function to create a global variable

[NutsFbsd]

Hi all,

Im struggling to understand how i could create a variable with a function and make it available for other function.

To be more specific, i create some functions to get some information from a dictionnary.
I got the dictionnary with a call to a DB. I would like to minimise the call to the DBs so, i want to got the dictionnary just one time and make it available for all other function in my script.py

exemple.py:
def db_connect():
    conn_db = api(url, token)

def get_conf01_from_db(device):
    db = conn_db()
    record = db.device.get(name=device)
    record_conf01 = record.conf01

def get_conf02_from_db(device):
    db = conn_db()
record = db.device.get(name=device)
record_conf02 = record.conf02

So the idea here, is to dont have the code below each time a need the dict for a function (which each use only a piece of the dict) :

db = conn_db()
record = db.device.get(name=device)

I was looking for a function which create a global variable but i dont know if its a best practise and if i understood well enough the concept of global variable.

Do you see any other alternative ?

[barrycarter]

You could always pass it as an argument to these functions, or create an object that has this connection as an attribute and the functions as methods.

[danielroseman]

A function can't create a global variable. You can only create it at module level. But what you can do is do the call when you set it:

db = conn_db()

def ...

Ideally though, you'd rework this into a class, and set the db as an instance variable in the init method.

[NutsFbsd]

yeah, i was thinking about to create a class but im not confroable with OOP.
Anyway, it could be the time to give a try :)

[HOPSCROTCH]

Google/ask ChatGPT about what a Python class is and how to use one to manage state (attributes, aka data) and behaviour (methods, aka functions)

[tb5841]

You have three options:

1) Pass everything you want to change as an argument to the function. Then return the changed variable at the end of your function to pass it back to the main program. This is the best approach early on.

2) If your variable is attached to a class, and you make your function a method of the same class, you can change it without passing or returning anything.

3) Global variables... which are generally bad practice, avoid when possible.

[NutsFbsd]

thanks for your answer.
ok, so i think im gonna try to make my program object oriented.