Q: what does if __name__ == "__main__" signifiy?

__name__ is a variable Python automatically sets for every file/module.

• Run directly (e.g. python ft_garden_intro.py) → __name__ is set to the fixed string "__main__" (filename is irrelevant here)
• Imported (e.g. import ft_garden_intro) → __name__ is set to the filename itself: "ft_garden_intro"

__main__ is a literal string with a fixed, constant value.

Q: What is an import in Python?

In Python, as with other OOP languages, programmer can import another script/module to resuse its functions, classes, and variables.

Standard practice: Utilize guard clause: if __name__ == "__main__"

We add this clause

if __name__ == "__main__":
    program_function_name() 

e.g.

if __name__ == "__main__":
    ft_garden_intro() 

Adding this clause enables us to

• Run the current file (e.g. ft_garden_intro.py as a standalone file to be interpreted and executed)
• Be called (imported) by another program without auto-running