Currently delving into the pages of "Python 3 Object-Oriented Programming by Dusty Phillips," I stumbled upon a coding snippet that has left me scratching my head. It involves the use of square brackets [] following an if-else statement—a syntax unfamiliar to me.
My initial assumption was that it pertained to referencing a list, a belief that persists. However, I am keen on grasping the rationale behind this particular syntax. Despite scouring Google and Stack Overflow for insights, the examples and issues presented either contain items within the brackets or revolve around initializing a standard list.
def __init__(self, points=None):
points = points if points else []
self.vertices = []
for point in points:
if isinstance(point, tuple):
point = Point(*point)
self.vertices.append(point)
The line causing confusion within the code lies at line 2 where 'points' is defined. Your attention and assistance are greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read through.