Could someone explain the scope of y in following code?

Question

def testFunc(x, y=[])
y.append(x)
return y
a = testFunc(1)
b = testFunc(2)
print(b)

Answer 1

The scope of y in the given code is the function testFunc.

When the function is defined, the default value for the parameter y is an empty list []. This list is created only once when the function is defined and is stored in memory as part of the function's definition.

Every time the function is called without a value for the parameter y, it will use the same default list object previously created.

In this code, the function testFunc is called twice with different arguments, 1 and 2. When testFunc(1) is called, the value of y is the default list []. The value 1 is appended to this list, and the modified list [1] is returned and assigned to variable a.

When testFunc(2) is called, the value of y is the same list object as before, which now contains [1]. The value 2 is appended to this list, and the modified list [1, 2] is returned and assigned to variable b.

So, the final value of b will be [1, 2]

Answer 2

😊 Thank you all

Answer 3

It is only available in the function and cannot be referred to outside the function

Answer 4

y is a list. Is the argument of the function. (Was that what you were asking?)

Answer 5

I mean after running code it outputs [1, 2], as I know all variables inside a function are local, but it looks y is a global variable