3: The Function Object

Summary

• Functions is Python are objects and can be used anywhere an object can

• You can pass a function as a parameter and return a function result

• Function parameters are passed by object reference, which means changes to parameters do not affect the variables used as arguments

• Function s can have attributes defined which have a lifetime beyond that oof the functions local variables

• Local variables exist only while the function is being executed, but attributes exist as long as the function object does

• Lambda expressions are lightweight ways of creating function objects. They simplify the syntax for passing function arguments

• Functions have variables which reference them rather than names

• Functions can refer to their own attributes in code

• A function object is an example of a callable