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Re: scope of function parameters

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From Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au>
Newsgroups comp.lang.python
Subject Re: scope of function parameters
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Peter Pearson <ppearson@nowhere.invalid> writes:

> Python works in terms of objects having names, and one
> object can have many names.

Or no names. So it's less accurate (though better than talking of
“variables”) to speak of Python objects “having names”.

> The names b and c aren't boxes that hold things, they are -- in the
> words of one of this group's old hands -- sticky-note labels that have
> been slapped on the same object.

Right. And in that analogy, the object *still* doesn't “have a name”
(since that implies the false conclusion that the object knows its own
name); rather, the name is bound to the object, and the object is
oblivious of this.

I prefer to talk not of sticky notes, but paper tags with string; the
string leading from tag to object is an important part, and the paper
tag might not even have a name written on it, allowing the same analogy
to work for other non-name references like list indices etc.

-- 
 \         “Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?” “I think so, |
  `\   Brain, but where are we going to find a duck and a hose at this |
_o__)                                    hour?” —_Pinky and The Brain_ |
Ben Finney

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Thread

scope of function parameters Henry Olders <henry.olders@mcgill.ca> - 2011-05-29 04:30 -0400
  Re: scope of function parameters Mel <mwilson@the-wire.com> - 2011-05-29 07:59 -0400
    Re: scope of function parameters Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> - 2011-05-29 16:27 -0400
  Re: scope of function parameters Peter Pearson <ppearson@nowhere.invalid> - 2011-05-29 17:21 +0000
    Re: scope of function parameters Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2011-05-30 07:42 +1000
      Re: scope of function parameters Laurent Claessens <moky.math@gmail.com> - 2011-05-30 09:12 +0200
        Re: scope of function parameters Chris Rebert <clp2@rebertia.com> - 2011-05-30 00:27 -0700
        Re: scope of function parameters Laurent <moky.math@gmail.com> - 2011-05-30 09:38 +0200
        Re: scope of function parameters Daniel Kluev <dan.kluev@gmail.com> - 2011-05-30 19:10 +1100
        Re: scope of function parameters Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> - 2011-05-30 05:02 -0400
          Re: scope of function parameters Laurent Claessens <moky.math@gmail.com> - 2011-05-30 11:08 +0200
            Re: scope of function parameters Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-05-30 09:14 +0000
            Re: scope of function parameters Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2011-05-30 19:17 +1000
            Re: scope of function parameters Peter Otten <__peter__@web.de> - 2011-05-30 11:41 +0200
              Re: scope of function parameters Laurent Claessens <moky.math@gmail.com> - 2011-05-30 12:10 +0200
              Re: scope of function parameters Laurent Claessens <moky.math@gmail.com> - 2011-05-30 12:10 +0200
            Re: scope of function parameters Jussi Piitulainen <jpiitula@ling.helsinki.fi> - 2011-05-30 13:40 +0300
            Re: scope of function parameters Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> - 2011-05-30 12:49 -0400
        Re: scope of function parameters Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-05-30 09:16 +0000
  Re: scope of function parameters Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-05-29 23:46 +0000
    Re: scope of function parameters Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2011-05-30 11:31 +1000
      Re: scope of function parameters Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-05-30 11:56 +1000
        Re: scope of function parameters Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2011-05-30 12:08 +1000
          Re: scope of function parameters Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-05-30 12:37 +1000
      Re: scope of function parameters Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-05-30 04:23 +0000
  Re: scope of function parameters rusi <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2011-05-31 09:46 -0700
    Re: scope of function parameters rusi <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2011-05-31 10:33 -0700

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