Learn the basics of Python 3-Chapter 5:Functions

1.Introduction to Functions

Functions are a convenient way to group our code into reusable blocks. A function contains a sequence of steps that can be performed repeatedly throughout a program without having to repeat the process of writing the same code again.

 2.Why Functions?

If our program now had 100 new people trying to find the best directions， we would need to run 100 times!Now, if you’re thinking about using a loop here, your intuition would be totally right! 
Unfortunately, we won’t be always traveling between the same two locations which means a loop won’t be as effective when we want to customize a trip.

We will address this in the upcoming sections!

 3.Defining a Function

The def keyword indicates the beginning of a function (also known as a function header).

def directions_to_timesSq():
    print("Walk 4 mins to 34th St Herald Square train station")
    print("Take the Northbound N, Q, R, or W train 1 stop")
    print("Get off the Times Square 42nd Street stop")

4.Calling a Function

To call our function, we must type out the function’s name followed by a pair of parentheses and no indentation:directions_to_timesSq()

def directions_to_timesSq():
    print("Walk 4 mins to 34th St Herald Square train station.")
    print("Take the Northbound N, Q, R, or W train 1 stop.")
    print("Get off the Times Square 42nd Street stop.")
    print("Take lots of pictures!")


directions_to_timesSq()

 5.Whitespace & Execution Flow

In Python, the amount of whitespace tells the computer what is part of a function and what is not part of that function.

print("Checking the weather for you!")


def weather_check():
    print("Looks great outside! Enjoy your trip.")


print("False Alarm, the weather changed! There is a thunderstorm approaching. Cancel your plans and stay inside.")
weather_check()

 6.Parameters & Arguments

The parameter is the name defined in the parenthesis of the function and can be used in the function body.

def generate_trip_instructions(location):
    print("Looks like you are planning a trip to visit " + location)
    print("You can use the public subway system to get to " + location)


generate_trip_instructions("Central Park")

generate_trip_instructions("Grand Central Station")

 7.Multiple Parameters

We can write a function that takes in more than one parameter by using commas:

def calculate_expenses(plane_ticket_price, car_rental_rate, hotel_rate, trip_time):
    car_rental_total = car_rental_rate * trip_time
    hotel_total = hotel_rate * trip_time - 10
    trip_total = car_rental_total + hotel_total + plane_ticket_price
    print(f"trip_total is {trip_total}")
    return trip_total


calculate_expenses(200, 100, 100, 5)

 8.Types of Arguments

In Python, there are 3 different types of arguments we can give a function.
        Positional arguments: arguments that can be called by their position in the function definition.
        Keyword arguments: arguments that can be called by their name.
        Default arguments: arguments that are given default values.

def trip_planner(first_destination, second_destination, final_destination="Codecademy HQ"):
    print("Here is what your trip will look like!")
    print(f"First, we will stop in {first_destination}, then {second_destination}, and lastly {final_destination}")


trip_planner("France", "Germany", "Denmark")

trip_planner("Denmark", "France", "Germany")

trip_planner(first_destination="Iceland", final_destination="Germany", second_destination="India")

trip_planner("Brooklyn", "Queens")

9.Built-in Functions vs User Defined Functions

There are two distinct categories for functions in the world of Python. What we have been writing so far in our exercises are called User Defined Functions - functions that are written by users (like us!). help("string")

There is another category called Built-in functions - functions that come built into Python for us to use. Remember when we were using print or str? Both of these functions are built into the language for us, which means we have been using built-in functions all along!

There are lots of different built-in functions that we can use in our programs. Take a look at this example of using len() to get the length of a string:

destination_name = "Venkatanarasimharajuvaripeta"

# Built-in function: len()
length_of_destination = len(destination_name)

# Built-in function: print()
print(length_of_destination)

There are even more obscure ones like help() where Python will print a link to documentation for us and provide some details:

help("string")
# Would output (shortened for readability):
NAME
    string - A collection of string constants.

MODULE REFERENCE
    https://docs.python.org/3.9/library/string
    
    The following documentation is automatically generated from the Python
    source files.  It may be incomplete, incorrect or include features that
    are considered implementation detail and may vary between Python
    implementations.  When in doubt, consult the module reference at the
    location listed above.
...

Let’s practice using a few of them. You will need to rely on the provided Python documentation links to find your answers!

# We were provided a list of prices for some gift shop items:

tshirt_price = 9.75
shorts_price = 15.50
mug_price = 5.99
poster_price = 2.00



# Create a variable called max_price and call the built-in function max() 
# with the variables of prices to get the maximum price.
def max_price():
    max_price = max(9.75, 15.50, 5.99, 2.00)
    print(max_price)


max_price()


# Using the same set of prices, create a new variable called min_price and
# use the built-in function min() with the variables of prices to get the minimum price.
min_price = min(9.75, 15.50, 5.99, 2.00)
print(min_price)


# Use the built-in function round() to round the price of the variable tshirt_price by one decimal place.
rounded_price = round(tshirt_price, 1)
print(rounded_price)

 10.Variable Access

# This function will print a hardcoded count of how many locations we have.
def print_count_locations():
    favorite_locations = "Paris, Norway, Iceland"
    print("There are 3 locations")


# This function will print the favorite locations
def show_favorite_locations(favorite_locations):
    print("Your favorite locations are: " + favorite_locations)


print_count_locations()
show_favorite_locations("Paris, Norway, Iceland")

 11.Returns

Functions can also return a value to the program so that this value can be modified or used later.
We use the Python keyword return to do this.

current_budget = 3500.75


def print_remaining_budget(budget):
    print("Your remaining budget is: $" + str(budget))


print_remaining_budget(current_budget)


shirt_expense = 9


def deduct_expense(budget, expense):
    return budget - expense


new_budget_after_shirt = deduct_expense(current_budget, shirt_expense)

print_remaining_budget(new_budget_after_shirt)

 12.Multiple Returns

Sometimes we may want to return more than one value from a function. We can return several values by separating them with a comma.

def top_tourist_locations_italy():
    first = "Rome"
    second = "Venice"
    third = "Florence"
    return first, second, third


most_popular1, most_popular2, most_popular3 = top_tourist_locations_italy()

print(most_popular1)
print(most_popular2)
print(most_popular3)

Learn the basics of Python 3-Code Challenges:Functions

Learn the basics of Python 3-Code Challenges:Functions(Advanced)