.. _non-essential-built-in-funcs:

Non-essential Built-in Functions

There are several built-in functions that are no longer essential to learn, know

or use in modern Python programming. They have been kept here to maintain

backwards compatibility with programs written for older versions of Python.

Python programmers, trainers, students and bookwriters should feel free to

bypass these functions without concerns about missing something important.

.. function:: buffer(object[, offset[, size]])

The *object* argument must be an object that supports the buffer call interface

(such as strings, arrays, and buffers). A new buffer object will be created

which references the *object* argument. The buffer object will be a slice from

the beginning of *object* (or from the specified *offset*). The slice will

extend to the end of *object* (or will have a length given by the *size*

argument).