Python Programming On Win32

Functions

Functions are defined by the def statement and use return to exit immediately from the function and return a value. You can return more than one value by using a tuple or return no value at all:

>>> def double(x):
...     return x * 2
... 
>>> double(2)
4
>>> def first_and_last(aList):
...     return (aList[0], aList[-1])
...     
>>> first_and_last(range(5))
(0, 4)
>>> def sayHello():
...     print 'hello'
...     
>>> sayHello()
hello
>>>

Functions may have default arguments that allow them to be called in certain ways or allow you to initialize variables:

>>> def makeCoffee(size, milk=None, sugar=None):
...     order = 'one ' + size + ' coffee'
...     if milk and sugar:
...         order = order + ' with milk and sugar'
...     elif milk:
...         order = order + ' with milk'
...     elif sugar:
...         order = order + ' with sugar'
...     else:
...         pass  # pass means 'do nothing'
...     return order
... 
>>> makeCoffee('large')
'one large coffee'
>>> makeCoffee('large', 1)
'one large coffee with milk'
>>> makeCoffee('large', milk=0, sugar=1)
'one large coffee with sugar'
>>>

Note that you can name the arguments and that both 0 and the special variable None are treated as false.