python - What is a good way to implement several very similar functions? -

i need several similar plotting functions in python share many arguments, differ in , of course differ in do. came far:

• obviously defining them 1 after other , copying code share possibility, though not one, reckon.
• one transfer "shared" part of code helper functions , call these inside different plotting functions. make tedious though, later add features functions should have.
• and i've thought of implementing 1 "big" function, making possibly not needed arguments optional , deciding on in function body based on additional arguments. this, believe, make difficult though, find out happens in specific case 1 face forest of arguments.

i can rule out first option, i'm hard pressed decide between second , third. started wondering: there another, maybe object-oriented, way? , if not, how 1 decide between option 2 , three?

i hope question not general , guess not python-specific, since rather new programming (i've never done oop) , first thought now, guess add python tag.

edit:

as pointed out many, question quite general , intended so, understand makes answering rather difficult. here's info on problem caused me ask:

i need plot simulation data, plotting problems have simulation parameters in common (location of files, physical parameters,...). want figure design same. depending on quantity, plots 1d, 2d, should contain more 1 figure, need normalize data or take logarithm before plotting it. output format might vary.

i hope helps bit.

how this. can create base class have method foo base shared method performs similar code. different classes can inherit base , super method of interest , extend implementation whatever functionality need.

here example of how works. note different example provided between how use super in python 2 , python 3.

class base:                 def foo(self, *args, **kwargs):         print("foo stuff base")         return "return here"   class someclass(base):     def foo(self, *args, **kwargs):         # python 2         #x = super(someclass, self).foo(*args, **kwargs)         # python 3         x = super().foo(*args, **kwargs)         print(x)         print("someclass extension of foo")  s = someclass() s.foo() 

output:

foo stuff base return here someclass extension of foo base