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    Python Main Function

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    ismailtaayah
    The Python main function acts as the starting point of a Python program. When a Python file is run directly, the code in the main function will execute. But if the file is imported as a module, the main function will not run. To ensure the main function only runs when the file is directly executed, code is wrapped in an if statement that checks if the file is being run directly by comparing __name__ to '__main__'.

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    Python Main Function

    Uploaded by

    ismailtaayah
    4 views2 pages
    The Python main function acts as the starting point of a Python program. When a Python file is run directly, the code in the main function will execute. But if the file is imported as a module, the main function will not run. To ensure the main function only runs when the file is directly executed, code is wrapped in an if statement that checks if the file is being run directly by comparing __name__ to '__main__'.

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    PYTHON MAIN FUNCTION

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    The Python main function acts as the starting point of a Python program. When a Python file is run directly, the code in the main function will execute. But if the file is imported as a module, the main function will not run. To ensure the main function only runs when the file is directly executed, code is wrapped in an if statement that checks if the file is being run directly by comparing __name__ to '__main__'.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    4 views2 pages

    Python Main Function

    Uploaded by

    ismailtaayah
    The Python main function acts as the starting point of a Python program. When a Python file is run directly, the code in the main function will execute. But if the file is imported as a module, the main function will not run. To ensure the main function only runs when the file is directly executed, code is wrapped in an if statement that checks if the file is being run directly by comparing __name__ to '__main__'.

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    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    PYTHON MAIN FUNCTION DESCRIPTION?

    Definition :

    Python main function is a starting point of any program. When the program is
    run, the python interpreter runs the code sequentially. Main function is executed
    only when it is run as a Python program. It will not run the main function if it
    imported as a module.

    To understand this, consider the following code

    def main():
    print ("hello world!")
    print ("Guru99")

    Output : Guru99

    Here, we got two pieces of print- one is defined within the main function that is "Hello
    World" and the other is independent, which is "Guru99". When you run the function def
    main ():
    • Only "Guru99" prints out
    • and not the code "Hello World."

    It is because we did not declare the call function "if__name__== "__main__".

    It is important that after defining the main function, you call the code by if__name__==
    "__main__" and then run the code, only then you will get the output "hello world!" in the
    programming console. Consider the following code

    def main():
    print("Hello World!")

    if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

    print("Guru99")

    Output :
    Hello World!
    Guru99

    Here is the explanation,

    • When Python interpreter reads a source file, it will execute all the code found in
    it.
    • When Python runs the "source file" as the main program, it sets the special
    variable (__name__) to have a value ("__main__").
    • When you execute the main function, it will then read the "if" statement and
    checks whether __name__ does equal to __main__.
    • In Python "if__name__== "__main__" allows you to run the Python files
    either as reusable modules or standalone programs.
    The __name__ variable and Python Module

    To understand the importance of __name__ variable, consider the following code:

    #mainfunction.py

    def main():
    print("Hello World!")

    if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

    print("Guru99")
    print("Value in built variable name is: ",__name__)

    Output :

    Hello World!
    Guru99
    Value in built variable name is : __main__

    Now consider, code is imported as a module

    import mainfunction
    print("done")

    output:

    Guru99
    Value in built variable name is : mainfunction
    done

    Here, is the code explanation:

    Python interpreter uses the main function in two ways

    direct run:
    • __name__=__main__
    • if statement == True, and the script in _main_will be executed

    import as a module
    • __name__= module's filename
    • if statement == false, and the script in __main__ will not be executed

    Conclusion : When the code is executed, it will check for the module name with "if." This
    mechanism ensures, the main function is executed only as direct run not when imported
    as a module.

    Note: Make sure that after defining the main function, you leave some indent and not
    declare the code right below the def main(): function otherwise, it will give indent error.

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