http://www.cs.cornell.

edu/courses/cs1110/2019sp

Lecture 3:
Functions & Modules
(Sections 3.1-3.3)
CS 1110
Introduction to Computing Using Python

[E. Andersen, A. Bracy, D. Gries, L. Lee, S. Marschner, C. Van Loan, W. White]

 Function Calls
• Function expressions have the form:
fun(x,y,…)
function argument
name
• Some math functions built into Python:
>>> x = 5 >>> a = round(3.14159265)
>>> y = 4 >>> a
>>> bigger = max(x, y) 3
>>> bigger
5

Arguments can be any expression 2

 Always-available Built-in Functions

• You have seen many functions already

§ Type casting functions: int(), float(), bool()
§ Get type of a value: type()
§ Exit function: exit()
Arguments go in (), but
name() refers to
function in general
• Longer list:
http://docs.python.org/3/library/functions.html

3
 Modules
• Many more functions available via built-in modules
§ “Libraries” of functions and variables
• To access a module, use the import command:
import <module name>
Can then access functions like this:
<module name>.<function name>(<arguments>)
Example:
>>> import math
>>> p = math.ceil(3.14159265)
>>> p
4 4
 Module Variables

• Modules can have variables, too

• Can access them like this:
<module name>.<variable name>
• Example:
>>> import math
>>> math.pi
3.141592653589793

5
Visualizing functions & variables
• So far just built-ins
int()
float()
str()
type()
print()
…
C:\> python
>>>

6
Visualizing functions & variables
• So far just built-ins
int()
• Now we’ve defined a float()
new variable str()
type()
print()
…
C:\> python x 7

>>> x = 7
>>>

7
Visualizing functions & variables
• So far just built-ins
int()
• Now we’ve defined a float()
new variable str()
• Now we’ve imported a type()
module print()
…
C:\> python x 7

>>> x = 7 math
ceil()
>>> import math sqrt()
>>> e 2.718281
pi 3.14159
…
8
 module help

After importing a module, see what

functions and variables are available:
>>> help(<module name>)

9
Reading the Python Documentation
https://docs.python.org/3/library/math.html

10
 A Closer Reading of the Python
Documentation
https://docs.python.org/3/library/math.html
Function
name
Possible arguments

Module What the function

evaluates to

11
 Other Useful Modules
• io
§ Read/write from files
• random
§ Generate random numbers
§ Can pick any distribution
• string
§ Useful string functions
• sys
§ Information about your OS

12
 Making your Own Module

Write in a text editor

We recommend Atom…
…but any editor will work

13
 Interactive Shell vs. Modules

Python Interactive Shell Module

• Type python at command line • Written in text editor

• Type commands after >>> • Loaded through import
• Python executes as you type • Python executes statements
when import is called

Section 2.4 in your textbook discusses a few differences 14

 my_module.py

Module Text

# my_module.py Single line comment

(not executed)
"""This is a simple module.
Docstring
It shows how modules work""" (note the Triple Quotes)
Acts as a multi-line comment
Useful for code documentation
x = 1+2
x = 3*x Commands
Executed on import

15
 Modules Must be in Working Directory!
Must run python from same folder as the module

16
 Using a Module (my_module.py)

Module Text Python Command Shell

# my_module.py >>> import my_module

"""This is a simple module. Needs to be the same name

It shows how modules work""" as the file without the “.py”

x = 1+2
x = 3*x

17
 On import….

Module Text Python Command Shell

# my_module.py Python does not execute >>> import my_module

(because of #)

"""This is a simple module. Python does not execute

(because of """ and """)
It shows how modules work"""
my_module
x = 1+2 Python executes this.
x = 3*x Python executes this. x x
3 9

18
variable x stays “within” the module
 Clicker Question!

Module Text Python Command Shell

# my_module.py >>> import my_module

"""This is a simple module. After you hit “Return” here

It shows how modules work""" what will python print next?
(A) >>>
(B) 9
x = 1+2
>>>
x = 3*x (C) an error message
(D) The text of my_module.py
(E) Sorry, no clue.
19
 Clicker Answer

Module Text Python Command Shell

# my_module.py >>> import my_module

"""This is a simple module. After you hit “Return” here

It shows how modules work""" what will python print next?
(A) >>>
(B) 9
x = 1+2
>>>
x = 3*x (C) an error message
(D) The text of my_module.py
(E) Sorry, no clue.
20
 Using a Module (my_module.py)

Module Text Python Command Shell

# my_module.py >>> import my_module

>>> my_module.x variable we
want to access
"""This is a simple module. 9
It shows how modules work""" module name

x = 1+2 my_module
x = 3*x
x x
3 9

21
 Windows command line
You must import (Mac looks different)

With import Without import

C:\> python C:\> python
>>> import math >>> math.ceil(3.14159)
>>> p = math.ceil(3.14159) Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
>>> p
NameError: name 'math' is not
4 defined
Python unaware of
math what “math” is
p 4
ceil()
sqrt()
e 2.718281
pi 3.14159
… 22
 You Must Use the Module Name
>>> import my_module >>> import my_module
>>> my_module.x >>> x
9 Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
NameError: name 'x' is not defined

my_module my_module

xx
3 9 xx
3 9

23
 What does the docstring do?

Module Text Python Command Shell

# my_module.py

"""This is a simple module.

It shows how modules work"""

x = 1+2
x = 3*x

24
 from command
• You can also import like this:
from <module> import <function name>
• Example:
>>> from math import pi
>>> pi no longer need the module name
3.141592653589793
pi 3.141592653589793

25
 from command
• You can also import everything from a module:
from <module> import *
• Example:
>>> from math import *
ceil()
>>> pi sqrt()
3.141592653589793 e 2.718281828459045
pi 3.141592653589793
>>> ceil(pi) …
4
Module functions now behave
like built-in functions 26
 Dangers of Importing Everything

>>> e = 12345
>>> from math import *
>>> e
2.718281828459045 e 2.718281828459045
12345

e was ceil()
overwritten! sqrt()
pi 3.141592653589793
…

27
 Avoiding from Keeps Variables Separate
>>> e = 12345
>>> import math
>>> math.e
e 12345
2.718281828459045
math
>>> e
ceil()
12345 sqrt()
e 2.718281
pi 3.14159
…
28
 Ways of Executing Python Code

1. running the Python Interactive Shell

2. importing a module
3. NEW: running a script

29
 Running a Script

• From the command line, type:

python <script filename>
• Example:
C:\> python my_module.py
C:\>
looks like nothing happened

• Actually, something did happen

§ Python executed all of my_module.py

30
 Running my_module.py as a script

my_module.py Command Line

# my_module.py Python does not execute

C:\> (because
python of #)
module.py

"""This is a simple module. Python does not execute

(because of """ and """)
It shows how modules work"""

x = 1+2 Python executes this. x x

3 9
x = 3*x Python executes this.

31
 Running my_module.py as a script

my_module.py Command Line

# my_module.py C:\> python my_module.py

C:\>
"""This is a simple my_module. when the script ends, all memory
It shows how modules work""" used by my_module.py is deleted

thus, all variables get deleted

x = 1+2 (including x)
x = 3*x
so there is no evidence that the
script ran
32
 Clicker Question

my_module.py Command Line

# my_module.py C:\> python my_module.py

C:\> my_module.x
"""This is a simple my_module.
It shows how modules work""" After you hit “Return” here
what will be printed next?
(A) >>>
x = 1+2 (B) 9
x = 3*x >>>
(C) an error message
(D) The text of my_module.py
(E) Sorry, no clue.
33
 Clicker Answer

my_module.py Command Line

# my_module.py C:\> python my_module.py

C:\> my_module.x
"""This is a simple my_module.
It shows how modules work""" After you hit “Return” here
what will be printed next?
(A) >>>
x = 1+2 (B) 9
x = 3*x >>>
(C) an error message
(D) The text of my_module.py
(E) Sorry, no clue.
34
 Creating Evidence that the Script Ran

• New (very useful!) command: print

print (<expression>)
• print evaluates the <expression> and writes the
value to the console

35
 my_module.py vs. script.py

my_module.py script.py

# my_module.py # script.py

""" This is a simple module. """ This is a simple script.

It shows how modules work""" It shows why we use print"""

x = 1+2 x = 1+2
x = 3*x x = 3*x
Only difference print(x)

36
 Running script.py as a script

Command Line script.py

C:\> python script.py # script.py

9
""" This is a simple script.
C:\> It shows why we use print"""

x = 1+2
x = 3*x
print(x)

37
 Subtle difference about script mode

Interactive mode script.py

C:\> python # script.py

>>> x = 1+2
>>> x = 3*x """ This is a simple script.
>>> x It shows why we use print"""
9
>>> print(x) x = 1+2
9 x = 3*x
>>> print(x)
# note: in script mode, you will
# not get output if you just type x
38
 Modules vs. Scripts

Module Script

• Provides functions, variables • Behaves like an application

• import it into Python shell • Run it from command line

Files look the same. Difference is how you use them.

39