PyCharm 2018.2 Help

Debug Tool Window. Variables

In this topic:

Overview

The Variables pane enables you to examine the values stored in the objects of your application.

When a stack frame is selected in the Frames pane, the Variables pane displays all data within its scope (method parameters, local and instance variables). In this pane, you can set labels for objects, inspect objects, evaluate expressions, add variables to watches and more.

Toolbar

This toolbar appears only when the Watches pane is hidden so the configured watches are displayed in the Variables pane. Hiding/showing the Watches pane is controlled through the icons debugger watch svg toggle button:

  • When the button is pressed, which is its default status, the Watches pane is hidden and the toolbar is shown in the Variables pane. So doing, the focus is with the Debugger tab.

  • When the button is released, the toolbar moves to the Watches pane.

Item

Shortcut

Description

icons general add svg

Insert

Click this button to create a new watch.

icons general remove svgDelete

Click this button to remove the selected watch from the list.

icons actions previousOccurence svgicons actions nextOccurence svgAlt+UpAlt+Down

Use these buttons to change the order of watches.

icons actions copy svgCtrl+D

Use this button to create a copy of the selected watch.

icons debugger watch svg

Show watches in Variables tab

Use this toggle button to have the Watches pane hidden or shown. By default, the button is pressed and displayed on the toolbar of the Variables pane. Consequently, the Watches pane is hidden and the watches are shown in the Variables pane.
  • To have the Watches pane displayed separately and view the configured watches in it, release the Show watches in Variables tab toggle button. The Watches pane appears with the Show watches in Variables tab toggle button on the toolbar.

  • To hide the Watches pane and view the watches in the Variables pane, press the icons debugger watch svg toggle-button on the toolbar of the Watches pane. The toggle button returns to the default location on the toolbar of the Variables pane.

Item

Shortcut

Description

Inspect

N/A

This command is available for fields, local variables and reference expressions, and opens a non-modal Inspection window, where you can concentrate on a particular reference. You can open as many Inspection windows as required. The view in the Inspection window is the same as in the Watches pane, but requires less screen space.

Set Value

F2

Use this command to change the runtime value of a field or a variable.

Copy Value

Ctrl+CUse this command to copy the value of the selected variable to the Clipboard. If multiple items are selected, not only variables' values, but also their structure is copied, so that when you copy-paste the selection to a text file, the indentation mimics the tree output of the debugger to produce an easy-to-read output.

Alternatively, hover your mouse cursor over a value and view its contents in the tooltip.

Copy JSON

This menu item is available only in the JavaScript context. Choose this command to copy the selected value in the JSON format.

Compare Value with Clipboard

N/A

Use this command to compare the selected value with the value currently in the Clipboard.

Copy Name

N/A

Use this command to copy the name of the selected variable to the Clipboard.

icons debugger evaluateExpression svgEvaluate Expression

Alt+F8

Use this command to evaluate the selected variable in the dialog that opens.

icons debugger addToWatch svg Add to Watches

N/A

This command is available for all nodes except static ones. Use this command to create an expression that references the node and add this expression to the Watches pane.

Show Referring Objects

N/A

Use this command to display a list of objects referring to the currently selected variable.

Jump to Source

F4

This command opens the source code of the selected variable or field in the editor and places the caret in the corresponding line.

Jump to Type Source

Shift+F4

Use this command to navigate to the definition of the class of the selected variable or field.

View as Array

This command is available for variables that represent NumPy arrays.

Note that NumPy must be downloaded and installed in your Python interpreter.

With this package installed, you can get a graphical view of a NumPy array and its parts using slicing, formatting and coloring tools:

py view as array

This command supports pandas dataframes as well.

Variable types

The icon on the left of each variable indicates its type:
  • icons nodes static svg: static

  • icons nodes field svg: field

  • icons debugger db array: array

  • icons debugger db primitive: primitive

  • icons debugger db db object: object

  • icons nodes parameter svg: parameter

Last modified: 21 November 2018

See Also