How to return multiple optional values in a python function?

Question

I have a function that should return at least one output, and should return optional values depending on how I set the flag. For example:

def foo(a, b, f1=False, f2=False, f3=False):
    c = a + b
    if f1:
        d = a - b
    elif f2:
        e = a * b
    elif f3:
        f = a / b

    if f1:
        return c, d
    elif f2:
        return c, e
    elif f3:
        return c, f
    elif f1 and f2:
        return c, d, e
    elif f1 and f3:
        return c, d, f
    elif f2 and f3:
        return c, e, f
    elif f1 and f2 and f3:
        return c, d, e, f
    else:
        return c

If I have f1, f2, ..., fn as inputs, I will need to write 2**n return. That can be too many. Is there a better way to handle it? The example code is corrected according to @Tim Roberts' comments.

Do not write f1 & f2. This is not C. In Python, you write f1 and f2. The two are NOT interchangeable. — Tim Roberts
– Tim Roberts, Commented Apr 2, 2021 at 6:40
@Masklinn I still have to write many if statement to return different outputs — f. c.
– f. c., Commented Apr 2, 2021 at 6:45

Tim Roberts · Accepted Answer · 2021-04-02 06:42:49Z

1

The way you have written it, you will never get multiple results. Only ONE of the if/elif/elif sequence will be used.

def foo(a, b, f1=False, f2=False, f3=False):
    answer = [a + b]
    if f1:
        answer.append( a - b )
    if f2:
        answer.append( a * b )
    if f3:
        answer.append( a / b )
    return answer

answered Apr 2, 2021 at 6:42

Tim Roberts

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