What is the naming convention in Python for variable and function names?

Question

Coming from a C# background the naming convention for variables and method names are usually either camelCase or PascalCase:

// C# example string thisIsMyVariable = "a" public void ThisIsMyMethod() 

In Python, I have seen the above but I have also seen underscores being used:

# python example this_is_my_variable = 'a' def this_is_my_function(): 

Is there a more preferable, definitive coding style for Python?

Answer 1

See Python PEP 8: Function and Variable Names:

Function names should be lowercase, with words separated by underscores as necessary to improve readability.

Variable names follow the same convention as function names.

mixedCase is allowed only in contexts where that's already the prevailing style (e.g. threading.py), to retain backwards compatibility.

Answer 2

The Google Python Style Guide has the following convention:

module_name, package_name, ClassName, method_name, ExceptionName, function_name, GLOBAL_CONSTANT_NAME, global_var_name, instance_var_name, function_parameter_name, local_var_name.

A similar naming scheme should be applied to a CLASS_CONSTANT_NAME