Lab 2 Functions (Part 1)

Goals

Hello

• Use basic Python functions and operators
• Run code step-by-step in Thonny
• Define custom functions that use print
• Define custom functions which are fruitful
• Use functions with turtle graphics or wavesynth audio (your choice)

Table of Contents

• Lab 2 Home
• Part 1: Debugging in Thonny
• Part 2: Functions Exercises
• Knowledge Check

Big Questions

• What's the difference between print and return?
  Show Answer

  There are a few differences:

  1. The return value from a function can be used by other functions or code, or stored in a variable. Text printed using print cannot be stored in a variable or used by other code.
  2. A function can use print however much it likes, but it can only have one return value.
  3. When you run a single line of code in the shell, both anything that it prints using print and its result value are displayed. But when you run code in your file, only output created using print will show up.
• What is the first step when writing a custom function?
  Show Answer

  Before anything else, you should write your documentation string! This allows you to create a plan for what the function will do, as you describe it. Often, you will find that you either don't understand enough details to describe it, or you realize something about what your code needs to do as you describe it, both of which can save you a lot of time.