Python Object Basics: Functions, Recursion, and Objects
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Python Object Basics: Functions, Recursion, and Objects
This course is part of Programming in Python: A Hands-on Introduction Specialization
Instructors: Patrick Ester
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What you'll learn
Define and use custom functions to improve code readability
When and how to use recursion instead of iteration
Create and modify custom objects
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There are 4 modules in this course
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This course is designed for learners with limited coding experience, providing a solid foundation of not just python, but core Computer Science topics that can be transferred to other languages. The modules in this course cover functions, recursion, objects, and mutability. Completion of the prior 2 courses in this specialization are recommended. To allow for a truly hands-on, self-paced learning experience, this course is video-free. Assignments contain short explanations with images and runnable code examples with suggested edits to explore code examples further, building a deeper understanding by doing. You'll benefit from instant feedback from a variety of assessment items along the way, gently progressing from quick understanding checks (multiple choice, fill in the blank, and un-scrambling code blocks) to small, approachable coding exercises that take minutes instead of hours.
Welcome to Week 1 of the Python Object Basics: Functions, Recursion, and Objects course. These assignments cover re-using pieces of code by wrapping them in functions. You can create functions that take in and/or return data. The module ends with a lab and graded coding exercises.
What's included
8 readings7 app items
8 readings•Total 16 minutes
- Navigating Codio Assignments•5 minutes
- Function Basics Lesson Notes (Optional Download)•1 minute
- Parameters Lesson Notes (Optional Download)•1 minute
- Variable Scope Lesson Notes (Optional Download)•1 minute
- Returning Values Lesson Notes (Optional Download)•1 minute
- Advanced Function Concepts Lesson Notes (Optional Download)•1 minute
- Functions Lab (Review and Practice) Lesson Notes (Optional Download)•1 minute
- How to Reset an Assignment in Codio•5 minutes
7 app items•Total 240 minutes
- Codio: Functions Coding Exercises•45 minutes
- Codio: Function Basics•30 minutes
- Codio: Parameters•30 minutes
- Codio: Variable Scope•30 minutes
- Codio: Returning Values•30 minutes
- Codio: Advanced Function Concepts•30 minutes
- Codio: Functions Lab•45 minutes
Welcome to Week 2 of the Python Object Basics: Functions, Recursion, and Objects course. These assignments cover creating recursive functions and identifying when recursion can be used instead of traditional iteration. The module ends with a lab and graded coding exercises.
What's included
2 readings3 app items
2 readings•Total 2 minutes
- What is Recursion? Lesson Notes (Optional Download)•1 minute
- Recursion Lab (Review and Practice) Lesson Notes (Optional Download)•1 minute
3 app items•Total 120 minutes
- Codio: Recursion Coding Exercises•45 minutes
- Codio: What is Recursion?•30 minutes
- Codio: Recursion Lab•45 minutes
Welcome to Week 3 of the Python Object Basics: Functions, Recursion, and Objects course. These assignments cover creating user-defined classes and how to instantiate an object based on these classes. The module ends with a lab and graded coding exercises.
What's included
2 readings3 app items
2 readings•Total 2 minutes
- Classes and Objects Lesson Notes (Optional Download)•1 minute
- Intro to Objects Lab (Review and Practice) Lesson Notes (Optional Download)•1 minute
3 app items•Total 120 minutes
- Codio: Intro to Objects Coding Exercises•45 minutes
- Codio: Classes and Objects•30 minutes
- Codio: Intro to Objects Lab•45 minutes
Welcome to Week 4 of the Python Object Basics: Functions, Recursion, and Objects course. These assignments cover changing attributes associated with an object through methods. The module ends with a lab and graded coding exercises.
What's included
4 readings5 app items
4 readings•Total 4 minutes
- Changing Objects with Functions Lesson Notes (Optional Download)•1 minute
- Changing Objects with Methods Lesson Notes (Optional Download)•1 minute
- Class and Static Methods Lesson Notes (Optional Download)•1 minute
- Mutability Lab (Review and Practice) Lesson Notes (Optional Download)•1 minute
5 app items•Total 180 minutes
- Codio: Mutability Coding Exercises•45 minutes
- Codio: Changing Objects with Functions•30 minutes
- Codio: Changing Objects with Methods•30 minutes
- Codio: Class and Static Methods•30 minutes
- Codio: Mutability Lab•45 minutes
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Reviewed on Oct 13, 2025
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