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Python Object-Oriented Python (retired) Inheritance Intro to Inheritance

Hara Gopal K
PLUS
Hara Gopal K
Courses Plus Student 10,027 Points
Posted by Hara Gopal K
Hara Gopal K
Courses Plus Student 10,027 Points

declaring variables outside/before the class

in the following example, the colors list is defined outside the class, i have come across this scenario in procedural way of programming as well, so what's the difference between declaring variable outside the class (in case of oop) / function (in case of procedural programming), would the program react differently ?

import random

COLORS = ['yellow', 'red', 'blue', 'green', 'purple']


class Monster:

    min_hitpoints = 1
    max_hitpoints = 1
    min_experience = 1
    max_experience = 1
    weapon = 'sword'
    sound = 'roar'

1 Answer

jacinator
jacinator
11,936 Points

The difference is one of scope. If you declare a variable in the module, it is accessible across that module due to being a global variable. If you declare it inside a function/class it is a local variable and is only accessible inside that function or class. If it's in a class it's an attribute of that class and can be access externally through that class.

There are workarounds to all of this, but I've been doing programming for a couple years and have never used them.