def get_initials(fullname):
  xs = (fullname)
  name_list = xs.split()
  initials = ""
  for name in name_list:  # go through each name
    initials += name[0].upper()  # append the initial
    ##       ^^ what is happening here?
  return initials
What is the += in this context?  Is it incrementing the value in the list?