Functions & basics
Reusable building blocks — parameters, returns, scope, and clear function design.
How to Compose Two Functions into a Single Callable in Python
Combine two Python functions into a single callable using a compose helper, then apply the chained call.
def add_one(x):
return x + 1
def double(x):
return x * 2
def compose(f, g):
return lambda x: f(g(x))
add_then_double = compose(double, add_one)
double_then_add = compose(add_one, double)
result1 = add_then_double(5)
result2 = double_then_add(5)
print(f"add_one then double(5) = {result1}")
print(f"doub…How to Use a Dispatch Table in Python (Map Strings to Functions)
Maps string command names to callable functions in a dictionary, then dispatches calls safely with error handling.
def add(a, b):
return a + b
def subtract(a, b):
return a - b
def multiply(a, b):
return a * b
def divide(a, b):
if b == 0:
raise ValueError("Division by zero")
return a / b
dispatch = {
"add": add,
"subtract": subtract,
"multiply": multiply,
"divide": divide,
}
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Functions & basics — Python code examples
What you will find here
This page collects functions & basics snippets — short, copy-ready Python you can paste into our free online IDE and run without installing anything. Each sample includes a plain-English explanation and the full source code.
Samples vs tutorials and challenges
Samples are quick reference — one concept per page. For step-by-step teaching, use our Python tutorials. To test yourself, try quizzes or coding challenges. Clean up style with the Python formatter.