Difference between 'builtins namespace' and 'namespace of the module builtins'?

quazirfan · March 15, 2024, 4:19am

What is the difference between builtins namespace and namespace of the module builtins. I was under the impression they are the same thing. Here is a paragraph from python doc 4.2.2. Resolution of Names that appears to imply they are different.

If the global statement occurs within a block, all uses of the names specified in the statement refer to the bindings of those names in the top-level namespace. Names are resolved in the top-level namespace by searching the global namespace, i.e. the namespace of the module containing the code block, and the builtins namespace, the namespace of the module builtins.

Rosuav · March 15, 2024, 7:03am

This is what’s known grammatically as an appositive; the two pairs “the global namespace” // “the namespace of the module containing the code block” and “the builtins namespace” // “the namespace of the module builtins” are each giving two wordings that describe the same entity.

quazirfan · March 15, 2024, 7:30am

Ah, I misunderstood the usage of comma here. The sentence is structurally easier to grok when i.e. is removed.

Rosuav · March 15, 2024, 7:53am

Or perhaps if one is added in the second half as well? “… and the builtins namespace, i.e. the namespace of the module builtins”.

quazirfan · March 15, 2024, 6:33pm

You might want to you weigh in on this PR. I am requesting update to this exact paragraph.

github.com/python/cpython

Review by quazi-irfan - Clarifying nonlocal doc: SyntaxError is raised if nearest enclosing scope is global

python:main ← quazi-irfan:nonlocal_global_executionmodel_doc_update

@JelleZijlstra Here is an attempt to make the paragraph clearer. I have moved a …line and made minor changes to the paragraph. The global statement must precede all uses of the listed names. If the global statement occurs within a block, all uses of the names specified in the statement refer to the bindings of those names in the top-level namespace. Names are resolved in the top-level namespace by searching the global namespace, the namespace of the module containing the code block, and the builtins namespace, the namespace of the module builtins. The global namespace is searched first. If the names are not found there, the builtins namespace is searched. If the name is also not found in the builtins namespace, a new variable is created in the global namespace.