Today I Learned

hashrocket A Hashrocket project

Named arguments by default

This feature is fantastic and I haven't seen it in any other language.

You don't have to declare named arguments, all arguments are named with the argument names by default.

>>> def add(a, b, c):
...     return a + b + c
...
>>> add(1, 2, 3)
6
>>> add(c=1, b=2, a=3)
6

What happens if you mix in named args with positional args

>>> add(1, b=2, c=3)
6

That works, but if you change the order?

>>> add(a=1, b=2, 3)
  File "<stdin>", line 1
SyntaxError: non-keyword arg after keyword arg

That error is definitive which is great. What about using a named arg for an already declared positional argument? Another definitive error:

>>> add(1, a=2, c=3)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
TypeError: add() got multiple values for keyword argument 'a'

There are so many times in Ruby and in JavaScript(es6 w/destructuring) where I debate whether the arguments should be named or not. I don't really have a good rhyme or reason to it other than just feel and percieved readability. To not have to think about it seems wonderful.

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