<!DOCTYPE qhelp PUBLIC

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<qhelp>

<overview>

<p>

The dictionary returned by <code>locals()</code> is not a view of the function's locals, but a copy.

Therefore, modification of the dictionary returned from <code>locals()</code> will not modify the local

variables of the function.

</p>

</overview>

<recommendation>

<p>If the intention is to modify a local variable, then do so directly.

</p>

</recommendation>

<example>

<p>In this example, rather than assigning to the variable <code>z</code> directly, the dictionary returned by <code>locals()</code>

is modified.

</p><sample src="ModificationOfLocals.py" />

</example>

<references>

<li>Python Language Reference: <a href="http://docs.python.org/2/reference/compound_stmts.html#the-for-statement">The for statement</a>.</li>

<li>Python Tutorial: <a href="http://docs.python.org/2/tutorial/controlflow.html#for-statements">for statements</a>.</li>

</references>

</qhelp>