Highly Recommended Viewing

• Kris Joran's Intro to Python Functions
• Function Call Syntax
• Function Call Semantics
• Stack Diagram Practice

What's this :int thing, or "Are you my type?"

Arguments vs. Parameters

     ----------------------         ----------------
     Global frame                     HEAP
         hypot -------------------------------> CODE
                                MORTUUS
     ----------------------
     print s -> "5"

                                MORTUUS
     ----------------------
     hypot    x -<  4
              y -<  3     MORTUUS
              ret 5


     ---------------------
     output:
     $ python argsVsParams.py
     5
     ---------------------

Python is a pass by value language What gets passed to a function parameter? A copy of the memory address of the object being returned.

Python variables only store MEMORY ADDRESSES on the heap.

FAncy Arugments

• positional arguments. These come first.
• starguments. You can have one.
• keyword arguments. These come last. They must be initlaized.