python get referenced object name

Question

I'm not sure I'm writing my program in correct way, but I have something like this:

unit_dict = {}
test_dict = {'a':unit_dict}

Now, when I access test_dict['a'] I get a reference (or is it pointer) to the correct dictionary, but is there a way at all to get the original object name somehow from test_dict?

Like:

magick_function(test_dict['a']) 
res > unit_dict = {}

`test_dict = {'a':unit}` do you mean `test_dict = {'a':unit_dict}`? — enderland, Feb 16 '17 at 13:38
The second answer here might be illuminating: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2553354/how-to-get-a-variable-name-as-a-string-in-python — Will, Feb 16 '17 at 13:41
What do you want to achieve? Maybe there's a much simpler way. — MKesper, Feb 16 '17 at 13:43
@MKesper you are most likely correct, but that would be another question, right? — kakk11, Feb 16 '17 at 14:30
@kakk11 Many things can be done but it's not always wise to do them. — MKesper, Feb 17 '17 at 07:28
@MKesper thanks for comment, I already changed the code so I actually do not need to use this solution. — kakk11, Feb 18 '17 at 21:36

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 16 '17 at 13:42

1

In some context, you could do something dirty with globals() like, but I doubt that there is not a better way for whatever you are trying to achieve in a wider context:

def magic(o):
  for k, v in globals().iteritems():
    if v is o:
      return k
  return None

> magic(test_dict['a'])
'unit_dict'

answered Feb 16 '17 at 13:42

user2390182

72,016
6
67
89

1

What do you mean by "change"? Reassign? – user2390182 Feb 16 '17 at 13:56

python get referenced object name

1 Answers1