In Python, what does '<function at ...>' mean?

python function memory-address repr
JadedTuna picture JadedTuna · Oct 12, 2013 · Viewed 12.5k times · Source

What does <function at 'somewhere'> mean? Example:

>>> def main():
...     pass
...
>>> main
<function main at 0x7f95cf42f320>

And maybe there is a way to somehow access it using 0x7f95cf42f320?

Answer

Martijn Pieters picture Martijn Pieters · Oct 12, 2013

You are looking at the default representation of a function object. It provides you with a name and a unique id, which in CPython happens to be a memory address.

You cannot access it using the address; the memory address is only used to help you distinguish between function objects.

In other words, if you have two function objects which were originally named main, you can still see that they are different:

>>> def main(): pass
... 
>>> foo = main
>>> def main(): pass
... 
>>> foo is main
False
>>> foo
<function main at 0x1004ca500>
>>> main
<function main at 0x1005778c0>

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