How can I convert a string to a function in Python?

Question

I have a function that I have as a string as follows :-

"def tree(inp):\n\tif inp = 'hello':\n\t\tprint('hello')\n\telse:\n\t\tprint('fake news')"

I want this function to save properly as a function as follows:

def tree(inp):
    if inp == 'hello':
        print('hello')
    else:
        print('fake news')

How can I take this string and save it as a function like this without constant copy pasting?

^ fixed this in the post and in my code. I'm still getting the same error — Altamash Rafiq
– Altamash Rafiq, Commented Jul 6, 2020 at 20:50
You would need exec, as a def statement is not an expression (which is what eval expects). — chepner
– chepner, Commented Jul 6, 2020 at 20:53

chepner · Accepted Answer · 2020-07-06 21:00:18Z

1

Your string itself contains the syntax error; you use = where you should have used ==.

Having fixed that, you can use exec:

>>> fstr = "def tree(inp):\n\tif inp == 'hello':\n\t\tprint('hello')\n\telse:\n\t\tprint('fake news')"
>>> exec(fstr)
>>> tree("hello")
hello
>>> tree("bye")
fake news

answered Jul 6, 2020 at 21:00

chepner

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Comments

Md. Mehedi Hasan Khan · Accepted Answer · 2020-07-07 18:25:01Z

0

This can be it :

def tree(inp):
    if inp = 'hello':
        print('hello')
    else:
        print('fake news')

answered Jul 7, 2020 at 18:25

Md. Mehedi Hasan Khan

514 bronze badges

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