python - Accessing a parameter passed to one function in another function

Question

I have two functions:

def f1(p1=raw_input("enter data")):
    ...do something

def f2(p2=raw_input("enter data")):
    ...do something else

p1 and p2 are the same data, so I want to avoid asking for the input twice. Is there a way I can pass the argument supplied to f1 to f2 without asking for it again? Ideally I would be able to use something like you would in a class. Like f1.p1Is this possible?

EDIT: To add some clarity, I looked into using the ** operator to unpack arguments and I'm aware that using the main body of the program to access the arguments is cleaner. However, the former does not match what I'm trying to do, which is gain a better understanding of what is accessible in a function. I also looked at using the inspect and locals, but these are for inspecting arguments within the function, not outside.

Answer 1

Yes, depending on your needs. The best would be to ask in the main program, and simply pass that value to each function as you call it. Another possibility is to have one function call the other.

# Main program
user_input = raw_input("enter data")
f1(user_input)
f2(user_input)

Ideally I would be able to use something like you would in a class. Like f1.p1 Is this possible?

That's an advanced technique, and generally dangerous practice. Yes, you can go into the call stack, get the function object, and grab the local variable -- but the function has to be active for this to have any semantic use.

That's not the case you presented. In your code, you have f1 and f2 independently called. Once you return from f1, the value of p1 is popped off the stack and lost.

If you have f1 call f2, then it's possible for f2 to reach back to its parent and access information. Don't go there. :-)