Programming Forums > Script Programming > Python

commodore · Apr 30th, 2006, 3:34 PM

I have been learning python. I learned a hard thing (for me) and I basically understood it all, but the very last thing confuses me to frustration. What does this do:

(Toggle Plain Text)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

I'm learning from http://www.freenetpages.co.uk/hp/alan.gauld/ but the text in there is so confusing.

It's a bit hard to learn all this when I'm so small, don't have anything in my own language, have all these things around me disturbing...

Kaja Fumei · Apr 30th, 2006, 3:44 PM

"__name__" is a special Python variable that has the value "__main__" if the Python file is run directly. This allows the file to be used as a Python module (i.e., with "import") without invoking its main program. This can also be used to invoke unit testing.

commodore · Apr 30th, 2006, 4:46 PM

Thank you Kaja Fumei, I understand it now.

Apr 30th, 2006, 3:34 PM	#1
commodore Programmer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Estonia Posts: 97 Rep Power: 0	What is this 'if __name__ == '__main__'' thing? I have been learning python. I learned a hard thing (for me) and I basically understood it all, but the very last thing confuses me to frustration. What does this do: (Toggle Plain Text) if __name__ == '__main__': main() if __name__ == '__main__': main() I'm learning from http://www.freenetpages.co.uk/hp/alan.gauld/ but the text in there is so confusing. It's a bit hard to learn all this when I'm so small, don't have anything in my own language, have all these things around me disturbing...

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Apr 30th, 2006, 3:44 PM	#2
Kaja Fumei Hobbyist Programmer Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 134 Rep Power: 4	"__name__" is a special Python variable that has the value "__main__" if the Python file is run directly. This allows the file to be used as a Python module (i.e., with "import") without invoking its main program. This can also be used to invoke unit testing.

Apr 30th, 2006, 4:46 PM	#3
commodore Programmer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Estonia Posts: 97 Rep Power: 0	Thank you Kaja Fumei, I understand it now.

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Programming Forums > Script Programming > Python

What is this 'if __name__ == '__main__'' thing?

What is this 'if name == 'main'' thing?