Changing variable values with functions in Python

Question

Like, I ll write a simple program for explanation.

hi=1
hii=2

def change():
    hi=3
    hii=4
    
for i in range(0,1):
    change()
    print(hi,hii)

Output is 1 2

But I want 3 4. How can I achieve this?

Krishna Chaurasia · Accepted Answer · 2021-02-04 15:13:48Z

1

You need to use global to achieve this but keep in mind that this is not a recommended practice because of the overhead global bring with itself:

hi=1
hii=2

def change():
    global hi, hii
    hi=3
    hii=4
    
for i in range(0,1):
    change()
    print(hi, hii)

answered Feb 4, 2021 at 15:13

Krishna Chaurasia

9,6546 gold badges27 silver badges44 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

Anon Over a year ago

By overhead, do you mean the computational cost? If so, can you please explain why?

Krishna Chaurasia Over a year ago

Not computational cost but code management overhead since there can be many methods that can change the global variable and it becomes difficult to debug whenever there are issues.

C.Nivs · Accepted Answer · 2021-02-04 15:11:46Z

1

You need to re-assign those values:

def change()
    return 3, 4

hi = 1
hii = 2

print(hi, hii)
1 2

hi, hii = change()

print(hi, hii)
3 4

answered Feb 4, 2021 at 15:11

C.Nivs

13.2k3 gold badges21 silver badges48 bronze badges

1 Comment

Anon Over a year ago

Yeah, I wanted to find a way without using return.. But thanks :D

jonrsharpe · Accepted Answer · 2021-02-04 15:58:23Z

0

You must make the variables global first like as below

def change():
    global hi
    global hii
    hi=3
    hii=4

edited Feb 4, 2021 at 15:58

jonrsharpe

123k31 gold badges277 silver badges488 bronze badges

answered Feb 4, 2021 at 15:15

Rajat Soni

1411 silver badge12 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Changing variable values with functions in Python

3 Answers 3

2 Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

2 Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related