How to convert a string to a function name in python?

Question

For example, if I have a function called add like

def add(x,y):
    return x+y

and I want the ability to convert a string or a

Answer 1

The built-in function eval will do what you want. All the usual warnings about executing arbitrary user-supplied code apply.

If there are a finite number of predefined functions, you should avoid eval and use a lookup table instead (i.e. Dict). Never trust your users.