Python: How do you make an area code finder? - python-2.7

Question

def areacode():
code={}
cont='Yes'
while cont == 'Yes':
num=int(raw_input('Type in a zip code:')
if num==407:
print "Found in Florida"
elif num==718:
print "Found in New York"
elif num==201:
print "Found in New Jersey"
elif num==408:
print "Found in California"
else:
print "Zip code not found."
cont=raw_input("Would you like to continue? Yes or No?: ")
I am stuck on how to continue and what to do next. I know what I have is not much, but any direction as to where to go on next would be nice. How would I make this into a nested dictionary?
And there happens to be an error in my if statement, it's telling me that there is an invalid syntax. I don't seem to see what's wrong though.

Answer 1

It seems like you have a good start and a few options ahead of you.
Make sure you're reading the proper documentation when you look at the following advice.
1.) You could check the site's information in real time. I wouldn't recommend this method as, though it is facilitated in Python, it's still the most difficult option and, at your presumed level, I'd assume it's overkill.
If you wanted to go this route however, I would check here for more information -- there's a module to help you out!
2.) Grab the data yourself, stick it in a text file (or CSV, which is a type of data file prime for this type of activity) and then have your program grab data from the text file. It's much easier to grab information in the format you want when you're doing the "heavy lifting" as it were, of getting the information from the website. I'd suggest this method because the state-zip code relation is not likely to change in the time span that you'll be using this program.
3.) Hardcode the zip code - state combinations. This is not recommended and would take a very, very, long time.
Basically, your options are between difficulty in coding and difficulty at run time. 3 is the longest to code, but the easiest to use (don't do 3). 1 is the theoretically easiest (when talking about program length) to code but the hardest to run (as it has to grab the data each time).
I would, as you've probably gathered, suggest 2. Take the data how you want it, put it in a text file in the same folder as the program, and use this documentation to get you in the right direction.
Good luck!