Welcome to the Treehouse Community
Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.
Looking to learn something new?
Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.
Start your free trial
Leah Kelly
4,141 Pointsstr looks like a function, so why is it acting like a variable?
Ashley uses str (which I think is a function) as a variable. Why is it acting like a variable?
3 Answers
Steven Parker
231,271 PointsIn the video, the instructor creates a variable named "str". This replaces the built-in function that normally has that name, but it's not a problem here since the function is not being used.
It is, however, a questionable choice for a variable name for the very reason that it "shadows" the common function (makes it not usable). In general, the "best practice" would be to always choose variable names that do not conflict with any common system resources.
Leah Kelly
4,141 PointsThanks! Before, I didn’t think I could use functions as variables.
Steven Parker
231,271 PointsNo function is being used here. The identifier "str" is being used solely as a variable. Now, normally it would have been a system-defined function, but that function is no longer accessible after the variable is created.
Leah Kelly
4,141 PointsOk, so they were only using what WOULD HAVE BEEN a function. Thanks again.