Core Python Programming

11.4. Passing Functions

The concept of function pointers is an advanced topic when learning a language such as C, but not Python where functions are like any other object. They can be referenced (accessed or aliased to other variables), passed as arguments to functions, be elements of container objects like lists and dictionaries, etc. The one unique characteristic of functions which may set them apart from other objects is that they are callable, i.e., can be invoked via the function operator. (There are other callables in Python. For more information see Chapter 14)

In the description above, we noted that functions can be aliases to other variables. Because all objects are passed by reference, functions are no different. When assigning to ...