Variable referenced before assignment - Python

Question

I am getting the error...

a = a + b
UnboundLocalError: local variable 'a' referenced before assignment

I don't understand why the error occurs if I have assigned the two variables a and b at the start.

from tkinter import *

a = 10
b = 12
def stopProg(e):
    root.destroy()

def addNumbers(e):
    a = a + b
    label1.configure(text= str(a))

root=Tk()
button1=Button(root,text="Exit")
button1.pack()
button1.bind('<Button-1>',stopProg)
button2=Button(root,text="Add numbers")
button2.pack()
button2.bind('<Button-1>',addNumbers)
label1=Label(root,text="Amount")
label1.pack()

root.mainloop()

score 9 · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-22 02:59:11Z

9

Whenever you modify a global variable inside a function, you need to first declare that variable as being global.

So, you need to do this for the global variable a since you modify it inside addNumbers:

def addNumbers(e):
    global a
    # This is the same as: a = a + b
    a += b
    # You don't need str here
    label1.configure(text=a)

Here is a reference on the global keyword.

Also, I would like to point out that your code can be improved if you use the command option of Button:

from tkinter import *

a = 10
b = 12
def stopProg():
    root.destroy()

def addNumbers():
    global a
    a += b
    label1.configure(text=a)

root=Tk()
button1=Button(root, text="Exit", command=stopProg)
button1.pack()
button2=Button(root, text="Add numbers", command=addNumbers)
button2.pack()
label1=Label(root, text="Amount")
label1.pack()

root.mainloop()

There is never a good reason to use binding in place of the command option.

edited Dec 22, 2013 at 2:59

answered Dec 22, 2013 at 2:42

user2555451

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3 Comments

user3080274 Over a year ago

Out of all the lectures I have went to, I have never been shown this. Thank you very much!

Amber.G Over a year ago

Can I ask what is 'e' for in here - 'def stopProg(e)' ? Thanks.

user2555451 Over a year ago

@Amber.G - It is to hold the event object that will be passed to the function by .bind(). You'll notice though that I removed it from the updated code since we are now using command, which does not send an event object.

James Sapam · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-22 04:05:52Z

2

Here is your answer :

This is because when you make an assignment to a variable in a scope, that variable becomes local to that scope and shadows any similarly named variable in the outer scope.

Please read this : http://docs.python.org/2/faq/programming.html#why-am-i-getting-an-unboundlocalerror-when-the-variable-has-a-value

answered Dec 22, 2013 at 4:05

James Sapam

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Comments

thefourtheye · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-22 02:42:14Z

1

You are modifying a global variable. By default, you can read values from global variables, without declaring them as global, but to modify them you need to declare them as global like this

global a
a = a + b

answered Dec 22, 2013 at 2:42

thefourtheye

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