gistfile1.txt

# Two function Samples

# First version doesn't export the calculation out of the function
# even though the function itself works just fine.

area = 0 # initialize the global variable

def area_rectangle(length,width):
    area = length * width
    print "inside function",area # area is evaluated inside the function 35 in my example
    return area

area_rectangle(5,7) 
# This function call succeeds in getting length and width into the function but not back out.

print "Outside the function (global) variable : ", area
# evaluates to zero not the expected 35.

####################################
# This second version WORKS.

area = 0 # initialize the global variable

def area_rectangle(length,width):
    area = length * width
    print "inside function",area # area is evaluated inside the function
    return area


area = area_rectangle(5,7) # Works because the returned "inside" local var is assigned to the "outside" global var.

print "Outside the function (global) variable : ", area
## This works because of the global var assignment to the result of the function call.