Python Coding challenge - Day 186 | What is the output of the following Python Code?

 

Code: 

def test(a, b = 5):

    print(a, b)

test(-3)

Solution and Explanation:

 Let's delve into the details of the Python function test:

def test(a, b=5):

    print(a, b)

This is a function definition in Python. Here's what each part means:

def: This keyword is used to define a function in Python.

test: This is the name of the function. You can call this function later in your code by using this name.

(a, b=5): These are the parameters of the function. a is a required parameter, while b is an optional parameter with a default value of 5.

print(a, b): This line inside the function is responsible for printing the values of a and b.

Now, let's see how the function behaves when it's called with different arguments:

If you call the function with two arguments, like test(2, 8), it will print 2 8, because a is assigned the value 2 and b is assigned the value 8.

If you call the function with only one argument, like test(-3), Python will assign -3 to the parameter a, and since no value is provided for b, it will take its default value, which is 5. So, it will print -3 5.

If you call the function with two arguments again, like test(10, 20), it will print 10 20, with a being 10 and b being 20.

This flexibility with default parameter values allows you to define functions that can be called with different numbers of arguments, providing sensible defaults when certain arguments are not provided.