Declaring a variable in python with the name 'class'

Question

I'd like to declare a variable (string, in this case) as such:

class = "this is my string"

In Python (3.6.3), and I get an error:

class = "This is my string"
      ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

It obviously doesn't like the fact that I'm using an equal sign (=) after class.

Let's say I really need to have a variable with the name class, and I can't change it to myClass or whatsoever, what would be the correct way of doing something as such?

just don't do that

Aidenhjj
– Aidenhjj

2017-11-08 13:33:48 +00:00
Commented Nov 8, 2017 at 13:33 — Aidenhjj
– Aidenhjj, Commented Nov 8, 2017 at 13:33

Dimitris Fasarakis Hilliard · Accepted Answer · 2017-11-08 13:42:22Z

5

Thankfully Python doesn't allow you to do this, class is a keyword that can't be used as an identifier. One alternative also mentioned in PEP 8 is using a trailing underscore:

class_ = ...

but you really should avoid such names since they mostly serve to confuse. You should always strive for more descriptive ones.

If class is the only option, the other (somewhat) viable approach would be to use a dictionary:

>>> names = {'class': 'something'}
>>> names['class']
'something'

edited Nov 8, 2017 at 13:42

answered Nov 8, 2017 at 13:35

Dimitris Fasarakis Hilliard

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3 Comments

Sina Over a year ago

Got it! Thought perhaps there's a library or something that could potentially do this, hence I asked. I'm quite new to Python! Nevertheless, thanks heaps :)

deceze Over a year ago

@Sina Most languages don't allow you to use reserved keywords as variable names. This has nothing to do with libraries or Python.

Sina Over a year ago

@deceze,"most languages", you said. Exactly :)

asakryukin · Accepted Answer · 2017-11-08 13:32:33Z

4

You cannot do that, as it explicitly stated in the Python documentation:

link to the documentation

answered Nov 8, 2017 at 13:32

asakryukin

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Comments

iamsankalp89 · Accepted Answer · 2017-11-08 13:37:45Z

1

It is not possible, however it is some kind of a tradition in Python to append class _ to get a new identifier

Use like this:

class_ = "This is my string"

You can read Official Documentation

answered Nov 8, 2017 at 13:37

iamsankalp89

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Comments

karthik reddy · Accepted Answer · 2017-11-08 13:33:17Z

0

You can't declare reserved words as variables.

answered Nov 8, 2017 at 13:33

karthik reddy

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