An IDL constant is mapped to a Python variable with an equivalent name and scope. The Python variable is initialised with the value of the constant. Of course, Python does not have real `constants', and nothing actually stops you assigning to these variables, but doing so is obviously not recommended.
e.g. consider the following IDL:
#pragma prefix "dstc.edu.au" // // Constant example. // module Example { const long MAX_LENGTH = 999; const string NAME = "Martin Chilvers"; interface Foo { const float PI = 3.14; }; };
The constants can be used in Python as follows:
>>> import Example >>> Example.MAX_LENGTH 999 >>> Example.NAME `Martin Chilvers' >>> Example.Foo.PI 3.14 >>>