Converting a javascript Coding to Python Coding for Elfish Program

Question

I was looking for a program to do the elfish instances. Then I found this javascript code on the web.

var containsE;
var containsL; 
var containsF; 
function elfish(str){
 var checkLetter = str[str.length - 1]; 
 if (checkLetter === "e"){
 containsE = true;
 }
 else if (checkLetter === "l"){
 containsL = true; 
 }
 else if (checkLetter === "f"){
 containsF = true; 
 }
 // base case 
 if (str.length === 0)
 if (containsE && containsL && containsF){
 return true; 
 }
 else {
 return false; 
 }
 // if not base case 
 return elfish(str.slice(0, str.length - 1)); 
}
elfish("whiteleaf"); 

I wonder if it is possible to guide me to convert the code into python with an explanation? the python version is 2.73

• Simon Crane: Could you explain what the desired output of the code should be?
• Michael Butscher: Try it yourself. If you have a specific question, you can ask here.
• fulniz: Hi, so for the output, if the user enter the word waffles then it is a elfish

Answer 1

I think there is nothing special to explain here. Python is very self-explaining in your case. To keep it readable i added parenthesis in the if statement. You could just leave them:

while True:
 # type in which word you want
 s = input() 
 # if some letter in your string was found
 if ('e' in s) and ('l' in s) and ('f' in s): 
 print('true')
 else:
 print('false')

• fulniz: Thank you for the guidance and the explanation!
• Heini: If this solved your question i would be glad if you mark it as answered. :)