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Python Class and Instance Variables Explained

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20 views10 pages

Python Class and Instance Variables Explained

Uploaded by

hotelvlogger26
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Variables

In Python, class variables (also known as class attributes) are shared across all instances
(objects) of a class. They belong to the class itself, not to any specific instance.
In Class, attributes can be defined into two parts:

 Class Variables/static: A class variable is a variable that is declared inside


of a Class but outside of any instance method or __init__() method.
 Instance variables: If the value of a variable varies from object to object,
then such variables are called instance variables.

Class Variable :
 If the value of a variable is not varied from object to object, such types of variables
are called class or static variables.

 All instances of a class share class variables. Unlike instance variable, the value of a
class variable is not varied from object to object,

 In Python, class variables are declared when a class is being constructed. They are not
defined inside any method of a class. Because of this, only one copy of the static
variable will be created and shared between all class objects.

For example, in the Student class, we can have different instance variables such as name
and roll number because each student’s name and roll number are [Link], if we want to
include the school name in the student class, we must use the class variable instead of an
instance variable because the school name is the same for all students. So, instead of
maintaining a separate copy in each object, we can create a class variable that will hold the
school name so all students (objects) can share it.
 You can use the class name or the instance to access a class variable.
 By convention, typically, it is placed right below the class header and before the
constructor method and other methods.
 Python Code

class Student:
# Class variable
class Student:
school_name = 'ABC School '
def __init__(self, name, roll_no):
[Link] = name
self.roll_no = roll_no
# create first object
s1 = Student('Emma', 10)
print([Link], s1.roll_no, Student.school_name)
# access class variable
# create second object
s2 = Student('Jessa', 20)
# access class variable
print([Link], s2.roll_no, Student.school_name)

 Recommended to use a class name to change the value of a class variable. Because if
we try to change the class variable’s value by using an object, a new instance variable
is created for that particular object, which shadows the class variables.
 If we modify the class variable in an instance, it will be modified in all the other
instances.

class Student:
# Class variable
school_name = 'ABC School '
# constructor
def __init__(self, name, roll_no):
[Link] = name
self.roll_no = roll_no
# create Objects
s1 = Student('Emma', 10)
s2 = Student('Jessa', 20)
print('Before')
print([Link], s1.roll_no, s1.school_name)
print([Link], s2.roll_no, s2.school_name)
# Modify class variable using object reference
Student.school_name = 'PQR School'
print('After')
print([Link], s1.roll_no, s1.school_name)
print([Link], s2.roll_no, s2.school_name)
Instance Variables :

 If the value of a variable varies from object to object, then such variables are called
instance variables.
 For every object, a separate copy of the instance variable will be created.
 Instance variables are not shared by objects. Every object has its own copy of the
instance attribute. This means that for each object of a class, the instance variable
value is different.
 We can access the instance variable using the object and dot (.) operator.
 In Python, to work with an instance variable and method, we use the self keyword.
We use the self keyword as the first parameter to a method. The self refers to the
current object.
 We use a constructor to define and initialize the instance variables. Let’s see the
example to declare an instance variable in Python.
 In the following example, we are creating two instance variable name and age in
the Student class.

 Python code

class Student:

# constructor
def __init__(self, name, age):
# Instance variable
[Link] = name
[Link] = age

# create first object


s1 = Student("Jessa", 20)
# access instance variable
print('Object 1')
print('Name:', [Link])
print('Age:', [Link])
# create second object
s2= Student("Kelly", 10)
# access instance variable
print('Object 2')
print('Name:', [Link])
print('Age:', [Link])

 When you change the instance variable’s values of one object, the changes will not be
reflected in the remaining objects because every object maintains a separate copy of
the instance variable.

Access Modifiers in Python


Access specifiers in Python have an important role to play in securing data from
unauthorized access and in preventing it from being exploited

There are three types of access modifiers namely public, protected, and private.

 Public members − A class member is said to be public if it can be accessed from


anywhere in the program.
 Protected members − They are accessible from within the class as well as by classes
derived from that class.
 Private members − They can be accessed from within the class only.

 By default, all the variables and methods in a Python class are public.
 To indicate that an instance variable is private, prefix it with double underscore (such
as "__age").
 To imply that a certain instance variable is protected, prefix it with single underscore
(such as "_salary").

class Employee:
def __init__(self, name, age, salary):
[Link] = name # public variable
self.__age = age # private variable
self._salary = salary # protected variable
def displayEmployee(self):
print ("Name : ", [Link], ", age: ", self.__age, ", salary: ", self._salary)
e1=Employee("Bhavana", 24, 10000)
print ([Link])
print (e1._salary)
print (e1.__age)

Methods in python
These objects consist of properties and behavior. Furthermore, properties of the object are
defined by the attributes and the behavior is defined using methods. These methods in Python
are defined inside a class. These methods are the reusable piece of code that can be
invoked/called at any point in the program.

Instance method: Used to access or modify the object state. If we use instance
variables inside a method, such methods are called instance methods.
 It must have a self parameter to refer to the current object.
 A instance method is bound to the object of the class.
 It can access or modify the object state by changing the value of a instance variables
 Python code

class Student:

# constructor

def __init__(self, name, age):

# Instance variable

[Link] = name

[Link] = age

# instance method access instance variable

def show(self):

print('Name:', [Link], 'Age:', [Link])

# create first object

print('First Student')
emma = Student("Jessa", 14)

# call instance method

[Link]()

Class Method:

 A class method is bound to the class and not the object of the class. It can
access only class variables.
 It can modify the class state by changing the value of a class variable that would
apply across all the class objects.
 The class method has a cls as the first parameter, which refers to the class.
 The class method can be called using ClassName.method_name() as well as by
using an object of the class.
 @classmethod decorator can be used in python for creating the class method.
Syntax of decorator classmethod() is as follows:
@classmethod

def fun(cls, arg1, arg2, …):

 python code

class Student:

# Class variable

school_name = 'ABC School '

def __init__(self, name, age):

[Link] = name

[Link] = age

@classmethod

def change_school(cls,name):

#print(Student.school_name)

#modify class variable


Student.school_name=name

def display(self):

print([Link])

print([Link])

print(Student.school_name)

Student.change_school('XYZ School')

jessa=Student('jessa',14)

tressa=Student('tresa',17)

[Link]()

[Link]()

Static method:
 A functionality that belongs to a class, but does not require the object, is placed in the
static method.
 Static methods does not receive any additional arguments like self, cls.
 .Static method knows nothing about the class and just deals with the parameters.
 Static method cannot access the properties of the class itself.
 When we need a utility function that doesn't access any properties of a class but
makes sense that it belongs to the class, we use static methods
 A static method can be called either on the class or on an instance.
 @staticmethod decorator can be used in python for creating the class method. Syntax of
decorator staticmethod() is as follows:

@staticmethod

def fun(arguments-optionals):

 python code
# Python program to
# demonstrate static methods
class Person:
def __init__(self, name, age):
[Link] = name
[Link] = age
# a static method to check if a Person is adult or not.
@staticmethod
def isAdult(age):
return age > 18
# Driver's code
if _name__ == "__main__":
res = [Link](12)
print('Is person adult:', res)
res = [Link](22)
print('\nIs person adult:', res)

private method
 In Python, a private method is a method that is not intended to be used outside of the
class in which it is defined.
 These methods are denoted by a double underscore prefix (__) before their name, and
they can only be accessed within the class where they are defined
 These methods are used to implement internal functionality within the class. These
are not meant to be used by external code.
 Syntax
__method_name
 Python code
# Creating a class
class A:
# Declaring public method
def fun(self):
print("Public method")
# Declaring private method
def __fun(self):
print("Private method")
# Calling private method via
# another method
def Help(self):
[Link]()
self.__fun()
# Driver's code
obj = A()
[Link]()
#obj.__fun()

Common questions

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The '@classmethod' and '@staticmethod' decorators in Python are used to define methods with different levels of association with the class or instance. A '@classmethod' is bound to the class and not the object, and its method takes 'cls' as its first parameter, which refers to the class. It can access and modify class variables and is typically used when the method is related to the class as a whole rather than any specific instance. For example, changing a class variable that affects all objects of the class. The '@staticmethod' defines a static method that does not receive an implicit first argument (neither 'self' nor 'cls'). It cannot modify object state or class state and is used for utility functions that logically belong to the class but don't interact with its instances or class variables. A scenario could be a method that checks whether a given age qualifies as an adult, which is a utility function associated with the class functionality but independent of the specific instance of a class, thus not requiring access to instance or class variables .

Static methods in Python are utilized for functionality that is related to a class but does not involve accessing or modifying instance or class variables. They don't take 'self' or 'cls' as parameters and are defined with the '@staticmethod' decorator. A static method can be called on the class itself, rather than on a particular instance, and is often used for utility functions that perform an action relevant to the class but don't require state information. For example, a static method might calculate a mathematical function or check whether a given integer is prime. Such utility functions logically belong to the class for organizational purposes, but are independent of any specific instance state, thereby making static methods appropriate for their implementation .

A private method in a Python class is used when there is a need to implement internal processes that should not be accessible or modified directly from outside the class. This helps in encapsulating the behavior that contributes to class functionality but does not need to be exposed to the user or other parts of the program. For example, a class handling data could use private methods for operations like data validation or transformation that should not be called directly. This contributes to maintaining encapsulation by ensuring that the internal behavior and structure of the class are hidden from the user, who can interact with the class only through its public methods. It prevents external manipulation of the internal workings, thereby maintaining a clear and stable interface for the class while allowing internal changes without affecting external code .

Python's flexibility in access specifiers—public, protected (indicated by a single underscore), and private (with double underscores)—contrasts with the stricter controls found in statically-typed languages like Java or C++. The main benefit in Python is greater flexibility due to its dynamic nature, encouraging quick development and simplicity in coding. This flexibility enables developers to mark intentions without enforcing heavy restrictions, thus fostering a collaborative environment. However, this also presents drawbacks in the form of lesser enforced encapsulation, where discipline by developers is crucial to maintain data integrity. This approach aligns with Python’s philosophy of simplicity and readability, emphasizing conventions over syntactic constraints. The language relies heavily on community standards and best practices for enforcing access restrictions, which might allow for more innovative coding at the expense of potential misuse or errors. It encourages coding to be explicit yet simple, following the principle of "we’re all consenting adults here,” expecting developers to respect interface boundaries by convention .

Modifying a class variable in Python using a class name ensures that the change is reflected across all instances of the class because the class variable is shared among all instances. When a class variable is altered using the class name, it affects the single shared copy of the variable. On the other hand, modifying a class variable using an object reference creates a new instance variable for that particular object, which then shadows the existing class variable for that object only. This means the change does not affect the class variable itself or any other instances of the class, and only the specific object sees the modified value. The implication is that using a class name to modify a class variable maintains consistency and uniformity across all class instances, whereas modifying through an instance creates exceptions and can lead to unexpected behavior if not controlled .

Python's mechanism of class and instance variables supports inheritance by allowing subclasses to inherit class variables and redefine instance variables, providing a framework for shared behavior and custom per-object attributes. Class variables, shared among all instances, enable developers to define static data shared in a class hierarchy, like a constant used by all subclasses. Instance variables enable each object instance to maintain its unique state. However, challenges arise when subclassing modifies either class or instance variables: changing a class variable in a subclass can lead to unexpected behavior if it impacts the instances of the superclass unintentionally. Similarly, overshadowing or redefining instance variables can cause confusion unless carefully managed, as it may disrupt the consistency of object states across related classes. Proper structuring and interface design are critical to mitigate these challenges and ensure that inherited classes behave as intended according to the object-oriented principles .

Access modifiers in Python control the accessibility of class members and help secure data from unauthorized access, thereby playing a crucial role in object-oriented programming. Python has three types of access modifiers: public, protected, and private. Public members can be accessed from anywhere in the program, protected members are accessible within the class and subclasses, and private members are only accessible within the class they are defined. These modifiers help encapsulate data and restrict the internal state of objects from being accessed and modified directly by external code, which is fundamental to maintaining the integrity and security of the data within a class. By using access modifiers, developers can enforce boundaries and ensure that the data follows the intended structure and usage, which is vital for building robust and maintainable software systems .

Instance methods in Python are used to access or modify the object state and require a 'self' parameter, which refers to a specific instance of the class. They are bound to the object and can access instance variables. These methods are used when the behavior is related to a single instance of the class. Class methods, denoted by the '@classmethod' decorator, take 'cls' as a parameter and are bound to the class itself, allowing them to access or modify class variables. Class methods are used when the behavior pertains to the class in general and not to any one instance. For example, an instance method would be used to update the age of a particular student in a 'Student' class, whereas a class method could update a class variable such as 'school_name' for all instances. This distinction ensures adherence to object-oriented principles, leveraging the class- and object-specific behavior when designing software .

The primary difference between class variables and instance variables in Python lies in their scope and usage. Class variables are shared across all instances of a class and belong to the class itself. They are declared inside the class but outside any instance methods. Since they are shared, a single copy is maintained, and any modifications to a class variable using the class name will reflect across all instances. In contrast, instance variables are unique to each instance of a class; they are declared inside the constructor method (__init__) using the 'self' keyword. Each object maintains its own copy of the instance variable, and modifications to it do not affect other instances. This difference impacts their usage, such that class variables are ideal for attributes shared by all instances, like a school name, whereas instance variables are used for individual attributes, like a student's name and roll number .

Using double underscores (__) for private instance variables in Python signifies that the variable should not be accessed or modified directly outside of the class. This is known as name mangling, where the interpreter changes the name of the variable to include the class name, making it difficult to access from outside the class. The implications include enhancing encapsulation by protecting the variable from alterations by external classes or functions, thereby maintaining the internal integrity of the object. However, it also implies that if subclasses or other parts of the program need to interact with these private variables, they must use getter or setter methods (or similar interface functions), encouraging a well-defined class interface. This design choice reinforces the principle of information hiding, which is central to object-oriented programming, ensuring that objects manage their internal state and promote better modularity .

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