To add items from a list in an alternating fashion to two new lists why doesn't this code work? (its says that player_1 is not defined)

Question

def distribute(mylist):
    player_1=[]
    player_2=[]
    
    a=10
    
    for i in range(0,a):
        if i%2==0:
            player_1.append(mylist.append(i))
        else:
            player_2.append(mylist.append(i))

Result

mylist=[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]
distribute(mylist)
player_1

NameError                                 Traceback (most recent call last) <ipython-input-124-1c0f0ed63597> in <module>
----> 1 player_1
 
NameError: name 'player_1' is not defined

You tried to evaluate `player_1` in your main program. There is no such variable in the main. — Prune, Jan 08 '21 at 05:57
`player_1` is local to `distribute()` and cant be accessed outside of it. That is why when it tried to look it up, it cant find it. Also unrelated but probably an error: `mylist.append(i)` returns `None` which is probably not what you wanted to append to `player_1`. If you want to have access to it afterwards, `return player_1` at the end. ``` def distribute(mylist): player_1=[] player_2=[] a=10 for i in range(0,a): if i%2==0: player_1.append(mylist[i]) else: player_2.append(mylist[i]) return player_1 ``` — Coder, Jan 08 '21 at 05:59

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited Jan 08 '21 at 05:59

You can set the variable as global. And append doesn't return anything, so you will get None. Just append i into the list.

Like this:

def distribute(mylist):
    global player_1, player_2 #Anything you need to set
    player_1=[]
    player_2=[]
    a=10
    for i in range(0,a):
        if i%2==0:
            player_1.append(mylist[i])
        else:
            player_2.append(mylist[i])
mylist=[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]
distribute(mylist)
print(player_1)

Or you can return the result.

def distribute(mylist):
    player_1=[]
    player_2=[]
    a=10
    for i in range(0,a):
        if i%2==0:
            player_1.append(mylist[i])
        else:
            player_2.append(mylist[i])
    return player_1
mylist=[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]
print(distribute(mylist))

Returning is recommended.

your code doesnt actually use `mylist` which is being passed in. I suggested an edit :) +1 — Coder, Jan 08 '21 at 05:59

To add items from a list in an alternating fashion to two new lists why doesn't this code work? (its says that player_1 is not defined)

1 Answers1