Reference Documents

PDF versions of the content in the binders we have in class:

• Python Manual
• Opinionated Arcade Manual
• Opinionated Aracde How-To

Explanation of Positional vs Keyword Arguments in Python

When you call a function in Python, you can give it values in two main ways:

1. Positional arguments – the order matters.

print(10, 20)   # 10 is the first argument, 20 is the second

Here, Python knows which value goes where just because of the position.

1. Keyword arguments – you say exactly which parameter should get the value, using the parameter’s name.

print(10, end="!!!")  

In this call, 10 is still positional, but end="!!!" is a keyword argument. You don’t have to remember its position, because you’re labeling it.

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How they work together

• Positional arguments must come first in a function call.
• Keyword arguments come after positional ones.
• Mixing them is common:

pow(2, 3)            # both positional → 2^3
pow(2, exp=3)        # mix → 2^3
print("Hello", sep="-")  # mix → "Hello"

So:

• Positional = order matters
• Keyword = names matter

Both are just ways of telling Python which value should go to which parameter.