Assign Function to a Variable in Python (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 11 Jun, 2026

Functions are first-class objects, which means they can be assigned to variables just like any other value. Once a function is assigned to a variable, the function can be called using either the original function name or the variable.

Python `

def show(): print("GFG")

func = show func()

`

**Explanation:

• show is a function that prints "GFG".
• func = show assigns the function reference to the variable func.
• Calling func() executes the show() function

**Note: When assigning a function to a variable, use the function name without parentheses. Writing func = show assigns the function itself, while func = show() executes the function and assigns its return value.

Syntax

def function_name(parameters):
# function body
pass

variable_name = function_name
variable_name(arguments)

Where:

• function_name is the name of the function.
• variable_name stores the reference to the function.
• variable_name(arguments) calls the function through the variable.

Examples

**Example 1: The following example demonstrates assigning a function to a variable and calling it using that variable. It also shows the difference between local and global variables.

Python `

x = 123

def display(): x = 98 print(x) print(globals()['x'])

print(x)

a = display a() a()

`

**Explanation:

• global variable x has the value 123. Inside display(), a local variable x with value 98 is created.
• globals()['x'] accesses the global variable x, a = display assigns the function to the variable a and calling a() executes the display() function.

**Example 2: The following example assigns a function that accepts a parameter to a variable and calls it using that variable.

Python `

def check(num): if num % 2 == 0: print("Even number") else: print("Odd number")

a = check a(67) a(10) a(7)

`

Output

Odd number Even number Odd number

**Explanation:

• check(num) determines whether a number is even or odd.
• a = check assigns the function to the variable a.
• Calling a(num) executes the check() function with the given argument.

**Example 3: The following example assigns a function that returns a value to a variable and calls it using that variable.

Python `

def multiply(num): return num * 40

a = multiply print(a(6)) print(a(10)) print(a(100))

`

**Explanation:

• multiply(num) returns num * 40 and a = multiply stores a reference to the function in a.
• Calling a(num) executes the function and returns the calculated value.