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![Hydar Omar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/12811baec3b2785ff85a6b0aef2d8b1d?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fecs-static.teamtreehouse.com%2Fassets%2Fcontent%2Fdefault_avatar-445fbbabfc8dc9188fb5967fe43322ee0c3e0dd1e10f378bf8343784af5a13eb.webp&r=pg)
Hydar Omar
1,582 PointsDISPLAY THE LIST
In the display the list task, why are users able to input a string into the terminal to append the list even though there isn't an input code.
shopping_list = []
def show_help():
print("What should we pick up at the store?")
print("""
Enter 'DONE' to stop adding items.
Enter 'HELP' for this help.
Enter 'SHOW' to show the shopping list
""")
def add_to_list(item):
shopping_list.append(item)
print( "Item has been added to the list, There are now", len(shopping_list), "items in the list")
def show_list():
print("Here's your list: ")
for item in shopping_list:
print(item)
show_help()
while True:
new_item = input("> ")
if new_item == 'DONE':
break
elif new_item == 'HELP':
continue
elif new_item == 'SHOW':
show_help()
continue
add_to_list(new_item)
show_list()
2 Answers
![Eldin Guzin](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ec567e1e33717a16da4b26a71fec450d?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fecs-static.teamtreehouse.com%2Fassets%2Fcontent%2Fdefault_avatar-445fbbabfc8dc9188fb5967fe43322ee0c3e0dd1e10f378bf8343784af5a13eb.webp&r=pg)
Eldin Guzin
6,010 Pointsnew_item = input("> ") is your input code. It then proceeds to execute the add_to_list method which you can guess what it does. The show_help function just prints out the instructions for the user if that confused you. Hope this helps !
![Chaquayla Halmon](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c9927cac91858c009df9ab8c8c4ac9ef?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fecs-static.teamtreehouse.com%2Fassets%2Fcontent%2Fdefault_avatar-445fbbabfc8dc9188fb5967fe43322ee0c3e0dd1e10f378bf8343784af5a13eb.webp&r=pg)
Chaquayla Halmon
1,797 PointsThat's a great question. It has me wondering as well. So would this be similar to a sort of order of coding. So the program skips the add_to_list and the show_list functions because they are "empty' and goes to the while loop, which asks for the input. Therefore adding to both of those functions. Right? >.>