How Do Keyword Arguments Enhance Function Arguments in Programming?

Understanding the Differences between Normal Arguments and Keyword Arguments

When working with functions, you often pass arguments to specify input values. While positional arguments are standard, keyword arguments offer additional flexibility.

How do Keyword Arguments Differ from Normal Arguments?

There are two main types of keyword arguments:

• Calling Side: Here, you can specify arguments by name instead of relying on positional syntax. You must list these arguments after all positional arguments, and provide default values for any parameters you omit.
• Function Definition Side: This allows you to define functions that accept arguments by name without specifying specific names. Such functions use kwargs to hold any unnamed keyword arguments passed in.

Example:

Consider the following function:

def my_function(arg1, arg2, **kwargs):
    print(f"{arg1} and {arg2} are normal arguments.")
    print(f"{kwargs} is a dictionary of keyword arguments.")

my_function(1, 'a', b=2, c='d')

Output:
1 and a are normal arguments.
{'b': 2, 'c': 'd'} is a dictionary of keyword arguments.

Advantages of Keyword Arguments:

• Increased readability and maintainability
• Flexibility in ordering arguments
• Simplified function definition and debugging

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