Python Global Variable inside Function

Question

I need help to explain the following behaviour, Why x is a global variable?

def y():

    print(x)

if __name__ == "__main__":

    x=5
    a = y()

output: 5

because you're setting it in the global scope. the "if" statement doesn't change that fact — Jean-François Fabre, Jan 29 '20 at 20:31

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 29 '20 at 20:33

if __name__ == "__main__":

doesn't define a new/local scope. It's designed to protect execution of the below block from happening when the module is imported by another module.

So defining x within this block makes it global, and it works because you're calling the function after having defined it.

note that importing this very module and calling y from there will raise an error because the definition of x won't be executed

1 Answers1