SE Bootcamp
Beginner
Programming with
Functions
Welcome
Your Lecturer for this session
Logan Meadows
1. Understanding functions
2. Calling functions
Objectives 3. Creating self-defined functions
4. Understanding function scope
What is a Function?
● Reusable and Organised block of code.
● Sometimes called a ‘method’.
● Similar to functions in maths - f(x) takes input x and
produces some output.
● Useful for abstraction.
○ For example, “make a cup of tea” vs “boil water, add
tea bag, add sugar, add milk, stir”.
Calling Functions
● Functions with one required positional input:
○ my_function(input1)
● Functions with two required positional inputs:
○ my_function(input1, input2)
● Functions with one required positional input and one
optional keyword input:
○ my_function(input1, keyword_arg=input2)
Functions in Python
● Python comes bundled with in-built functions.
● Examples:
○ print(string) - prints string to console.
○ input(string) - prints string to console, then reads
input as string.
○ len(array) - finds the length of an array.
○ int(data) - converts the value to an integer.
Is that all of the Functions in
Python?
● The list of functions that you can use in Python doesn’t just
stop with what is built in.
● Using Pip (python package manager), you can install
various packages containing modules.
○ Note: Some packages are already installed by default
in Python, such as the maths package.
● These modules can be imported into your script using an
import statement.
Importing Modules
● Let’s take a look at the maths module. Let’s say that you
want to use round(), which rounds a number off. There are
two ways to access this:
● import math
my_result = [Link](my_num, 2)
● from math import round
my_result = round(my_num, 2)
Creating our own Functions
● Uses the def keyword (for define):
○ def add_one(x): # function called add_one
y=x+1
return y
● Important keywords:
○ def - tells Python you are defining a function
○ return - if your function returns a value, then use this
keyword to return it.
Some Important Terms
● Function - A block of code that performs an action.
● Method - Same thing as a function.
● Parameters - The defined input of a function.
● Arguments - The values passed to parameters.
Why Functions?
● Reusable code - Sometimes you need to do the same task
over and over again.
● Error checking/validation - Makes this easier, as you can
define all rules in one place.
● Divide code up into manageable chunks - Makes code
easier to understand.
● More rapid application development - The same
functionality doesn’t need to be defined again.
● Easier maintenance - Code only needs to be changed in
one place.
Scope
● Where is a variable accessible in Python?
● Generally, whenever code is executed, variables become
accessible across the entire script.
○ For example, you can define a variable within an if-
statement and access it outside the if-statement after it
is executed.
● Functions are different, however. Variables declared within
functions are not accessible outside the function.
○ This avoids variable names being overwritten.
Default Values
● Remember optional keyword arguments? These are made
with default values.
● def multiply(num1, num2 = 5):
● This can be called with multiply(10), for example.
● The default value can be overwritten with multiply(10,
num2=6).
Q & A Section
Please use this time to ask any questions
relating to the topic explained, should you have
any
Thank you
for joining us
