python string to code for function arg?

Question

I have a function names "myfunction". I have a string "a", I need to pass it to "myfunction" so it will give the same result as if my string was a python object name, myfunction(a) So I have

def myfunction(var):
    print var
a = 1
mystring = "a"

I need to pass "mystring" to "myfuntion" so it will behave as variable "a" was passed to it. I thought of something like this, but it won't work:

myfunction(exec(mystring))

PS. Yes, I know of the consequences of exec(), please there is no need to explain that.

Sven Marnach · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-21 13:07:59Z

4

It would be eval(), not exec:

myfunction(eval(mystring))

Alternatively:

myfunction(locals()[mystring])

Most probably you have a fundamental design problem if you think you need something like this.

answered Jun 21, 2011 at 13:07

Sven Marnach

608k123 gold badges966 silver badges865 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

Roman Bodnarchuk · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-21 13:09:29Z

1

No needs in exec or eval:

>>> def myfunc(var):
...     print globals()[var] * 2
...
>>> a = 12
>>> myfunc('a')
24

answered Jun 21, 2011 at 13:09

Roman Bodnarchuk

29.8k12 gold badges62 silver badges76 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

python string to code for function arg?

2 Answers 2

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related