What is a Class?
A Class is a logical grouping of data and functions. It gives the freedom to create
data structures that contains arbitrary content and hence easily accessible.
For example, for any bank employee who want to fetch the customer details online
would go to customer class, where all its attributes like transaction details,
withdrawal and deposit details, outstanding debt, etc. would be listed out.
How to define Python classes
To define class you need to consider following points
Step 1) In Python, classes are defined by the "Class" keyword
class myClass():
Step 2) Inside classes, you can define functions or methods that are part of this
class
def method1 (self):
print "Guru99"
def method2 (self,someString):
print "Software Testing:" + someString
Here we have defined method1 that prints "Guru99."
Another method we have defined is method2 that prints "Software Testing"+
SomeString. SomeString is the variable supplied by the calling method
Step 3) Everything in a class is indented, just like the code in the function, loop, if
statement, etc. Anything not indented is not in the class
NOTE: About using "self" in Python
The self-argument refers to the object itself. Hence the use of the word self.
So inside this method, self will refer to the specific instance of this object
that's being operated on.
Self is the name preferred by convention by Pythons to indicate the first
parameter of instance methods in Python. It is part of the Python syntax to
access members of objects
Step 4) To make an object of the class
c = myClass()
Step 5) To call a method in a class
c.method1()
c.method2(" Testing is fun")
Notice that when we call the method1 or method2, we don't have to supply
the self-keyword. That's automatically handled for us by the Python runtime.
Python runtime will pass "self" value when you call an instance method on in
instance, whether you provide it deliberately or not
You just have to care about the non-self arguments
Step 6) Here is the complete code
# Example file for working with classes
class myClass():
def method1(self):
print("Guru99")
def method2(self,someString):
print("Software Testing:" + someString)
def main():
# exercise the class methods
c = myClass ()
c.method1()
c.method2(" Testing is fun")
if __name__== "__main__":
main()
The self Parameter
The self parameter is a reference to the class itself, and is used to access
variables that belongs to the class.
It does not have to be named self , you can call it whatever you like, but it has
to be the first parameter of any function in the class:
Example
Use the words mysillyobject and abc instead of self:
class Person:
def __init__(mysillyobject, name, age):
mysillyobject.name = name
mysillyobject.age = age
def myfunc(abc):
print("Hello my name is " + abc.name)
p1 = Person("John", 36)
p1.myfunc()
Modify Object Properties
You can modify properties on objects like this:
Example
Set the age of p1 to 40:
p1.age = 40
Delete Object Properties
You can delete properties on objects by using the del keyword:
Example
Delete the age property from the p1 object:
del p1.age
Delete Objects
You can delete objects by using the del keyword:
Example
Delete the p1 object:
del p1
How Inheritance works
Inheritance is a feature used in object-oriented programming; it refers to defining a
new class with less or no modification to an existing class. The new class is
called derived class and from one which it inherits is called the base. Python
supports inheritance; it also supports multiple inheritances. A class can inherit
attributes and behavior methods from another class called subclass or heir class.
Python Inheritance Syntax
class DerivedClass(BaseClass):
body_of_derived_class
Step 1) Run the following code
# Example file for working with classes
class myClass():
def method1(self):
print("Guru99")
class childClass(myClass):
#def method1(self):
#myClass.method1(self);
#print ("childClass Method1")
def method2(self):
print("childClass method2")
def main():
# exercise the class methods
c2 = childClass()
c2.method1()
#c2.method2()
if __name__== "__main__":
main()
Notice that the in childClass, method1 is not defined but it is derived from the parent
myClass. The output is "Guru99."
Step 2) Uncomment Line # 8 & 10. Run the code
Now, the method 1 is defined in the childClass and output "childClass Method1" is
correctly shown.
Step 3) Uncomment Line #9. Run the code
You can a method of the parent class using the syntax
ParentClassName.MethodName(self)
In our case, we call, myClass.method1(self) and Guru99 is printed as expected
Step 4) Uncomment Line #19. Run the code.
Method 2 of the child class is called and "childClass method2" is printed as
expected.
Python Constructors
A constructor is a class function that instantiates an object to predefined values.
It begins with a double underscore (_). It __init__() method
In below example we are taking name of the user using constructor.
class User:
name = ""
def __init__(self, name):
self.name = name
def sayHello(self):
print("Welcome to Guru99, " + self.name)
User1 = User("Alex")
User1.sayHello()
Output will be:
Welcome to Guru99, Alex
Python 2 Example
Above codes are Python 3 examples, If you want to run in Python 2 please consider
following code.
# How to define Python classes
# Example file for working with classes
class myClass():
def method1(self):
print "Guru99"
def method2(self,someString):
print "Software Testing:" + someString
def main():
# exercise the class methods
c = myClass ()
c.method1()
c.method2(" Testing is fun")
if __name__== "__main__":
main()
#How Inheritance works
# Example file for working with classes
class myClass():
def method1(self):
print "Guru99"
class childClass(myClass):
#def method1(self):
#myClass.method1(self);
#print "childClass Method1"
def method2(self):
print "childClass method2"
def main():
# exercise the class methods
c2 = childClass()
c2.method1()
#c2.method2()
if __name__== "__main__":
main()
Summary:
"Class" is a logical grouping of functions and data. Python class provides all the
standard features of Object Oriented Programming.
Class inheritance mechanism
A derived class that override any method of its base class
A method can call the method of a base class with the same name
Python Classes are defined by keyword "class" itself
Inside classes, you can define functions or methods that are part of the class
Everything in a class is indented, just like the code in the function, loop, if
statement, etc.
The self argument in Python refers to the object itself. Self is the name
preferred by convention by Pythons to indicate the first parameter of instance
methods in Python
Python runtime will pass "self" value automatically when you call an instance
method on in instance, whether you provide it deliberately or not
In Python, a class can inherit attributes and behavior methods from another
class called subclass or heir class.
