[Tutor] Why is it invalid syntax to have a particular dictionary value as an argument?

[Joel Goldstick]

On Mon, Apr 6, 2015 at 11:20 AM, Joel Goldstick
<joel.goldstick at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Mon, Apr 6, 2015 at 10:54 AM, boB Stepp <robertvstepp at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Python 2.7.8 (default, Jun 30 2014, 16:03:49) [MSC v.1500 32 bit
>> (Intel)] on win32
>> Type "copyright", "credits" or "license()" for more information.
>>>>> d = {'n': 'Print me!'}
>>>>> d
>> {'n': 'Print me!'}
>>>>> d['n']
>> 'Print me!'
>>>>> def func(d['n']):
>> SyntaxError: invalid syntax
>>>>> def func(d):
>>         print d['n']
>>
>>>>> func(d)
>> Print me!
>>
>> The plain text does not show it, but in the invalid syntax the "[" is
>> highlighted red.
>>
>> Why is it invalid syntax to pass a particular dictionary value in a
>> function? Or does it require a different form to do so?
>>
>
> Here is another example:
>
>>>> def f(6):
>   File "<stdin>", line 1
>     def f(6):
>           ^
> SyntaxError: invalid syntax
>>>>
>
> You can't pass a value as a parameter to a  function definition.  You
> need to provide a name.  The actual value is supplied when you call
> the function

The python.org site has this:
https://docs.python.org/2/reference/compound_stmts.html#function-definitions

>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> --
>> boB
>> _______________________________________________
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>
>
>
> --
> Joel Goldstick
> http://joelgoldstick.com



-- 
Joel Goldstick
http://joelgoldstick.com