DEV Community: Sakthivel V

Python Functions

Sakthivel V — Fri, 29 May 2026 16:21:17 +0000

Functions:

Functions in Python are blocks of code that perform a specific task.
They help us avoid repeating code and make programs easier to read and maintain.

Functions with parameter:

A function that takes input values (parameters).
Ex:

def greet(name):
    print("Hello", name)

greet("Sakthi")

Function Without Parameters:

A function that doesn’t take any input. Ex:

def greet():
    print("Hello, welcome to Python!")

greet()

Function With Return Value:

A function can return a result using the return keyword. Ex:

def add(a, b):
    return a + b

result = add(5, 3)
print("Sum is:", result)

Function With Optional Parameter

We can give parameters a default value. If no value is passed, the default is used. Ex:

def greet(name="Guest"):
    print("Hello", name)

greet("Sakthi")
greet()

Function With Variable Length Parameters

Sometimes we don’t know how many arguments will be passed. We can use (*args)

def numbers(*args):
    total = 0
    for num in args:
        total += num 
    print("Sum is:", total)

numbers(1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Practice problems:

data = "John,30,40,50,60\nDave,10,20,30,45,50\nAdam,40,95,87,67,50"
total, pass / fail, average, rank

data = "John,30,40,50,60,70\nDave,10,20,30,45,50\nAdam,40,95,87,67,50"

students = data.split("\n")

for std in students:

    record = std.split(",")

    name = record[0]
    total = 0
    result = "Pass"

    for i in range(1, len(record)):

        mark = int(record[i])
        total += mark

        if mark < 36:
            result = "Fail"

    avg = total / 5

    record.append(total)
    record.append(avg)
    record.append(result)

    print(record)

Calculator with variable length arguments, and return values

def add(*args):
    total = 0

    for i in args:
        total = total + i

    return total


def sub(*args):
    total = args[0]

    for i in range(1, len(args)):
        total = total - args[i]

    return total


def mul(*args):
    total = 1

    for i in range(1, len(args)):
        total = total * args[i]

    return total


def div(*args):
    total = args[0]

    for i in range(1, len(args)):
        total = total / args[i]

    return total


def floor_div(*args):
    total = args[0]

    for i in range(1, len(args)):
        total = total // args[i]

    return total


def mod(*args):
    total = args[0]

    for i in range(1, len(args)):
        total = total % args[i]

    return total


def power(*args):
    total = args[0]

    for i in range(1, len(args)):
        total = total ** args[i]

    return total


print("Addition:", add(1, 2, 3, 4))
print("Subtraction:", sub(10, 2, 3))
print("Multiplication:", mul(2, 3, 4))
print("Division:", div(100, 2, 5))
print("Floor Division:", floor_div(100, 3, 2))
print("Modulus:", mod(10, 3))
print("Power:", power(2, 3, 2))

For loop in Python

Sakthivel V — Wed, 27 May 2026 14:35:55 +0000

For loop:

A for loop is used to repeat a block of code for a fixed number of times
To loop through a set of code , we can use the range() function.
The range() function increment the sequence by 1, however it is possible to increment the value by adding a third parameter: range(2, 30, 3):

Syntax:

for (variable) in (sequence):
code block

Examples :

# Print 1, 2, 3 … 10
# Print 2, 4 ,6 … 20
# Print Table given a number a. Ex: 2 -> 1x2, 2x2, 3x2 … 10x2
# Find all odd numbers until given number a. Ex: 10 -> 1, 3, 5, 7, 9
# Find all numbers divisible by 3 until given number a. Ex: 10 -> 3, 6, 9
# Find all numbers divisible by 3 and 5 until given number a. Ex: 50 -> 15, 30, 45
# Sum of natural numbers until given number a. Ex: input: 4 -> 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 -> 10
# Find factorial of given number a. Ex: input 5 -> 5 * 4 * 3 * 2 * 1 -> 120

Answers:

1).

def print_1_10():
for i in range(1,11):
print(i)
print_1_10()

2).

def print_2_20():
for i in range(2,22,2):
print(i)
print_2_20()

3).

def print_table():
for i in range(1,11):
print(i*2)
print_table()

4).

def print_odd(n):
for i in range(1,n+1):
if(i%2!=0):
print (i)
n=int(input("Enter a number: "))
print_odd(n)

5).

n=int(input("Enter a number: "))
def print_div_by_3(n):
for i in range(1,n+1):
if(i%3==0):
print (i)
print_div_by_3(n)

6).

def print_div_by_3_and_5(n):
for i in range(1,n+1):
if(i%3==0 and i%5==0):
print (i)
n=int(input("Enter a number: "))
print_div_by_3_and_5(n)

7).

n=int(input("Enter a number: "))
def print_sum(n):
sum=0
for i in range(1,n+1):
sum = sum + i
print(sum)
print_sum(n)

8).

def print_fact(n):
fact=1
for i in range(1,n+1):
fact = fact * i
print(fact)
n=int(input("Enter a number: "))
print_fact(n)

*References: *

https://www.w3schools.com/Python/python_for_loops.asp
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/python/python-for-loops/

Cracking the Coding Interview

Sakthivel V — Sun, 24 May 2026 16:53:01 +0000

Technical Interview Process

A) Importance of Algorithms & Coding

Algorithms are a major part of technical interviews.
Interviewers mainly focus on problem-solving skills.
Most interviews are around 45 minutes long.
Sometimes only one coding problem is discussed in the entire interview.
Interviewers observe how candidates think and approach the solution.

B) Skills Checked by Interviewers

1. Analytical Skills
Interviewers check:

Problem-solving ability
Logical thinking
Solution optimization
Decision-making skills

2. Coding Skills
Interviewers observe:

Clean code writing
Proper formatting
Readable code
Error handling
Code organization

3. Technical Knowledge
Important topics include:

Data Structures
Algorithms
Trees
Graphs
Sorting
Computer Science fundamentals

4. Experience
Companies also check:

Projects completed
Technical decisions taken
Initiative and interest
Real-world problem solving

5. Communication & Culture Fit
Communication is very important because employees work in teams.

Interviewers observe:

Confidence
Communication style
Teamwork
Personality fit with company culture

Loops in Python

Sakthivel V — Fri, 22 May 2026 10:57:35 +0000

Loops are used to execute a block of code repeatedly.
The main types are,

For loops
While loops.

Syntax:

While loop:

while (condition):
# code block

For loop:

for (variable) in (sequence):
# code block

While loop:

While loop repeatedly executes a block of code as long as the given condition remains true. When the condition becomes false, it will terminate the loop and print the remaining.

Example: While Loop
1).

i= 1
while i<= 5:
print("Number:", i)
i+= 1
This code is used to print the numbers from 1 to 5.

2).
i= 1
while i<= 10:
print("Number:", i*2)
i+= 1
This code is used to print multiples of 2.

3).
i= 1
fact = 1
while i<=5:
fact = fact * i
i= i + 1
print("Factorial of 5 is:", fact)
This code is used to print factorial of a number.

For loop:

A for loop is used to repeat a block of code for a fixed number of times

for (variable) in (sequence):
# code block

Example: For Loop

n = [1,2,3,4,5]
for x in n:
print(x)

Data Structure problem:

Binary search:

Operators in Python

Sakthivel V — Thu, 14 May 2026 14:12:56 +0000

Operators are used to perform operations on values and variables.
Types of Operators in Python:

Arithmetic operators
Logical operators
Comparision operators

Arithmetic operators:

Arithmetic operators are used to perform operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Ex:
a = 10
b = 5
print("Addition:", a + b)

print("Subtraction:", a - b)
print("Multiplication:", a * b)

print("Division:", a / b)
print("Floor Division:", a // b)

print("Modulus:", a % b)
print("Power:", a ** b)

Comparison operators:

Comparision operator is used to compare the values.
It returns boolean values

Ex:
a = 10
b = 20
print(a > b)
print(a < b)
print(a == b)
print(a != b)
print(a >= b)
print(a <= b)

Logical operators:

Logical operators performs AND, OR operations.
It is used to combined statements

Ex:
a=10
b=5
print(a>5 and a>7)
print(b<6 or a<9)