Section Summary

Key Takeaways

What we have learnt today

• The print() function is a built-in function. It prints/outputs a specified message to the screen/console window

• Built-in functions, contrary to user-defined functions are always available and dont have to be imported. Python 3.8 comes with 69 built-in functions. You can find the full list in alphabetical order in the Python Standard Library

• To call a functions (function invocation) you need to use the function name followed by parentheses. You can pass arguments into a function by placing them inside the parentheses. You must separate arguments with a comma. print ("Hello" , "world!") . An "empty" print () function outputs an empty line to the screen

• Python strings are delimited with quotes (single or double) "I am a string" or 'I am a string'

• Computer programs are collections of instructions. An instruction is a command to perform a specific task when executed. eg. to print a certain message to a screen

• In Python strings, the backslash (\) is a special character which announces the next character has a different meaning. eg \n (the newline character) starts a new output line

• Positional arguments are the ones whose meaning is dictated by their position. eg, the second argument is outputted after the first, the third is outputted after the second etc

• Keyword arguments are the ones who's meaning is not dictated by their location, but by a special word (keyword) used to identify them

• The end and sep parameters can be used for formatting the output of the print () function. The sep parameter specifies the separator between the outputted arguments.

  • eg. print ("H", "E", "L", "L", "O", sep="-") H-E-L-L-O

  • eg print ("Game over", "Want to Play Again?" , end=" ") print ("Select", "Yes or No")

  • Game over Want to Play Again? Select Yes or No