# Partial functions

> Source: https://learn-python.com/partial-functions/
> Part of Learn Python, free to read.

You can create partial functions in python by using the partial function from the functools library.

Partial functions allow one to derive a function with x parameters to a function with fewer parameters and fixed values set for the more limited function.

Import required:

```python
from functools import partial
```

This code will return 8.

```python
from functools import partial

def multiply(x,y):
        return x * y

# create a new function that multiplies by 2
dbl = partial(multiply,2)
print(dbl(4))
```

An important note: the default values will start replacing variables from the left. The 2 will replace x.
y will equal 4 when dbl(4) is called. It does not make a difference in this example, but it does in the example below.