To use a variable defined in a function

Question

Hello all…a newbie question if you don’t mind.

Like below:

def plus_it(a, b):
    result = a + b
    if result == 0:
        aa = '0'
        #print aa    an option here
    else:
        aa = 'the result is ' + str(result)
        #print aa    an option here

plus_it(5, 6)
print aa

I can add on print ‘aa’ lines inside the function. However if I want to use the ‘aa’ outside the function like above, it gives an error:

NameError: name 'aa' is not defined

How can I use the ‘aa’ outside the function?

Thanks.

1

You can't and that's a Good Thing. – Feb 17 '15 at 08:07

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 17 '15 at 08:10

1

Use the return statement and assign the returned value to aa:

def plus_it(a, b):
    result = a + b
    if result == 0:
        return '0'
    else:
        return 'the result is ' + str(result)

aa = plus_it(5, 6)
print aa

answered Feb 17 '15 at 08:10

NPE

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1

thanks! it's easy to understand and effective. – Mark K Feb 17 '15 at 08:18

Deck · Answer 2 · 2015-02-17T08:19:29.543

0

You can't use aa outside the function. The variable aa has a local scope. You have two options:

Return a value from your function and use it outside
Use a global variable

aa = 0
def plus_it(a, b):
    global aa
    aa = 'value'

edited Feb 17 '15 at 08:19

answered Feb 17 '15 at 08:12

Deck

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To use a variable defined in a function

2 Answers2