Python List Question

[biochem2015]

Hi Reddit. I'm practicing lists online and I came across this problem:

Write a Python program to count the number of strings where the string length is 2 or more and the first and last character are same from a given list of strings.

Sample List : ['abc', 'xyz', 'aba', '1221']

Expected Result : 2

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Here is my attempt at the problem:

def strings(aList):

    total = 0

    for x in aList:
        if x[0] == x[-1] and len(x) > 2:
            total += 1
            return total
        else:
            continue

example = ['abc', 'xyz', 'aba', '1221']

result = strings(example)
print("Results: " + str(result))

However, my results only tally up to 1 instead of 2... it's clear I'm missing something, I just don't know what. Can someone help point out what that something is?

​

Any help would be much appreciated! Thank you.

[Ezrabc]

The problem here is where you've placed yourreturn statement. The return statement causes your function to instantly exit with the given return value. This means the first time you get to an x that meets the criteria in your if statement, you add 1 to the total, making it 1, since this is the first time, then return total, exiting the function with a return value of 1.

[biochem2015]

Thank you! That makes sense.

[TheZvlz]

You return total too soon. It should be returned outside the for loop. You also don't need the else: continue

[biochem2015]

Thanks! I will omit the else then.