Functions & scope

Do these first

What you will be able to do

• Write functions with positional and keyword arguments
• Return values instead of printing when composing programs
• Explain local vs global names

Scores are LearnPath editorial opinions (clarity, cost, freshness, project density) — not an objective ranking. Every YouTube item is embedded officially after a click-to-load facade.

14hBest for beginners

LearnPath pickyoutube coursebeginner

Python for Everybody — full course

freeCodeCamp / Dr. Chuck·14h

University-paced Python with exercises. Pause often and type every example. LearnPath editorial score reflects clarity, cost (free), and project density — not an objective ranking.

Score 94

Watch

2hProject-based

Alternativeyoutube coursebeginner

CS50’s Introduction to Programming with Python (lecture 0)

Harvard CS50·2h

If you want problem sets with academic rigor, follow the full CS50P course on cs50.harvard.edu.

Score 93

Watch

2h 43mProject-based

Project-orientedyoutube videobeginner

Automate with Python – Full Course for Beginners

freeCodeCamp.org·2h 43m

Teaches Python through the jobs people actually want automated: renaming files in bulk, pulling data from PDFs and spreadsheets, scheduling scripts. Best first-project resource after the syntax course because the payoff is visible immediately.

Score 83

Watch

Official docs

Official docsdocumentationbeginner

The Python Tutorial (official)

Python Software Foundation·3h

Canonical reference. Use alongside video, not instead of typing code.

Score 96

Open

22 min

More curatedyoutube videobeginner

Python Tutorial for Beginners 8: Functions

Corey Schafer·22 min

Twenty-two minutes on functions, arguments, defaults, *args/**kwargs and scope — the single most common source of beginner confusion, explained with clear terminal demos. Use it as a clarifier the moment the syntax course hand-waves parameters.

Score 78

Watch