Can I get a variable name as a string?

[montyauto]

how do i get a variable name as a string e.g i have a variable
myvar:1 2 5 3 2 6 7 8
i want to get "myvar"

[southplatte]

might probably depend upon the language you are using whether or not you can do that, and if so what the syntax for doing it would be.

What language are you programming in?

[mikesmith76]

I'm probably going mad here but I can't get my head around what you're trying to do. Your saying you have a variable $var and want to get the name of it???

:|

[montyauto]

Originally Posted by mikesmith76

I'm probably going mad here but I can't get my head around what you're trying to do.

Your saying you have a variable $var and want to get the name of it???

Correct!
For instance we have some variables that only have a value after we run a subroutine which value also could be defined after do another subroutine. I want to know which variable has assigned to that certain value.

Can we or not?

So far I do check my list of variables one by one, making my program a bit complicated and long running, troublesome if I put a new variable and forgot to put in my variable list.

Is there any function to get the name of a variable based on its value?

Originally Posted by southplatte

might probably depend upon the language you are using whether or not you can do that, and if so what the syntax for doing it would be.

What language are you programming in?

Any languange please, php, perl, phyton whatever that don't make you mad.

[DaveSawers]

Originally Posted by montyauto

Is there any function to get the name of a variable based on its value?

Any languange please, php, perl, phyton whatever that don't make you mad.

Basically, no.

It would surely be nonsensical to do so. Lets say you had some code that ended up with:

x=3
y=2
z=3

and you asked for the name of a variable with a value of 3. What would you expect to get? And what would you do with the result anyway?

Perhaps if you describe what it is you are trying to do at a higher level, you will get a meaningful response that will show you how to achieve the end result you want without having to find which variables have values.

[mikesmith76]

I've read a similar question recently on another forum and the answer was no. In subroutines / functions / whatever all the variables are usually defined in the local scope. After that function has finished executing the variables contained within it no longer exist.

I think you need to rethink what you are trying to acomplish, there has to be an easier way to do it

[Dinghus]

I can see where you might want to do something like this ie assign values to variables and then find out which variable rec'd the value. HOWEVER, to retrieve the NAME of the variable that has the value is done either by catching it when it is assigned or going through each variable looking for the value. Then you have to store the variable name in another variable.

I'm just taking a wild guess here based on 30+ years of programming experience, but there is probably a better way to do what you are trying to do, whatever it is.

If you can give us a better description of what you are trying to accomplish it would help.

And honest, none of us will steal your idea. ;)

[mikesmith76]

I can see where you might want to do something like this ie assign values to variables and then find out which variable rec'd the value.

But surely if you've assigned a value to a variable you already know which variable this is? Or am i misunderstanding your statement?

I think we really need to hear what the original poster had in mind before we can give out any more advice.

[montyauto]

Originally Posted by DaveSawers

Basically, no.

It would surely be nonsensical to do so. Lets say you had some code that ended up with:

x=3
y=2
z=3

The values is unique.

My question is simple:

myvar:1 2 5 3 2 6 7 8
i want to get "myvar"

Pls give me simple answer : "can" or "cannot".

If not possible then fine, I'll forget about it and find another way..

[mikesmith76]

The answer is no. As said previously if you want help finding another way around your problem post specific details.

[Dinghus]

I did say you could capture the variable name when you assigned the value to it.

Back to the "easy" question. No, your question is NOT easy. It is too vague.

Yes, you can get the variable name, but that would appear to be the hard way of whatever you are doing.

[montyauto]

Originally Posted by Dinghus

Yes, you can get the variable name, but that would appear to be the hard way of whatever you are doing.

What ever hard the way it is, I would like to know, I really curious cause no one give a positive reply since I posted this question.

[Dinghus]

I told you how to capture the variable name.

You either grab it when you insert the value into the variable or you query each variable until you find the one that has the value you are looking for.

But what would be the purpose of doing that? I'm sure there is a better way of doing whatever it is you are trying to do.