Python 3 reference · Built-in Functions

Python globals() Function

Return the dictionary of the current module's global names: variables, functions, classes and imports.

Syntax

globals()

The module's global namespace as a dict (changes to it affect the module).

Look up global namesTry it yourself

app_name = "demo"
def helper(): pass

g = globals()
print("app_name" in g, g["app_name"])
print(callable(g["helper"]))

Output

True demo
True

Find a function by nameTry it yourself

def greet(): return "hi"
def bye(): return "bye"

for name in ["greet", "bye"]:
    print(globals()[name]())

Output

hi
bye

Prefer a normal dictionary for "lookup by name" tables (actions = {"greet": greet}) instead of reaching into globals(); it is clearer and safer.

Version	Change
Python 3.0	Added

locals() · Return a dictionary of the local variables in the current scope. Inside a function it is a snapshot since Python 3.13.
vars() · Return the __dict__ of a module, class or object: its writable attributes as a dictionary. With no argument, like locals().
dir() · List the names an object has, such as attributes and methods. With no argument, list the names in the current scope.
Python Scope · tutorial