default
Zeta.Utils - Python Documentation
Table of Contents
1. Overview
Zeta.Utils is a Python module that contains auxiliary functions to ease and manage general programming tasks. The module is built to operate smoothly with Python and its ecosystem. This document has been created to guide users in the proper use of the library, especially in using the default function present in Zeta.Utils.
This documentation will provide a comprehensive insight into the purpose, functionality, usage, and worked out examples of the default function. The document is explicitly made in a step-by-step manner to provide exhaustive information on how to use the function effectively along with various scenarios and cases.
2. Code Documentation
Function Name: default
def default(val, d):
"""
Return the value if it exists, otherwise return a default value.
Args:
val (Any): The value to check.
d (Any): The default value to return if val is None.
Returns:
Any: The value if it exists, otherwise the default value.
"""
return val if exists(val) else d
Parameters:
| Parameter | Data Type | Default Value | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| val | Any | - | The value to check |
| d | Any | - | The default value to return if val is None |
Returns:
The return value is of type Any and is the value of val if it exists, else it's the default value d.
3. Usage
The default function in Zeta.Utils is a utility function primarily used to provide a "default" return value in case the checked value is None.
To use the default function, import the function into your Python script and call the function with two arguments, the value to check if it exists (val), and the default value to return if the value does not exist (d).
The function will then return the existing val if it is not None, otherwise, it will return the default value d.
4. Examples
Below are example cases, demonstrating how the default() function can be used in a Python script.
Example 1
Provides a simple example showing the use of default():
from zeta.utils import default
result = default(None, "Default Value")
print(result) # Output: Default Value
In the above code, the default function is called with None as the val and "Default Value" as d. Since val is None, the function returns d which is "Default Value".
Example 2
Provides an example where val is not None:
from zeta.utils import default
data = "Test Value"
result = default(data, "Default Value")
print(result) # Output: Test Value
Above, the default function is called with "Test Value" as val and "Default Value" as d. Since val is not None, the function returns val which is "Test Value".
Example 3
Shows use of default with data structures:
from zeta.utils import default
data = []
default_value = [1, 2, 3]
result = default(data, default_value)
print(result) # Output: []
In this example, even if data is an empty list, it's not None, so the default function returns data as the output.
5. Additional Information
The function default is a versatile utility for handling None scenarios. However, it may mask issues wherein None is an unexpected value. Developers are advised to use default along with proper error handling or assertions to ensure that None values are detected and handled when not expected.
In scenarios where a false-y value like 0, "", [], or {} should be replaced with a default, it's recommended to use the standard or in Python like val or d.
6. References and Other Resources
For more details on Python, consult the Python documentation at docs.python.org.
Further information on Zeta.Utils and the default