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Python Object-Oriented Python Instant Objects Master Class

How to global scope a var in a class

Hey!

I'm wondering how you can make a variable global ( so that I don't have to use 'self').

Normally it works to define it right under the class and above the constructor but in Python this gives me a scoping error.

racecar.py
class RaceCar:

    laps = 0

    def __init__(self, color, fuel_remaining, **kwargs):

        self.color = color
        self.fuel_remaining = fuel_remaining

        for key, value in kwargs.items():

            setattr(self, key, value)

    def run_lap(length):
        laps += 1
        self.fuel_remaining = self.length * 0.125

2 Answers

Dave StSomeWhere
Dave StSomeWhere
19,870 Points

I think your issue is that you are missing self in your run_lap() method def - not any issue with scoping.

The scoping seems fine (as you described) if the following code is what you meant:

class RaceCar:

    test_var = "hello Race Car"
    test2 = "Gonna assign to instance"

    def __init__(self, color, fuel_remaining, **kwargs):
        self.laps = 0
        self.color = color
        self.fuel_remaining = fuel_remaining
        for key, value in kwargs.items():
            setattr(self, key, value)

    def run_lap(self, length):
        self.fuel_remaining -= length * 0.125
        self.laps += 1
        test_var = "changed in runlap"
        self.test2 = "Assigned to Instance***"
        print("test_var in runlap ==> " + test_var)
        print("self.test2 in runlap ==> " + self.test2)

a = RaceCar("Blue", 100)
a.run_lap(25)
print("fuel remaining ==> " + str(a.fuel_remaining))
print("test var ===> " + a.test_var)
print("test2 ===> " + a.test2)

Hey! Thanks for the reply. I already fixed the missing self parameter but I still get an error saying the variable 'laps' is referenced before assignment

Dave StSomeWhere
Dave StSomeWhere
19,870 Points

Yes, I see what you are talking about - laps doesn't exist without any reference. It need to be either self.laps for the instance or RaceCar.laps for the class. Just laps doesn't exist and attempting laps += 1 results in an error within the method.

Hey!

I've ajusted the code and it doesn't give any errors anymore. However the fuel_remaining variable isn't changing. I really don't understand how this scoping works.

class RaceCar:

laps = 0

def __init__(self, color, fuel_remaining, **kwargs):
    self.color = color
    self.fuel_remaining = fuel_remaining

    for key, value in kwargs.items():

        setattr(self, key, value)

def run_lap(self, length):
    RaceCar.laps += 1
    self.fuel_remaining = length * 0.125
    print(self.fuel_remaining)