How to Read User Input From the Keyboard in Python :
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You may often want to make your Python programs more interactive by responding dynamically to input from the user. Learning how to read user input from the keyboard unlocks exciting possibilities and can make your code far more useful.
The ability to gather input from the keyboard with Python allows you to build programs that can respond uniquely based on the preferences, decisions, or data provided by different users. By fetching input and assigning it to variables, your code can react to adjustable conditions rather than just executing static logic flows. This personalizes programs to individual users.
The input() function is the simplest way to get keyboard data from the user in Python. When called, it asks the user for input with a prompt that you specify, and it waits for the user to type a response and press the Enter key before continuing. This response string is returned by input() so you can save it to a variable or use it directly.
Using only Python, you can start building interactive programs that accept customizable data from the user right within the terminal. Taking user input is an essential skill that unlocks more dynamic Python coding and allows you to elevate simple scripts into personalized applications.
Get Your Code: Click here to download the free sample code that shows you how to get user input from the keyboard with Python.
How to Read Keyboard Input in Python With input()
You can create robust and interactive programs by taking advantage of input(). It opens up possibilities for creating scripts that respond dynamically based on adjustable conditions, personalized data, and real-time decision-making from the user. It is an ideal option when you want to read keyboard input with Python.
Getting started is straightforward. Just launch the Python interpreter shell, and you can immediately utilize input() for basic interactivity.
To try it, first open your terminal and launch the Python REPL by typing python and hitting Enter. This will display the familiar >>> Python prompt indicating the REPL is ready. Use input(), passing any string in the parentheses:
>>> input("What is your name? ")
What is your name? Vincent
'Vincent'
Once you execute the code, the string that you specified in input() will be rendered on screen, and you’ll be able to type in any response. Your response will also print to the screen once you press Enter. This is because the REPL automatically prints return values—in this case, the value returned by input().
The best practice when using input() is to assign it to a variable that you can use later in your code. For example, you can ask the user to type in their name. Assign input() to the name variable:
>>> name = input("What is your name? ")
What is your name? Vincent
This prints the prompt What is your name? and pauses, waiting for keyboard input. After the user types a name and presses Enter, the text string is stored in the name variable. This time, your input won’t automatically print in the REPL, because a variable stores the value instead.
You can now use the variable in any part of your code in the same session, like printing a personalized greeting:
>>> print(f"Hello there, {name}!")
Hello there, Vincent!
Your program reacted based on the custom name that you provided. It used the name that you gave in the input() request.
This is the essential pattern when working with Python keyboard input:
- Call
input()with a prompt explaining what to enter. - Assign the result to a descriptively named variable.
- Use that variable later in your code.
By following this template, you can start building all types of interactive scripts tailored to custom data from different users. Your programs can gather input of all types, such as names, numbers, and lists, making it quite handy in processing data from your users.
NOTE: Using input() processes all inputs as string literals, the users’ input isn’t executed as code. However, you should be wary of users’ inputs and assess them before executing them in your program, using them in database queries, or otherwise trusting them.
This is just the initial step that you can take in using input() in your interactive program. There are other modifications that you can make to ensure that the function takes in all manner of data types.
Reading Specific Data Types With the Input Function
The general rule for input() is that it collects textual input and delivers strings. Your code often needs numbers, Booleans or other data types instead. For example, maybe you need to get integers for math operations, floats for calculations with decimals, or Booleans for logical conditions.
As input() returns strings, you need to convert all the input into the targeted desired data type before using it in your code. If you ask for numerical input, the outcome will still be returned as a string:
Read the full article at https://realpython.com/python-keyboard-input/ »
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February 21, 2024 at 07:30PM
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