Functions

Question 1

How much do you need to indent a code block by for a user-defined function?

Answer 1

4 spaces or a tab

Question 2

What are parameters?

Answer 2

A parameter is the variable listed inside the parentheses in the function definition. When you call the function you pass arguments to satisfy the parameters

Question 3

What is the name of output from a function?

Answer 3

“Return value”

Question 4

How do you define a function?

Answer 4

Def function_name(param1, …, paramn)

Question 5

What is a docstring?

Answer 5

Python docstrings are strings used right after the definition of a function, method, class, or module (like in Example 1). They are used to document our code.

A docstring is for someone who is using your function and wants to know what it does at a high level

Question 6

How does a docstring differ from a #comment

Answer 6

Docstrings differ from comments as a docstring is for the user to understand WHAT the function does

Comments are used for the programmer who is using the code to understand HOW the code works.

Question 7

How do you access the docstring

Answer 7

help() or doc

Question 8

What is the typical name of a function that begins a program?

Answer 8

def main():

Question 9

What is the purpose of the name function?

Answer 9

The name function is used as the title as such to a script. If you are running the module within the program it is usually set to main. If it is outside of the module it will be the name of the script file.

__name__ is one such special variable. If the source file is executed as the main program, the interpreter sets the __name__ variable to have a value “__main__”. If this file is being imported from another module, __name__ will be set to the module’s name

Question 10

What is the purpose of the main function?

Answer 10

the main function is typically what the beginning of a module to begin all other modules

Question 11

in a function when a condition is true should is be in the body of the if elif or else?

Answer 11

if

Question 12

If a condition is not met what decision-based condition can be what to do?

Answer 12

else:

Question 13

what is the second true function for decision-based conditions?

Answer 13

elif

Question 14

Can you use more than one elif in a block of code?

Answer 14

yes

Question 15

Can you have multiple if conditionals?

Answer 15

yes - they will be tested separately

Question 16

print just shows the human user a string representing what is going on inside the computer. The computer cannot make use of that printing. return is how a function gives back a value. This value is often unseen by the human user, but it can be used by the computer in further functions