Simple Function Question

[Remco Gerlich]

Akira Kiyomiya wrote in comp.lang.python:
> Hi,  Could you explain this in dummy's language?
> 
> 
> # Return a function that returns its argument incremented by 'n'
> def make_incrementer(n):
>     def increment(x, n=n):
>         return x+n
>     return increment
> 
> add1 = make_incrementer(1)
> print add1(3)  # This prints '4'

Let's try simpler versions. Do you understand the following?

# Return a function that returns its argument incremented by 3
def make_incrementer():
   def increment(x):
      return x+3
   return increment
   
Now this one:

# Return a function that adds its two arguments together, or by default adds 3
def make_incrementer():
   def increment(x, y=3):
      return x+y
   return increment
   
And finally, the version where you can give another default value:

# Return a function that adds n to its argument:
def make_incrementer(n):
   def increment(x, y=n):
      return x+y
   return increment
   
The last one is equivalent to your version, except here one variable is
called y instead of n. Maybe it was confusing that the previous one used 'n'
for two different variables.

-- 
Remco Gerlich,  scarblac at pino.selwerd.nl
'Oook?'