How to return a dictionary and multiple variables from a function in python?

Question

I am trying to set up a function that records to 2 variables and a dictionary, the dictionar works but the two variables return the wrong things

mydict{}
fname = 0
lname = 0

def enterdetails(fname, lname):
    fname = input ("First Name: ");
    fnamedict = fname
    mydict['FirstName'] = fnamedict;

   lname = input ("Last Name: ");
   lnamedict = lname
   mydict['LastName'] = lnamedict;
   print(fname)
   print(lname)

   return mydict
   return (fname, lname)

fname, lname = enterdetails(fname, lname)
print(fname, lname)
print(mydict)

However the variables of fname and lname come out as FirstName and LastName respectively. How would I fix this?

You can't return multiple variables. A solution would be putting them all in one dict. — Vincent Beltman, Oct 08 '14 at 07:52
Your code does not make sense, you have 2 return statements, only the first one will execute. You can return a tuple of your dict and variables like so `return mydict, fname, lname` — EdChum, Oct 08 '14 at 07:52
You could look into using a [yield](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/231767/what-does-the-yield-keyword-do-in-python) statement instead though. — MrHug, Oct 08 '14 at 07:53
@VincentBeltman - you can absolutely return multiple variables - return them in a tuple - just as the OP is doing in the line `return (fname, lname)`- although the brackets aren't needed in this case. — Tony Suffolk 66, Oct 08 '14 at 07:53
``return`` returns an object so wtever you are wishing to return just use in an object like **tuple** or anything. — Vishnu Upadhyay, Oct 08 '14 at 07:56
Ok thankyou, im new to python and i wasn't sure exactly how to do it properly. — Psychedelic Panda, Oct 08 '14 at 07:56
@PsychedelicPanda If your query was resolved, don't forget to accept an answer below. — Anshul Goyal, Oct 08 '14 at 08:34

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 08 '14 at 07:57

You have two return statements, but only the first is returned. Instead, return all three variables together as a tuple:

def enterdetails(fname, lname):
    ...
    return mydict, fname, lname

mydict, fname, lname = enterdetails(fname, lname)
print(fname, lname)
print(mydict)

Maru · Answer 2 · 2014-10-08T08:21:18.927

1

The dictionary works because you have it set as a global variable. However, the function is actually returning the "dictionary" first, so your unpacking is all messed up.

Remove the return mydict or use return mydict, (fname, lname), so you will end up with:

mydict, (fname, lname) = enterdetails(fname, lname)

But as I mentioned above, mydict is a global variable, so it is unnecessary to return the value.

edited Oct 08 '14 at 08:21

answered Oct 08 '14 at 07:57

Maru

11
2

I had to read this twice to understand it, but that is a very good point about global variables that the other answers didn't address. – o11c Oct 08 '14 at 08:10

Vizjerei · Answer 3 · 2014-10-08T08:00:53.720

0

You can't put a return under a return like

return mydict
return (fname, lname) #this won't return any thing

One of the ways that you could do is:

  ....
  return [mydict, fname, lname]

data = enterdetails(fname, lname)
mydict = data[0]
fname = data[1]
lname = data[2]

edited Oct 08 '14 at 08:00

answered Oct 08 '14 at 07:55

Vizjerei

1,000
8
15

1

you don't need to use a list to return multiple items - you can just use `return mydict, fname, lname` and then `mydict, fname, lname = enterdetails(fname,lname)`when you call it. – Tony Suffolk 66 Oct 08 '14 at 07:57
@TonySuffolk66 yeah just mentioned one of the ways, edit it to make it better – Vizjerei Oct 08 '14 at 07:58
Another answer has been posted using tuple - no point changing your answer to copy someone elses. – Tony Suffolk 66 Oct 08 '14 at 07:59
@TonySuffolk66 didn't see the other answer so left mine as it was previously – Vizjerei Oct 08 '14 at 08:01

How to return a dictionary and multiple variables from a function in python?

3 Answers3