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Python Python Collections (2016, retired 2019) Dictionaries Packing and Unpacking Dictionaries

Amol Garg
Amol Garg
1,558 Points

Why did Kenneth set first_name = none and last_name=none in the unpacker() function?

Why did Kenneth set first_name = none and last_name=none in the unpacker() function? What would have happened if he hadn't?

Dave StSomeWhere
Dave StSomeWhere
19,870 Points

Hi Tyler, I'm not completely clear on your question - could you please put it into a code example and hopefully we can work it out. This was back in May so, I'm a little fuzzy on the details.

Hi Dave, I actually played with the code a bunch and answered my own question. Sorry for the trouble and thanks for the help

1 Answer

Dave StSomeWhere
Dave StSomeWhere
19,870 Points

It is setting a default argument value. By setting a function argument to None you can then do the truthy check to see if a value has been passed. Also, the function won't blow up if the argument is not passed and you can handle the situation gracefully within the function.

Does that answer your question?

Amol Garg
Amol Garg
1,558 Points

Yup that answers it.. Thanks!

Hi Dave, so if he hadn't set the default argument values, and the dictionary he was unpacking didn't have the key first_name, would it then not allow us to do the truthy check? Thanks for the help