what is a argument in python?

An argument is a value passed into a function. It can be any value: a number, a string, a float, or a list are just some examples. The argument is then used within the function, and the function would spit out ("return") a value. You may think that some functions don't return values—like print—but functions that "don't return a value" really returns None.

Think of it like this: a function is a little machine that takes in argument(s) and spits out a value, depending on that value. For example, you could have a multiply function, and it can take in two arguments. Let's call these arguments num1 and num2. multiply would return the product of num1 and num2.

A function in fact doesn't need to take arguments, but it is less common. Usually functions take arguments.

I hope this helps!

Happy coding! ~Alex

Arguments are values given to a function.

A function takes some inputs and can generate some output. Your arguments are the inputs into that function.

To use your example. If we create a function named 'one' that takes one argument, like this:

def one(two):
    output=two*2
    return output

You could then use this function to double a value:

x = one(10)
y = one("hello")
z = one(True)

Now, x should equal 20, y = "hellohello" and z = 2. Outside of the definition/scope of your function there is no variable 'two.' It is a parameter of your function that (1) is used to allow arguments to be put into the function (if you wanted multiple arguments/inputs you could have multiple parameters - def one(input1, input2, input3)) and (2) can be used within the body of the function to generate output.

When we type one(10), we ask python to run the code in our one function with the parameter 'two' equal to our argument 10. Or "hello" or True, or whatever else we want to try to input.

Just play around making and using simple functions and it will make sense very quickly.