Python and Me – How to create a simple function?

While I have no regrets I am learning python now – not because I have to – but because I want to! Being able to write some code has always sounded cool to me and so here goes.

I am learning py (short for python here after) from a bunch of resources ranging from a pdf to codeacademy online. This is my first blog so I will kick this off with how to define a basic function in py(atleast what I have learnt so far).

So in py, you will declare a function with the DEF key word. Below is an example.

def myfirstfunction():

              print “this is my first function”

Well as you can see fairly simple, but wait – not so fast champ. So in py unlike in other languages, you don’t close a function. It sort of closes itself with the space thats left below the print. Py is a very space conscious language so watch out for those careless tabs and spaces that you may have in your program. Any weird spacing will throw a “IndentationError: expected an indented block”. So remember the statements start with atleast a space in py function and the function closes with a empty line after the last statement.

How do you call it? Well thats easy, just run myfirstfunction() and it will print – this is my first function.

Also remember you cannot start the function name with a number or special character.

Hit back if you have any questions.