Can Positional Arguments Be Passed as Keyword Arguments in Python?

Positional Arguments vs Keyword Arguments

In Python, positional arguments are passed to a function based on their position in the function call, while keyword arguments are passed by name-value pairs.

Confusion over Positional and Keyword Arguments

The provided text incorrectly states that positional arguments are not followed by an equal sign (=). However, the keyword argument syntax in Python requires an equal sign to bind a value to a specific parameter name.

Explanation

In the code provided, rectangleArea(width, height) defines a function with two positional arguments, width and height. However, the function can also be called using keyword arguments, such as in rectangleArea(width=1, height=2). This is because Python allows positional arguments to be passed as keyword arguments, even if they are not defined as such in the function definition.

Additional Information on Keyword Arguments

Keyword arguments can improve the readability and maintainability of code by allowing values to be passed to a function with explicit names. They also prevent confusion that can arise when the order of positional arguments is changed.

Example

The following code demonstrates the use of keyword arguments:

<code class="python">def calculate_area(shape, length, width):
    pass

calculate_area(shape="rectangle", length=1, width=2)
calculate_area(length=1, shape="rectangle", width=2)</code>

In both cases, the function is called correctly, but the second call uses keyword arguments to specify the values for each parameter.

The above is the detailed content of Can Positional Arguments Be Passed as Keyword Arguments in Python?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!