How to define a function in python

 

In Python, you can define a function using the def keyword followed by the function name, a set of parentheses for parameters (if any), and a colon. Here's the basic syntax for defining a function:

def function_name(parameters):
    # Function code goes here
    # Indentation is crucial in Python to define the function's block
    # You can include multiple statements in the function block

Here's a breakdown of each part:

• def: This keyword is used to declare a function.
• function_name: Replace this with the desired name for your function. Function names should follow Python naming conventions (use lowercase letters and underscores for readability).
• parameters (optional): Inside the parentheses, you can specify any parameters that your function may accept. Parameters are variables that the function can use to perform its task. If your function doesn't require any parameters, you can leave the parentheses empty.
• : (colon): The colon marks the end of the function header and indicates the start of the function's block.
• Function code: Indentation is crucial in Python, as it determines the scope of code within the function. All the code belonging to the function should be indented consistently (usually using four spaces). This code block defines what the function does.

Here's a simple example of a Python function that adds two numbers:

def add_numbers(x, y):
    result = x + y
    return result

In this example, the function add_numbers takes two parameters, x and y, adds them together, and returns the result. You can call this function by providing values for x and y, like this:

sum_result = add_numbers(5, 3)
print(sum_result)  # This will print 8

This is a basic example, but Python functions can be much more complex and can perform various tasks based on the provided parameters.