# Python script to rename variables in a Python code

**URL:** <https://discuss.python.org/t/python-script-to-rename-variables-in-a-python-code/25306>\
**Category:** Python Help\
**Created:** [March 30, 2023, 1:27pm UTC](https://discuss.python.org/t/python-script-to-rename-variables-in-a-python-code/25306 "2023-03-30T13:27:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Beliavsky](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discuss.python.org/beliavsky/32/11572_2.png) [@Beliavsky](https://discuss.python.org/u/Beliavsky)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 1:27pm UTC](https://discuss.python.org/t/python-script-to-rename-variables-in-a-python-code/25306/1 "2023-03-30T13:27:50Z")

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I can use the string replacement feature of my text editor to replace `x` with `y`, but if I only want to rename instances of the variable `x` to `y`, that will make more changes than I want. Does anyone know of a Python script to rename variables?

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**Author:** ![abessman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discuss.python.org/abessman/32/8367_2.png) [@abessman](https://discuss.python.org/u/abessman)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 1:45pm UTC](https://discuss.python.org/t/python-script-to-rename-variables-in-a-python-code/25306/2 "2023-03-30T13:45:43Z")

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Many IDEs can do this. For example, in VSCode this feature is called “rename symbol”, and is available through right-clicking on the variable you want to rename.

For a more general solution, do not give your variables single-letter names.

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**Author:** ![Beliavsky](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discuss.python.org/beliavsky/32/11572_2.png) [@Beliavsky](https://discuss.python.org/u/Beliavsky)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 5:41pm UTC](https://discuss.python.org/t/python-script-to-rename-variables-in-a-python-code/25306/3 "2023-03-30T17:41:38Z")

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The text editor I use does not have the ability to rename variables, so I would still like a Python script that does so. In my codes I use one-letter variable names only for array subscripts.

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**Author:** ![rob42](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discuss.python.org/rob42/32/8218_2.png) [@rob42](https://discuss.python.org/u/rob42)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 6:05pm UTC](https://discuss.python.org/t/python-script-to-rename-variables-in-a-python-code/25306/4 "2023-03-30T18:05:00Z")

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@abessman is not talking about a text editor; he’s taliking about an IDE, of which there are many.

To name but two:

> **[VSCodium - Open Source Binaries of VSCode](https://vscodium.com/)**
>
> Free/Libre Open Source Software Binaries of VSCode

> **[Wing Python IDE - Designed for Python](https://wingware.com/)**
>
> Full-featured Python IDE with editor, debugger, unit testing, error checking, refactoring, and much more. Designed for Python, for a more productive development experience.

That said, even a basic text editor (well, one worth the trouble of using, least ways) should have a ‘find and replace’ feature, so that you can selectively replace what has been found.

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**Author:** ![tjreedy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discuss.python.org/tjreedy/32/137_2.png) [@tjreedy](https://discuss.python.org/u/tjreedy)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 7:45pm UTC](https://discuss.python.org/t/python-script-to-rename-variables-in-a-python-code/25306/5 "2023-03-30T19:45:45Z")

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IDLE has a selective find and replace, so use that or something at least as good. You hit the find key and either the replace key or not before hitting find again.

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**Author:** ![aivarpaalberg](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discuss.python.org/aivarpaalberg/32/9457_2.png) [@aivarpaalberg](https://discuss.python.org/u/aivarpaalberg)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 9:02am UTC](https://discuss.python.org/t/python-script-to-rename-variables-in-a-python-code/25306/6 "2023-03-31T09:02:56Z")

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> [@Beliavsky](#):
>
> The text editor I use does not have the ability to rename variables, so I would still like a Python script that does so.

It seems very rare that text editor could not handle this basic operation. What editor it is?

As example: in Vim to substitute all ‘words’ x to ‘word’ y is `:%s/\<x\>/y/` . This will not substitute letter x in text generally, only when its a separate word.