Do you use the "global" statement in Python? [closed]

Question

I was reading a question about the Python global statement ( "Python scope" ) and I was remembering about how often I used this statement when I was a Python beginner (I used global a lot) and how, nowadays, years later, I don't use it at all, ever. I even consider it a bit "un-pythonic".

Do you use this statement in Python ? Has your usage of it changed with time ?

Answer 1

I use 'global' in a context such as this:

_cached_result = None def myComputationallyExpensiveFunction():     global _cached_result     if _cached_result:        return _cached_result      # ... figure out result      _cached_result = result     return result 

I use 'global' because it makes sense and is clear to the reader of the function what is happening. I also know there is this pattern, which is equivalent, but places more cognitive load on the reader:

def myComputationallyExpensiveFunction():     if myComputationallyExpensiveFunction.cache:         return myComputationallyExpensiveFunction.cache      # ... figure out result      myComputationallyExpensiveFunction.cache = result     return result myComputationallyExpensiveFunction.cache = None