交互式 Shell 打印函数显示 SyntaxError: invalid syntax

Question

Hello everyone I was working on a exercise and also new to the syntax of the use of python. I tried to write this code to show the Max Number:

def maxNum(a,c):
    if a>c:
        return a
    else:
        return c
        
print(maxNum(16,20))

a little background when I use maxNum(16,20) or print(maxNum(16,20)) I get a SyntaxError: invalid syntax in the interactive shell however when I use a new window and run the above script the answer 20 is shown. Why is it the above script has to be ran from a new window and not in the shell it to work? In addition is there a website that shows when or how to indent? Thanks

Answer 1

You have extra spaces on the apparently empty line between the end of the function definition and the print call. With that, the interpreter is expecting more content in the function. To end a compound statement in an interactive session, you need two linefeeds in a row.

Answer 2

You need to validate the function definition by pressing [ENTER] and then put the rest of code

def maxNum(a,c):
    if a>c:
        return a
    else:
        return c
        

print(maxNum(16,20))