INPUT FUNCTION()
Tags: python, beginners, programming, lesson2
Published: 2024-02-14 10:18:04

![An image demonstarating the input function code and concatenation ](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/cji6rqrj2odn3cphxvxz.png)

**By the end of this lesson you should be able to:**
1.Describe the input command and its basic usage in python.
2.Code using the input command.
3.Avoid the common errors associated with the input command.

## The input command
-The input command as the name suggests is used when the user is expected to key in information into the computer.
-A message is shown on the console and the user is expected to type information then press enter for the rest of the code to run.
-The input function has the following basic structure: **input("text")**
.A point to note is that the text **input** should be written in small letters for the code to work.

-Here's an example that demonstrates the basic structure of input function()

```
input("What's your name?")
```
-If you try running the above code in your python code editor you should be able to key in your name.
-But how do we make use of the user's input? Next up variables

## Variables
-Variables are used with the input function to store the information that the user keyed in.
-Here's a basic structure of an input function with a variable: **variable = input("")** 

Example in code:
```
myname = input("What's your name?")
```
-Once the user inputs their name after the question and presses enter, the name which the user keyed in is 'stored' in the variable **myname** as a text(string).

###Naming variables
-You can name your variable in whichever way you would like but it is advisable to use a name that is related to the information that you expect to be keyed in. For example 
```
age = input("How old are you?")
```
-**Do not use spaces** when naming variables, instead:
   •use_underscores_between_words
   •camelCaseMethodToMakeItEasierToRead

**using underscores**
```
favorite_hobby = input("What is your most favorite hobby?")
```
**camel case method**
```
favoriteHobby = input("Which hobby do you enjoy the most?")
```

### Printing variables
-We have already learnt the art of storing the user's input in a variable. Your next question should be; How do we get the information stored in the variable to be displayed on the console?
-We simply print the variable by using the print statement that we learnt in the previous lesson.
```
myname = input("What is your name?:")
print("So you are")
print(myname)
```
-Try running the code above.You will notice that the name that the you typed after the question will be printed in the last line.
-When printing a variable, do not use the **quotation marks ""**.

-Here's another example:
```
nationality = input("What is your nationality?:")
age = input("How old are you?:")
hobby = input("What do you love doing in your free time?:")
print()
print("So you are a/an")
print(nationality)
print("aged")
print(age)
print("and your hobby is")
print(hobby)
```

## Common errors associated with the input function
**Error 1- Capitalization**
```
color = Input("What's your favorite color?:")
```
-The code will not work because the 'i' in input has been capitalised.
-Therefore the text input must be written in small letters for the code to function.
-The correct format should be:
```
color = input("What's your favorite color?:")
```

**Error 2- Wrong syntax**
```
my name = input("What's your name?:")
```
-The error above is that there's a space in the variable myname.
-The correct format should be:
```
myname = input("What's your name?:")
```

**Error 3- ....**
```
myname = input("What is your name?:")
print("So you are")
print("myname")
```
-In this case, the text that will be printed in the last line will be **myname** instead of the user's name e.g **Samuel**.
-to fix this remove the quotation marks.
```
myname = input("What is your name?:")
print("So you are")
print(myname)
```

**Error 4- Name error**
```
favoriteShow = input("What's your favorite show?:")
print("Your favorite show is")
print(favoriteshow)
```
-In the code above the printed variable favouriteshow does not match does not match the variable in the first line, the **favoriteshow in line 3** is therefore **undefined**.
-The correct format should therefore be:
```
#the variable name should remain the same otherwise it is classified as undefined.
favoriteShow = input("What's your favorite show?:")
print("Your favorite show is")
print(favoriteShow)
```
-Please leave any concerns or questions in the comments section below.
That's all for today.

Next up;Concatenation!