Help function in Python

The Python help function is used to display the documentation of modules, functions, classes, keywords, etc. 

The help function has the following syntax:

help([object])

Python help() function arguments

object: Call help of the given object.

If the help function is passed without an argument, then the interactive help utility starts up on the console.

Python help() Example

Let us check the documentation of the print function in the python console. 

Output:

Help on built-in function print in module builtins:

print(...)
    print(value, ..., sep=' ', end='\n', file=sys.stdout, flush=False)

    Prints the values to a stream, or to sys.stdout by default.
    Optional keyword arguments:
    file:  a file-like object (stream); defaults to the current sys.stdout.
    sep:   string inserted between values, default a space.
    end:   string appended after the last value, default a newline.
    flush: whether to forcibly flush the stream.

Help function output can also be defined for user-defined functions and classes. The docstring(documentation string) is used for documentation. It is nested inside triple quotes and is the first statement within a class or function or a module.

Let us define a class with functions: 

On running the above program, we get the output of the first help function as shown below: 
 

Help on class Helper in module __main__:

class Helper(builtins.object)
 |  Methods defined here:
 |  
 |  __init__(self)
 |      The helper class is initialized
 |  
 |  print_help(self)
 |      Returns the help description
 |  
 |  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 |  Data descriptors defined here:
 |  
 |  __dict__
 |      dictionary for instance variables (if defined)
 |  
 |  __weakref__
 |      list of weak references to the object (if defined)

Help on function print_help in module __main__:

print_help(self)
    Returns the help description

Python help() function docstring

The docstrings are declared using ”’triple single quotes”’ or “””triple double quotes””” just below the class, method or function declaration. All functions should have a docstring.

Accessing Docstrings: The docstrings can be accessed using the __doc__ method of the object or using the help function.

Output:

Using __doc__:
Demonstrates triple double quotes
    docstrings and does nothing really.
Using help:
Help on function my_function in module __main__:

my_function()
    Demonstrates triple double quotes
    docstrings and does nothing really.