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Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

In this python program, we are learning how to pass data between functions, a tool that will become very handy especially when you are trying to automate certain tasks that are repetitive.

Functions serve a number of benefits:

• You can pass a number of arguments to them to be processed.
• They are easily identified by using the def keyword in your code.
• a return statement can give you the output of the function to show on the screen or pass to another function.

It compliments r-tutorial-how-to-pass-data-between-functions/  and can be seen that this handy bit of functionality is used widely across many different programming languages.

Below is a video that will help to give an understanding of how to pass data between functions when trying to learn python:

In many of the Data Analytics Ireland    YouTube channel videos, there is an emphasis on creating content that eliminates duplication of code within the code. We have also started incorporating classes as well and you can see here How to create a class in Python , a tutorial on how to create one.

Classes by their nature have methods, which are called on the objects that created them ( the class), and can alter their state, whereas a function will run and just return a value.

It is important to understand the distinction as while the two will most likely achieve the same outcome, it is the ability to change the class state that will differentiate the two.