Groups | Search | Server Info | Keyboard shortcuts | Login | Register [http] [https] [nntp] [nntps]

Groups > comp.lang.python > #12383

Re: Why I need the parameter when the call doesn't use it?

Show all headers | View raw

In <66a3f64c-d35e-40c7-be69-ddf708e37ba7@glegroupsg2000goo.googlegroups.com> Niklas Rosencrantz <niklasro@gmail.com> writes:

> What's the story of using these parameters that are called "self"?

"self" is a reference to the class object, and it allows the method to
access other methods and variables within the class.

For example, say you have this class:

  class MyClass(object):

    def method1(self, x):
      self.x = x
      self.say_hello()

    def say_hello(self):
      self.x = self.x + 1
      print "hello"

Without the "self" reference, method1 wouldn't be able to access
instance variable x and it wouldn't be able to call say_hello().

If you have a method that doesn't need to access other variables or
methods within the class, you can declare it with the @staticmethod
decorator.

-- 
John Gordon                   A is for Amy, who fell down the stairs
gordon@panix.com              B is for Basil, assaulted by bears
                                -- Edward Gorey, "The Gashlycrumb Tinies"

Back to comp.lang.python | Previous | Next — Previous in thread | Next in thread | Find similar | Unroll thread

Thread

Why I need the parameter when the call doesn't use it? Niklas Rosencrantz <niklasro@gmail.com> - 2011-08-28 17:26 -0700
  Re: Why I need the parameter when the call doesn't use it? Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2011-08-29 11:32 +1000
  Re: [Python] Why I need the parameter when the call doesn't use it? Chris Gonnerman <chris@gonnerman.org> - 2011-08-28 20:42 -0500
    Re: [Python] Why I need the parameter when the call doesn't use it? Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2011-08-29 12:34 +1000
      Re: [Python] Why I need the parameter when the call doesn't use it? Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-08-29 14:40 +1000
  Re: Why I need the parameter when the call doesn't use it? Chris Rebert <clp2@rebertia.com> - 2011-08-28 18:52 -0700
  Re: Why I need the parameter when the call doesn't use it? John Gordon <gordon@panix.com> - 2011-08-29 03:27 +0000
    Re: Why I need the parameter when the call doesn't use it? Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2011-08-29 16:15 +1000

csiph-web