Python Program to Swap Two Variables

Source Code:

# Python program to swap two variables provided by the user

x = input('Enter value of x: ')
y = input('Enter value of y: ')

# create a temporary variable and swap the values
temp = x
x = y
y = temp

print('The value of x after swapping: {}'.format(x))
print('The value of y after swapping: {}'.format(y))

Output:

Enter value of x: 5
Enter value of y: 10
The value of x after swapping: 10
The value of y after swapping: 5

Explanation

In this program, we use the temp variable to temporarily hold the value of x. We then put the value of y in x and later temp in y. In this way, the values get exchanged.

Python Program to Swap Variables Without Temporary Variable

In python programming, there is a simple construct to swap variables. The following code does the same as above but without the use of any temporary variable.

 x,y = y,x

If the variables are both numbers, we can use arithmetic operations to do the same. It might not look intuitive at the first sight. But if you think about it, its pretty easy to figure it out.Here are a few example.

Addition and Subtraction

x = x + y
y = x - y
x = x - y 

Multiplication and Division

x = x * y
y = x / y
x = x / y 

XOR swap

This algorithm works for integers only

x = x ^ y
y = x ^ y
x = x ^ y