Bryan Olson wrote: > Tobiah wrote: >> Where can I read about >> this mysterious use of the '*'? > > Hmmm... that's a harder question than I thought. Am I missing it, or > does Python's doc need a write-up of the extended call syntax? > No, you aren't mistaken. Looking at the "*" symbol in the 2.6 documentation index it lists only two references. The first is the language manual's explanation of its use in the def statement, the second is a transitory reference to its use in function calls, but that's in the tutorial where it is not likely to get much attention.
>> It only works in the >> context of the zip() function. It's hard to understand >> how the interpreter handles that. > > It works generally, for any callable. See the doc for 'apply': > > http://docs.python.org/library/functions.html#non-essential-built-in-functions > > > It not only works in a call, but also in function definitions. You can > call a function with the extended call syntax whether or not is defined > with * and ** arguments. > > regards Steve -- Steve Holden +1 571 484 6266 +1 800 494 3119 Holden Web LLC http://www.holdenweb.com/ -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list