Conditional/dependent function arguments - Python

Question

I'm pretty new to Python and have written a function that has 5 arguments:

def function(a,b,c,d=False,e=" "):

Argument d can either be true or false. If false, then the default value for e will be white space, and we wouldn't need to pass this into the function when calling it, if true, then we can either pass an argument to e, or leave it blank.

function(a,b,c,False) #Example 1: d==False 
function(a,b,c,True,'*') #Example 2: d==True, then pass value to e to override default

My issue, however, lies with the following example:

function(a,b,c,True) #Example 3: d==True but no value passed to e

If d is true and no value is passed to argument e, I want to change the default value of e to something else. I only want to do this in instances where d==True and e isn't passed. Basically, I want the default behaviour of argument e to be dependent on the boolean value of d:

def function(a,b,c,d=False,e=" " if d==False, '*' if d=True)

Basically, I want two default states for argument e, dependent on whether argument d is True or False.

Is this possible?

rioV8 · Accepted Answer · 2020-11-15 15:26:41Z

2

Use a None value for e and adjust if not passed

def function(a,b,c,d=False,e=None):
    if e is None:
        e="*" if d else ' '
    pass

answered Nov 15, 2020 at 15:26

rioV8

29.7k4 gold badges48 silver badges68 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

JGW Over a year ago

This is perfect! And so unbelievably simple! I knew there would be an efficient way to do this! Thanks!

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Conditional/dependent function arguments - Python

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related