The Walrus Operator (:=) in Python Explained!

Introduced in Python 3.8, the walrus operator (:=) has made code more concise and readable by allowing assignment inside expressions. It’s officially known as the assignment expression operator.

But why the name walrus?
Because the operator := looks like the eyes and tusks of a walrus.

The walrus operator lets you assign a value to a variable as part of an expression — usually inside a while, if, or list comprehension.

variable := expression

This assigns the result of expression to variable and returns it — allowing use within the same line.

text = input("Enter text: ")
while text != "exit":
    print("You typed:", text)
    text = input("Enter text: ")

while (text := input("Enter text: ")) != "exit":
    print("You typed:", text)

Cleaner, more readable, fewer lines.

while (line := input(">> ")) != "quit":
    print("Echo:", line)

nums = [1, 5, 10, 15, 20]
result = [n for n in nums if (half := n / 2) > 5]
print(result)  # [10, 15, 20]

data = "Hello World"
if (length := len(data)) > 5:
    print(f"String is long ({length} characters)")

• Don’t overuse it in complex expressions — it may reduce readability.
• Use only when assignment and usage naturally go together.

Feature	Walrus Operator
Introduced In	Python 3.8
Syntax	x := expression
Nickname	Walrus Operator
Benefit	Assign + use in a single expression
Common Use Cases	Loops, conditionals, comprehensions

The walrus operator is a powerful addition to Python — especially when writing clean, efficient code. Like any tool, use it where it makes your code clearer — not just shorter.

Happy coding!
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