Python Higher order-function with varying arguments

Question

I am trying to write a higher-order function that takes a varying amount of arguments. For instance something like this

def higher(fnc, args):
    print(f"Calling function {fnc}")
    fnc(argv)

def one_arg(only_arg):
    print(f"Here is the only arg {only}")

def two_arg(first, second):
    print(f"Here is the first {first} And here is the second {second}")

higher(one_arg, "Only one argument")
higher(two_arg, "Here's one arg", "and Another one")

Is it possible to do this without changing the functions one_arg() or two_arg() ?

I've looked into using *argv but I don't think I understand it well enough or see a way to use that without changing those two functions

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 18 '22 at 00:01

you can just use * to define multiple args.

def higher(fnc, *args):
    print(f"Calling function {fnc}")
    fnc(*args)

def one_arg(only_arg):
    print(f"Here is the only arg {only_arg}")

def two_arg(first, second):
    print(f"Here is the first {first} And here is the second {second}")

higher(one_arg, "Only one argument")
higher(two_arg, "Here's one arg", "and Another one")

Also for more details regarding functions and object oriented programming in python you can refer to this link

There are a lot more additional resources available online for you to learn

Didn't realize there was such an elegant solution. Thank you! — NolanWinsman, Nov 18 '22 at 00:29

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 18 '22 at 00:01

Define higher and call fnc like this:

def higher(fnc, *args):
    print(f"Calling function {fnc}")
    fnc(*args)

Within the body of higher, args is a tuple of the positional arguments passed after fnc. Calling fnc(*args) spreads that tuple into individual positional arguments to fnc.

Python Higher order-function with varying arguments

2 Answers2