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

Python Python Basics (2015) Letter Game App Random Item

Cameron Andersen
Cameron Andersen
2,649 Points

Having trouble starting

Having some trouble starting this. For some reason I always want to declare a variable here to start the function, something like word = "apple" but I don't think that's right. Can someone help me out with the intro for this code challenge, the rest I understand and can set up myself. Thanks

item.py
import random

def random_item(word):
  if for while???????

# EXAMPLE
# random_item("Treehouse")
# The randomly selected number is 4.
# The return value would be "h"

I don't know know what you are trying to do, but here is a solution:

import random

def random_item(word):
  index = random.randint(0, len(word) - 1)
  return word[index]

# EXAMPLE
# random_item("Treehouse")
# The randomly selected number is 4.
# The return value would be "h"

HOW IT WORKS: It takes a random index (indexes can only be from 0 to the length of the string minus one). Next it returns the word of that index! :D

Hope it helps! ~xela888

1 Answer

import random

def random_item(word):
  index = random.randint(0, len(word) - 1)
  return word[index]

# EXAMPLE
# random_item("Treehouse")
# The randomly selected number is 4.
# The return value would be "h"