Range arguments

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Range arguments

Steve Jones - SSC Editor

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December 11, 2018 at 9:50 pm

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Stewart "Arturius" Campbell SSC Guru Points: 72497 More actions · Answer 1

Nice question, thanks Steve
Python basics 101...

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HappyGeek SSCoach Points: 18726 More actions · Answer 2

Lol, knew answer and still selected the wrong one! Eyes, coffee! Good question thanks Steve.

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Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 734434 More actions · Answer 3

I thought this was fun. I keep stopping to think about how it works, so good reminder for me as well.

Shayn Thomas SSCertifiable Points: 5863 More actions · Answer 4

nice question steve,
thanks

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gary.rumble SSCommitted Points: 1904 More actions · Answer 5

<pedant>
Based on the example, only the first argument is optional because the default increment is 1.
</pedant>

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dawryn SSCertifiable Points: 5397 More actions · Answer 6

There is no correct answer possible!
You have no chance to give only the second argument to any function without giving the first one.
There are two forms of function prototype:
- one of them is with one argument only;
- the other is with three arguments (the last one has default value defined ➡ that is the only one that is optional).

radu.popa 78500 SSC Rookie Points: 26 More actions · Answer 7

So, if the 1st arg is optional, how does one call this function to pass the 2nd and 3rd args?

To me, only the 3rd arg is truly optional. This seems to be confirmed by the function signature definition on the link provided in the question:
range(start, stop[, step])

I can see how Python allows passing just one arg and infer that refers to stop.
Nevertheless, the 1st arg (start) seems "semi-optional" at best.

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1003861 More actions · Answer 8

radu.popa 78500 - Friday, December 14, 2018 9:26 AM
So, if the 1st arg is optional, how does one call this function to pass the 2nd and 3rd args?
To me, only the 3rd arg is truly optional. This seems to be confirmed by the function signature definition on the link provided in the question:
range(start, stop[, step])
I can see how Python allows passing just one arg and infer that refers to stop.
Nevertheless, the 1st arg (start) seems "semi-optional" at best.

That was my impression, as well.

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Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 734434 More actions · Answer 9

The first argument is optional in that if you pass in one argument, it is for the second parameter. If you pass two, then the first is the first parameter and the second is the second parameter. If you pass three, they are used in their positions.

I think this is strange, but the first argument is optional.

dawryn SSCertifiable Points: 5397 More actions · Answer 10

Steve Jones - SSC Editor - Wednesday, December 19, 2018 1:49 PM
The first argument is optional in that if you pass in one argument, it is for the second parameter. If you pass two, then the first is the first parameter and the second is the second parameter. If you pass three, they are used in their positions.
I think this is strange, but the first argument is optional.

If the first argument were optional function declaration would look like:

range([start, ]stop[, step])

but there are two distinct function declarations (see answer Ref:) with the same name and totally different scope of arguments (commonly used in C/C++, ...):

range(stop)

range(start, stop[, step])

It might be misinterpreted as a single function with first argument optional.

radu.popa 78500 SSC Rookie Points: 26 More actions · Answer 11

Yes, an overloaded function with two implementations.