The walrus operator was added to Python in October 2019. It allows developers to assign a value and use it in the same line. Many people reacted strongly against it. Some said it was confusing or hard to read. Others refused to use it at all. Over time this fear grew and even modern tools started to avoid it. But the walrus is not the problem. Poor use is the problem.
This article explains why the walrus can be clear useful and friendly when used the right way. It also shares simple rules to keep your code easy to read for both you and others in the future.
One very common case in Python is a function that returns an object or returns nothing. This often happens with search or match actions. Without care this can cause errors or warnings. The walrus helps by storing the result only when it exists. This avoids mistakes and keeps the logic in one place. A good habit is to name walrus variables with a leading underscore so readers know it was created inside a condition.
Another great use is searching through a list. The old way often needs many lines and a break statement. With the walrus you can search and store the result in one clean check. When written well it almost reads like a sentence. This style shows intent clearly and avoids extra steps.
While loops are another strong area. Reading data line by line often causes bugs when the read step is placed in the wrong spot. The walrus fixes this by combining the read and the loop condition. This keeps the loop safe simple and correct. It is especially helpful when working with files or streams.
A less common but powerful use is inside lambda functions. Before the walrus lambdas could not store values. This forced expensive work to run more than once. With the walrus you can run it once store the result and then check it. This can save time and effort. Still this should be used with care. If it hurts clarity it may be better to write a full function.
There is also one clear rule about what not to do. Never assign a value with the walrus and then use it outside that block. This can confuse readers and cause hidden bugs. If a variable is needed later define it earlier in a clear place. This rule has no exceptions.
The walrus is not evil or messy. It is a tool. When used with care and clear naming it can make code shorter safer and easier to understand. Use it to help your future self not to punish them.
