Question

Made a module in python. Which is acting as a model of machine code. I have a variable named accumulator.

As in

accumulator=0

However after I run a function that changes accumlator, as in

def function(number):
  accumulator=number
  return

and then print the accumulator to show what is in it, it just says 0.

How can I make a variable that will stay recognised even after the function creating it has finished?

Answer 1

It’s because accumulator is global and the accumulator=number inside the function is binding a new local name accumulator equal to number. Within function you could use accumulator but you can’t assign to it without use of the global statement.

You will get the desired result using:

def function(number):
    global accumulator
    accumulator = number

Note the return is redundant, as if a Python statement doesn’t return, it defaults to returning None.