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A Python class defines a kind of object by bringing data and related behavior together. Write a class, call it to create instances, and use each instance’s attributes to hold its own state. The key distinction to understand early is that instance attributes belong to one object, while class attributes are shared unless an instance shadows them.
What is a class in Python?
A class is an object created when Python executes a class statement. You can call the class to create instances, also called objects. The Python tutorial describes classes as a way to bundle data and functionality together: Python 3.14.8 tutorial: Classes.
A class can define attributes that hold data and methods that describe behavior. Here is a small example:
class Dog:
def __init__(self, name):
self.name = name
def speak(self):
return f"{self.name} says woof"
first_dog = Dog("Fido")
print(first_dog.speak())Calling Dog("Fido") creates a Dog instance and runs its __init__ initializer. The initializer stores the supplied name on that particular object. The method then reads that instance’s name to produce its result.
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What does self mean?
self is the conventional name for the first parameter of an instance method. It refers to the instance on which the method is called; it is not a Python keyword. In first_dog.speak(), Python binds first_dog to the method’s first parameter, so you do not pass it explicitly.
Using self.name accesses an attribute on that object. If you create another dog, it can have a different name because the attribute is stored separately on each instance.
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How do I create an object in Python?
- Define a class with a
classstatement, such asclass Dog:. - To initialize each new instance, define
__init__(self, ...)and assign per-instance values withself.attribute = value. - Call the class with any required arguments, such as
my_dog = Dog("Fido"). - Use the resulting instance’s attributes and methods, for example
my_dog.nameormy_dog.speak().
__init__ is an initializer, not the operation that creates the instance itself. Calling the class creates the instance and invokes the initializer as part of that process.
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What is the difference between a class variable and an instance variable?
A class attribute is assigned in the class body. An instance attribute is typically assigned through self, often in __init__. The distinction matters most when values can change:
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| Attribute type | Where it belongs | How instances see it | Assignment behavior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class attribute | The class | Available through the class and inherited or accessed by instances | An assignment to an instance with the same name creates or updates an instance attribute that shadows the class attribute for that instance |
| Instance attribute | One particular instance | That instance has its own value | Changing it on one instance does not change the corresponding value on another |
For example, a class attribute can represent a value intentionally shared by all instances, while self.name represents a value specific to each object. If an instance is assigned an attribute with the same name as a class attribute, ordinary lookup finds the instance’s value for that object; the class attribute remains available through the class and to instances that have not shadowed it.
Watch out for mutable class attributes
A list or dictionary assigned in the class body is one shared object. If each instance is meant to have its own collection, create it in __init__ instead:
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class Dog:
def __init__(self, name):
self.name = name
self.tricks = []With self.tricks = [], each new dog gets a separate list. A list defined directly in the class body would instead be shared by instances that use that attribute, which can cause changes made through one instance to appear through another.
How does inheritance work?
Inheritance lets a derived class reuse or override behavior from a base class. For example, a puppy can inherit the dog’s name and speaking behavior while providing its own description:
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class Puppy(Dog):
def speak(self):
return f"{self.name} yips"
puppy = Puppy("Pip")
print(puppy.speak())Puppy inherits from Dog, so it can use the inherited initializer to store its name. Its own speak method overrides the method with the same name in Dog.
Python also supports multiple inheritance, in which a class can inherit from more than one base class. The method resolution order (MRO) specifies the order Python follows when looking up methods and attributes; it also matters when using cooperative super() calls. Multiple inheritance and MRO are useful to understand when a design requires them, but are not needed for a first class.
Does Python have private variables?
Python does not enforce inaccessible private instance variables. Instead, it uses naming conventions and name mangling:
- A single leading underscore, as in
_balance, signals that an attribute is a non-public implementation detail. It is a convention, not a barrier that prevents access. - A double leading underscore, as in
__balance, triggers name mangling. Python changes the attribute’s stored name to reduce accidental name clashes, especially in subclasses; it does not make the attribute inaccessible or provide access control.
Choose names that communicate which attributes are intended for ordinary use. Do not treat an underscore as a security mechanism.
When should I use a dataclass instead?
For a simple record-like object whose main purpose is to hold named fields, Python’s dataclasses can reduce boilerplate. The official tutorial covers dataclasses alongside regular classes. A regular class remains a clear choice when you need custom behavior or a design that does not fit a simple collection of fields.
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