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

item.py

I can't understand why my code will not work. Could someone please help me?

item.py
import random

def random_item("string"):
    item = random.randint("string")
    return item
# random_item("Treehouse")
# The randomly selected number is 4.
# The return value would be "h"

1 Answer

Clayton Perszyk
MOD
Clayton Perszyk
Treehouse Moderator 48,850 Points

Hey Robbie,

Firstly, your function needs to take a string argument, not be a string itself. Next, randint will need two arguments, check this resource to see what I mean. Then you need to figure out the two arguments to pass to randint so you get a number between zero and the length of the string; randint will then return a number, so instead of item, you might want to name your variable index. Lastly return the character in the string, using the number stored in index.

Sorry that was kind of a rambling answer, so let me know if you need any clarifications.