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Docstring |
Docstring
Docstring is a way for developers to communicate the purpose, parameters, requirements, and usage of a function in Python to other developers. It allows for ease of code maintenance and understanding.
Unlike conventional source code comments the docstring should describe what the function does, not how.
A similar example to Docstring is @Javadoc in Java.
Docstring is written as a multi-line comment just after the declaration header in Python. There are 4 different parts to a docstring:
- Type of input, and type of output
- Input/output can be
obj, list, bool, int, str, float
- Input/output can be
- Description of function
- Brief, but thorough description of what your function does
- Requirements
- This is read by a human, so it does not have to be code
- Test cases (normally 2-3)
The general format is listed below.
Format of Docstring
def my_examplefunc(input_type1, input_type2):
'''(input_type1, input_type2) -> output_type # Your first line will be the input/output. Remember the space around the arrow!
Here is a description of my example function # Your second line will be the description
REQ: type(input_type1) == list # Your next line (or lines) will be the requirements for the input of your function
REQ: type(input_type2) == str
>>> my_example_func([2, 3], "Hello World!") # After the requirements come test cases
[2, 3] "Hello World"
>>> my_example_func([7, 2], "Another test case") # Your first line of the test case is an example of the usage, prefaced by >>>
[7, 2] "Another test case" # Your second line of the test case is the output
>>> my_example_func([5, 6], "Last test case")
[5, 6] "Last test case"
'''
# Your code goes here, underneath the Docstring
Docstring is best understood with examples, so take a look at the below example program where the program outputs True if a number is less than 5, and False if a number is greater than 5.
Example 1
def is_less_than_five(some_number):
'''(int) -> bool
Returns True if the given number is less than 5, and False is the given number is greater than 5.
REQ: some_number != 5
>>> is_less_than_five(4)
True
>>> is_less_than_five(6)
False
>>> is_less_than_five(100000)
False
'''
# Your code goes here
Some useful links:
Numpy and Google Docstrings are two commonly used approaches:
- Google: http://sphinxcontrib-napoleon.readthedocs.io/en/latest/example_google.html
- Numpy: http://sphinxcontrib-napoleon.readthedocs.io/en/latest/example_numpy.html Also, refer to some good old PEP commentary: https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0257/