python script: Step 1: Import Module First import the module into your Python parser script: import argparse This inclusion enables parsing .py arg inputs from the command line. Step 2: Create an ArgumentParser Object The ArgumentParser class is the most minimal class of the Python argumentparser module's API. To use it, begin by creating an instance of the class: parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="A Hostman tutorial on Python argparse.") Here: description describes what the program does and will be displayed when someone runs --help. Step 3: Add Inputs and Options Define the parameters and features your program accepts via add_argument() function: parser.add_argument('filename', type=str, help="Name of the file to process") parser.add_argument('--verbose', action='store_true', help="Enable verbose mode") Here: filename is a mandatory option. --verbose is optional, to allow you to set the flag to make it verbose. Step 4: Parse User Inputs Process the user-provided inputs by invoking the parse_args() Python method: args = parser.parse_args() This stores the command-line values as attributes of the args object for further use in your Python script.  Step 5: Access Processed Data Access the inputs and options for further use in your program: For example: print(f"File to process: {args.filename}") if args.verbose:     print("Verbose mode enabled") else:     print("Verbose mode disabled") Example CLI Usage Here are some scenarios to run this script: File Processing Without Verbose Mode python3 file.py example.txt File Processing With Verbose Mode python3 file.py example.txt --verbose Display Help If you need to see what arguments the script accepts or their description, use the --help argument: python3 file.py --help Common Examples of argparse Usage Let's explore a few practical examples of the module. Example 1: Adding Default Values Sometimes, optional inputs in command-line interfaces need predefined values for smoother execution. With this module, you can set a default value that applies when someone doesn’t provide input. This script sets a default timeout of 30 seconds if you don’t specify the --timeout parameter. import argparse # Create the argument parser parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Demonstrating default argument values.") # Pass an optional argument with a default value parser.add_argument('--timeout', type=int, default=30, help="Timeout in seconds (default: 30)") # Interpret the arguments args = parser.parse_args() # Retrieve and print the timeout value print(f"Timeout value: {args.timeout} seconds") Explanation Importing Module: Importing the argparse module. Creating the ArgumentParser Instance: An ArgumentParser object is created with a description so that a short description of the program purpose is provided. This description is displayed when the user runs the program via the --help option. Including --timeout: The --timeout option is not obligatory (indicated by the -- prefix). The type=int makes the argument for --timeout an integer. The default=30 is provided so that in case the user does not enter a value, then the timeout would be 30 seconds. The help parameter adds a description to the argument, and it will also appear in the help documentation. Parsing Process: The parse_args() function processes user inputs and makes them accessible as attributes of the args object. In our example, we access args.timeout and print out its value. Case 1: Default Value Used If the --timeout option is not specified, the default value of 30 seconds is used: python file.py Case 2: Custom Value Provided For a custom value for --timeout (e.g., 60 seconds), apply: python file.py --timeout 60 Example 2: Utilizing Choices The argparse choices parameter allows you to restrict an argument to a set of beforehand known valid values. This is useful if your program features some specific modes, options, or settings to check. Here, we will specify a --mode option with two default values: basic and advanced. import argparse # Creating argument parser parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Demonstrating the use of choices in argparse.") # Adding the --mode argument with predefined choices parser.add_argument('--mode', choices=['basic', 'advanced'], help="Choose the mode of operation") # Parse the arguments args = parser.parse_args() # Access and display the selected mode if args.mode: print(f"Mode selected: {args.mode}") else: print("No mode selected. Please choose 'basic' or 'advanced'.") Adding --mode: The choices argument indicates that valid options for the --mode are basic and advanced. The application will fail when the user supplies an input other than in choices. Help Text: The help parameter gives valuable information when the --help command is executed. Case 1: Valid Input To specify a valid value for --mode, utilize: python3 file.py --mode basic Case 2: No Input Provided For running the program without specifying a mode: python3 file.py Case 3: Invalid Input If a value is provided that is not in the predefined choices: python3 file.py --mode intermediate Example 3: Handling Multiple Values The nargs option causes an argument to accept more than one input. This is useful whenever your program requires a list of values for processing, i.e., numbers, filenames, or options. Here we will show how to use nargs='+' to accept a --numbers option that can take multiple integers. import argparse # Create an ArgumentParser object parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Demonstrating how to handle multiple values using argparse.") # Add the --numbers argument with nargs='+' parser.add_argument('--numbers', nargs='+', type=int, help="List of numbers to process") # Parse the arguments args = parser.parse_args() # Access and display the numbers if args.numbers: print(f"Numbers provided: {args.numbers}") print(f"Sum of numbers: {sum(args.numbers)}") else: print("No numbers provided. Please use --numbers followed by a list of integers.") Adding the --numbers Option: The user can provide a list of values as arguments for --numbers. type=int interprets the input as an integer. If a non-integer input is provided, the program raises an exception. The help parameter gives the information.  Parsing Phase: After parsing the arguments, the input to --numbers is stored in the form of a list in args.numbers. Utilizing the Input: You just need to iterate over the list, calculate statistics (e.g., sum, mean), or any other calculation on the input. Case 1: Providing Multiple Numbers To specify multiple integers for the --numbers parameter, execute: python3 file.py --numbers 10 20 30 Case 2: Providing a Single Number If just one integer is specified, run: python3 file.py --numbers 5 Case 3: No Input Provided If the script is run without --numbers: python3 file.py Case 4: Invalid Input In case of inputting a non-integer value: python3 file.py --numbers 10 abc 20 Example 4: Required Optional Arguments Optional arguments (those that begin with the --) are not mandatory by default. But there are times when you would like them to be mandatory for your script to work properly. You can achieve this by passing the required=True parameter when defining the argument. In this script, --config specifies a path to a configuration file. By leveraging required=True, the script enforces that a value for --config must be provided. If omitted, the program will throw an error. import argparse # Create an ArgumentParser object parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Demonstrating required optional arguments in argparse.") # Add the --config argument parser.add_argument('--config', required=True, help="Path to the configuration file") # Parse the arguments args = parser.parse_args() # Access and display the provided configuration file path print(f"Configuration file path: {args.config}") Adding the --config Option: --config is considered optional since it starts with --. However, thanks to the required=True parameter, users must include it when they run the script. The help parameter clarifies what this parameter does, and you'll see this information in the help message when you use --help. Parsing: The parse_args() method takes care of processing the arguments. If someone forgets to include --config, the program will stop and show a clear error message. Accessing the Input: The value you provide for --config gets stored in args.config. You can then use this in your script to work with the configuration file. Case 1: Valid Input For providing a valid path to the configuration file, use: python3 file.py --config settings.json Case 2: Missing the Required Argument For running the script without specifying --config, apply: python3 file.py Advanced Features  While argparse excels at handling basic command-line arguments, it also provides advanced features that enhance the functionality and usability of your CLIs. These features ensure your scripts are scalable, readable, and easy to maintain. Below are some advanced capabilities you can leverage. Handling Boolean Flags Boolean flags allow toggling features (on/off) without requiring user input. Use the action='store_true' or action='store_false' parameters to implement these flags. parser.add_argument('--debug', action='store_true', help="Enable debugging mode") Including --debug enables debugging mode, useful for many Python argparse examples. Grouping Related Arguments Use add_argument_group() to organize related arguments, improving readability in complex CLIs. group = parser.add_argument_group('File Operations') group.add_argument('--input', type=str, help="Input file") group.add_argument('--output', type=str, help="Output file") Grouped arguments appear under their own section in the --help documentation. Mutually Exclusive Arguments To ensure users select only one of several conflicting options, use the add_mutually_exclusive_group() method. group = parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group() group.add_argument('--json', action='store_true', help="Output in JSON format") group.add_argument('--xml', action='store_true', help="Output in XML format") This ensures one can choose either JSON or XML, but not both. Conclusion The argparse Python module simplifies creating reliable CLIs for handling Python program command line arguments. From the most basic option of just providing an input to more complex ones like setting choices and nargs, developers can build user-friendly and robust CLIs. Following the best practices of giving proper names to arguments and writing good docstrings would help you in making your scripts user-friendly and easier to maintain.
21 July 2025 · 10 min to read
Python

How to Get the Length of a List in Python

Lists in Python are used almost everywhere. In this tutorial we will look at four ways to find the length of a Python list: by using built‑in functions, recursion, and a loop. Knowing the length of a list is most often required to iterate through it and perform various operations on it. len() function len() is a built‑in Python function for finding the length of a list. It takes one argument—the list itself—and returns an integer equal to the list’s length. The same function also works with other iterable objects, such as strings. Country_list = ["The United States of America", "Cyprus", "Netherlands", "Germany"] count = len(Country_list) print("There are", count, "countries") Output: There are 4 countries Finding the Length of a List with a Loop You can determine a list’s length in Python with a for loop. The idea is to traverse the entire list while incrementing a counter by  1 on each iteration. Let’s wrap this in a separate function: def list_length(list): counter = 0 for i in list: counter = counter + 1 return counter Country_list = ["The United States of America", "Cyprus", "Netherlands", "Germany", "Japan"] count = list_length(Country_list) print("There are", count, "countries") Output: There are 5 countries Finding the Length of a List with Recursion The same task can be solved with recursion: def list_length_recursive(list): if not list: return 0 return 1 + list_length_recursive(list[1:]) Country_list = ["The United States of America", "Cyprus", "Netherlands","Germany", "Japan", "Poland"] count = list_length_recursive(Country_list) print("There are", count, "countries") Output: There are 6 countries How it works. The function list_length_recursive() receives a list as input. If the list is empty, it returns 0—the length of an empty list. Otherwise it calls itself recursively with the argument list[1:], a slice of the original list starting from index 1 (i.e., the list without the element at index 0). The result of that call is added to 1. With each recursive step the returned value grows by one while the list shrinks by one element. length_hint() function The length_hint() function lives in the operator module. That module contains functions analogous to Python’s internal operators: addition, subtraction, comparison, and so on. length_hint() returns the length of iterable objects such as strings, tuples, dictionaries, and lists. It works similarly to len(): from operator import length_hint Country_list = ["The United States of America", "Cyprus", "Netherlands","Germany", "Japan", "Poland", "Sweden"] count = length_hint(Country_list) print("There are", count, "countries") Output: There are 7 countries Note that length_hint() must be imported before use. Conclusion In this guide we covered four ways to determine the length of a list in Python. Under equal conditions the most efficient method is len(). The other approaches are justified mainly when you are implementing custom classes similar to list.
17 July 2025 · 3 min to read

Do you have questions,
comments, or concerns?

Our professionals are available to assist you at any moment,
whether you need help or are just unsure of where to start.
Email us
Hostman's Support