Skip to content

Python variables scope

When you declare a variable, that variable is visible in parts of your program, depending on where you declare it.

If you declare it outside of any function, the variable is visible to any code running after the declaration, including functions:

age = 8

def test():
    print(age)

print(age) # 8
test() # 8

We call it a global variable.

If you define a variable inside a function, that variable is a local variable, and it is only visible inside that function. Outside the function, it is not reachable:

def test():
    age = 8
    print(age)

test() # 8

print(age)
# NameError: name 'age' is not defined
→ Get my Python Handbook
→ Get my Python Handbook

I wrote 17 books to help you become a better developer, download them all at $0 cost by joining my newsletter

  • C Handbook
  • Command Line Handbook
  • CSS Handbook
  • Express Handbook
  • Git Cheat Sheet
  • Go Handbook
  • HTML Handbook
  • JS Handbook
  • Laravel Handbook
  • Next.js Handbook
  • Node.js Handbook
  • PHP Handbook
  • Python Handbook
  • React Handbook
  • SQL Handbook
  • Svelte Handbook
  • Swift Handbook

JOIN MY CODING BOOTCAMP, an amazing cohort course that will be a huge step up in your coding career - covering React, Next.js - next edition February 2025

Bootcamp 2025

Join the waiting list