Python variable inheritance not working (as expected) [duplicate]

Question

Why, in this code, can't I access db or file from inside do_more()?

   def do_stuff(queue):
    db = getDbConn()
    while True:
        file = queue.get()  #DirEntry object
        ...
        do_more(otherObject)
        q.task_done()    

I'm aware I could pass db and file as arguments to do_more(), but I feel like those variables should just be available in functions called from other functions. It works that way from main to first level functions. What am I missing here?

Answer 1

In the code you provided, you don't even attempt using the variables from do_stuff.

But as a general rule, you should be able to use variables from a parent function inside a child function, either by passing them as variables or by using them when initializing the child function, like this:

def foo():
    foo2 = "foo"
    def bar():
        print(foo2)
    bar()

foo()

If i did not answer your question let me know.

Answer 2

no , you cant access those variables , I know what you think , which is wrong. you can access variables inside loops and if statements, not here.

imagine you have a function which is used in many different places, in that case you have access from this function to many variables which makes things complicated.

functions should be stand-alone objects which take some arguments do stuff and return something.so inside a function scope you can only see variables which are defined there and the arguments passed from the parent function using parenthesis.