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Functions As Object Python

The document discusses the concept of functions as objects in Python, explaining how functions can return values, the significance of the return keyword, and the differences between return and print statements. It also covers function scope, variable scope, and how Python creates a new environment for each function call. Additionally, it highlights that functions can be used as arguments to other functions, emphasizing that everything in Python is treated as an object.

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8 views25 pages

Functions As Object Python

The document discusses the concept of functions as objects in Python, explaining how functions can return values, the significance of the return keyword, and the differences between return and print statements. It also covers function scope, variable scope, and how Python creates a new environment for each function call. Additionally, it highlights that functions can be used as arguments to other functions, emphasizing that everything in Python is treated as an object.

Uploaded by

ghouti.haoulia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 25

12/12/2024

FUNCTIONS as OBJECTS

FUNCTION FROM LAST LECTURE

def is_even( i ):
"""
Input: i, a positive int
Returns True if i is even and False otherwise
"""
return i%2 == 0

 A function always returns something

1
12/12/2024

WHAT IF THERE IS
NO return KEYWORD

def is_even( i ):
"""
Input: i, a positive int
Does not return anything
"""
i%2 == 0

 Python returns the value None, if no return given


 Represents the absence of a value
 If invoked in shell, nothing is printed
 No static semantic error generated

def is_even( i ):
"""
Input: i, a positive int
Does not return anything
"""
i%2 == 0
return None

2
12/12/2024

YOU TRY IT!


 What is printed if you run this code as a file?
def add(x,y):
return x+y
def mult(x,y):
print(x*y)

add(1,2)
print(add(2,3))
mult(3,4)
print(mult(4,5))

return vs. print


 return only has meaning print can be used outside
inside a function functions
 only one return executed can execute many print
inside a function statements inside a function
 code inside function, but code inside function can be
after return statement, executed after a print
not executed statement
 has a value associated has a value associated with
with it, given to function it, outputted to the console
caller
 print expression itself returns
None value

3
12/12/2024

YOU TRY IT!


 Fix the code that tries to write this function
def is_triangular(n):
""" n is an int > 0
Returns True if n is triangular, i.e. equals a continued
summation of natural numbers (1+2+3+...+k), False otherwise """
total = 0
for i in range(n):
total += i
if total == n:
print(True)
print(False)

FUNCTION SCOPE

4
12/12/2024

UNDERSTANDING FUNCTION
CALLS

 How does Python execute a function call?


 How does Python know what value is associated with a variable
name?
 It creates a new environment with every function call!
 Like a mini program that it needs to complete
 The mini program runs with assigning its parameters to some inputs
 It does the work (aka the body of the function)
 It returns a value
 The environment disappears after it returns the value

ENVIRONMENTS

 Global environment
 Where user interacts with Python interpreter
 Where the program starts out
 Invoking a function creates a new environment (frame/scope)

5
12/12/2024

VARIABLE SCOPE

 Formal parameters get bound to the value of input parameters


 Scope is a mapping of names to objects
 Defines context in which body is evaluated
 Values of variables given by bindings of names
 Expressions in body of function evaluated wrt this new scope
def f( x ):
x = x + 1
print('in f(x): x =', x)
return x

xxy = 3
z = f( x )

VARIABLE SCOPE
after evaluating def

This is my “black box”

def f( x ):
Global scope
x = x + 1
function
Some
print('in f(x): x =', x) f object
code
return x

x = 3
z = f( x )

6
12/12/2024

VARIABLE SCOPE
after exec 1st assignment

This is my “black box”

def f( x ):
Global scope
x = x + 1
Some
print('in f(x): x =', x) f code
return x
3
x
x = 3
z = f( x )

VARIABLE SCOPE
after f invoked

def f( x ): Global scope


f scope
x = x + 1 Some
f
print('in f(x): x =', x) code x 3
return x
x 3

x = 3
z = f( x )

7
12/12/2024

VARIABLE SCOPE
after f invoked

Global scope
def f( x ):
Some f scope
x = x + 1 f
code 3
print('in f(x): x =', x) x
return x 3
y

y = 3
z = f( y )

VARIABLE SCOPE
eval body of f in f’s scope

in f(x): x = 4 printed out


Global scope
def f( x ): f scope
x = x + 1 f Some
code x 4
3
print('in f(x): x =', x)
return x
x 3

x = 3
z = f( x )

8
12/12/2024

VARIABLE SCOPE
during return

Global scope
def f( x ): f scope
x = x + 1 f Some
code x
print('in f(x): x =', x) 4
return x 3
x
returns 4
x = 3
z = f( x )

VARIABLE SCOPE
after exec 2nd assignment

def f( x ):
Global scope
x = x + 1
Some
print('in f(x): x =', x) f code
return x
3
x
x = 3
4
z = f( x )
z

9
12/12/2024

BIG IDEA
You need to know what
expression you are executing
to know the scope you are in.

ANOTHER SCOPE EXAMPLE

 Inside a function, can access a variable defined outside


 Inside a function, cannot modify a variable defined outside
(can by using global variables, but frowned upon)
 Use the Python Tutor to step through these!

def f(y): def g(y): def h(y):


x = 1 print(x) x += 1
x += 1 print(x + 1)
print(x) x = 5
x = 5 h(x)
x = 5 g(x) print(x)
f(x) print(x)
print(x)

10
12/12/2024

ANOTHER SCOPE EXAMPLE

 Inside a function, can access a variable defined outside


 Inside a function, cannot modify a variable defined outside
(can by using global variables, but frowned upon)
 Use the Python Tutor to step through these!

def f(y): def g(y): def h(y):


x = 1 print(x) x += 1
x += 1 print(x + 1)
print(x) x = 5
x = 5 h(x)
x = 5 g(x) print(x)
f(x) print(x)
print(x) 5
2 6 Error
5 5

FUNCTIONS as
ARGUMENTS

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12/12/2024

HIGHER ORDER PROCEDURES

 Objects in Python have a type


 int, float, str, Boolean, NoneType, function
 Objects can appear in RHS of assignment statement
 Bind a name to an object
 Objects
 Can be used as an argument to a procedure
 Can be returned as a value from a procedure
 Functions are also first class objects!
 Treat functions just like the other types
 Functions can be arguments to another function
 Functions can be returned by another function

OBJECTS IN A PROGRAM
function
object with
my_func
some code
is_even

def is_even(i): r int object 2


return i%2 == 0
float object
pi 3.14285714
r = 2

pi = 22/7 False
a
my_func = is_even
b True
a = is_even(3)

b = my_func(4)

12
12/12/2024

BIG IDEA
Everything in Python is
an object.

FUNCTION AS A PARAMETER
def calc(op, x, y):
return op(x,y)

def add(a,b):
return a+b

def div(a,b): if
b != 0:
return a/b
print("Denominator
was 0.")

print(calc(add, 2, 3))

13
12/12/2024

STEP THROUGH THE CODE

def calc(op, x, y):


return op(x,y)
Program Scope
def add(a,b):
return a+b calc function
Some
object
code
def div(a,b):
Some
function
if b != 0: add
code
object
return a/b
print("Denom was 0.")
function
Some
div
object
code
res = calc(add, 2, 3)

res

CREATE calc SCOPE

def calc(op, x, y):


return op(x,y)
Program Scope calc scope
def add(a,b):
return a+b calc function
Some
object
code
def div(a,b):
Some
function
if b != 0: add
code
object
return a/b
print("Denom was 0.")
function
Some
div
object
code
res = calc(add, 2, 3)

res

14
12/12/2024

MATCH FORMAL PARAMS in calc

def calc(op, x, y):


return op(x,y)
Program Scope calc scope
def add(a,b):
return a+b calc Some
function op add
code
object
def div(a,b):
Some
function 2
if b != 0: add x
code
object
return a/b
print("Denom was 0.")
Some
function 3
div y
code
object
res = calc(add, 2, 3)

res

FIRST (and only) LINE IN calc

def calc(op, x, y):


return op(x,y)

Program Scope
def add(a,b): calc scope
return a+b calc function
Some add
object
code op
def div(a,b):
Some
function 2
if b != 0: add x
code
object
return a/b
print("Denom was 0.")
function
Some 3
div y
object
code
res = calc(add, 2, 3)

res

15
12/12/2024

CREATE SCOPE OF add

def calc(op, x, y):


return op(x,y)
Program Scope add scope
def add(a,b): calc scope
return a+b calc function
Some add
object
code op
def div(a,b):
Some
function 2
if b != 0: add x
code
object
return a/b
print("Denom was 0.")
function
Some 3
div y
object
code
res = calc(add, 2, 3)

res

MATCH FORMAL PARAMS IN add

def calc(op, x, y):


return op(x,y)
Program Scope
def add(a,b): calc scope add scope
return a+b calc function
Some add 2
object
code op a
def div(a,b):
Some
function 2 3
if b != 0: add x
code
object b
return a/b
print("Denom was 0.")
function
Some 3
div y
object
code
res = calc(add, 2, 3)

res

16
12/12/2024

EXECUTE LINE OF add

def calc(op, x, y):


return op(x,y)
Program Scope calc scope add scope
def add(a,b):
return a+b calc function
Some op add a 2
object
code
def div(a,b):
Some
function 2 3
if b != 0: add x b
code
object
return a/b
print("Denom was 0.")
function
Some
div y 3
object
code
res = calc(add, 2, 3)

res
returns 5

REPLACE FUNC CALL WITH RETURN

def calc(op, x, y):


return op(x,y)

Program Scope
def add(a,b): calc scope
return a+b calc function
Some add
object
code op
def div(a,b):
Some
function 2
if b != 0: add x
code
object
return a/b
print("Denom was 0.")
function
Some 3
div y
object
code
res = calc(add, 2, 3)

res

17
12/12/2024

EXECUTE LINE OF calc

def calc(op, x, y):


return op(x,y)
Program Scope calc scope
def add(a,b):
return a+b calc function
Some op add
object
code
def div(a,b):
Some
function 2
if b != 0: add x
code
object
return a/b
print("Denom was 0.")
function
Some 3
div y
object
code
res = calc(add, 2, 3)

res
returns 5

REPLACE FUNC CALL WITH RETURN

def calc(op, x, y):


return op(x,y)
Program Scope
def add(a,b):
return a+b calc function
Some
object
code
def div(a,b):
Some
function
if b != 0: add
code
object
return a/b
print("Denom was 0.")
function
Some
div
object
code
res = calc(add, 2, 3)
5
res

18
12/12/2024

YOU TRY IT!


 Do a similar trace with the function call
def calc(op, x, y):
return op(x,y)

def div(a,b):
if b != 0:
return a/b
print("Denom was 0.")

res = calc(div,2,0)

What is the value of res and what gets printed?

ANOTHER EXAMPLE:
FUNCTIONS AS PARAMS

def func_a():
print('inside func_a')
def func_b(y):
print('inside func_b')
return y
def func_c(f, z):
print('inside func_c')
return f(z)

print(func_a())
print(5 + func_b(2))
print(func_c(func_b, 3))

19
12/12/2024

FUNCTIONS AS PARAMETERS

func_a scope
Global scope
def func_a(): Some
print('inside func_a') func_a code
def func_b(y): Some
print('inside func_b') func_b code
return y Some
def func_c(f, z): code
func_c
print('inside func_c')
return f(z)
print(func_a())

print(5 + func_b(2))
print(func_c(func_b, 3))

FUNCTIONS AS PARAMETERS

Global scope func_a scope


def func_a():
func_a Some
print('inside func_a') code
def func_b(y): Some
print('inside func_b') func_b code
return y Some
def func_c(f, z): func_c code
print('inside func_c')
None
return f(z)
print(func_a())
print(5 + func_b(2))
print(func_c(func_b, 3))

20
12/12/2024

FUNCTIONS AS PARAMETERS

Global scope
def func_a():
Some
print('inside func_a') func_a code
def func_b(y): Some
print('inside func_b') func_b code
return y Some
def func_c(f, z): code
func_c
print('inside func_c')
return f(z)
print(func_a())

print(5 + func_b(2))
print(func_c(func_b, 3))

FUNCTIONS AS PARAMETERS

Global scope func_b scope


def func_a(): Some
func_a y 2
print('inside func_a') code
def func_b(y): Some
func_b code
print('inside func_b')
return y Some
def func_c(f, z): func_c code

print('inside func_c') None


return f(z)

print(func_a())
print(5 + func_b(2))
print(func_c(func_b, 3))

21
12/12/2024

FUNCTIONS AS PARAMETERS

Global scope func_b scope


def func_a(): func_a')
Some 2
func_a code y
print('inside
def func_b(y): Some
print('inside func_b') func_b code

def return y func_c') Some


code
func_c(f, z): func_c
None
print('inside
return f(z)
print(func_a())
print(5 + func_b(2))
print(func_c(func_b, 3))

FUNCTIONS AS PARAMETERS

Global scope func_b scope


def func_a():
func_a Some y 2
print('inside func_a') code
def func_b(y): Some
func_b code
print('inside func_b')
return y Some
code
def func_c(f, z): func_c') func_c
None
print('inside
return f(z)
print(func_a()) 7 returns 2

print(5 + func_b(2))
print(func_c(func_b, 3))

22
12/12/2024

FUNCTIONS AS PARAMETERS

Global scope
def func_a():
func_a Some
print('inside func_a') code
def func_b(y): Some
print('inside func_b') func_b code
return y Some
def func_c(f, z): func_c code
print('inside func_c') None
return f(z)

print(func_a()) 7
print(5 + func_b(2))
print(func_c(func_b, 3))

FUNCTIONS AS PARAMETERS

Global scope func_c scope


def func_a(): Some
func_a f func_b
print('inside func_a') code
def func_b(y): Some z
3
func_b code
print('inside func_b')
return y Some
func_c code
def func_c(f, z):
print('inside func_c') None
return f(z)

print(func_a()) 7
print(5 + func_b(2))
print(func_c(func_b, 3))

23
12/12/2024

FUNCTIONS AS PARAMETERS

Global scope func_c scope


def func_a(): func_a') func_b
func_a Some f
print('inside code
def func_b(y): Some z
3
print('inside func_b') func_b code
return y Some 3
def func_c(f, z): func_c') func_c code

print('inside None
returns 3 func_b scope
return f(z)
y 3
print(func_a()) 7
print(5 + func_b(2))
print(func_c(func_b, 3))

FUNCTIONS AS PARAMETERS

Global scope func_c scope


def func_a(): func_b
func_a Some f
print('inside func_a') code
def func_b(y): Some z 3
print('inside func_b') func_b code
return y Some 3
def func_c(f, z): func_c code
print('inside func_c') None
return f(z)
7
print(func_a())
print(5 + func_b(2))
print(func_c(func_b, 3)) 3
48 returns 3

24
12/12/2024

YOU TRY IT!


 Write a function that meets these specs.
def apply(criteria,n):
"""
* criteria is a func that takes in a number and returns a bool
* n is an int
Returns how many ints from 0 to n (inclusive) match
the criteria (i.e. return True when run with criteria)
"""

49

SUMMARY

 Functions are first class objects


 They have a type
 They can be assigned as a value bound to a name
 They can be used as an argument to another procedure
 They can be returned as a value from another procedure
 Have to be careful about environments
 Main program runs in the global environment
 Function calls each get a new temporary environment
 This enables the creation of concise, easily read code

25

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