Unknown Python Syntax

Question

I've found the following syntax in a python file:

 units = (
        (100, 1 << 30, _('%.0f GB')),
        (10, 1 << 30, _('%.1f GB')),
        (1, 1 << 30, _('%.2f GB')),
        (100, 1 << 20, _('%.0f MB')),
        (10, 1 << 20, _('%.1f MB')),
        (1, 1 << 20, _('%.2f MB')),
        (100, 1 << 10, _('%.0f KB')),
        (10, 1 << 10, _('%.1f KB')),
        (1, 1 << 10, _('%.2f KB')),
        (1, 1, _('%.0f bytes')),
        )

Does anyone know for what this underscore stands for?

Thanks in advance.

underscore is a valid variable name in python. in this case it's most likely some i18n function — SilentGhost
– SilentGhost, Commented Jul 9, 2010 at 13:07
Most likely the same as these underscores: stackoverflow.com/questions/3077227/… — Justin Ardini
– Justin Ardini, Commented Jul 9, 2010 at 13:10
Ironically enough, it is actual code from the mercurial.util — SilentGhost
– SilentGhost, Commented Jul 9, 2010 at 13:14

Achim · Accepted Answer · 2010-07-09 13:10:12Z

4

Underscore is a valid variable name, so you have to look at the context of your example code. Obviously the underscore is a method which has been defined somewhere else. Usually it's used for translation stuff or similar things.

answered Jul 9, 2010 at 13:10

Achim

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2 Comments

rudimenter Over a year ago

thanks; in my humble opinion python & python developers overuse the underscore

g.d.d.c Over a year ago

It may get overused, but it's certainly convenient at times. In a User Interface I'm designing we do something like this to simplify translations: from wx import GetTranslation as _.

Ralph · Accepted Answer · 2010-07-09 13:11:30Z

3

Look further up in the file. With some luck you'll find a statement like this:

from Language import _

Underscore is often used for i18n.

answered Jul 9, 2010 at 13:11

Ralph

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Comments

avpaderno · Accepted Answer · 2019-01-31 12:04:46Z

3

As said in other answers, _ is a valid name for a Python function. It's probable you will find _() used as translation function in some I18N packages.

edited Jan 31, 2019 at 12:04

answered Jul 9, 2010 at 13:11

avpaderno

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Amandasaurus · Accepted Answer · 2010-07-09 13:13:54Z

2

As others have mentioned, the _ is a function. The usual convention is that it used for localisation and internationalisation

answered Jul 9, 2010 at 13:13

Amandasaurus

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Htechno · Accepted Answer · 2010-07-09 16:09:41Z

0

The _ function is usually aliased to the GetText get function: http://docs.python.org/library/gettext.html

answered Jul 9, 2010 at 16:09

Htechno

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