Names

In this section we will examine names and assignment more closely.

Tip

Names and variables in this context are synonyms. We use ‘name’ because Python uses this terminology.

Assignment

Assignment is one of the ways we associate names with objects. Names are how the interpreter knows to locate what programmers are referring to.

Just like we need to name person objects to know how to differentiate between them, python3, the interpreter, also needs to know what you are referring to when you give it instructions.

Tip

= the equals symbol means assignment and not equality (unlike in maths).

>>> x = 5

The interpreter executes the above code as:

  1. Create an int object of value 5.

  2. Does x exist in the namespace?

    True - update the name x to point to the new int object.

    False - create a new name x in the namespace and make it point to the new object.

From the point of assignment onwards code can refer to that object by using the name x. The interpreter will know how to find it by looking up the value in the namespace.

A name is an expression and it evaluates to its object:

>>> x
5

Names can be reassigned to any type of object:

>>> x = 5            # x refers to an `int` object
>>> x = 'greg'       # x refers now to a `str` object

The mysterious from ... import ... that we saw earlier is just about adding names to the namespace so the interpreter knows what you are referring to:

>>> from turtle import Turtle
>>> tess = Turtle()

Visualising

For each assignment:

  • If the name already exists, the namespace (frame) is updated.
  • If the name doesn’t exist, a new name is created pointing and it references the newly created object.

NameError

If the interpreter gets a name that hasn’t yet been defined through assignment it will complain by throwing a NameError.

example:

>>> the_holy_grail
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
NameError: name 'the_holy_grail' is not defined

Questions

five = "five"

What does each set of characters on either side of the equal sign mean?

Reusability

Names enhance a programmers’ expressivity. They permit generalising code thereby facilitating code reuse. Indeed they are often called variables.

Consider this code that draws a square with side length 50:

turtle.forward(50)
turtle.left(90)
turtle.forward(50)
turtle.left(90)
turtle.forward(50)
turtle.left(90)
turtle.forward(50)
turtle.left(90)

Now a decision is made that the sides be of length 100.

You have to go back and replace 50 with 100 four times.

Using names you can do this:

side = 50
right_angle = 90

turtle.forward(side)
turtle.left(right_angle)
turtle.forward(side)
turtle.left(right_angle)
turtle.forward(side)
turtle.left(right_angle)
turtle.forward(side)
turtle.left(right_angle)

If you change your mind you need only update one value.

Mathematics tells us a square’s length can be of any size. Our new programmatic definition mirrors that.

Tip

If you find yourself needing to replace many similar values in order to update your code, using names is worth considering.

Good Naming

The name right_angle was chosen to refer to an int of value 90.

We could have used thirty_degree_angle, angle, or awef and the code would work fine. However:

  • thirty_degree_angle is misleading its 90 not 30 degrees.
  • angle is perhaps ok but a little vague
  • awef is nonsense and conveys no meaning

By choosing appropriate names you make the code more readable and intuitive.

Exercises

Age in 2050

Write a program that asks the user for her age and prints how old she will be in 2020.

Shapes

Refactor your code in shapes.py to use variables as much as possible.

Objects & Types Q&A

If you understand the answers to these you understand everything about objects and types!!

Tip

Use the interpreter to help you find answers

Describe in detail what the interpreter does when you type the following and enter:

>>> '5'

>>> 5

What is the result this line of code?:

3 < '5'

Instances of both str and int objects recognise the + symbol. What output would you expect of the following lines of code?

'1' + '2'

1 + 2

Try the same above but this time using * instead of +. What can you conclude of the meaning of *?