# What is the meanings of \`\*\` in the method of \`add\_\`?

**URL:** <https://discuss.pytorch.org/t/what-is-the-meanings-of-in-the-method-of-add/87674>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [July 2, 2020, 2:28am UTC](https://discuss.pytorch.org/t/what-is-the-meanings-of-in-the-method-of-add/87674 "2020-07-02T02:28:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![coincheung](https://discuss.pytorch.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@coincheung](https://discuss.pytorch.org/u/coincheung)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2020, 2:28am UTC](https://discuss.pytorch.org/t/what-is-the-meanings-of-in-the-method-of-add/87674/1 "2020-07-02T02:28:58Z")

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Hi,  
I noticed that in definition of the method of tor `add_(other, *, alpha=1) → Tensor`, there is a `*`. What does that mean ?

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**Author:** ![Nikronic](https://discuss.pytorch.org/user_avatar/discuss.pytorch.org/nikronic/32/71873_2.png) [@Nikronic](https://discuss.pytorch.org/u/Nikronic)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2020, 1:04pm UTC](https://discuss.pytorch.org/t/what-is-the-meanings-of-in-the-method-of-add/87674/2 "2020-07-02T13:04:16Z")

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Hi,

Actually, this is a python convention for forcing to use positional arguments.

> <https://stackoverflow.com/questions/53797057/star-as-an-argument-in-python-function/53797072#53797072>

Bests

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**Author:** ![Dipam\_Vasani](https://discuss.pytorch.org/user_avatar/discuss.pytorch.org/dipam_vasani/32/12166_2.png) [@Dipam\_Vasani](https://discuss.pytorch.org/u/Dipam_Vasani)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2020, 6:58pm UTC](https://discuss.pytorch.org/t/what-is-the-meanings-of-in-the-method-of-add/87674/3 "2020-07-02T18:58:12Z")

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Yes, look at the official docs:  
[https://docs.python.org/3/whatsnew/3.8.html#positional-only-parameters](https://docs.python.org/3/whatsnew/3.8.html#positional-only-parameters)