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Python Introducing Lists Build an Application Display the List

DISPLAY THE LIST

In the display the list task, why are users able to input a string into the terminal to append the list even though there isn't an input code.

shopping_list = []



def show_help():
    print("What should we pick up at the store?")
    print("""
Enter 'DONE' to stop adding items.
Enter 'HELP' for this help.
Enter 'SHOW' to show the shopping list
""")


def add_to_list(item):
    shopping_list.append(item)
    print( "Item has been added to the list, There are now",  len(shopping_list), "items in the list")

def show_list():
    print("Here's your list:  ")
    for item in shopping_list:
        print(item)

show_help()
while True:
    new_item = input("> ")

    if new_item == 'DONE':
        break
    elif new_item == 'HELP':
        continue
    elif new_item == 'SHOW':
        show_help()
        continue

    add_to_list(new_item)

show_list()

2 Answers

Eldin Guzin
Eldin Guzin
6,010 Points

new_item = input("> ") is your input code. It then proceeds to execute the add_to_list method which you can guess what it does. The show_help function just prints out the instructions for the user if that confused you. Hope this helps !

That's a great question. It has me wondering as well. So would this be similar to a sort of order of coding. So the program skips the add_to_list and the show_list functions because they are "empty' and goes to the while loop, which asks for the input. Therefore adding to both of those functions. Right? >.>