Execute the Corresponding Function Dynamically in Python

Discover how to optimize your Python code by executing functions based on string variables without cumbersome `if else` statements.
---

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: How to execute the corresponding function according to the string variable?

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Execute the Corresponding Function Dynamically in Python: A Simple Guide

In programming, we often face situations where we need to execute specific functions based on variable values. In Python, it can be cumbersome to use multiple if else statements to handle this logic, especially when dealing with numerous functions. Fortunately, there are more elegant and efficient ways to achieve this using vars() and globals(). In this guide, we’ll explore these methods in detail, simplifying your code and enhancing its readability.

The Problem

Let's say you have a scenario where you're trying to execute one of several functions based on the value of a string variable. For example, your code might look like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

While this code works, it doesn’t scale well as the number of functions grows. You might find yourself writing a long sequence of if else statements, which becomes unwieldy and error-prone.

The Solution

Using vars()

One simple way to optimize your choice_function is to use Python's built-in vars() function. This function returns the __dict__ attribute of a module, class, instance, or any other object. This means if you name your functions in a specific way, you can easily call them by their name as a string.

Here’s how you can do it:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

When executed, this code will output:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Implementing in choice_function with globals()

If you want to call functions based on a variable's value within a function or a larger code structure, you can use the globals() function. This function returns a dictionary representing the current global symbol table, which allows you to access globally defined functions directly by their names as strings.

Here’s how to implement this in your choice_function:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

With this implementation, when you run the code, the output will still be:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Handling Errors Gracefully

Notice that we’ve added a try...except block in our choice_function. This is a good practice, as it allows you to catch any exceptions when a function name does not exist. This way, instead of crashing your program, it prints a user-friendly message:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

Using vars() and globals() in Python allows for a cleaner and more maintainable approach to dynamically execute functions based on string variables. Rather than writing lengthy if else statements, you can streamline your code significantly, making it more readable and adaptable to changes.

Next time you're faced with this challenge, remember these techniques for much cleaner and efficient code! Happy coding!