Is it possible to input multiple values into a single variable in a Python function?

Question

Here’s my function:

def function_drop_columns (x,y): 
    return (x).loc[:,~(x).columns.str.endswith(y)]

x will always just be one input- specifying a dataframe. For y, however, there could be many columns I want to drop (which end with different strings). Is there any way to re-write this so y can be input with multiple values?

I was wondering if I could input some kind ‘or’ operator but it doesn’t seem to have worked.

df1 = function_drop_columns (df,'DATE' or 'STATE')

Do I need to change the function itself or is there way to re-write the input to cover different values?

Asked By: YoungboyVBA

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Source

Answer 1

pandas.Series.str.endswith allows tuple of strings as pattern. Use could use:

function_drop_columns(df, ('DATE', 'STATE'))

Answered By: RomanPerekhrest

Answer 2

You can use * before an argument to pack value in your function like def function_drop_columns(x, *args): which pack all value after x like and :

def function_drop_columns(x, *y):
    print(x)
    print(y)

And with that you get in the console :

>>> function_drop_columns("First value", "Second value", "Third value")

First value
('Second value', 'Third value')

You can also use ** if your want to pass value with keyword like :

def function_drop_columns(x, **y):
    print(x)
    print(y)

And we get :

>>> function_drop_columns("First value", second="Second value", third="Third value")

First value
{'second': 'Second value', 'third': 'Third value'}

Answered By: Jay

Is it possible to input multiple values into a single variable in a Python function?

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