Python: function parameter between quotations for columns

Question

Basically I need the following:

data['sales']*10
data['height']*10

The underlying problem I am facing is how can I create a function where I can write the variable names without adding the quotations inside the function. Is this possible? For example, like writing a special character inside the " " that indicates a word is an argument.

def function(var1):
   p=data['var1']*10  #The error is here; I tried p=data["'"+var1+"'"]*10
                    #Is there a way to indicate var1 is not a string,
                    #like p=data['&var1']*10
return p

function(sales)
function(height)

I know the question is very basic, but I need to know if it is possible. If not, i will just create all functions and add the quotations for each argument. Thanks.

Answer 1

You just need to pass the strings (field/column name) to your function as an argument which will be stored into the variable var1 . You then don't need to put the quotes around var1 inside your function. For example, do the following

def function(var1):
   p=data[var1]*10  #The error is here; I tried p=data["'"+var1+"'"]*10
                    #Is there a way to indicate var1 is not a string,
                    #like p=data['&var1']*10
   return p

function('sales')
function('height')