Conversion from tuple to argument list?

[Erik Johnson]

Chris Liechti wrote:

> <SNIP>
>
> >>> args = range(3)
>
> newer python releases:
> >>> struct.pack("bbb", *args)
> '\x00\x01\x02'
>

      Hmm, I am new to Python. ORA's "Learning Python" & "Programming Python"
both document the use of '*' for variable argument lists in the function
definition, but this is the first time I have seen it used in the function
call. Does this sort of use have a name? Is this documented somewhere?

Thanks,
-ej