Signature-based Function Overloading in Python

[Daniel Fetchinson]

> In Java, Method Overloading is my best friend, but this won't work in
> Python:
>
>  >>> def a():
> 	pass
>  >>> def a(x):
> 	pass
>  >>> a()
> Traceback (most recent call last):
>    File "<pyshell#12>", line 1, in <module>
>      a()
> TypeError: a() takes exactly 1 argument (0 given)
>
> So - What would be the most pythonic way to emulate this?
> Is there any better Idom than:
>
>  >>> def a(x=None):
> 	if x is None:
> 		pass
> 	else:
> 		pass

This is generally considered to be the pythonic idiom for what you describe.

Cheers,
Daniel


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