CODEWITHSUNDEEP
pythonfunctionpython-3.x
Asher
Asher

Reputation: 821

What is the intrinsic name of a function?

I understand that instrinsic names are assigned to refer to functions when these said functions refer to other functions. eg: f=max is f the intrinsic name or max?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 2601

Answers (3)

Rayman Aguitar
Rayman Aguitar

Reputation: 1

It is better to look at the frames.

f = max
max = 3
f(2,3,4)

Global frame

f ----------------> func max(...) # object

max: 3

Notice that the function object says max. That is the intrinsic name!

Upvotes: 0

lavenderLatte
lavenderLatte

Reputation: 43

You can think of the intrinsic name as the name of user-defined def function. Consider two ways to bind a function to a name square:

 def square(x):
     return x * x

In this def statement, both creating function and assigning name happens at the same time and this def statement gives the function an intrinsic name. square is "function square" here. 

 square = lambda x : x * x

Whereas, lambda creates a function lambda x : x * x without a name. The assignment statement square = assigns the value of the function to the name. square is "function lambda" here.

Upvotes: 1

Hammerite
Hammerite

Reputation: 22340

If you mean the __name__ property, it's the name that was used in the def statement that created the function.

Python 3.3.1 (v3.3.1:d9893d13c628, Apr  6 2013, 20:25:12) [MSC v.1600 32 bit (In
tel)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> def f ():
...     return 0
...
>>> f.__name__
'f'
>>> g = f
>>> g.__name__
'f'
>>>

Built-in functions have __name__ properties matching their preset names.

>>> max.__name__
'max'
>>> h = max
>>> h.__name__
'max'
>>>

Functions that were created by some other means than a def statement may have default values for the __name__ property.

>>> (lambda: 0).__name__
'<lambda>'
>>>

Upvotes: 6

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