Getting input

Ask the user with input

• input() waits for the user to type a line and press Enter.
• It gives back what they typed. Store it in a variable.
• Join two strings together with +.

name = input()
print("Welcome, " + name)

When your program waits

• When you press Run, the program stops at input() and waits for you.
• A highlighted box appears under the code: type here, then press Enter.
• Click the box, type your answer and press Enter. Then the program continues.

input always gives a string

• Whatever the user types comes back as a string.
• Even if they type 5, you get the text "5", not the number.
• So "5" + "5" is "55" (joined text), not 10.

print("5" + "5")   # 55 — joined text, not the number 10

Turn text into a number

• int(...) turns text into a whole number: int("5") → 5.
• float(...) turns text into a decimal: float("2.5") → 2.5.
• Convert first, then you can do maths.

age = int(input())
print(age + 1)

Common mistakes

• input() always returns a string, so wrap it in int(...) before doing maths.
• The text inside input("...") is the prompt shown to the user.

Now you try

• When you Run, type the input yourself in the box and press Enter.
• Check answer types the task's input for you, so just read it with input().
• Each task needs only one input().