Making a first-class Function with arguments in Python

Question

My issue is simple: I want to make a first-class function in python that has some arguments in it. But the problem is that to assign it, you need to call it, wich can be problematic

def print_double(num):
    print(num*2)
a = print_double(4)

I don't want to call it when I assign it, I would like to call it when I need it. Something like:

a()
>>> 8

Is there any way I can do it?

Answer 1

As written, your code would throw an error - NoneType is not callable.

To do what you've shown, you'd need to curry the function

def print_double(num):
    def inner():
       print(num*2)
    return inner 

a = print_double(4)
a()  # 8