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Python Python Basics (Retired) Things That Count Basic Numbers

Bill McKenna
Bill McKenna
586 Points
Posted by Bill McKenna
Bill McKenna
586 Points

Printing String X amount of times.

When we use the code print(input_string*int(input_int)) before running it I would have assumed we would get and error because we are trying to multiply a string times an integer. How does python know that we are just looking to print it x amount of times. x being Int(input_int)

2 Answers

Dan Johnson
Dan Johnson
40,533 Points
Dan Johnson
Dan Johnson
40,533 Points

The str object in Python defines the __mul__ method which which effectively overloads the multiplication operator. Defining __mul__ lets you do stuff like this:

class Message:
    def __init__(self, message):
        self.message = message

    def __mul__(self, operand):
        repeated_message = ""

        for i in range(1, operand+1):
            repeated_message += str(i) + ": " + self.message

        return repeated_message

msg = Message("Overloading the multiplication operator.\n")
print(msg * 5)

Will display:

1: Overloading the multiplication operator.
2: Overloading the multiplication operator.
3: Overloading the multiplication operator.
4: Overloading the multiplication operator.
5: Overloading the multiplication operator.

Here's a list of special method names from the documentation.

Bill McKenna
Bill McKenna
586 Points
Bill McKenna
Bill McKenna
586 Points

Thanks Dan for the help

Iain Simmons
MOD
Iain Simmons
Treehouse Moderator 32,305 Points
Iain Simmons
Iain Simmons
Treehouse Moderator 32,305 Points

Following on from Dan Johnson 's excellent info, if you run Python in a console/terminal and enter the following command:

help(str.__mul__)

...you'll see how the str class/object implements the __mul__ method.

Try the following command to see a list of other built-in methods that the str object has:

dir(str)