What does the percentage
%
function do in python in a line such as
x % 2
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1It's an operator not function. – Ashwini Chaudhary Jan 22 '14 at 16:07
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1Not _this_ many downvotes guys, s/he's a newbie. – Games Brainiac Jan 22 '14 at 16:09
2 Answers
4
In this context it is the modulus, or remainder in the math sense.
So 7 % 2 == 1 because when you divide 7 by 2, you get a remainder of 1.
Similarly, if you wanted the fact that 2 goes into 7 three times, 7 // 2 == 3
The context is important, because % can also be used for old-style string formatting.
In that context, '%s to %s' % ('A', 'Z') would return a string 'A to Z'
However, don't use % for string formatting in python today. Use str.format.
Prashant Kumar
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This is called the modulus operator, it gives you the remainder after division:
>>> 5 % 2
1
>>> 44 % 3
2
>>>
Games Brainiac
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1Just for completeness, if `x` is a string then `%` is used for string formatting. – Ashwini Chaudhary Jan 22 '14 at 16:11
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2@AshwiniChaudhary Please edit my answer then, and add your name to the mix, you thought of it first :P I always use `.format` :P – Games Brainiac Jan 22 '14 at 16:12
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If `x` is some other arbitrary object, it executes the `__mod__` method, which could do anything. – Wooble Jan 22 '14 at 16:37