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What is Scope in Python?

In Python, scope refers to the accessibility of variables, functions, and other names within different parts of your program. Understanding scope is crucial for writing clean and maintainable Python code, as it determines where you can use a particular name and how it refers to a specific value.

  1. Local Scope (Function Scope):

Names defined inside a function (including parameters) are local to that function. They are only accessible within the function's body (indented block of code).
If you try to access a local variable outside of the function's scope, you'll get an error.

  1. Global Scope:

Names defined outside of any function are considered global. They are accessible throughout the entire program.
Use global variables with caution as they can lead to unintended side effects if modified within functions. It's generally recommended to minimize the use of global variables and favor local or enclosed scopes for better code organization.

  1. Enclosing Scope (Nested Functions):

When you define a function within another function (nested function), the inner function has access to the enclosing function's local variables. This provides a way to share data between nested functions without making them global.

  1. Built-in Scope:

Python has built-in names like print, len, and int that are always accessible throughout your program. These are defined within the Python interpreter itself.

  1. The nonlocal Keyword (Python 3.x):

In Python 3.x, you can use the nonlocal keyword to modify variables from an enclosing function's scope within a nested function. This allows you to change the value of a variable in an outer scope from within a nested function. Use nonlocal cautiously as it can make code harder to reason about.

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