CODEWITHSUNDEEP
python
Hyperion
Hyperion

Reputation: 2625

Python - Check if variable was given to function or was used the default one

I have a function that uses a datetime object as default value:

from datetime import datetime, timedelta
from random import randint

def getTime(date = datetime.now()):
    i = randint(1,300)
    date = date - timedelta(seconds = i) 
    return date

Now, I need to check if the date variable inside the function was given by another function or was used the default one datetime.now(). If was used the default one, then subtract i seconds, else return the date that was given.

Upvotes: 1

Views: 79

Answers (2)

DevLounge
DevLounge

Reputation: 8437

Assuming that you want "now" to be computed every time:

def getTime(date=None):
    return date or datetime.now() - timedelta(seconds=randint(1,300))

Otherwise:

Introduce a default arg:

def getTime(date=None, _default=datetime.now()):
        return date or _default - timedelta(seconds=randint(1,300))

Or create a decorator:

def just_return_if_provided(f):
    def inner(date=None):
        return date or f(date)
    return inner

@just_return_if_provided
def getTime(date=datetime.now()):
    return date - timedelta(seconds=randint(1,300))

Upvotes: 0

Lucas Moeskops
Lucas Moeskops

Reputation: 5443

You can do it as follows:

def my_function(date=None):
    if date is None:
        # The default is used
        date = datetime.now()
    ...

Upvotes: 5

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