Functions

On this page, you will learn what functions are and how to create one.

Functions are used when you want to repeat the same lines of code over and over again, or when you want to store/organize code.

For example when you want to print something multiple times as shown here:

(taken from thecodingpie.com)

Instead, you can do this:

(taken from thecodingpie.com)

As you can see, you can create a function by coding the following in your repl file:

def make_something():

In order to create a function, you must follow that format and write def "the name of your function"(): as the example above shows.

Now you try!

I would like you to follow the example that was shown above, but instead, make a function called "make_cookie" where you tell me the steps to make a cookie. For now, choose whatever flavor you wish for the cookie to be. Once you're done, show me.

If you need help ask me.

What if you would like to repeat the same code but instead, you want to use different flavors?

To do this, all you need to add is an argument.

def make_cookie(flavor):

"flavor" is an argument or a variable that can now be used in your function.

To utilize the flavor, you can do something like the following:

def make_cookie(flavor):
    print("Add" + flavor + "flavor")

The quotations define what will print out as text and the + signs indicate that there is an argument (other known as a variable) in between the text.

Now, edit your make_cookie function to include the "flavor" argument.

Once you've done that, you can print out the function while customizing the flavor variable to your liking like the following:

def make_cookie(flavor):
    print("Add" + flavor + "flavor")

make_cookie("vanilla")
make_cookie("chocolate")

Your result should look like the following, but instead of cake, it should include cookies:

(taken from thecodingpie.com)

Once you're done, check in with me.