How to clear variables in ipython?
PythonMemoryIpythonPython Problem Overview
Sometimes I rerun a script within the same ipython session and I get bad surprises when variables haven't been cleared. How do I clear all variables? And is it possible to force this somehow every time I invoke the magic command %run?
Thanks
Python Solutions
Solution 1 - Python
%reset seems to clear defined variables.
Solution 2 - Python
EDITED after @ErdemKAYA comment.
To erase a variable, use the magic command:
%reset_selective <regular_expression>
The variables that are erased from the namespace are the one matching the given <regular_expression>.
Therefore
%reset_selective -f a
will erase all the variables containing an a.
Instead, to erase only a and not aa:
In: a, aa = 1, 2
In: %reset_selective -f "^a$"
In: a # raise NameError
In: aa # returns 2
see as well %reset_selective? for more examples and https://regexone.com/ for a regex tutorial.
To erase all the variables in the namespace see:
%reset?
Solution 3 - Python
In iPython you can remove a single variable like this:
del x
Solution 4 - Python
I tried
%reset -f
and cleared all the variables and contents without prompt. -f does the force action on the given command without prompting for yes/no.
Wish this helps.. :)
Solution 5 - Python
Adding the following lines to a new script will clear all variables each time you rerun the script:
from IPython import get_ipython
get_ipython().magic('reset -sf')
To make life easy, you can add them to your default template.
In Spyder: Tools>Preferences>Editor>Edit template
Solution 6 - Python
Apart from the methods mentioned earlier. You can also use the command del to remove multiple variables
del variable1,variable2
Solution 7 - Python
An quit option in the Console Panel will also clear all variables in variable explorer
*** Note that you will be loosing all the code which you have run in Console Panel
Solution 8 - Python
The get_ipython().magic() method raises a DeprecationWarning in ipython 8.1. Here is the new version of Carl's answer
from IPython import get_ipython
get_ipython().run_line_magic('reset', '-sf')
Add these lines to a file you are editing. Then at the ipython command prompt you can type,
%run file_you_are_editing.py