Converting input into numbers

Build the idea

Start with the concept and its key vocabulary.

Key idea

Use int() or float() to cast input into a suitable numeric type.

Python input is always a string. Cast it before a numeric calculation: int(input(...)) for a whole number or float(input(...)) for a decimal. OCR ERL also publishes real() as an alternative decimal cast. str() creates text, while bool() converts a value to a Boolean: for example, bool(1) is true.

Casting

Converting one data type into another.

int()

A cast that converts a suitable value into an integer.

float() / real()

Casts that convert a suitable value into a decimal number.

str()

A cast that converts a value into a string.

bool()

A cast that converts a suitable value into a Boolean.

Keep these in mind

Use int() for whole-number input.
Use float() or ERL real() for decimal input.
Use str() when a number must be concatenated into text.
Use bool() to convert a suitable value to true or false.

Build the idea

Start with the concept and its key vocabulary.

Key idea

Use int() or float() to cast input into a suitable numeric type.

Casting

Converting one data type into another.

int()

A cast that converts a suitable value into an integer.

float() / real()

Casts that convert a suitable value into a decimal number.

str()

A cast that converts a value into a string.

bool()

A cast that converts a suitable value into a Boolean.

Keep these in mind

Use int() for whole-number input.
Use float() or ERL real() for decimal input.
Use str() when a number must be concatenated into text.
Use bool() to convert a suitable value to true or false.