User-defined function to reset variables?

[Mark17]

Hi all,

A general outline of my program could be written as something like this:

Variable initiation (reset)

Control branch A

    if...

    elif...

    elif...

    else...
        ...
        Variable reset

Control branch B

    if...

    elif...

    else...
        ...
        Variable reset

Variable initiation and reset simply assign particular variables to 0, empty lists, etc. Because it's done in multiple places, I'm thinking about creating a user-defined function where the variables common to all three places are reset to 0.

If I were to do such a thing, how would I handle variable scope? The variables reset in the function need to be available throughout the main program.

Finally, do you think this is even worth doing?

I have ~50 variables in this program and maybe 30 would be reset as part of the function.

[Gribouillis]

I'm thinking about creating a user-defined function where the variables common to all three places are reset to 0.

This is why classes were invented: to group in a single entity variables shared by different places. So create a class (or several classes) to hold the variables

class Foo:
    def __init__(self):
        self.reset()

    def reset(self):
        self.baz = 10
        self.bar = 'hello'
        self.spam = 3.14159

foo = Foo()
...
...
if ...:
    ...
    foo.reset()

[Mark17]

This is why classes were invented: to group in a single entity variables shared by different places. So create a class (or several classes) to hold the variables

I've studied some intro stuff about classes, but they really confuse me (along with all the syntax like the __init__, the self, etc.). Can you explain this in a simpler way? If I clearly understand their place and am convinced it's worth doing, then I'll force myself through it and figure it out.

[Gribouillis]

If I clearly understand their place and am convinced it's worth doing

Decades of progress in programming and generations of top-level engineers tell you it's worth doing. There is absolutely no reason to hesitate: learn classes as soon as possible. Start with chapter 9 of the official Python Tutorial for an introduction.