Python Classes/Objects

Introduction to Python Classes

In Python, a class is a blueprint for creating objects. Classes encapsulate data in the form of attributes and behavior in the form of methods. By defining a class, you can create multiple objects with similar characteristics and functionalities.

Defining a Basic Class

To define a class in Python, you use the class keyword followed by the class name. It's a common practice to start class names with an uppercase letter. Here's a simple example:

Creating an Object from a Class

Once you have a class, you can create instances of it, referred to as objects. An object is an instantiation of a class. Here's how you can create an object from the Animal class:

Understanding Attributes and Methods

Attributes are variables that hold data related to a class and its objects. Methods are functions that belong to the class and define behaviors for its objects. You can define methods within a class to perform actions using the object's attributes:

Now you can call the make_sound method on an Animal object:

The Concept of Self

The self parameter in class methods is a reference to the current instance of the class. It's used to access variables and methods associated with the specific instance. The first parameter of any method in a class must be self.

Conclusion

Python classes and objects are fundamental to object-oriented programming. Understanding how to define and use them will enable you to write more organized and reusable code. In the next post, we'll explore inheritance, a powerful feature that allows classes to inherit attributes and methods from other classes.