Rename Variable in Python Based on Condition

Question

Let a=5 and b=6, I want to switch values when a < b. I can attempt this by making temporary variable say using code below

if a < b:
   a_temp = b
   b_temp = a
a = a_temp
b = b_temp

Is there an elegant way to do this without creating temporary variables?

You can swap both in a single assignment with `if a < b: a, b = b, a`, or using `min`, `max` or unpack `sorted`: `b, a = sorted((a, b))` — tobias_k, Sep 06 '22 at 07:50
[Also check this question](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/14836228/is-there-a-standardized-method-to-swap-two-variables-in-python) — RunOrVeith, Sep 06 '22 at 07:53

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 06 '22 at 07:51

1

a,b = max(a,b),min(a,b)

Assigns to a the maximum value and to b the minimum value, which seems to be what you are looking for

answered Sep 06 '22 at 07:51

Enrico Agrusti

1 Answers1