Return Statement

Ethan Furman ethan at stoneleaf.us
Thu Jan 27 18:11:49 EST 2011


mpnordland wrote:
> On 01/26/2011 03:26 PM, sl33k_ wrote:
>> How does "return True" and "return False" affect the execution of the
>> calling function?
> 
> Basically it will affect it in whatever way you design it to for example:
> def lie_test(statement):
>     if statement is True:
>         return False
>     else:
>         return False
> Now, this is psuedo code somewhat.
> "if statement is True:" would always equate to "True" unless statement 
> was an empty string, None, or 0. 

Um, no.

Python 2.5.4 (r254:67916, Dec 23 2008, 15:10:54) [MSC v.1310 32 bit 
(Intel)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
--> if 'some stuff' is True:
...   print 'True'
... else:
...   print "it's a dang lie!"
...
it's a dang lie!

You need either < if bool(statement) is True: >, or
                 < if bool(statement): >, or, simplest,
                 < if statement: >

> As to return False if statement equals 
> true, look at the function name. It is testing to see if it is a lie, 
> and if it is true, then it's not a lie.

Your last statement, though, should be return True -- the way you have 
it now the function always returns False.

~Ethan~




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