<!DOCTYPE qhelp PUBLIC

"-//Semmle//qhelp//EN"

"qhelp.dtd">

<qhelp>

<overview>

<p>When a local variable is defined with the same name as a built-in type or function, the local

variable "shadows" or "hides" the built-in object. This can lead to

confusion as a reader of the code may expect the variable to refer to a built-in object.

</p>

</overview>

<recommendation>

<p>Change the name of the local variable so that it no longer matches the name of a built-in object.

</p>

</recommendation>

<example>

<sample src="ShadowBuiltin.py" />

</example>

<references>

<li>Python Standard Library: <a href="http://docs.python.org/2/library/functions.html">Built-in Functions</a>,

<a href="http://docs.python.org/2/library/stdtypes.html">Built-in Types</a>.</li>

</references>

</qhelp>