Python globals() function

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The python globals() function is a built-in function that returns a dictionary representing the current global symbol table. It provides access to all the global variables and their corresponding values in the current scope. With the help of this feature, we can retrieve, modify, or delete global variables.

In Python, each program has a symbol table that contains information about the names (variables, functions, classes, etc.) defined in the program. The symbol table is represented by a dictionary, where the names are the keys, and the associated values represent their current values or references.

Syntax

Syntax of the Python globals() function is shown below −

globals()  

Parameters

The Python globals() function does not accept any parameters.

Return Value

The Python globals() function returns a dictionary representing the global symbol table.

Examples

Now, let's understand the working of globals() function with the help of examples −

Example 1

The following is an example of the Python globals() function. In this, we have created a method which is calling the globals() function to retrieve the global symbol table. By iterating over its items, we can access the global variable.

nums = 22
def accessMethod():
   globalVar = globals()["nums"]
   print(f"Accessing global number: {globalVar}")

accessMethod()

On executing the above program, the following output is generated −

Accessing global number: 22

Example 2

The globals() function not only allows us to retrieve global variables but also allows us to modify their values. In this example, the "modifyMethod()" function retrieves the global symbol table using globals() and modifies the value of "nums" by directly updating the dictionary entry.

nums = 22
def modifyMethod():
   globalVar = globals()["nums"] = 121
   print(f"Modifying global number: {globalVar}")

modifyMethod()

The following is the output obtained by executing the above program −

Modifying global number: 121

Example 3

In the following exmple, we are checking all the default global variables using globals() and then displaying them with the help of a user-defined method.

def pritnGlobals():
   for globalVars in globals().keys():
      print(globalVars)

pritnGlobals()

The following output is obtained by executing the above program −

__name__
__doc__
__package__
__loader__
__spec__
__annotations__
__builtins__
__file__
__cached__
pritnGlobals

Example 4

With the help of the globals() method, we can also delete a particular global attribute as illustrated in the below example.

numOne = 52
numTwo = 121
def delGlobal():
    del globals()["numTwo"]
    print(f"Is numTwo exist after deletion: {'numTwo' in globals()}")

delGlobal()

The above program, on executing, displays the following output −

Is numTwo exist after deletion: False