Can Positional Arguments Be Passed Using Keyword Syntax?

Positional vs Keyword Arguments: A Closer Look

When defining function parameters, we have the option to specify default values. This is distinct from the positional or keyword argument syntax used during the function call.

Positional Arguments vs Keyword Arguments

Positional arguments rely on the order in which they are passed to the function. Keyword arguments, on the other hand, explicitly specify the argument names.

Default Values

The presence of default values in function definitions does not affect whether an argument is positional or keyword. For example, consider the following function:

<code class="python">def rectangleArea(width, height):
    return width * height</code>

Both width and height are positional arguments, even though they have no default values.

Usage with Keyword Arguments

Despite being positional arguments, width and height can also be passed as keyword arguments, as seen in:

<code class="python">print(rectangleArea(width=1, height=2))</code>

In this call, the width and height arguments are passed using the keyword syntax, but this does not change their positional nature.

Confusion in Cited Text

The cited text conflates the concepts of positional/keyword arguments with default values. It incorrectly states that positional arguments cannot be passed as keyword arguments, which is not true.

Key Takeaways

• Positional arguments are based on order, while keyword arguments specify argument names.
• Default values are set during function definition and do not impact the argument type.
• Both positional and keyword arguments can be used even if default values are present.

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