input()

You can use the input() function to get data input. Use the prompt string you want to display as a parameter for input:

>>> first_name = input("First name? ")
First name? Veit
>>> surname = input("Surname? ")
Surname? Schiele
>>> print(first_name, surname)
Veit Schiele

This is a fairly simple way to get data input. The only catch is that the input comes in as a string. So if you want to use a number, you have to convert it with the int or float function, for example, for calculating the age from the year of birth:

>>> import datetime
>>>
>>> currentDateTime = datetime.datetime.now()
>>> year = currentDateTime.year
>>> year_birth = input("Year of birth? ")
Year of birth? 1964
>>> age = year - int(year_birth)
>>> print("Age:", age, "years")
Age: 58 years

Checks

  • How can you get string and integer values with the input() function?

  • What is the effect if you do not use int() to call input() for integer inputs?

  • Can you change the code so that it accepts a floating point number?

  • What happens if you enter an incorrect value type?

  • Write the code to ask for the names and ages of three users. After the values have been entered, ask for one of the names and output the corresponding age.