Changing a local variable in a function from another function

Question

First, here's my example code:

EDIT: I should have specified, in my real code, that_func() is already returning another value, so I want it to return one value, and change c in addition

EDIT 2: Code edited to show what I mean

def this_func():
    c=1   # I want to change this c
    d=that_func()
    print(c, d)

def that_func():
     this_func.c=2 #Into this c, from this function
     return(1000) #that_func should also return a value

this_func()

What I want to do is change the local variable c in this_func() to the value I assign it in that_func(), so that it prints 2 instead of 1.

From what I've gathered online, this_func.c=2 should do just that, but it doesn't work. Am I doing something wrong, or have I misunderstood?

Thanks for any and all help.

this_func is a function, not a class. c is a local variable to that function - if it were a class instead, it would work like your question suggests. But that requires some changes to how you are doing things.. — user812786
– user812786, Commented Oct 6, 2015 at 19:51

Ahasanul Haque · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-06 19:58:15Z

1

Yes, you misunderstood.

functions are not class. You can't access variables of a function like that.

Obviously, it's not the smartest of code that can be written, but this code should give an idea about how to use variables of a function.

def this_func():
    c=1   # I want to change this c
    c=that_func(c) # pass c as parameter and receive return value in c later
    print(c)

def that_func(b): # receiving value of c from  this_func()
    b=2  # manipulating the value
    return b #returning back to this_func()

this_func()

edited Oct 6, 2015 at 19:58

answered Oct 6, 2015 at 19:51

Ahasanul Haque

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2 Comments

Mats Over a year ago

I'm sorry, I should have specified, in my real code, that_func() is already returning another value, so I want it to return one value, and change c in addition. I have edited the question.

Ahasanul Haque Over a year ago

You can always return more than one value and unpack them later. Is it ok?

Claudiu · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-06 20:00:50Z

0

Wrap it in an object and pass it to that_func:

def this_func():
    vars = {'c': 1}
    d = that_func(vars)
    print vars['c'], d

def that_func(vars):
    vars['c'] = 2
    return 1000

Alternatively, you can pass it in as a regular variable and that_func can return multiple values:

def this_func():
    c = 1
    c, d = that_func(c)
    print c, d

def that_func(c):
    c = 2
    return c, 1000

answered Oct 6, 2015 at 20:00

Claudiu

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