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authorRaymond Hettinger <python@rcn.com>2003-08-08 23:32:46 (GMT)
committerRaymond Hettinger <python@rcn.com>2003-08-08 23:32:46 (GMT)
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Explain argument unpacking
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@@ -1577,6 +1577,24 @@ def fprintf(file, format, *args):
\end{verbatim}
+\subsection{Unpacking Argument Lists \label{unpacking-arguments}}
+
+The reverse situation occurs when the arguments are already in a list
+or tuple but need to be unpacked for a function call requiring separate
+positional arguments. For instance, the built-in \function{range()}
+function expects separate \var{start} and \var{stop} arguments. If they
+are not available separately, write the function call with the
+\code{*}-operator to unpack the arguments out of a list or tuple:
+
+\begin{verbatim}
+>>> range(3, 6) # normal call with separate arguments
+[3, 4, 5]
+>>> args = [3, 6]
+>>> range(*args) # call with arguments unpacked from a list
+[3, 4, 5]
+\end{verbatim}
+
+
\subsection{Lambda Forms \label{lambda}}
By popular demand, a few features commonly found in functional