CODEWITHSUNDEEP
pythonexitternary-operator
SparkAndShine
SparkAndShine

Reputation: 17997

'exit' is not a keyword in Python, but no error occurs while using it

I learn that exit is not a keyword in Python by,

import keyword
print('exit' in keyword.kwlist)     # Output: False

But there is no reminder of NameError: name 'exit' is not defined while using it. The output of the following snippet code makes me confused. Can anyone help me out?

for i in range(5):
    print(i)
    cur=i if i<2 else exit

print(cur)
# Output
0
1
2
3
4
Use exit() or Ctrl-D (i.e. EOF) to exit

I am unable to get related info about exit from Python documentations, except for exit([code=None]).

Upvotes: 6

Views: 1374

Answers (4)

YaOzI
YaOzI

Reputation: 17458

exit is an Built-in Constants added by the site module.

The site module (which is imported automatically during startup, except if the -S command-line option is given) adds several constants to the built-in namespace. They are useful for the interactive interpreter shell and should not be used in programs.

Upvotes: 1

mgilson
mgilson

Reputation: 309821

Keywords are part of the python syntax. They usually have special meaning in statements (e.g. for, del, if ...). This has other consequences -- e.g. you can't make a variable with the same name as a keyword.

builtins are callable objects (e.g. functions or at least function-like) that python provides in the namespace by default. examples of builtin functions are things like sorted, id, vars, ...

It's worth noting that exit is a convenience provided when in an interactive session. It's highly encouraged to use sys.exit instead.

Upvotes: 6

zondo
zondo

Reputation: 20336

exit is an instance of the Quitter class. The Quitter class defines an __repr__ method that returns the string that you see when you type exit into the shell. It also defines a __call__ method. Just as __init__ is called when you use a class like a function, __call__ is called when an instance is used like a function. Therefore, exit() calls the __call__ method, which exits the program.

Upvotes: 3

JBernardo
JBernardo

Reputation: 33387

exit is the sys.exit function when you are using the interactive console.

Many things exist while they are not keywords (e.g. sum, int...). So you can bind to existing names, but not to keywords

Upvotes: 0

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