How to Return a String in Python

Learn how to return a string in Python with this comprehensive guide. Understand the basics of strings, how they work in Python, and see practical examples of returning strings from functions. …

Updated July 25, 2023

Learn how to return a string in Python with this comprehensive guide. Understand the basics of strings, how they work in Python, and see practical examples of returning strings from functions.

Returning a String in Python

Python is a versatile programming language that allows you to perform various operations on strings, including returning them from functions. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of string manipulation and explore how to return a string in Python.

Definition: What are Strings?

Before diving into returning strings, let’s quickly define what strings are. A string is a sequence of characters, such as words or phrases, enclosed within quotation marks (" " or ' '). In Python, you can create a string by assigning it to a variable using the assignment operator (=).

Example: Creating a String in Python

my_string = "Hello, World!"
print(my_string)  # Output: Hello, World!

Returning Strings from Functions

Now that we’ve covered what strings are, let’s move on to returning them from functions. In Python, you can use the return keyword to return a string value from a function.

Example: Returning a String from a Function

def greet(name):
    """Returns a greeting message for the given name."""
    return f"Hello, {name}!"

greeting = greet("John")
print(greeting)  # Output: Hello, John!

In this example, we define a function called greet that takes a name parameter. The function returns a string value using an f-string (formatted string literal). We then call the greet function with the argument "John" and store the returned greeting in the variable greeting.

Practical Examples

Let’s explore some more practical examples of returning strings from functions.

Example: Returning a String from a Function with Multiple Parameters

def calculate_total(subtotal, tax_rate):
    """Returns the total amount after applying tax."""
    return subtotal + (subtotal * tax_rate)

total_amount = calculate_total(100.0, 0.08)
print(total_amount)  # Output: 108.0

In this example, we define a function called calculate_total that takes two parameters: subtotal and tax_rate. The function returns the total amount after applying tax.

Example: Returning a String from a Function with Conditional Logic

def determine_status(score):
    """Returns a status message based on the score."""
    if score >= 80:
        return "Excellent!"
    elif score >= 60:
        return "Good"
    else:
        return "Needs improvement"

status_message = determine_status(75)
print(status_message)  # Output: Good

In this example, we define a function called determine_status that takes a score parameter. The function returns a status message based on the score using conditional logic.

Conclusion