Variable Scope in Python

In general, a variable that is defined in a block is available in that block only. It is not accessible outside the block. Such a variable is called a local variable. Formal argument identifiers also behave as local variables.

The following example will underline this point. An attempt to print a local variable outside its scope will raise the NameError exception.

Example: Local Variable

def greet():
  name = 'Steve'
  print('Hello ', name)
  
greet()
print(name) #NameError

Try it

Here, name is a local variable for the greet() function and is not accessible outside of it.

Any variable present outside any function block is called a global variable. Its value is accessible from inside any function. In the following example, the name variable is initialized before the function definition. Hence, it is a global variable.

Example: Global Variable

name='John'
def greet():
  print ("Hello ", name)
  
greet()  
print(name)

Try it

Here, you can access the global variable name because it has been defined out of a function.

However, if we assign another value to a globally declared variable inside the function, a new local variable is created in the function's namespace. This assignment will not alter the value of the global variable. For example:

Example: Local and Global Variables

name = 'Steve'
def greet():
    name = 'Bill'
    print('Hello ', name)  #Hello Bill

greet()  
print(name) #steve

Try it

Now, changing the value of global variable name inside a function will not affect its global value.

If you need to access and change the value of the global variable from within a function, this permission is granted by the global keyword.

Example: Access Global Variables

name = 'Steve'
def greet():
    global name
    name = 'Bill'
    print('Hello ', name)

greet()  
print(name) #Bill

Try it

The above would display the following output in the Python shell.

It is also possible to use a global and local variable with the same name simultaneously. Built-in function globals() returns a dictionary object of all global variables and their respective values. Using the name of the variable as a key, its value can be accessed and modified.

Example: Global Variables

name = 'Steve'
def greet():
  globals()['name'] = 'Ram'
  name='Steve'
  print ('Hello ', name)
  
greet()  
print(name) #Ram

Try it

The result of the above code shows a conflict between the global and local variables with the same name and how it is resolved.

Visit Globals and Locals in Python for more information.