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# 4.5 Mapping for Constants

An IDL constant is mapped to a Python variable with an equivalent name and scope. The Python variable is initialised with the value of the constant. Of course, Python does not have real `constants', and nothing actually stops you assigning to these variables, but doing so is obviously not recommended.

e.g. consider the following IDL:

    #pragma prefix "dstc.edu.au"

    //
    // Constant example.
    //
    module Example {

        const long MAX_LENGTH = 999;
        const string NAME = "Martin Chilvers";

        interface Foo {
            const float PI = 3.14;
        };
    };

The constants can be used in Python as follows:

    >>> import Example
    >>> Example.MAX_LENGTH
    999
    >>> Example.NAME
    `Martin Chilvers'
    >>> Example.Foo.PI
    3.14
    >>>