Contents
Python – locals()
Python locals() built-in function is used to get a dictionary containing the current local symbol table.
In this tutorial, we will learn the syntax and usage of locals() built-in function with examples.
Syntax
The syntax of locals() function is
locals()
The function takes no parameters.
Examples
1. Get local symbol dictionary
In the following program, we print all the local symbols to standard output.
Output
{'__name__': '__main__', '__doc__': None, '__package__': None, '__loader__': <_frozen_importlib_external.SourceFileLoader object at 0x104958ca0>, '__spec__': None, '__annotations__': {}, '__builtins__': <module 'builtins' (built-in)>, '__file__': '/Users/pythonexamples/Desktop/Desktop - PYTHONEXAMPLES_ORG’s Mac mini - 1/Projects/PythonTutorial/main.py', '__cached__': None, 'x': 10, 'y': 20}
2. Result of locals() in a function
In the following program, we call the locals() in a function. The locals() must return only the local symbol table corresponding to the function from which we are calling locals().
Output
{'x': 20, 'y': 30}
3. locals() and globals()
In the following program, we print the value of variable named x. We print its local value, and global value, using locals() and globals() built-in functions respectively.
Python Program
x = 10
def my_function():
x = 20
print("x [local value] :", locals()['x'])
# Print value in global x
print("x [global value] :", globals()['x'])
my_function()
Run Code CopyOutput
x [local value] : 20
x [global value] : 10
Summary
In this Built-in Functions tutorial, we learned the syntax of the locals() built-in function, and how to use this function to access the local symbol table.