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ALevel 1 Python 26may SS

The document discusses the concept of scope and namespaces in Python, explaining how the visibility and lifetime of variables are determined by their scope, which follows the LEGB (Local, Enclosing, Global, Built-in) rule. It details the types of namespaces, including built-in, global, and local, and how Python searches for names within these scopes. The document also provides examples to illustrate the differences between global and local variables within functions.

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8 views3 pages

ALevel 1 Python 26may SS

The document discusses the concept of scope and namespaces in Python, explaining how the visibility and lifetime of variables are determined by their scope, which follows the LEGB (Local, Enclosing, Global, Built-in) rule. It details the types of namespaces, including built-in, global, and local, and how Python searches for names within these scopes. The document also provides examples to illustrate the differences between global and local variables within functions.

Uploaded by

zayn96165
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Programming and Problem Solving through Python Language

O Level / A Level

Chapter – 8 : Scope and Module

Scope of Object and Names


 The scope refers to the region in the program code where variables and names are accessible.
 It also determines the visibility and lifetime of a variable in the program code.
 Assigning a value, defining a function or class (using def or class) or importing module
operation creates a name and its place in the code defines its scope.
 The names or objects which are accessible are called in-scope.
 The names or objects which are not accessible are called out-of-scope.
 The Python scope concept follows the LEGB (Local, Enclosing, Global and built-in) rule.
 The scope concept helps to avoid the name collision and use of global names across the
programs.

Names and Objects in Python


 Python is a dynamically types language, so when we assign the value to the variable for the
first time, it creates the variable. Others names or objects come in existence as given :
Operation Statement
Assignment X=value
Import Operation import module
Function definitions def fun( )
Arguments in the function def fun( x1, x2 , x3 )
Class definition class abc :

 Python uses the location of the name assignment or definition to associate it with a scope.
 If a variable assigned value in the function, it has a local scope.
 If a variable assigned value at the top level and outside all the functions, it has a global scope.

Python Scope Vs Namespace


 The scope of a variables and objects are related to the concept of the namespace.
 The scope determines the visibility of the names and objects in the program.
 A namespace is a collection of names.
 In python, scopes are implemented as dictionaries that maps names to objects. These
dictionaries are called namespaces.
 The dictionaries have the names as key and the objects as value.
 A strings, lists, functions, etc everything in Python is an object.
Searching a name in the Namespace
 Whenever we use a name, such as a variable or a function name, Python searches through
different scope levels (or namespaces) to determine whether the name exists or not.
 If the name exists, then we always get the first occurrence of it.
 Otherwise, we get an error.

Types of namespace
1. Built-in Namespace It includes functions and exception names that are built-in in
the python.
2. Global Namespace It includes the names from the modules that are imported in
the code. It lasts till the end of program.
3 Local Namespace It includes the names defined in the function. It is created
when the function is called and ends when the value returned.

LEGB Rule for Python Scope


 The LEGB stands for Local, Enclosing, Global and Built-in.
 Python resolves names using the LEGB rules.
 The LEGB rule is a kind of name lookup procedure, which determines the order in which
Python looks up names.
 For example, if we access a name, then Python will look that name up sequentially in the local,
enclosing, global, and built-in scope.

Local (or function) scope


 It is the code block or body of any Python function or lambda expression.
 This Python scope contains the names that you define inside the function.
 These names will only be visible from the code of the function.
 It’s created at function call, not at function definition, so we have as many different local
scopes as function calls.
 It is applicable if we call the same function multiple times, or recursively.
 Each call will result in a new local scope being created.

Enclosing (or nonlocal) scope


 It is a special scope that only exists for nested functions.
 If the local scope is an inner or nested function, then the enclosing scope is the scope of the
outer or enclosing function.
 This scope contains the names that you define in the enclosing function.
 The names in the enclosing scope are visible from the code of the inner and enclosing
functions.

Global (or module) scope


 It is the top-most scope in a Python program, script, or module.
 This scope contains all of the names that are defined at the top level of a program or a module.
 Names in this Python scope are visible from everywhere in your code.
Built-in scope
 It is a special scope which is created or loaded at script run or opens an interactive session.
 This scope contains names such as keywords, functions, exceptions, and other attributes that
are built into Python.
 Names in this scope are also available from everywhere in your code.

Type of Scope in Python (LEGB)

Built in Scope

Global Scope

Enclosing Scope

Local Scope

Example
#var1 is in the global namespace
var1 = 5
def ABC( ):

# var2 is in the local namespace


var2 = 6
def XYZ( ):
# var3 is in the nested local
# namespace
var3 = 7

 In this example, the var1 is declared in the global namespace because it is not enclosed
inside any function. So it is accessible everywhere in the script.
 var2 is inside the ABC( ). So, it can be accessed only inside the ABC( ) and outside the
function, it no longer exists.
 var3 also has a local scope, the function is nested and we can use var3 only inside XYZ( ).

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