44_name_variable.py

# if "__name__ == "__main__" in Python
"""
The if __name__ == "__main__" idiom is a common pattern used in Python scripts to determine whether the script is being run directly or being imported as a module into another script.

In Python, the __name__ variable is a built-in variable that is automatically set to the name of the current module. When a Python script is run directly, the __name__ variable is set to the string __main__ When the script is imported as a module into another script, the __name__ variable is set to the name of the module.
"""

# Here's an example of how the if __name__ == __main__ idiom can be used:
def main():
    # Code to be run when the script is run directly
    print("Running script directly")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()


"""
In this example, the main function contains the code that should be run when the script is run directly. The if statement at the bottom checks whether the __name__ variable is equal to __main__. If it is, the main function is called.

Why is it useful?
This idiom is useful because it allows you to reuse code from a script by importing it as a module into another script, without running the code in the original script. For example, consider the following script:
"""


def main():
    print("Running script directly")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()