What does “eval” mean in Python?

In Python, eval() is a built-in function that evaluates a string as a Python expression and returns the result.

The syntax of the eval() function is:

eval(expression, globals=None, locals=None)

1. The string to be evaluated typically contains a valid Python expression.
2. globals (optional): a dictionary containing variables and functions available in the global namespace.
3. Option: Locals (optional): a dictionary containing variables and functions available in the local namespace.

The eval() function evaluates the passed string and returns the result. If the string cannot be parsed as a valid Python expression, a SyntaxError exception is raised.

It is important to note that the eval() function can execute any Python code, including calling functions, accessing variables, and other operations. Therefore, using untrusted input as a parameter for eval() can pose security risks, as malicious users can construct malicious code to perform unsafe operations. Therefore, it is important to use caution when using eval() and try to avoid using untrusted strings as parameters.