Question

Possible Duplicate:
Short Description of Python Scoping Rules

I wrote two simple functions:

# coding: utf-8
def test():
    var = 1 
    def print_var():
        print var 
    print_var()
    print var 

test()
# 1
# 1
def test1():
    var = 2 
    def print_var():
        print var 
        var = 3 
    print_var()
    print var 

test1()
# raise Exception

In comparison, test1() assigns value after print var, then raise an Exception: UnboundLocalError: local variable 'var' referenced before assignment, I think the moment I call inner print var, var has a value of 2, am I wrong?

Answer 1

Yes, you’re incorrect here. Function definition introduces a new scope.

# coding: utf-8
def test():
    var = 1 
    def print_var():
        print var    <--- var is not in local scope, the var from outer scope gets used
    print_var()
    print var 

test()
# 1
# 1
def test1():
    var = 2 
    def print_var():
        print var     <---- var is in local scope, but not defined yet, ouch
        var = 3 
    print_var()
    print var 

test1()
# raise Exception