How Can I Execute Python Code Stored as a String?

Executing Python Code from Within Python

How can you execute Python code that is stored as a string within a Python program? To achieve this, there are two primary approaches:

1. exec() / exec string
For executing entire statements, you can use exec(string) in Python 3 or exec string in Python 2. This allows you to treat the string as a Python statement and have it interpreted and executed:

my_code = 'print("Hello world")'
exec(my_code)

2. eval()
If you require the value of an expression, use eval(string). This evaluates the string as an expression and returns the result:

x = eval("2+2")

Cautionary Note:
It is crucial to note that evaluating code from a string can be dangerous if the string contains untrusted or user-provided input. Never use eval() or exec() on data that may potentially come from an external source. This poses a significant security risk as it allows arbitrary code execution on your system.

Alternatives:
Before resorting to code execution, consider exploring alternative solutions such as using higher order functions. They are generally more efficient, safer, and provide a cleaner coding approach.

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