how can I get the name of a variable (or other object)?

[Grant Edwards]

On 2004-07-22, JCM <joshway_without_spam at myway.com> wrote:
> Grant Edwards <grante at visi.com> wrote:
> ...
>> Python doesn't have variables.  Python has objects.  Python
>> has dictionaries that map strings (names) to objects.  In your
>> example above, there is an integer object with a value of 33.
>
> The Python documentation talks about variables.  Personally I
> think that's a fine name for the scoped binding between an
> identifier and a value.

But it's not a binding between an identifier and a value.  It's
a binding between an identifier and an _object_.  For immutable
objects, it's a moot point, but for mutable objects, there are
some real-world programming consequences.

I think it's very confusing to people who were taught that a
variable is a named region of storage in which a value
(possibley of one specific type) could be stored. I think that
referring to a Python name/object pair as "a variable" is
perpetuating a fundamental misunderstanding of what's really
going on.

If we want to refer to Python "variables" then I think the
"value" of a "variable" should be always be referred to as "a
pointer to an object".

I'm probably being overly pedantic, but I've seen a lot of
confusing amongst new Python programs due to their view of
python name bindings as "variables" in the traditional sense of
the word.

-- 
Grant Edwards                   grante             Yow!  This is my WILLIAM
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