Python/Basic functions

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