python argparse example

argparse is a module in Python that makes it easy to write user-friendly command-line interfaces. It simplifies the process of parsing command-line arguments and provides a convenient way to define, validate, and document the input parameters for your script or application.
In this tutorial, we'll cover the basics of using argparse with code examples to illustrate various concepts.
argparse is part of the Python standard library, so there is no need to install it separately. You can import it directly into your scripts.
In this example, we create an ArgumentParser object, add an argument using add_argument, and then use parse_args to parse the command-line arguments. The help parameter is optional but helps users understand the purpose of each argument.
To run the script and provide an input file path:
You can also define optional arguments using the add_argument method. Let's extend our example to include an optional output file argument.
Run the script with or without the --output argument:
argparse automatically infers the type of arguments based on their values. However, you can explicitly specify the type using the type parameter. Here's an example using an integer argument:
Run the script with an integer argument:
This tutorial covered the basics of using argparse in Python to create command-line interfaces. You can explore more advanced features, such as subcommands, custom argument types, and argument groups, based on your specific needs. The official Python documentation on argparse is a valuable resource for further exploration: Argparse - Command-Line Option and Argument Parsing.
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