Question about different types of functions

.function_name() are called methods and function_name() are called functions.

The answer is a little technical, and it will be covered in detail in a future course.

Think of making a string. This is basically making an instance of the class String.

A class is like a model, or, if you'd like, a blueprint. Think of a class as a cookie cutter. You can use the cookie cutter to make cookie instances, but you can't use the cookie cutter itself for eating. You only eat the instances (the cookies you make with the cookie cutter) of the cookie cutter class.

Now, back to strings. There's a String class behind the scenes in Python. When we make a new string by using "Hello", we are simply creating an instance of the String class.

Classes have what's called an instance method, which is a method that can be called on an instance. You use a period to separate the name of the method with the instance. Here's an example: "Hello".split() We are calling the split() method on the string instance. Remember, we use a period/dot to separate the two! The period is basically saying: Use the method on the right to call the instance on the left!

So, basically "Hello".lower() is calling the lower() method on the "Hello" instance. Just repeating

I hope this clears things up. Don't worry if this is still confusing, as classes is the hardest thing to learn for most students, including myself. This all will be covered in a future course!

I hope this helps

Happy coding!

~Alex