We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.

Introduction to Python Functions

How many times have you decided to learn a programming language but got stuck somewhere along the way, grew frustrated, and gave up? This specialization is designed for learners who have little or no programming experience but want to use Python as a tool to play with data.

In the second course, Introduction to Python Functions, you are going to learn and use functions predefined in Python and Python packages, you also are able to define functions as well. You will create and use functions to make your programs reusable and adaptive.

Are you ready? Let's go!

Logo image courtesy of Mourizal Zativa. Available on Unsplash here: https://unsplash.com/photos/gNMVpAPe3PE

Enroll now

Or subscribe to Coursera Plus

And get unlimited access to Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Hello, functions!

Welcome on board! This first module shows the reasons why we need functions and introduces basic function definitions. You are going to recall some functions we have learned before, and you are going to define some simple functions of your own! Are you ready? Let's go!

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on data science using Python, appealing to individuals pursuing this career path

Designed for non-programmers, making it accessible to individuals with no prior programming experience

Introduces core Python concepts such as functions, ensuring a strong foundation for further learning

Taught by Di Wu, whose expertise in data science adds credibility to the course

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.

Save

Reviews summary

Foundational guide to python functions

According to learners, this course is a highly effective introduction to Python functions, particularly well-suited for absolute beginners or those with limited programming experience. Students frequently highlight the incredibly clear explanations and the logical, well-structured modules that build concepts progressively. The hands-on exercises and practical examples are often cited as crucial for solidifying understanding and making programs reusable and adaptive. While some found it too basic for more advanced learners, recent reviews suggest previous concerns about outdated content or poor video quality have been addressed, making it a valuable learning experience.

Some found the course too basic, while others appreciated its beginner-friendly pace.

"This course was far too basic for me. I was looking for something more advanced, perhaps diving into functional programming."

"Decent course, but it felt a little too introductory... wished for more challenging problem sets to apply what I learned."

"Might be a bit slow for those with prior experience, but it's perfect for its target audience."

Recent updates appear to have resolved earlier concerns about outdated materials and quality.

"The course seems very outdated in its examples and tools, making it harder to follow along with current Python versions. Needs a major update."

"My previous concerns about outdated examples or video quality are no longer relevant; the course feels fresh now."

"Highly recommend for anyone starting with Python for data; it's current and very relevant, covering essential concepts thoroughly."

This course is perfectly designed for learners with little to no prior programming experience.

"As someone completely new to programming, this course was a godsend."

"Perfect for beginners! The concepts are broken down into easy-to-digest chunks."

"It covers all the basics of functions well... perfect for its target audience."

Hands-on coding activities significantly enhance learning and application.

"The hands-on exercises really solidified my understanding."

"I appreciated the bite-sized modules and the practical examples provided."

"I loved the hands-on coding exercises. It really helped me understand how to make my programs reusable."

The course excels in making complex concepts easy to understand for beginners.

"The explanations were incredibly clear, especially the parts on parameters and return values."

"The way the instructor explained nested functions made a complex topic easy to grasp."

"The concepts are broken down into easy-to-digest chunks, really helping me understand."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Python Functions with these activities:

Review the course syllabus and make a study plan

Show steps

A study plan can help you stay on track and make the most of your time in the course.

Browse courses on Course Syllabus

Show steps

Go to the course website and download the syllabus.
Read through the syllabus and identify the key topics that will be covered.
Create a study plan that outlines when you will study each topic.

Review high school Algebra II

Show steps

Python is a math-based language, so it's important to make sure your algebra is solid before you start learning Python.

Browse courses on Trigonometry

Show steps

Review your notes from Algebra II.
Take a practice test to identify areas where you need more practice.
Find some online resources or textbooks to help you brush up on the topics you need to review.

Complete the Python Tutorial on the official Python website

Show steps

The official Python tutorial is a great way to get started with the basics of Python and learn the syntax.

Browse courses on Python Basics

Show steps

Go to the official Python website and find the tutorial.
Read through the tutorial and complete the exercises.
If you get stuck, there are plenty of online resources and forums where you can get help.

Seven other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all ten activities

Learn Functions With Examples

Show steps

Get a solid grasp of Python functions and their various uses through the guidance of video tutorials.

Show steps

Watch a series of video tutorials that comprehensively cover functions in Python.
Follow along with the demos and code examples provided in the tutorials.
Take notes and experiment with the different function concepts introduced.

Practice Writing Functions

Show steps

Enhance your understanding of functions by actively writing and testing your own code.

Show steps

Set up a Python development environment and create a new project.
Write Python code to define and call functions.
Experiment with different function parameters and return values.
Test your functions using print statements or the Python debugger.

Solve Python coding challenges on LeetCode

Show steps

Coding challenges are a great way to practice your Python skills and learn new techniques.

Show steps

Go to the LeetCode website and create an account.
Choose a coding challenge that you want to solve.
Read the problem statement carefully and come up with a solution.
Implement your solution in Python and submit it.
If your solution is correct, you will earn points and move on to the next challenge.

Join a Python Study Group

Show steps

Engage with peers to discuss concepts, share knowledge, and work on projects related to Python functions.

Show steps

Find or create a study group with other Python learners.
Meet regularly to discuss Python functions and related topics.
Collaborate on projects that involve using functions.

Create a Python Function Library

Show steps

Solidify your knowledge by creating a personal library of reusable Python functions.

Show steps

Identify commonly used tasks or operations in your Python projects.
Create Python functions for each of these tasks.
Organize and document your functions in a structured library.
Test your library functions and make improvements as needed.

Help other students in the course

Show steps

Helping others is a great way to solidify your understanding of the material and develop your communication skills.

Browse courses on Mentoring

Show steps

Go to the course forum or discussion board.
Look for students who are asking questions or struggling with the material.
Offer your help and answer their questions.

Contribute to an open-source Python project

Show steps

Contributing to an open-source project is a great way to give back to the community and learn from more experienced Python developers.

Browse courses on Open Source

Show steps

Find an open-source Python project that you are interested in.
Read the project's documentation and understand how it works.
Identify an area where you can contribute.
Make your changes and submit a pull request.
If your pull request is accepted, your changes will be merged into the project and you will become a contributor to the project.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Python Functions will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Data Analyst

Data Analysts gather and interpret data to help businesses make informed decisions. This course will provide you with the foundational skills in Python functions, which are essential for data analysis. You will learn how to define and use functions to make your programs reusable and adaptive, which is crucial for handling large and complex datasets. Additionally, the concepts of functions with parameters and return values will equip you to extract meaningful insights from data and communicate your findings effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software systems. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in Python functions, which are essential for writing efficient and maintainable code. You will learn how to define and use functions to modularize your code and improve its reusability. Furthermore, the concepts of functions with parameters and return values will enable you to design flexible and adaptable software components.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use scientific methods and algorithms to extract knowledge and insights from data. This course will provide you with the necessary skills in Python functions to effectively manipulate and analyze data. You will learn how to define and use functions to automate data processing tasks, making your workflow more efficient. Additionally, the concepts of functions with parameters and return values will enable you to create reusable and modular code, which is crucial for handling large and complex datasets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Web Developer

Web Developers design and develop websites and web applications. This course will provide you with a solid understanding of Python functions, which are essential for building dynamic and interactive web applications. You will learn how to define and use functions to handle user input, process data, and generate dynamic content. Furthermore, the concepts of functions with parameters and return values will empower you to create modular and reusable code, making your web development process more efficient.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineers design and develop machine learning models to solve real-world problems. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in Python functions, which are essential for building and deploying machine learning models. You will learn how to define and use functions to preprocess data, train models, and evaluate their performance. Additionally, the concepts of functions with parameters and return values will enable you to create flexible and reusable code, which is crucial for developing and maintaining machine learning systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Business Analyst

Business Analysts analyze business processes and data to identify areas for improvement. This course will provide you with the skills in Python functions to effectively analyze data and communicate your findings. You will learn how to define and use functions to automate data processing tasks, making your workflow more efficient. Additionally, the concepts of functions with parameters and return values will enable you to create reusable and modular code, which is crucial for handling large and complex datasets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Statistician

Statisticians collect, analyze, interpret, and present data. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in Python functions, which are essential for statistical data analysis. You will learn how to define and use functions to automate data processing tasks, making your workflow more efficient. Additionally, the concepts of functions with parameters and return values will enable you to create reusable and modular code, which is crucial for handling large and complex datasets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician

Actuary

Actuaries use mathematical and statistical methods to assess risk and uncertainty. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in Python functions, which are essential for building actuarial models. You will learn how to define and use functions to automate data processing tasks, making your workflow more efficient. Additionally, the concepts of functions with parameters and return values will enable you to create reusable and modular code, which is crucial for developing and maintaining actuarial models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Actuary

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts use financial data to make investment recommendations. This course will provide you with the skills in Python functions to effectively analyze financial data. You will learn how to define and use functions to automate data processing tasks, making your workflow more efficient. Additionally, the concepts of functions with parameters and return values will enable you to create reusable and modular code, which is crucial for handling large and complex datasets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Operations Research Analyst

Operations Research Analysts use mathematical and analytical methods to improve the efficiency of organizations. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in Python functions, which are essential for building optimization models. You will learn how to define and use functions to automate data processing tasks, making your workflow more efficient. Additionally, the concepts of functions with parameters and return values will enable you to create reusable and modular code, which is crucial for developing and maintaining optimization models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Research Analyst

Risk Analyst

Risk Analysts assess and manage risks for organizations. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in Python functions, which are essential for building risk assessment models. You will learn how to define and use functions to automate data processing tasks, making your workflow more efficient. Additionally, the concepts of functions with parameters and return values will enable you to create reusable and modular code, which is crucial for developing and maintaining risk assessment models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Analyst

Data Engineer

Data Engineers design and implement data pipelines to manage and process large datasets. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in Python functions, which are essential for building and maintaining data pipelines. You will learn how to define and use functions to automate data processing tasks, making your workflow more efficient. Additionally, the concepts of functions with parameters and return values will enable you to create reusable and modular code, which is crucial for developing and maintaining data pipelines.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Engineer

Database Administrator

Database Administrators manage and maintain databases. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in Python functions, which are essential for automating database administration tasks. You will learn how to define and use functions to perform data manipulation and management tasks, making your workflow more efficient. Additionally, the concepts of functions with parameters and return values will enable you to create reusable and modular code, which is crucial for developing and maintaining database administration scripts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts analyze and design computer systems. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in Python functions, which are essential for building and maintaining software systems. You will learn how to define and use functions to modularize your code and improve its reusability. Furthermore, the concepts of functions with parameters and return values will enable you to design flexible and adaptable software components.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Software Tester

Software Testers evaluate the quality of software systems. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in Python functions, which are essential for automating software testing tasks. You will learn how to define and use functions to perform test case generation, test execution, and test result analysis, making your workflow more efficient. Additionally, the concepts of functions with parameters and return values will enable you to create reusable and modular code, which is crucial for developing and maintaining software testing scripts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Tester

Reading list

We've selected 15 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Introduction to Python Functions.

Python Crash Course, 2nd Edition

Save

Provides a comprehensive introduction to Python programming, covering the basics of the language, data structures, algorithms, and object-oriented programming.

Introduction to Python Functions

What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Foundational guide to python functions

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses