How do you change the direction of the turtle in Python?

You change the direction of the turtle in Python using functions like left() (lt()) or right() (rt()), specifying the turn angle in degrees.

The Python turtle module provides straightforward commands to control the turtle's movement and orientation on the drawing canvas. To change which way the turtle is facing, you use turning functions.

Methods for Changing Turtle Direction

The primary ways to change the turtle's direction involve turning it by a specific angle.

Turning Left or Right

Based on the provided reference, the most direct ways to change the turtle's direction are by turning it left or right using degrees.

• Turn Left: Use the left() or its shorter alias lt(). This function rotates the turtle counter-clockwise by the specified number of degrees.

  • Syntax: turtle.left(angle) or turtle.lt(angle)
  • Example: turtle.left(90) would turn the turtle 90 degrees to the left.

• Turn Right: Use the right() or its shorter alias rt(). This function rotates the turtle clockwise by the specified number of degrees.

  • Syntax: turtle.right(angle) or turtle.rt(angle)
  • Example: turtle.right(45) would turn the turtle 45 degrees to the right.

These functions only change the turtle's orientation; they do not move the turtle's position on the screen.

Here is a summary of these basic turning commands:

Function	Alias	Description	Argument Type
turtle.left()	lt()	Turns the turtle counter-clockwise.	Degrees (int/float)
turtle.right()	rt()	Turns the turtle clockwise.	Degrees (int/float)

Moving in an Arc with circle()

While not a simple turn-in-place, the circle() function also causes the turtle to change direction continuously as it moves.

• Draw a Circle/Arc: The circle() function moves the turtle forward along an arc. The direction of the curve depends on the radius and the extent (number of degrees) specified. As per the reference, it curves the turtle to the left.
  • Syntax: turtle.circle(radius, extent=None, steps=None)
  • Example: turtle.circle(50, 180) would make the turtle move along a semi-circle with a radius of 50 units, turning as it goes. This effectively changes its direction over time.

Setting Absolute Direction (setheading)

Another common method (not explicitly listed in the provided reference but widely used in the turtle module) is setheading() or seth(). This allows you to set the turtle's orientation to an absolute angle (0 is East, 90 is North, 180 is West, 270 is South).

• Set Heading: Use turtle.setheading(to_angle) or turtle.seth(to_angle). This function immediately points the turtle in the direction of to_angle degrees.
  • Example: turtle.setheading(0) points the turtle towards the positive x-axis (right). turtle.setheading(90) points it towards the positive y-axis (up).

Using left() or right() is useful for relative turns (e.g., "turn 90 degrees from wherever I am facing"), while setheading() is useful for absolute turns (e.g., "point directly North").

Changing the turtle's direction is fundamental to drawing shapes and paths in the turtle module. By combining these turning functions with movement functions like forward() (fd()) or backward() (bk()), you can control the turtle's path precisely.