Defining a Function in Python

You can define functions to provide the required functionality. Here are simple rules to define a function in Python.

• Function blocks begin with the keyword def followed by the function name and parentheses ( ( ) ).
• Any input parameters or arguments should be placed within these parentheses. You can also define parameters inside these parentheses.
• The first statement of a function can be an optional statement - the documentation string of the function or docstring.
• The code block within every function starts with a colon (:) and is indented.
• The statement return [expression] exits a function, optionally passing back an expression to the caller. A return statement with no arguments is the same as return None.

Syntax

def functionname( parameters ):
"function_docstring"
function_suite
return [expression]

By default, parameters have a positional behavior and you need to inform them in the same order that they were defined.

Example

The following function takes a string as input parameter and prints it on standard screen.

def printme( str ):
"This prints a passed string into this function"
print str
return