All Questions
35 questions
20
votes
2
answers
16k
views
How should I name functions that return values in Python?
I'm confused about choosing names for my functions in Python. Sometimes Python built-in functions are imperative such as: print function and string method find. Sometimes they aren't such as: len its ...
0
votes
0
answers
133
views
Python Typechecking versus TypedDicts?
From what I understand from this answer, it is not possible to use a typeddict and typechecking in a function. So for example, if one has a function:
def some_func(some_int: int, some_dict:...
- 113
8
votes
5
answers
10k
views
Is code written inline faster than using function calls?
I wrote some script in Python that creates a giant 2D matrix (1000x1000 or bigger) and fills it with random numbers. And after that, it goes through every element of the matrix and changes the number ...
- 4,088
3
votes
3
answers
315
views
Referencing transient class attributes
I've just started dipping my feet into OOP.
Is it considered bad practice to have classes that reference attributes that depend on another function being called and thus may not exist (version 1)? I'...
- 218k
2
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Function name in parentheses after function call in Python
I ran into these lines of code in the QPYTHON Android app. They are part of a sample that uses the Bottle module to create a simple Web server that seems to work fine.
app = Bottle()
app.route('/', ...
- 3,108
13
votes
6
answers
11k
views
Is it reasonable to use dictionaries instead of arguments?
In python I often see functions with a lot of arguments. For example:
def translate(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p):
// some code
return(x, y, z)
I like this pattern in some ...
- 1,821
-2
votes
1
answer
171
views
How do you use ad hoc polymorphism/function overloading with functions in Python?
So, let's say you've got a function foobar() which can function with a variable number of parameters inputted into it, and has different behavior for each of them. How do you get this to function ...
- 149k
0
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Loop outside method or method with internal loop?
If I have a list of objects that need to have an operation performed on each, is there a best practice in abstracting the loop or not?
Looping over list and call
def func(item):
some_op(item)
...
- 18.2k
0
votes
1
answer
527
views
Python: Function pipeline with multiple return/input values, or use OOP? Best Practices?
I have a 'processing' function and a 'serializing' function. Currently the processor returns 4 different types of data structures to be serialized in different ways.
Looking for the best practise on ...
- 111
8
votes
4
answers
13k
views
Why empty function are needed
I started learning Python and I am wondering why empty function are needed in a programming language.
e.g. in python:
def empty_func():
pass
Even in shell scripts empty functions are available.
...
- 105
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
When should an argument be set to None in Python?
The focus of my question is on design.
If I have an argument that can be None and it is passed between several functions until finally being used, which function should treat it as a default argument?
...
- 218k
1
vote
2
answers
2k
views
Python function name convention for "convert foo to bar", e.g., foo_to_bar, foo2bar
I have a function that converts args given by argparse to a filename:
def args2filename(args, prefix):
filename = prefix
kwargs = vars(args)
for key, value in sorted(kwargs.items()):
...
- 39.6k
-1
votes
2
answers
801
views
How to decide if a global variable is used inside or outside a function in Python?
In Python variables that are created outside of a function are known as global variables. However to create a global variable inside a function (a local variable), you can use the global keyword.
My ...
CommunityBot
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
315
views
Python - Paradigm to compute different formulas with the same function
I have different equations to compute the same quantity. For example, val = my_func(a, b, c) but also val = my_func(x, y), where my_func represents the quantity I would like to compute: it could be ...
- 1,115
-4
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Creating one function for multiple purposes vs multiple functions for one purpose each [closed]
I have one function that is used to compute distances of an object in 3 different ways.
Is one of the following two methods considered better practice:
Creating 3 different functions, one each for ...
- 200k