What are the best practices for writing docstrings in Python?

What are the best practices for writing docstrings in Python?

Best practices for writing docstrings include being clear, concise, and using the appropriate format. Use triple quotes and include a summary, parameters, return values, and exceptions.

Can you give me an example of a well-written docstring?

Sure! Here's an example:

def add(a, b):
    """
    Add two numbers.

    Parameters:
    a (int or float): The first number.
    b (int or float): The second number.

    Returns:
    int or float: The sum of a and b.
    """
    return a + b

What tools can help me check my docstring formatting?

You can use tools like Pydocstyle, Sphinx, or even IDEs like PyCharm that have built-in support for docstring conventions.

Are there any specific styles I should follow?

Yes, common styles include Google style, NumPy/SciPy style, and reStructuredText. Choose one that fits your project.