Is it possible to have multi line assignment in Python?

Question

Example of nasty assignment using __ setitem __:

self.outer_scopes[self.children.item(i).getNodeName()][self.children.item(i).item(j).getNodeName()] = self.children.item(i).item(j).getTextContent()

Is it possible to do something like this?

self.outer_scopes[self.children.item(i).getNodeName()][self.children.item(i).item(j).getNodeName()] 
= 
self.children.item(i).item(j).getTextContent()

I mean, to split the assignment, not the strings after it with \ or whatever.

Answer 1

You could use the backslash:

self.outer_scopes[self.children.item(i).getNodeName()][self.children.item(i).item(j).getNodeName()] \
= \
self.children.item(i).item(j).getTextContent()

But that's pretty poor style. In this case, I'd use intermediate variables to make the assignment easier to read, if possible.

Answer 2

Use variables to shorten your expression. Would find better names, if I know more context:

item_i = self.children.item(i)
item_j = item_i.item(j)
outer_scope = self.outer_scopes[item_i.getNodeName()]
outer_scope[item_j.getNodeName()] = item_j.getTextContent()