localcontext

Localcontext is a term used in computing to refer to the local execution context—the set of variable bindings, parameters, and execution state available within a particular block of code. It is distinguished from the global context, which includes identifiers and state accessible throughout a program.

In most programming languages, the local context is defined by scope or activation frames. Entering a function or block typically creates a new local context that carries parameter bindings and local variables. The language’s scoping rules—lexical (static) or dynamic—determine how identifiers are resolved within this local context and whether outer contexts can be accessed or shadowed.

The local context is commonly inspected during debugging, by examining the current stack frame and its local variables. It can also be manipulated in certain environments, for example by temporarily binding variables within a block or by using facilities that push and restore local frames to avoid unintended side effects.

In libraries and frameworks, a construct similar to localcontext may appear to establish a temporary, isolated binding environment. Such constructs are used in templating engines, testing utilities, or metaprogramming tools to ensure that changes to bindings do not leak into or affect the surrounding environment.

See also: scope, symbol table, activation record, closures, dynamic scope, lexical scope, context manager.