python - Calling variable defined inside one function from another function

Question

if I have this:

def oneFunction(lists):
    category=random.choice(list(lists.keys()))
    word=random.choice(lists[category])

def anotherFunction():
    for letter in word:              #problem is here
        print("_",end=" ")

I have previously defined lists, so oneFunction(lists) works perfectly.

My problem is calling word in line 6. I have tried to define word outside the first function with the same word=random.choice(lists[category]) definition, but that makes word always the same, even if I call oneFunction(lists).

I want to be able to, every time I call the first function and then the second, have a different word.

Can I do this without defining that word outside the oneFunction(lists)?

Answer 1

Yes, you should think of defining both your functions in a Class, and making word a member. This is cleaner :

class Spam:
    def oneFunction(self,lists):
        category=random.choice(list(lists.keys()))
        self.word=random.choice(lists[category])

    def anotherFunction(self):
        for letter in self.word:              
            print("_", end=" ")

Once you make a Class you have to Instantiate it to an Object and access the member functions

s = Spam()
s.oneFunction(lists)
s.anotherFunction()

Another approach would be to make oneFunction return the word so that you can use oneFunction instead of word in anotherFunction

>>> def oneFunction(lists):
        category=random.choice(list(lists.keys()))
        return random.choice(lists[category])

    
>>> def anotherFunction():
        for letter in oneFunction(lists):              
            print("_", end=" ")

And finally, you can also make anotherFunction, accept word as a parameter which you can pass from the result of calling oneFunction

>>> def anotherFunction(words):
        for letter in words:              
            print("_",end=" ")
>>> anotherFunction(oneFunction(lists))