Keyword Arguments vs. Normal Arguments: When and Why Should You Use Each?

Keyword Arguments versus Normal Arguments

In the realm of programming, understanding the distinction between normal and keyword arguments is essential. Both offer distinct ways of passing arguments to functions, enhancing code readability and versatility.

Normal Arguments (Positional Arguments)

Normal arguments are passed to functions in a specific order, corresponding to the parameter list defined in the function definition. Developers typically utilize the following syntax:

def my_function(arg1, arg2):
    # code here

When invoking my_function, arguments must be passed in the correct order:

result = my_function("hello", 10)

Keyword Arguments

Keyword arguments provide a more flexible approach, allowing developers to pass arguments by specifying both the parameter name and its corresponding value. The syntax involves using the name=value format:

result = my_function(arg2=10, arg1="hello")

This flexibility allows for easier code readability, especially when dealing with functions that accept a large number of arguments.

Moreover, Python introduces two distinct concepts under the umbrella of "keyword arguments":

1. Parameter-based Keyword Arguments

Functions can be defined to accept specific arguments via keyword syntax. To achieve this, use the following syntax:

def my_function(arg1, arg2, *, arg3=None, arg4=None):
    # code here

Any arguments passed as keyword arguments will be stored in a dict named 'kwargs'.

2. Unrestricted Keyword Arguments

Functions can also accept an arbitrary number of keyword arguments without specifying their names explicitly. This is achieved using the **kwargs syntax, which collects all passed keyword arguments into a dict:

def my_function(**kwargs):
    # code here

This unrestricted approach provides maximum flexibility, allowing for dynamic and extensible function definitions.

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