How do I pass variables from one function to another and use them in conditional statements in python?

I’m new to programming in general and even newer to python. I’m only a couple of days into it. I’m working on a problem that I know is simple, but the more I tinker with it, the worse it seems to get.

essentially what I am trying to do is create a variable from a conditional in function a that I can pass to other functions. I’ve been trying to do this to create like character creation screens in the world’s simplest RPG. However, as simple as the game is, I quickly got in over my head. I decided to keep the spirit of what I’m after, but with an easier example.

Now, I’m simply trying to put a meal together.

def entree():
    options = "1) steak\n2) burger"
    print(options)
    entree_selection = int(input("Pick one."))
    if entree_selection == 1:
        entree_choice = "steak"
        side_dish()
    elif entree_selection == 2:
        entree_choice = "burger"
        side_dish()


def side_dish():
    entree_choice = entree()
    print(f"You chose {entree_choice}.")
    print("Now choose your side.")
    options = "1) baked potato\n2) green beans"
    print(options)
    side_selection = int(input("Pick one."))
    if side_selection == 1:
        side_choice = "baked potato"
        dessert()
    elif side_selection == 2:
        side_choice = "green beans"
        dessert()


def dessert():
    entree_choice = entree()
    side_choice = side_dish()
    print(f"So far we have {entree_choice} and {side_choice}.")
    print("How about dessert?")
    options = "1) cake\n2) ice cream"
    print(options)
    dessert_selection = int(input("Pick one."))
    if side_selection == 1:
        dessert_choice = "cake"
        your_meal()
    elif side_selection == 2:
        dessert_choice = "ice cream"
        your_meal()


def your_meal():
    entree_choice = entree()
    side_choice = side_dish()
    dessert_choice = dessert()
    print(
        f'You will be having {entree_choice} with {side_choice} and {dessert_choice}')


entree()
side_dish()
dessert()
your_meal()

The issue for me is that function a is repeating over and over without ever running function b

To be honest, I’ve lost track of all the things I have tried. I’ve tried at least 10 things from YouTube and at least the same number from here.

>Solution :

Function A is repeating because at the end of Function A, you call Function B, and at the beginning of Function B, you call Function A. Which restarts your loop.

Function B is always running, it just can’t ever finish because you have requested that Function B always reruns Function A.

In order to not repeat, you cannot request side_dish to rerun entree.

def side_dish():
    entree_choice = entree() # this is the problem
    print(f"You chose {entree_choice}.")
    print("Now choose your side.")

Instead, pass the entree_choice as a variable into your side_dish.

def side_dish(entree_choice):
    print(f"You chose {entree_choice}.")
    print("Now choose your side.")

To continue the example, you would then create a dessert function which takes in both of your previous choices.

def dessert(entree_choice, side_choice):
    print(f"So far we have {entree_choice} and {side_choice}.")
    print("How about dessert?")

Which naturally gets us to the final function:

def your_meal(entree_choice, side_choice, dessert_choice):

    print(
        f'You will be having {entree_choice} with {side_choice} and {dessert_choice}')

With all of that being said, I would recommend a slightly different implementation. Basically, have a "controller". This thing controls all of the logic at one single level.

entree_choice = entree()
side_choice = side_dish()
dessert_choice = dessert()
print(f'You will be having {entree_choice} with {side_choice} and {dessert_choice}')

In order to accomplish this, two things:

1. Modify your underlying entree function to not ask about the side choice. Instead let the controller ask.
2. Return the entree that they chose.

def entree():
    options = "1) steak\n2) burger"
    print(options)
    entree_selection = int(input("Pick one."))
    if entree_selection == 1:
        entree_choice = "steak"
        return entree_choice
    elif entree_selection == 2:
        entree_choice = "burger"
        return entree_choice