The Ultimate Guide to Calling a Function in Python
Tags: beginners, python, tutorial, programming
Published: 2023-09-08 17:39:24

---
title: The Ultimate Guide to Calling a Function in Python
published: true
description: Want to write and call functions with Python? Here's a complete step by step guide to help you master this skill.
tags: beginner, python, tutorial, programming
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Python is one of my favorite programming languages. It's simple and versatile. There's a reason it's so popular. It's fun to use, and you can get a lot of work done without writing a ton of code.

> *"I'll just write a quick Python script for this"* - me, a bunch of times

One of the things Python does well is abstracting complexity. One example of that is the Python function. A function is a reusable set of instructions to perform a task. Functions aren't unique to Python; in fact, they work mostly the same as in other languages.

If you want to know how to write and call a function in Python, here's a step-by-step guide. 

## The Anatomy of a Python Function

![How to call a function in Python][0]

Before you can call a function, you have to write a function. Thankfully, that's easy. Let's look at the main components of a function.

```python
def function_name(parameters):
    # Your code goes here
    return
```

The keyword 'def' refers to a *function definition* followed by your chosen function name and parentheses enclosing optional parameters. Parameters are anything you want to put into the function.

The action happens in the *function body* (Where it says your code goes here). This is where we put statements that make the function do work. 

The *return* keyword allows you to send data *out* of the function. Note: You don't always need to return a value. It's optional. 

So the main parts are

- definition (def keyword)
- function name 
- parameters
- body (what the function does)
- return value

All of these, put together, form a function. 

## Calling a Python Function

Once we've defined a function, calling it is as straightforward as writing the function's name followed by parentheses. If our function requires *parameters*, we place these inside the parentheses. These are optional.

Let's build a simple function to display Hello World whenever we call it. 

```
def hello_world():
    print("Hello, World!")
```

Even though there are no parameters or a return value, this is a function in Python. The "output" of the function is printing Hello World. 

We can call this function with this line of code: 

```python
hello_world()
```

!["How to call a function in Python"][1]

And this will output "Hello, World!" to your console whenever we call it. 

In fact, if we call it five times:

```python
hello_world()
hello_world()
hello_world()
hello_world()
hello_world()
```

It will display the same thing five times.

!["How to call a function in Python"][2]

Congratulations, you've just written your first function in Python. 

## The Power of Function Parameters in Python

!["How to call a function in Python"][3]

Parameters are pieces of data we *pass into* the function. The work of the function depends on what we pass into it. Parameters enable us to make our Python functions dynamic and reusable. We can define a function that takes parameters, allowing us to pass different arguments each time we call the function.

```python
def greet(name):
    print("Hello, " + name + "!")

greet("Jeremy")
greet("Susie")
greet("Jim")
```

Here, the `greet()` function takes one parameter, 'name'. When we call the function, we can pass any name we wish to greet.

## Dealing with Multiple Parameters

Python functions can accept multiple parameters, allowing us to add dynamic inputs to our function calls.

```python
def greet(name, city):
    print("Hello, " + name + " from " + city + "!")

greet("Jeremy", "Gaston")
greet("Susie", "Forest Grove")
greet("Jim", "Cornelius")
```

Now `greet()` takes two parameters, 'name' and 'city'.  

!["How to call a function in Python"][4]

And it's that easy. Congrats, you can now pass data into a function in Python. 

## Leveraging Default Parameters in Python Functions

!["How to call a function in Python"][5]

Sometimes, you want to set a value for a parameter as a default. This allows the function to be called even if no data was passed. Rather than throwing an error, it will populate the value with anything you specify. 

```python
def greet(name="User"):
    print("Hello, " + name + "!")

greet()
greet("Alice")
```

Here, 'greet()' function has a default parameter 'name' set to 'User'. If no argument is passed, the function greets 'User'. If we provide a name, it greets that name instead.


!["How to call a function in Python"][6]

It's a good way to set defaults.

## Python Return Statement

The 'return' statement exits a function and returns a value. With it, we can store the output of a function in a variable for future use.

```python
def square(number):
    return number * number

result = square(5)
print(result)
```

!["How to call a function in Python"][7]

In this case, `square()` function returns the square of the input number. The output can be stored in a variable and used later.

The return keyword is used to push values out of the function to use in your program. 

## Functions are awesome! 

!["How to call a function in Python"][8]

Python functions are a powerful tool in a programmer's arsenal. They encapsulate code blocks for specific tasks, enhancing the readability and maintainability of the code. Understanding how to call a function in Python, employ parameters, and leverage the 'return' statement is fundamental to proficient Python programming.

 Remember, practice is key! The more you use this, the more second nature it will be for you. 

## The Versatility of Variable Arguments in Python

Python introduces an interesting feature in functions: variable-length arguments. Sometimes we don't know how many arguments will be passed to a function. Python's variable arguments (*args and **kwargs) solve this problem.

```python
def add_numbers(*args):
    return sum(args)

print(add_numbers(3, 5, 7, 9))
```

!["How to call a function in Python"][9]

In the example, `add_numbers()` uses `*args` to accept any number of parameters. The function then sums up all the numbers and returns the total.

## In-Depth with Python Keyword Arguments

Python functions also allow keyword arguments, which enable us to identify arguments by name. This can be extremely handy when a function has many parameters, and it improves the readability of our code.

```python
def describe_pet(pet_name, animal_type='dog'):
    print("I have a " + animal_type + ".")
    print("My " + animal_type + "'s name is " + pet_name + ".")

describe_pet(pet_name='Willie')
```

!["How to call a function in Python"][10]

In this scenario, 'describe_pet()' is called with the 'pet_name' keyword argument. The function also includes a default argument, 'animal_type', set to 'dog'.

## Grasping Anonymous Functions in Python: Lambda

!["How to call a function in Python"][11]

Python's 'lambda' function is a small, anonymous function defined with the 'lambda' keyword, rather than 'def'. Lambda functions can accept any number of arguments but only have one expression.

```python
multiply = lambda x, y: x * y

print(multiply(5, 4))
```

!["How to call a function in Python"][12]

In the code above, a lambda function is defined to multiply two numbers, and it's called with two arguments: 5 and 4. The function returns the result of the multiplication.

## Conclusion


Congratulations, you now know how to work with functions in Python. We have covered: 

- The main parts of a function
- Calling a Python function 
- Using function parameters
- Using multiple parameters 
- Creating default parameters
- Returning data with the return statement 
- Using variable parameters 
- Leveraging lambda functions 
  

Functions in Python provide a way of organizing and reusing code to create cleaner programming solutions.

As a next step, we recommend you delve deeper into advanced Python function topics such as recursive functions, decorators, and generator functions. I'll be adding more content like this to this blog very soon. 

[Follow me on Dev.To](https://dev.to/jeremycmorgan) and come back for more cool Python tutorials.

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