[SOLVED] Local Variable Referenced Before Assignment
Python treats variables referenced only inside a function as global variables. Any variable assigned to a function’s body is assumed to be a local variable unless explicitly declared as global.
Why Does This Error Occur?
Unboundlocalerror: local variable referenced before assignment occurs when a variable is used before its created. Python does not have the concept of variable declarations. Hence it searches for the variable whenever used. When not found, it throws the error.
Before we hop into the solutions, let’s have a look at what is the global and local variables.
Local Variable Declarations vs. Global Variable Declarations
Local Variable Referenced Before Assignment Error with Explanation
Try these examples yourself using our Online Compiler.
Let’s look at the following function:
Explanation
The variable myVar has been assigned a value twice. Once before the declaration of myFunction and within myFunction itself.
Using Global Variables
Passing the variable as global allows the function to recognize the variable outside the function.
Create Functions that Take in Parameters
Instead of initializing myVar as a global or local variable, it can be passed to the function as a parameter. This removes the need to create a variable in memory.
UnboundLocalError: local variable ‘DISTRO_NAME’
This error may occur when trying to launch the Anaconda Navigator in Linux Systems.
Upon launching Anaconda Navigator, the opening screen freezes and doesn’t proceed to load.
Try and update your Anaconda Navigator with the following command.
If solution one doesn’t work, you have to edit a file located at
After finding and opening the Python file, make the following changes:
In the function on line 159, simply add the line:
DISTRO_NAME = None
Save the file and re-launch Anaconda Navigator.
DJANGO – Local Variable Referenced Before Assignment [Form]
The program takes information from a form filled out by a user. Accordingly, an email is sent using the information.
Upon running you get the following error:
We have created a class myForm that creates instances of Django forms. It extracts the user’s name, email, and message to be sent.
A function GetContact is created to use the information from the Django form and produce an email. It takes one request parameter. Prior to sending the email, the function verifies the validity of the form. Upon True , .get() function is passed to fetch the name, email, and message. Finally, the email sent via the send_mail function
Why does the error occur?
We are initializing form under the if request.method == “POST” condition statement. Using the GET request, our variable form doesn’t get defined.
Local variable Referenced before assignment but it is global
This is a common error that happens when we don’t provide a value to a variable and reference it. This can happen with local variables. Global variables can’t be assigned.
This error message is raised when a variable is referenced before it has been assigned a value within the local scope of a function, even though it is a global variable.
Here’s an example to help illustrate the problem:
In this example, x is a global variable that is defined outside of the function my_func(). However, when we try to print the value of x inside the function, we get a UnboundLocalError with the message “local variable ‘x’ referenced before assignment”.
This is because the += operator implicitly creates a local variable within the function’s scope, which shadows the global variable of the same name. Since we’re trying to access the value of x before it’s been assigned a value within the local scope, the interpreter raises an error.
To fix this, you can use the global keyword to explicitly refer to the global variable within the function’s scope:
However, in the above example, the global keyword tells Python that we want to modify the value of the global variable x, rather than creating a new local variable. This allows us to access and modify the global variable within the function’s scope, without causing any errors.
Local variable ‘version’ referenced before assignment ubuntu-drivers
This error occurs with Ubuntu version drivers. To solve this error, you can re-specify the version information and give a split as 2 –
Here, p_name means package name.
With the help of the threading module, you can avoid using global variables in multi-threading. Make sure you lock and release your threads correctly to avoid the race condition.
When a variable that is created locally is called before assigning, it results in Unbound Local Error in Python. The interpreter can’t track the variable.
Therefore, we have examined the local variable referenced before the assignment Exception in Python. The differences between a local and global variable declaration have been explained, and multiple solutions regarding the issue have been provided.
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Fix "local variable referenced before assignment" in Python
Introduction
If you're a Python developer, you've probably come across a variety of errors, like the "local variable referenced before assignment" error. This error can be a bit puzzling, especially for beginners and when it involves local/global variables.
Today, we'll explain this error, understand why it occurs, and see how you can fix it.
The "local variable referenced before assignment" Error
The "local variable referenced before assignment" error in Python is a common error that occurs when a local variable is referenced before it has been assigned a value. This error is a type of UnboundLocalError , which is raised when a local variable is referenced before it has been assigned in the local scope.
Here's a simple example:
Running this code will throw the "local variable 'x' referenced before assignment" error. This is because the variable x is referenced in the print(x) statement before it is assigned a value in the local scope of the foo function.
Even more confusing is when it involves global variables. For example, the following code also produces the error:
But wait, why does this also produce the error? Isn't x assigned before it's used in the say_hello function? The problem here is that x is a global variable when assigned "Hello ". However, in the say_hello function, it's a different local variable, which has not yet been assigned.
We'll see later in this Byte how you can fix these cases as well.
Fixing the Error: Initialization
One way to fix this error is to initialize the variable before using it. This ensures that the variable exists in the local scope before it is referenced.
Let's correct the error from our first example:
In this revised code, we initialize x with a value of 1 before printing it. Now, when you run the function, it will print 1 without any errors.
Fixing the Error: Global Keyword
Another way to fix this error, depending on your specific scenario, is by using the global keyword. This is especially useful when you want to use a global variable inside a function.
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Here's how:
In this snippet, we declare x as a global variable inside the function foo . This tells Python to look for x in the global scope, not the local one . Now, when you run the function, it will increment the global x by 1 and print 1 .
Similar Error: NameError
An error that's similar to the "local variable referenced before assignment" error is the NameError . This is raised when you try to use a variable or a function name that has not been defined yet.
Running this code will result in a NameError :
In this case, we're trying to print the value of y , but y has not been defined anywhere in the code. Hence, Python raises a NameError . This is similar in that we are trying to use an uninitialized/undefined variable, but the main difference is that we didn't try to initialize y anywhere else in our code.
Variable Scope in Python
Understanding the concept of variable scope can help avoid many common errors in Python, including the main error of interest in this Byte. But what exactly is variable scope?
In Python, variables have two types of scope - global and local. A variable declared inside a function is known as a local variable, while a variable declared outside a function is a global variable.
Consider this example:
In this code, x is a global variable, and y is a local variable. x can be accessed anywhere in the code, but y can only be accessed within my_function . Confusion surrounding this is one of the most common causes for the "variable referenced before assignment" error.
In this Byte, we've taken a look at the "local variable referenced before assignment" error and another similar error, NameError . We also delved into the concept of variable scope in Python, which is an important concept to understand to avoid these errors. If you're seeing one of these errors, check the scope of your variables and make sure they're being assigned before they're being used.
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Adventures in Machine Learning
4 ways to fix local variable referenced before assignment error in python, resolving the local variable referenced before assignment error in python.
Python is one of the world’s most popular programming languages due to its simplicity, readability, and versatility. Despite its many advantages, when coding in Python, one may encounter various errors, with the most common being the “local variable referenced before assignment” error.
Even the most experienced Python developers have encountered this error at some point in their programming career. In this article, we will look at four effective strategies for resolving the local variable referenced before assignment error in Python.
Strategy 1: Assigning a Value before Referencing
The first strategy is to assign a value to a variable before referencing it. The error occurs when the variable is referenced before it is assigned a value.
This problem can be avoided by initializing the variable before referencing it. For example, let us consider the snippet below:
In the snippet above, the variables x and y are not assigned values before they are referenced in the print statement. Therefore, we will get a local variable “referenced before assignment” error.
To resolve this error, we must initialize the variables before referencing them. We can avoid this error by assigning a value to x and y before they are referenced, as shown below:
Strategy 2: Using the Global Keyword
In Python, variables declared inside a function are considered local variables. Thus, they are separate from other variables declared outside of the function.
If we want to use a variable outside of the function, we must use the global keyword. Using the global keyword tells Python that you want to use the variable that was defined globally, not locally.
For example:
In the code snippet above, the global keyword tells Python to use the variable x defined outside of the function rather than a local variable named x . Thus, Python will output 30.
Strategy 3: Adding Input Parameters for Functions
Another way to avoid the local variable referenced before assignment error is by adding input parameters to functions.
In the code snippet above, x and y are variables that are passed into the add_numbers function as arguments.
This approach allows us to avoid the local variable referenced before assignment error because the variables are being passed into the function as input parameters.
Strategy 4: Initializing Variables before Loops or Conditionals
Finally, it’s also a good practice to initialize the variables before loops or conditionals.
If you are defining a variable within a loop, you must initialize it before the loop starts. This way, the variable already exists, and we can update the value inside the loop.
In the code snippet above, the variable sum has been initialized with the value of 0 before the loop runs. Thus, we can update and use the variable inside the loop.
In conclusion, the “local variable referenced before assignment” error is a common issue in Python. However, with the strategies discussed in this article, you can avoid the error and write clean Python code.
Remember to initialize your variables, use the global keyword, add input parameters in functions, and initialize variables before loops or conditionals. By following these techniques, your Python code will be error-free and much easier to manage.
In essence, this article has provided four key strategies for resolving the “local variable referenced before assignment” error that is common in Python. These strategies include initializing variables before referencing, using the global keyword, adding input parameters to functions, and initializing variables before loops or conditionals.
These techniques help to ensure clean code that is free from errors. By implementing these strategies, developers can improve their code quality and avoid time-wasting errors that can occur in their work.
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