How to use variable from previous scope in Python

Question

I have the following code:

def test():
    def printA():
        def somethingElse():
            pass
        print(a)
        aHA = a[2]


    a = [1, 2, 3]
    while True:
        printA()

test()

I've noticed that this code will work fine, but if I change the aHA to just a, it says a is not defined.

Is there any way to set a to another value within printA?

Ah, I guess this would be a reason to move up to Python 3 then. — Pro Q, Apr 25 '16 at 01:22
Ah, I just found [this](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/370357/python-variable-scope-error?rq=1) which helps to explain why this happens too. — Pro Q, Apr 25 '16 at 01:24

Pierre Barre · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-25T01:17:11.010

3

In python 3, you can set the variable as nonlocal

def test():
    a = [1, 2, 3]
    def printA():
        nonlocal a
        def somethingElse():
            pass
        print(a)
        a = a[2]

    while True:
        printA()

test()

edited Apr 25 '16 at 01:17

answered Apr 25 '16 at 01:15

Pierre Barre

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How to use variable from previous scope in Python

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