---
title: a function must be defined only once
description: Datadog, the leading service for cloud-scale monitoring.
breadcrumbs: >-
  Docs > Datadog Security > Code Security > Static Code Analysis (SAST) > SAST
  Rules > a function must be defined only once
---

# a function must be defined only once

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## Metadata{% #metadata %}

**ID:** `python-best-practices/function-already-exists`

**Language:** Python

**Severity:** Error

**Category:** Error Prone

## Description{% #description %}

A function should only be defined once. Make sure you use unique name for each function in a module.

## Non-Compliant Code Examples{% #non-compliant-code-examples %}

```python

def my_function():
  pass

def foo():
  pass

def my_function(): # function already defined
  pass
```

## Compliant Code Examples{% #compliant-code-examples %}

```python

def my_function():
  pass

def foo():
  pass

def my_other_function():
  pass
```
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