Python built-in Method - locals()

In Python, the locals() function is a built-in method that returns a dictionary containing the current local symbol table. The symbol table is a data structure that stores information about the current state of a Python program, including variables, functions, and their values.

The syntax for locals() is simple:

locals()

When called inside a function, locals() returns a dictionary that maps variable names to their values in the current scope. When called outside a function, locals() returns a dictionary that maps variable names to their values in the global scope.

For example:

def my_function():
    x = 1
    y = 2
    print(locals())

my_function()    # {'x': 1, 'y': 2}

In the example above, we define a function my_function() that creates two variables x and y, and then prints the local symbol table using the locals() function.

The locals() function is useful when you want to inspect the current state of your program, especially when debugging. It can be used to display the values of all the variables in the current scope, or to create a copy of the current symbol table that can be passed to another function.

Note that the locals() function only returns a snapshot of the current symbol table, not a reference to it. Therefore, any changes made to the returned dictionary will not affect the actual symbol table. Also note that the locals() function is not meant to be used for modifying the symbol table directly; to do that, you should use the globals() or setattr() functions instead.