python - How to stop a function

Question

For example:

def main():
    if something == True:
        player()
    elif something_else == True:
        computer()

def player():
    # do something here
    check_winner()  # check something 
    computer()  # let the computer do something

def check_winner(): 
    check something
    if someone wins:
        end()   


def computer():
    # do something here
    check_winner() # check something
    player() # go back to player function


def end():
    if condition:
        # the player wants to play again:
        main()
    elif not condition:
        # the player doesn't want to play again:
        # stop the program

     
    # whatever i do here won't matter because it will go back to player() or computer()

main()  # start the program

My problem is that if a certain condition becomes true (in the function check_winner) and function end() executes it will go back to computer() or player() because there's no line that tells the computer to stop executing player() or computer(). How do you stop functions in Python?

Answer 1

A simple return statement will 'stop' or return the function; in precise terms, it 'returns' function execution to the point at which the function was called - the function is terminated without further action.

That means you could have a number of places throughout your function where it might return. Like this:

def player():
    # do something here
    check_winner_variable = check_winner()  # check something 
    if check_winner_variable == '1': 
        return
    second_test_variable = second_test()
    if second_test_variable == '1': 
        return
       
    # let the computer do something
    computer()