Arguments and Parameters in Python | CBSE Class 12

Introduction

When we need our python code to allow code reusability and modular programming, we prefer to use functions in our program because the functions make our code more flexible and dynamic with the usage of  arguments and parameters in python to pass information into them.

In this tutorial we are going to Understand the difference between arguments and parameters, and also discussing how to use various types of arguments,

Let’s get start

Arguments in Python

Arguments are the actual values passed to a function when it is called. They are the data that the function will work with.

The moment when the values of x and y are passed to the function call for execution the values lets ‘Qissba’ and ‘Kabeer’ are called arguments. like :

greet(“Qissba“, “Kabeer“)                                # “Qissba” and “Kabeer” are arguments

Note that the value of x and y might be different for given by different users and depends on the imagination that’s why we call these values as arguments (read the concept of imaginary values).

Parameters in Python

Parameters are the variables listed inside the parentheses in the function definition. They act as placeholders for the values that the function will receive when it is called.

The moment when variable X and Y receive the values for giving at the time of execution x and y are defined in the function header and the exact values are not given to be used then these variables x and y are called parameters like :

def greet( name, greeting):                # ‘ name’ and ‘greeting’ are parameters

print(greeting, name)

Note that x and y are formally written in function header that indicates that two actual values will come here at the time of execution and these values may be different according the users requirement.

As we have seen that we use values to be passed in a function and for this we define variables to receive these values in function definition and these values are sent via a function call statement.
for example

def calcsum(x, y):
s = x + y
return s
num1= float(input("Enter first number"))
num2= float(input("Enter second number"))
sum = calcsum (num1,num2)
print("the sum of given numbers is " sum)

Here you see that above program has a function named calcsum that receives two values and when this function is is being called or invoked, the values received by the function  are passed to the function body to get the required output according to the functionality of our defined function. Now there are two positions where values and variables play an important role
Number One is, when values are received by variables x and y in function definition.
Number Two, is when these values are passed to the function called for execution.
here comes the concept where you can understand the difference between arguments and parameters in ython.

Important -:  If you have any confusion between arguments and parameters in python then you can use the only one term argument for both as

• formal arguments
• actual arguments

Also can use the only term parameter for both as

• formal parameters and
• actual parameters

Difference between Arguments and Parameters

In Python, arguments and parameters are closely related but distinct concepts when discussing functions:

From the above discussion, we may have some of the key differences in light of the Scope, Purpose and Usage like :

Exam Time

Chapter : Using Python Modules

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS : Asked in examinations of CBSE Class 12th Computer Science