Positional argument
A positional argument is a function argument associated with a parameter according to its ordinal position in the call rather than its name.
Python How-To
A positional argument is a function argument whose value is associated with a parameter according to its position in the call.
- How it is used
- Uses positional arguments to make Python function and constructor calls concise while deciding when calls need more flexibility.
- How deep it goes
- Defines position-based matching and works through `*args` tuple packing and parameter order, without descending into interpreter internals.
- Examples
- Demonstrates tuple packing with `stringify` and three positional values in a `Task` constructor.
- What you can do after
- Apply it via Python calls and `*args` to match values by position and accept variable numbers of inputs when needed.
Django in Action
A Python positional argument is an argument assigned to a parameter according to its position in the argument list.
- How it is used
- Explains how command-line scripts receive ordered data and distinguishes positional values from optional behavior flags.
- How deep it goes
- Defines positional placement, contrasts flags, and stops short of implementing a positional Django command.
- Examples
- Uses Unix zip positions, Django musician filters, and ORM creation that requires named field values.
- What you can do after
- Apply positional arguments in command-line interfaces and choose keyword arguments when calling Django’s generic ORM create method.
The Quick Python Book, Fourth Edition
A positional parameter is a function argument identified by its ordinal position in the argument list.
- How it is used
- Uses argument order to call functions, format strings, and parse required command-line inputs.
- How deep it goes
- Explains order matching, defaults, mixed syntax, variadic capture, formatting indexes, and argparse requirements without implementation internals.
- Examples
- Demonstrates power calculations, numbered format fields, mixed function calls, and an argparse script.
- What you can do after
- Apply positional arguments to define and call functions, format strings, and configure required argparse inputs.
Read how The Quick Python Book, Fourth Edition explains positional argument →
Related concepts
- named argumentcontrasts with · A named argument is a function or command argument supplied by explicitly associating its value with a parameter name rather than relying solely on position.
- variadic argumentsused by · A variadic function or parameter accepts a variable number of arguments, often collecting the supplied values into a sequence of a specified type.
- command-line argumentkind of · A command-line argument is a value supplied to a program when it is invoked, either as positional input or as an option that configures its behavior.
- argument parserconfigured by · An argument parser is a component that defines accepted command-line arguments and converts supplied argument text into structured values.
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