Python eval() Function Syntax
Syntax: eval(expression, globals=None, locals=None)
Parameters:
- expression: String is parsed and evaluated as a Python expression
- globals [optional]: Dictionary to specify the available global methods and variables.
- locals [optional]: Another dictionary to specify the available local methods and variables.
Return: Returns output of the expression.
Uses of Python eval() Function in Python
Python eval() is not much used due to security reasons, as we explored above. Still, it comes in handy in some situations like:
- You may want to use it to allow users to enter their own “scriptlets”: small expressions (or even small functions), that can be used to customize the behavior of a complex system.
- eval() is also sometimes used in applications needing to evaluate math expressions. This is much easier than writing an expression parser.
eval in Python
Python eval() function parse the expression argument and evaluate it as a Python expression and runs Python expression (code) within the program.