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Function with Multiple Parameters

Create a function that accepts multiple parameters.

Functions can accept multiple parameters to perform operations on different pieces of data. Understanding parameter order and how to pass multiple values is essential for function design.

📚 Concepts & Theory

Functions can accept multiple parameters, allowing complex operations on different pieces of data. The order of arguments matters when calling the function.

Multiple Parameter Syntax:

def function_name(param1, param2, param3):

    # Use all parameters

    return result

Simple Example:

def add_numbers(a, b):

    return a + b

result = add_numbers(10, 5)  # 15

Three or More Parameters:

def calculate_total(price, tax_rate, discount):

    tax = price * tax_rate

    final = price + tax - discount

    return final

total = calculate_total(100, 0.08, 10)  # $98

Parameter Order Matters:

def introduce(name, age, city):

    return f"{name}, {age}, from {city}"

# Positional - order is critical

introduce("Alice", 30, "NYC")  # Correct

introduce(30, "Alice", "NYC")  # Wrong! "30, Alice, from NYC"

Keyword Arguments (Order Doesn't Matter):

introduce(city="NYC", name="Alice", age=30)  # Works!

Mixing Positional and Keyword:

introduce("Alice", city="NYC", age=30)  # Positional first, then keyword

Default Parameters:

def introduce(name, age, city="Unknown"):

    return f"{name}, {age}, from {city}"

introduce("Alice", 30)  # city defaults to "Unknown"

introduce("Bob", 25, "LA")  # Overrides default

Rules for Default Parameters:

Must come AFTER required parameters

Can't have required parameter after default

# ❌ WRONG

def func(a=1, b):  # SyntaxError!

    pass

# ✅ CORRECT

def func(b, a=1):

    pass

Common Patterns:

Mathematical Operations:

def calculate_area(length, width):

    return length * width

String Formatting:

def format_name(first, last):

    return f"{last}, {first}"

Data Processing:

def filter_data(data, min_value, max_value):

    return [x for x in data if min_value <= x <= max_value]

Best Practices:

Limit to 3-5 parameters when possible

Use descriptive names

Consider using a dictionary for many parameters

Group related parameters

🎯 Your Challenge

Create a function full_name(first, last) that returns the full name as "first last".

📝 Starter Code

Python

def full_name(first, last):
    pass

The function needs two parameters: first and last
Combine them with a space in between
Use f-string formatting for clean code
The format should be: first name + space + last name
Return the combined string

Solution

Python

def full_name(first, last):
    return f"{first} {last}"

Explanation

This function accepts two parameters (first and last) and combines them into a single string with a space in between. The f-string f"{first} {last}" concatenates the two parameters efficiently. When called with full_name("John", "Doe"), the parameters are assigned in order (first="John", last="Doe"), and the function returns "John Doe". This demonstrates how multiple parameters allow functions to work with separate pieces of data and combine them meaningfully.

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

Reversing the parameter order in the function body
Forgetting the space between first and last names
Using + concatenation without proper spacing
Not returning the result
Hardcoding names instead of using parameters

📚 Concepts & Theory

🎯 Your Challenge

📝 Starter Code

Solution

Explanation

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

🔗 Related Exercises

Function with Parameters

Default Parameter Values

Variable Arguments (*args)

Keyword Arguments (**kwargs)