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Functions will only exists if you or somebody else defines them... it is the only way the language compiler/interpreter knows they exist, therefore it's able to run them when you call them.
To define a function we need to write this basic code formula:
def myFunctionName(parameter, parameter2, ...parameterX):
# the function code here
return somethingThe word def is a reserved word in Python, this means it is only used to define a function.
The name of the function could be anything you like. Tip: use a descriptive name (don't be cheap with words, use as many as you need) this way you will understand what the function does -and returns-. Example names: add_two_integers , calculate_taxes , get_random_number, etc.
Parameters: you can define as many parameters as you like or need.
The amount of parameters will depend on the operations done inside the function,
I.E: if the function is adding two integers (3 + 4) this means the function
will need two parameters (one for each integer).
Scope: All the code that the function will contain need to be indented one tab to the right, anything on a different indentation won't be considered as part of the function, this is called the scope, and it could be local (inside the function) and global (outside of the function).
The Return: not every function needs to return something, but it is recommended that it does.
Tip: returning None is a good default for when you, still, don't know if you need to return something.
Example of a function:
def concatenate_number_to_string(local_number, local_string):
local_variable = local_string+""+str(local_number)
return local_variable- Define a function called "multi".
- Multi function receive two numbers
- Return the result of the multiplication between them.
Remember to add the "return" line, every function must return something, in this case it should be the result of the multiplication.