Python function documentation, also known as docstrings, is a way to document functions.

Docstrings are enclosed in triple quotes (""" """) and can be accessed through the __doc__ attribute of the function. They help improve code readability and provide useful information about the purpose and usage of the function.

Basic Structure

A docstring is a string literal that comes immediately after the function, enclosed in triple quotes (""" """)

def greet(name):
    """
    This function greets the user with the provided name.
    """
print(f"Hello, {name}!")

Sections in a Docstring

A well-structured docstring typically includes the following sections:

• Description: Briefly explains what the function does.
• Parameters: Describes each parameter the function accepts.
• Returns: Describes the return value(s) of the function.
• Raises: Describes any exceptions that the function may raise.

Example:

def divide_numbers(dividend, divisor):
    """
    Divide two numbers and return the result.

    Parameters:
    dividend (float): The number to be divided.
    divisor (float): The number to divide by.

    Returns:
    float: The result of the division.
    """
return dividend / divisor

Accessing Docstrings

Docstrings can be accessed using the __doc__ attribute of the function.

Example:

print(greet.__doc__)
# Output:
# This function greets the user with the provided name.