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Python Basics

Python Console Input

1. What is Console Input?

  • Allows the user to type something in the console during program execution
  • The program captures what was typed and stores it for use
  • Example use case: ask the user their name, then greet them

2. The input() Function

Basic Syntax

input("prompt text: ")
  • Takes a single string argument — the prompt shown to the user
  • Prints the prompt, then waits for the user to type and press Enter
  • Always add a trailing space inside the prompt string for readability
input("Number: ")    # ✅ cursor appears after space
input("Number:")     # ❌ cursor is smushed against the colon

Storing Input in a Variable

  • input() returns whatever the user typed — store it in a variable
number = input("Number: ")
print(number)          # prints whatever user typed

Input Ends on Enter

  • The function keeps waiting until the user presses Enter
  • Everything typed before Enter is captured as the value

3. Critical Rule — Input Always Returns a String

  • No matter what the user types, input() always returns a str
  • Even numbers and booleans come back as strings
value = input("Enter something: ")
print(type(value))    # always <class 'str'>
User types Stored as
6 "6" (str)
3.4 "3.4" (str)
True "True" (str)
Tim "Tim" (str)

To use input as an integer, you must convert it (covered in a future lesson)

4. input() vs print() — Key Difference

  • print() accepts multiple comma-separated arguments
  • input() accepts only ONE argument — passing more causes an error
print("hello", "world")          # ✅ works fine
input("hello", "what is your name?")  # ❌ TypeError: expected at most 1 argument

5. Using Variables Inside a Prompt — String Concatenation

  • To include a variable's value inside an input() prompt, use + to join strings
name = input("Enter name: ")
age = input("Hello, " + name + ", what is your age? ")
  • + combines (concatenates) strings into a single string
  • This works because name is already a string (returned by input())

String concatenation with + also works inside print(), not just input()

6. Multiple Input Statements

input("Press enter to begin...")     # no variable needed — just wait for Enter

name = input("Enter name: ")
age = input("Hello, " + name + ", what is your age? ")

print("Hello,", name, "you are", age, "years old!")
  • You can use input() without storing the result if you only need the user to press Enter
  • Each input() call pauses the program until the user hits Enter

7. Clearing the Console (Side Guide)

OS Command
Windows cls
Mac / Linux clear

8. Key Takeaways & Recap

  1. input("prompt: ") prints a prompt and waits for the user to press Enter
  2. Always add a trailing space in your prompt string
  3. input() always returns a string — even if the user types a number
  4. input() takes only one argument — use + concatenation to include variables
  5. String concatenation: "hello, " + name + "!" joins strings into one
  6. You can chain multiple input() calls to collect several pieces of data