My recursive function in python keeps returning none in python

Question

def recursiveSearch(rootDir):
    file = 'foundMe'

    # Creates a full path back to the root directory with each item in list
    for p in os.listdir(rootDir):
        path = os.path.join(rootDir, p)
        if os.path.isfile(path):
                if os.path.splitext(os.path.basename(path))[0] == file:
                    print("congrats you found", path)

                    return path

        else:
            if os.path.isdir(path):
                recursiveSearch(path)

x = recursiveSearch(rootDir)
print(x) ->>> None

Why does this function return the None type and not the path of the file that I have found?

When I run the function, the recursion works and is able to find and print the path to the file, but nothing is returned. Could someone please explain why?

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 02 '15 at 00:02

3

You're not explicitly returning the value of the recursive call, so implicitly the function returns None in the else branch. Instead, use:

...

else:
    if os.path.isdir(path):
        return recursiveSearch(path)

answered Oct 02 '15 at 00:02

BrianO

1,496
9
12

@Matt Feel free to declare this the correct answer ;) – BrianO Oct 02 '15 at 00:13
1

Ah. gotcha - so *merci*. A simple problem but probably common enough for beginners. – BrianO Oct 02 '15 at 00:22

My recursive function in python keeps returning none in python

1 Answers1