Strings & Text Processing — Lesson 4: Build a digital name badge

New skill: Formatting and multiple parameters
Previously learned: Units 01–06

Why this matters

The same formatting rules can serve an event sign-in screen, classroom app, or simple roster.

Step 1 — Explore working Python

Read the program below. Before running it, write down the result you expect.

name = '  nOVA  '
role = ' student '
clean_name = name.strip().title()
clean_role = role.strip().upper()
print(clean_name + ' | ' + clean_role)

Step 2 — Trace the code

1. Normalize each input separately, so each rule is easy to test.
2. Use .title() for the display name and .upper() for the role.
3. Combine the results with the exact separator ' | '.

Step 3 — Check your understanding

Predict the output when the name is ' aLEX KIM ' and the role is 'helper'.

Step 4 — Watch for this mistake

Output punctuation and spaces are part of the function contract. Do not add extra quotation marks around the result.

Practice: Build a digital name badge

Complete format_badge(name, role) to return the trimmed name in title case, then `

`, then the trimmed role in uppercase.

Function contract: format_badge(name, role)
Starter file: main.py

Work in the editor, using Run to explore and Check to compare against the published examples. Your submitted code, not the public check, determines the recorded score.

Hint 1 — Start

Use `.strip().title()` for the name.

Hint 2 — Build

Use `.strip().upper()` for the role.

Hint 3 — Test

Return the formatted string instead of printing it.

Reflect

In 3–5 sentences, explain the algorithm you chose, one test case you predicted, and how you would detect an incorrect answer.

Optional reading

For another perspective on this skill, see How to Think Like a Computer Scientist (interactive textbook). This Playground lesson, worked example, and exercise are original; no textbook passages were reproduced.