What are the best practices for using args and kwargs in Python?

What are the best practices for using args and kwargs in Python?

Using *args and **kwargs allows for flexible function arguments. Best practices include using them when necessary, keeping functions clear, and documenting their use.

Can you give me an example of how to use them?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

def my_function(*args, **kwargs): print(args) print(kwargs)

my_function(1, 2, 3, name='Alice', age=30) # args will be (1, 2, 3) and kwargs will be {'name': 'Alice', 'age': 30}.

When should I prefer using kwargs over args?

You should prefer using **kwargs when you want to pass a variable number of keyword arguments, especially when the function has many optional parameters. It improves readability.

Are there any performance considerations I should be aware of?

Yes, using *args and **kwargs can introduce a slight overhead due to the additional unpacking. However, this is usually negligible unless in performance-critical code.