Python generator behaviour

Question

import itertools
ws=[]
subs=[]
set_subs=[]
for i in xrange(int(raw_input())):
    S=raw_input()
    l=len(S)
    subs.append(S[i:j+1] for i in xrange(l) for j in xra         


        

Answer 1

http://docs.python.org/reference/expressions.html#generator-expressions

Variables used in the generator expression are evaluated lazily when the __next__() method is called for generator object (in the same fashion as normal generators). However, the leftmost for clause is immediately evaluated, so that an error produced by it can be seen before any other possible error in the code that handles the generator expression. Subsequent for clauses cannot be evaluated immediately since they may depend on the previous for loop.

S[i:j+1] is evaluated when you execute the generator, and at that point S has the latest value.

You can use a normal generator instead. Now ss is local to subgen:

import itertools

def subgen(ss):
    l=len(ss)
    for i in xrange(l):
        for j in xrange(i,l):
            yield ss[i:j+1]

subs=[]
for i in xrange(int(raw_input())):
    S=raw_input()
    subs.append(subgen(S))

Answer 2

Well, this is one of the strange features of generator expression. Have a look at this In your case it is used late binding and that's why you will get two identical results.