What is the difference between arguments and parameters in Python?

The concept of arguments and parameters are part of Functions in Python. Therefore, before moving further let us learn how to create a function and parameterised function.

A function is a block of organized, reusable code that is used to perform a single, related action. Functions provide better modularity for your application and a high degree of code reusing.

Create a Function

Example

Let us create a basic function −

# Define a function
def sample():
   print("Inside a Function")

# Function call
sample()

Output

Inside a Function

Create a Parameterized Function

Here, we are creating a function with a parameter −

# Creating a Parameterised Function
def sample(str):
   print("Car = ", str)

# Function calls
sample("Tesla")
sample("Audi")
sample("BMW")
sample("Toyota")

Output

('Car = ', 'Tesla')
('Car = ', 'Audi')
('Car = ', 'BMW')
('Car = ', 'Toyota')

Parameters

Parameters are defined by the names that appear in a function definition. Parameters define what kind of arguments a function can accept. Therefore, according to the above example of a Parameterized Function, the following is a parameter i.e. str −

# Function Definition
def sample(str):

Arguments

Arguments are the values actually passed to a function when calling it. . Therefore, according to the above example of a Parameterized Function, the following are the arguments i.e Tesla, Audi, BMW and Toyota −

# Function calls
sample("Tesla")
sample("Audi")
sample("BMW")
sample("Toyota")

Example

Let’s see an example −

# Function Definition
def sample(name, rank):
   print("Employee Name = ",name)
   print("Employee Rank = ",rank)

# Function call
sample(rank = 3,name = "Tim")

Output

Employee Name = Tim
Employee Rank = 3

Above, the name and rank are parameters of the sample() function.

The 3 and Tim and arguments of the sample() function.

Let us see another example, wherein we have **kwargs as well as a parameter −

def func(foo, bar=None, **kwargs):
   pass

Output

func(10, bar=20, extra=somevar)

Above, the foo, bar, and kwargs are parameters of the func().

the values 10, 20, and somevar are arguments of the func().