Gowtham SB
[Link]/in/sbgowtham/ Instagram - @dataengineeringtamil
🎯 Topic: Functions in Python
✅ 1. What is a Function?
A function is a block of reusable code that performs a specific task.
It lets you write once, use many times.
📦 Think of it like a machine: You give input, it gives output.
✅ 2. Defining a Function (with def)
🔧 Syntax:
def function_name():
# code block
📘 Example:
def greet():
print("Hello, welcome to Python!")
greet() # Calling the function
🧠 Output:
Hello, welcome to Python!
✅ 3. Function with Parameters (Passing Inputs)
📘 Example:
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[Link]/in/sbgowtham/ Instagram - @dataengineeringtamil
def greet(name):
print(f"Hello {name}, welcome!")
greet("Gowtham") # Output: Hello Gowtham, welcome!
✅ This helps make your function dynamic.
✅ 4. Return Values from Functions
A function can return a result using the return keyword.
📘 Example:
def add(a, b):
return a + b
result = add(5, 3)
print("Sum:", result)
🧠 Output:
Sum: 8
✅ You can store and reuse the result.
✅ 5. *args → Accept Multiple Positional
Arguments
*args allows you to pass any number of values into a function.
📘 Example:
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[Link]/in/sbgowtham/ Instagram - @dataengineeringtamil
def add_all(*args):
total = 0
for num in args:
total += num
return total
print(add_all(1, 2, 3, 4)) # Output: 10
🧠 Internally, args is a tuple.
✅ 6. **kwargs → Accept Multiple Keyword
Arguments
**kwargs allows passing named arguments (like key=value pairs).
📘 Example:
def print_info(**kwargs):
for key, value in [Link]():
print(f"{key}: {value}")
print_info(name="Gowtham", age=30)
🧠 Internally, kwargs is a dictionary.
🖨 Output:
name: Gowtham
age: 30
✅ Real-Life Example: Profile Generator
📘 Code:
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[Link]/in/sbgowtham/ Instagram - @dataengineeringtamil
def create_profile(**kwargs):
print("User Profile:")
for key, value in [Link]():
print(f"{[Link]()}: {value}")
create_profile(name="Nandini", age=28, city="Madurai",
profession="Designer")
✅ 7. Default Parameter Values
You can assign default values to parameters.
📘 Example:
def greet(name="Guest"):
print(f"Hello, {name}!")
greet() # Hello, Guest!
greet("Nila") # Hello, Nila!
🧠 Summary Table:
Concep Description Syntax Example
t
def Define a function def greet():
() Call the function greet()
return Send result back from function return a + b
*args Multiple unnamed values def fun(*args):
**kwar Multiple named values def fun(**kwargs):
Gowtham SB
[Link]/in/sbgowtham/ Instagram - @dataengineeringtamil
gs
defaul Pre-filled values if nothing def
t passed greet(name="Guest"
):
🧪 Mini Project Idea (for your video)
🎯 Bill Calculator:
def calculate_bill(*items):
total = sum(items)
return total
def show_user(**details):
print("Customer Info:")
for k, v in [Link]():
print(f"{k}: {v}")
show_user(name="Rahul", city="Chennai")
print("Total Bill:", calculate_bill(100, 250, 75))
✅ What does return do in a function?
The return statement is used to send data (output) back from a function
to the place where it was called.
📘 Example 1: Using return
def add(a, b):
return a + b
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[Link]/in/sbgowtham/ Instagram - @dataengineeringtamil
result = add(10, 5)
print("Result is:", result)
🧠 What happens here:
● return a + b → sends the result (15) back to the caller
● You store it in result and can use it later
❓ Why not just use print()?
Because:
● print() only shows the output on the screen
● It does NOT give the value back to the code
📘 Example 2: Using print() only
def add(a, b):
print(a + b)
x = add(10, 5)
print("x:", x)
🖨 Output:
15
x: None
⚠️Because print() just prints and returns nothing (None)
Gowtham SB
[Link]/in/sbgowtham/ Instagram - @dataengineeringtamil
✅ Key Differences:
Feature return print()
Gives value ✅ Yes, sends output to the ❌ No, just displays on
caller screen
Can reuse ✅ Yes (store, calculate, ❌ No
compare)
For real ✅ Must use return 🚫 Only for
apps debugging/output
🎯 Think of it like this:
Concep Example
t
return Giving a gift back (you can use it)
print( Just showing the gift (can’t use it
) again)
✅ When to use return?
● Calculators
● API results
● Data processing
● Any function where you need to use the result again
🧼 What is a Pure Function?
A pure function is a function that:
1. Always returns the same output for the same input
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[Link]/in/sbgowtham/ Instagram - @dataengineeringtamil
2. Does not change anything outside itself (no side effects)
🧠 It’s like a math formula:
Input goes in → Output comes out → That’s it!
No print, no database updates, no file writes.
✅ Pure Function Example:
def add(a, b):
return a + b
💡 Every time you call add(2, 3), it always gives 5.
It doesn't touch anything outside the function.
❌ Impure (Normal) Function Example:
total = 0
def add_to_total(amount):
global total
total += amount
print("Total is:", total)
😵 This is not a pure function because:
● It modifies a global variable (total)
● It prints (causes a side effect)
Even if you give the same input, the output will change every time based on total.
🎯 Summary: Pure vs Normal (Impure) Function
Gowtham SB
[Link]/in/sbgowtham/ Instagram - @dataengineeringtamil
Feature Pure Impure Function (Normal)
Function
Same input = same ✅ Yes ❌ Not always
output
Changes outside data ❌ Never ✅ Can modify global or
external
Side effects ❌ None ✅ Can print, write, update,
etc
Easy to test/debug ✅ Yes ❌ Harder
🧠 When to Use Pure Functions?
● ✅ In data processing
● ✅ For predictable, reusable code
● ✅ In functional programming and unit testing
✅ Difference Between Function and Method
Feature Function Method
Definition A block of code that A function that is associated with an
performs a task object or class
Called with Just by name (e.g. add(5, With object or class (e.g.
3)) [Link]())
Gowtham SB
[Link]/in/sbgowtham/ Instagram - @dataengineeringtamil
Belongs to Independent (not tied to a Belongs to an object/class
class)
Defined def keyword Defined using def inside a class
using
Example def greet(): def greet(self): inside a class
About the Author
Gowtham SB is a Data Engineering expert, educator, and content creator with a
passion for big data technologies, as well as cloud and Gen AI . With years of
experience in the field, he has worked extensively with cloud platforms, distributed
systems, and data pipelines, helping professionals and aspiring engineers master the
art of data engineering.
Gowtham SB
[Link]/in/sbgowtham/ Instagram - @dataengineeringtamil
Beyond his technical expertise, Gowtham is a renowned mentor and speaker, sharing
his insights through engaging content on YouTube and LinkedIn. He has built one of
the largest Tamil Data Engineering communities, guiding thousands of learners to
excel in their careers.
Through his deep industry knowledge and hands-on approach, Gowtham continues to
bridge the gap between learning and real-world implementation, empowering
individuals to build scalable, high-performance data solutions.
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