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 Regular Expressions in Python Introduction to Regular Expressions The Basics

Tim Gast
Tim Gast
7,624 Points

when use the ()

Hi

I was wondering when I need to use () after a word. Sometimes I get the output by just typing the name and sometimes it is mandatory to put () behind it

basics.py
file_object = open('basics.txt')
data = file_object.read()

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,268 Points

Parentheses after a function name invoke (or "call") the function, causing it to run and return a value (if that's what it is designed to do).

But to access a value stored in an ordinary variable you only need the name.

Tim Gast
Tim Gast
7,624 Points

aha thankyou!