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Python Python Basics (2015) Shopping List App Shopping List Introduction

Dainis Lacey
Dainis Lacey
551 Points
Posted by Dainis Lacey
Dainis Lacey
551 Points

Functions with infinite arguments

hey, I was wondering how to define a function when you don't know how many arguments are going to be entered?

1 Answer

Kenneth Swidwa
Kenneth Swidwa
Courses Plus Student 6,280 Points

Hey Dainis. The best way is to use arbitrary arguments: *args and **kwargs. for example:

>>> def inf_args_func(*args, **kwargs):
...     for index, value in enumerate(args):
...         print "{} argument is {}".format(index, value)
...     for item in kwargs.items():
...         print "{} = {}".format(item[0], item[1])
...
>>> inf_args_func(1,2,3)
0 argument is 1
1 argument is 2
2 argument is 3
>>> inf_args_func(hi='hello',bye='byebye')
bye = byebye
hi = hello
>>> inf_args_func(4, 5, 6, hi = "Hello", bye = "ByeBye")
0 argument is 4
1 argument is 5
2 argument is 6
bye = ByeBye
hi = Hello

As you can see our function returns as many arguments as you enter. The difference between *args and **kwargs is that args is a tuple of unnamed arguments but kwargs is a dictionary of named arguments. I hope this works for you!