Python: How to use named variables from one function in other functions

Question

I'm a newbie programmer trying to make a program, using Python 3.3.2, that has a main() function which calls function1(), then loops function2() and function3().

My code generally looks like this:

def function1():
    print("hello")

def function2():
    name = input("Enter name: ")

def function3():
    print(name)

def main():
    function1()
    while True:
        funtion2()
        function3()
        if name == "":
            break

main()

Currently, I get the following error when I run the program and enter a name:

NameError: global name 'name' is not defined

I understand that this is because name is only defined within function2(). How do I make it so that name is defined as a 'global name', or somehow be able to use it within function3() and main().

Thanks in advance.

Ashwini Chaudhary · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-13 06:08:33Z

5

Don't try to define it a global variable, return it instead:

def function2():
    name = input("Enter name: ")
    return name

def function3():
    print(function2())

If you want to use variables defined in function to be available across all functions then use a class:

class A(object):

   def function1(self):
       print("hello")

   def function2(self):
       self.name = input("Enter name: ")

   def function3():
       print(self.name)

   def main(self):  
       self.function1()
       while True:
          funtion2()
          function3()
          if not self.name:
              break

A().main()

edited Nov 13, 2013 at 6:08

answered Nov 13, 2013 at 6:00

Ashwini Chaudhary

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2 Comments

Abdallah Over a year ago

I tried this but now it returns this error:

Traceback (most recent call last):   File "I:\School\ITEC 1150-02\Address book group assignment\TEAMLAB2.py", line 43, in <module>     A().main()   File "I:\School\ITEC 1150-02\Address book group assignment\TEAMLAB2.py", line 37, in main     function2() NameError: global name 'function2()' is not defined

Abdallah Over a year ago

Nevermind, I got it to work; used self.function2() instead of just function2(). Thanks a bunch!

willy · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-13 06:01:13Z

3

Define the variable outside of your functions, and then declare it first as global inside with the global keyword. Although, this is almost always a bad idea because of all of the horrendous bugs you'll end up creating with global state.

answered Nov 13, 2013 at 6:01

willy

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