CHAPTER 5

Functions

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 Topics
• Introduction to Functions
• Defining and Calling a Void Function
• Designing a Program to Use Functions
• Local Variables
• Passing Arguments to Functions
• Global Variables and Global Constants
• Turtle Graphics: Modularizing Code with
Functions

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 Topics (cont’d.)
• Introduction to Value-Returning
Functions: Generating Random
Numbers
• Writing Your Own Value-Returning
Functions
• The math Module
• Storing Functions in Modules

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 Introduction to Functions
• Function: group of statements within a
program that perform as specific task
• Usually one task of a large program
• Functions can be executed in order to perform
overall program task
• Known as divide and conquer approach
• Modularized program: program wherein
each task within the program is in its
own function
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 Benefits of Modularizing a
Program with Functions
• The benefits of using functions include:
• Simpler code
• Code reuse
• write the code once and call it multiple times
• Better testing and debugging
• Can test and debug each function individually
• Faster development
• Easier facilitation of teamwork
• Different team members can write different functions

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 Void Functions and Value-
Returning Functions
• A void function:
• Simply executes the statements it contains
and then terminates.
• A value-returning function:
• Executes the statements it contains, and then
it returns a value back to the statement that
called it.
• The input, int, and float functions are
examples of value-returning functions.

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 Defining and Calling a
Function
• Functions are given names
• Function naming rules:
• Cannot use key words as a function name
• Cannot contain spaces
• First character must be a letter or underscore
• All other characters must be a letter, number or
underscore
• Uppercase and lowercase characters are distinct

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 Defining and Calling a
Function (cont’d.)
• Function name should be descriptive of
the task carried out by the function
• Often includes a verb
• Function definition: specifies what
function does
def function_name():
statement
statement

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 Defining and Calling a
Function (cont’d.)
• Function header: first line of function
– Includes keyword def and function name,
followed by parentheses and colon
• Block: set of statements that belong
together as a group
– Example: the statements included in a
function

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 Defining and Calling a
Function (cont’d.)
• Call a function to execute it
• When a function is called:
• Interpreter jumps to the function and executes
statements in the block
• Interpreter jumps back to part of program that
called the function
• Known as function return

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 Defining and Calling a
Function (cont’d.)
• main function: called when the
program starts
• Calls other functions when they are needed
• Defines the mainline logic of the program

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 Indentation in Python
• Each block must be indented
• Lines in block must begin with the same
number of spaces
• Use tabs or spaces to indent lines in a block, but
not both as this can confuse the Python interpreter
• IDLE automatically indents the lines in a block
• Blank lines that appear in a block are ignored

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 Designing a Program to Use
Functions
• In a flowchart, function call shown as
rectangle with vertical bars at each side
• Function name written in the symbol
• Typically draw separate flow chart for each function in
the program
• End terminal symbol usually reads Return
• Top-down design: technique for breaking
algorithm into functions

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 Designing a Program to Use
Functions (cont’d.)
• Hierarchy chart: depicts relationship
between functions
• AKA structure chart
• Box for each function in the program, Lines
connecting boxes illustrate the functions called
by each function
• Does not show steps taken inside a function
• Use input function to have program
wait for user to press enter
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Designing a Program to Use
Functions (cont’d.)

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 Local Variables
• Local variable: variable that is assigned
a value inside a function
• Belongs to the function in which it was created
• Only statements inside that function can access it,
error will occur if another function tries to access the
variable
• Scope: the part of a program in which a
variable may be accessed
• For local variable: function in which created

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 Local Variables (cont’d.)
• Local variable cannot be accessed by
statements inside its function which
precede its creation
• Different functions may have local
variables with the same name
• Each function does not see the other
function’s local variables, so no confusion

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 Passing Arguments to
Functions
• Argument: piece of data that is sent
into a function
• Function can use argument in calculations
• When calling the function, the argument is
placed in parentheses following the function
name

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Passing Arguments to
Functions (cont’d.)

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 Passing Arguments to
Functions (cont’d.)
• Parameter variable: variable that is
assigned the value of an argument
when the function is called
• The parameter and the argument reference
the same value
• General format:
• def function_name(parameter):
• Scope of a parameter: the function in which
the parameter is used

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Passing Arguments to
Functions (cont’d.)

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 Passing Multiple Arguments
• Python allows writing a function that
accepts multiple arguments
• Parameter list replaces single parameter
• Parameter list items separated by comma
• Arguments are passed by position to
corresponding parameters
• First parameter receives value of first
argument, second parameter receives value
of second argument, etc.

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Passing Multiple Arguments
(cont’d.)

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 Making Changes to
Parameters
• Changes made to a parameter value
within the function do not affect the
argument
• Known as pass by value
• Provides a way for unidirectional
communication between one function and
another function
• Calling function can communicate with called
function

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 Making Changes to
Parameters (cont’d.)

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 Making Changes to
Parameters (cont’d.)
• Figure 5-18
• The value variable passed to the
change_me function cannot be changed by it

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 Keyword Arguments
• Keyword argument: argument that
specifies which parameter the value
should be passed to
• Position when calling function is irrelevant
• General Format:
• function_name(parameter=value)
• Possible to mix keyword and positional
arguments when calling a function
• Positional arguments must appear first

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 Global Variables and Global
Constants
• Global variable: created by assignment
statement written outside all the
functions
• Can be accessed by any statement in the
program file, including from within a function
• If a function needs to assign a value to the
global variable, the global variable must be
redeclared within the function
• General format: global variable_name

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 Global Variables and Global
Constants (cont’d.)
• Reasons to avoid using global variables:
• Global variables making debugging difficult
• Many locations in the code could be causing a
wrong variable value
• Functions that use global variables are usually
dependent on those variables
• Makes function hard to transfer to another program
• Global variables make a program hard to
understand

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 Global Constants
• Global constant: global name that
references a value that cannot be
changed
• Permissible to use global constants in a
program
• To simulate global constant in Python, create
global variable and do not re-declare it within
functions

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 Introduction to Value-Returning
Functions: Generating Random
Numbers
• void function: group of statements
within a program for performing a
specific task
• Call function when you need to perform the
task
• Value-returning function: similar to
void function, returns a value
• Value returned to part of program that called
the function when function finishes executing
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 Standard Library Functions
and the import Statement
• Standard library: library of pre-written
functions that comes with Python
• Library functions perform tasks that
programmers commonly need
• Example: print, input, range
• Viewed by programmers as a “black box”

• Some library functions built into

Python interpreter
• To use, just call the function

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 Standard Library Functions and
the import Statement (cont’d.)
• Modules: files that stores functions of the
standard library
• Help organize library functions not built into the
interpreter
• Copied to computer when you install Python
• To call a function stored in a module, need to
write an import statement
• Written at the top of the program
• Format: import module_name

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Standard Library Functions and
the import Statement (cont’d.)

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Generating Random Numbers
• Random number are useful in a lot of
programming tasks
• random module: includes library
functions for working with random
numbers
• Dot notation: notation for calling a
function belonging to a module
• Format: module_name.function_name()

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Generating Random Numbers
(cont’d.)
• randint function: generates a random
number in the range provided by the
arguments
• Returns the random number to part of
program that called the function
• Returned integer can be used anywhere that
an integer would be used
• You can experiment with the function in
interactive mode

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Generating Random Numbers
(cont’d.)

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Generating Random Numbers
(cont’d.)

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Generating Random Numbers
(cont’d.)
• randrange function: similar to range
function, but returns randomly selected
integer from the resulting sequence
• Same arguments as for the range function
• random function: returns a random float
in the range of 0.0 and 1.0
• Does not receive arguments
• uniform function: returns a random float
but allows user to specify range
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 Random Number Seeds
• Random number created by functions in
random module are actually pseudo-
random numbers
• Seed value: initializes the formula that
generates random numbers
• Need to use different seeds in order to get
different series of random numbers
• By default uses system time for seed
• Can use random.seed() function to specify desired
seed value

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 Writing Your Own Value-
Returning Functions
• To write a value-returning function, you
write a simple function and add one or
more return statements
• Format: return expression
• The value for expression will be returned to the
part of the program that called the function
• The expression in the return statement can be
a complex expression, such as a sum of two
variables or the result of another value- returning
function

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 Writing Your Own Value-
Returning Functions (cont’d.)

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 How to Use Value-Returning
Functions
• Value-returning function can be useful in
specific situations
• Example: have function prompt user for input and
return the user’s input
• Simplify mathematical expressions
• Complex calculations that need to be repeated
throughout the program
• Use the returned value
• Assign it to a variable or use as an argument in
another function

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 Using IPO Charts
• IPO chart: describes the input,
processing, and output of a function
• Tool for designing and documenting functions
• Typically laid out in columns
• Usually provide brief descriptions of input,
processing, and output, without going into
details
• Often includes enough information to be used
instead of a flowchart

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Using IPO Charts (cont’d.)

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 Returning Strings
• You can write functions that return
strings
• For example:

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 Returning Boolean Values
• Boolean function: returns either True
or False
• Use to test a condition such as for decision
and repetition structures
• Common calculations, such as whether a number
is even, can be easily repeated by calling a
function
• Use to simplify complex input validation code

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 Returning Multiple Values
• In Python, a function can return multiple
values
• Specified after the return statement separated
by commas
• Format: return expression1,
expression2, etc.
• When you call such a function in an assignment
statement, you need a separate variable on the
left side of the = operator to receive each
returned value

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 The math Module
• math module: part of standard library
that contains functions that are useful
for performing mathematical
calculations
• Typically accept one or more values as
arguments, perform mathematical operation,
and return the result
• Use of module requires an import math
statement

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The math Module (cont’d.)

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 The math Module (cont’d.)
• The math module defines variables pi
and e, which are assigned the
mathematical values for pi and e
• Can be used in equations that require these
values, to get more accurate results
• Variables must also be called using the
dot notation
• Example:
circle_area = math.pi * radius**2

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Storing Functions in Modules
• In large, complex programs, it is important
to keep code organized
• Modularization: grouping related functions
in modules
• Makes program easier to understand, test, and
maintain
• Make it easier to reuse code for multiple different
programs
• Import the module containing the required function to
each program that needs it

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Storing Functions in Modules
(cont’d.)
• Module is a file that contains Python
code
• Contains function definition but does not
contain calls to the functions
• Importing programs will call the functions
• Rules for module names:
• File name should end in .py
• Cannot be the same as a Python keyword
• Import module using import statement
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 Menu Driven Programs
• Menu-driven program: displays a list of
operations on the screen, allowing user
to select the desired operation
• List of operations displayed on the screen is
called a menu
• Program uses a decision structure to
determine the selected menu option and
required operation
• Typically repeats until the user quits

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Turtle Graphics: Modularizing
Code with Functions
• Commonly needed turtle graphics operations can be
stored in functions and then called whenever
needed.
• For example, the following function draws a square.
The parameters specify the location, width, and
color.
def square(x, y, width, color):
turtle.penup() # Raise the pen
turtle.goto(x, y) # Move to (X,Y)
turtle.fillcolor(color) # Set the fill color
turtle.pendown() # Lower the pen
turtle.begin_fill() # Start filling
for count in range(4): # Draw a square
turtle.forward(width)
turtle.left(90)
turtle.end_fill() # End filling
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Turtle Graphics: Modularizing
Code with Functions
• The following code calls the previously shown
square function to draw three squares:

square(100, 0, 50, 'red')

square(-150, -100, 200, 'blue')
square(-200, 150, 75, 'green')

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Turtle Graphics: Modularizing
Code with Functions
• The following function draws a circle. The
parameters specify the location, radius, and color.

def circle(x, y, radius, color):

turtle.penup() # Raise the pen
turtle.goto(x, y - radius) # Position the turtle
turtle.fillcolor(color) # Set the fill color
turtle.pendown() # Lower the pen
turtle.begin_fill() # Start filling
turtle.circle(radius) # Draw a circle
turtle.end_fill() # End filling

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Turtle Graphics: Modularizing
Code with Functions
• The following code calls the previously shown
circle function to draw three circles:

circle(0, 0, 100, 'red')

circle(-150, -75, 50, 'blue')
circle(-200, 150, 75, 'green')

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Turtle Graphics: Modularizing
Code with Functions
• The following function draws a line. The parameters
specify the starting and ending locations, and color.

def line(startX, startY, endX, endY, color):

turtle.penup() # Raise the pen
turtle.goto(startX, startY) # Move to the starting point
turtle.pendown() # Lower the pen
turtle.pencolor(color) # Set the pen color
turtle.goto(endX, endY) # Draw a square

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 Turtle Graphics: Modularizing
Code with Functions
• The following code calls the previously shown line
function to draw a triangle:
TOP_X = 0
TOP_Y = 100
BASE_LEFT_X = -100
BASE_LEFT_Y = -100
BASE_RIGHT_X = 100
BASE_RIGHT_Y = -100
line(TOP_X, TOP_Y, BASE_LEFT_X, BASE_LEFT_Y, 'red')
line(TOP_X, TOP_Y, BASE_RIGHT_X, BASE_RIGHT_Y, 'blue')
line(BASE_LEFT_X, BASE_LEFT_Y, BASE_RIGHT_X, BASE_RIGHT_Y, 'green')

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 Summary
• This chapter covered:
• The advantages of using functions
• The syntax for defining and calling a function
• Methods for designing a program to use functions
• Use of local variables and their scope
• Syntax and limitations of passing arguments to
functions
• Global variables, global constants, and their
advantages and disadvantages

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 Summary (cont’d.)
• Value-returning functions, including:
• Writing value-returning functions
• Using value-returning functions
• Functions returning multiple values
• Using library functions and the import
statement
• Modules, including:
• The random and math modules
• Grouping your own functions in modules
• Modularizing Turtle Graphics Code

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