How to write standardized docstrings in Python?

8 months ago

William Carter

2 minutes

In Python, you can use docstrings to add explanatory documentation to functions, methods, classes, or modules. Docstrings should be enclosed in triple quotes (”’) or double quotes (“””) and placed at the beginning of the function, method, class, or module.

Here is an example of a properly formatted document string:

def add(a, b):
    """
    This function adds two numbers.

    Parameters:
    a (int): The first number to be added.
    b (int): The second number to be added.

    Returns:
    int: The sum of the two numbers.
    """
    return a + b

In the example above, the document string includes the explanation of the function, parameter description, and return value explanation, making it easier for other developers to understand the purpose and usage of the function. It is recommended to include standardized document strings when writing code to improve code readability and maintainability.