Python Functions

In Python, functions are blocks of code that are designed to perform a specific task. Functions are a crucial part of Python programming, as they allow you to reuse code, divide complex tasks into smaller pieces, and make your code more modular and organized.

Here's the basic syntax for defining a function in Python:

def function_name(arguments):
    code block
    return value

The def keyword is used to define a function, followed by the function name and any arguments that the function takes. The code block inside the function is indented, and the return statement is used to specify the value that the function should return when it is called.

Here's an example of a simple function that adds two numbers:

def add(x, y):
    result = x + y
    return result

print(add(2, 3))  # prints 5

In this example, the add() function takes two arguments, x and y, and returns the sum of those two numbers. When the function is called with the arguments 2 and 3, it returns the value 5.

You can also define functions with default arguments, which are used when the function is called without a specific value for that argument. For example:

def greet(name='world'):
    greeting = f'Hello, {name}!'
    return greeting

print(greet())  # prints 'Hello, world!'
print(greet('John'))  # prints 'Hello, John!'

In this example, the greet() function has a default argument of 'world' for the name parameter. If the function is called without a value for name, it will use the default value.