Could someone help me understand the input() function? (self.python)

submitted 5 months ago by EveryMuffinIsNowEncrypted to c/python@programming.dev

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I'm currently learning Python and am learning about very basic functions such as int(), float(), and input().

I have the first two down pat, but I'm struggling to understand the last. The example I'm looking at is found at 12:26 of this video:

nam = input('Who are you? ')
print('Welcome', nam)

Who are you? Chuck
Welcome Chuck

In this case, wouldn't nam be a variable equal to the text on the right side of the = sign?

In which case, if nam is equal to input('Who are you? '), then wouldn't print('Welcome', nam) just result in

Welcome input(Who are you? )?

Obviously not (nor does it work in a compiler), which leads me to believe I'm clearly misunderstanding something. But I've rewatched that section of the video several times, and looked it up elsewhere on the web, and I just can't wrap my head around it.

Could someone help me with this?

Thanks.

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[-] thisisnotgoingwell@programming.dev 2 points 5 months ago

Yup. You'll see functions wrapped inside other functions all the time. The function on the inside will run first, then the next, etc.

In the example I gave, the value of nam is a string. But it you need to perform some mathematical function to it, it needs to be interpreted as a number. So once the value is received, int() will convert it into a number. Finally, that final value will be assigned to nam. Wrapping functions inside of functions is a great way to write concise code.