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Scope Resolution Via LEGB Rule

The LEGB rule determines the order in which Python searches namespaces to resolve variable scopes. The scopes are: Local (L): Defined inside a function or class. Enclosed (E): Defined in enclosing functions (nested functions). Global (G): Defined at the top level of a module. Built-in (B): Names in Python's built-in modules. Python first searches the local scope, then outer scopes like enclosed and global, before checking the built-in scope. The LEGB rule resolves variable names by searching each scope in order until it finds a match.

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193 views8 pages

Scope Resolution Via LEGB Rule

The LEGB rule determines the order in which Python searches namespaces to resolve variable scopes. The scopes are: Local (L): Defined inside a function or class. Enclosed (E): Defined in enclosing functions (nested functions). Global (G): Defined at the top level of a module. Built-in (B): Names in Python's built-in modules. Python first searches the local scope, then outer scopes like enclosed and global, before checking the built-in scope. The LEGB rule resolves variable names by searching each scope in order until it finds a match.

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Arpana
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Scope resolution via LEGB rule

In Python, the LEGB rule is used to decide the order in which the


namespaces are to be searched for scope resolution.
The scopes are listed below in terms of hierarchy (highest to
lowest/narrowest to broadest):

• Local(L): Defined inside function/class

• Enclosed(E): Defined inside enclosing functions (Nested function


concept)

• Global(G): Defined at the uppermost level

 Built-in(B): Reserved names in Python built-in modules

LEGB Scopes of Variables

Local Scope
Local scope refers to variables defined in the current function. Always,
a function will first look up a variable name in its local scope. Only if it
does not find it there, the outer scopes are checked.

Example:

# Local Scope

Example 1: Local Scope

Output:

# Output: Local Scope

Explanation 1

Local and Global Scopes

If a variable is not defined in the local scope, then, it is checked for in


the higher scope, in this case, the global scope.
If you define a variable at the top of your script, it will be a global
variable. This means that it is accessible from anywhere in your script,
including from within a function.

# Global Scope

Example 2: Global Scope

Output:

Output: Global Scope

Explanation 2

Example 2:

Code:

#Global Variable
Example 2: Global Variables

Output:

Output: Global Variables

Explanation 3

Example 3:

Code:

#Global Variable
Example 3: Global Variables

Output:

Output: Global variables

Explanation 4

Local, Enclosed and Global Scopes

For the enclosed scope, we need to define an outer function enclosing


the inner function, comment out the local pi variable of the inner
function and refer to pi using the nonlocal keyword.

# Enclosed Scope
Example: Global and Outer Variables

Output:

Output: Global and Outer Variables

Explanation 5

Local, Enclosed, Global and Built-in Scopes

The final check can be done by importing pi from the math module


and commenting on the global, enclosed, and local pi variables as
shown below:

# Built-in Scope
Example: Built-In Scope of variables

Output:

Output: Built-In Variables

Explanation 6

Conclusion:

In the above article, we have seen the LEGB rule where L stand for
Local, E stands for enclosed, G for Global and B for Built-In scopes of a
variable. Python searches namespaces in LEGB in order to determine
the value of an object given its name.

We can create different levels of Scopes of variables that depend upon


the block where it is been defined. These are created within functions,
classes and modules. In case we define the object with the same name
in different level of scopes, they are treated differently and are isolated.
The value of the name will be the value of the object in scope. When we
modify an object by that name, it will only affect the object in scope.
We can overrule and avoid this rule by using the scope of a name with
keywords global and nonlocal also whereas it is a bad practice and
suggested to use occasionally.

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