Below is a simple Python program that creates a class with single method.
# A simple example class class Test: # A sample method def fun(self): print("Hello") # Driver code obj = Test() obj.fun() |
Output:
Hello
As we can see above, we create a new class using the class statement and the name of the class. This is followed by an indented block of statements which form the body of the class. In this case, we have defined a single method in the class.
Next, we create an object/instance of this class using the name of the class followed by a pair of parentheses.
The self
- Class methods must have an extra first parameter in method definition. We do not give a value for this parameter when we call the method, Python provides it
- If we have a method which takes no arguments, then we still have to have one argument – the self. See fun() in above simple example.
- This is similar to this pointer in C++ and this reference in Java.
When we call a method of this object as myobject.method(arg1, arg2), this is automatically converted by Python into MyClass.method(myobject, arg1, arg2) – this is all the special self is about.
The __init__ method
The __init__ method is similar to constructors in C++ and Java. It is run as soon as an object of a class is instantiated. The method is useful to do any initialization you want to do with your object.
# A Sample class with init method class Person: # init method or constructor def __init__(self, name): self.name = name # Sample Method def say_hi(self): print('Hello, my name is', self.name) p = Person('Shwetanshu') p.say_hi() |
Output:
Hello, my name is Shwetanshu
Here, we define the __init__ method as taking a parameter name (along with the usual self). .
Class and Instance Variables (Or attributes)
In Python, instance variables are variables whose value is assigned inside a constructor or method with self.
Class variables are variables whose value is assigned in class.
# Python program to show that the variables with a value # assigned in class declaration, are class variables and # variables inside methods and constructors are instance # variables. # Class for Computer Science Student class CSStudent: # Class Variable stream = 'cse' # The init method or constructor def __init__(self, roll): # Instance Variable self.roll = roll # Objects of CSStudent class a = CSStudent(101) b = CSStudent(102) print(a.stream) # prints "cse" print(b.stream) # prints "cse" print(a.roll) # prints 101 # Class variables can be accessed using class # name also print(CSStudent.stream) # prints "cse" |
We can define instance variables inside normal methods also.
# Python program to show that we can create # instance variables inside methods # Class for Computer Science Student class CSStudent: # Class Variable stream = 'cse' # The init method or constructor def __init__(self, roll): # Instance Variable self.roll = roll # Adds an instance variable def setAddress(self, address): self.address = address # Retrieves instance variable def getAddress(self): return self.address # Driver Code a = CSStudent(101) a.setAddress("Noida, UP") print(a.getAddress()) |
Output :
Noida, UP
How to create an empty class?
We can create an empty class using pass statement in Python.
# An empty class class Test: pass |
Object Oriented Programming in Python | Set 2 (Data Hiding and Object Printing)
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