4.4 Global Variables

By | September 29, 2021

Variables that are created outside of a function (as in all of the examples above) are known as global variables.

Global variables can be used by everyone, both inside of functions and outside.

Example

Create a variable outside of a function, and use it inside the function

x = “awesome”
def myfunc():
  print(“Python is ” + x)
myfunc()

Output:
Python is awesome

If you create a variable with the same name inside a function, this variable will be local, and can only be used inside the function. The global variable with the same name will remain as it was, global and with the original value.

Example

Create a variable inside a function, with the same name as the global variable

x = “awesome”
def myfunc():
  x = “fantastic”
  print(“Python is ” + x)
myfunc()
print(“Python is ” + x)

Output:
Python is fantastic
Python is awesome

Also, use the global keyword if you want to change a global variable inside a function.

Example

To change the value of a global variable inside a function, refer to the variable by using the global keyword:

x = “awesome”
def myfunc():
  global x
  x = “fantastic”
myfunc()
print(“Python is ” + x)

Output:
Python is fantastic

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