Recall that when defining a function, you can make some arguments **optional** by assigning them a default value. If the caller does not provide a value, the function uses the default.

```python
def add_user(name, age, role='user', status='active'):
    # Function body here
```

- `name` and `age` are **required** – must always be provided;
- `role` and `status` are **optional** – if omitted, their default values are used.

Remember that optional arguments must always come **after** all required arguments.

```python
add_user('Alice', 28)           # role='user', status='active' by default
add_user('Bob', 25, role='admin', status='inactive')  # Overriding the defaults
```

def greet(name, greeting='Hello'):
    print(f'{greeting}, {name}!')

# Using only the required argument
greet('Alice')

# Providing both arguments
greet('Bob', greeting='Hi')

import unittest

def _dynamic_test(test_case, condition, success_message, failure_message):
    if condition:
        test_case._testMethodName = success_message
        test_case.assertTrue(True, success_message)
    else:
        test_case._testMethodName = failure_message
        test_case.fail(failure_message)

class TestAddUser(unittest.TestCase):
    def setUp(self):
        """Reset users_db before each test"""
        import user_code
        user_code.users_db.clear()

    def test_successful_addition(self):
        """Checks that a new user is added to the database successfully"""
        import user_code
        try:
            result = user_code.add_user("Alice", 30)
            expected_output = "User Alice added successfully!"
            condition = result == expected_output
            failure_message = f"For input `('Alice', 30)`, expected `{expected_output}`, but got `{result}`."
        
        except AttributeError:
            condition = False
            failure_message = "The function `add_user` is not defined."
        
        _dynamic_test(self, condition, "The `add_user` function correctly adds a new user.", failure_message)

    def test_user_count_after_adding(self):
        """Checks that the number of users in the database is correct after adding a new user"""
        import user_code
        try:
            user_code.add_user("Alice", 30)
            condition = len(user_code.users_db) == 1
            failure_message = f"For input `('Alice', 30)`, expected 1 user in the `users_db`, but found {len(user_code.users_db)}."
        
        except AttributeError:
            condition = False
            failure_message = "The function `add_user` is not defined."
        
        _dynamic_test(self, condition, "The number of users in the `users_db` is correct after adding a user.", failure_message)

    def test_add_user_with_default_role_and_status(self):
        """Checks that a new user is added with the default role and status"""
        import user_code
        try:
            user_code.add_user("Alice", 30)
            new_user = user_code.users_db[0]
            condition = (new_user["role"] == "user" and new_user["status"] == "active")
            failure_message = f"For input `('Alice', 30)`, expected user data with default role and status, but got {new_user}."
        
        except AttributeError:
            condition = False
            failure_message = "The function `add_user` is not defined."
        except Exception:
            condition = False
            failure_message = "For input `('Alice', 30)`, expected user data with the default role and status, but the user was not found in `users_db`."
        
        _dynamic_test(self, condition, "The new user is added with default `role` and `status`.", failure_message)

    def test_successful_update(self):
        """Checks that an existing user's data is updated correctly"""
        import user_code
        try:
            user_code.add_user("Alice", 30)
            result = user_code.add_user("Alice", 31, role="admin", status="inactive")
            expected_output = "User Alice updated successfully!"
            condition = result == expected_output and user_code.users_db[0]["age"] == 31 and user_code.users_db[0]["role"] == "admin" and user_code.users_db[0]["status"] == "inactive"
            failure_message = f"For input ('Alice', 30), followed by ('Alice', 31, 'admin', 'inactive'), expected {expected_output} and user data update in users_db, but got {result}."
        
        except AttributeError:
            condition = False
            failure_message = "The function `add_user` is not defined."
        
        _dynamic_test(self, condition, "The `add_user` function correctly updates existing user data.", failure_message)

    def test_user_count_after_update(self):
        """Checks that the number of users in the database remains the same after updating an existing user"""
        import user_code
        try:
            user_code.add_user("Alice", 30)
            user_code.add_user("Alice", 31, role="admin", status="inactive")
            condition = len(user_code.users_db) == 1
            failure_message = f"For input ('Alice', 30), followed by ('Alice', 31, 'admin', 'inactive'), expected users_db to contain exactly 1 user, but found {len(user_code.users_db)}."
        
        except AttributeError:
            condition = False
            failure_message = "The function `add_user` is not defined."
        
        _dynamic_test(self, condition, "The number of users in the `users_db` remains the same after updating a user.", failure_message)
    
    def test_users_db_is_declared(self):
        import user_code
        _dynamic_test(
            self,
            hasattr(user_code, 'users_db'),
            "The `users_db` variable is declared.",
            "Expected `users_db` to be declared."
        )
if __name__ == '__main__':
    unittest.main()

test_main.py

Gain a solid understanding of how functions shape Python programming. Master defining and calling functions, working with arguments, and handling return values, including generator functions that yield values lazily. Explore recursion and lambda expressions to write flexible, efficient code.


Explore the essentials of Python functions, from defining and calling them with the def keyword to passing arguments and returning values. Learn to use built-in functions like print, len, and sum in your own code.


Discover how to work with positional and optional arguments in Python. Build functions with default parameter values and combine required and optional inputs to create flexible, readable code.

Discover how to handle variable-length input using *args and **kwargs in Python. Build functions that accept any number of positional or keyword arguments and process them dynamically.

Discover how to return single or multiple values from a function, use None to signal missing results, and build generator functions with yield for memory-efficient, on-demand data flows.

Discover how to solve problems using recursive functions and write concise lambda expressions for inline logic. Learn best practices for naming and structuring functions so your code stays maintainable.

Challenge: Optional Arguments

Challenge: Optional Arguments

Solution