> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/python/cpython/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Utilities

> Utility functions for argument parsing and value building

## Overview

Python provides utility functions for parsing arguments and building return values.

## Argument Parsing

### PyArg\_ParseTuple

```c theme={null}
int PyArg_ParseTuple(PyObject *args, const char *format, ...)
```

Parse positional arguments.

**Format codes:**

* `s` - String (char\*)
* `i` - Integer (int)
* `l` - Long (long)
* `d` - Double (double)
* `O` - PyObject\*
* `|` - Optional arguments follow

**Example:**

```c theme={null}
static PyObject* my_function(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) {
    const char *name;
    int age = 0;
    
    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s|i", &name, &age))
        return NULL;
    
    printf("Name: %s, Age: %d\n", name, age);
    Py_RETURN_NONE;
}
```

### PyArg\_ParseTupleAndKeywords

```c theme={null}
int PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(
    PyObject *args,
    PyObject *kwargs,
    const char *format,
    char *kwlist[],
    ...
)
```

**Example:**

```c theme={null}
static PyObject* connect(PyObject *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs) {
    const char *host;
    int port = 80;
    int timeout = 30;
    
    static char *kwlist[] = {"host", "port", "timeout", NULL};
    
    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwargs, "s|ii", kwlist,
                                     &host, &port, &timeout))
        return NULL;
    
    // Use arguments...
    Py_RETURN_NONE;
}
```

## Building Values

### Py\_BuildValue

```c theme={null}
PyObject* Py_BuildValue(const char *format, ...)
```

Build Python objects from C values.

**Example:**

```c theme={null}
// Return tuple (str, int, list)
return Py_BuildValue("(si[ii])", "name", 42, 1, 2);
// Returns: ('name', 42, [1, 2])

// Return dict
return Py_BuildValue("{sisi}", "x", 10, "y", 20);
// Returns: {'x': 10, 'y': 20}
```

## Import Functions

```c theme={null}
PyObject* PyImport_ImportModule(const char *name)
PyObject* PyImport_Import(PyObject *name)
```

**Example:**

```c theme={null}
PyObject *math = PyImport_ImportModule("math");
if (math == NULL)
    return NULL;

PyObject *sqrt = PyObject_GetAttrString(math, "sqrt");
Py_DECREF(math);

if (sqrt == NULL)
    return NULL;

PyObject *result = PyObject_CallFunction(sqrt, "d", 16.0);
Py_DECREF(sqrt);
return result;
```

## See Also

* [Extension Modules](/c-api/extension-modules)
* [Object Protocol](/c-api/object)