In python when passing arguments what does ** before an argument do?
<blockquote>
  <p><strong>Possible Duplicate:</strong><br />
  <a href="http://stackoverflow.com/questions/287085/what-does-args-and-kwargs-mean">What does *args and **kwargs mean?</a>  </p>
</blockquote>

<p>From reading this example and from my slim knowledge of Python it must be a shortcut for converting an array to a dictionary or something?</p>

<pre><code>class hello:
    def GET(self, name):
        return render.hello(name=name)
        # Another way:
        #return render.hello(**locals())
</code></pre>
