Adding variables to global space using globals()

Question

i am using globals() and locals() to view the variables in the global and local space. however i am able to add variables to the global space using globals() but not able to add local variables using locals().

x=10
def show():
    y=20
    locals()['k']=40
    print(locals()['k'])
    print("k=",k)# generates error
    

show()
print(globals())
globals()['newkey']=77
print(globals())
print("newkey=",newkey)# shows error in editor typing but runs properly

how can we add local variable using locals

Perhaps this can help: [https://stackoverflow.com/a/8028772/8089674](https://stackoverflow.com/a/8028772/8089674) — Robo Mop, Sep 05 '21 at 09:15
technically you add it but you cannot retrieve its value in that way... — cards, Sep 05 '21 at 10:00

cards · Answer 1 · 2021-09-05T10:21:54.020

Using locals/globals dictionary initialization you split the initialization as a key pair, a string with the variable identifier and its value. So each time the you need the value you have to deal with a string as a dictionary key or a string to be evaluated.

def a():
    locals()['k'] = 40
    print('k' in locals())

    print(f"k={locals()['k']}") # dict-way

    print(f"k={eval('k')}") # eval-way

Output

True # so it is in the name space!
k=40
k=40

Remark: if you try to call the variable directly k the compiler will complain raising a NameError: name 'k' is not defined exception.

Adding variables to global space using globals()

1 Answers1