Modifying a Variables Value from a string with the variables name

Question

If I had the following code:

random_variable = "Hello World"
new_value = "It Works!"

And I had something like this:

def set_variable_value(var_name, new_value):
    // Code here
    pass

Is it possible to have a function like the one above where var_name is a string? It should take var_name and find a variable named the value of the string, and change the value to whatever new_value is.

I'm sorry if this is a dumb question, I searched the web for a while now and discovered nothing related to my issue. (Google is being useless as usual)

Thanks

You'll want a dictionary. `my_data = {"random_variable": "Old value"}` ... — AKX, Jan 01 '22 at 21:02
Do not modify variable name dynamically, this **will** cause you more trouble than you expect to solve — mozway, Jan 01 '22 at 21:13

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 01 '22 at 21:03

1

You could do this:

def set_variable_value(var_name, new_value):
    globals()[var_name] = new_value

However, this could be considered an anti-pattern. Consider using a dictionary instead and using the values as my_dictionary[some_string].

answered Jan 01 '22 at 21:03

Dennis

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1

Please do not suggest this, it has to many unexpected consequences and should be avoided for any general use case. – mozway Jan 01 '22 at 21:11
well... I don't want to use a dictionary... and I mean... it works... so why not – Eric Jan 01 '22 at 22:12
@Eric because you should avoid well understood antipatterns – juanpa.arrivillaga Jan 01 '22 at 22:57
@Eric note you actually *are* using a dictionary, just that dictionary happens to be the global namespace. – juanpa.arrivillaga Jan 01 '22 at 22:58
oh... well in that case... ok – Eric Jan 02 '22 at 03:43

Modifying a Variables Value from a string with the variables name

1 Answers1