assigning functions to variables in python?

Question

Hello i have a weird doubt..

MY code is

    def prints():
        print " I WILL DIE HEHE"

    def add(a,b):
        next = a
        print " Added sum is %d " % (next + b)
        next = prints()


    w = int(raw_input("Give a"))
    g = int(raw_input("Give b"))
    add(w,g)

Now the problem is why does the function prints() gets executed while i assign it to next i.e. next = prints(). I am little confused.

What did you expect to happen when you assigned prints() to next? — Marius
– Marius, Commented Jan 21, 2013 at 22:36

Jakob Bowyer · Accepted Answer · 2013-01-21 22:36:05Z

6

Because you are calling it,

prints()

will execute where as

ne = prints
ne()

is assigning the name, and then calling the new name.

Noteback, I also call it ne as next shadows a builtin method

answered Jan 21, 2013 at 22:36

Jakob Bowyer

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Comments

NPE · Accepted Answer · 2013-01-21 22:36:22Z

2

The following:

next = prints()

calls prints(), and assigns the result to next. Since prints() doesn't explicitly return anything, it implicitly returns None, and thus next is set to None.

It is not entirely clear what you're expecting or trying to achieve, but it may be helpful to consider the following:

next = prints

What this does is assign the function object to next. It does not call the function, but allows it to be called as next().

answered Jan 21, 2013 at 22:36

NPE

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