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Python Functions, Packing, and Unpacking Packing and Unpacking Packing

Basel Kanaan
Basel Kanaan
4,458 Points
Posted by Basel Kanaan
Basel Kanaan
4,458 Points

whats the different between **kwargs and *args is the first one only used for dictionaries?

and can we use the second one dictionaries also?

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,783 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,783 Points

The conventional name "kwargs" stands for "keyword arguments" which are key/value pairs. The double-asterisk packing operator is specifically for converting these pairs into a dictionary.

On the other hand "args" are just simple arguments, and the single "splat" converts them into a list.

The names themselves are simply conventions, but mixing them up could be very confusing for another Python developer!

Nicholas Johnson
Nicholas Johnson
12,945 Points

@Steven Parker, I thought the single asterisk converted them into a tuple, not a list?