13.9. Using Objects in Functions

Just like any other data type, we can send an object to a function as an input value. We did this in the Function Exercises when we passed a turtle object to the draw_square and draw_sprite functions.

Example

import turtle

def draw_square(turtle_name, side_length):
   for side in range(4):
      turtle_name.forward(side_length)
      turtle_name.left(90)

bob = turtle.Turtle()

draw_square(bob, 40)

1. Line 8 creates a new Turtle object called bob.

2. Line 10 calls the draw_square function and passes bob and 40 as arguments.

3. After the function call, control passes to the draw_square function. In line 3, turtle_name gets assigned the bob object.

4. The loop executes, and we see the turtle draw a square on the screen.

We can also set up a function to create a new object and return it to the main program.

Example

Assume we defined the same Dog class we used on the previous page.

def make_puppy(parent_1, parent_2):
   puppy_name = parent_1.name[0] + parent_2.name[0]
   cuteness = parent_1.is_cute or parent_2.is_cute

   return Dog(puppy_name, 0, cuteness)

dog_1 = Dog('Spot', 6, True)     # Create one Dog object
dog_2 = Dog('Fleas', 2, False)   # Create another Dog object
new_pet = make_puppy(dog_1, dog_2)  # Call make_puppy and return new Dog
print(new_pet)

Console Output

Name of dog: SF, Age of dog: 0 years

1. Lines 20 and 21 create two new Dog objects.

2. Line 22 calls the make_puppy function and sends it dog_1 and dog_2 as arguments.

3. Line 14 assigns the objects to the parameters parent_1 and parent_2.

4. Line 15 combines the first letters of the parents’ names to make the string for puppy_name.

5. Line 16 uses a boolean expression to decide if the puppy is cute.

6. Line 18 creates and returns a new Dog object.

7. Control returns to line 22, where the new object is assigned to new_pet.

13.9.1. Object Scope

Within a function, any change made to an object will change the object itself.

In the example above, adding the statement parent_1.name = "Fido" changes the property value in the function AND outside of the function. If we used print(dog_1.name) after calling make_puppy, we would see Fido appear in the console instead of Spot.

parent_1 is NOT a new Dog object. Instead, it is a new label that points to the same set of data as dog_1.

We saw similar behavior with both lists and dictionaries.

13.9.2. Check Your Understanding

Question

Given bob = turtle.Turtle(), which of the following shows the object bob used as an argument?

1. draw_sprite(bob, 8, 40)
2. def draw_sprite(bob, num_legs, leg_length):
3. return bob

Question

Which of the following shows the object trtl_name used as a parameter?

1. draw_polygon(trtl_name, 8, 40)
2. def draw_polygon(trtl_name, num_sides, side_length):
3. return trtl_name