Python Forum

This is my Code:

def test():
    exec("a=100")
    print(a)
    
test()

The Traceback i get is this:

Error:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Users\lab135\Desktop\test.py", line 5, in <module>
    test()
  File "C:\Users\lab135\Desktop\test.py", line 3, in test
    print(a)
NameError: name 'a' is not defined

It does not work.
However,

exec("a=100")
print(a)

It works, why?
In my situation, I need to put it in the function.

1st you should avid using exec
It does work:

>>> def test():
...     exec("a=100")
...     print(a)
... 
>>> test()
100
>>>

The proper way:

>>> def test():
...     a = 100
...     print(a)
... 
>>> test()
100
print(a)

(Jun-14-2021, 01:01 PM)Larz60+ Wrote: [ -> ]1st you should avid using exec
It does work:

>>> def test():
...     exec("a=100")
...     print(a)
... 
>>> test()
100
>>>

The proper way:

>>> def test():
...     a = 100
...     print(a)
... 
>>> test()
100
print(a)

>>> def test():
...     exec("a=100")
...     print(a)
...
>>> test()
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
  File "<stdin>", line 3, in test
NameError: name 'a' is not defined

Which version are you using? I am using 3.9.5 and it does not work.

I get a name error when running the program. Maybe a difference between Windows and Linux? exec() is obviously creating a new scope and "a" has not been defined outside that scope.

This works:

def test():
    exec("global a; a=100")
    print(a)

test()

Output:
100

And as expected, this does not.

a = 42

def test():
    exec("a=100")
    print(a)

test()

Output:
42

(Jun-14-2021, 01:22 PM)deanhystad Wrote: [ -> ]I get a name error when running the program. Maybe a difference between Windows and Linux? exec() is obviously creating a new scope and "a" has not been defined outside that scope.

This works:

def test():
    exec("global a; a=100")
    print(a)

test()

Output:
100

And as expected, this does not.

a = 42

def test():
    exec("a=100")
    print(a)

test()

Output:
42

Thank you very much. It is very useful. It helps me a lot.

This is interesting.

def test():
    a = 0
    exec("print(dir())")

test()

Output:
['a']

exec is "inheriting" variables defined in the local scope, but these must not be the same variables. Changing the variable "inside" exec does not change the value "outside" exec.

def test():
    a = 0
    exec("print(a);a=5;print(a)")
    print(a)

test()

Output:
0
5
0

This is similar to what happens when using fork. In the Unix/Linux world the forked process shares the same variables as the parent process. Changing "a" in the forked process changes "a" in the parent because a is the same variable, resides in the same memory. In Windows a brand new process is created for the fork and the parent process and forked process are separate. The forked process has the same variable names and initial values, but the forked variables are not the same variables that were defined in the parent process.