Getting output from the random Python module

Question

I’m trying to run a script that takes five functions in a list, and picks one at random using the random module.

myList = [quote1(), quote2(), quote3(), quote4(), quote5()]

def random_output(): random.choice(myList)

print(random_output)

However, upon running, it just prints all of the quotes at the same time, followed by <function random_output at 0x0000019F66EF4430>.

Asked By: KniteRite

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Source

Answer 1

You have to put parentheses to invoke your function:

myList = [quote1(), quote2(), quote3(), quote4(), quote5()]

def random_output(): random.choice(myList)

print(random_output()) <--- Here

Answered By: brunson

Answer 2

You should put your functions in myList, not the result of their call. Then call the function after selecting it with random.choice:

myList = [quote1, quote2, quote3, quote4, quote5]

def random_output():
    # select a random function
    # call it, and return its output
    return random.choice(myList)()

print(random_output())

Answered By: mozway

Answer 3

You don’t need a function A that just calls another function B. Just call function B:

import random

myList = [quote1(), quote2(), quote3(), quote4(), quote5()]
random.choice(myList)

If you really want to put it in a function, maybe because you are doing other thing in there, you should always pass in what your function needs, and return what it produces (this is called a ‘pure’ function):

def random_output(aList):
    return random.choice(aList)

Then call it like:

random_output(myList)

If you don’t want to call the functions quote1, quote2 etc yet, then you should not put parentheses after them until you do want to call them. For example:

funcs = [quote1, quote2, quote3, quote4, quote5]
random_func = random.choice(funcs)
result = random_func(my_input)

Answered By: kwinkunks

Getting output from the random Python module

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