How to not specify default parameters in python?

Question

I'm working with a python package (MySQLdb). The connect method has lots of positional parameters, most of which have defaults, but some aren't easy to deduce.

How can I only specify the parameters I want?

i.e. if a connect method has the following signature:

connect(username, password, socket, timeout)

and socket has a default value which may be system-dependent

is it possible to invoke it with something like the following so I don't overwrite the default value for socket:

connect('tom', 'passwd12', , 3)

Bill the Lizard · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-03 17:52:03Z

5

Try this:

connect(username='tom', password='passwd12', timeout=3)

For more information please see Using Optional and Named Arguments.

edited Aug 3, 2012 at 17:52

Bill the Lizard

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answered Dec 2, 2010 at 11:55

Andrew Hare

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4 Comments

petraus Over a year ago

mysql-python.sourceforge.net/MySQLdb.html#mysqldb seems to suggest that most are positional, not keyword params though

SilentGhost Over a year ago

@petraus: if you read down that page you'll see exact same code as posted in the answers.

petraus Over a year ago

thanks for the link. must have missed that when i read the book.

petraus Over a year ago

@SilentGhost - oh yeah, i didn't see that :-)

Noufal Ibrahim · Accepted Answer · 2010-12-02 11:57:12Z

2

It's better to use keyword arguments rather than positional parameters in this case. As is obvious

connect ('tom', 'passwd12, None, 3)

is a lot less understandable than

connect (username = 'tom',
         password = 'passwd12',
         timeout = 3)

answered Dec 2, 2010 at 11:57

Noufal Ibrahim

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Comments

Dan D. · Accepted Answer · 2010-12-02 12:00:45Z

1

the MySQLdb-python source says this about connect:

"It is strongly recommended that you only use keyword parameters."

answered Dec 2, 2010 at 12:00

Dan D.

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