Using unicode variable names in Python

Question

I want to use Unicode variable names for writing some math code in Python.

I tried the following

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
α  = 1
β = 3
print α + β

But I get the error

[~/Desktop]$ python fun.py
  File "fun.py", line 2
    α  = 1
    ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

How can I fix this?

@user2357112: does that `print α + β` not give enough of a hint to that? — Jongware, Nov 16 '18 at 22:28
In Python 2.7 you can have unicode characters but not unicode names. — Peter Wood, Nov 16 '18 at 22:30
@usr2564301: It gives a hint, but only a hint. The same problem could occur on Python 3 with invisible Unicode characters on the alpha line, and parsing wouldn't reach the `print`. — user2357112, Nov 16 '18 at 22:30

score -2 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 16 '18 at 22:28

-2

I don't believe you can.. Special characters (with the exception of the underscore and the dollar sign) aren't allowed in variables

answered Nov 16 '18 at 22:28

Amar Nabhani

1 Answers1