Python Fundamentals: Building Blocks Documentation

This document provides a quick reference for core Python concepts related to functions, conditional logic, and output formatting.

1. Functions

Functions are blocks of reusable code that perform a specific task. They help organize code, make it easier to read, and avoid repetition.

Basic Definition and Call

You define a function using the def keyword, followed by the function's name, parentheses (), and a colon :. The code inside the function must be indented. To run the code inside a function, you "call" it by using its name followed by parentheses.

# Defining a simple function
def say_greeting():
    print("Hello!")
    print("Nice to meet you.")

# Calling the function (running its code)
say_greeting()
say_greeting()

Output:

Hello!
Nice to meet you.
Hello!
Nice to meet you.

Functions with Parameters

Parameters are variables listed inside the parentheses in the function definition. They act as placeholders for values (arguments) that you provide when you call the function. This allows functions to be flexible and perform similar tasks with different data.

def greet_person(name, occasion):
    print(f"Hello, {name}! Happy {occasion}!")

# Calling with arguments
greet_person("Alex", "Birthday")
greet_person("Jordan", "Graduation")

Output:

Hello, Alex! Happy Birthday!
Hello, Jordan! Happy Graduation!

Passing Objects as Parameters (e.g., Turtle)

You can pass any type of data as an argument, including objects like a Turtle graphics object. This allows functions to operate on specific objects that are created outside the function.

import turtle

# Create a turtle
my_artist = turtle.Turtle()

# Pass the turtle object to the function
draw_segment(my_artist, 100)
draw_segment(my_artist, 50)

2. Conditional Execution (if)

Conditional statements allow your program to make decisions and execute different code blocks based on whether a condition is true or false.

Basic if Statement

The syntax involves the if keyword, a condition, and a colon. The code to execute if the condition is true is indented.

def check_score(score):
    if score > 90:
        print("Excellent!")
    # No 'else' part here, so nothing happens if score is 90 or less

check_score(95)  # Output: Excellent!
check_score(88)  # No output

Comparison Operators

These are used to form conditions in if statements:

Early Exit with return (Guard Clauses)

A return statement immediately exits the current function. This is useful for "guard clauses" that check input at the beginning of a function and stop execution if the input is invalid.

def process_positive_number(number):
    if number <= 0:
        print("Error: Input must be positive.")
        return  # Exit the function early

    # This code only runs if number is positive
    print(f"Processing {number}...")
    # ... rest of the function logic ...

process_positive_number(-5)
process_positive_number(10)

Output:

Error: Input must be positive.
Processing 10...

3. Output Formatting (print())

The print() function is used to display output to the console. It has several features to control how output is formatted.

Printing Multiple Items

You can pass multiple items to print(), separated by commas. By default, print() will insert a space between each item.

item_name = "Widgets"
count = 12
print("Inventory:", count, item_name)

Output:

Inventory: 12 Widgets

F-Strings (Formatted String Literals)

F-strings provide a concise way to embed expressions and variables inside string literals. Start the string with an f or F before the opening quote. You place variables or expressions inside curly braces {} within the string.

product = "Laptop"
price = 999.99
discount = 0.15
final_price = price * (1 - discount)

print(f"Product: {product}")
print(f"Original Price: ${price}")
# Format final_price to two decimal places
print(f"Discounted Price: ${final_price:.2f}")

Output:

Product: Laptop
Original Price: $999.99
Discounted Price: $849.99

Controlling Separators and Endings with sep and end

The print() function accepts optional sep and end parameters.

• sep: Specifies the string to insert between items, replacing the default space.
• end: Specifies the string to append at the end of the output, replacing the default newline character (\n).

# Using sep
print("File", "Edit", "View", sep=" | ")

# Using end to stay on the same line
print("Loading...", end="")
print(" Complete!")

Output:

File | Edit | View
Loading... Complete!

4. Turtle Graphics Basics (Relevant Commands)

The turtle module provides a way to create graphics using a "turtle" that draws on a screen.

import turtle

# Setup (often done outside drawing functions for testability)
# screen = turtle.Screen()
# my_turtle = turtle.Turtle()

# Basic Movement
# my_turtle.forward(100) # Move forward 100 units
# my_turtle.backward(50) # Move backward 50 units
# my_turtle.left(90)     # Turn left 90 degrees
# my_turtle.right(45)    # Turn right 45 degrees
# my_turtle.goto(x, y)   # Move to specific coordinates

# Pen Control
# my_turtle.penup()    # Lift the pen (stop drawing when moving)
# my_turtle.pendown()  # Put the pen down (start drawing when moving)
# my_turtle.pencolor("red") # Set the pen color by name or hex code
# my_turtle.pensize(3) # Set the thickness of the line

# Keeping the window open (usually in the __main__ block)
# turtle.done() # or screen.mainloop()

[ASSET: Example: Drawing Polygons with Turtle Functions] Functions are powerful for creating reusable drawing logic with Turtle.

import turtle

def draw_polygon(t_obj, num_sides, side_length, pen_color):
    # Guard clause for valid polygon
    if num_sides < 3:
        print("A polygon needs at least 3 sides.")
        return

    t_obj.pencolor(pen_color)
    angle = 360.0 / num_sides  # Calculate exterior angle

    for _ in range(num_sides):
        t_obj.forward(side_length)
        t_obj.left(angle)

# Setup
# screen = turtle.Screen()
# my_turtle = turtle.Turtle()
# my_turtle.speed(1) # Slower for visibility

# Draw a blue triangle
# draw_polygon(my_turtle, 3, 100, "blue")

# Move turtle to a new position for the next shape
# my_turtle.penup()
# my_turtle.goto(150, 50)
# my_turtle.pendown()

# Draw an orange pentagon
# draw_polygon(my_turtle, 5, 70, "orange")

# screen.mainloop() # Keep the window open