What is the function of `**kwargs` in a Python function?

The function of **kwargs in a Python function is to capture any keyword arguments passed to that function. This means that when a function is defined with **kwargs, it can accept any number of additional keyword arguments beyond those explicitly named in the function's signature. These keyword arguments are then accessible within the function as a dictionary, where the keys are the argument names and the values are the corresponding passed values.

This feature is particularly useful for functions that need to handle a variable number of inputs. For instance, it allows for the creation of more flexible and reusable code, as developers can add parameters without modifying the function signature.

In contrast, other options do not accurately represent the purpose of **kwargs. For instance, capturing multiple positional arguments is accomplished using *args, not **kwargs. Additionally, **kwargs does not prevent functions from accepting arguments nor does it set default values for parameters, as default values are specified directly in the function signature.