Can I hide some of my function's return values when I use it inside another function in Python?

Question

I have a K function that returns three values (a,b and c) and I am using it in multiple places in my programme. I also want to use this function inside an H function. However, when I use it inside H function, I want it to return only its first two return values (a and b), just like in the code below. Is there a way with which I can hide the c when I use K inside H? Or should I just redefine K function inside H function separately in such a way that it returns only a and b values?

def K(x):
  ...
  return a,b,c

def H(y):
  ...
  a,b=K(y)
  ...
  return p

Thanks!

balderman · Accepted Answer · 2019-07-28 11:37:11Z

4

You can use underscore '_'

def foo():
  return 3,4,5

x,_,_ = foo()
print(x)

output

3

answered Jul 28, 2019 at 11:37

balderman

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basilisk · Accepted Answer · 2019-07-28 11:51:17Z

0

You can also add a type check in the Function K:

def K(x, return_only_ab=False): # add default parameter return_only_ab
  ...
  if not return_only_ab: # if False then return all the three variables
     return a,b,c
  else: # else reutrn only a, b that you need
     return a, b

def H(y):
  ...
  a,b=K(y, return_only_ab=True) # here you ll only get a,b and then do something with it
  ...
  return p

hope it helps

answered Jul 28, 2019 at 11:51

basilisk

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1 Comment

basilisk Over a year ago

Glad I could help you. can you please accept the Answer so that it helps others when they make a search

Itamar Mushkin · Accepted Answer · 2019-07-28 11:34:27Z

0

If the values you are returning are the first ones (e.g. only a, or only a and b), then your code will work as is.

If the values you are returning aren't the first ones (e.g. only b, or a and c), you'd need to use something like a, _, c = K(y) (the _ is the common sign of a "dummy" variable).

answered Jul 28, 2019 at 11:34

Itamar Mushkin

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