A variable in Python is defined when we assign some value to it. We don’t declare it beforehand, like we do in C and other languages. We just start using it.
x = 141
Any variable we declare at the top level of a file or module is in global scope. We can access it inside functions.
A variable should have the narrowest scope it needs to do its job.
In given code
x = 141 def foo(): x = 424 #local variable print x foo() print x
OUTPUT
424 141
Explanation:
When we assign the value 424 to x inside foo we actually declare a new local variable called x in the local scope of that function. That x has absolutely no relation to the x in global scope. When the function ends, that variable with the value of 424 does not exist anymore. So when the second print x statement is executed, the global value of x is printed.
If the global value of a variable is to be maintained in a local scope, the global keyword is used as follows in the code.
x = 141 def foo(): global x x = 424 print(x) foo() print(x)
OUTPUT
424 424
