Question

>>> def nil():
...     ss='nil'
...     print ss
... 
>>> nil()
nil
>>> nil.ss='kk'
>>> nil()
nil
>>> print nil.ss
kk

I know everything is an object in python, so function is also an object, now I wanna change the value of ‘ss’ variable, which is stored in function , now I tried to change its value by using nil.ss but it didn;t change..What is the diff between both ‘ss’?

Answer 1

The first ss is an inner variable of the function; the second one is an attribute of the function. They don’t reference the same object.

Here’s a way to do it, though:

>>> def apple():
    if not hasattr(apple, 'ss'):  # This way it'll only be set inside the function once
        apple.ss = 'nil'
    return apple.ss

>>> apple()
'nil'
>>> apple.ss
'nil'
>>> apple.ss = 'kk'
>>> apple.ss
'kk'
>>> apple()
'kk'