Difference between methods and attributes in python

by

Terminology

Mental model:

  • A variable stored in an instance or class is called an attribute.
  • A function stored in an instance or class is called a method.

According to Python’s glossary:

attribute: A value associated with an object which is referenced by
name using dotted expressions. For example, if an object o has an
attribute a it would be referenced as o.a

method: A function which is defined inside a class body. If called as
an attribute of an instance of that class, the method will get the
instance object as its first argument (which is usually called self).
See function and nested scope.

Examples

Terminology applied to actual code:

a = 10                          # variable

def f(b):                       # function  
    return b ** 2

class C:

    c = 20                      # class attribute

    def __init__(self, d):      # "dunder" method
        self.d = d              # instance attribute

    def show(self):             # method
        print(self.c, self.d) 

e = C(30)
e.g = 40                        # another instance variable

More Related Contents:

  1. How do I access Class member variables in Python?
  2. How do I access instance variables in Python?
  3. How do I access Class member variables?
  4. How do I set and access attributes of a class? [duplicate]
  5. How to assign a new class attribute via __dict__?
  6. Static class variables and methods in Python
  7. What is the purpose of the word ‘self’?
  8. How do I call a parent class’s method from a child class in Python?
  9. Why do you need explicitly have the “self” argument in a Python method?
  10. Python: Bind an Unbound Method?
  11. Explaining the ‘self’ variable to a beginner [duplicate]
  12. Why does Python code use len() function instead of a length method?
  13. Iterate over object attributes in python [duplicate]
  14. What is the difference between __init__ and __call__?
  15. Difference between methods and functions, in Python compared to C++
  16. What is the purpose of the `self` parameter for methods?
  17. python class attribute
  18. Private members in Python
  19. List all base classes in a hierarchy of given class?
  20. Prevent creating new attributes outside __init__
  21. In class object, how to auto update attributes?
  22. What is the purpose of the `self` parameter? Why is it needed?
  23. difference between variables inside and outside of __init__() (class and instance attributes)
  24. Define a method outside of class definition?
  25. How to get all methods of a Python class with given decorator?
  26. What are the consequences of nesting classes? [closed]
  27. Calling one method from another within same class in Python
  28. Why are python static/class method not callable?
  29. How do I call a method from another method?
  30. Get the object with the max attribute’s value in a list of objects

Leave a Comment