How to use return of one function in another function in Python?
How to use return of one function in another function in Python?
Here's the answer:
In Python, you can use a return statement from one function inside another function by simply calling the first function within the second function. Here are some examples:
Simple Return Statement:def add_numbers(a, b):
return a + b
def calculate_total(num1, num2):

total = add_numbers(num1, num2)
print(f"The total is: {total}")
calculate_total(10, 20)
In this example, we define two functions: add_numbers
and calculate_total
. The add_numbers
function returns the sum of its arguments. We then call add_numbers
within calculate_total
, store the result in a variable called total
, and print it.
def calculate_area(width, height):
return width * height
def calculate_perimeter(num1, num2, shape='rectangle'):
if shape == 'rectangle':
area = calculate_area(num1, num2)
else:
other shapes
pass
print(f"The perimeter is: {num1 + num2}")
calculate_perimeter(5, 3)
In this case, we define two functions again. calculate_area
takes width and height as arguments and returns the area of a rectangle (or any other shape you like). Then, we call calculate_area
within calculate_perimeter
, but only if the shape is a rectangle.
def check_odd_or_even(num):
if num % 2 == 0:
return 'even'
else:
return 'odd'
def calculate_modulus(num1, num2):
modulus = num1 % num2
result = check_odd_or_even(modulus)
print(f"The modulus is: {modulus} and it's an {result}")
calculate_modulus(10, 3)
Here, we have a function called check_odd_or_even
that takes a number as input and returns whether the number is even or odd. We then call this function within another function, calculate_modulus
, which calculates the modulus of two numbers.
As you can see from these examples, using the return statement in one function from another function in Python is quite straightforward. The main thing to keep in mind is that when you do this, you should ensure that the input arguments passed to the called function are correctly formatted and handled for any potential errors that might occur.
What is the difference between return and print in python using
In Python, both return
and print()
statements serve distinct purposes, which can lead to confusion when used improperly.
Print():
The print()
function is used to output text or values to the console. It takes one or more arguments, which are then printed to the standard output (usually the screen). The most common usage is:
print("Hello World!")
When you call print()
, it doesn't stop executing your program; instead, it continues with the next statement after printing its arguments. This means that if you have multiple print()
statements in a row, they will all be executed before moving on to the next line of code.
Return:
The return
statement is used to terminate the execution of a function and return a value back to the caller. When a function encounters a return
statement, it stops executing its remaining lines and returns the specified value (or None
if no value is provided).
In other words, return
statements are meant for functions to produce a result that can be used elsewhere in your program. This is essential when writing reusable code or creating complex logic.
Here's an example of using return
:
def greet(name):
print(f"Hello, {name}!")
return
greet("Alice")
In this example, the greet()
function prints a greeting message and then returns (nothing, since no value was specified). When called with the argument "Alice"
, it will output "Hello, Alice!" and then terminate.
Key differences:
Purpose:print()
is meant for outputting text or values to the console, while return
is used to exit a function and provide a result. Execution flow: print()
statements continue executing code after printing, whereas return
statements terminate the execution of the surrounding function. Return value: print()
doesn't return any values, whereas return
statements can return specific values (or None
) back to the caller.
When working with Python functions and outputs, it's essential to understand these differences:
Useprint()
for simple output or debugging purposes. Employ return
when you want a function to produce a result that can be used elsewhere in your code.
Remember: return
is not equivalent to print()
, even if they both seem related to printing or displaying values.