Changing variables is an essential aspect of programming. Variables are simply containers that can store values, and these values can change during runtime depending on the program logic.
However, changing a variable’s value outside a function in Python can be a bit tricky for beginners. This tutorial will show you how to change a variable outside of a function in Python.
Step 1: Understanding Scope
Understanding variable scope is essential when changing variables outside of a function. In Python, variables have a scope, which refers to the region where a variable can be accessed and modified. There are two types of variable scope in Python: global and local scope.
Step 2: Using Global Keyword
To change a variable outside a function in Python, we need to use the global keyword. The global keyword allows us to access and modify a variable from within a function. To use the global keyword, follow these steps:
1. Declare the variable outside the function.
2. Inside the function, add the global keyword before the variable name.
3. Modify the variable as needed inside the function.
Here is an example:
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value = 10 def change_value(): global value value = 20 change_value() print(value) # Output: 20 |
In this example, we declared a variable named “value” outside the function. Inside the function, we added the global keyword before the variable name.
This tells Python that we want to modify the global variable named “value”. Finally, we called the function and printed the value of the variable, which is now 20.
Step 3: Using Return Statement
Another way to change a variable outside of a function is by using the return statement. The return statement allows us to return a value from a function and assign it to a variable outside the function.
Here is an example:
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def add_numbers(x, y): return x + y result = add_numbers(5, 10) print(result) # Output: 15 |
In this example, we defined a function called “add_numbers” that takes two arguments and returns their sum. We then called the function and assigned the returned value to a variable named “result”. Finally, we printed the value of the “result” variable, which is 15.
Conclusion
In conclusion, changing a variable outside a function in Python can be achieved by using the global keyword or return statement. By using these techniques, we can modify variables outside of their scope and make our code more flexible and modular.
Full Code
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value = 10 def change_value(): global value value = 20 change_value() print(value) # Output: 20 def add_numbers(x, y): return x + y result = add_numbers(5, 10) print(result) # Output: 15 |