03 - Getting User Input

One of the most important parts of programming is user interaction. There are many ways in which programs and applications interact with their users. For example, a game will allow a user to press certain buttons, or you can create an account on a website…

And these are all forms of “user-input”.

The Input Function

The input function allows for the user to type in text, and it captures that text and returns it to you as a string.

Two ways to use the input function - with an argument or without an argument

Calling the input function with an argument

If you call the input function with an argument, the argument must be a string.

The argument serves as a prompt for the user.

Calling the input function without an argument

If you choose to call the input function without an argument, it’s helpful to include a print statement beforehand, so that the user knows what they’re expected to type.