Method context

dspy/dsp/utils/settings.py:216–257

Override DSPy settings for one `with` block. Use `dspy.context(...)` when you need temporary settings—a different LM, adapter, or flag—without changing the process-wide defaults from `dspy.configure(...)`. The block inherits every current setting, overrides only the

(self, **kwargs)

    @contextmanager
    def context(self, **kwargs):
        """Override DSPy settings for one `with` block.

        Use `dspy.context(...)` when you need temporary settings—a different
        LM, adapter, or flag—without changing the process-wide defaults from
        `dspy.configure(...)`. The block inherits every current setting,
        overrides only the keys you pass, and restores the originals on exit.

        Unlike `dspy.configure(...)`, you can call `dspy.context(...)` from
        any thread or async task.

        Args:
            **kwargs: Settings to override, such as `lm`, `adapter`,
                `track_usage`, or `allow_tool_async_sync_conversion`.

        Examples:
            Use a different LM for one call:
            ```python
            import dspy

            dspy.configure(lm=dspy.LM("openai/gpt-5-mini"))
            qa = dspy.Predict("question -> answer")

            with dspy.context(lm=dspy.LM("anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6")):
                result = qa(question="What is the capital of France?")
                # uses claude-sonnet-4-6 inside this block
            # back to gpt-5-mini here
            ```

        See Also:
            `dspy.configure`: set process-wide defaults.
        """
        # `dspy.context` is documented manually in docs/docs/api/utils/context.md
        # changes here should be reflected there as well.
        original_overrides = thread_local_overrides.get().copy()
        new_overrides = dotdict({**main_thread_config, **original_overrides, **kwargs})
        token = thread_local_overrides.set(new_overrides)

        try:
            yield
        finally:
            thread_local_overrides.reset(token)

    def __repr__(self):
        overrides = thread_local_overrides.get()