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Learn Web Development with Python

You're reading from   Learn Web Development with Python Get hands-on with Python Programming and Django web development

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Product type Course
Published in Dec 2018
Publisher
ISBN-13 9781789953299
Length 796 pages
Edition 1st Edition
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Authors (3):
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Fabrizio Romano Fabrizio Romano
Author Profile Icon Fabrizio Romano
Fabrizio Romano
Gaston C. Hillar Gaston C. Hillar
Author Profile Icon Gaston C. Hillar
Gaston C. Hillar
Arun Ravindran Arun Ravindran
Author Profile Icon Arun Ravindran
Arun Ravindran
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Table of Contents (33) Chapters Close

Title Page
About Packt
Contributors
Preface
1. A Gentle Introduction to Python FREE CHAPTER 2. Built-in Data Types 3. Iterating and Making Decisions 4. Functions, the Building Blocks of Code 5. Saving Time and Memory 6. OOP, Decorators, and Iterators 7. Files and Data Persistence 8. Testing, Profiling, and Dealing with Exceptions 9. Concurrent Execution 10. Debugging and Troubleshooting 11. Installing the Required Software and Tools 12. Working with Models, Migrations, Serialization, and Deserialization 13. Creating API Views 14. Using Generalized Behavior from the APIView Class 15. Understanding and Customizing the Browsable API Feature 16. Using Constraints, Filtering, Searching, Ordering, and Pagination 17. Securing the API with Authentication and Permissions 18. Applying Throttling Rules and Versioning Management 19. Automating Tests 20. Solutions 21. Templates 22. Admin Interface 23. Forms 24. Security 25. Working Asynchronously 26. Creating APIs 27. Production-Ready 1. Other Books You May Enjoy Index

Chapter 4. Functions, the Building Blocks of Code

"To create architecture is to put in order. Put what in order? Functions and objects."

 – Le Corbusier

In the previous chapters, we have seen that everything is an object in Python, and functions are no exception. But, what exactly is a function? A function is a sequence of instructions that perform a task, bundled as a unit. This unit can then be imported and used wherever it's needed. There are many advantages to using functions in your code, as we'll see shortly.

In this chapter, we are going to cover the following:

  • Functions—what they are and why we should use them
  • Scopes and name resolution
  • Function signatures—input parameters and return values
  • Recursive and anonymous functions
  • Importing objects for code reuse

I believe the saying, a picture is worth one thousand words, is particularly true when explaining functions to someone who is new to this concept, so please take a look at the following diagram:

As you can see, a function is a block of instructions...

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