Function prints a value but returns none

Question

This function prints the nth fibonacci term.

def fib_recur(n, _prev=0, _cur=1, _i=1):
    if n <= 1: print(n)
    elif _i <= n: fib_recur(n, _cur, _cur+_prev, _i+1)
    else: print(_prev)

If altered to just return the nth term:

def fib_recur(n, _prev=0, _cur=1, _i=1):
    if n <= 1: return n    # <- this return does work
    elif _i <= n: fib_recur(n, _cur, _cur+_prev, _i+1)
    else: return _prev     # <- this return does not

The function prints a value but returns None.

Am I missing something or is there something I'm not understanding about the relationship between functions which print vs. return values?

Possible duplicate of [How is returning the output of a function different from printing it?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/750136/how-is-returning-the-output-of-a-function-different-from-printing-it) — OneCricketeer, Apr 10 '18 at 06:15
you are missing a `return` on your `elif`. When the function enters the recursion, the "bottommost" layer returns a value, which is then never returned any further up the chain. — Zinki, Apr 10 '18 at 06:15

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 10 '18 at 06:24

3

You missing the return in elif condition

def fib_recur(n, _prev=0, _cur=1, _i=1):
    if n <= 1: return n    
    elif _i <= n: return fib_recur(n, _cur, _cur+_prev, _i+1) # missing return
    else: return _prev

answered Apr 10 '18 at 06:24

Sunimal S.K Malkakulage

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Function prints a value but returns none

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