How to Check Variable Memory in Python

Memory management, including how to check the memory size of a variable, is a crucial aspect of any programming language, and Python is no exception.

Whether you’re working on optimizing your code, debugging a memory leak, or simply interested in understanding more about how your code is running, having the ability to ascertain how much memory your variables are utilizing can be incredibly insightful. This tutorial guides you through checking the memory size of a variable in Python.

Step 1: Install Pympler Package

First, we need to install the ‘Pympler’ package, which is a development tool in Python used to measure, monitor, and analyze the memory behavior of objects in Python in a more detailed way.

To install Pympler, you need to use Python’s package installer, pip. Below is the command to install it:

Now, after having properly installed the Pympler package, we can get started with checking the variable memory in Python.

Step 2: Import asizeof from Pympler

Now, you should import ‘asizeof’ from the ‘Pympler’ package. You can do so using the following command:

The ‘asizeof’ function is used to get the memory size of an object or a variable in bytes.

Step 3: Define the Variable

This step involves the definition or initialization of the variable whose memory size is to be checked.

For instance, we will define a list named ‘test’, as shown below:

Step 4: Check the memory size of a variable

Finally, use the ‘asizeof.asizeof()’ function to determine the memory size of your variable, which is ‘test’ in our case. Execute the command as follows:

The output will tell you the memory size of your ‘test’ variable in bytes.

Your Full Code

Here is the full code if you’ve chosen to follow step by step:

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Conclusion

By using Pympler, a development tool kit designed and maintained primarily for Python’s memory management dynamics, we’re able to easily and accurately determine the memory size for any variable.

This offers extremely beneficial user-friendly insights and advantages, from code debugging to optimization and more. Utilizing Pympler’s ‘asizeof’ feature, you now have the capability to check and understand the memory behavior of your objects or variable in Python, thereby leading to more efficient and effective coding processes.