How to Run a Random Function in Python 2

Question

Suppose I have two functions:

functionA() and functionB()

I do not care which function runs, but I do want just ONE of them to run randomly--ie, if I run the script a hundred times, both should be played near 50 times.

How can I program that into Python 2?

Ozgur Vatansever · Accepted Answer · 2016-05-10 05:17:30Z

3

In Python, functions are first class citizens so you can put them in a list and then randomly select one of them at every turn using random.choice:

>>> import random

>>> functions = [functionA, functionB]
>>> for _ in range(100):
...     function = random.choice(functions)
...     function()

edited May 10, 2016 at 5:17

answered May 10, 2016 at 3:41

Ozgur Vatansever

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1 Comment

viraptor Over a year ago

@RonE These are not function pointers. functionA is a reference to a function object. And the difference matters if you want an actual explanation.

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