Python - Name is not defined in a function variable?

Question

I seem to be somehow screwing up the most basic thing. I have:

def function(a, b, c):
 return 'hi'

print(function(a,b,c)) results in a NameError for every variable.

What is the cause of this?

Answer 1

The names of the arguments of a function are local variables, they are not available as global names. a, b and c exist only inside of the function, and receive the values you pass to the function.

You need to create new variables or use literal values when calling the function:

print(function(1, 2, 3))

would work because 1, 2 and 3 are actual values to pass into the function.