Is it possible to blend a variable assignment with a condition test?

Question

I often have code similar to

a = somefunction()
if a:
    do_something()

Is there in Python a construction which would blend the initialization with the condition test? Something like

if a = somefunction():
    do_something()

which would test a after it has been assigned a value via somefunction()?

@PadraicCunningham: I will use it (and this is why I assign what the function returns to a variable as opposed to directly using it as mentioned in Alex's answer) — WoJ, Oct 26 '14 at 14:24

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 26 '14 at 13:51

3

No, there is no way to do this; an if statement must have a condition- so putting an assignment in it will cause a SyntaxError. Your first example is the best, but unless you need a again later then this:

if somefunction():
    do_something()

Should suffice.

answered Oct 26 '14 at 13:51

anon582847382

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Thanks. The first example works fine, I just wanted to reduce the possible clutter (and I need `a` afterwards) – WoJ Oct 26 '14 at 13:53
@WoJ Glad I could help. When the grace period has passed, would you mind accepting with the tick to show that the issue is closed? Thank you. :) – anon582847382 Oct 26 '14 at 13:54

Is it possible to blend a variable assignment with a condition test?

1 Answers1