Gowtham SB
[Link]/in/sbgowtham/ Instagram - @dataengineeringtamil
🎬 Python Guide: Callback Functions
✅ What is a Callback Function?
A callback function is a function that you pass as an argument to another
function,
so that it can be called (executed) later, usually after some action is completed.
🎯 Common in:
● UI actions (like button clicks)
● Async programming
● Threading
● Event handling
🔧 Step-by-Step Example 1: Simple Callback with
print_status()
def process_data(data, callback):
print("Processing:", data)
# Once processing is done, call the callback
callback()
def print_status():
print("✅ Data processed successfully!")
process_data("user-info", print_status)
🎯 Explanation:
● process_data() accepts a function callback as a parameter
Gowtham SB
[Link]/in/sbgowtham/ Instagram - @dataengineeringtamil
● After its job is done, it calls callback()
● print_status() is passed, not executed (print_status, not print_status())
⚙️Example 2: Callback in UI Simulation (Button Click)
def on_button_click(callback):
print(" Button clicked")
callback()
def show_message():
print("👋 Hello Gowtham, welcome!")
on_button_click(show_message)
✅ Whenever the button is “clicked,” show_message() is called through the callback.
⚙️Example 3: Callback in Threading
import threading
import time
def long_task(callback):
print("🚀 Task started...")
[Link](2)
print("✅ Task finished")
callback()
def after_done():
print("📢 Callback: Now update the UI!")
# Running long task in a separate thread
thread = [Link](target=long_task, args=(after_done,))
[Link]()
Gowtham SB
[Link]/in/sbgowtham/ Instagram - @dataengineeringtamil
🧠 After the background task is done, it calls after_done() automatically
🎯 This is how many UI frameworks or APIs update progress bars or show popups after
completion.
📦 Real-World Use Cases
Use Case What the Callback Does
Button click Run a function when user clicks
File upload Call on_success() after upload
Background thread Call on_complete() after
processing
API request Call on_response(data) after
fetch
🧠 Why Use Callback Functions?
Benefit Explanation
Decouples logic Main function doesn’t need to know what happens
next
Reusable Can plug different callbacks for different actions
Required in Wait → then call callback
async/threading
Event-driven design Perfect for UI & real-time systems
⚠️Common Mistake to Avoid
# WRONG: You’re calling the function immediately
process_data("info", print_status()) # ❌ this executes the function, not passes it
# RIGHT
process_data("info", print_status) # ✅ this passes the function as callback
Gowtham SB
[Link]/in/sbgowtham/ Instagram - @dataengineeringtamil
🔁 Callback vs HOF
Feature Callback Function Higher-Order Function
Purpose Execute after Compose logic dynamically
something
Who controls call Main function Caller function
Examples on_click, on_done, map(), filter(),
etc decorators
✅ TL;DR in 1 Line:
A callback is a function you pass to another function, so it can be called back
later — often after an event or async task.
About the Author
Gowtham SB
[Link]/in/sbgowtham/ Instagram - @dataengineeringtamil
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.
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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