ModificationOfLocals.qhelp

<!DOCTYPE qhelp PUBLIC
  "-//Semmle//qhelp//EN"
  "qhelp.dtd">
<qhelp>
<overview>
<p>
    The dictionary returned by <code>locals()</code> is not a view of the function's locals, but a copy.
    Therefore, modification of the dictionary returned from <code>locals()</code> will not modify the local
    variables of the function.
</p>


</overview>
<recommendation>

<p>If the intention is to modify a local variable, then do so directly.
</p>

</recommendation>
<example>
<p>In this example, rather than assigning to the variable <code>z</code> directly, the dictionary returned by <code>locals()</code>
is modified.

</p><sample src="ModificationOfLocals.py" />

</example>
<references>

  <li>Python Language Reference: <a href="http://docs.python.org/2/reference/compound_stmts.html#the-for-statement">The for statement</a>.</li>
  <li>Python Tutorial: <a href="http://docs.python.org/2/tutorial/controlflow.html#for-statements">for statements</a>.</li>

</references>
</qhelp>