IdeaWazaWiki - User contributions [en]

Python/Basic functions

2007-08-01T13:02:30Z

63.3.21.130:

A function is a way of tying a bunch of code together so that it can be used at a later time. To create a function, it must be defined with the def command.

>>>def example():
print 'I am a seemingly self aware function!'

This assigns the name 'example' in the same way that the statement 'x = 1' assigns the name x to the value 1.
Merely typing the name of the function will show you such.

>>>example
<function example at 0x01680730>

To actually call the function, you have to include parenthesis afterwards.

>>> example()
I am a seemingly self aware function!

The reason for the parenthesis is so that you can pass arguments to functions that require them.

>>> def square(x):
print str(x**2)
>>> square(4)
16

If we wanted to use the value that the square function gives us, we would rewrite it make use of the return command.

>>> def square(x):
return (x**2)

Which can then be used to do such fun things as:

>>> print square(3)
9

or

>>>print square(square(3))
81

or even in statements such as:

>>>10 + square(2)
14

and

>>> y = square(10)
>>> y
100

Python/Basic functions

2007-08-01T13:01:50Z

63.3.21.130:

Python/Basic functions

2007-08-01T13:00:34Z

63.3.21.130:

Python/Basic functions

2007-08-01T12:56:11Z

63.3.21.130: New page: A function is a way of tying a bunch of code together so that it can be used at a later time. To create a function, it must be defined with the def command. >>>def example(): prin...

A function is a way of tying a bunch of code together so that it can be used at a later time. To create a function, it must be defined with the def command.

>>>def example():
print 'I am a seemingly self aware function!'

This assigns the name 'example' in the same way that the statement 'x = 1' assigns the name x to the value 1.
Merely typing the name of the function will show you such.

>>>example
<function example at 0x01680730>

To actually call the function, you have to include parenthesis afterwards.

>>> example()
I am a seemingly self aware function!

The reason for the parenthesis is so that you can pass arguments to functions that require them.

>>> def square(x):
print str(x**2)

>>> square(4)
16

If we wanted to use the value that the square function gives us, we would rewrite it make use of the return command.

>>> def square(x):
return (x**2)

Which can then be used to do such fun things as:

>>> print square(3)
9

or

>>>print square(square(3))
81

or even in statements such as:

>>>10 + square(2)
14

and

>>> y = square(10)
>>> y
100